Everyone in the room agreed that Norahn had uttered the one word he should never have spoken in front of Ryang. Yet, Norahn, his gaze steady and unwavering, showed no regret. The word "surrender" had stripped Ryang of his remaining composure, his usual formality replaced by a cold fury.
"Soyeol follows Sahngjon's will as proclaimed by Cheon Hwan," Ryang spat. "And you, the High Emissary, instead of seeking a way to redirect that will towards the Guardian, dare suggest surrender?"
Norahn remained calm, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. "Sahngjon's will cannot be manipulated according to our desires. Our only duty is to obey. Even I, the High Emissary, am no exception. Please, face reality."
To Ryang, the Ministry was a group of people who distorted reality more than anyone. Norahn's words were a mockery. To Ryang, reality was the message lying on the table before them. He glared at Norahn, who saw only defeat in those black letters.
"Reality?" Ryang scoffed. "What reality?"
"We were all wrong," Norahn confessed in despair. "The late High Councilor was wrong, the late Guardian was wrong, and I was wrong. I dare suggest surrender because..."
He struggled to continue, his mind wrestling with the two visions he had kept hidden. But even if he revealed them, defying the Crimson Star's command and his own fear, he knew Ryang wouldn't understand, wouldn't accept Sahngjon's will. All he could offer was a hollow shell of truth.
"It's the only way to save the Guardian," he finally spoke.
"No, you're the only one who's wrong," Ryang growled, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
The intensity of his gaze reminded Norahn of the day he had severed Cheongro's hand. The tension in the room was suffocating. Seon glanced at Joon, who sat opposite her. His wide eyes darted between Ryang's clenched fists and the ornate swords displayed on the walls. Seon quickly interjected, breaking the dangerous silence.
"The Guardian Crimson hasn't spoken," she said, "and the Guardian asked for time. Surrender, especially suggested so casually before us, seems a hasty and ill-conceived notion. Has the Ministry already decided to surrender and come here to feign persuasion?"
"The Ministry hasn't reached a decision yet," Norahn replied. "I'm merely conveying Sahngjon's will as I see it."
"You haven't reached a decision yet?" Ryang scoffed. "Are you suggesting that Nahmgyo is currently plotting treason?"
"Seeking Sahngjon's will is not treason."
"You..." Ryang's hand lifted, but Seon swiftly reached under the table and grabbed his wrist.
"Brother, wait," she said calmly.
She rose, pulling Ryang with her, and addressed the others. "We need a moment to discuss this amongst ourselves," she announced. "Please excuse us."
She tugged at his arm, but Ryang remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on Norahn. Seon, her brow furrowed, pulled him again, gesturing towards the door. Ryang, with a final glare at Norahn, reluctantly followed her out.
Seon dragged Ryang to a secluded corner of the rear courtyard and dismissed the guards. She continued to scan their surroundings, her eyes darting back and forth, before finally pulling a small, paper-wrapped package from her robes.
"Take this," she instructed, thrusting it towards Ryang.
"What is it?"
"Ryucheon gave it to me," Seon explained. "He said to give it to you if you lost control again."
Ryang frowned, a humorless chuckle escaping his lips. Though he couldn't identify the pill by its appearance, he recognized it as the calming medicine Ryucheon had offered him before. He glared at Seon, his eyes bloodshot and weary.
"Do you consider me a madman as well?" he asked.
"You're not in your right mind, that's for sure," Seon retorted. "Joon kept staring at the swords on the wall earlier. Do you have any idea how anxious we were?"
Ryang opened his mouth to retort, but Seon continued, her words pouring out like a torrent. "Are you planning to attack Norahn this time? Do you want to start a war with the Ministry before we even face Cheon Hwan? We're in a desperate situation, and your rage won't solve anything. If what the Third Emissary says is true, we need to find a way to survive. Norahn is already suggesting surrender. Even if they haven't made a decision yet, the Ministry is as good as gone. Do you think screaming and throwing a tantrum will magically create a solution?"
"There's only one path for us," Ryang said. "What other solution could there possibly be?"
Seon took a deep breath, her hands outstretched towards him in a gesture of pleading. "I know, I know," she said. "I understand. I'm just saying we need to find a way to fight back calmly. No one can reason with you in your current state."
Ryang sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Just swallow it, before someone sees us," Seon urged.
Ryang reluctantly took the pill and forced it down his throat. He let Seon enter the meeting room first, then leaned against the wall. The cool stone pressed against his skin, a stark contrast to the heat that had been consuming him. He took several deep breaths, and as the medicine took effect, the world around him seemed to quiet, his heartbeat fading into the background. Is this real? Cheon Hwan's letter, written in his own hand, Sahngjon's power bestowed upon him, the fleet of Soyeol under his command – is it all real? As his mind calmed, a desperate hope flickered within him, a delusion that this unbearable reality was merely a hallucination.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. The clear autumn sun beat down on his face. The warmth he had longed for all summer now felt harsh and unforgiving. The cloudless sky stretched endlessly, offering no respite from the glare. His shadow stretched long and distorted on the ground. He straightened and returned to the meeting room.
Those who had remained were waiting for him, Seon already seated among them. Joon, noticing the delay, asked her quietly, "What is he doing outside?"
"Just clearing his head," Seon replied.
"I see," Joon said, his gaze returning to the table.
Ryang entered the room shortly after their brief exchange. The others, who had been relaxing, quickly straightened their posture. Ryang, without even glancing at Norahn, addressed Joon.
"Are there any people from Dongrahng or Seorahng still in the city?" he asked.
"The families of the two lords who came to receive supplies are still here," Joon replied.
"Confine them to the guesthouse."
"But..." Joon began to protest, concerned about the lords' reaction, but Ryang cut him off.
"All three cities are now potential enemies," he declared. "Do as I say."
"High Councilor," Sobi asked anxiously, "what about Nahmgyo?"
"The High Emissary will remain here," Ryang replied. "You return alone."
"High Councilor!" Sobi exclaimed in surprise, but Ryang ignored her. Norahn's eyes fluttered closed, his long lashes casting shadows on his pale cheeks.
Ryang turned to Joon. "High Commander, begin preparations for defense immediately," he ordered. "Summon Officer Ga'ahn. She's the most familiar with Hyangdo. Gather any useful information from her. And send messengers to the other three cities, reaffirming our resolve to resist. I'll draft a letter for the Guardian's approval. Just give me a day."
With that, Ryang adjourned the meeting. The younger brother of the Lady of Dongrahng and the eldest daughter of the Lord of Seorahng, who had delayed their departure from Hyangdo to receive supplies after encountering the High Emissary, were confined to the guesthouse. Norahn was also taken there under guard. The other Emissaries who had accompanied him protested vehemently but were dragged away. They shouted at Sobi as she emerged alone, and she couldn't bear to abandon Norahn and return to Nahmgyo.
House Myeonghyeon was temporarily residing in a cluster of houses near the government office, the walls barely erected. Sobi went there alone and knocked on the gate. Seon answered, her expression grim.
"I wish to speak with the High Councilor," Sobi said.
Seon sighed. "Don't get your hopes up," she warned, leading Sobi towards Ryang's chamber.
Their temporary residence was small compared to the rear gardens in Nahmgyo. U'nso, armed and alert, was patrolling the courtyard. He bowed briefly to Sobi as she passed. Ryang, who was preparing ink to write letters to Dongrahng and Seorahng, was not pleased to see her. His words were harsher and crueler than they had been at the office.
"You should have brought that damned letter to me first!" he spat. "Why would you show it to the High Emissary?"
Seon, who had been watching anxiously, intervened. "We've been over this," she said to Ryang. "How could she possibly have concealed it? Don't take your anger out on her."
"There's no need for you to defend me, Lady," Sobi said to Seon. "Even if I had brought the letter myself, I would have shown it to the High Emissary first."
Ryang was exasperated. "Because you're an Emissary, and the High Emissary is your superior?" he scoffed. "Emissary or High Emissary, you are first and foremost a subject of the Guardian. I believed you were a woman of integrity, capable of discerning what truly matters. But it seems you're no different from the rest."
The warmth in Sobi's eyes turned to ice. "So this was your true intention all along," she said. "To manipulate me, to silence me when it suits you."
Ryang ignored her bitterness. "Do you really have the luxury to analyze my motives right now?" he retorted. "What do you think those armed Emissaries are plotting in Nahmgyo while you and the High Emissary are away? The moment they open the gates for Cheon Hwan, it's over. Everything will fall into the hands of the man who tormented you, who slaughtered our soldiers and your fellow Emissaries. Do you not understand the gravity of the situation?"
"I couldn't disobey the High Emissary."
"You..." Ryang began, his anger rising, but Seon interrupted.
Sobi stepped closer. "I'll return to Nahmgyo immediately and try to restrain the Ministry," she declared.
Though her eyes still held a flicker of betrayal, her resolve was clear. But Ryang doubted her ability, not her intentions.
"How can you possibly control them?" he asked. "They'll all be suspicious of you after your involvement with our family."
"The Ministry is eager to proceed with the High Emissary's marriage," Sobi explained. "He instructed the Second Emissary and me to make preparations before we left for Hyangdo. They've probably already chosen the candidates."
"The High Emissary ordered his own marriage preparations?" Ryang couldn't believe it.
Sobi, though hurt by his suspicion, kept her composure. "For the elders, the High Emissary producing an heir is as important as this matter," she explained. "Just as you suspect the Ministry, I believe they don't care who the true Guardian is. They were more concerned about why I received the gold from you, and they were pleased when the High Emissary promised not to delay his marriage any longer. At least while they're preoccupied with the preparations, they won't be plotting anything else. I'll delay it as long as possible."
Ryang's voice lowered. "How long can you stall them? If it's too short, we won't have time to prepare for their betrayal. If it's too long, Nahmgyo won't be ready for Cheon Hwan's attack."
"I can delay it for seven days," Sobi replied. "Would that be sufficient?"