Chapter Text
"What did you say Princess Yona and Her Majesty did?", Hak suddenly asked the boys talking.
"Er... Well, I've heard that a delegation from South Kai has arrived in the castle and Her Majesty sat at the high-level talks in place of His Majesty Soo-Won, Princess Yona right beside her"
"...Huh?", Hak let out, confused.
"Then, in the middle of the conference, one of the emissaries felt ill and died while being nursed by the Princess and Her Majesty..."
"And then, it seems the delegates are in a fit of rage...", the other one said.
"Of course, we don't think Princess Yona or Her Majesty did in the least", the first one quirked. Hak raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, that would be treason... But why was she acting as substitute for the King?"
"Her Majesty? Well, it must be that. You know, she's only been crowned for a few days and maybe they wanted to reinforce Her Majesty's power and influence as the new Queen"
"She was put in charge of a first major task as the new Queen"
"Let us concede the absolute unthinkable, merely for the sake of argument", Hak spit out. "Why isn't the King sitting beside her at the conference?"
"Some sort of... diplomacy tactic?", the first one answered, not sure what answer was most right.
"...A... tactic?"
Jae-Ha and Yoon POV
"Then, Yona dea- Princess Yona and Her Majesty have become the object of groundless suspicions, right?", Jae-Ha wondered.
"Groundless... suspicions?", the clerk asked, confused.
"No matter how you cut it, a Princess and a Queen killing a dignitary is unnatural, no?", Jae-Ha turned toward Yoon, who was still understanding the situation. "Hey, boy, don't you agree?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Then... if the Princess and the Queen got entangled in some scheme... Isn't that all the more reason why we have to clarify things? Do you hear, boy?"
"I'm still baffled by your presence, Lord Official, sir", Yoon babbled, his eyes lost.
"By me? I'm but a mere government official, though", Jae-Ha lifted a lacky hand toward the group of women giggling in his presence. He proceeded to ignore them.
"Aren't you sticking out too much, Lord Just-An-Official?"
"Hey, you over there!!!", shouts echoed behind them. Jae-Ha jolted. "What's with your idle whispering?"
"Please excuse us!", the clerk screamed, walking away.
"Then, I'll be excusing myself as well...", Jae-Ha said as he started walking away.
"You stay right there", the guard ordered, grabbing Jae-Ha by the shoulder.
'Was I found out?!', he wondered internally.
"Look over here", the guard ordered.
"I don't want to. I'm shy, you see...", when he insisted again by tugging on his shoulder, Jae-Ha took his right arm and hit the man. The guard defended himself by putting his arms up in a cross, deflecting his hit to his face. Jae-Ha opened his eyes, recognized who stood by his side.
"What kind of government official are you?", Hak asked, lowering his arms. "Something's cracked in my body"
"Hak?!", Jae-ha shouted. Yoon turned around, came back toward the two men. "What are you up to? You'll stand out if you come here, won't you?"
"Like you're one to talk! Did you hear about Miss Princess and Lone getting entangled in some weird stuff?", Hak asked. "Of course I'd come here"
"This Yona and Lone are criminals business is what's suspicious!", Yoon shouted.
"What's weighing on my mind is that Lone took part in the high-level talks in place of the King. What's Soo-Won doing, I wonder"
"Maybe he's absent?", Yoon suggested.
'Soo-Won must have come down with the Crimson Illness. And that's why Lone went in his stead... The moment an ordinary person gets to know that, they'll get the death penalty. I can't tell these two that', Jae-Ha thought.
"By the way, Droopy Eyes, you went earlier to meet the Princess and Lone, didn't you? How did that go?"
"... They seemed well! And they both sent everyone their regards", Hak didn't buy it.
"You're hiding something, aren't you?"
"No? Why-"
"Speak up!", Hak lost patience.
"I'm saying, I'm not hiding anything"
"Were you told not to come anymore or something?"
Jae-Ha contemplated it for a few more seconds and eventually gave up.
"......Well, they both did say it would be a problem if I came..."
"Yona said something about me, didn't she?"
"Yona told me to convey to you that she doesn't need an exclusive bodyguard. Lone insisted we don't get into this business... for all our sakes"
"Why would they...", Yoon asked, livid.
"...so it has come to that?"
"I think she meant it as "Don't push yourself too much, Hak", because I had told her that you had become a Sky Tribe soldier and were pouring your heart and soul into it", Jae-Ha said.
"Then, Jae-Ha, why did they tell you not to go to them?", Yoon wondered.
"Because they aren't particularly keen on seeing me?", he suggested.
"See, even if you say that, there's no way Lone wouldn't want to see you. And something tells me you did see her. Also, there's no way the Princess wouldn't be glad to see you, too", his eyes widened. Jae-Ha let his head droop, feeling ashamed.
"Something is going on around the Princess and Lone. If the Princess is safe, I'd been planning for a while on seeing how she's faring myself, but if she's gotten implicated in a murder, with my best friend along with her, I can't remain a spectator any longer"
"Even if she says that it would be a problem if you go for her again? And Lone as well?", Yoon asked.
"When that happens, I'll just look for a way to protect her from a distance. And how about you, Droopy Eyes, since you're the Queen's lover?"
Jae-Ha gave him a glare that told him he'd have his head for that joke.
Lone POV
I was already standing in his room, in my husband's room, when Yona made her way in. I nodded to her and she nodded back. Soo-Won was sat up in his bed, registering what we had just told him.
"I see. Then, the delegation said it was a declaration of war...", Soo-Won realized.
"Will war break out?", Yona asked.
"Sooner or later we won't be able to avoid war. We'll definitely insist that our side committed no wrongdoing, though. However, Your Majesty", I turned toward Kye-Sook, but I already knew he wasn't speaking to me. "I am aware that it would be a hard undertaking to wage war on South Kai at Your Majesty's present condition. We mustn't let this contrived opportunity slip", I frowned. "If it's now, with the Five Tribes moving as one, we'll be able to conquer South Kai. Or rather, now's the only time", I hated how he said it.
'Only while I'm still alive...', Soo-Won finished in his head.
"In the even that Your Majesty is unable to go into battle in person, will Advisor Kye-Sook be the commander in chief?", Joo-Doh wondered. I stood there and did not meet anyone's eye. If it was under Kye-Sook, I would never fight in this war. If it was under Kye-Sook, I would never get out of this alive.
'There is no one other than His Majesty who can unite the Five Tribes into facing South Kai. Someone other than His Majesty. Someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with His Majesty. Someone who possesses the power to unify... His equal. She who created herself the biggest name in all of Kouka... She who was still loved by the people after her crimes...', her face shone in his head. 'No! What am I thinking, this is war! She's a woman! The reason we entered in an alliance with her and her friends was to bring the Four Dragons under His Majesty. Even though she is Queen, and the strongest woman here, why am I thinking of her- Calm down... I let anxiety raise its head'
"The delegation haven't left yet, right?", Soo-Won asked.
"Yes... thus, Your Majesty...", Kye-Sook started. I looked between the both of them.
"I know... I'm going out", he announced, putting his cloak on.
"I'm going as well", both Yona and I said.
"They have been clamouring you are the perpetrators", Joo-Doh said, approaching us. "You shouldn't show yourselves before them..."
"They know full well they're the real perpetrators here", Yona pointed out.
"And I should let their satisfied grins show when they realize the Queen is too scared to show her face? There's no reason for us to hide", Soo-Won looked back, but didn't seem to feel anything. So we walked mostly in silence. Until Yona spoke up.
"How are you feeling?", Yona asked him. "You've become tight-lipped. Even though you talked so much in the old days"
'You don't have to say anything. Rely on those around you in times of suffering', Yona thought. 'Don't you dare die as you please at a time like this'
"Hak, just ride on my back! You like soaring in the skies, don't you?", Jae-Ha shouted, running after the man.
"You don't need to tag along. We'll stick out like a sore thumb and be shot down again"
"But you're going to miss your secret rendezvous with Yona dear...", Jae-Ha said.
"That's not what I'm going for...", his head lifted up then, his eyes shining with a new kind of light. There they were, the two of them, walking on an open balcony to another part of the castle. Soo-Won was there.
'Well, if it isn't Soo-Won. So he isn't absent', Hak realized.
But they hid quick so they did not realize their presence. Their backs against a wall, Jae-Ha turned his head toward him.
"What are you gonna do? Try again later?", Hak didn't answer.
I stood beside Soo-Won... like he insisted, which had surprised me for a second. Yona stood slightly behind us and Kye-Sook was farther to the side.
"King Soo-Won", one of them, the dark-haired man from earlier, called. "Finally granting us a chance at an audience when we're about to go home... And more than that, it can't be that Princess Yona and Her Majesty... you have some nerve to show your faces to us"
"I have heard about it. Of the tragic accident involving Lord Lan Tan", Soo-Won told them.
"What accident! Princess Yona and Her Majesty, who are standing right there, fed him poison, didn't they?", the man shouted, impatient.
"We'll be sure to report that clearly to His Highness Cha Gol", another added. "This country will be overrun by the rage of our countless soldiers before long!"
"It would be difficult to prove Princess Yona's and Her Majesty's innocence, wouldn't it? Then, I beseech you to at least let us provide Lord Lan Tan with a dignified burial as proof of our good faith. As we're going to hold a magnificent funeral here, I wish you to take part in it", I restrained my smile of victory as the lords all seemed dumbfounded.
"Don't say nonsense. We have no intention to stay at such a horrible pla-"
"Naturally you're going to grace us with your attendance, no? Since you're so stricken with anger and sorrow!", he said his next words with a smile. "Paying your last respects to a precious friend... please take your time to heal your sorrow. And we'll definitely provide a food taster for all your meals. Ah, we're going to dispatch a fast horse to tell His Highness Cha Gol of the funeral"
'This King and that girl... are married, all right...'
Beside us, Kye-Sook escaped a sigh. Soo-Won offered them a last smile before he brought a hand to my back, leading me away. I started walking away as Yona joined us. As we left, Kye-Sook, who had been following from behind us, spoke up. "It seems this has bought us some time"
"We're going to be busy!", Soo-Won pointed out.
As we were walking down the steps, one second, everything was fine. Then, the next Soo-Won was wobbling on his feet, losing balance and bumping into Yona. She let out a sound as she bent forward, her foot missing a step. I stepped in front of my husband, held him up as I tried to reach for my best friend at the same time Soo-Won did. But my eyes widened when I recognized the dark hair of a brother I deeply cared for. He grabbed Yona's waist, stopping her from falling over. He met my gaze over Yona's body and I shook my head in horror. I looked to Soo-Won, who hadn't seen anything and brought my attention back to Hak.
"Thanks", Yona let out.
"Are you okay?", he asked. Yona's eyes widened. I hadn't realized I had let go of Soo-Won until his hand slipped from Yona's arm and he lost his balance again. He started walking away, almost limping.
NO! Don't collapse yet. There are many soldiers here.
I met Hak's stare one last time, and walked away. I joined Soo-Won's side, grabbing his arm, helping him stay on his feet. A second later, Yona was on his other side.
Hak sat on the ground, pondering what had just happened. His sister's wide eyes, like she was extremely afraid of what he had done. Yona's swift decision to walk away...
"Were you able to see Yona dear and Lone?", Jae-Ha asked.
"I was", he said after a moment too long.
"Did something happen?", yes. He remembered his body swaying to the side, as if he couldn't stand on his feet anymore.
'That guy... Since when has he become that weak...?'
So he told Jae-Ha everything. Jae-Ha suddenly was very afraid for his friend. Lone's look should have been enough for him to shut up about this.
"What? The King...?
"Yeah, Soo-Won, sharp as he is, didn't even notice me, and his face looked really pale"
"Whoa..."
'You're sharp, too, aren't you?', Jae-Ha wondered.
"Besides, it looked as if Lone was walking beside Soo-Won to support him. And then, the Princess came to help. Perhaps Lone acting as a substitute for the King is because of Soo-Won's condition...? And as to why they're keeping away from us..."
"Hak", Jae-Ha called. "I'm sorry, but I have to go back and you should, too!"
"Hm?", he lifted his head. "Yeah"
He put his helmet back on and got up on his feet. He waved to Jae-Ha as they separated. He walked for a few minutes, getting away from the core of the castle. But then suddenly, he stopped and just in time, because a slash flew right before his face. Next thing he knew, he lifted his sword the moment his enemy's hit. He was flying and his blade almost struck true. Hak's eyes widened as his heart beat a bit faster. The man was light-haired, his eyes wide, angry. A big scar went from the middle of his forehead, across his right eye to his jaw. Hak's helmet went flying to the ground.
"If memory serves...", he started, pushing him away. The man landed on the ground farther before him. "You are...", but he didn't have time to finish his sentence that he attacked his legs. Hak jumped away. Then, he struck above his head, but he ducked. Another hit to his middle and he countered with his sword.
'He's strong...'
He winced.
"Hyoo-Ri. One of Soo-Won's masters, right? So the one whose gaze I'd been feeling on me the whole day was you? Has Soo-Won, or was it Kye-Sook, sent you after my life? And you didn't kill me on the spot that time because it was in front of everyone? Or perhaps, it's because I noticed the King's poor condition?"
Hyoo-Ri hit again. But Hak didn't have the time to defend himself that his enemy's blade hit his hand, destroyed the hard glove he had on. He winced, the pain fresh and ringing on his skin.