A gull soars in the sky, abundant and unaware of the winter chasing at its heels. Kim Eun or as he is formally known Prince Dae An watches its flight with a detached expression. Temper simmers just beneath the surface of his pleasant expression and he finishes listening to the report with the same vacant face.
The man could not read and write for himself and had to use the services of a scribe sworn to maintain the secrecy of his condition. Even without seeing the incomprehensible and illusive script of his correspondent, Eun feels the beginnings of a headache throb at his temples. With a gesture of a bejeweled hand, he makes the scribe stop and fists the same hand – bringing it to press against his clenched jaw.
