"How can I trust you?" Uk glared at Sun An as the man released him. The younger man scoffed, sheathing his dagger back into its leather casing and tucking it inside his black robe.
"As expected from the man who infiltrated the North during the war..." Sun An replied calmly.
Uk harshly grabbed Sun An by his collar. He huffed, fanning Sun An's nose with his panting breath. The younger stared at him with calm eyes, unfazed by his harsh action before pulling something from his pocket.
An emerald jade, tied with red strings, with a dragon sigil carved on its surface.
"A word from Jeonha mama himself..." Sun An said. Uk let go of his collar, realizing his aggressive move might've hurt his ally.
"Sorry... Bad habits. Even after the war," Uk muttered.
"It's fine, Uk-ssi. Being laid-back doesn't always help. It's good to stay wary and alert, especially in times like these," Sun An reassured. He moved swiftly toward the entrance, peeking around the corner before pulling back.
"We need to alert the kingdom... but I'm not sure if we'll make it in time," Uk said, sounding unsure.
"Don't worry, Uk-ssi. The kingdom's already been alerted. They're on the move." Sun An glanced at Uk, noticing the confusion on his face. He paused, calculating.
"It'll take two, maybe three days..." Uk said, joining Sun An by the wall, hiding across from him.
"Two convoys left shortly after Taeyang delivered the scroll. Convoy Black went to the auditor's hideout, and Convoy White came here. Me and Dan hyung-nim were in Convoy White. But later, we decided to separate from the convoy to avoid suspicion," Sun An explained.
From their position, Sun An spotted two guards approaching. He signaled Uk, preparing for an ambush. As the guards got closer, his footsteps echoing the whole aisle towards the room, making Uk and Sun An soak in sweat. They held their breath before they leaped bravely from their hiding spots. Sun An knocked one guard out with a swift chop to the neck, while Uk snapped the other's neck, leaving the man crumpled on the floor. Cracking sound made by the twist cause a stir in Sun An's guts.
"Brutal move," Sun An remarked, though Uk shook his head, dismissing the praise as a joke.
"What now?" Uk asked.
"We need to move fast, or it'll be too late," Sun An replied, still calm. He didn't look like he was in a deadly mission, though he was aware the consequences if they have been caught at this very moment.
"I'm sorry to ruin your plan, but we have a lot of people with us—court maids. The bodyguards, they all got parished during the struggle while capturing gongju jaga," Uk reminded him, voice tight while frowning at the younger, waiting for him to make a move.
"No worries. The convoy's big enough to cover us all," Sun An patted Uk's shoulder, though the gesture felt strangely too friendly for Uk. Still, he brushed it off. Sun An was risking his life to save them. There's no time to put a suspicious towards him.
"Come, let's find Gongju-jaga!" Sun An urged, leading the way into the darkness. Uk followed silently, keeping a close eye on their surroundings.
***
Myung Yu gently dabbed Woo's sweat-soaked forehead. Ever since they'd been thrown into this cell, Woo had barely eaten or drank. The old woman was in excruciating pain from the interrogation, punished for protecting the princess.
"If I had known, I never would've asked for your help, Wesungmo..." Myung Yu whispered, holding Woo's frail hand. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she stayed by her side, never once thinking of herself. The guilt was eating her alive as she knew, because of her, the elder is in that state.
"Don't say that, Gongju-jaga. You always stand for the truth. Honesty is your strength. There's no shame in that," Woo rasped.
"But look at you!" Myung Yu cried. "How can I bear seeing you like this? You should be living happily, not suffering because of me!"
Woo squeezed Myung Yu's cold hand. Despite her pain, she smiled weakly at the princess, seeing the courage hidden behind her delicate features.
"If I die defending what's right, I have no regrets," Woo said, her voice barely a whisper. "That's what my husband told me before he passed. When they brought back his body, I cried, but I was proud. He died for the country he loved."
Myung Yu broke down at those words, clutching Woo's hand tighter.
"No... don't talk about dying. We're leaving soon, I swear!" she cried her eyes out, sobbing silently but obvious for Woo to listen.
"Gongju, death is inevitable. We can't stop it. We can only learn how to move on," Woo's wise words hung heavy in the air, and Myung Yu bit her lip to hold back another wave of tears.
"I have one regret, though..." Woo sighed, her voice growing weaker.
"What is it?" Myung Yu leaned in closer, desperate to hear every word.
"Maybe... I won't be buried next to your uncle. I'm just a commoner who married into royalty. They'll never allow it..." Woo sighed again. "He's all alone, while your father has Wangbi mama, you and your brothers."
Myung Yu gritted her teeth, fists clenched with determination. After a moment's thought, she made up her mind.
"If we get out of here, I'll ask Jeonha mama to bring you back to the kingdom. I'll make sure you're close to him. I promise, Wesungmo."
Woo smiled, bittersweet, at the promise. The dream of reuniting with her husband, even in death, was all she had left. And she hang on it with her life.
"Gongju!" A voice interrupted.
Myung Yu turned to her court maid, who pointed towards a shadowed figure. Myung Yu quickly laid Woo's head on the hay and crept closer to the iron bars.
"Uk-ssi!"
Uk signaled for silence, his finger pressed to his lips as he searched for the keyhole to the cell.
"Here's the keyhole, Uk-ssi!" one of the men pointed out.
"Sun An, help the maids. Hurry!"
After a few tense moments, Uk managed to unlock the cell.
"Let's go before the guards realize we're gone," Uk whispered.
"Wait! We have to take Wesungmo!" Myung Yu rushed to Woo's side, her heart sinking at the sight of the still figure.
"She's here?" Uk asked, following her gaze. His stomach twisted when he saw Woo's unmoving body. Myung Yu knelt beside her, placing a finger under her nose, then on her neck. She was cold before, but right now, she's stone cold.
Myung Yu's hands trembled as she whispered with her rattled voice, "She's gone..."
Uk sat down quietly at once, offering a silent prayer for Woo's soul, whilst heard those words from Myung Yu. After a while, he was back on track, patting the princess' shoulder to wake her up from the mourn.
"Gongju... we have to leave her. If we can, we'll come back for her," Uk gently urged.
"But..."
"Your safety is what matters most. Help is coming, but we have to escape first."
Myung Yu stared at Woo's body, heart shattered. She had promised to bring her home, but now she didn't know if she could keep that promise. Heaven would surely curse her for breaking it.
"Gongju..." Uk's voice was soft but firm as he took both her hands in his, squeezing them gently.
"We'll bring her home. But for that, you need to stay alive. Can you do that, for her sake?" His eyes searched hers for an answer.
Woo's final words echoed in Myung Yu's mind. She held the elder's hand one last time before wiping her tears.
"Let's get out of here," she whispered. Uk smiled, taking her hand, ready to lead her out of the darkness. They were prepared to fight anyone who stood in their way.
For justice.
For the people.