Crown Prince Tae-Min strode slowly in the faint light of his private study, his face taut with contemplation. Feeling the weight of the prince's attention, Jin-Ho stood silently. Rumors that Jin-Ho had deeper ties to the assassin guild than anybody had suspected had been circulating the palace for days.
The prince paused to meet Jin-Ho's gaze and remarked, "They say you knew the assassin who ambushed me."
Jin-Ho's chest grew constricted. He was unable to refute it, but he was also unable to disclose the whole truth. "I knew him... but not as an ally, only from my past."
The prince's face was still unreadable. "Jin-Ho, the court does not treat men with conflicting allegiances well."
Jin-Ho dropped his head, his calm exterior belying simmering rage. Each stride he took to serve the crown only seemed to lead him deeper into suspicion.
Seo Kyung was sitting in a remote tea house on the outskirts of the city, opposite Kaida. Their alliance was shaky and based on animosity; Kaida wanted to get rid of Yun Zhen's residual weakness, and Kyung hated Jin-Ho for making fun of him.
Kyung swirled the tea in his cup and remarked, "We have to make him stumble." "Something that will destroy the prince's trust."
Kaida grinned. "Give that to me. I'll see to it that Yun Zhen and Jin-Ho reunite, but this time the prince won't question his allegiance.
Kaida's eyes glowed icily as Kyung nodded in accord. There was the ideal trap.
Lanterns flickered above Jin-Ho and Mei Lin as they sat in the shade of a peaceful garden late at night. She spoke softly yet firmly. "Kaida has any plans. They will use it to accuse you of betraying them if you accept the prince's next task.
Jin-Ho's hands clenched. "How should I proceed? Deny an order?
Mei Lin's hand touched his arm as she leaned in closer. It's more than just you. Zhen is getting more and more sucked into Kaida's web. If he let her down once more.
Although she did not complete the phrase, it was obvious that Zhen would not live through his next setback.
Torn between duty and the lingering ties he had with Yun Zhen, Jin-Ho gazed off into the horizon. Was he going to leave Zhen to his own devices?
Master Chu's words pierced the quiet like a blade at the center of the assassin guild. "Zhen, there aren't any second chances in this life."
Chu's icy gaze pierced Yun Zhen, who stood rigid. "You've already failed once. I showed mercy. However, you'll discover that mercy is a transient emotion. The smile that curved Chu's lips was cold.
Chu went on, "Kaida tells me you have one last chance." "You kill Jin-Ho without hesitation when he next appears. Or I won't send him the next dagger. It'll be for you.
With a numb mind, Zhen nodded superficially. He could no longer make the decision.
The prince's orders weighed heavily on Jin-Ho's shoulders as he saddled his horse under the pale gray dawn sky. He was aware that Yun Zhen would be waiting for him and that the assignment would put him right in the middle of danger.
He inclined to turn around, to drop the mission, to avoid the trap that was being prepared for him. But he wasn't like that. No matter the cost, honor required that he ride on.
Jin-Ho got on his horse and rode toward his doom as the capital's gates opened and the wind rustled through the trees. Should the encounter with Zhen be unavoidable, he would tackle it head-on—and without hesitation this time.