The silence in the court was uncommon when Jin-Ho knelt before the Crown Prince. It was difficult to discern the prince's countenance because of the shadows generated by the candles' wavering light.
The prince's tone was unclear as he began, "You killed Kaida, the assassin." "How did you know about her plans beforehand, though, given her presence so deep within the palace?"
Jin-Ho's mouth clenched. The weight of suspicion was bearing down on him. The prince was starting to question even his most dependable guard as Seo Kyung's rumors were spreading more quickly than the facts.
Jin-Ho answered cautiously, "I took the necessary precautions to keep you safe, Your Highness."
The prince looked at him for a while. "Watch out, Jin-Ho. Loyalty might have two sides in a situation like this.
Mei Lin heard a frightening chat in a teahouse's quiet nook. Seo Kyung sat with two courtiers, gleefully speaking in a low voice.
"It's a lucky coincidence when an assassin dies," Seo Kyung muttered as he sipped his tea. "The guild will demand justice now that Kaida is gone, and I will make sure Jin-Ho bears the responsibility."
Mei Lin clinched her hands under the table. Seo Kyung was planning to paint Jin-Ho as a traitor to the throne, not only pursuing his reputation.
Her heart pounding, she snuck out of the teahouse unseen. Jin-Ho would be caught and put to death for treason if she didn't alert him in time.
As Mei Lin's warning reverberated in his ears, Jin-Ho leaned against the chilly stone wall of the barracks, his thoughts racing. This was a struggle for existence rather than merely a personal assault.
Jin-Ho whispered, "Seo Kyung won't stop until I'm dead." "And he's not the kind to fight with honor."
A few devoted guards gathered around him and listened intently. These were men he trusted, folks who had served alongside him in previous conflicts. Jin-Ho would give Seo Kyung a battle if he desired one.
"We fight smart this time," he declared. "We never fall behind."
Mei Lin and Jin-Ho met in the palace gardens as darkness fell, the lanterns flickering like far-off stars. "I can get in touch with someone within the guild," she muttered. "It will clear your name if we reveal Seo Kyung's alliance with Kaida."
Jin-Ho squinted her eyes. "Mei Lin, that's risky. They might turn against you.
She smiled at him, a little, sadly. Risk is an element of the work. Of all people, you ought to be aware of that.
Jin-Ho's determination wavered for a second. He couldn't bear to lose Mei Lin anymore after losing Zhen. He was aware that they had no other option. "Take care," he muttered.
Mei Lin nodded before vanishing into the darkness with a dexterity that only a spy could possess.
As Jin-Ho made his way back to his lodgings, fatigue beginning to seep into his bones, the wind howled through the palace courtyard. However, something didn't feel right. A candle flickers, a little out of place. There was a breeze where none should have been.
Before he could even react, a blade sprang from the darkness at his throat. The clash of steel reverberated through the night as Jin-Ho twisted and parried the attack with his sword.
Jin-Ho was quicker than the assassin as he attacked again. He quickly disarmed the assailant and slammed him against the wall. "Who sent you?" Jin-Ho hissed.
The assassin sneered, his mouth dripping blood. "You are aware already."
Jin-Ho felt a chill run down her spine. Seo Kyung was frantic and no longer only plotting in the background. Politics was done for the day. The last confrontation was approaching, and only one of them would leave this time.