Amid thick greenery, shadows blurred the edges of every shape, spreading a dim, heavy darkness.
As Bi Young ventured further, he spotted an old limestone cave. The walls were weathered, cracked, and stained with age. Strange vines crept along the stone, while deep cracks carved patterns into the surface, marking the passage of time.
Oil lamps, loosely attached to the walls, swayed with the breeze, their flickering light casting a ghostly glow. The sharp, overwhelming scent of sagwiyakcho herbs filled the air, hanging heavy around the cave.
In the center of the cavern stood a group of tall, strong men, their faces serious and still. Among them, two figures stood apart, Bi Young and another man dressed in unique attire.
Breaking the tense silence, Bi Young spoke in a low voice.
"I've finally come to pay my respects. Forgive me for being late."
"Nonsense," Suhen replied calmly. "It must have been hard to find out we were still alive. I understand."
Bi Young lowered his head slightly, as if burdened by guilt. His father's past actions lingered in his mind, making him feel unworthy. The journey here had been painful should he reveal the full horrors of Byro Kingdom's cruelty toward Schleiman?
He glanced at Suhen's thin, tired frame, worn down by hardship. A wave of guilt gripped him, his fists tightening at his sides. Meeting Suhen's eyes felt almost impossible.
But to Suhen, seeing Bi Young again was like spotting a small light in a vast, directionless ocean. For a moment, a faint, bittersweet smile crossed his face before vanishing into the dim light.
Suhen turned and sat at an old table made from a cut log, its surface covered in woven pampas grass. With a small motion, he gestured for Bi Young to sit across from him.
Once seated, Suhen looked at Bi Young closely and asked the question that had haunted him for years.
"That day… where were you? I was beside myself with worry, afraid something had happened to you."
"...Ah."
"You look untouched," Suhen said, his gaze sharpening with an intensity that was hard to read. "It makes me question what really happened that day."
His eyes carried an unsettling weight. Suhen remembered rushing to the VIP room to warn Bi Young about the surprise attack on his wedding day, only to find the room empty, Bi Young and his men were nowhere to be found.
Bi Young stiffened at the question, words catching in his throat. Beside him, Seoha, silent until now, glanced at him with concern.
I have to tell him.
After a long inner battle, Bi Young finally found the strength to speak. The words felt heavy, almost unbearable to say.
"I am deeply sorry," he said, his voice low and serious.
Suhen's expression shifted to disbelief. All eyes turned to Bi Young, the weight in his tone drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
"I must tell you the Byro Kingdom is involved in the attack."
"What are you saying?" Suhen's voice wavered, confusion clouding his face.
Bi Young lowered his head, pressing his lips tightly together, bracing himself for the storm his words might unleash.
"His Majesty, the king of Byro Kingdom, played a direct role in what happened to Schleiman."
"What... are you saying?" Suhen's voice was faint, almost a whisper, as the meaning of Bi Young's words began to sink in.
The Schleiman soldiers, who had been listening closely, exchanged uneasy glances. A ripple of murmurs spread among them, growing louder with each second.
Seoha, standing firmly beside Bi Young, tightened his grip on his sword. His stance was rigid, ready for any sudden move, his eyes scanning the room for threats.
Suhen sat frozen, unable to fully process what he had just heard.
This can't be true.
After a long silence, Suhen finally found his voice. His words came slowly, heavy with disbelief.
"Let me make sure I understand… Are you saying the Byro Kingdom planned the attack on Schleiman?"
Bi Young, his head bowed as though carrying the weight of a great sin, answered carefully, each word deliberate.
"…Yes."
"…"
"I didn't know… I had no idea Byro Kingdom was involved from the very beginning."
Shing
Shing-shing!
The sound of swords being drawn filled the cave, the gleam of steel flashing in the dim light.
Suhen, overwhelmed by shock, lost control and drew his own sword, aiming it directly at Bi Young's throat.
His sudden movement spurred the Schleiman soldiers into action. One by one, they raised their weapons, their anger clear. In response, Bi Young's guards followed suit, gripping their swords and locking eyes with the opposing forces.
Suhen's hand trembled as he held his blade steady, his eyes blazing with fury and tears he refused to let fall.
"Why… Why would you do this?!"
"…"
"You have the nerve to show your face here? Who are you to step foot in this place?!"
His voice, cold and cutting, echoed through the cave. Every word carried the barely contained urge to strike Bi Young down where he knelt.
Bi Young remained silent, his head still bowed. Then, with a calm and steady tone, he turned to his guards.
"Lower your swords."
The guards hesitated, their eyes flicking between the Schleiman soldiers and Bi Young. Slowly, one by one, they obeyed his command, lowering their weapons.
Bi Young then lowered himself further, kneeling fully on both knees before Suhen and the gathered warriors.
He looked up, meeting Suhen's gaze filled with contempt, and spoke softly, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
"I swear, I had no idea. If I'd known, I would have done everything I could to stop it."
"Hah! And what good are your words now?" Suhen sneered. "Do you think I'll be moved by empty apologies?"
A cold, bitter laugh escaped Suhen as he mocked Bi Young. The edge of his blade pressed against Bi Young's neck, slicing a thin line that sent a trail of blood trickling down his skin.
Still, Bi Young didn't flinch. He kept his head bowed, his voice calm and resigned.
"No apology can ever make up for what's been done. I know the Byro Kingdom's actions are unforgivable."
"Ha! Quite the noble admission," Suhen spat, his words dripping with contempt.
"I don't deserve to be here. And if you want to take my life, I won't resist."
"The audacity of you," Suhen said, his voice cutting. "You dare speak so boldly?"
"If that's what you want… then do it."
"You think I won't?" Suhen's voice grew colder as he pushed the sword harder against Bi Young's neck. The cut deepened, and the blood flowed more freely.
Despite the sharp sting of pain, Bi Young stayed silent, unflinching.
"Before you kill me, I beg you, Deputy Commander of Schleiman…"
"…"
"Please, give me a chance even the smallest to atone for my wrongs. I'll do whatever it takes to help."
Kneeling upright, Bi Young's voice was steady, filled with genuine remorse. Suhen glared at him, his face unyielding, his rage palpable.
"I've heard… there's a possibility Lady Roen is still alive."
"…Is that true?"
Bi Young's voice wavered, his resolve slipping for a moment. Suhen held his piercing stare for a beat before replying with cold precision.
"It's uncertain. I called you here to help uncover the truth, though I never imagined it would turn into something this disgraceful."
"Even knowing I had no right to face you, I came for this very purpose," Bi Young said quietly.
"…"
"I want to do whatever it takes to help find Lady Roen."
Suhen stayed silent, his thoughts clouded. The urge to strike Bi Young down still burned within him, but he understood that, for now, he needed Bi Young's help.
The original reason for summoning him surfaced in Suhen's mind, and his gaze softened, if only slightly. Sensing a glimmer of hope, Bi Young licked his dry lips and spoke again.
"I'll do whatever is necessary. For Schleiman, this is the only way I know to begin making amends."
A faint, bitter smile flickered across his face. Suhen regarded him with a hard, unyielding stare, muttering under his breath.
"If the Byro Kingdom is involved, it must have been for some cruel and selfish purpose."
"…"
"What good would come of seeking answers now? It's bound to reek of greed."
Suhen's words hit like blows, but Bi Young remained silent, unable to argue. He couldn't deny the truth in them.
Suhen turned his back on him in frustration but hesitated. Slowly, he turned again, his icy glare fixed on Bi Young, who still knelt before him.
"As much as I'd like to end your life right here, if only to restore a fragment of my fallen lord's honor…"
"…"
"Now is the time to seize any chance we have. Very well. I'll accept your offer."
Suhen's voice was firm, his decision made out of necessity rather than trust. Schleiman's forces were in no position to be selective about allies, not even those from Byro. Revenge could wait until they regained their strength.
With a tense jaw, Suhen sheathed his sword, motioning for the Schleiman soldiers flanking him to do the same.
He sat at the makeshift table, his sharp gaze fixed on Bi Young. Once Bi Young had taken a seat across from him, Suhen spoke in a calm but probing tone.
"So, tell me. What exactly can you offer?"
Under Suhen's intense scrutiny, Bi Young remained composed. He met the question head-on, his voice steady.
"You said Lady Roen might be alive in Bliderin, correct?"
"Yes. We searched everywhere, but there were no remains. I'm certain they took her. The real question is whether she's still alive. Finding out her fate is our top priority."
"I have a plan," Bi Young stated firmly.
The Schleiman soldiers around them leaned in, their curiosity piqued by his confidence, eager to hear more.
"I'll go to Bliderin myself."