"Daebak," Hyejin muttered as she paced in front of me. "Do you even think before you speak, Min Soo?"
I leaned against the wooden pillar of her chamber, arms crossed. "If everyone else in that court is so afraid to speak the truth, Noona, someone has to."
Her sharp gaze pierced me, but I held my ground. Hyejin always had a way of making me feel like a child being scolded, no matter how old I got.
"Appa's patience is running thinner than silk thread," she said, stopping to face me directly. "Do you want him to cast you out entirely?"
"He wouldn't dare," I replied, though the confidence in my voice felt hollow. "As much as he despises me, I'm still his son."
"For now," she snapped. "But you're making it easy for others to see you as a threat—or worse, a liability. Do you understand how dangerous that is, Min Soo-ah?"
I sighed, pushing off the pillar. "What do you want me to do, Hyejin? Bow my head and play the obedient son? That's Seok Hoon's role, not mine."
Her expression softened, though her frustration remained. "You think you're the only one struggling under the weight of Appa's expectations? You're not."
I hesitated. Hyejin rarely spoke about her own burdens, but the weight of her words hung heavy in the room.
---
Later that day, I joined her for a quiet walk through the palace gardens. It was rare for us to find moments like these—away from the watchful eyes of the court and the suffocating expectations of our roles.
"Do you remember when we were younger?" she asked, breaking the silence.
I glanced at her, confused by the sudden shift in tone. "What about it?"
"You used to be different," she said. "Not this... angry, closed-off person you've become."
I scoffed. "People change, Noona. You should know that better than anyone."
"Not like this," she replied firmly. "This isn't just change, Min Soo. This is you building walls so high even you can't climb over them."
I stopped walking, turning to face her. "And what would you have me do? Let Appa mold me into his perfect little puppet? Pretend I'm fine with the way this kingdom is falling apart?"
"Falling apart?" She raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you think?"
I gestured around us. "You can't see it? The cracks in the foundation? The court is divided, the provinces are restless, and Appa refuses to listen to anyone who doesn't agree with him."
"And what are you doing to fix it?" she shot back. "Besides making enemies at every turn?"
Her words stung, but I didn't have a response.
---
That evening, a feast was held in honor of a visiting delegation from Buyeo. The great hall was alive with music and laughter, but beneath the surface, tension simmered.
I sat at the far end of the table, away from the king and Seok Hoon, who were engaged in animated conversation with the Buyeo emissaries. Hyejin sat beside me, her expression unreadable.
"You should try to at least look interested," she whispered.
I picked at the food on my plate. "Why? They've already decided I'm not worth their time."
"Because every move you make is being watched," she replied. "Even now."
I glanced around the hall, noticing the subtle glances from the ministers and advisors. She was right.
Before I could respond, a commotion broke out near the entrance. A servant stumbled into the hall, clutching his side, blood seeping through his fingers.
"Assassins!" he gasped before collapsing to the ground.
The room erupted into chaos. Guards rushed to secure the doors, and the king rose to his feet, his face a mask of fury.
"Protect His Majesty!" one of the guards shouted.
I stood, my hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of the ceremonial sword at my side.
"Min Soo!" Hyejin grabbed my arm, her eyes wide with fear. "Stay close."
Before I could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows near the king's table. Clad in dark robes, the assassin moved with deadly precision, a blade glinting in his hand.
"No!" I shouted, but the guards were faster, intercepting the intruder before he could reach the king.
The clash of steel echoed through the hall as more assassins appeared, their faces obscured by masks. The guests screamed and scattered, seeking refuge behind overturned tables and pillars.
Hyejin and I were forced back against the wall, my grip on my sword tightening.
"Min Soo," she said urgently, "we need to get out of here."
"And leave Appa?" I retorted.
"Don't be stupid!" she snapped. "You'll only get yourself killed."
I hesitated, torn between the instinct to fight and the fear gripping my chest.
---
The battle was over as quickly as it had begun. The guards managed to subdue the attackers, but not without casualties. The king stood at the center of the hall, his robes stained with blood—not his own, but that of the assassin who had come closest to ending his life.
"Who sent them?" he demanded, his voice thunderous.
The surviving assassin remained silent, his gaze defiant.
"Answer me!" the king roared, striking the man across the face.
"Appa," Seok Hoon intervened, placing a hand on the king's shoulder. "We need to handle this carefully."
The king shrugged him off, turning to the guards. "Take him to the dungeons. I'll deal with him myself."
As the hall began to settle, I caught Hyejin's gaze. Her expression was one of worry, but also something else—something darker.
"Min Soo," she said quietly, "this isn't over."
As the assassin was dragged away, he locked eyes with me and smiled—a chilling, knowing smile that sent shivers down my spine.