As soon as the sound of the gong stopped, the musicians also ceased playing. The hall began to grow restless. Sahol grabbed Bu-yeong by the arm and pulled her up, bringing the jade flute even closer to her neck.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

Gok-heon shot to his feet and started down the steps, but Sahol shouted,

“Take another step and I’ll kill her!”

Bu-yeong was so shocked that she couldn’t move. Wasn’t Seo-oh supposed to be the one to take her hostage? Glancing at Seo-oh, she saw that she was just as surprised by the turn of events.

In that instant, all their plans fell apart.

“If you release the Empress even now, your punishment won’t be severe.”

“If that were my intention, I never would have started this in the first place! Even if it’s only to appease the spirits of the Sui warriors slain by Jaeul’s soldiers, I’ll take your head today!”

No sooner had Sahol finished shouting than the envoys from the Sui and Susa delegations—who had been sitting quietly until then—suddenly drew concealed weapons and rushed at Jaeul’s imperial guards. They knew they had to act fast, before reinforcements could arrive.

The imperial guards formed a protective circle around Gok-heon, while Mu-won drew his sword and cut down the envoys charging at the emperor. Truth be told, he wanted nothing more than to run to Bu-yeong, but he couldn’t take that risk. If Sahol, in his frenzy, turned his blade on Bu-yeong, it would all be over.

Seo-oh was frozen, unable to do anything. From the beginning, she had never intended to attack anyone from Jaeul. Her only plan was to take Bu-yeong hostage and then pin all the blame on the Crown Princess.

“This isn’t what we agreed on!”

Seo-oh shouted. Sahol let out a cold laugh.

“Your only job was to pull the Empress down from the dais.”

“You—!”

Seo-oh raised her sword at Sahol, prompting his men to turn their blades on her immediately. However, the Susa envoys did not come to her aid. They were all the Crown Princess’s people, and their sole purpose was to kill the Emperor of Jaeul as she had ordered.

Gok-heon tore off his coronet and tossed it carelessly to the floor. He pushed through the guards blocking his way and stepped forward.

“What is it you want?”

“Chaos will erupt in Jaeul once the Emperor is dead. In that turmoil, Sui and Susa will each claim half of the nation for themselves. I’ve heard you’ve lost your senses over this woman. If you kill yourself now, I’ll spare Bu-yeong’s life.”

“Don’t do it!”

Bu-yeong shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Even if it means my death, Your Majesty must live. You have to protect Jaeul. Please, don’t let the people fall into ruin!”

Gok-heon quickly scanned the area around Sahol. Sahol’s close guards were busy fending off Seo-oh. But because they were there, it was almost impossible for anyone else to approach Sahol.

“If I die, will you really let Bu-yeong go?”

“Of course. She’ll be mine.”

“I don’t think that will be so easy.”

“What?”

Following Gok-heon’s gaze, Sahol turned his head and saw that Mu-won had quickly joined Seo-oh and cut down the men near Sahol.

Seo-oh seized his opportunity and went straight for Sahol’s arm. Sahol tried to dodge, but her flesh was cut and her grip weakened.

At that moment, Bu-yeong broke free from Sahol and ran forward.

Gok-heon rushed forward and pulled Bu-yeong into his arms, shielding her from the attackers. The imperial guards quickly closed in around the two of them.

“D*mn it.”
Sahol remembered Seo-oh’s warning not to underestimate the imperial guards of Jaeul. Just then, Mu-won charged at him. Sahol tossed his sharp jade flute to the ground and snatched up a sword dropped by one of his fallen men.

Mu-won and Seo-oh attacked Sahol simultaneously from front and back, but Sahol proved he hadn’t become a leader for nothing—he dodged their strikes with lightning speed. Soon, the remaining Sui envoys rushed in, attacking Mu-won and Seo-oh.

Realizing he had nothing left to lose, Sahol grabbed a longsword and lunged straight for Gok-heon.

“Four of you, hold off the Sui tribe men! The rest, protect the Empress at all costs!”

Gok-heon drew a sword from one of the imperial guards and rushed at Sahol. Other than Mu-won, Gok-heon was the only one in the hall capable of facing someone with Sahol’s skill. Four of the imperial guards blocked the Sui men trying to get to Gok-heon, just as he’d commanded.

In the middle of the banquet hall, a fierce duel erupted between Sahol and Gok-heon. When Sahol thr*st his sword forward, Gok-heon spun half a turn and knocked it aside. When Gok-heon brought his blade down, Sahol caught it precisely with the flat of his own sword and deflected the blow.

After several sharp clashes, blood spattered—Sahol’s thigh had been sliced open by Gok-heon’s blade. Yet even as blood poured down his leg, Sahol charged at Gok-heon again.

Watching from the sidelines, Bu-yeong’s heart pounded with anxiety. For now, she could only hope for Gok-heon’s victory. If he were to die here, it would be a disaster.

Just then, a group of people began making their way toward Bu-yeong—they were the attendants of the Crown Princess from Susa. The imperial guards did everything in their power to block them, knowing full well that if even a scratch were to appear on Bu-yeong, none of them would escape punishment.

Moments earlier, the banquet hall had been filled with laughter and joy, but now it was a scene of carnage—blood spilled across the floor, swords clashing, flesh torn apart in the chaos.

Gok-heon drove his sword into Sahol’s abdomen with a final, decisive thr*st. As soon as he pulled the blade free, a gush of blood sprayed out, staining his purple ceremonial robes and face. Yet Gok-heon didn’t so much as blink.

“You must have taken the medicine—the one in the wine.”

Sahol gasped out, struggling to speak.

Looking down at him, Gok-heon replied calmly.

“Ah, I’ve always had a strong resistance to medicine—or to poison.”

Sahol could only blame himself for not considering that possibility. He had simply assumed that everything would go smoothly once Gok-heon had drunk the drugged wine and either fallen asleep or lost his strength.

As Sahol’s defeat became apparent, the Sui tribe members focused on saving themselves, scrambling to escape with their lives. However, Mu-won had no intention of letting any of them escape; he was determined to annihilate them all before they could leave the hall.

The Sui envoys, however, still hadn’t given up. They continued to lunge their swords at Bu-yeong, but the imperial guards blocked every blow. Nevertheless, no defence is perfect. One sword slipped through a gap in the formation and was thr*st towards Bu-yeong.

At that instant, there was the sharp sound of something being pierced, but Bu-yeong hadn’t been hit. Nor had it struck one of the imperial guards.

“Your Highness, the Prince of Yeon!”

Someone shouted. At that moment, Bu-yeong caught a whiff of something foul and tattered—the smell of rotten rags mixed with seonmocho.

One of the imperial guards, supporting the wounded Gok-woo, hurried him over to Bu-yeong’s side. For now, Gok-woo was someone who needed to be protected as well. No matter his crimes, he was still of royal blood, and until an imperial order was given, he could not be allowed to die.

“S..sister…”

“How did you make it here in that condition? How could you possibly come all this way?”

“I… I’m sorry.”

Gok-woo managed, before losing consciousness.

Bu-yeong shook his body over and over, but there was no response from Gok-woo.

“Prince Yeon! Ye Gok-woo!”

Staring at the blood staining her hands, Bu-yeong felt completely helpless. But the disaster didn’t end there.

Sahol reached out and grabbed the jade flute lying on the floor, the same sharp flute he’d earlier used to threaten Bu-yeong. Summoning the last of his strength, he sat up and hurled the flute with all his might, straight at Gok-heon’s back as he ran toward Bu-yeong.

“Your Majesty!”

The chief eunuch shouted and rushed towards Gok-heon. Bu-yeong, sitting dazed and still holding Gok-woo, quickly turned to look.

The jade flute was lodged in Gok-heon’s back and he was leaning against the eunuch for support. Blood welled from his lips, though Bu-yeong sensed it wasn’t just the flute’s doing.

She began to tremble. Gok-woo lay bleeding and unconscious in her arms, while, far across the room, Gok-heon was slipping away as well. They were both her enemies, so why didn’t she feel even a shred of satisfaction?

“No… Don’t die. You can’t die.”

She whispered, pushing Gok-woo aside and running to Gok-heon.

Thankfully, Mu-won and Seo-oh had already subdued the chaos around them. Now only Jaeul’s soldiers were fighting, while the envoys from Susa and Sui were desperately defending themselves and trying to escape.

The chief eunuch eased Gok-heon to the floor, resting the emperor’s head on his thigh.

“Bring the royal physician—quickly!”

“Seol Bu-yeong…”

Even as his consciousness faded, Gok-heon called only for her. And as that desperate longing reached its peak, Bu-yeong finally arrived at his side. She dropped to her knees and grasped his shoulders.

“You mustn’t lose consciousness now!”

Tears welled up in her eyes and her nose stung.

“It only happened a little sooner, that’s all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Chief Eunuch.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Pass the throne to Myeong-hyeon, the grandson of my third uncle. Until Myeong-hyeon turns fifteen, the Empress will serve as regent.”

With that, Gok-heon reached behind him and, in a single motion, pulled the jade flute from his back. Blood immediately spurted from the wound; the sharp edge of the flute must have struck a major vessel.

“No, don’t!”

Bu-yeong pressed her palm to Gok-heon’s back, trying to stop the bleeding, but blood only streamed down her wrist.

“I’ll entrust the Jaeul you love so much to you.”

Bu-yeong shook her head, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Don’t say things like that! Please—live! Suffer, if you must, but live! Who do you think will just let you die so easily?”