Two hours before midnight, the palace's rear gate stood shrouded in the silver haze of moonlight. A faint chill drifted in from the north, rustling the torches that lined the stone walls. Beneath that wavering glow, Queen Genie stood poised beside her black stallion, its breath curling in the cold air.
Chief Han's brow was furrowed as she glanced at the Queen.
In a voice low but urgent she said, "Your Majesty… you must be careful tonight."
Beside her, Lady Park stepped forward, the folds of her heavy overcoat sweeping the ground as she reached for the reins. Her eyes glimmered with concern.
"You must return safely, Your Majesty."
Genie's lips curved into a calm smile, one that softened the night's tension.
"Do not worry. While I am away from the palace, I leave matters in your capable hands."
Chief Han gave a slow shake of her head, her grip on her sword firm.
"It is not a burden, Your Majesty. It is our duty."
A shift in the air made Genie glance toward the shadowed courtyard beyond the gate. Footsteps—quick and steady—cut across the quiet, drawing every gaze. From the darkness emerged Jade, striding toward them with a determined pace, the faint glint of lamplight catching the silver clasp at his cloak.
He halted before her, bowing deeply.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. I was delayed with work."
In truth, it had been Enna's sudden visit that had tangled his evening, pushing his departure later than planned.
"It's fine," Genie replied, her tone even but her eyes lingering a fraction longer than necessary.
Jade mounted his waiting horse, the leather creaking under his weight, and fell into place. The company was now complete. Thirty mounted warriors lined the narrow stone road, their faces resolute, their armor glinting faintly beneath the moon.
The Queen's gaze swept over them, her voice carrying clearly through the night.
"Shall we go?"
In unison, the warriors straightened in their saddles, their reply ringing like steel drawn from its sheath.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
She tightened her grip on the reins, the stallion shifting restlessly beneath her, ready to set off—
"Your Majesty!"
The cry rang out from behind, cutting through the crisp night air.
Every head turned toward the voice.
The Queen's eyes widened ever so slightly, and even Jade's composure faltered.
"Moonsen."
Moonsen came to a stop before her, his breath unsteady, his chest rising and falling from the run. His usually well-kept hair was disheveled, a few strands clinging to his temple in the torchlight.
"I feared Your Majesty had already departed, so I came in haste."
From within his cloak, he produced a small bundle, unwrapping it to reveal a hand warmer and neatly stacked sweet rice pancakes, their steam curling into the night. He extended them upward with both hands.
"Though it is spring, the nights are still cold," he said softly. "Keep this close, and use it when the chill sets in."
From her saddle, Genie accepted them, her gloved fingers brushing against his. The faint scent of warm rice drifted up to her, mingling with the sharp air. She smiled—genuine, touched.
Off to the side, Jade's gaze flicked between them, the warmth of the moment striking an unwelcome chord in his chest.
Moonsen's eyes lingered on her, a quiet earnestness shining through.
"Please… return safely, Your Majesty."
'What a warm-hearted man,' Genie thought, her lips curving again.
"Thank you."
Jade's voice came, clipped and edged with restraint.
"Your Majesty, let us depart."
Her expression shifted back to command. She gave a firm nod and tugged at the reins.
'Lord, please be with us.'
The rear gate groaned open. Hooves struck the cobblestones as her horse advanced, the Queen passing first into the vast darkness beyond.
One by one, the warriors followed, armor catching the faint gleam of moonlight. Jade rode close behind her, his jaw set, hiding the bitterness that still simmered.
Thus, under the quiet shroud of night, with thirty loyal warriors at her back and a vow burning in her heart to eradicate the bandits plaguing Hana, the Queen rode out from the palace—toward danger, toward justice.
Under the vast, ink-black sky, a luminous full moon ascended slowly, casting its silver glow like a gentle caress upon the rugged mountain path. The soft beams draped over Queen Genie and her warriors, riding tirelessly through the night, their horses' hooves drumming a steady rhythm against the earth.
Time seemed to stretch and fold as they pressed on, leaving the familiar warmth of the palace far behind. The cool mountain air whispered past them, carrying a fragile stillness, broken only by the faint clatter of hooves echoing through the shadowed valleys.
Ahead of the line, Jade's voice cut softly through the quiet.
"Your Majesty, are you not tired?"
Genie's figure remained steadfast, her gaze fixed forward, unblinking.
Without turning, her voice came, calm and unyielding.
"I'm fine."
A weighty silence settled between them, vast and fragile. The moonlight painted sharp edges on Jade's profile—the depth of his eyes, the strength of his nose—features she'd never fully noticed until now. Her breath caught, heart fluttering unexpectedly.
In a moment of vulnerability, Genie tilted her head slightly, breaking the silence.
"How is the military these days? I've been so consumed by the diplomatic mission, I haven't been able to keep up with the army."
Jade's reply was soft, almost blending with the night breeze, carrying the weight of duty and quiet pride. "Many new warriors have recently joined the palace. We are focusing on joint training to build their strength and unity. And, to prepare for any emergencies, we are planning to reorganize the armory here in the capital, Your Majesty."
Genie gave a hesitant nod, the gesture awkward and stiff. She longed to say more—words to bridge the sudden distance—but her mind went blank, trapped in an unfamiliar silence.
'It wasn't this uncomfortable when it was just the two of us before,' she thought, a flicker of unease prickling at her chest.
The warriors trailing behind seemed to sense the fragile atmosphere, their breaths quiet, their gazes respectful, as if not wanting to disturb the delicate balance of the queen's conversation with her commander.
Just then, Danjin, the deputy commander, stepped forward from the shadows, his voice breaking the tension with ease. "Your Majesty, how was life in Arabia?"
Relief warmed Genie's face as she welcomed the shift.
"I was happy. Because I was free."
"What kind of freedom did you feel, Your Majesty?" Danjin asked gently.
A soft smile bloomed on Genie's lips as memories floated to the surface.
"Since I was young, I always dreamed of exploring the wide world beyond these walls. In Arabia, every day was a new journey—meeting strangers, tasting foreign spices, breathing in different skies. It was a time I could live as myself, without the weight of the name 'princess.'"
Jade glanced sideways, catching the gentle glow of happiness playing across her profile. In that quiet moment, beneath the watchful moon, something unspoken passed between them—hope, and perhaps, a flicker of something more.
A soft smile slowly spread across Jade's face, mirroring the quiet warmth in Genie's expression. The deputy commander, sensing the moment's tenderness, leaned in slightly and asked again, "I have another question, Your Majesty. How did you feel when you met the commander-in-chief again after eleven years in Arabia?"
Genie blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.
'What kind of question is this,' she thought, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Jade, riding just behind her, glanced nervously at the deputy commander, his eyes reflecting a subtle unease.
"It was good," Genie answered simply.
Though brief, her words hung in the cool night air, soft and sincere. Jade's lips curled into a small, almost shy smile—those two words echoing gently in his mind like a whispered promise.
The deputy commander turned his gaze toward Jade, curiosity bright in his eyes.
"And how did Minister feel when he saw Your Majesty again after more than ten years?"
His voice was filled with eager anticipation, as if hoping to draw from Jade a glimpse of the emotions hidden beneath his calm exterior.
Jade's thoughts drifted back—back to that blazing Arabian sun, to the moment when he first laid eyes on Queen Genie again, no longer the princess he once knew but a woman transformed by time and distance.
The memory stirred something deep within him—an old ache wrapped in new hope—quiet and powerful beneath the moonlit sky.
"It was good." Jade's voice came low but steady, carrying a quiet certainty that cut through the night air.
Danjin's face lit up like a child who had just received the answer he longed for, his eyes sparkling with delight.
Ahead, Genie's lips curved into a genuine smile, soft and unguarded as she rode forward.
'So Jade was happy too.'
The thought blossomed within her chest, setting her heart to flutter with a gentle warmth.
Beneath the pale glow of the full moon, their silhouettes moved steadily through the shadowed foothills, the night wrapping them in its quiet embrace as queen and warriors pressed onward—united, yet carrying the delicate weight of unspoken feelings between them.