Mujin, overseeing the final stages of the encampment's withdrawal, rushed towards the harbor with three soldiers in tow. The scene that greeted them was one of utter devastation. Junks lay shattered, their masts the only visible remnants protruding from the churning water. Cargo, both loaded and awaiting transport, was scattered amidst the wreckage, bobbing alongside the bodies of those who had drowned. Survivors, those fortunate enough to escape the clutches of the sea, crawled onto the sand, retching seawater and gasping for breath. The damage was extensive; with the loading nearing completion and departure imminent, most of the oarsmen and a portion of the combat troops had already boarded the vessels. A lone soldier stood frozen in shock, his dry clothes suggesting he had narrowly escaped the disaster.
"What the fuck happened here?!" Mujin demanded, his voice sharp with urgency.
"A sudden wave..." the soldier stammered in terror.
"Assess the casualties," Mujin ordered. "Quickly!"
"Yes, sir!" The soldier scrambled towards the fallen, his legs shaking.
The survivor had called it a wave. But can such devastation truly be the work of nature's fury? Even from a distance, Mujin had witnessed the destruction, a monstrous surge that had swallowed the junks whole, like a living, writhing dragon. But his mission was clear: they had to depart. There was no time to ponder the cause of this catastrophe.
"What are your orders?" one of the soldiers asked, his voice trembling.
"Commandeer a fishing boat," Mujin instructed. "We must inform Sahpung of the situation. Now!"
Mujin's gaze swept across the ravaged harbor. Small fishing boats lay shattered, mere fragments of their former selves, tossed carelessly by the receding tide. Merchant vessels were nowhere to be seen, either lost to the depths or having wisely sought shelter before the storm. He could procure a vessel from Hyangdo to send to Sahpung, but the delay risked Hyeok's return to Birahng. And what of the warships now buried beneath the waves? Perhaps, when the tide receded further, he could enlist the local fishermen to help salvage them. But even if they managed to raise the ships, the soldiers lost within would remain unrecovered.
He had led half of the Shadow Legion's forces to this shore, and dozens now lay dead. Mujin counted the casualties, a grim tally that weighed heavily on his heart. He found small solace in the fact that most of the drowned men were oarsmen, their loss a tactical blow rather than a strategic one. But the relief was short-lived.
The soldier he had sent to assess the damage hadn't returned. His men, their clothes spread out to dry in the midday sun, grew restless. Should I send word to Dongrahng or Seorahng? Or will it be wiser to request reinforcements from Hyangdo, even if it means further delays?
As he pondered his options, the soldier reappeared, his chest heaving, his voice ragged.
"Enemy forces!" he gasped. "The blue flags approach!"
Mujin followed his outstretched hand, his gaze landing on the horizon. Beyond the hills leading to Nahmgyo, a vast army marched towards the harbor, their blue flags rippling in the wind. The distant sound of war horns reached them, a chilling echo across the ravaged landscape.
"Prepare for battle!" Mujin roared, his voice a thunderous command that echoed across the harbor.
The soldiers scrambled to their feet, retrieving their spears and shields, forming a hasty defensive line. The enemy forces continued their relentless advance. The recent flood had rendered their gunpowder useless, leaving them without cannons or firearms. The enemy gained momentum as they descended the hill, their numbers and formation becoming clearer with each passing moment. Fortunately, there were few cavalry among them, mostly infantry armed with a variety of weapons. Mujin, surveying the battlefield from behind the defensive line, grabbed a nearby soldier.
"Where is Her Highness?!" he demanded in urgency. "Find her, now!"
──────────
Kyeong'ui awoke to the damp chill of the forest, her senses flooded with the scent of moss and damp earth. A firm shoulder pressed against her stomach, and she realized she was being carried.
"Hongyoo?" she gasped, her eyes flying open. She struggled to sit up, her gaze darting around the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where are you taking me? Put me down!"
Hongyoo continued walking, ignoring her protests. Kyeong'ui pounded on his back, her voice rising in anger.
"Put me down now!"
He finally stopped, gently lowering her to the ground. The moment her feet touched the earth, Kyeong'ui lashed out, her hand connecting with Hongyoo's cheek in a resounding slap. His head snapped back, the sound of the impact echoing through the trees.
"Are you insane?!" she shrieked in fury. "What is the meaning of all this? What have you done with my soldiers?!"
Hongyoo met her anger with a calm demeanor. "I understand your surprise, Your Highness. But you'll soon understand. I'm doing this to save you."
"Save me?" Kyeong'ui scoffed. "Shut the fuck up! Take me back to the encampment right now! Then, explain everything!"
"You cannot return," Hongyoo stated firmly. "It's not safe. Whether you go back to the encampment or to Sunyahng, you won't survive."
Kyeong'ui's voice shook with disbelief and anger. "What are you talking about?!" she demanded.
"The vanguard set sail this morning," Hongyoo explained, his voice steady despite the turmoil around them. "By now, the Wi rebels in Nahmgyo will have launched their attack on the encampment. We have nowhere to return."
"Wi rebels?" Kyeong'ui's brow furrowed in confusion.
Hongyoo grasped her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Birahng is not part of Dahn," he stated, his voice low and urgent. "Myeonghyeon Ryang, the man you trust, and his sister, Myeonghyeon Seon, are the leaders of the rebellion. Even Seolyo Jin is complicit. Their loyalty was a facade. You suspected as much, didn't you? That's why you deceived them about the departure date."
"How do you know all this?" Kyeong'ui demanded sharply.
Hongyoo's expression turned grim. "I have also deceived you."
The weight of his confession, the years of betrayal it revealed, made Kyeong'ui's eyes widen in shock.
"What are you saying?"
"Sung is behind the rebellion," Hongyoo confessed, his voice heavy with guilt. "They promised to capture you and seize control of Birahng in exchange for their support. Once the civil war escalates, Sungian forces will invade from the north."
Kyeong'ui shook her head. "Father wouldn't allow it."
"Even if the rebellion is swiftly quelled, Your Highness, your life is forfeit. It was their condition: your return to Sunyahng, dead or alive, was not an option. You underestimate Dae-Sung. They are capable of far greater cruelty than you can imagine. I had to find a way to save you before revealing the truth. Any premature disclosure would have only endangered you further..."
"Did you just say Dae-Sung?" Kyeong'ui interrupted sharply.
Hongyoo fell silent. "Who are you?" Kyeong'ui pressed in disbelief.
Dae-Sung. The word echoed in her mind, a term used only by the arrogant emissaries of that powerful nation. And now, it fell from Hongyoo's lips. The man she had trusted, relied upon, even loved, for the past ten years, was a Sungian spy. A hollow laugh escaped her lips, the sound devoid of any mirth.
"So it was all a lie," she said flatly.
"Not anymore," Hongyoo insisted, his gaze unwavering. "And even then, my love for you was always true. I cursed my fate, the cruel hand that forced me to deceive you."
His words were sincere, his eyes filled with a desperate plea. But Kyeong'ui thought, Haven't I always believed him? How can I trust him now, when he claims his past affections were a lie? If his promise to save her, his desperate declaration of love, was just another deception, then her life was truly forfeit.
"How can you save me," she asked, her voice laced with a bitter resignation, "when even my father cannot?"
"Come with me," Hongyoo urged. "The sea routes from Dongrahng are still open. Once we leave Birahng, we can disappear. No one will find us. It's a long journey, through Soyeol, but we'll be safe there, anonymous. You can finally leave behind the fear, the burdens of your royal life. You can simply be Mihn, the woman I love. And I... I can finally love you without deception, without reservation. I can protect you. Trust me."
Kyeong'ui struggled against his grip, her voice rising in anger. "Let me go! We can't talk like this!"
But Hongyoo's grasp remained firm. "Mihn, come with me. I can keep you safe. Only I can."
His touch was forceful, but his eyes held a desperate plea. Kyeong'ui stared into them. Is it love I see, or madness? She couldn't be sure. But one thing was clear: she couldn't escape his love or madness, not now.
"Have you truly loved me?" she asked.
"I have. I do," Hongyoo replied firmly.
Kyeong'ui pressed further. "Will you die for me?"
"I always will," he confessed.
Kyeong'ui's voice was steady, her gaze unwavering. "Yes," she said. "I'll go with you. I'll live wherever you take me."
Relief washed over Hongyoo, a bittersweet smile gracing his lips.
"But I'm afraid," Kyeong'ui confessed.
"I know," Hongyoo replied, his voice soft and reassuring. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright."
"Hold me," Kyeong'ui pleaded, her eyes searching his.
Before she could finish, Hongyoo's arms enveloped her, pulling her close. He held her tightly, savoring the warmth of her body, the feel of her against him. He'd feared he would never hold her again.
"I love you, Mihn," he whispered.
Then, a sharp, cold sensation pierced his abdomen. Hongyoo looked down, his eyes widening in disbelief. A dagger, small but deadly, protruded from his stomach. Kyeong'ui's voice, filled with a newfound strength, rang through the air.
"I am a royal of Dahn," she declared. "My title is Princess Kyeong'ui, the steadfast."
Kyeong'ui's hand trembled, the dagger still lodged deep within Hongyoo's abdomen. He stared at the wound, its fatal location. He reached for her hand, his own trembling as he grasped hers. The fear, the shock of piercing another human being, transmitted through their intertwined fingers. Kyeong'ui remained frozen, the dagger unwavering.
"If you've seized your chance..." Hongyoo gasped, "you must not falter."
He tightened his grip, forcing the dagger deeper, guiding it towards his heart. Life ebbed away with each agonizing breath. Kyeong'ui's eyes filled with tears, her resolve crumbling. Why does she weep, when she should be strong, resolute? Hongyoo, who had planned countless deaths, who had wielded power without mercy, now felt the cold embrace of mortality, a sensation he had never truly understood. He reached out, his trembling fingers caressing her cheek.
It's alright. If it must end, then ending by your hand... it's alright. But what will become of you now, alone and vulnerable? This is my end... my end... by your hand...
Hongyoo's body slumped to the damp earth, his lips twitching in a final, silent spasm. Kyeong'ui stared at his lifeless form, her legs trembling, threatening to give way.
"Hongyoo," she whispered. But there was no answer. The silence was deafening, a crushing weight that suffocated her. Tears streamed down her face, her sobs echoing through the empty clearing.
"I'm sorry," she cried, her voice broken. "I'm so sorry."
She stumbled back, repeating the words like a prayer. "I'm sorry, Hongyoo. I'm so sorry."