Ryang accepted Sobi's desperate proposal with a curt nod. As he turned to leave, Sobi stepped forward, falling to her knees.
"Then please allow the High Emissary to return to Nahmgyo," she pleaded.
Ryang replied without hesitation, "No."
"I understand your concerns," Sobi said, "but the marriage preparations won't proceed without the High Emissary."
"Are you saying they won't proceed, or you won't proceed?"
"High Councilor."
"Didn't you say the High Emissary gave you the authority?" Ryang asked. "Then the decision lies with you, doesn't it?"
"That's true, but the elders..."
"You just begged me to release Norahn so you could stall the marriage preparations," Ryang interrupted. "If you can't control the elders, how do you intend to delay it? What am I supposed to believe?"
"It would be easier to persuade them if the High Emissary were present."
"No, it would be the opposite." Ryang's distrust was absolute.
Sobi's frustration grew, but she couldn't offer any other reassurances. Ryang pressed his advantage.
"Now that I think about it, you'll need our resources for the marriage preparations," he said. "The High Emissary is here, the resources are here, and the Guardian is here. Return to Hyangdo as soon as possible, bringing those necessary for the preparations. It would be better for Nahmgyo's defenses as well."
"High Councilor, please..." Sobi begged.
"I've heard enough," Ryang said coldly. "You may leave."
Sobi remained kneeling. Ryang's sharp gaze urged her to rise, and she reluctantly obeyed. Seon, who had been watching anxiously, shot Ryang a disapproving look, then followed Sobi out. Sobi's slumped shoulders and defeated expression tugged at her heart. She caught up to Sobi before she reached the gate.
"My brother was out of line just now," Seon said gently. "Don't take it to heart. He's not himself."
"I understand," Sobi replied with a faint smile. She bowed to Seon. "Thank you for your concern. I'll see you soon."
Seon stopped her. "You'll have to leave tomorrow to receive the letter from my brother, won't you?" she asked. "Where will you find lodging at this hour?"
"I was told to find a place for the Emissaries to stay," Sobi replied.
"The houses in Hyangdo are in disarray," Seon insisted. "At least stay here comfortably."
Sobi politely declined. "I cannot enjoy such comfort while the others suffer. The Emissaries are already discontent."
"Tell them you spent the night pleading for the High Emissary's release," Seon suggested.
"But..."
"I'll send food and bedding for the other Emissaries."
Sobi hesitated, then sighed. "This kindness is unnecessary," she said.
"I wouldn't be able to rest easy otherwise," Seon insisted.
Sobi, seeing no way out, accepted her offer. Seon instructed her servants to prepare a bath for Sobi and clean a room in her quarters. The household bustled with activity, but Ryang remained secluded, as if oblivious to the guest in his home.
Sobi returned from her bath and was patting her wet hair dry when Seon quietly entered the room. Seon sat beside her, their knees almost touching. Sobi, unsure of her intentions, continued drying her hair, stealing glances at Seon. After a long silence, Seon spoke.
"I heard about what happened in Ju," she said softly.
Sobi's eyes filled with tears, and she squeezed them shut. "I'm so sorry," she choked out.
"I didn't come here to hear that." Seon, flustered by Sobi's sudden display of grief, reached out and took her hand, her touch gentle and reassuring.
"I haven't forgotten how you comforted me that night when my brother disappeared," she said. "You held me close, and we talked until dawn. Let me be here for you tonight."
Sobi opened her eyes, her gaze filled with surprise and confusion. Seon put an arm around her, pulling her closer. Sobi hesitated, then leaned against Seon's chest, her damp hair leaving a dark stain on Seon's clothes. Seon's body felt warm, almost feverish. The warmth, combined with the weight of her recent experiences, threatened to overwhelm Sobi, but she fought back the tears, taking deep breaths to steady herself.
"I shared the ginger chips you gave me with the others on the journey," she said. "It made the trip more bearable."
"I'm glad," Seon replied, gently stroking Sobi's shoulder.
"I should have surrendered to Cheon Hwan before he killed them," Sobi whispered, her voice filled with regret. "I'm so sorry... I failed them... I failed you..."
"They were the Myeonghyeon men," Seon said. "He wouldn't have spared them anyway. Don't blame yourself."
"The High Councilor hasn't even asked about them," Sobi said, her voice laced with bitterness. "He didn't even flinch when the High Emissary told him about the sails made from their skin."
Seon, sensing her resentment, offered an excuse for her brother's behavior. "He's not that heartless," she said. "You wouldn't know it, but he's actually quite kind and caring. But after losing so many of our men at sea, he's closed himself off. He even scolded me when I mourned their deaths last spring. He said we couldn't afford to grieve every time, not with so many more deaths to come."
Sobi looked up at her. "Do you think that's right?"
"It's necessary," Seon replied with a sad smile. "But it's not easy."
She looked down at their hands, intertwined, and tightened her grip. Sobi realized how much she had longed for human touch. Seon's fingers gently traced the lines of Sobi's palm, sending shivers down her spine. She looked up to find Seon's eyes close and warm, her gaze filled with a tenderness that made Sobi's heart pound.
"Lady..." Sobi whispered.
Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying, but her gaze was steady, the fine lines of blood vessels in her eyes like delicate petals. Her cheeks, though gaunt, were still damp with tears. Seon found her vulnerability beautiful, a fragile beauty that made her want to hold onto Sobi's sadness.
Seon leaned in, her lips capturing Sobi's. The touch of her tongue, exploring Sobi's mouth, was both familiar and unfamiliar. Sensations, long dormant, reawakened. Sobi, forgetting the weight of her past and her responsibilities, surrendered to the moment, her body melting against Seon's. Seon's hands roamed over Sobi's clothes, caressing her chest and neck, then gently pushed aside the white robe that draped over her shoulder. Sobi's hand suddenly reached out, gripping Seon's wrist.
"I'm an Emissary," she whispered, her voice breathless, her face buried in Seon's neck.
She pulled away slightly, her eyes pleading. Seon slowly withdrew.
"I know," she said softly.
She kissed Sobi's neck, then gently adjusted her disheveled clothes and held her close. Sobi clung to Seon's robes, her forehead pressed against her chest. Though her body still trembled with the echoes of their passion, exhaustion and grief soon lulled her to sleep. Seon, like Sobi had done for her, listened to her soft breaths and stayed by her side throughout the night.
After watching Sobi fall asleep, Seon kissed her forehead and left the room. Ryang, having spent the night drafting a letter, went to Seong at dawn. Sobi, replaying the memories of the previous night, waited anxiously. After midday, Ryang summoned her and handed her the letter bearing Seong's seal.
"Meet the High Emissary before you leave," Ryang instructed. "I'll grant your access."
Sobi bowed, accepting the letter. Ryang showed no concern for her safety, even though returning to Nahmgyo with a message of defiance could mean death.
Sobi sent the other Emissaries to the harbor ahead of her, then went to see Norahn, who was confined to the guesthouse. He sat in his room, his white robes draped neatly around him. Sobi bowed, shame washing over her as she remembered the events of the previous night.
"You're returning now?" Norahn asked.
"Yes, Your Sanctity."
"Did the Guardian approve the High Councilor's letter?"
"He did."
"Did the High Councilor say anything else?"
"I pleaded with him to allow you to return to Nahmgyo for the marriage preparations," Sobi explained, "but it was no use. He insists that I return to Hyangdo within seven days to proceed with the ceremony."
Norahn sighed, his long lashes fluttering against his pale cheeks. He removed the jade pendant from his neck and offered it to Sobi.
"Take this," he instructed. "Tell them that if you do not return with this pendant, there will be no High Emissary."
His voice was calm, despite the ominous message. Sobi accepted the pendant with trembling hands.
"Why are you going so far for me?" she asked.
"You are the Third Emissary I appointed," Norahn replied simply. "It's my duty."
Sobi broke down, tears streaming down her face. Norahn gently placed his hand on her bowed head. She wept, her body shaking with sobs. Norahn waited patiently, his hand a steady presence on her back. When her sobs subsided, she looked up, her face stained with tears.
"Your Sanctity, I don't know what to do," she confessed.
"If your life doesn't waver, you can stand firm anywhere," Norahn reassured her.
"And you?" Sobi asked. "Do you not waver?"
"The High Emissary has no life left to waver," Norahn replied.
Sobi worried that his detachment was a mask for despair, his life a sacrifice she couldn't comprehend. She pushed aside her pity, reminding herself that she shouldn't feel sorry for the High Emissary. She rose and bowed deeply.
"I'll be back," she promised.
Sobi left, her heart heavy.
The waters around Hyangdo were treacherous, filled with reefs, so the ships departing for the other cities set sail before late afternoon. The soldiers Joon had assigned boarded the ship with the Emissaries. Sobi stood at the railing, watching Hyangdo recede into the distance. As the ship rounded the cape, the city's fortified walls disappeared behind the black cliffs.