Few hours earlier

Sitting in the library Soo-won was trying to read a report, but he was unable to focus. His thoughts were on the awaiting trial and he could not shake them. What was to be done? Should he kill his friends? He tried to look for other alternatives, but he could not find any. The crime was too grave for anything else than death. Even if other punishment was possible, Kye sook and the guards and the Sky Tribe soldiers who were involved in the coup would not accept anything else. He knew very well they wanted her dead. Yes, there was no other way. He could see that there was no point in prolonging this situation. If a stroke need to fall, it would be better to make it swiftly and without hesitation. The sooner, the better.

Yona felt herself overpowered and tied behind with a rope. Two strong soldiers were keeping her immobile while the third was tying her hands behind her back.

'Should we tie her legs?' Asked one of the soldiers.

,No,' said Kye sook calmly. 'Tying her hands is enough for now. It will be difficult to go with her anywhere if we do it. However,' and he changed the tone of voice and glared warningly at Yona, 'if she tries something again we will have to make sure she cannot go anywhere.'

'Thank you girls for your help,' said Kye sook turning to the girls who were standing next to him again.

'Is she really the princess Yona?' asked the higher one. 'Is it true?'

'It is,' replied Kye sook to her and both girls looked at each other.

'I have been taking her to His Majesty when she tried to escape. Of course, I will make sure that your help will be rewarded. What is your name?'

'You are too kind master Kye sook. We will do everything for His Majesty. My name is Ji-yoo and my friends Seo-yun, Su-mi and Mi-ja' replied to higher one presenting each girl. 'We will be always grateful for the goodness His Majesty bestow upon us.'

Yona observed the whole scene confused. She didn't understand. Why would these girls help in catching her? Why? She was looking at them stupefied. These questions painted themselves on her face and were noticed by Kye sook's shrewd eyes. He started talking as if she asked him.

'These girls are no friends of yours. You see Princess Yona. I have gathered information on you,' he said the last words in a slow and menacing manner. 'and apparently you know the problem the city of Awa had in the past.'

'Let's go.' he said to the soldiers and Yona felt pushed by one of the soldiers behind who was keeping the end of the rope in his hand.

Forgetting she is tied and not feeling anything Yona replied automatically. 'Kum-Ji?' Of course, she could not forget the first person she killed.

'Yes, Kum-Ji,' answered Kye sook. 'Thank you for confirming that my informants were right. As you know I suppose, Kum-Ji was a governor involved in human trafficking until the pirates of Awa took him down and saved the girls who were kidnapped and kept as prisoners at that time. However, there were still girls that were kidnapped earlier. Lord Soo-won send a group of soldiers and spies to retrieve as many of them as possible. Naturally, it was not possible to save all of them. Some were already dead by that time and we have lost track of many of those who were sold further and taken deep into Kai, but many of the girls could have been saved and were saved. Some of them returned to their homes and families, but there were those who had nowhere to return to. Lord Soo-won proposed that we take them to the palace and give them jobs. Do you understand Princess Yona?' He paused for a moment, turned back and looked at her. 'There are girls in this palace who were kidnapped and sold as slaves during your father's reign.'

'The girls who agreed to come are loyal and deeply grateful. They are often the first ones to report of any suspicious people and movements,' Kye sook stopped, but resumed after. 'I am sure you understand the importance of heaving loyal servants by now,' he stopped for a moment and added 'unlike your father.'

He turned to look at her smirking. Yona tried to keep calm. She didn't want to give him the pleasure seeing that his snarky remark has any effect on him. In this uneasy for her silence, although still preferable to Kye sook's maliciousness, they slowly reached their destination and at the end of long corridor she recognised familiar doors which led to the throne room.

Lily was rushing to the throne room. How? Why? She heard the information that Yona and others were imprisoned, but she also heard that the trial was supposed to take place tomorrow and now just by coincidence she overheard that the their trial was about to be begin. Why did it start earlier? As she run, she got reminded of the gossip that Mundok was coming. Could it be that Kye sook or Soo-won made it happen earlier on purpose so that he could not participate? Lily had no clear idea in her head what she should do, but she felt strongly that she needed to stop it somehow.

When Lily entered many higher officials were filling the room and Soo-won were already there. She looked for Yona, but she could not see her among the guards. Was she not with them?

The official next to her must have noticed what she is doing and whispered. 'We are waiting for princess Yona. Adviser Kye sook was supposed to come with her, but he is late.'

'Do you think there are problems?' asked another one. 'They say she had a sword with herself when the caught her.'

'So even she went against her father deluded ideas,' replied the first one.

Their conversation was broken by the entrance of Kye sook. The figure of her friend was visible behind him. She could see Yona looking intently at Soo-won.

Kye sook's voice broke the silence 'I apologise Your Majesty. We had small hurdles on the way, but I have come with princess Yona as promised.'

'Thank you adviser Kye sook. Let's begin the trial.'

Kye sook went to Soo-won's left side and started.

'We all know about the beacon lit by Kan Tea-jun. The person who ordered him to lit it was no other than Princess Yona. A beacon that should not have been lit for anything else than to inform His Majesty of an attack on Fire Tribe's borders was used to mislead His Majesty.'

'Do you deny it princess Yona?'

'No,' Yona replied in a calm and strong way.

Kye sook only smiled at this bold declaration. 'I have come here with a witness, but since princess Yona so readily admitted to her treason. I do not believe there is reason to prolong this trial. I can, naturally, still provide them if His Majesty deems it necessary,' Kye sook said while turning to Soo-won.

'This all right Kye sook, let's here if princess Yona has anything to say in her defence?'

'I have done it to stop the war with Xing. I do not believe I have done anything wrong. I would have done the same again if it were needed.'

A murmur of voices went through the room.

'Bold words princess Yona,' said Kye sook and turned towards others on in room. 'As you all can see she is a traitor and she would endanger Kouka to satisfy her fancy. She is dangerous and should be punished accordingly.'

Lily could hear voices supporting these idea.

Soo-won turned to Yona and asked her. 'Is there anything you would like to say?'

'Nothing more.'

'Very well. I find princess Yona guilty of treason, she will be put to death in two weeks.'

'You cannot do it!' words escaped Lily's mouth and she found herself next to Yona in a split of a second. 'You cannot kill her!'

'Lily,' Yona turned surprised by the cry.

'Please calm down miss Lily,' said Kye sook. 'There is no need for a scene.' But Lily paid no attention to him, she looked at Soo-won. She needed to change his mind. 'I will convince him,' said Lily. 'I will save you!' She told the last words while hugging Yona.

Few hours later

There was no time to lose. Lily asked to speak with Soo-won privately and to her surprise, he agreed. She came to a brightly lit room, where she was welcomed by Soo-won's smiling face. 'Come Lily, I was sure you would come.'