Yona appears on screen, donned in a cloak and holding a sword in one hand, the blade stabbed into the ground beneath her.
The princess stares into the distance, her hardened gaze that of someone who has seen through it all.
She speaks a few curt sentences to an unknown person, whose voice is too low to pinpoint their identity.
Everyone blinks at how much more mature she looks. Not that she looks necessarily older, but she gives off an aura of someone much, much wiser. As though her young body has already gone through horrors and trials enough to last multiple lifetimes.
"A glimpse of the future," the Crimson Dragon explains at their befuddled expressions. Though King Hiryuu may be out of sight, his voice is still clearly heard by all.
Incredible, Jaeha thinks. To be able to see even the future… Is it set in stone? He who pursuits freedom endlessly loathes the idea of a future that can't be changed. He refuses to believe in it, even.
And then on screen, accompanied by the princess's wistful thoughts, time begins to rewind… back to the past.
A younger Princess Yona appears on the screen, her carmine hair flowing down her back in generous waves, and a faint blush on her cheeks.
Lili's eyes widen at how adorable the princess looks with her long, wavy red hair and a light brush dusting her cheeks. The Yona that she knows is still cute, but the version of the princess that she is seeing now, the one who has yet to face all those adversities, is so different.
She looks like a budding flower, timidly taking its first steps into the vast world.
Soowon's heart clenches at the sight of the princess, so innocuous and lively. But not for long, he thinks wretchedly. Because of him.
"So the princess had long hair originally? I remember her hair was shorter when we first met. She looks so pretty, as expected of our master! Also, I don't think her hair is weird at all, it's a precious symbol of her as our master!" Kija spouts excitedly, talking to mostly the Happy Hungry Bunch.
Shinah nods silently in agreement while Jaeha rolls his eyes at Kija's exuberance, telling the overeager Kija to calm down.
Taejun gulps, suddenly recalling why exactly it is that the princess will have shorter hair later. Or rather, whose fault it is. He sinks even lower in his seat when he realizes that everyone will be privy to his pathetic moment soon enough.
King Il appears on screen, speaking affectionately to his daughter.
Tension rises in the room, almost palpable in its stifling intensity. The atmosphere in the chamber immediately plummets to glacial coldness as they all take in the deceased emperor – who was still alive and healthy on the screen.
As if on cue, everyone turns to look at Soowon… whose face is a mask of impassiveness. But inwardly, to him, seeing first Yona, and now King Il, is like taking two poisoned arrows to his heart.
Arrows that carry with them seeds of doubt and unease, wondering if what he really did was right… But no, he could not afford to care about such sentiments now. He had already cast them aside long ago, so why are feelings akin to guilt taking root in him now?
Jaeha notices that not everyone is glancing at Soowon surreptitiously, though. Hak is looking at the screen, his expression equally inscrutable as he takes in his former master's appearance.
Right now, Hak is recalling the promise he made to King Il, to always protect the princess. He has upheld his end of the bargain ever since the king passed away, and he prays that when they return to the real world, the princess will be fine.
King Hiryuu did assure them that no time will have passed when they return, right?
As Yona complains about her red hair, Hak appears on screen, and the pair soon fall into familiar banter.
The princess loses her cool completely when Hak abruptly mentions Soowon's arrival.
"Why didn't you say that sooner?!" Yona yells accusingly, going into a frenzy that baffles her oblivious father, who tries and fails to calm her down.
At present, everyone who is aware of Yona's crush on Soown cringes. In fact, Soowon himself shifts in his seat uncomfortably.
And by "everyone aware"… It literally means everyone except for Geuntae, Joongi, Kyoga and poor Taejun who feels uneasy as he tries to deny to himself that the princess likes Soowon romantically.
It must be platonic love! Because he's her cousin! Taejun consoles himself, choosing to overlook the news that Heukchi had told him in passing of his own cousins marrying each other.
Yoon recalls the time when he accidentally dropped Yona's hairpin into the ditch, and though Hak did not reply when he asked if Yona was in love with Soowon… Watching her flustered reaction on screen is enough to confirm for all of them that yes, the princess was truly in love with Soowon.
What a nasty tragedy, Jaeha thinks, tasting ash on his tongue for he knows how the future will play out. And it is not a pretty one for the young princess, blinded by love.
Yona's eyes are sparkling with invisible, jittery hearts as she bumps into Soowon, who flashes her a gentle smile. They engage in light conversation, the lord seemingly unaware of the princess's feelings for him.
Wolf in sheep's clothing, Kija thinks, annoyed by how nice Soowon – the on screen – is being to Yona when he will soon betray her.
Hak has no qualms about expressing his disgust, as he lets out a contemptuous scoff at the scene of Soowon treating Yona with fondness.
Soowon remains silent, but Kyesook twitches beside him, irritated by Hak's insolence.
"Dear? Sweet?" Yoon mutters under his breath, quoting the princess's sugary thoughts directed at Soowon. "Yona must have been blind."
"Hey! Don't insult the princess!" Kija yells on auto-pilot, then mumbles in a more resigned tone. "Though in this case even I have to question her judgment…"
Geuntae, who has no idea about King Il's murder, is rather puzzled at how coldly they are treating Soowon.
Little does he know… But he will soon enough.
As Yona sulks at the way Soowon is treating her like a child, Hak chimes in with another one of his irreverent quips.
Kija's face grows paler and paler at each of Hak's remarks.
Whirling to face Hak, Kija spits out angrily, "how can you be so rude to the princess! She who is the most elegant and wise princess, who has always led us through the tough times…" He continues to ramble on until Jaeha cuts in, "Kija, shut up or I will kick you in your face."
Kija turns to him, sulking with a look of betrayal, "Jaeha!"
"I gave you a warning. If it were anyone else I wouldn't even have bothered." Jaeha reminds him, and Kija brightens, now absorbed in his creative imagination where he and Jaeha are best friends forever (only in his mind, since Jaeha will really kick him if he knows what absurd fantasies Kija is concocting).
Shinah pats Ao, innocently thinking about how Kija and Jaeha are so close. In his eyes, the two dragons look like the best friends that Kija is imagining.
Meanwhile, Mundok is cracking his knuckles menacingly. "To be so discourteous to the princess…" He trails off ominously, glaring at Hak.
Hak merely raises a brow. "What, old man?"
"Old man?! I told you to call me your grandpa!" Mundok retorts fiercely, but Hak only digs his ears, content to tune out his self-proclaimed grandfather's ensuing rant.
The screen depicts a scene of the past when Yona had just lost her mother, and Soowon was comforting her. Declaring that he would be her mother, Soowon clutched Yona's hands and whispered sweet words of solace to her.
Watching the younger version of himself on screen is bizarre. Soowon's heart feels like it's getting pricked by sharp needles, and he has to stop himself from rubbing his chest.
"Aw…" Lili unconsciously mumbles, feeling oddly touched by the younger Soowon's gesture when she isn't even Yona. How grateful must the princess have felt back then?
And yet her heart feels heavy as she pities both her friends, whose relationship has fallen into ruins.
Kija shifts in his seat, scowling at the screen. He still bears a grudge against him, so he can't bear to view Soowon in a positive light yet. But he admits that he feels relieved that someone was there for the princess when her mother just passed away.
Hak watches the screen mutely, but his harrowed eyes tell a different story. Seeing that caring side of Sowoon… What went wrong? Why did we turn out like this? Not for the first time is he anguishing over the diverging paths they have taken, but he will not waver, especially not for Soowon, the friend who betrayed him and the princess, the first to turn his back on them, the one whose backstabbing hurt the most.
He has chosen to stand by Yona. If that means he will one day have to kill Soowon… Then so be it. He will gladly take up his blade and end the existence that caused so much suffering to his princess.
And he will not hesitate, the same way he didn't.
"A child being another child's mother sounds great." Joodoh deadpans, referring to Soowon's bold proclamation.
Indeed, more than a few people in the room had turned to the present-day Soowon, shooting him expressions that essentially are varying degrees of "are you serious" when he loudly said that he would become Yona's mother.
Soowon rubs his neck sheepishly. "I suppose that wasn't my brightest idea?"
"Self-realization is a virtue, Your Majesty." Ahn Joongi responds calmly.
"Ahaha." Soowon laughs embarrassedly.
But it's all an act. Plastering on the facade of a bubbly, bumbling king to lower the guard of his opponents… Falling back onto his old habit of playing the fool is something he does when he's truly stressed. Like now.
Seeing Yona, even on screen, has deeply unsettled something inside him.
And so far, only King Hiryuu and his watchful eyes are aware of that fact.
A while later, Hak and Soowon are preparing for a ride. Yona's eyes widen when she sees them, and she turns green with envy.
King Il vehemently refuses Yona's offhand comment about wanting to do archery with Soowon.
Hak and Jaeha snort at the same time.
"Why?" Geuntae asks, curious about their reaction.
Lili, who knows all about the princess's… penchant for exercising, can't hide her grin.
"The little miss is the best at archery." Zeno replies cheerfully. "She can shoot a bird down even with her eyes closed!"
"Impossible." Kyoga scoffs, immediately regretting his instinctive response as the Happy Hungry Bunch all turn to look at him. But he can't imagine that sheltered princess holding a bow, let alone shooting anything!
"… It's true." Shinah speaks up for the first time, wanting to defend Yona. "Yona… works the hardest… to improve her skills."
"So you speak." Geuntae remarks, flashing him a wide grin. Shinah has always been so quiet that Geuntae wondered if he could talk.
"… … … Yes." Shinah replies after a long pause.
Geuntae just chuckles, thinking that the mysterious masked man is rather endearing.
When Soowon offers his hand to Yona and reminds her that she loves horses, Yona inwardly thinks about how the one she loves is him.
Once again, Soowon's heart is twisting uncomfortably.
Hak forces himself not to flinch. Because it's a truth he has known for a long time.
The one the princess loves is not him, but Soowon.
And he was fine with that, and would have been alright with that forever, if not for Soowon's betrayal.
Yona, flustered by Soowon's comment about discussions of his engagement, blurts out that she's engaged to Hak.
Everyone cringes.
"… I hate to say this, but I'm feeling embarrassed on behalf of dear little Yona." Jaeha admits.
"Me too," Yoon moans, rubbing his forehead.
"I feel even worse. The princess… deserves someone better than my brute of a grandson!" Mundok roars, still not over how rudely Hak has been treating the princess without his knowledge.
Hak yawns.
"Who's your grandson?" Hak snorts.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but I think my lord is probably taking the news the worst. He got struck twice, you see, first by the fact that the princess loves Soowon, and another time by her declaration that she's engaged to Lord Hak –"
"HEUKCHI SHUT UP!" Taejun screams, coming back to life from where he has collapsed in his seat.
Kyoga clicks his tongue at his younger brother.
Yona is in a subdued mood when she returns from riding. Soowon had seemed delighted by news of her engagement, a reaction she was not expecting.
Adding insult to injury, her father flatly rejects her wish of wanting to get married to Soowon.
"You are the princess of the Kouka Kingdom. The person who becomes your husband… will be this nation's king." The king states with an air of finality.
So that's why His Majesty had to take the throne by force, Joodoh thinks grimly. Because the previous king would have forbidden a marriage with the princess for as long as he lived.
He has always wondered if it would have been better for the king to marry the princess, but seeing King Il's fierce abhorrence towards that idea, he supposes that there was no chance of that ever happening.
The downpour continues outside while the princess is having her heated argument with her father.
Eventually, she mutters darkly that he is a cowardly king.
King Il reaffirms that statement quietly, his tone resigned… and tinged with sadness.
Hak reminisces about the time King Il stopped Kan Taejun's sword with his bare hands and strolled away with his bloodstained hands behind his unwavering back. He just can't think of King Il as cowardly.
For wanting peace, for wanting to avoid conflict… Perhaps his methods were ineffective and made Kouka weaker, but his intentions were not wrong.
And at least he tried.
Even if he mostly failed, Hak still holds much respect for the late king who taught him that violence was not always the only solution.
Later, the princess is holed up in a room, consumed by her glum thoughts.
Vulnerable and alone, she sees a hand emerging from the shadows and flees from her would-be assassin, running straight into Soowon.
Joodoh and Hak's expressions both turn dark at the sight of the princess being pursued by the presumed assassin.
The former is naturally worried as he has seen the princess growing up and even if he has chosen Soowon, some part of him will always be concerned about the princess's safety. And Hak, needless to say, is berating himself for not being there to protect Yona.
As the frightened princess spirals into despair, she is once again comforted by Soowon.
"It's alright, I'm here."
"You know, I can kind of see why the princess fell for you." Geuntae scratches his chin thoughtfully, directing his words at Soowon.
Awkward silence descends, especially pronounced amongst the members of the Happy Hungry Bunch.
Jaeha can't deny it, though. Watching Soowon and Yona on screen, he begrudgingly admits that Yona was truly in love with the young king, and even worse, he can understand why.
Taejun opens his mouth, not sure what he's going to say, and ends up biting his tongue. How can the princess be in love with His Majesty…?! He thinks rather pitifully,
"Hmm… While it may be prosperous for Kouka if Your Majesty were to wed Princess Yona, if things don't work out, there is always my daughter…" Joongi not so subtly hints aloud.
"F-father!" Lili hisses, horrified. "I'm sorry, please ignore him, Your Majesty… Ah…" She wants to crawl into a hole.
Soowon lightly chuckles to dispel the awkwardness as he smiles at Joongi and says, "though Lady Lili is a lovely lady, I am afraid I have no intentions of getting married at the moment."
"That's too unfortunate then…" Joongi replies in his usual tranquil tone.
As Yona and Soowon continue their conversation, Yona finally confesses, "Soowon… You're the one… I've always…" She trails off, burying her face in her hands.
Yet to her shock, Soowon ignores her indirect profession, and even slaps her hand away.
Unwilling to let things just go by, she manages to push an admission out of him:
"You suddenly look… like a woman. It bothers me."
Yona's face flushes as she registers Soowon's words.
Even Soowon is blushing as he ultimately reveals, "at least… I can't take your hand and sleep with you… anymore. I'd be too nervous to fall asleep."
You can hear a pin drop in the reaction room chamber.
"… WHAT?" Is the simultaneous response fired from three different corners of the room – an indignant Kija, a despairing Taejun, and a shell-shocked Kyesook, who has lost his composure for once.
"Your Majesty, you harbored such thoughts about the princess?" Kyesook asks, stunned. In actuality he wants to know if Soowon is in love with the princess.
"SO YOU LIKED HER?!" Kija bellows, and Jaeha winces. Shinah covers Ao's ears. Kija's voice is rather loud.
"Hakuryuu, your voice is echoing throughout the chamber, heh! It makes Zeno's ears ring!" Zeno comments brightly.
Throughout the room, reverberations of "so you liked her" can be heard very clearly.
"… If you were aware of the princess's feelings for you, why did you still do that?" Jaeha asks quietly, his eyes probing into Soowon.
Soowon, whose face is a mask of impassiveness.
Geuntae, Joongi and Kyoga are unaware of what Jaeha is referring to, but Mundok has a sneaking suspicion that he knows.
The truth of the night of King Il's death…
Secrets left unspilled…
Perhaps he will soon discover them.
"… There were more important things at stake." Soowon finally states.
"… To you, perhaps those things were more important."
Everyone twists their heads in the direction of Hak's low, but sharp voice.
"But to the princess, you were her most important existence."
Soowon and Hak's eyes connect, a bridge that carries over a thousand of unsaid words. Resentment brews in Hak's eyes, but underneath that, there is pain, too.
Did something happen between them? Geuntae wonders, still in the dark about Soowon's betrayal.
When silence reigns supreme once more, the cast gradually returns their attention to the screen.
Five days pass, and soon it's the day of the banquet to celebrate Princess Yona's sixteenth birthday.
"Princess Yona's sixteenth birthday?" Geuntae clarifies, frowning. "Wasn't that the day King Il passed away?" He asks no one in particular.
"Yes." Hak answers coldly, surprising everyone. "I guess we will soon see how His Majesty truly died." His frigid tone can't be mistaken for anything but a warning.
It's a warning to Soowon and Kyesook.
Kyesook swallows, growing a tad paler. It'll be fine. That Crimson Dragon promised no harm would befall His Majesty.
Joongi recalls how at that time of the king's death, there was a rumor spreading that Son Hak killed him and kidnapped the princess. But he is beginning to realize that the truth may be more unimaginable than anything he has ever considered.
As Yona is flooded with congratulations on her birthday, she is still fussing about her hair, much to her father's resignation.
He leaves to greet the guests, and Soowon walks in, waving to Yona.
After grooming her hair, she asks him shyly, "y-you need something?"
"Hold out your hand." Soowon says with a smile.
Hak's face darkens even more, like a storm cloud has passed over it.
He remembers this moment. He was there to witness it, after all.
Soowon hands Yona a beautiful hairpin. The ornament has been intricately crafted into a blooming flower, with butterflies resting on it.
Yoon's eyes widen. "T-that hairpin!" He sputters out.
Whipping his head to face Soowon, Kija growls, "so it was you who gave that to the princess, after all."
But Soowon is preoccupied with his own thoughts. The last time he saw the hairpin was in Sei kingdom, when he was trying to rescue Lili and ended up meeting Yona again. He hadn't realized that Yona was still carrying that around with her… Honestly, he thought that she had thrown it away until that moment.
"Um, did something happen with that hairpin?" Lili pipes up, curious.
No one can answer her question.
Mundok scrutinizes his grandson's expression, which says everything: the hairpin holds much significance.
But seeing as how those who know about it are unable to explain it, he coughs and speaks up in a rumbling voice, "I suppose we should resume watching to find out."
There's a murmured consensus, and everyone soon settles down again – except the light has gone out of both Soowon and Hak's eyes.
Yona mutters that the hairpin doesn't suit her curly, red hair, feeling disappointed that Soowon's lovely gift doesn't suit her.
But then he opens his mouth.
And tells her plainly:
"I love your hair, Yona. It's a beautiful crimson… It's the color of the dawning sky."
How simple, Yona thinks as she smiles, touched by Soowon's words. In just one instant, I've come to love my hair.
What she doesn't notice is Soowon's enigmatic gaze as he registers her happiness.
"Huh?" Geuntae asks, puzzled. "Why did Your Majesty look… disturbed by Princess Yona's response?"
"… I think in that instant, I regretted giving her the hairpin." Soowon says softly.
"But wasn't the princess very happy with it?" Geuntae presses.
"… Precisely. I… didn't know it would have made her that happy."
His reply confuses many people in the room, but Geuntae has enough sense not to push anymore.
Then Soowon and Yona belatedly notice Hak standing there.
Hak informs Yona that King Il is looking for her, and she leaves, exasperated.
As Soowon and Hak exchange a few words, Soowon says amicably, "would you stop being so formal? Call me Soowon like you did in the past."
Hak brushes off his request nonchalantly, but with a matching grin on his face.
Everyone casts not-so-surreptitious looks between the present-day Soowon and Hak… Whatever has happened, it's clear that it has caused a huge rift between them.
They're no longer the teasing selves they were on screen.
Hak asks Soowon if he has noticed anything amiss, and explains that it feel as though someone has infiltrated the castle grounds.
Soowon mentions Yona's run-in with the intruder, and Hak decides to go investigate.
"I'm leaving the princess in your care, Lord Soowon." He tosses over his shoulders as he rushes off.
And what a terrible decision it was, Hak thinks darkly, his hands curling into fists. It was the worst mistake of my life. I should have never left the princess's side that night…!
Kyoga's brows crease slightly as he mutters, "but if Hak wasn't with the princess that night, how did he even supposedly kidnap her?"
He's referring to the rumor that arose after Yona and Hak vanished together from the castle.
"That's because he didn't." Mundok growls out. "If that brat had kidnapped the princess, I would have been the first to send him to the afterlife."
His eyes, cracked open by a sliver, are glaring as though daring anyone to contradict him. Which, of course, no one does.
Yona stares at herself in the mirror with her hair pulled back by the hairpin that Soowon gave her, consumed by her conflicting thoughts.
Soowon said… he liked my hair.
Soowon will never… disappear from my heart.
"It doesn't matter how many times you ask me. I cannot give Soowon to you." Her father's words echo in her mind.
I must talk to Father. I can't forget Soowon. If I talk with him… I'm sure he'll come to understand.
Yona makes up her mind, and heads towards her father's room… alone.
"Oh no oh no…" Lili mutters, biting her nails. She has a feeling she knows what will transpire soon.
Kyesook is inwardly panicking too, though for an entirely different reason.
Darn it! If the others see His Majesty killing King Il… A shiver goes down his spine. Only now does he realize the gravity of the situation they're in – when faced with its consequences.
Likewise, Joodoh is barely holding onto his last thread of composure.
Mundok shifts his gaze to Soowon, someone he had once considered like his own grandchild.
Not anymore.
He has grown into someone Mundok can't even recognize.
And Soowon… He at last admits that it's guilt churning in him as he realizes that by giving Yona that hairpin, he had solidified her will to beg King Il to allow their relationship, and thus resulted in her being there to witness his death.
Soowon really didn't mean to.
He hadn't meant for Yona to see King Il die, or to have to kill her to silence her afterwards. He hadn't meant nor wanted harm to befall her – or Hak.
And deep down, he had believed that Yona, after the king's abrupt passing, would have yielded the throne to him… to her beloved Soowon.
Then again, it doesn't matter what his original intentions were anymore.
"Mister, it was not your fault." Someone says that gently, and Soowon, dragged out of his thoughts, thought for a moment that it was directed at him.
Of course not, since it was his fault.
Zeno had said that line to Hak.
Hak turns his vacant eyes towards Zeno.
"I was to blame. A guard should never leave their master's side." He states stiffly.
"But Mister wasn't the one who pulled the blade." Zeno reminds him. "If being at the wrong place at the wrong time is a sin, then everyone else will end up in purgatory."
"Wait." Taejun holds up his hand. His mind is working overtime. "By any chance, are we about to witness King Il's… death?" He asks, swallowing. "We aren't, right?"
"We are." Hak says flatly.
There's a collective inhale of breath.
Mundok sighs deeply. The moment of truth has come.
Kyoga folds his arms, leaning back as he says, "at least now we can know what really happened that day."
He has always been suspicious of the events on the night of King Il's death, as things didn't seem to line up and the details were so murky. Of course, he did overhear some things from his father, but given how Kan Soojin eventually rebelled against their current king… Kyoga has become less trustful of his late father's words.
Jaeha smirks. "There's no concealing the truth anymore, is there?"
"… No, there isn't." Soowon affirms softly. "The truth will come to light."
… And you will sink, along with the lies that your advisor spewed. Jaeha thinks silently, but doesn't comment.
As Yona strolls towards her father's room, she feels that something is amiss. The guards who are on duty are gone, and a sense of wrongness creeps upon her.
She finally reaches the doorway to her father's room.
Drip.
Everyone's eyes widen at the unmistakable crimson color of… blood.
"No…" Lili breathes.
Yona's violet eyes gaze blankly at the silhouettes of the two men in front of her.
The only thing connecting them is the blade stabbed into the heart of the bowed figure, and gripped in the hand of the perpetrator.
"…!"
"My king…" Mundok groans, pain twisting his heart. He can recognize his liege anywhere.
Hak's face contorts in anger and anguish.
"King Il… was murdered…" Kyoga mutters, stunned. And the figure wielding the sword… so terrifyingly familiar… emitting a presence not unlike…
… the current king.
He pales. Treacherous.
It's treacherous of him to harbor such vile thoughts about King Soowon, but he can't help but wonder –
The sword is pulled out of the king, and he staggers, collapsing.
And Yona's world collapses, too.
"Hyaa!" She screams.
"F-father?!" Her haunted eyes stare at her father's limp figure in shock.
She rushes over to his side, repeatedly mumbling "father" disbelievingly.
"This is so painful to watch." Lili whispers. She just wants to hug Princess Yona right now. The sixteen year-old looked to be in so much pain.
Kija agrees. In fact, tears are welling up in his eyes already at the sight of the princess's suffering. Shinah reaches over and pats his hand to comfort him.
"Something more painful is coming your way." Jaeha remarks nonchalantly. He has seen his fair share of death after all (heck, he even brought about most of them), so he is less affected by the king's demise, though he does feel bad for the princess.
"What do you mean?" Lili asks tentatively.
"I mean, aren't we all curious as to who killed King Il?" Jaeha tosses out with a smirk, and nods at the screen. "Let's look no further. The answer is… him."
As though on cue, the screen resumes and everyone immediately pays full attention.
Yona's despairing eyes take in the sight of someone so heartbreakingly familiar to her.
Blood drips off his blade. Her father's blood.
He wobbles as he approaches her unsteadily.
But his voice is colder than ice as he says casually, "oh, you're still awake? Princess Yona?"
And those eyes staring unfeelingly at her are cold enough to burn her very soul…
As Soowon halts before her.
End of Chapter 1: Princess Yona
The room veritably explodes.
Kija has shoved back his chair, jabbing one finger at Soowon and growling, "you bastard!"
Shinah and Jaeha have to hold him back from charging at Soowon. Kija flails in their arms, his dragon claw thrashing wildly.
"Let me go!" He hollers.
Shinah and Jaeha do no such thing.
"Calm yourself down," Jaeha hisses, to no avail.
Yoon covers his mouth with one hand, eyes glazed over with unshed tears. The princess had witnessed the death of her beloved father at the hands of her beloved cousin.
That… is just really messed up.
Recalling his harsh words to her when they first met, Yoon has never regretted something as much.
Mundok glares at Soowon with his half-cracked eyes, having enough restraint to hold his anger in check. Regardless, his single eye is full of disappointment and rage, directed at the young king.
Joongi's lips tighten. He didn't like King Il. But that doesn't mean he can accept this murder. Soowon is a great king, he admits, which is why he gave him his quiet support. Nonetheless, he is feeling conflicted over King Il's death, though he has already suspected Soowon's involvement prior to this revelation.
Geuntae only gazes at his long-time comrade and previous disciple, Joodoh, and asks softly, "you already knew this, didn't you?"
Joodoh stares back at him with vacant eyes.
"Because you planned it. You, that darn advisor… and His Majesty planned it all. You plotted for King Il's death. You, the Sky Tribe General, betrayed the very king you were supposed to protect. That is treason, Joodoh!"
Joodoh bows his head.
"… I failed King Il. But my only master is Lord Soowon." He hardens his gaze. "The road to hell… I will follow him without hesitation."
"You –!"
"Enough." Just then, the Crimson Dragon's voice interrupts sternly, and all dissension immediately halts.
"I understand your anger, but it is better for you to watch and see the truth for yourselves. No one can decide what is right or wrong… except for yourself. I didn't bring you all here to argue." King Hiryuu admonishes them firmly.
"Right, right! Listen to Zeno's master and everybody sit!" Zeno's cheerful voice follows up. He had been tailing Hak and Yona ever since the princess fled the castle, so he's more than aware of the truths that will unfold.
As people grumpily settle back in their seats, more than a few muttering under their breaths, Jaeha leans over and asks Hak, who has remained silent throughout, "are you alright?" His voice is hushed.
Hak's reply comes out strained with barely suppressed anger.
"What do you think? It's taking all of my willpower not to punch Soo – him." He spits out in a tight voice.
Jaeha laughs lightly to diffuse the rising tension. "Well, if you ever need someone to kick him, you know who to ask."
So he's relieved when Hak snorts after a moment's silence and says, "your kick will probably kill him. Which you are not allowed to do."
At least Hak has regained some normalcy.
But… Jaeha wonders uneasily if the reason Hak doesn't want him to kill Soowon is because some part of him still wants to protect his former friend… or whether he wants the finishing blow for himself.
With chaotic thoughts running through everyone's minds, chapter 2 begins.
It's awfully quiet.
A/N:
And the reactions shall officially start! Apologies in advance if I got some details wrong because I haven't reread YOTD in a while. Thanks for the favs/follows/kudos! (Since I cross-post on FFN and AO3.) This update came faster because I have already finished writing chapter 1 (and 2). But afterwards the pace may slow down…
Btw, I mainly stick to one translation of the series and Il has been referred to as either King Il or Emperor Il several times. If anyone knows why they switch between the two or which version is better, please tell me! (I try to stick to King Il in the present-day writing because of him being the ruler of a kingdom. Plus King HIryuu is referred to as king and not emperor.)
See you all soon!