It's awfully quiet, Hak muses.
"General Hak." Minsoo appears on screen.
Minsoo, Hak thinks, his previous rage calming when he sees the healer who had helped the princess escape and later on assisted them with the Xing kingdom crisis.
Minsoo and Hak engage in light conversation. The topic soon turns to Yona and Soowon.
"General Hak, you understand those two really well, don't you?" Minsoo phrases it more like a statement than a question.
And that's an understatement.
Unbeknownst to Hak, Soowon concedes to himself that Hak did know him well. Too well. Unnervingly well. Despite all the facades that Soowon threw on, despite all the acting, not all the parts of him that he showed Hak were fake.
"It's because… I've watched them since I was a kid." Hak's gaze takes on a more wistful aura.
"Those two… How should I put it? I want them to be happy." He says quietly.
Soowon's heart feels uncomfortably tight, but his expression remains languid. He's trying not to think about it. About Hak and Yona. About their feelings.
Because he feels like he may just break if he does.
Someone else whose heart is also aching is Yoon. He feels terrible for the on-screen Hak, who had genuinely wished for his friends' happiness at the expense of his own. It's no secret amongst the Happy Hungry Bunch that Hak likes Yona, well except for Yona herself. She's ever so dense, Yoon admits wryly.
The scene shifts to Soowon's sword dripping with King Il's blood as Hak's thought lingers in the background, fading away.
Princess Yona's eyes, so devoid of their usual light, stare aimlessly at Soowon's eyes – empty of the warmth they are usually filled with.
Joodoh… doesn't exactly feel regret, but something darn close to it. His heart clenches. He beats down the feeling.
He has chosen Soowon. He cannot, will not, must not harbor any lingering affection for the princess! The very princess who threatens Soowon's throne!
"S… Soowon… Hurry, call a doctor… Father… Is… Hurry… Call a doctor…" She rasps out, her hand coated in her father's blood.
Her shaky pleas are for naught.
"Emperor's Il's eyes will never open again. I killed him." Soowon states unfeelingly.
More than a few dirty looks are shot towards the current Soowon.
Something in Kyoga twists. He had trusted King Soowon following his father's betrayal. No, trusts. He still trusts him, still follows him, is always loyal to him… Isn't that what he has sworn? So why is he doubting his liege now?
Shinah's perceptive eyes manage to detect Kija's movements and he whips out a hand, yanking back Kija to prevent him from starting a second scuffle.
"Shinah!" Kija complains.
"… Sorry… Jaeha told me… to watch and stop you…" Shinah says.
Kija turns to Jaeha, looking betrayed.
"What? I was right. You almost ended up creating trouble again." Jaeha points out.
Kija sniffs derisively, then says hopefully, "just let me get one punch at him –"
"Your one punch will kill him," Jaeha responds flatly.
Kija sulks.
Kyesook glares at their exchange. How dare they talk about killing the king – right in front of them! Their audacity… He boils with anger, but has nothing to say to defend his king. Right now he's just glad the Crimson Dragon stepped in to mitigate the escalating conflict earlier.
He clenches his fists. He trusts Soowon, but has no idea why he agreed to stay here – and let everyone see their misdeeds.
While Yona is in denial, Soowon drops a bomb.
"I… have lived for this day."
Hak blinks, somewhat shocked. Soowon had been plotting the king's death for a while? It wasn't a sudden change in his character?
Was the Soowon he had befriended and respected a lie, too?
"Why?" Yona asks, unwilling to accept the truth.
She presses Soowon, who reveals matter-of-factly that while he did love King Il, whom he thought was kind, he realized that he was wrong.
He brings up his deceased father, recapping how his father had been favored to inherit the throne yet eventually didn't, though he continued to support his younger brother.
Soowon reveals in that same detached tone, "after King Il succeeded the throne…"
He looks at Yona. "He killed his own brother, Yuhon."
"What?" Lili blurts out, stunned.
Hak goes still.
He hadn't known. He had no idea that Soowon carried such a grudge. But some doubt lingers in him. He refuses to believe that the king he had followed could have committed such an act.
And Yona clearly refused to believe it, too, based on her fervent denial.
(A/N clarification: I checked and at this point in the manga (aka chapter 146), Hak was not yet aware that Soowon thought his father was killed by King Il. He only found out after going back to the castle.)
Mundok frowns, turning to Soowon.
"That cannot be true. Il was not that kind of person. You know that."
Soowon's eyes have dimmed.
"… No matter what you say, the truth cannot be denied. He killed my father." He says in a low voice.
"Let's just continue watching," Joongi calmly says. "Forgive me for the impudence but I can no longer completely trust Your Majesty's words anymore."
Kyesook's eyes flash with anger.
"Ahn Joongi…!" He spits.
"Calm down, Advisor Kyesook." Soowon says, but his emphasis on the word "advisor" isn't lost. Joongi is one of the generals of the five tribes.
And Kyesook is not.
He has crossed a line.
"… Apologies, General Joongi." Kyesook grits out.
Joongi only turns his head, looking vaguely displeased. It's hard to gauge how he feels.
Lili can tell her own father is unhappy with Kyesook's attitude, though. So is she.
She hates that slimy advisor.
"That can't be! Uncle died because of an accident…" Yona argues fervently.
But Soowon cannot be reasoned with. He cuts in coldly, stating that his father died by being stabbed with a sword – at the hands of his own brother.
"Princess Yona… That is why I have lived for this day for ten years."
When Soowon glances up, no warmth can be seen in his hardened eyes.
"That is why… I will become this nation's king."
"Fuck you." Lili says bluntly.
Silence.
Then Zeno claps his hands, "wow, how feisty!" He exclaims delightedly.
Yoon chokes on air. Jaeha hides his smirk. Kija pouts. He was supposed to be cursing at the king! Lili snatched his words!
Shinah taps Jaeha. He tilts his head and whispers, "what does 'fuck you' mean?"
Jaeha smiles awkwardly and pats his arm, "er, you don't need to know that, Shinah. In fact, erase that from your memory."
Joongi's eyes widen minutely. "Lili, watch your mouth!" He snaps, getting ruffled for once, based on how late his reaction came.
"What?" Lili crosses her arms, glaring at Soowon. "He can betray his friends and kill the previous king, but I'm not allowed to curse at his treason?"
No one dares to refute her.
Yona wants to believe that this is a dream. No, a nightmare.
That anytime she will wake up to the comforting arms of her beloved Soowon.
Because… Because he was smiling… and the hairpin…
That stupid hairpin… Hak thinks, frustrated with himself. I should've left it in the ditch – no, that was not my call to make… Only the princess can decide what to do with it.
"I love your hair, Yona."
Yona's quavering hands reach up, cupping her cheeks.
Hak's hands tighten.
He wasn't there.
But he should've fucking been there.
He wishes that he can run over and wipe away the princess's tears, though that won't make her pain disappear.
Soowon asks Yona why she was still awake at this time.
While the sword he holds is still dripping with the blood of her deceased father, Yona answers Soowon with her voice tinged with anguish, "I wanted… to tell him… that I couldn't forget about Soowon. I wanted… to tell Father… that…"
Soowon's eyes widen.
Everyone shoots him the stink eye again.
Watching the scene, Soowon's gaze is indescribable. Pain or something akin to that may have flashed across those unreadable eyes.
Bam!
The door slams open and guards rush in.
As they begin speaking, they belatedly notice Yona.
"Hm? Lord Soowon, this girl… is she Princess Yona?"
Kyesook stiffens as he appears on screen a moment later.
He gulps as the eyes of so many stare straight at the screen while he says:
"Could it be that the princess saw? Well then, we can save an explanation…"
Kyesook's eyes are so cold.
"Kill her, Lord Soowon. Shut the princess's mouth."
"YOU BASTARD!" Mundok finally bursts, growling out those words while he charges at Kyesook, ready to tear him into pieces with his own hands and toss those bits to wolves.
"No violence!" Joodoh shouts, trying and failing to stop Mundok, who shoves past him to grab at Kyesook. The former Wind Tribe General is as sprightly as ever despite his age, and easily grabs Kyesook's collar, lifts him from his seat and shakes him.
"Old man, stop." Hak says. "You'll get kicked out by the Red Dragon, and then I have to suffer here alone with these jerks."
There is no mercy in his eyes, though.
Soowon closes his eyes. But still, he does not apologize. He has chosen this path. Never will he regret it.
It's only the start, but Yoon is already about to cry. "The princess… she looked so heartbroken." He says, biting his lips. "And… And I have no idea… When I first met her… I… I said those things to her…"
Shinah grasps his hand and pets it.
"It's okay, Yoon… Yona has probably forgiven you already… She is not one to hold grudges against others…"
Mundok releases Kyesook, who flops back on his seat, gasping for air.
"Lord Soow – Your Majesty," Mundok grinds out, "Your Majesty, please tell me you didn't listen to that wretched advisor's words. Tell me that you punished him for his insolence. Tell me that it was you who spared the princess. Please tell me that!"
Soowon can't even meet his eyes.
"Why?" Mundok is trembling. "I can understand you might have grievances towards King Il. But why the princess? The innocent princess?"
"… I had no choice." Soowon breathes. "I had no choice."
"Liar." Hak spits out. "You could have chosen other paths, you fucking could have, and yet you chose to kill her." His eyes are molten orbs of rage.
To that, Soowon only replies coldly, "but those other paths would have been tedious. They would not have guaranteed success. Must I bet on a lifetime of planning and revenge for the sake of such foolish friendship?"
Hak laughs lowly. "So your true self has come out."
"I never once pretended to be something I wasn't. You were the one who saw me for the man I never was."
Another bitter laugh. "Is that how you justify yourself? It's our fault, for being blinded by you? So it's the princess's fault that you had 'no choice' but to kill her? Is it? WHY WON'T YOU ANSWER ME, YOUR MAJESTY?"
"Cut it out!" Jaeha yells, once again being the voice of reason. He glares at Soowon.
"I understand where you're coming from, Hak, but there's no reasoning with that man. You're wasting your time talking to the likes of him."
Hak snarls a sound so savage that many flinch, but he exhales sharply and grips his armrest tightly. Just like that, his argument with Soowon has ended.
Because Jaeha's words are infinitely more important to him than that of his traitorous ex-friend.
The silence that comes after the confrontation is almost deafening.
"… Let's continue." Lili whispers, unnerved by both what is happening on scene and in real life.
Hak grunts, the only sound of his affirmation.
Soowon recollects himself, visibly forcing his tense body to relax.
And so they watch the next scene, back to ignoring each other.
Spurred on by the advisor's words, Soowon's face hardens and he slides his sword forward.
Self-preservation kicks in and Yona dashes away, her knees wobbling.
"… Seize her." Soowon orders.
Mundok stiffens, his nostrils flaring as he glares at the screen with stark hostility.
"I know that Yona obviously survives this encounter, but I can't bear to watch the scene." Yoon moans, covering his eyes with his hands but peeking beneath the cracks in his fingers.
Yona despairs over Soowon's actions, fervently telling herself that he's not her beloved Soowon.
Poor Yona, Shinah thinks, an unfamiliar and fiery emotion welling up within him at the sight of the princess's distress. That emotion only seems to ever manifest whenever the princess is involved.
A whip curls around her ankle and she falls, yelping.
A harsh voice tells her to surrender herself.
But Yona's mind is whirling with other thoughts.
Did he hate me too?
Lili winces. This is agonizing to watch.
"So?" Geuntae asks, folding his arms. "Did you? Hate the princess?"
Soowon is taken aback by the question.
Everyone hangs onto his answer.
"… No." He shakes his head. "I couldn't hate her."
So you tried to hate her?! Many of them think, but don't voice aloud.
Soowon's face is contorted in almost agony – there and gone within one second.
"I could never hate her." His voice sounds so… sad.
No one can summon sympathy for him, though.
He made his bed and now he has to lie in it.
The guard takes a threatening step towards Yona.
Joodoh hides his frown. He has chosen Soowon. He cannot have fractures in his loyalty.
But… A larger part of him hates seeing the princess in danger.
He never once wished for her death.
Never.
Even now.
Yona weeps as she thinks: so long as I could see Soowon's smiling face, that was all I needed.
"Apparently that was too much for you to ask for, Yona dear," Jaeha jibes without humor. He hates seeing the princess cry as much as the rest of the Happy Hungry Bunch, who are, well, not that happy currently.
His words are invisible daggers that stab into Soowon.
Slash.
Hak appears out of nowhere, his guandao sweeping a wide arc around the vicinity, clearing a path for him towards the princess.
"Yay!" Yoon and Zeno cheer, potent relief overwhelming the former while the latter… Well, he's always cheerful. Zeno even has his hands in the air.
The others all heave a huge sigh, glad to see Hak on screen protecting the princess.
Kija is muttering under his breath like he's possessed, "beat up the king, kick him in his face…"
Mundok only hums. "If you didn't show up I was going to tear into you right here and now."
Hak's lips quirk up. "I know. I wouldn't have expected anything less."
The guards are blown back by the powerful sweep.
Soowon's lips narrow.
Yona's mouth opens slightly, her eyes enlarged but still brimming with tears.
"Oo, I can't wait to see how this plays out." Jaeha smirks. "Hopefully someone gets their ass kicked."
The Hak he knows is not going to react well to the princess's tears.
"I wasn't planning on interfering tonight, because Lord Soowon was present." Hak begins. "But I don't like it when the guards who are supposed to be keeping watch are all gathered here, and a part of people I am not familiar with are here as well."
Hak's hair falls into his eyes, concealing the darkness within.
"Hey, Lord Soowon… What the hell…" He raises his head. "… is going on?"
"Treason is what's going on." Yoon mutters.
"And murder." Kija adds, cracking his knuckles menacingly.
"And a soon-to-be-beaten-up king." Mundok scowls.
"… And a sad Hak." Shinah whispers.
Hak flicks his forehead affectionately. "Don't go around calling people sad." His voice is gruff but tinged with warmth.
Jaeha snorts. "He's not lying, though."
But he does feel bad for Hak. He could only imagine how Hak had felt in the aftermath of Soowon's betrayal…
"Ha… Hak." Yona calls from where she's still on the ground.
Hak kneels down next to her.
"I apologize for leaving your side. Princess Yona."
Hak's eyes flare with shock as tears stream down the princess's face in response to his words.
Even now, recollecting that day, Hak resists the urge to punch something. Or someone's face, in particular.
Yep, as Jaeha has predicted, Hak didn't react well to Yona crying, based on his stormy expression on screen.
"Hak… You're on my side?" Yona whispers.
"… I was told by His Majesty to protect you." His answer is stoic and unyielding. "No matter what happens, I will obey him completely!"
"Thank you, Hak." Kija speaks up. "Thank you for protecting the princess and letting us four dragons have a chance to meet her."
"There is no need to thank me." Hak replies softly. "That night… I failed the king."
"You did not." Mundok disagrees. Pride for his grandson swells in him, alongside grief for what he has witnessed. "You protected the princess. That would have been King Il's greatest wish."
Hak falls silent, but his gaze turns contemplative as he ponders over Mundok's words. Mundok did know King Il the best amongst those gathered in this room.
"Perhaps." He says at last.
One of Soowon's followers snaps at Hak, telling him to draw back as he is standing before the emperor of Kouka kingdom starting today.
Hak's expression darkens like a thunderstorm.
"Who did you say… the king is?" He asks in a low tone.
"Damn, I would have run the second he used that tone." Jaeha flicks his hair. And then grins. "Straight into the arms of lovely Hak, of course."
Hak rolls his eyes.
The tension in the chamber lightens.
Here it comes, Lili thinks to herself. In a moment, Hak will know the truth. How will he react?
"Where is… Emperor Il?" Hak demands.
Soowon stares back at him coolly. "A moment ago… I sent him to hell."
Thud.
Hak stills.
Taejun, in spite of himself, cringes. "Ohh, he's not going to take it well, is he?" He asks no one in particular, nibbling on his fingernail.
"And damn right he shouldn't!" Kija bursts, punching a fist into the air. "He should slap that king four times and kick him around and –"
"Kija." Jaeha warns, though there's a hint of amusement in his tone.
Kija deflates.
Kyesook glares at him.
Jaeha glares at Kyesook, indignant that the advisor would dare to stare daggers at his Kija.
Jaeha blinks.
Not his Kija, he hastily amends in his mind.
"Have you gotten drunk? That's going too far, even as a joke." Hak's smile is more of him baring his teeth than a proper grin.
The Happy Hungry Bunch aren't surprised that Hak is in denial.
No, knowing him, they can understand exactly why he refuses to believe it. His own mind can't come to terms with what his senses are telling him.
"You may ask Princess Yona…" Soowon says evenly. "Because she witnessed the death of the king with her own eyes."
"Oof." Yoon's eyes dart to the present day Hak. Who is glaring at the screen and looking like he wants to kill somebody. "You're kinda digging your grave here…" Yoon mumbles.
Which doesn't go unheard.
A few nods are seen, all of them silently agreeing that Soowon's words will only provoke the ire of Hak even more.
Clash!
Soowon barely blocks in time to deflect Hak's fierce blow.
Geuntae whistles. Now that is the true skill of the famed Thunder Beast of Kouka.
Hak roars at Soowon to tell him the truth, unable to accept or believe his longtime friend's incredulous words.
As they fight, Soowon cautions his guards from intercepting the battle.
"He is the fifth general… Son Hak." Soowon explains in a somber tone.
"Not any longer." Hak shrugs, forcing himself to remain calm. "I gave that role back to Mundok after someone forced me to flee from the castle."
"I can't imagine you as a general." Jaeha teases. "You certainly don't look like the type to be in any sort of leadership position."
"… Fair enough. It was a stifling job while it lasted." Hak admits.
The other guards remark at Hak's prowess and his nickname of the "Thunder Beast" of Kouka.
Geuntae recalls the time he lost to Hak, and smiles to himself. Hak's reputation precedes him.
As Hak continues to tear into Soowon for his incomprehensible actions, Soowon only retorts, "this nation has no need for a weak king."
Hak slices down his guandao mercilessly, and blood spurts as Soowon is cut.
"Your Majesty!" Joodoh cries out, concerned. He wasn't there when it happened.
However, he finds himself on the receiving end of numerous dirty looks.
"You should've sliced deeper, boy," Geuntae mutters, reaching to take a swig of his wine, then realizes it's not there.
Poof.
A small table and a bottle of wine materialize in front of him.
Geuntae brightens.
"Hey, where did that come from?" Taejun points, curious.
I summoned it. The Crimson Dragon's voice booms. I heard your thoughts. Should you wish for food, drink, or any other items, you need only to think of it.
"Huh," Jaeha comments. "Not bad."
I want some rice balls… Shinah thinks tentatively.
A platter of steaming rice balls drops into his lap.
"… Thank you." He says quietly, adjusting his mask so he can dig in. His cheeks bulge with the food and he hums contentedly.
Geuntae smiles again at the sight, then returns his attention to the screen.
Yona's dismayed expression worsens as she sees Soowon getting injured.
"Yona darling, I side with you usually but right now I don't think you should be worried about Soowon…" Jaeha scratches his chin.
The others inwardly agree.
"Wait! That's as far as you go."
Hak and Yona are surrounded with the tips of many spears pointed at Hak.
"Damn." Kija starts cursing, going on another tirade about how Hak should have ended Soowon when he had the chance.
Jaeha sighs.
The others… have grown disturbingly used to Kija's rants.
"Soowon… Was the Soowon that I saw… an illusion?" Hak murmurs. "I thought I could leave the princess in your care… if it was you."
Ah. Jaeha thinks to himself, chagrined. He now understands why Hak never pursued the princess – he had resigned himself to a future where the princess ended up with Soowon, and had accepted it – so he is regretful over all his taunts when they first met and perhaps fought just a little over Yona.
"I was never the Soowon you knew to begin with. If anyone stands in my way, I will eliminate them." Soowon states resolutely. "No matter who it is."
I don't want to hear… Yona thinks wretchedly. She doesn't want to hear anymore of this!
Taejun is sniffing loudly by now..
"The… The poor princess!" He wails, snot and tears running down his face. "How c-could she be in lo… in lov…" He falters and bursts into tears.
Kyoga's lips twist in disgust. "Wipe your damn nose!"
"Hiccup. Okay. Hiccup."
Taejun uses Heukchi's sleeve to wipe his nose and even blows on it.
Kyoga pinches the bridge of his nose exasperatedly.
Whoosh!
An arrow slams into the ground before the guards, momentarily distracting them.
"Huh?" Several of them utter expressions of confusion.
Now who can that be?
Hak knows, of course.
Minsoo… He thinks gratefully.
Hak sees his opening and grabs the princess, sprinting away.
The other guards are in disarray.
As Soowon recalls Yona's crying face… His lips pinch and his eyes glaze over with what may be regret.
The others glance at Soowon, beyond surprised to see that moment of vulnerability on his face.
"So you do care about the princess." Lili says hesitantly. "Or did?"
"Though not enough." Yoon adds.
"And it was too late for regrets by that point." Kija spits out. "I mean, you did kill the princess's father and attempt to kill her as well!"
Soowon closes his eyes. "I know. I was prepared for all that when I made the first move." He says with an air of resignation. His eyes snap open with renewed purpose. "And I have no regrets."
Some of them are beginning to look skeptical. They can tell that Soowon cared, or maybe even cares, more about Yona than he lets on.
"Sureee." Lili drags out the word. "Whatever floats your boat…"
He pointedly ignores that statement.
"This way." Minsoo leads Yona and Hak away from the fray.
"Was that arrow yours?" Hak asks. "That poorly shot one."
"Hey! That poorly shot arrow saved your ass!" Taejun yells, glad to have something to rebuke Hak about. Admittedly, he only has a faint recollection of Minsoo – wasn't he the guy who accompanied the princess when she asked him to raise the Fire Tribe's signal? – but… whatever.
Minsoo nods, then asks if King Il is truly dead.
Yona's tears are the verification he needs, but she nods.
Minsoo is in disbelief, but then the voices of Soowon's troops reach them.
Minsoo makes up his mind. "I'll create a way for you two to escape. Please escape from this palace."
"Aww, what a brave and loyal servant." Kija remarks.
Joodoh eyes Kija warily. So he can be civil if he wants to.
Then Kija sharpens his claws frighteningly, making him take back his words.
Joongi nods slowly. "Even at a time of such pressing crisis, he was able to maintain his calmness and serve his job well."
"Where will we go?" Yona mumbles. "Even though… Father was crying tears of joy at the banquet…" She chokes, gasping. "I didn't say a word to him. I didn't say thank you."
And now she would never get the chance to.
The others look on sadly.
Kija can understand the princess's sentiments.
After all… His gaze turns longing.
He had so many more words he wished to say to his own father before he passed away. He regrets it so much everyday. That he only got to hear his father call him by name once.
That their meetings have always been scarce – far and few in between.
"Kija?" Jaeha murmurs, noticing his somber mood.
Kija shakes his head, dragging himself out of his slump.
"It's nothing." He says. "Just reminiscing."
From what he knows of Kija's past… Jaeha's brows furrow and he understands immediately.
He hesitates.
Then with an awkward cough and throat clearing, he places a comforting hand on Kija's knee.
Wait, why is this awkward?! Jaeha thinks to himself. It shouldn't be awkward because we're friends. Right.
Kija stares at that hand like it's possessed.
Then he smiles softly. "Thanks, Jaeha."
Somehow, Jaeha's apprehension just melts away at the sight of that smile.
Yep, it was totally worth it.
Then he clears his throat loudly and turns away.
The others, particularly the rest of the Happy Hungry Bunch, stare at them suspiciously.
"This is my father's castle…" Yona leans her head against the tree, the flow of tears down her face never-ending. "If Father has been overthrown… Where will I go?"
Hak's face tightens.
He grabs her into a hug.
Mundok glares at Hak with one hairy eyeball. "Don't take advantage of the situation to do as you please with the princess! But…" He glances away. "She probably needed that hug."
Hak shrugs. "Make up your mind. Was it good or bad that I hugged her?"
"… Both."
"Heh."
"You can go anywhere. As long as you survive. That is how you can best repay His Majesty." Hak states firmly.
"Truer words have never been spoken." Lili says immediately. "And I'm glad she listened to you."
The Yona she had met was fierce, unyielding, resolute And Lili can't wait to see the journey it took for her to gain that kind of strength. Both mental and physical.
Minsoo declares that he will lead the troops away so Hak and Yona should go towards the mountains.
"Princess, please be safe." He smiles gently.
"Oh dear, I have a bad feeling about this…" Jaeha murmurs.
Geuntae frowns at the scene. "That lad… He's not going to be fine, is he?" He sighs.
Then Minsoo dashes away.
"There. Over there!"
Shoom.
An arrow slams into Minsoo and he falls.
"I knew it." Geuntae growls, angry on behalf of Minsoo.
"Please say he survived that." Yoon groans.
"He did." Hak says simply.
Yoon reels back in surprise. "Wait, how do you know?"
"… I'll encounter him again." Hak says brusquely. Where he reveals that he's working for Soowon…
Soowon says nothing.
"That's a relief?" Lili's words come out as a question. Something tells her there's more to this tale than Hak is letting on.
As Yona is tugged away by Hak, she gazes back at Minsoo's fallen figure.
Pain lances across her eyes.
End of Chapter 2: A Torn Bond
"Ah, I can't wait for things to go uphill for Yona." Lili cracks her neck, getting out all the kinks. "She has suffered so much!"
"Me too. Endless suffering will make this watch a painful one," Joongi murmurs. He doesn't particularly care for the princess, but he also doesn't want to see her be in pain for no good reason.
And as the calmest general of all, he isn't quite sure there is ever a good reason to inflict pain on someone.
"And I'm curious how the princess will end up meeting you lot." Geuntae says, nodding his head at the Happy Hungry Bunch.
"Chronologically…" Jaeha ponders. "She'll be meeting Yoon, Kija, Shinah, me and then Zeno." He stretches. "That'll take a while."
"Well, we technically have all the time in the world." Yoon says, eager to continue watching. He hasn't met the princess at this point, so all of this is new information to him.
"Alright, so we're good to go?" Lili clarifies, receiving nods in return.
Then here's the next chapter, King Hiryuu's voice fades away.
Princess… Princess Yona.
A/N:
And that's the second chapter done! I'm still writing the third chapter but I'll update again when I'm done with it. If there are any specific scenes (especially for the next few chapters) that you want me to pay more attention to, do comment!
Thanks for all your kudos/comments. Reading and replying to them makes me happy.
See you all next time!