Chapter 4: The Emperor’s Proposal

Those black eyes stared right through Bi Yeon.

Bi Yeon instinctively held his breath, but he didn’t want to show his agitation, so he naturally dropped his gaze.

The long fingers of the Emperor, interlaced before him, had thick knuckles and were covered in small scars.

They were hands that did not hide the marks of war.

Bi Yeon deliberately focused all his attention on the Emperor’s fingers, but his cheeks, where the man’s gaze landed, still felt hot enough to burn.

His cool voice pierced into Bi Yeon’s ear like an awl.

“Furthermore, it would be ideal if their core was steadfast. Since they wouldn’t bend regardless of what favors were offered.”

Just as Bi Yeon noticed the voice getting louder, the Emperor leaned his upper body forward, bringing his face close to Bi Yeon’s.

Startled by the proximity that made their noses almost touch, Bi Yeon tried to pull back, but the man was faster, firmly grasping both of Bi Yeon’s elbows with his hands.

Even though it was a light restraint, it hurt enough to make his joints ache.

“I have confirmed that you are immune to temptation and persuasion, but I have yet to test your response to torture.”

Bi Yeon felt his breath stop involuntarily.

“Should I test that as well?”

“…….”

It was a blatant threat.

However, Bi Yeon had been feeling truly flustered for a while now.

To be honest, he wanted to ask if the Emperor had actually tried to play any tricks on him in the past, regardless of what he had done to others.

If he had accidentally failed to notice a few timid attempts that the person involved didn’t even realize were happening, the Emperor should have just kept trying, so why was he suddenly turning him into some legendary loyalist of a chaotic era?

But he didn’t want to die.

And that was the primary reason Bi Yeon had advised Won Ho to surrender rather than flee.

Bi Yeon managed a smile, but because he was so tense, his voice came out colder and more curt than intended.

“Is there a reason for you to waste time on something unnecessary?”

The eyes of the man sitting opposite him narrowed.

“I heard that Your Majesty is a person of broad mind and deep understanding. What is the reason you are saying such things to me?”

“Hmm.”

Suddenly, the strength left the Emperor’s iron grip.

At the same time, Bi Yeon felt the blood starting to circulate in the back of his arms again.

A tingling numbness set in, but he didn’t show it.

Showing a tiger that you are afraid will only lead to being eaten.

If it were still in the middle of the war, Bi Yeon might have willingly sold out every piece of information and secured a high-ranking promise from Horyu.

However, as the saying goes, the first mover wins; those quicker than him had already lined up, making what Bi Yeon knew largely useless.

But the Emperor had not killed him immediately and had even declared he would take him to the Imperial Capital.

Bi Yeon had no choice but to lean into that.

What did the Emperor want?

Bi Yeon was willing to offer anything he could give.

He only hoped he wasn’t just a simple toy for amusement.

He absolutely wished to avoid being tortured for fun on the way to the Imperial Capital only to die a horrific death.

As anxious as he was, Bi Yeon deliberately feigned composure and reached for the bowl of cold porridge.

His movements were sluggish because of the chains on his wrists.

The man observed Bi Yeon’s demeanor for a moment and let out a short exclamation of “As expected.”

“…General Yong had the same reaction.”

Bi Yeon took a spoonful without replying.

The swollen barley grains caught his eye one by one.

He thought of the young general from a prestigious family who had only just reached adulthood a few years ago.

Bi Yeon hadn’t interacted with Yong Je Hyeon often, but he understood his feelings perfectly.

After all, those bastards who had sworn a blood oath that the people of Mokju were of one body and mind, and that though they were born on different days, they would die together protecting their motherland… they must have been dumbfounded when they suddenly betrayed them.

And if the Emperor’s words earlier were true, the only people left alive among those who didn’t commit treason were Song Bi Yeon and Yong Je Hyeon.

Lee So Jin and Yeon Ga Ho had died in the final battle.

To Yong Je Hyeon, who had fought in the same war as his comrades, the loss of those two would feel all the more agonizing.

Then the Emperor spoke.

“That man told me to kill him rather than force a shameful defection.”

“Cough, cough!”

Bi Yeon suddenly coughed violently and thumped his chest.

He thought it was a stroke of luck that he had quickly swallowed the spoonful of grains.

Otherwise, he would have sprayed rice all over the Emperor’s face.

The thought made Bi Yeon’s hair stand on end. At the same time, he felt angry.

‘Is this bastard Yong Je Hyeon crazy?’

He didn’t care if the man died alone.

He was a great general, but everyone has their own fate; if he wanted to end it here, he should.

The problem, however, was that this Emperor seemed to be grouping Yong Je Hyeon and himself together.

In Bi Yeon’s opinion, the most important thing in life was life itself.

Yong Je Hyeon was still young and didn’t know what was truly important.

Then the Emperor snorted and said.

“Your King, Won Ho, was lucky enough to be born the son of a king, but he lacked his father’s wisdom and guts. He was so indecisive that he couldn’t distinguish between those who would benefit him and those who would harm him; even with a jewel beside him, he was too blind to use it properly. Wouldn’t it be pitiful to watch from the sidelines?”

The man asked as he kindly handed over some water.

It was a strange way of speaking, as if that were the reason he had no choice but to invade.

To calm his coughing, Bi Yeon had to accept and drink the water, but the Emperor’s question rubbed him the wrong way.

Bi Yeon lowered his gaze and pouted his lips, unaware that the Emperor was watching him intently.

He placed the water cup down with care, but perhaps due to the weight of the handcuffs, it made a louder clack than expected.

The Emperor’s eyebrow twitched at that sound, which seemed tinged with defiance.

It was true that Won Ho’s will was weak, but Bi Yeon didn’t like hearing him mocked so openly by the man before him.

Won Ho was the product of long years of educational effort by Bi Yeon, a future King and the medium through which he could exercise his abilities.

The sarcasm that arose when someone attacked his own capabilities was faster than his instinct to survive.

“His eyes went blind before they even had a chance to clear, so what could be done?”

“……So you would rather die? You too?”

The Emperor’s voice grew even colder.

The tent was filled with nothing but the sound of breathing.

It was an attitude completely opposite to the kind manner he had when handing over the water.

Bi Yeon felt a surge of emotion, lifted his head, and looked the Emperor straight in the eye.

It was true he had spoken somewhat defiantly, but why did the man keep bringing up death?

He didn’t want to die!

“When the Lord of Mokju knelt and shouted ‘Manse’ three times toward Your Imperial Majesty this afternoon, this place already became yours. Your Majesty spared the lives of those who surrendered, and I have received that grace. Why then do you continue to speak such meaningless words? I am dull-witted and find it difficult to follow your heart’s intent.”

He had snapped at him in a moment of heated emotion, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask if the Emperor actually wanted to kill him in a fit of rage.

If the man had nodded his head to that, it would have resulted in an irreversible and massive loss!

Moreover, despite boldly raising his head, Bi Yeon immediately regretted locking eyes with the Emperor.

The man’s deep black eyes looked as if they were watching something very interesting, and being stared at felt as though his very soul were being thoroughly scanned.

The Emperor laughed.

“One says he will gladly throw away his life for his lord, and the other seems intent on surviving to sharpen his blade.”

Bi Yeon’s heart skipped a beat.

However, if he looked away now, it would be like admitting to those words, so he had no choice but to face him more boldly and maintain eye contact.

The Emperor muttered.

“……He is certainly too good for Mokju.”

As he said that, the man’s black eyes flashed.

Bi Yeon flinched.

He was certain that staying under this man would shorten his lifespan by ten years.

Suddenly, Bi Yeon felt he had a vague idea of what this man was interested in.

He wanted someone who didn’t overstep but also didn’t bend their own assertions—in short, someone smart who knew their place.

And by his estimation, his current self seemed to narrowly fit those criteria.

Then, the Emperor, who had been staring at Bi Yeon for a while, smiled and spoke.

“The rumor that I spare everyone who surrenders is a lie.”

Bi Yeon took a quiet, sharp breath.

“The royalty and nobility who surrender are necessary for stable governance. I have a duty to look after them to break the pride of that nation’s people. But if someone who is neither noble nor royal becomes a stumbling block in my path, what reason do I have not to take their life?”

Bi Yeon steadied his breathing and asked.

“So, did you also kill all those who helped Horyu?”

“Of course not. I am one who is clear with rewards and punishments. However, I have no interest in them.”

…What on earth did he want?

Bi Yeon’s nerves were stretched tight.

Perhaps he had been under Won Ho for too long.

He had rarely encountered someone who pressured him like this lately, and he found himself gasping for air.

He was dying to ask what the man wanted first, but he couldn’t tell if it would be okay to declare himself ready to expose his belly and submit.

“Because those who bow and come in first are predictable.”

At the words that seemed to read Bi Yeon’s thoughts, his heart sank.

He was a thousand times glad he hadn’t made a declaration of surrender beforehand.

The Emperor smirked at the ice-blue eyes.

He spoke his requirement slowly, as if granting a great mercy.

“What I want isn’t difficult. I want you to be a teacher.”

In an instant, Bi Yeon’s eyes, which had been barely maintaining a facade of composure, widened.

He asked back without a second thought.

“Are you serious?”