Chapter 5: Shadows at the Entrance

Whenever she woke from her slumber, she found water and fruit placed nearby in a crude bowl made of split bamboo. Occasionally, there would be cooked meat or fish.

However, she hadn’t caught a glimpse of the man in black since that first day. She could only confirm his existence through the food he clearly left behind for her.

Once she had regained enough strength from the provided meals to move, Huiyeon immediately intended to leave the cave. But she soon had to abandon that thought.

A river flowed directly in front of the cave. It ran at a considerably high speed and looked deep. For a woman whose body was still frail, drowning seemed a more likely outcome than a successful crossing.

“Did I drift down the river and wash up here?” Huiyeon murmured softly, her voice still not fully recovered.

Broken branches and fallen leaves were caught on the rocks protruding at the mouth of the cave. It seemed they had floated down the current and been snagged by the stones. She suspected the same had happened to her. Considering that, she seemed incredibly lucky that her external injuries weren’t more severe.

Beyond the river lay a dense forest. Even if she screamed for help, it didn’t look like there was anyone around to hear her. Huiyeon tried to estimate her location.

Between the Taeseong and Hoye Kingdoms lay many high, rugged mountains. Though there was a way to bypass them, Huiyeon’s party had chosen the direct path over the peaks. It was dangerous, but it cut the travel time in half. They had no other choice; it would be a disaster if the King of Hoye took a Queen before they even arrived.

Thus, they had crossed several mountains. They were in the middle of ascending Mount Geumryeong, the highest and most treacherous of them all, when the attack happened. Once over that mountain, the capital of Hoye would be within reach.

Having already entered Hoye territory, she hadn’t expected to encounter assassins—especially not in such a rugged range.

‘I must still be on Mount Geumryeong…. Even if I was swept away by the current, I wouldn’t have left the mountain entirely.’

Seeing such a fierce current when the rivers in Taeseong had almost dried up made it certain she was in Hoye.

If any of the guards had survived, they might have rushed to the capital for help. Or perhaps a messenger bird had been sent back to Taeseong. If anyone was alive, that is. Huiyeon struggled to think positively to avoid falling into despair.

Although a fire was burning, stepping out from the darkness of the cave into the sunlight made her gloomy mood lighten, if only a little.

‘…must have had a hard time in the dark…’

Huiyeon tilted her head at the sudden thought. Hard time in the dark? Who? No matter how much she retraced her thoughts, she couldn’t understand why that idea had surfaced. Was this, too, related to her dreams? Her chest felt tight again, and she let out a sigh.

Then, she suddenly wondered how that man managed to cross this river. She had heard that those with exceptional martial arts could jump great distances as if flying; if he stepped on the large boulders in the middle of the river, crossing might not be impossible.

“If I ask for help… will he help me?”

He said saving her was a mere whim, but seeing how he kept the fire going and brought her food, he truly didn’t seem to have the intent to kill. Huiyeon stroked the cloth wrapped around her forearm with her fingertips.

The man had treated her wounds, albeit crudely. He must have realized she was being pursued by assassins by looking at her injuries. Therefore, he likely concluded he couldn’t take her to a crowded place recklessly. His frequent absences might be to scout for people searching for her.

Huiyeon chose to remain hopeful.

“I wonder what happened to Choyong?”

Though they had only been together for a few weeks, Huiyeon had grown quite fond of Choyong. She hoped the girl was alive.

Reluctant as she was, she decided she would ask the man for help when he returned. Huiyeon walked back into the cave, huddling by the fire to wait for him. In the warmth of the flames, drowsiness surged over her. Her eyes slid shut as she rested her face on her arms atop her knees.

“Your Majesty, a messenger bird has arrived from the guards accompanying the Princess.”

“Have they reached the Hoye Kingdom already?” Jeongcheon replied absently, moving his brush.

Eunuch Oh hesitated, watching the King’s expression. “It seems… there is a problem.”

“A problem?”

Jeongcheon’s hand stopped. A black circle of ink began to spread across the paper. He clicked his tongue and set the brush down roughly.

Eunuch Oh swallowed hard. The King had been incredibly protective of his only sister. Though the eunuch hadn’t done anything wrong, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t face the King’s wrath after delivering such news.

“It appears they were ambushed….”

Jeongcheon held out his hand, and Eunuch Oh presented the letter that had been tied to the hawk’s leg. Seeing the dark red stains on the paper that was once white, the eunuch didn’t need to read the contents to know the situation was dire.

Jeongcheon read it in an instant and crushed the note in his fist. Veins bulged on the back of his hand from the sheer force of his grip.

“Eunuch Oh.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Contrary to his tensed hand, his voice sounded the same as usual. Eunuch Oh was confused. Was it not an ambush?

But he quickly corrected himself. The man before him was a King—someone more accustomed than anyone to suppressing his emotions. The King’s rage was cold and silent. This was clearly one of those moments.

“Send a search party to Mount Geumryeong.”

The command fell while the eunuch was still guessing the King’s intent.

“The Princess… Huiyeon was attacked and is missing.”

Eunuch Oh confirmed his suspicion at the slight tremble in the King’s voice. The King was indeed in a silent fury. He had sent his only kin to Hoye to save her, only for her to vanish; it was only natural to be enraged.

“I will organize and send a search party immediately.”

Eunuch Oh hurried out of the office as if he couldn’t afford a moment’s delay. As the door closed, Jeongcheon relaxed his hand. The crumpled note rolled aimlessly on the floor.

After casting a brief glance at it, Jeongcheon turned and opened the window. Past the manicured gardens, his gaze fixed in the direction of the Hoye Kingdom. He leaned against the windowsill, his body tilting forward as if he wanted to dash there right now.

But not yet. Jeongcheon gripped the frame and exhaled sharply, reeling in his rising emotions.

He hadn’t been standing there long when the gentle breeze suddenly turned into a fierce gale. Leaves shook violently, creating a loud rustle. At the fishy scent carried by the wind, Jeongcheon frowned slightly and spoke.

“How did it go?”

It was a strange thing to say to an empty room.

“According to your plan.”

A low, gravelly voice replied. Jeongcheon turned back around as if there was nothing more to hear. Behind his back, a spine-chilling cackle followed.

Huiyeon woke to a sudden chill. Blinking, she realized the bonfire had gone out.

For the past few days, the fire hadn’t died once, as if someone had watched over it even while she slept. Perhaps the man had come back to rekindle it every time it faded.

Though it wasn’t dark yet thanks to the light entering from the mouth of the cave, everything would turn to black once the sun set. She needed to restart the fire, but she didn’t know how. No other method came to mind except waiting for the man to return.

‘I only ever lamented being trapped in the Cold Palace; I haven’t learned how to do a single thing with my own hands….’

With a dejected face, Huiyeon picked up a fallen branch from the floor. She thought it would be less embarrassing when the man returned if she at least gathered some wood.

She had gathered a few more branches when a rustling sound came from the entrance. It seemed the man had returned.

Huiyeon looked toward the entrance with a brightened face, only to freeze instantly.

‘That man barely makes a sound when he walks….’

She had only seen him once, but she clearly remembered that his footsteps were almost non-existent when he left.

‘Is it an assassin? How did they find me?’

She was worried her heart, thumping wildly with fear, was too loud. Holding her breath, Huiyeon tightened her grip on the branch. It was too small to be a weapon, but it offered a small measure of comfort.

A long shadow entered the inner cave first. The shape of a sword in its hand was unmistakable. Seeing it, Huiyeon’s face turned deathly pale.

She felt that after buying only a few more days of time, this was her ultimate fate. Her only regret was not being able to properly thank the man who had saved her.

She knew there was nowhere to run, but she couldn’t just die like this. She backed away slowly, trying to be silent.

However….

Snap.

The sound of a branch breaking echoed through the cave. The slowly moving shadow reacted to the noise.

‘This is the end….’

Huiyeon’s eyes filled with despair.

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