Chapter 13: The Beast with No Name

“Are you satisfied?”

The person who had been sitting across the table was gone, leaving only a half-empty teacup as a lingering trace. Yet, Cheong-mun spoke as if his conversational partner were still present.

“I have kept her here as you instructed… but I truly do not know if this was the right choice.”

Cheong-mun didn’t seem to care that there was no immediate answer.

“To keep the blood of the Ju family here… When those who are away return and learn of this, they will not leave me in peace. Especially if Lord Ho-gyeom finds out…”

Muttering words that were too strange to be a mere soliloquy, Cheong-mun shuddered as if the very thought were horrifying. Even though he had shed his animal form through cultivation and virtue to become a spiritual being, the primal fear born of innate differences could not be overcome, even after hundreds of years.

Ho-gyeom, who had carried the name of the Mountain Lord and guarded this land since long before Cheong-mun was even born, was an object of pure dread for him. Of course, the most frightening of all was…

“Cheong-mun, there is nothing for you to worry about.”

It was Yu-on, who had appeared soundlessly to fill the empty seat. When Yu-on dismissed his concerns as trivial, Cheong-mun pouted and began to vent his frustrations.

“It’s only because you haven’t seen him lately, Lord Yu-on. Lord Ho-gyeom would be better off returning to his animal state. You have no idea how impatient and violent he is…”

Whatever dignity a king of a nation was supposed to possess had been traded for a chance to complain like a child. Cheong-mun poured out exactly how much he had suffered because of Ho-gyeom. It was fortunate that Yu-on had distorted the space so that ordinary people couldn’t witness this sight; they would have been shocked to see their monarch so undone.

“Just because one becomes a spiritual being, does the unrestrained nature of a tiger simply vanish? Just as you remain gentle and a lover of peace.”

“Gentle? Please do not forget that a stag has antlers.”

With his scholar-like face, Cheong-mun glared as if to remind Yu-on that he, too, was a spiritual being with considerable power. The sight was so endearing and absurd that Yu-on let out a rare, light laugh.

“Indeed, I shall not forget. And it was Ho-gyeom who bought time while I was coming here. He already knows, so do not worry.”

Assuring Cheong-mun that Ho-gyeom wouldn’t come and cause a riot, Yu-on traced the rim of the teacup on the table with his fingertip. Strangely, he could feel a lingering warmth from the cup that held the cooling tea.

“Where do you plan to stay now? Since the energy of Mount Geumryeong is the strongest, shall I declare it a forbidden land and ban all outsiders? …Why? Why are you laughing?”

Cheong-mun tilted his head as Yu-on burst into laughter at his suggestion.

“It is nothing.”

Though both would vehemently deny it, Ho-gyeom and Cheong-mun were alike in many ways. Cheong-mun had been born and raised in the mountains ruled by Ho-gyeom before becoming a spiritual being. It was only natural he was influenced by him.

“I will stay here for a while as well.”

“What? But what if something happens? You must stay in a place of pure energy.”

Cheong-mun raised his voice, insisting it was out of the question.

“You treat me as if I am completely helpless. If I were the type to perish immediately just because my energy is disrupted and my body is damaged, my life would have ended long ago.”

“That may be true, but if you are tainted by Takgi (corrupt energy) in your current state…”

“If I am tainted and lose my mind completely…”

Yu-on let go of the teacup and stood up.

“Then you must take my head.”

Upon leaving the garden, the eunuch who had guided her was waiting.

“The detached palace where you will stay is quite a distance away, so I have prepared a palanquin.”

“Thank you.”

As Huiyeon walked toward the palanquin, a thought occurred to her, and she stopped the eunuch.

“Is the rest of the diplomatic mission staying in the detached palace as well?”

“No. We have provided them with the official guest house in the outer palace.”

“I see…”

It was a relief. Regardless of the others, she had no desire to share a space with Hwang Mu-gyeong. She had a premonition that if they couldn’t obtain the Dragon’s power here, Hwang Mu-gyeong would be the first to scream that she must die.

‘I must send them back to Taeseong as quickly as possible…’

This applied not only to Hwang Mu-gyeong but to the rest of the delegation as well. Keeping people who weren’t on her side close would only restrict her movements. However, she would need to keep at least enough guards to protect her.

Recalling Jang Son-jae, Huiyeon felt a bitter smile touch her lips. Like Hwang Mu-gyeong, he wasn’t particularly well-disposed toward her.

‘The warrior under his command seemed more tight-lipped and reliable…’

If possible, she thought she should keep that man and have Jang Son-jae escort Hwang Mu-gyeong back. With that, she climbed into the palanquin.

The history of the Hoye Kingdom was longer than that of Taeseong. Unlike Taeseong, which was founded through the power of the Dragon, legend had it that Hoye’s progenitor was the Mountain Lord—a tiger who ruled Mount Mureung to the north of the capital.

Perhaps because of this, tiger motifs were carved everywhere in the palace. Even the palanquin she rode in had the profile of a tiger embossed on it. Stroking the carving, Huiyeon thought of Cheong-mun. To think the descendant of a tiger looked more like a rabbit or a deer…

Yet, those sharp eyes had certainly belonged to a predator.

<If Dragon and case, do find go intend is that the to you yourself?>

Cheong-mun’s eyes had shone sharply, as if warning her not to even think of lying. But even without that look, Huiyeon had no intention of deceiving him. Appealing to him with sincerity to gain his help was difficult enough as it was.

<Yes. That intention. is my>

<Even Dragon a even here? is it there though uncertain whether>

<Even I can. case, everything if intend is that the to try>

With a small snort, Cheong-mun had tapped the table, seemingly lost in thought.

<Very However. I You a allow are be but far guest, has here immediately. impolite it not return royal so someone stay tell the to traveled until wedding. welcome well. who will would you>

Huiyeon had swallowed hard, listening intently.

He spoke as if concluding that something bad would happen to her. But even so, her resolve remained unchanged. She would find the Dragon.

Huiyeon clenched her fists on her lap as if renewing her vow.

<Thank It but… congratulations consideration. for is late, marriage. on you your>

At her congratulations, Cheong-mun had shown a slight hint of displeasure. But there was no time to wonder why, as he had promptly dismissed her.

“We have arrived.”

The eunuch’s voice brought Huiyeon back to the present. The palanquin settled on the ground. She had been relieved to hear it was a quiet detached palace far from the outer palace, but—

“You’ve finally arrived.”

Huiyeon’s face hardened at the sound of Hwang Mu-gyeong’s voice the moment she stepped out. The reason a man who should be in the outer palace was here was obvious. If he had any sense, he wouldn’t run his mouth in front of the Hoye palace servants.

‘But he doesn’t seem to have that kind of caution…’

Huiyeon didn’t feel the need to acknowledge someone who lacked basic manners, so she walked right past him.

“Princess!”

His voice rose, thick with irritation. Thinking it a blessing that he didn’t call her a “cursed twin” in front of the Hoye servants, Huiyeon didn’t stop. The sight of his beet-red face and his unpleasant, wheezing voice as he followed her reminded her of…

‘He’s like a toad in that pond…’

Suppressing a sudden urge to laugh, she entered the building. Choyong, who had been pacing anxiously, brightened and tried to run toward her. Huiyeon signaled her with her eyes to stay back. Choyong was still recovering; if she got too close to the agitated Hwang Mu-gyeong, she might get hurt.

The man looked like the type to resort to violence without thinking when he was angry.

If he tries that with me, I can get rid of him immediately…

Unaware of what she was thinking, Hwang Mu-gyeong chased her inside and demanded, “What did you talk about with the King of Hoye?”

His frantic tone betrayed his deep resentment over being left out of the private audience. If Hwang Mu-gyeong had been someone who would help her, she would have told him everything without hesitation. It wasn’t as if the conversation was particularly secret.

But Hwang Mu-gyeong viewed her as an inferior. A twin girl who could be killed without consequence. Because he thought that way, he forgot she was royalty and acted this recklessly.

What was the big deal about being born a twin anyway? Her mood plummeted instantly.

“You are quite impolite,” Huiyeon said, her voice dripping with coldness. “Why should I tell you what the King of Hoye and I discussed?”

“I am the representative of this diplomatic mission.”

“And I am a member of the Taeseong royalty.”

Huiyeon looked at him with arrogant eyes. No matter how much she had been neglected in the Cold Palace, the fact remained that she was royalty. As she pointed this out, Hwang Mu-gyeong’s face crumpled. It was a look that said he knew she was right but refused to admit it.

Though she had only been facing him for a moment, Huiyeon felt profoundly exhausted.

“I am tired. Leave us.”

Despite the dismissal, Hwang Mu-gyeong tried to step toward her. Glaring at him with icy eyes as he ignored her words, Huiyeon raised her voice.

“Where are the guards?!”

Only then did the guard at the door step forward and block the space between them. Faced with the sharp aura of a man ready to draw his sword if he took one more step, Hwang Mu-gyeong bit his lip.

“Since you say you are tired today, I shall visit again tomorrow.”

Though he was retreating for now, his stance made it clear he had no intention of giving up.

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