Chapter 49 …
At that moment, Cheong-eum didn’t understand the absurd words.
But now, Cheong-eum could finally comprehend Hwan’s meaning. The decision of whether or not to help Seon-oh was not something she could decide herself. Seon-oh had become the only other person who knew her secret, and he was still her only hope.
“If you mess everything up because you can’t handle Yonghwa… I’ll never forgive you.”
The fierce threat seemed to cling to her chest, tightening around her heart.
Cheong-eum suddenly wondered if Hwan had gone through the same experience.
Perhaps she would never know the answer.
Swallowing her chaotic breath, Cheong-eum stood up. She had to return to Myeonggyeong and prepare for the third gate.
“How on earth did you handle the Blood Incident yourself?!”
The Emperor, having returned to Myeonggyeong, was furious after hearing what had happened during his absence. He immediately summoned the Crown Prince for questioning.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. Please forgive my incompetence.”
As always, the Crown Prince’s face remained calm, and this only stoked the Emperor’s anger further.
“The Crown Prince will answer. I asked why you, not the First Prince, stepped forward.”
Of course, the Emperor did not personally intervene in minor Blood Incidents across the country. Such troublesome and dangerous tasks were handled by designated agents.
The Blood Incidents occurring in the capital, Myeonggyeong, were the First Prince’s responsibility.
“What was the First Prince doing then?!”
The Emperor slammed his arm down on the chair’s armrest with a loud crash. Yet, Sabaek did not flinch; he simply gazed at the floor, unmoved.
At that moment, a clattering noise came from the door, followed by a cautious announcement.
“Your Majesty, the First Prince has arrived.”
In a deep, heavy voice, the Emperor commanded:
“Let him in.”
As the door opened, a prince with slightly disheveled hair stepped in. Dark shadows under his eyes gave him a haggard look—it was the First Prince, Baek Sa-yeom.
“Your Majesty… I did not expect to return so early…”
The overpowering stench of alcohol emanating from him caused the Emperor’s eyebrows to rise.
Even without hearing an explanation, it was clear. While the Emperor had been absent, the First Prince had held a feast, indulged in drinking, and collapsed in drunken stupor, leaving the Blood Incident to occur unchecked.
Sabaek, who had not reported the First Prince’s incompetence, still stood calmly, his face gentle and composed as he stared into the void.
‘Such a fool…’
The Emperor clenched his throbbing head, restraining the urge to slap the First Prince across the face.
“Have the First Prince leave.”
“Your M-Majesty… I… I didn’t know a Blood Incident had occurred…”
“I said leave.”
The First Prince, sensing the severity in the lowered voice, panicked and fled, leaving only the Emperor and Sabaek in the room.
In the heavy silence, Sabaek finally spoke.
“Your Majesty, I apologize. I feared that if the Blood Incident’s resolution were delayed, the blame would fall upon you. I failed to seek your permission in time. Please forgive my foolishness.”
There was nothing wrong with Sabaek’s words, so the Emperor simply clenched his fists in silence. As Sabaek said, if the Blood Incident were delayed, resentment would inevitably turn toward the Emperor. Considering that this particular incident had occurred in the heart of the capital, in a school attended by noble children, the situation had been truly perilous.
Other royal family members would not dare handle a Blood Incident without the Emperor’s command, so it was clear that if Sabaek had not acted, the problem could have escalated.
The Emperor’s frustration boiled within him, for the current Crown Prince, Sabaek, was a figure who troubled the Emperor merely by existing.
Sabaek was the son of a consort whom the Emperor had seen years ago, and after the consort’s family had fallen from grace over a decade ago, the Emperor had barely acknowledged him.
Having not awakened as a superhuman by adulthood, Sabaek had not been included in the line of succession. Yet, four years ago, an unexpected display of extraordinary yang power in a succession evaluation proved astonishing.
In the palace, where only immense yang power affirmed existence, naming Sabaek as heir was a rule even the Emperor could not bypass. It was a variable that made the Emperor’s hair stand on end.
The current Emperor possessed the highest yang power among all past emperors, while the First Prince’s yang power was less than half of the Emperor’s.
Yet Sabaek’s yang power exceeded even the Emperor’s unique power. Once revealed, the Emperor would eventually have to transfer half the yang power of the world he held within his heart to Sabaek.
Faced with this unexpected crisis, the Emperor devised a stratagem: to conceal and restrain Sabaek.
This stratagem was the “Prophecy.”
“You haven’t forgotten the prophecy regarding our royal line, have you?”
The Emperor spoke quietly, and Sabaek bowed his head respectfully.
A prophecy.
Long ago, several prophecies were delivered to the first generation ministers, foretelling distant events. Treated as top secret, only the current ministers and the Emperor could view them. One of these prophecies was secretly conveyed to Sabaek.
It foretold that if a prince born in Jinwol month ascended to the Crown Prince, his face must not be revealed to the people for ten years. Violation of this would bring great disaster to the kingdom.
Sabaek had been born in Jinwol month.
The Emperor added that this prophecy was why Sabaek had been kept hidden from the public, unlike other princes.
“That is of course so. I always keep the prophecy you entrusted me in mind. No one has seen my face on that day.”
The gentle voice made the Emperor clench his fists again. According to reports, Sabaek had worn a mask and completely concealed his face, so his words were true.
Yet, the Emperor was still uneasy. That seemingly kind and calm Crown Prince, if revealed to the world, would inevitably draw countless followers.
He could not allow that to happen.
“Never let such an incident occur again. The Crown Prince must uphold the prophecy and make it his duty to never put this country in danger.”
“I will remember, Your Majesty.”
“Leave.”
The Emperor averted his gaze in disgust. Sabaek bowed, then turned and exited. Outside, the restless First Prince could be seen.
When their eyes met, the First Prince’s eyes flared with rage.
He dared to challenge Sabaek, ignoring the hierarchy. Knowing the Emperor would not acknowledge Sabaek, this was insubordination.
Sabaek simply stared back, smiling faintly—gentle, warm, almost teasingly.
“…!”
Seeing the First Prince flush in anger, Sabaek moved on without hesitation.
“….”
His face, serene as he walked, now carried a quiet, chilling calm.
Returning to the Crown Prince’s palace, Sabaek gestured to the air, and a pale mist filled the space. From it, a large hawk emerged and alighted on Sabaek’s hand.
Patting the hawk, Sabaek untied the secret message bound to its leg.
[Seon-oh will safely return to Myeonggyeong on the seventh day, evening.]
A strange light flickered in Sabaek’s eyes as he read the message. There was still time before the second gate’s conclusion. Returning early indicated that the mission had already been completed.
Though he had missed seeing Seon-oh’s antics due to matters in Myeonggyeong, there would still be many opportunities.
Watching the hawk flap its wings in urgency, he smiled.
“We’ll meet again soon, won’t we?”
