Chapter 132
When Seonghyeon stepped into the light, Danho’s face instantly twisted with hostility.
“How dare you come here? Do you even know where you are?”
“Where else? A prison. I don’t see why I wouldn’t be allowed here.”
“You bastard…!”
At Seonghyeon’s calm reply, Danho’s face flushed red, then blue. He grabbed the iron bars and shook them violently, teeth clenched.
“Did you come here just to gawk?”
“No.”
“Then what—here to laugh at me?”
“No.”
“Did the Empress send you?”
Danho’s voice had turned murderous. But Seonghyeon, as if he hadn’t heard a word, said nothing and began rummaging through something.
“Answer me! Why are you here?!”
“Stay still. If you waste all your strength now, what are you going to do later?”
“You little—!”
Provoked by Seonghyeon’s infuriatingly casual tone, Danho rattled the bars even harder. If not for the iron bars blocking him, he looked ready to leap out and strangle Seonghyeon on the spot.
Ignoring him completely, Seonghyeon squatted down, fully focused on pulling something out.
“Eat.”
After struggling for a while, Seonghyeon pushed a bundle of food through the bars.
Bang!
The moment Seonghyeon’s hand left the bundle, Danho kicked it away. The wrapping came undone, spilling meat and side dishes all over the dirty dirt floor.
Seonghyeon watched the scene with a troubled expression.
“You don’t really have the luxury to be stubborn right now.”
“I’d rather starve to death than eat anything you give me.”
Even at Danho’s harsh declaration, Seonghyeon didn’t waver. The naive, gentle Wi Seonghyeon who cried over the smallest things was gone.
After becoming Empress Cheon Ihwa’s man, Seonghyeon had turned into a monster who felt nothing.
“I think you’re mistaken. I’m the only one who can get you out of here.”
“Hah. Look at you—acting like some powerful figure.”
Danho openly sneered now.
“Should I kneel and beg for my life while I’m at it? Cry and ask you to spare me?”
“Danho.”
“Don’t say my name! You’re nothing to me anymore—not a friend, not anything!”
“…Fine. Do as you like.”
Seeing there was no reasoning with him, Seonghyeon let out a long sigh and placed the food bundle just outside the bars, within reach.
“I’ll leave it here. If you change your mind, eat it. If you won’t eat it, at least don’t kick it away so no one else can.”
Danho was about to shout again when Dansol grabbed his arm.
“Please stop, Brother.”
Her calm voice echoed through the dark space, and for the first time, Seonghyeon’s expression cracked.
“If you cause any more trouble, we’ll be the ones who suffer.”
As Dansol cautioned Danho, Seonghyeon suddenly stepped forward, thrust his hand through the bars, and grabbed Dansol’s cheek.
“You bastard! Take your hand off my sister!”
Danho raged, but Seonghyeon didn’t release her. Dansol, startled by the sudden action, stared up at him with wide eyes.
“This…”
Seonghyeon’s hand trembled slightly as it held her cheek.
“Who did this?”
Anger seeped into his voice. Feeling the dull ache in her cheek and lips, Dansol finally realized he was referring to the swelling.
“It’s none of your concern.”
She turned her head slightly, signaling him to let go, but Seonghyeon didn’t.
“Was it the Empress?”
His gaze grew dangerous as he examined the thin scratch on her swollen cheek—clearly a mark left by fingernails.
“And if it was,” Dansol replied coldly, pulling his hand away, “what would you do about it?”
“……”
“Would you kill the Empress and get us out of here?”
“……”
“If not, then please leave.”
Faced with her firm voice, Seonghyeon couldn’t say a word. She hadn’t openly blamed him or hurled insults, but her quiet, measured tone was colder than anything else.
His lips moved soundlessly before his face twisted. Then he hurriedly turned and fled the prison.
“Seol-ah! Are you okay?”
Danho rushed to her side, checking her condition. But the darkness had returned, making it impossible to see her face clearly.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine? Your beautiful face is hurt like this…”
As Danho muttered angrily, Dansol gazed toward the entrance where Seonghyeon had disappeared, her expression heavy.
“That’s the Hwangseon Empire’s emperor we’ve heard so much about?”
“Watch your mouth. He’s a dangerous one.”
“Whew. That glare’s brutal. Guess you don’t become someone important for nothing—nearly scared the piss out of me.”
The guards exchanged mocking remarks as they looked down at Gyeom, bound and helpless, as though he were entertainment. Normally, they wouldn’t have dared meet his eyes, but now that his hands and feet were tied, they reveled in ridiculing him.
“Oh, right. Almost forgot.”
Thud.
One soldier tossed a roughly packed ball of mixed grain at Gyeom’s feet. It rolled through the dirt and stopped, completely filthy.
“Please enjoy your meal, Your Majesty.”
The exaggeratedly polite bow sent laughter rippling through the group.
“Hey, if a noble’s going to eat, this won’t do! This is more like it.”
Someone stomped on the rice ball, crushing it underfoot, drawing more laughter.
The mockery continued. All the resentment the soldiers had bottled up—from unfair treatment by nobles to their own lowly status—turned into hostility aimed squarely at Gyeom.
Yet Gyeom showed no reaction. No matter how severe the insults, he didn’t even blink.
“Tch. Boring.”
“Keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t try anything funny.”
Losing interest, the soldiers gradually returned to their posts. Only then did Gyeom begin to carefully observe his surroundings.
‘Three guards and two scouts.’
His eyes darted quickly.
‘Judging by the number of horses and the amount of supplies… at least twenty.’
The group that captured him had merged with another force along the way.
‘I need to escape before their numbers grow…’
He searched desperately for an opening, but none was easily visible.
Worse still, his hands and feet were bound, and a gag filled his mouth. No matter how skilled a warrior he was, there was nothing he could do in this state. His body was also far from healed from previous injuries.
Unless someone helped him, attempting escape alone would be suicide.
“I hear General Imujin set out from the north.”
“And word is the Grand General has also departed for the capital. Sounds like he plans to join forces with Imujin midway.”
“Then we should hurry. Once the Grand General hears we captured the emperor, we’ll be richly rewarded.”
The soldiers chatted excitedly about the wealth and titles they’d receive, busying themselves with preparations. Tents were dismantled, and supplies loaded onto horses.
Until everything was ready, Gyeom remained bound, watching silently. For fear he might flee, they kept him restrained until the very last moment.
Rustle.
A faint sound came from behind the tree he was tied to. Despite the bustle, the subtle noise reached Gyeom’s ears, sharpened by vigilance.
“I’m here to help. Please stay calm.”
A low voice whispered from the bushes behind him. Gyeom gave a small nod.
“I’ll undo your restraints first.”
The man carefully approached and began untying the ropes around Gyeom’s hands and feet. Thankfully, the soldiers were too distracted with departure preparations to notice anything amiss.
Gyeom waited patiently, remaining perfectly still until the bindings were fully removed.
“It’s time to move. Bring the emperor.”
“Yes, sir.”
Crunch, crunch.
Two soldiers began walking toward Gyeom, preparations complete.
