DN 134

Chapter 134

Danseol was leaning her back against the cold wall, her face buried in her knees. It had already been three days since she was locked up in the underground prison.

During that time, she had been given only enough food and water to keep her from dying, but no one had come to see her. Seonghyeon, too, had not returned since then.

“Looks like they’ve completely abandoned us in the end.”

Danho was furious at the realization, but more than anger, sorrow seemed to weigh heavier on him. After that, even Danho, who had tried to make conversation here and there, fell silent.

Having gone so long without seeing sunlight, she couldn’t tell whether her eyesight had worsened or whether it was simply too dark to see properly. She had lost all sense of time—though it had only been three days since they were imprisoned, it felt as long as a year.

Listening to nothing but the sound of water droplets falling somewhere far away in the pitch-dark space, she felt as though her mind was slowly unraveling.

In just three days, both of them had become utterly haggard.

‘It’s cold….’

Outside, spring was in full bloom, but this place was connected to an underground cavern, and the chill was so deep that her breath fogged in the air. As the cold seeped into her, Danseol thought of Gyeom.

She missed his warm, broad, comforting embrace.

“I’m here beside you, so don’t worry.”

She longed for that gentle voice filled with warmth, for the reliable smile he used to give her.

‘I miss you….’

At last, the tears she had been holding back burst forth. She was terrified that she might never see Gyeom again.

If she had known it would come to this, she should have done everything they wanted to do together. Instead of feeling shy and holding back, she should have told him every day how much she liked him.

Regret flooded her, and tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.

Step. Step.

As Danseol cried silently, heavy footsteps gradually drew closer. Judging by the chaotic mix of sounds, it was more than one person.

Clank.

With a heavy metallic sound, the prison door opened. Four soldiers holding torches stood outside.

“Drag the criminals out!”

At the booming command, the soldiers entered the cell and roughly hauled Danseol and Danho to their feet.

“W-What is this supposed to be?!”

Startled by the rough handling, Danseol cried out, but the soldiers paid her no heed as they bound her arms and shackled her feet.

“Seol! Are you okay? You bastards! How dare you lay your hands on her!”

Danho twisted his body and tried to resist, but it was useless. One of the soldiers restraining them spoke in a low voice.

“We’ve been ordered to take the criminals to the interrogation hall. So behave yourselves and follow.”

Dragged to the interrogation hall by the soldiers, Danho and Danseol were forced down onto their knees. Seated in the place of honor at the center was Empress Cheon Ihwa.

“Tsk, tsk. You’re in quite a state.”

Ihwa clicked her tongue as she looked down at the emaciated Danseol.

Her once-glossy hair was tangled into a wild mess, her fine silk clothes torn and filthy, reduced to rags. Her face, once pale as snow, had grown rough and dull, and her lips were cracked and bleeding.

And yet, Danseol’s outstanding beauty remained. If anything, her gaunt appearance lent her a pitiful fragility that carried a strange allure.

An irritating sight that provoked anger to the very end.

Ihwa’s lips twisted as she stared at Danseol.

“Today, in this place, I will expose every one of your crimes.”

Before the assembled ministers, Ihwa intended to extract testimony that the two had entered the imperial palace under false identities with impure intentions—and then kill them.

Of course, they wouldn’t confess willingly. But that could be remedied.

“Begin the interrogation. Bind the criminals.”

At Ihwa’s command, the soldiers seated Danho and Danseol on chairs and tied them down.

“Now then, which of you will answer my questions first?”

Rising from her seat, Ihwa strolled lazily toward them.

“Fine. You—answer me.”

She stopped in front of Danseol. Ihwa’s gaze sharpened instantly.

“Is it true that you concealed your identity and attempted to kill His Majesty in order to avenge your parents and your country?”

“N-No….”

“Seol!”

Smack—!

At the same moment as Danho’s shout, Ihwa struck Danseol sharply across the cheek. Danseol’s head snapped to the side, her hair scattering wildly. Her parched lips split open, blood trickling down.

“I’ll ask again.”

Arms folded, Ihwa looked down at Danseol, her gaze icy.

“Is it true that you tried to harm His Majesty?”

“I have never done such a thing.”

Smack—!

When Danseol didn’t give the answer she wanted, Ihwa struck her other cheek.

“Then hit me instead! Don’t lay a hand on my sister!”

Danho screamed desperately, thrashing against his restraints. Seeing Danseol slapped twice in a row drove him nearly mad.

Watching his beloved younger sister humiliated before his eyes was unbearable. Tears welled up as he struggled with all his might—but that was all he could do.

He couldn’t stop Ihwa. He couldn’t save Danseol.

“So you have no intention of speaking willingly.”

After staring at the tight-lipped Danseol, Ihwa turned away.

“Then I’ll have no choice but to interrogate your brother.”

At Ihwa’s words, Danseol jerked her head up.

“Beat him until he confesses his crimes.”

“No!”

At Danseol’s cry, the whip lashed down on Danho.

“Ghk…!”

Danho clenched his teeth and endured the pain as the lash tore into his flesh. Each strike ripped skin and sent droplets of blood flying, yet Danho did not open his mouth.

“Hngh… please, please… stop!”

Unable to bear the horrific sight, Danseol sobbed and begged. When she turned her head away in agony, Ihwa stepped forward, grabbed her by the cheek, and forced her to look.

“You should watch carefully. Watch how your brother suffers because of you.”

Whispering into Danseol’s ear, Ihwa fixed her face in place so she couldn’t look away. Helpless, Danseol was forced to witness Danho being whipped.

“Please… just kill me instead.”

She couldn’t bear to watch her brother die before her eyes. If sacrificing her life could stop it, she would gladly do so.

“No. That wouldn’t be any fun.”

Ihwa laughed chillingly into Danseol’s ear.

Only then did Danseol realize it.

‘She intended to kill us from the start.’

This wasn’t an interrogation—it was entertainment disguised as one.

Using the interrogation as an excuse, Cheon Ihwa was clearly intent on repaying Danseol for everything she had suffered. Otherwise, there was no reason to be this cruel.

“Look closely. See what happens to your brother because of you.”

The whipping continued. In the end, Danho lost consciousness without ever confessing.

“Tsk. I’d heard the crown prince of Seolhwa was formidable, but he’s weaker than expected.”

Ihwa looked at Danho’s blood-soaked body as though it were filth.

“What do you want from me?!”

Seeing that, Danseol screamed at Ihwa. Her eyes were swollen from crying, but her glare was fierce.

“What must I do for you to release my brother?!”

Her head was spinning, her breathing labored, but Danseol shouted with all the strength she had left.

“Didn’t I tell you? Confess your crimes honestly.”

“Then… will you spare my brother?”

“Yes. I’ll spare him, at least.”

Danseol knew Ihwa wouldn’t keep her promise, but she was desperate enough to cling to her words.