Morning light bathed the marble halls of the Goryeon Palace in gold, but the mood was far from warm.
The Grand State Court where matters of war and peace were judged filled quickly with nobles, generals, and court ministers. Silk rustled. Eyes shifted. Whispers flowed like water.
At the far end sat the Queen Mother, high upon the central throne beneath the royal phoenix sigil. Her presence, even without a crown, commanded silence. Regal and cold, her expression carved from stone.
The heavy doors opened.
All turned as King Hwan Seong entered, his posture calm, robes dark, steps slow and deliberate. Behind him came General Baek Jin, and flanked between guards the stranger among them walked a pale boy with downcast eyes, Seo Yul.
No one spoke, but every gaze clung to the boy in white, the last surviving son of the defeated Baekseong king.
They stopped at the foot of the dais. The king bowed.
"Mother. Council." His voice echoed.
The Queen Mother leaned forward, her voice sharp.
"You return victorious. Yet I see a shadow following you. Why is the boy here?"
The question rang through the chamber. Ministers exchanged glances. General Baek Jin remained silent, awaiting the king's reply.
King Hwan Seong raised his head.
"He is no longer a prince. He is a relic. A reminder of Baekseong's fall," the king said. "I spared him to suffer."
A quiet stir swept the court.
"Death is swift," he continued, eyes fixed ahead. "This will be slower. He will grow in our halls, but never belong. He will breathe, but never rise. That is a deeper punishment than the sword."
The Queen Mother studied him. Her voice lowered.
"Do you think cruelty makes you stronger?" "No," he said. "But it makes memory harder to forget."
Seo Yul remained silent, head bowed, shoulders tense. He didn't understand all of it but, he knew this was about him. And that everyone wished he weren't here.
"The boy will be kept under watch," the Queen declared. "No name, no title. If he proves dangerous, you will answer for it."
The king gave a simple nod.
"As you wish."
The council bowed in unison as the Queen Mother stood and left the court. The ministers followed, murmuring.
The king stayed for a moment longer, eyes unfocused.
Seo Yul was already being led away.
He never looked back.