"Go tell Seo Yul to meet me at Libra Hall," Hwan Jae said, waving his hand as he flipped through a book. "Tell him to hurry, I want to show him something."
The guard bowed and left.
In the quiet garden of the east wing, Seo Yul was sitting under a tree, staring at a koi pond. He barely looked up when the guard arrived.
"Prince Hwan Jae is asking for you. Come, I'll guide you part of the way," the guard said.
Seo Yul stood up and followed. He still wasn't used to the palace's twisting halls and grand corridors. The guard led him to a familiar archway and gave short directions: "Keep walking until you see the Libra Hall. There's a small stone dragon statue near the door."
Seo Yul nodded.
But after only a few turns, he was lost.
The palace felt like a maze. Each hallway looked the same high ceilings, golden doors, red columns. No one was around. His heart beat faster.
He paused in front of one door. It was half open. Maybe someone inside could help?
He stepped in.
The room was wide, lined with tall shelves filled with books. The scent of ink and parchment filled the air. It was quiet. Peaceful, even.
Until a voice, cold and sharp, cut through the silence:
"Who's there?"
Seo Yul froze.
From behind a desk stood King Hwan Seong. His eyes locked onto Seo Yul like a hawk spotting prey.
"Why are you here?" the king asked, stepping forward.
Seo Yul panicked.
"I-I got lost," he said, his voice shaking. "I didn't mean to come in."
The king didn't stop. His boots echoed on the floor as he walked toward him.
"This room is not for wandering boys," the king said. "Are you spying?"
Seo Yul backed up. "No I just… I didn't know where I was."
But the king didn't believe him. His eyes were filled with suspicion and something else. A deep warning.
Suddenly, the king grabbed Seo Yul by the arm and pushed him against the wall. Not with cruelty, but with force. His face was inches away.
Seo Yul gasped. His body froze. He couldn't breathe.
His mind flashed back to that day his father lying dead, the king standing over him. The scent of blood. The cold of the wind. The fear.
His lips trembled. "Please… I didn't come here on purpose. I was just trying to find Libra Hall…"
King Hwan stared into his eyes.
And for a moment something changed.
He saw how small Seo Yul looked up close. How scared. How his whole body was shaking, but he wasn't fighting back. His lips were pale. His voice was soft.
The king let go.
He stepped back slowly, almost like he had burned himself.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice quieter now. "Next time, ask someone to guide you."
Seo Yul nodded, still trembling. "I'm sorry…"
The king said nothing more.
Seo Yul turned and walked out as quickly as he could, his eyes stinging, his heart pounding.
Outside, Hwan Jae was rushing toward him.
"There you are! I've been waiting forever. Hey, what's wrong?"
Seo Yul didn't answer. He shook his head and looked away.
Hwan Jae looked at him closely, then smiled gently and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. I'll walk with you this time."
As they walked away, Seo Yul glanced back at the heavy door.
Inside, the king was still standing still, his fingers clenched, his breath shallow.
He had looked into the eyes of the boy he'd spared and for the first time, he had seen something he couldn't name.
But it stirred something deep within him.