Seong's expression was laced with doubt. "The Third Emissary... the one who..."

  "Yes," Ryang confirmed.

  "What was her name again?"

  Before Ryang could answer, Norahn interjected, "Sobi."

  Seong's lips tightened. He remembered Sobi's outburst during their first encounter with Yeong, her blunt questions disrupting the delicate balance of the moment. He couldn't understand Ryang's suggestion. While he sympathized with the loss of the Emissaries, his impression of Sobi wasn't favorable.

  "Do you really think someone with such a temper can persuade Jongwon?" he asked.

  "Her temper is matched by her integrity," Ryang countered.

  Norahn, perplexed by Ryang's defense of Sobi, shot him a questioning glance. Ryang continued.

  "The true persuasion lies not in the Third Emissary's words, but in your letter. This is the first time since Wi's fall that the rightful heir of Wi has sent an envoy to Soyeol. We need to make our stance clear. Someone with unwavering resolve, committed to fulfilling their duty, is more suited for this task than someone who might resort to trickery."

  "But why an Emissary?" Seong pressed.

  "Soyeol considers itself the true and sole descendant of Wi, followers of Sahngjon. Sending an Emissary as our envoy would be seen as a gesture of respect."

  "That makes sense."

  Seong readily agreed with Ryang's assessment. Norahn, who had been anxiously observing their exchange, could no longer contain his apprehension.

  "The Third Emissary is not a suitable choice," he blurted out.

  Seong and Ryang turned to look at him. Norahn, flustered by his outburst, flushed red. His discomfort was evident.

  "Why do you object, High Emissary?" Seong asked.

  Norahn glanced at Yeong, who remained silent. She seemed unwilling to involve herself in the discussion. Norahn's anxiety stemmed from the secret he shared with Yeong. Cheon Hwan, the man who had slaughtered the Emissaries, was still out there, somewhere on the sea between Soyeol and Birahng. But Yeong had dismissed Norahn's fears, forcing him to fabricate an excuse.

  "Soyeol is a cursed land, inhabited by dangerous people," he argued. "And the journey to the main island is perilous, even with favorable winds. We cannot risk sending the Third Emissary on such a dangerous mission. Choose someone else, someone whose absence won't disrupt Wicheong's operations."

  Ryang countered, "Do you believe sending someone whose absence won't be noticed will be enough to secure Jongwon's support?"

  "But High Councilor..."

  "I believe the Third Emissary is more than qualified for this task."

  Ryang's resolve was firm, but Norahn wouldn't back down easily. "The Second Emissary is equally qualified. And he's older, more senior. There's no need to send Sobi."

  Ryang's lips curled into a faint sneer. "If that's truly what you believe, then I'm deeply disappointed."

  "High Councilor," Seong interjected.

  Ryang, sensing his cue, ceased his argument with Norahn. The tension in the room eased, and Seong addressed the group.

  "We'll follow the High Councilor's recommendation. He understands Soyeol better than any of us."

  "Guardian..." Norahn pleaded, but the decision seemed to be made. Yeong remained silent, offering no support. Norahn, defeated, bowed his head in acceptance.

  Soon after, Seong excused himself. Ryang and Norahn rose to leave, but Yeong remained seated, as if lost in thought. At the door, Ryang turned to Norahn.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "I wasn't aware you cared so deeply for the Third Emissary."

  Norahn, his posture as straight as ever, met Ryang's gaze. "The Emissaries were recently massacred. The Third Emissary herself has barely recovered. It's only natural for me to be concerned for her well-being."

  Ryang's lips slightly twitched with amusement. "The Second Emissary is also your subordinate."

  Norahn's lips moved as if to speak, but he quickly regained his composure, remaining silent.

  "I haven't forgotten that the incident remains unresolved," Ryang continued. "If you're truly concerned, perhaps you should seek answers from the Guardian Crimson instead of simply worrying about Sobi. Have you made no progress in your investigation?"

  "None," Norahn admitted curtly.

  Ryang's sharp gaze lingered on Norahn's face. Norahn's eyes dropped to the floor, his long lashes concealing his unease. Ryang recalled Norahn's anxious glances towards Yeong during their earlier meeting.

  "The seas are calm at the moment," he said dismissively. "Don't worry. I'll ensure she's well-prepared for the journey. We can't afford another tragedy, not with our plans in motion."

  Norahn remained silent, his narrowed eyes betraying his disapproval of Ryang's plan. Ryang, with a curt nod, took his leave.

  Seong watched Yeong, who sat in silence. Even though the meeting had concluded, he lingered, as if waiting for Seong to speak. Seong decided to ask the question Ryang had prevented him from asking earlier.

  "Can you tell me more about the object the princess retrieved?"

  Yeong's gaze, which had been downcast, met Seong's. Her brow was furrowed, her eyes filled with a flicker of unease. Yeong's expression was usually unreadable, but Seong was starting to discern subtle shifts in her demeanor. Is she becoming more perceptive, or was Yeong finally revealing her true emotions? He couldn't be sure.

  "Show me Yeom’myeol," Yeong said.

  Her request mirrored Ryang's, and Seong felt a surge of apprehension. He retrieved the sword from its chest and presented it to Yeong. As Seong drew the blade from its scabbard, Yeong traced its smooth surface with her fingers.

  "This sword and the sphere the princess found are made from the same material," Yeong explained, her voice distant. "In Sahngjon's realm, it's called Ji'uigeum – the metal of knowing intent. It can cut through anything, even the hardest diamond. A sword forged from Ji'uigeum can sever any bond, and an arrow made from it can pierce even an immortal heart."

  Ji'uigeum. The name seemed fitting, considering the sword's feather-light weight that responded to his and Hwan's touch. Seong held his breath, waiting for Yeong to continue. Yeong's gaze settled on the two characters engraved on the blade.

  "Have you ever wondered why the King's sword is named Yeom’myeol(念滅)?" she asked.

  "I have," Seong admitted. "It always seemed an odd name for the founder's sword. I assumed it was named after its use in executing the royal descendants, but it couldn't have been created for that purpose."

  Yeong's gaze shifted from the sword to Seong. "'Myeol' in its name doesn't signify the annihilation of an enemy."

  "Whose destruction, then?"

  "The wielder's."

  Seong's eyes widened, his gaze trapped by Yeong's intense stare.

  "Even the royal descendants, blessed with immortality, can be killed by this sword."

  "But only the royal descendants can wield it."

  "It is Sahngjon's mercy," Yeong explained. "He bestowed upon them the burden of immense power and the curse of eternal life, but he also granted them the means to end their own suffering."

  "But the founder..." Seong faltered, his confusion growing.

  The Azure Scripture described the founder's disappearance as a mystical event, a sudden ascension to Sahngjon's side. The Ministry of Emissaries Divine taught that he had achieved immortality, bypassing death. His tomb was empty, overgrown with weeds, a testament to his supposed ascension.

  "The founder took his own life," Yeong stated flatly.

  The word pierced Seong's heart. Yeong's conviction left no room for doubt. She offered no explanation, no evidence, but Seong knew, with a certainty that defied logic, that she spoke the truth. The Yeom’myeol, a weapon capable of ending the eternal life bestowed by Sahngjon. Its pristine white blade now seemed stained with blood in Seong's eyes.

  "If I, like the founder, become immortal," Seong asked, "will I also be forced to choose my own end?"

  "It is the fate of those who receive eternal life," Yeong confirmed. "Though Sahngjon's intentions remain unclear, it holds true for both you and Cheon Hwan. The moment you are chosen, your end becomes inevitable. That sword was created to destroy its wielder, not an enemy. But if there were more weapons forged from Ji'uigeum..."

  "Like having two Guardians?"

  Yeong offered a pitying glance, but no answer.

  "Why was the sphere in the sea?" Seong asked.

  "It was a protective shell," Yeong explained, "shielding me."

  "So that was the Star," Seong realized.

  "If that sphere is melted down," Yeong continued, "it can be used to create more weapons like the Yeom’myeol. Weapons capable of killing even an immortal king chosen by Sahngjon. It must not fall into anyone's hands. Not yours, not Cheon Hwan's, and certainly not that princess's. This sword is enough. If there were two Yeom’myeol, they wouldn't be used for self-destruction. Do you understand?"

  "Yes."

  "You must not share this with anyone. And that sphere must be retrieved from the princess."

  Seong swallowed hard. The situation Yeong feared was the very situation he dreaded.

  "I'll retrieve it," he vowed. "I promise."