Chapter 94
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94
“L-Lady So-ya? Why are you here…!”
A-han asked, stumbling back in a panic.
“I’m disappointed, Lord A-han. I didn't think you would go so far as to harm civilians.”
“W-what?”
At that moment, the sound of screams erupting from the surroundings made A-han whip his head around in shock.
The private soldiers of the Blue Shark Clan he had brought with him were being decimated by Cheonghae Palace soldiers who had been lying in wait within the small boats.
It was a trap!
“The people were evacuated in advance. Those in the boats are soldiers from Cheonghae Palace. I had a feeling you might try to harm the people tonight, Lord A-han.”
So-ya explained the situation to him in a calm, quiet voice.
“The underwater cave beneath us—that’s the Blue Shark Clan’s hideout, isn't it?”
“H-how did you…!”
This was also a fact she had learned thanks to Jjaek-jjaek. He had told her that they had been using an underwater cave beneath the Cheonghae Sea as a hideout to raise a private army.
So-ya had guessed that if A-han were to flee, he would head there. Upon hearing this, Ga-hyeon had devised a plan.
They spread a grand rumor that the suspended festival would be extended and suggested holding the Falling Flower Fireworks near the hideout. Ga-hyeon predicted that since the clan had nowhere left to retreat, they would seize the opportunity to strike.
And Ga-hyeon’s prediction had hit the mark perfectly.
“Then, don’t tell me your sudden disappearance from the Coral Reef Garden back then was also planned…!”
“Birds hear the words of the day, and mice hear the words of the night, Young Lord.”
As So-ya spoke with a bright smile, a small lark flew down and perched on her shoulder.
“Pyu-rut, pyu-rut!”
Jjaek-jjaek chirped, puffing out his chest arrogantly.
“Damn it.”
A-han glared at So-ya. To think that this little girl had ruined all their plans.
“Since it’s come to this, I’ll at least take your life!”
He drew the sword at his waist and lunged at So-ya.
“Do not resent me!”
It was the moment his blade swung down toward So-ya’s head.
Clang!
So-ya swiftly drew the White Tiger Divine Sword and blocked A-han’s strike.
Clang, clash, shing—!
After exchanging several blows, their blades locked, and they entered a contest of strength, each trying to push the other back.
“It won’t go your way, Lord A-han.”
In terms of pure strength, it should have been difficult for her to overcome A-han, who had a much larger build, yet So-ya’s expression remained remarkably serene.
“Because I’m going to protect everything. The festival of the Eastern Land, the peace—all of it.”
The moment So-ya’s lips curled into a smirk, the Power of Steel, responding to her heart, infused the blade.
Soon, the White Tiger Sword began to glow with a faint, pure white light. So-ya put strength into the hilt and shoved A-han’s sword away.
“Ugh!”
Splash!
A-han’s sword fell beneath the surface of the water.
A-han froze, unable to believe his sword had been sent flying by someone as small as So-ya.
But So-ya did not wait for him to regain his senses. Raising her sword high into the air, she swung the blade down.
Crash!
As the boat they were on shattered, So-ya nimbly leaped through the air and landed lightly on a large nearby rock.
Unlike So-ya’s agile movement, the recoil sent A-han soaring into the air before he plunged beneath the surface.
Splash!
A massive spray of water erupted, dousing the burning Falling Flower sticks above So-ya’s head.
Not just A-han, but members of the Blue Shark Clan everywhere were falling into the water, utterly defeated.
So-ya watched calmly as the Cheonghae Palace soldiers fished them out and took them into custody.
‘Now the rest is up to the Eastern Land.’
As an outsider, this was as far as her involvement could go. Taking the criminals for interrogation and punishment was a matter for her mother and Cheonghae Palace.
So-ya sat on the rock where the shallow waves lapped and looked up at the dark sky.
It was good that she had helped her mother stop the Blue Shark Clan, but she felt a deep sense of regret that she couldn't watch the Falling Flower Fireworks she had been looking forward to.
Because of the skirmishes that had broken out here and there, the Falling Flower sticks were all soaked; it seemed impossible to light them again.
“What a shame,” So-ya muttered, sounding a bit upset. “Well, I can always come back to see the fireworks next year…”
Just then, she saw a small boat approaching her from a distance.
So-ya watched it blankly, assuming her brothers or the Cheonghae Palace soldiers had found her.
The boat gradually drew closer.
‘Brother Hyeon? No… It’s not him…’
Sitting upon the boat was a boy who looked a couple of years older than So-ya. Beneath the heungnip hat he wore, platinum-blonde hair reflected the moonlight, flowing down elegantly.
As the boy slightly lifted the brim of his hat, his noble features and gentle teal eyes were revealed.
“Hello, So-ya.”
“Your Majesty…?”
So-ya’s eyes widened.
It was Tae Yi-rim.
Why was someone so precious, who should have been in the Imperial Palace, here? There wasn't even a single guard to be seen by his side.
As she stared blankly at his face, which had grown significantly since she last saw him, he asked with a soft smile.
“It looks like you need a boat.”
“Ah…”
“Would you like to come aboard?”
She could have spread her wings and flown, but since she happened to be tired, So-ya stepped onto his boat to travel with him.
Swish, swish.
The boat cut through the water as it moved forward.
So-ya asked the question she had been wondering about.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to keep a promise.”
“A promise? To whom?”
Instead of answering, Yi-rim simply gave a mysterious smile.
‘…?’
So-ya looked up as the sky suddenly brightened without warning.
‘…!’
So-ya’s eyes went round.
The Falling Flower Fireworks had begun, sparks cascading down the long ropes suspended in the air.
“I was sure the sticks were all soaked…”
“I wonder. Perhaps they dried in the meantime.”
So-ya blinked at Yi-rim’s answer.
Could seawater really dry that fast?
She wondered if such a thing was possible, but… regardless, seeing the beautiful sparks made her feel better.
“It’s so beautiful.”
“It is. Truly beautiful.”
Yi-rim smiled as he watched So-ya’s face, flushed and glowing in the light of the sparks.
The fireworks continued for quite a long time.
So-ya and Yi-rim watched them from the boat floating on the water.
The sparks, embroidering the black night sky in red before falling to the surface, warmed So-ya’s heart.
After some time had passed, the fireworks came to an end.
Once the light vanished, the surroundings felt exceptionally quiet.
In that somewhat awkward silence, So-ya spoke first.
“Oh, that’s right, Your Majesty. I’ve become able to use my flames freely like this now.”
So-ya conjured a flame of purification at her fingertips to show him.
“That’s impressive.”
Yi-rim reached out and gently stroked So-ya’s flame.
His tender touch, as if he were handling something incredibly precious, made So-ya feel a bit strange.
She was caught in a peculiar sensation—something like a tickle, or perhaps a slight heat—when suddenly…
Whoosh—!
“Ah…!”
A sudden gust of wind blew, and So-ya’s hair tie snapped loose and flew away.
It must have loosened while she was clashing swords with A-han earlier, only to finally come undone in the wind.
So-ya stomped her feet in frustration as she watched the hair tie fall onto the water far away. The water was pitch black, making it look too dangerous to go and retrieve it.
Watching her in silence, Yi-rim slowly unfastened his own hair tie.
“Turn this way, So-ya.”
“Your Majesty, you don’t have to…”
“It’s alright, come now.”
At his gentle voice, So-ya obediently turned around.
Yi-rim combed through her disheveled hair with his hands and tied it for her.
Softly, gently…
The way his hands moved through her hair was even more skillful than her father’s or mother’s.
Has His Majesty handled many women’s hair before?
‘It’s a strange feeling.’
Finally, they reached their destination.
“Ah, we’re here…”
As she reflexively stood up and looked back, So-ya realized that the person who should have been behind her was gone.
“Huh?”
So-ya blinked in confusion at the empty boat.
For a moment, she wondered if she had been dreaming.
But then, the hair tie on her head fluttered in the wind.
Finding this trace of his presence, she realized anew that her time with him on the boat hadn't been a dream.
“He’s a busy person, so I suppose he had to leave before we could even say goodbye.”
Though she felt a bit slighted that he had left without a word, So-ya simply let out a small laugh and moved on.
In the darkness, she failed to notice the single black scale lying on the floor of the boat.