In a kingdom torn by power struggles and political intrigue, Jieun, the rightful heir to the throne of the East, finds herself sidelined as her brother, Jungwon, takes control. Determined to reclaim her birthright, Jieun seeks alliances and forms a...
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'AND IT DID NOT OCCUR TO YOU THAT. . . THIS INCOMING ATTACK, FATHER FALLING ILL HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THAT NISHIMURA BOY CAME TO THE EAST?'
Jungwon was sprawled on his bed, his servant tending to him like she always did.
Jieun only grunted in response, hating that his words made sense. He may have been a fool the majority of the time, but Jieun knew he was smart. Only, he rarely used that part of himself, preferring to be drunk on wine and ale.
'Leave us,' Jieun ordered the servant girl, voice firm, watching as she was quick to drop everything she had and scrambled out of the room. When the door was closed and it was only she, Jake and Heeseung, and Jungwon left, she began to speak. 'You say Riki is connected to it all?'
Jungwon shrugged, before letting out a small burp. 'I am saying it is a funny coincidence.'
It was true, too true even. 'Why did you leave?' she asked him, taking a seat by his armchair, looking at him with a cocked eyebrow.
'Sunoo wanted to show me something, don't know what happened to him. I think he left. . . ditched me━' a bitter laugh escaped Jungwon's lips. '━not even my best friend cares.'
'For he is not your best friend,' Jieun mused absentmindedly, deep in thought. 'My father said he sent out a search party of guards. . . who was in charge of it, Ser Jake?'
'That would be the Lord Advisor Kim, Your Grace,' Ser Jake responded, hands clasped together in front of him.
'Ah. . .' Jieun drawled. 'So Kim Sunoo takes my brother to a brothel and a tavern, leaving him too drunk to properly sit on his arse while his father is in charge of the search party. And how many guards, pray tell, actually left the Firegarden?'
'Zero,' Ser Jake answered her, finally beginning to realise what Jieun was hinting at.
'So zero guards, which means our Lord Kim did not do his job,' Jieun said, voicing her thoughts. 'While my father━'
'Our father,' Jungwon corrected her.
'While the King lay sick in his bed,' Jieun gave Jungwon a small glare. 'And. . . if he is too ill to do his duties, someone must take his place while he recovers.'
