Moon's Whisper, Heart's Echo

42. The Remaking

Ji-ah's fingers trembled as she retied her torn skirts, now stained with mud and worse.

Behind her, Ji-soo's face carried that particular stillness that meant she was trying very hard not to panic.

"Surely we should stay put?" Ji-soo glanced toward where some of the remaining palace guards had just thundered past their hiding spot. "The Crown Princess's men will—"

"I need to see my sister." Ji-ah's voice cracked on the word. She pressed her palm flat against the rough wall, using its solidity to ground herself. "She must be sick with worry by now."

"My lady..." Ji-soo's tone carried careful warning. "After what you just heard—"

"She's my sister!" The words erupted from somewhere raw and wounded. Ji-ah pressed her other hand to her mouth, shocked by her own outburst. When she spoke again, her voice emerged smaller, almost child-like. "She's the only real family I have left as this point. Please..."

Ji-soo's expression softened with understanding.

She'd seen that same desperate look in Nandi's eyes years ago, when everything familiar had been stripped away.

"At least let me go first," Ji-soo said finally. "To make sure the way is clear."

Ji-ah nodded, grateful beyond words. Her legs still shook from running, from the weight of what she'd witnessed in that private room. Her uncle's words echoed in her mind, each remembered syllable making her stomach twist anew.

A pebble skittered across the packed earth, making both women freeze. Ji-soo's hand found the knife hidden in her sleeve.

But it was only a cat, slinking past with imperious disregard for their fear. Ji-ah almost laughed at how quickly her heart had started racing again.

"My lady..." Ji-soo hesitated. "If what you heard is true, then your sister..."

"Might be in danger too." Ji-ah squared her shoulders, channeling some of that steel she'd always admired in Eun-soo. "Which is exactly why I need to warn her. Before my uncle—"

She broke off as more boots thundered past their hiding spot. This time they waited longer before daring to breathe properly again.

"How can you be sure?" Ji-soo's voice dropped even lower. "That she isn't already..."

"Part of it?" Ji-ah's laugh held no humor. "Because I know my sister. She'd never..." But uncertainty crept in, mixing with memory. How many times had Eun-soo pushed her toward Tae-young? How often had their uncle visited, speaking in whispers with Eun-soo while Ji-ah was sent away?

"No." Ji-ah shook her head hard, rejecting the doubts. "She couldn't have known. About Jae-hoon, about the murder, about any of it. She would have told me."

Would she though? A treacherous voice whispered. When was the last time Eun-soo had really confided in you?

"My lady?" Ji-soo touched her arm gently. "We should move. Those guards will circle back soon."

Ji-ah nodded, forcing her trembling legs to cooperate. One step, then another. Each movement carrying her closer to whatever truth waited at her sister's house.