Moon's Whisper, Heart's Echo

47. The Parting

The execution of Lord Cho had been announced with all the pomp and ceremony befitting a traitor of his magnitude.

The court, the Crown Prince, and even the common people waited eagerly for justice to be served.

But when the day came, the guards reported an unprecedented breach. Lord Cho had vanished from his cell, the iron bars forced open, the guards bound and gagged in the corner.

Rumors spread like wildfire—some claimed he had fled to a distant province, others that he had allies within the court who spirited him away. No one suspected Lady Yi.

Her household remained quiet, the staff sworn to secrecy under threat of death. She had bribed the right people, whispered to the right ears, and used every last ounce of her waning influence to orchestrate his escape.

Now, Lord Cho sat in her home, hidden in a secluded wing, it hard been so long since presence other than her own and the servants existed in the home.

Lady Yi entered the room where he lounged, the dim candlelight casting flickering shadows over his gaunt face. He looked thinner, weaker than she remembered, but his arrogance remained untouched.

"You've been generous, Lady Yi," he said, his voice dripping with mock gratitude. "Risking everything to save me. I underestimated your loyalty."

She forced a small smile, her fingers brushing over the silk hem of her sleeve. "I always believed in keeping my promises," she replied, her tone even.

Lord Cho smirked, leaning back against the low table. "And yet, I'm not sure I can trust you entirely. You seem... distant."

"You've been through much, my lord. Paranoia is understandable."

He tilted his head, studying her like a predator sizing up prey. "Paranoia? Hardly. Caution, perhaps. Especially with the stakes so high. The Crown Prince's court grows stronger by the day, and we need to act quickly if we're to reclaim what's ours."

"What are you suggesting?" she asked, feigning curiosity.

"I've had time to think during my confinement," he said, his eyes gleaming. "The boy. Min-joon. He's the key. If we take him, we can force Nandi's hand. She'll bargain for her son, and with her alliance to Tae-young weakened, the Crown Prince will be vulnerable."

The air seemed to still.

Lady Yi felt her blood run cold as his words sank in. "You would use a child as a pawn?"

"Such a silly statement from a woman like you." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Why? Do you now wish he was your grandchild?"

"He isn't."

"Exactly. Besides, he's more than a pawn," Lord Cho replied, studying her face. "He's leverage. The perfect leverage."

Her hands remained perfectly still - too still. Years of his training had taught her that even trembling could betray weakness. "Min-joon is innocent. He's just a boy."

"Innocence is a luxury," Lord Cho said, his fingers tapping against his jade rank badge. "He's the son of a traitor and a foreigner. He's expendable." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't tell me your moments alone and discarded made you weaker."

Like that day at court, familiarity made her shudder. She couldn't protect anyone. Never even tried the way she should have.

Her smile wavered, then steadied - the mask he'd helped her perfect. "Of course. I'll see to it that your plans proceed."

That evening, she moved through preparations with careful precision. The servants were dismissed early, but not too early - that would arouse suspicion. When she brought the evening meal, she made sure to arrange everything exactly as he preferred.