In the royal court, the air was thick with whispered names and silken scrolls.
Servants bustled through the corridors with portraits, family records, and details of noble daughters from across Goryeon. All of it every parchment and hushed discussion pointed toward one purpose:
Finding a bride for the king.
Queen Dowager Min sat upright on the jade throne, her sharp gaze scanning the room as her ladies-in-waiting laid out the scrolls before her.
"This one is the daughter of Lord Hyeon from the southern provinces," one attendant said. "Known for her quiet manners and noble education."
"Too soft," the queen said.
"And Lady Cho of Sungrim. Twenty one years old. Beautiful and from a powerful military family."
The queen nodded slightly but said nothing.
Behind the silence, there was urgency. Not political urgency but something more private.
Because rumors had begun to stir in the inner court.
Whispers of the king's lingering presence in the eastern wing. Of a prince not executed, but protected. Of cold glances that softened only when a certain someone was around.
The queen had dismissed such nonsense at first.
But lately… her son's detachment from royal duty, his quiet defiance, his lack of interest in alliances all seemed to orbit around one name.
Seo Yul.
"I will present the final list to His Majesty by the end of this week," she said sharply. "And we will hold a royal banquet soon. Let him meet them face-to-face."
She turned to one of her trusted ladies.
"And send word to General Gwan. I want his insight. If my son won't listen to a mother's words, he might listen to his sword brother."
Outside, the palace sun glittered on rooftops like fire.
But deep inside the marble halls, a storm was beginning to form.
And Seo Yul, lying quietly in his chamber, still recovering, didn't yet know.
That he was about to be swept up in it.