The next dawn, when the palace still slumbered under the pale veil of night and only the occasional footsteps of the night guards echoed through the stone corridors, Jade moved quietly through the shadows.
His destination was the royal archive—a towering, silent chamber buried deep within the inner court, where the kingdom's most sensitive and classified documents were kept. The kind of place few dared enter, and even fewer had the authority to.
The two guards standing at the gate straightened at the sight of him. Recognizing him instantly as the Captain-in-Chief of the Royal Guard, they saluted and unlatched the heavy iron doors without question.
Jade gave them a curt nod and stepped inside.
The air in the archive was thick with the scent of parchment, dust, and time. Rows upon rows of aged books and scrolls stood in solemn silence, like ancient sentinels keeping vigil over centuries of secrets.
He walked straight to the back—his boots echoing on the stone floor—reaching the innermost shelf where the restricted records were kept. His gloved hand hesitated only a moment before pulling out a thick, leather-bound volume.
He opened it, revealing detailed records of troop deployments across Hana's provinces… and maps marking the locations of every major weapons depot in the kingdom.
Jade exhaled deeply.
This was what Kim Jin wanted. Just last night, the command had been clear: deliver this information to Ash. They planned to strike the weapons depots first—cripple Hana's defenses before the nation could even respond.
Once, Jade would have obeyed without a second thought. He owed Ash everything—his life, his rise, his purpose. And Kim Jin had always believed in him. That should have been enough.
But now… it wasn't.
Now there was her.
Princess Genie—fierce, sincere, radiant in her determination. He could still see the fire in her eyes as she vowed to restore Hana, to protect its people, to crush the corruption rotting the kingdom from within.
She trusted him.
And that trust, more than anything, paralyzed him.
His head throbbed with the weight of it. He stared down at the maps, his breath caught in his throat. His hands trembled slightly as he closed the book.
He knew Kim Jin was waiting. That Ash's plans were already in motion.
But he couldn't do it.
Not now.
Not while Genie's image lingered in his heart like a silent prayer.
Jade turned, walked out of the archive with tense, quiet steps, and once outside, clenched his fists hard enough for his knuckles to whiten.
'Not now… I can't give this away. Not to Kim Jin. Not to Ash. Not yet.'
The early morning light began to bleed into the sky, casting soft gold on the palace walls. But Jade felt only the cold grip of his inner war—between duty and loyalty, debt and love.
And he knew the choice he made today would change everything.
The following morning, the grand assembly hall of the palace was filled with courtiers, attendants, and guards.
With great effort, King Gen sat upon his throne, his body heavy with illness, as his weary eyes scanned the faces of the assembled officials.
It had been some time since such a gathering had taken place. The entire court—ministers, servants, and soldiers—had gathered because the king had called for a meeting.
King Gen, struggling to maintain his composure, glanced around at the ministers who had assembled.
Princess Genie walked to the side of the king and stood by his throne.
Jade stood among the ministers, waiting for the king to begin the proceedings.
Finally, in a voice strained and cracked, King Gen spoke. "The reason I have called you all here, after such a long time, is... because the Hana Kingdom is about to take a crucial step forward. As you are all aware, my health has been failing day by day. Therefore, I have come to a decision. I will choose a successor."
At the mention of a successor, a wave of murmurs swept through the hall.
In recent times, as King Gen's health had deteriorated, factions supporting Ju Tak, the son of Prime Minister Ju Man, had been gaining strength.
King Gen was fully aware of this, and he had spent many days contemplating and praying over what would be best for the future of the kingdom.
He continued, his voice faltering. "As you all know, the decision to choose a successor lies solely with me. I have discussed this matter with Princess Genie ever since she came back to our nation, and after much deliberation, I have decided to pass the throne to her."
A collective gasp filled the room.
The ministers, the attendants, and even the guards turned in stunned silence, all eyes now fixed on King Gen.
Ju Man, his sharp gaze fixed on the king, opened his mouth with a tone of disbelief.
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, Princess Genie has been absent from the kingdom for eleven years. How can we entrust the throne to someone who is so unfamiliar with the state of the realm?"
At once, Han Son, the always-loyal prime minister, stepped forward to counter Ju Man's objection.
"That is why we, the ministers, are here. We will assist Princess Genie in ruling the kingdom, guiding her as she learns what she needs to know. The right to choose a successor is the king's alone, and how can we possibly oppose that?"
King Gen calmly surveyed the assembly.
"Ju Man does have a point. The one who can lead Hana must be the one to inherit the throne," he declared. "Therefore, I announce here that Princess Genie will be nominated as a candidate for the throne, meaning if there's another potential candidate, you can nominate as well. The candidates will undergo three trials. The person who wins two out of the three trials will inherit the throne."
A stunned silence followed. The ministers, the attendants, and even the guards were caught off guard by this unexpected proclamation.
Jade, too, was visibly shocked, his eyes darting toward the figure of Princess Genie, who stood solemnly by the king's side.
The thought of Princess Genie competing for the throne in trials was almost too unbelievable for Jade to process.
"The first trial will be a military strategy competition," the King continued, his voice steady. "A small force will engage in a mock battle, and the one who wins the battle will claim victory in this first trial. But remember, no one is to be killed in this mock combat."
"The second trial will test wisdom in governing the people. A fair and just ruling in a court case will be decided by the people themselves. And, as you know, loyalty from the ministers is crucial to inheriting the throne. Therefore, the third trial will be decided by a vote of the ministers here present."
"The winner of the three trials will be the one to take the throne. Do any of you have any objections?"
The King's words rang out, majestic and firm.
No one in the assembly dared to raise an objection.
Though the King held the ultimate authority to appoint his successor, it was clear that he was not simply choosing a path for his own interests. He wanted the kingdom's future to be shaped by the will of the people and the ministers.
Despite his failing health, King Gen's decision showed the wisdom and foresight that had kept the Hana Kingdom prosperous for so long.
Jade gazed at Princess Genie, standing solemnly beside the king.
'Your Highness … Can you truly handle this...?'
"This is absurd!" roared Ju Man, the Minister of Land, slamming his fist against the low lacquered table.
The private noble house outside the court buzzed with restrained fury. Within its candlelit walls, fifteen of the powerful men in Hana—nobles, ministers, and allies—had gathered. At the center of them sat Lee Bae-won, calm and unmoving, his eyes closed in quiet contemplation. He was the head of this clandestine alliance and, notably, the father-in-law of Ju Tak—the man they all wished to see crowned king.
The room reeked of incense and tension.
Ju Man, still bristling with anger, paced before the table. The other noblemen exchanged uneasy glances, their faces a mix of indignation and disbelief. The King's unexpected announcement—naming Princess Genie as a candidate for succession—had thrown their carefully laid plans into uncertainty.
Lee Bae-won, unmoved by the storm around him, finally opened his eyes. They were cold and resolute.
He turned his gaze toward Ju Tak, who sat quietly at the edge of the room. "What do you intend to do now?" he asked, his voice low but heavy with command.
Ju Tak flinched slightly under the weight of his father-in-law's stare.
"I… I'll have to compete against Princess Genie in the three trials. Right?"
A pause. Then, Lee Bae-won gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod.
"This is your moment," he said firmly. "Your chance to prove your worth. But you need not fear." He glanced around at the gathered men—the husbands of the influential women in the Noble Women's Society, each of them powerful in their own right. "You are not alone in this. Every man in this room stands behind you. We will give everything we have to see you crowned as the next king."
Encouraged by those words, Ju Tak's lips curled into a confident smile. "Yes, Sir. I won't let you down. I'll win. I'll become the king that Hana needs."
Ju Man, emboldened by Lee Bae-won's declaration, chimed in with a smirk. "My servant has been keeping a close eye on Princess Genie. According to him, she has only two people backing her—Jade, the Captain of the Royal Guard assigned to her pavilion, and a new official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some boy named Moonsen."
A murmur rippled through the room. The men glanced at one another, uncertain if this news should be taken as a comfort or a threat.
Lee Bae-won's brow furrowed.
"You think those two are weak?" he asked sharply, eyes narrowing on Ju Man.
Ju Man hesitated. "Well… Jade is strong, yes. Possibly the strongest military officer in the royal court. But not stronger than Ju Tak... right?"
He looked toward his son for reassurance.
Lee Bae-won shook his head.
"You're missing the point. Jade is more than just a fighter. He is one of the King's most trusted men—second only to Han Son. Loyalty like that makes him dangerous. And as for Moonsen… he's no ordinary newcomer. He ranked first in this year's civil service examination. He is the son of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs—a legacy figure. Brilliant, diplomatic, and quiet. The kind of strategist we should not underestimate."
The weight of his words settled heavily over the room.
Ju Tak blinked, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "But… I'm still going to win. Right?"
Lee Bae-won stood, casting a long shadow across the chamber. His voice grew sharp and commanding as he addressed the room.
"Listen to me. There is no room for arrogance or doubt. These three trials are not mere games—they are the gateway to the future of Hana. If we are to take the throne, we must focus. We must unite. Do not take the Princess or her allies lightly."
A beat of silence. Then, one by one, the men straightened, their voices ringing together.
"Yes, Sir!"
Lee Bae-won met Ju Tak's gaze, and in that exchange was a vow—silent but unbreakable. One would rise. The other would ensure it.
And the kingdom would never be the same.