🌻 Crossroads of Destiny
Tian Ke and Qian'ai waited at the main hall of the inn. Yun Yuhua cast her gaze upon her brothers, her expression tense with worry, while the Mongolian knights stood in silence, their eyes sharp as arrows. She sighed quietly and waited. Ae-shim, who had been watching from behind, cautiously poked Yun Yuhua in the back. Turning, Yun Yuhua saw Ae-shim's face, pale with fear.
"Why are they here?" Ae-shim whispered, her voice low.
Yun Yuhua smiled, trying to ease her friend's worries. "For Ji-nara. It seems Ji-nara's mother has come to take her back."
Ae-shim nodded slowly, but confusion lingered in her eyes. "Oh… But... what about the raid last night? Why did they attack like that?"
Yun Yuhua chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it. "I suppose they feared the deed was done and wanted to erase any trace of it."
Ae-shim pouted, her brows furrowing. "So cruel…" she muttered under her breath.
Yun Yuhua's feet tapped lightly against the floor as she gazed thoughtfully at the unfolding situation. Her mind kept drifting back to Seo Ju. His words, his tone… everything he said felt carefully measured, as though he had a hidden agenda. It unsettled her. No doubt, he was someone of great importance.
Soon, Seo Ju walked out of the room. He looked at Tian Ke and the others, but his focus remained on Tian Ke. Tian Ke knew the meaning of this.
"I'll go talk to her," he said. He stormed past Seo Ju and into the room. The woman glared at him.
"How rude of you!" she screamed.
"Though I showed little regard for Lady Ji-nara at first, I find myself... beginning to look upon her differently," Tian Ke said, his voice steady. "She is fierce in spirit and stubborn in heart, yet beneath it, she is but a woman yearning for her own freedom. Truthfully, it is her forthrightness and sincerity that I cannot help but admire. Such a manner of upbringing is rare and worthy of respect. Without realizing it, I believe... my heart has begun to turn toward her."
The woman before him studied his face carefully, searching for any hidden intentions. Yet Tian Ke remained composed, his gaze unwavering and his words free of deceit. The woman composed herself and sighed heavily.
"Why do you speak of such things if you had no intention of confessing to my daughter?" she pressed sharply. Tian Ke bit his lip. He had expected this moment, yet it struck harder than he thought.
"I… I have matters yet unfinished," he said, steadying his voice. "I had wished to speak only after they were resolved."
At once, her eyes narrowed, sharp with displeasure. She looked at him as though he had insulted her trust.
"If you do not want her, then say so. If you do, then act. Hesitate, and you shall be swept aside. My daughter's place is not one that a wandering commoner can simply reach," she said coldly. Tian Ke swallowed hard, keeping the truth of his origins locked within him. Without another word, he lowered himself to his knees and bowed his head.
"If it were within my power, I would tell you everything," he said quietly. "But the time has not yet come. However, I can offer a path forward."
"Offer?" the woman narrowed her eyes, suspicion flashing across her face.
"You shall hear news that will aid both you and your daughter," Tian Ke said with calm resolve. "I give you my word — it shall be better than forcing her away." His breath steadied as he spoke, the weight of the promise heavy on his shoulders. She closed her eyes for a moment, considering, but still, doubt lingered. It sounded too good to be true.
"I'll give—"
"Give me two weeks," Tian Ke interrupted sharply, his tone unwavering. "The news will come by then."
The woman's eyes widened in shock. Two weeks? The situation was urgent, and how could something so delicate—such a secret—be resolved in so little time? Who could broker peace between a Mongolian prince's ambition and a Mongolian princess with Joseon blood running through her veins? A flicker of doubt passed through her, but she held her tongue. There was something about Tian Ke's composure, his quiet resolve, that made her hesitate. Could he really deliver on this promise? Still, she gave him the benefit of the doubt—for now.
Soon, Tian Ke opened the door for the Mongolian woman. She turned and looked at him, then at Yun Yuhua and Qian'ai. She sighed, her eyes softening with a mix of suspicion and reluctant admiration.
"Are they your younger siblings?" she asked curiously. Tian Ke nodded.
"Yes. My younger brother, Qian'ai. My baby sister, Yun Yuhua. They are the two most important people in my life since our parents' passing," he explained. The woman studied him for a moment. There was a quiet strength in him, a maturity that spoke of burdens too heavy for someone so young. She had expected arrogance, perhaps even pride, but none existed. Instead, she saw a man carrying his responsibility with a steady heart. She could not deny that. Despite her doubts, she felt a grudging respect for him—and for his loyalty to his family.
As she prepared to leave, her gaze lingered on Yun Yuhua. For a moment, something inexplicable stirred within her. There was an aura around the girl, something that drew her in, compelling her to look deeper.
"She looks familiar..." the Mongol woman murmured quietly to herself. At the same time, Yun Yuhua stepped closer to Tian Ke.
"Is everything well?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Tian Ke gave her a gentle smile.
"Ah, yes. I must depart for Ming soon. I shall return in two weeks," he replied. Yun Yuhua and Qian'ai exchanged worried glances and pouted.
"Very well. As long as you know what you're doing," Qian'ai said with a soft sigh. Tian Ke nodded, his gaze shifting to Yun Yuhua.
"They will be in your hands," he said quietly, his words carrying a weight of trust. Yun Yuhua gave him a determined nod in return.
Seo Ju stepped forward then, his expression heavy with regret. "I apologize. That... was my aunt. Ji-nara's mother. I did not expect her to come here."
The others exchanged glances, silent understanding passing between them. Tian Ke offered a gentle smile and said with a warmth that softened the air, "You acted well to stop her. Far better to move with purpose than to stand idle and regret." Seo Ju returned the smile, though a flicker of unease shadowed his gaze. Yun Yuhua, however, was not so easily soothed. The woman... she bore herself with the grace of nobility—no, of Mongol royal blood, Yun Yuhua was certain. And Seo Ju... he was hiding something. She could see it as clearly as day.
In the fading light, Tian Ke prepared for his journey, careful and deliberate in his movements. He carried with him a letter destined for the Emperor of Ming—a message of great weight. Seo Ju, sensing Yun Yuhua's watchful eyes upon him, did not dare press closer to uncover its secrets. When Tian Ke at last stood ready to depart, he drew Yun Yuhua into a brief embrace, pressing a kiss to her forehead—a quiet vow of protection—and clasped Qian'ai tightly to his chest. Without lingering, he mounted his horse and vanished into the falling dusk, riding hard toward the border to avoid the risk of delay. Though his departure stirred unease, neither Yun Yuhua nor Qian'ai doubted his heart. They knew well that Tian Ke's loyalty ran deeper than blood, guided always by love rather than duty.
Days had quietly slipped away.
Finally, Ji-nara heard the news — Tian Ke had left. Without hesitation, she rushed into the inn, searching frantically for any sign of him. Yun Yuhua and Qian'ai tried to calm her, but Ji-nara could no longer hold back the grief weighing down her heart. She collapsed onto her knees, trembling with guilt.
"This is my fault..." Ji-nara whispered, her voice shaking. "He left... because of me... I am sorry..."
Yun Yuhua knelt beside her and gently pulled Ji-nara into her arms. Ji-nara stiffened, not knowing how to respond to the sudden warmth.
"My brother... is not someone who acts without thought," Yun Yuhua said quietly. "If he chose to leave, it was not on a whim. Because of you... I believe he found the resolve to take a step forward."
Ji-nara sobbed harder, but slowly she melted into Yun Yuhua's embrace. Her arms wrapped around Yun Yuhua tightly, clinging to the only comfort she had left.
"Thank you..." Ji-nara choked out, burying her face against her shoulder. Yun Yuhua gave a faint, sorrowful smile.
Behind them, the Mongol woman watched the scene quietly, a hint of admiration softening her sharp gaze. She had never seen anyone handle Ji-nara's fierce emotions so gently. Seo Ju approached silently, standing beside the Mongol woman. His eyes lingered on Yun Yuhua.
"She has a good heart," the woman said, her voice low. "Is that why you cannot stay away from her?"
Seo Ju smiled faintly, a bittersweet expression on his face.
"It is not only her heart," he replied. "The way she trusts... the way she opens herself to others... it made me realize that the path I walk is like a double-edged blade — wounding myself as much as others."
The woman turned to him in surprise. The Crown Prince of Joseon—speaking so openly, so humbly—about a woman who had appeared out of nowhere.
"She..."
"Yes," Seo Ju interrupted softly. "If you saw the portrait... then you know. She carries the blood of the Crown Princess. She does not know it yet."
The Mongol woman's expression grew strained.
"Then... the reason Royal Mother had to leave..."
Seo Ju shook his head.
"I believe it was her own choice. There is more hidden in the past than we have been told."
The woman narrowed her eyes at him.
"You are not speaking only because you like her, are you?" she asked sharply. Seo Ju chuckled under his breath, the sound tinged with sadness.
"If it were only affection, Royal Grandmother would not have kept such a silence for so long. If it were shame, she would have sought to clear her name."
The woman's shoulders trembled slightly.
"You are just like your father," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. "I miss him dearly..."
Seo Ju's calm facade cracked for a moment, grief flashing across his face.
"I miss him as well," he said quietly. The Mongol woman reached into her sleeve and pulled out a badge, pressing it into Seo Ju's hand.
"Give this to the young man who vowed to return," she said. "If he truly meant his words, tell him to use this to send word to me."
Seo Ju looked down at the badge, a slow, understanding smile spreading across his face. Yi Lee Hae, First Princess of Yi Hyun Yeol and Seo Yeon — names that still bound their fates tightly across time.