“But.”
Wolhwa’s gaze changed.
“If it is discovered that you organized an army in such secrecy.”
Her eyes bored deep into him.
“Have you considered what will happen?”
Yunseo met her gaze without the slightest agitation.
“Place it under Your Majesty’s name.”
Wolhwa’s eyes flashed for an instant.
“…What did you say?”
“It is a royal guard formed to protect Your Majesty’s safety.”
Yunseo’s gaze remained fixed, unwavering.
The air shifted subtly.
“If it were an army raised for one man’s personal use, it would be a crime.”
He continued slowly.
“But if it is an army that exists solely to protect Your Majesty—”
The corner of Yunseo’s mouth lifted.
“No one will dare object.”
Wolhwa fell briefly into thought, then smiled.
“Plausible.”
She glared at Yunseo playfully.
“You mean to set me up as your shield?”
“No.”
Yunseo bowed his head.
“I mean to place Your Majesty at the center.”
Those few words rose strangely deep within Wolhwa’s chest.
“Good.”
She slowly nodded.
“If it is an army I personally created, they will not dare touch it recklessly.”
Wolhwa was once again certain that her choice to trust Yunseo had not been wrong.
Her gaze returned to him.
“Still, be careful.”
Her voice suddenly lowered.
“If this goes wrong, heads will fly.”
Wolhwa paused for a moment, then added a little more honestly.
“If something happens to you, many of the things I am trying to accomplish will also come to a halt.”
Yunseo bowed his head.
“I know.”
And then—
very calmly.
“Even so, it must be done.”
Wolhwa narrowed her eyes.
“Why?”
Yunseo was silent for a moment before speaking.
“In this world, there is not a single matter that can be resolved by propriety and formality alone. The court as it is now—”
His gaze sank darkly.
“Has already fallen into their hands.”
“……”
“And so.”
He raised his head.
“We must create power from the outside.”
The words were simple.
But—
they were just as dangerous.
Wolhwa said nothing for a long while.
She merely looked at Yunseo in silence.
“Really.”
A faint smile spread across Wolhwa’s lips.
“You are a dangerous man.”
In her eyes was unmistakable trust.
“…Very well.”
Wolhwa nodded.
“I shall grant what you desire.”
—
At the same time.
Bang—
The door flew open violently.
“That damned bastard!”
Jang Munyeon’s face had gone completely rigid.
“To dare pull such a trick right in front of me?”
His hand slammed down on the table.
“I swear I will tear that bastard into a thousand, ten thousand pieces!”
His rage erupted in full.
“Father?”
A man walked out from within.
It was Jang Bohyeon.
A look of doubt crossed his eyes.
The father he had always known was a man of power who governed the storms of the court.
It was his first time seeing him lose all dignity and reveal his fury like this.
“What has angered you so?”
Jang Munyeon glared at him.
“You.”
He threw out the word curtly.
“Do you even know how the court has been moving lately?”
“More or less.”
Jang Bohyeon gave a faint laugh.
“I heard there’s been a fuss because some inspector came in.”
“That man.”
Jang Munyeon’s eyes flashed.
“That inspector is the problem.”
“Is a mere inspector truly so formidable?”
Jang Bohyeon spoke with a sneer.
“How could a whelp still wet behind the ears possibly stand against you, Father? He’ll exhaust himself and collapse on his own. So please don’t trouble yourself over him for nothing.”
“Do not speak such nonsense!”
In that instant—
Jang Munyeon’s voice fell like a blade.
Jang Bohyeon, who had been expecting praise, flinched.
“That man is different.”
Jang Munyeon spat each word as though grinding his teeth.
“Though young, his momentum and stratagems are impossible to measure. If he is given more time—”
His words stopped there.
The moment he imagined the result, he had no choice but to close his mouth.
“…He will become impossible to handle.”
For the first time, such words came from his father’s mouth.
Faced with the unexpected, Jang Bohyeon stood blankly, as though at a loss for words.
“Then… can’t we just remove him?”
“Do you think it is so easy?”
A hollow laugh slipped from Jang Munyeon’s mouth.
“If we touch him now.”
His eyes narrowed.
“We will be the ones who die.”
Jang Bohyeon hesitated for a moment, then spoke with force as if he had made up his mind.
“It makes no sense that we would die because of one insignificant man!”
Seeing his son puffed up with arrogance while knowing nothing, Jang Munyeon could not help but let out a sigh.
How could he entrust anything important to such a fool?
“Enough. Go out and read your books. Give up any thought of drinking parties for the time being, and engrave this clearly in your mind: your father is currently being held back by that whelp.”
“Did he… threaten you, Father?”
Jang Bohyeon’s eyes widened suddenly.
“If you wish, I will go and—”
Slap—!
Before he could finish speaking, a hand flew at him.
Jang Bohyeon’s face snapped to the side.
“You fool!”
Jang Munyeon’s voice turned icy cold.
“The moment you touch him now.”
His gaze drove down coldly.
“Do you not understand that even your father’s life will be in danger?”
Jang Bohyeon’s mouth stiffened.
“This is not a matter for you to concern yourself with, so keep your mouth shut.”
Jang Munyeon turned away.
“I will deal with it myself.”
He left through the door just like that.
Left behind, Jang Bohyeon stood for a long while, clutching his cheek.
He should have felt irritation rising, but strangely, there was only one thought in his mind.
“Just what kind of man is he?”
The corner of Jang Bohyeon’s mouth twisted.
“Let’s see his face for myself.”
—
The wind blew.
Outside the palace, at the training ground.
A thousand or so soldiers stood in a straight line.
Without a single movement.
It was so still it seemed even their breaths were in unison.
Wolhwa’s gaze slowly swept over them.
“…You have made them well.”
Though their numbers were small, their presence was enough to call each man worth a hundred.
At Yunseo’s command, the soldiers moved as one.
Without the slightest deviation.
Swords were raised.
Feet stepped in unison.
Not a single sound fell out of place.
A deep resonance passed through Wolhwa’s eyes.
“…At this level.”
She murmured.
“They are excellent.”
This was not merely the level of an escort.
It was a force that could be sent to war without shame.
“You have done well.”
Wolhwa nodded.
“Both of you.”
Her gaze turned to Yunseo and Yunseol.
“As for a reward—”
“It is all right.”
Yunseo cut her off.
Wolhwa’s gaze stopped on him.
“Is there any need for formality between Your Majesty and me at this point?”
Yunseo’s voice was gentle.
“General So is also not one to chase honor or profit, so for now, all resources should be gathered together and focused solely on rooting out the treacherous officials.”
It was a quiet remark, but—
it lodged directly in Wolhwa’s chest.
Her gaze slowly softened.
“…Very well.”
A calm smile spread across her lips.
“I shall do as you wish.”
Wolhwa quietly looked at Yunseo and realized that his power had, at some point, reached a realm she could no longer measure.
“……”
Her eyes deepened.
‘Just how far does he intend to rise?’
Even she could not fathom the end of it.
“Yunseo.”
“Yes.”
“Today, for some reason—”
The corner of her mouth rose boldly.
“I feel inspired.”
Yunseo’s brow narrowed slightly.
“…I see.”
“Shall we have a match?”
On the surface, the words seemed to be tossed out lightly—
but her gaze was by no means light.
Yunseo remained silent for a moment, choosing his words.
And then—
“…Do you wish to see my true ability?”
Wolhwa laughed loudly.
“Perhaps.”
She tilted her head.
“Or perhaps there is a reason deeper than that.”
Yunseo let out a breath like a sigh.
He could not avoid it.
This was a test.
“Understood.”
He nodded.
“However.”
He raised his gaze.
“It is not something I should do, to point a blade at Your Majesty.”
Yunseo turned his body.
A massive tree stood to one side.
He walked before it.
Then, in one breath, he drew up his internal energy and thrust out his palm.
Kwaaang—!!
A thunderous roar exploded.
The tree burst apart where it stood.
Fragments scattered in every direction.
The wind overturned.
Watching the scene, Wolhwa’s eyes shook violently.
No words came out.
This was—
beyond imagination.
‘He is this strong?’
Her fingertips stiffened.
With power at this level, if he put his mind to it, he could shake the entire realm.
“Your Majesty.”
Observing Wolhwa’s reaction, Yunseo spoke.
“This power—”
His gaze reached her straight on.
“Exists solely to assist Your Majesty.”
There was resolve in Yunseo’s eyes.
“It will never be turned toward Your Majesty.”
Wolhwa’s eyes narrowed in satisfaction.
“I have seen something needless.”
She smiled once more, but her gaze was directed far toward the horizon.
“Since we killed the envoy—”
The wind brushed past.
“War will begin now.”
Wolhwa’s gaze stared into a future that had yet to be seen.
“The north will not remain still either.”
Yunseo’s gaze rose with hers.
“Stand on my side.”
Wolhwa spoke firmly.
“To the end.”
Slowly turning her head, her gaze settled on Yunseo and Yunseol.
“Together.”