The pitch-dark night was cloaked in a velvet sky, the stars shimmering like scattered diamonds over the Hana Kingdom. Jade moved swiftly through the quiet palace corridors, the echo of his boots faint against the stone floor. A servant had come to him not long ago, breathless and urgent, delivering a message from Princess Genie while Jade was still engaged in his solitary martial training beneath the moonlight.
'Why would Her Highness summon me at this hour?' he wondered, heart thrumming with a mixture of curiosity and an excitement he dared not admit aloud. The unexpected call stirred something within him—an eagerness to see her again.
As he reached the ornate double doors of the Princess's private office, he took a steadying breath and pushed them open.
Inside, the room was warm with the flicker of candlelight. Princess Genie sat gracefully at the center of the table, her expression calm yet unreadable. To her left sat Moonsen, his ever-composed demeanor untouched even in this late hour.
'Moonsen?' Jade's brow lifted subtly, caught off guard by the noble's presence. Still, he schooled his face into neutrality and offered Genie a respectful bow.
"Come, sit here, Jade," Genie said, gesturing to the chair on her right.
Standing silently behind the Princess were Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park—always present, always vigilant. As Jade took his seat, his gaze briefly met Moonsen's. The nobleman offered a soft, courteous smile.
"Hello, Captain Jade," he said warmly.
"Hi," Jade replied shortly, his tone clipped but not unkind.
Genie's voice, composed and steady, filled the room. "First of all, thank you both for coming on such short notice."
Jade gave a silent nod, still uncertain about the nature of this late-night meeting—and even more unsettled by the dynamic of sharing the room with both Genie and Moonsen. The tension was subtle, but he felt it—like the pause before an arrow is loosed.
Genie stood and placed her hands on the table. "The reason I called you both here tonight… is because I need your help. I have made my decision—I will succeed the throne. I will become the next ruler of the Hana Kingdom."
The air in the room shifted. Both men, though composed, betrayed a flicker of surprise in their eyes.
Jade's gaze locked on Genie's face, the determination etched into her features more resolute than he had ever seen before. 'So the time has come,; he thought. 'But what pushed her to make the choice now?'
Genie turned to him first.
"Jade," she said.
"Yes, Your Highness," he responded immediately.
"I need you to take charge of the military. Prepare and lead with me."
Then, turning to Moonsen, she continued. "Moonsen, I need your wisdom in diplomacy. There will be negotiations, alliances to mend and forge anew."
Moonsen, looking both radiant and purposeful beneath the candlelight, gave a clear and confident response. "Yes, Your Highness. It would be my honor."
Genie turned back to Jade, her expression softening as she tilted her head, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes.
"You didn't answer, Jade. What's your answer?" she asked teasingly.
He hesitated. Just for a moment. But Genie seized it.
"If you don't want to stand by my side or offer your support, I understand. I can always—"
"Yes, Your Highness," Jade interrupted, his voice firm and unwavering. "I'll stand by you. With all my strength."
A smile touched Genie's lips—proud, knowing, and warm.
"I imagine you're both wondering why I've decided to make this announcement now, and why I've chosen the two of you to be my first allies in this endeavor."
Moonsen nodded, the question clear in his eyes, though he remained composed as always.
Jade didn't speak, but the question had been forming quietly in his heart from the moment he entered the room.
"In the past several days since I returned to Hana," Genie began, her voice calm but edged with steel, "I've realized something troubling. The nobility and many high officials have already formed a powerful alliance—a sort of shadow crew with immense influence. Their intentions are clear. They seek to reshape Hana into a kingdom that serves their authority and power alone."
She paused, her eyes sweeping the room. "I recently met with the Noble Women's Society. Even there, I could feel the pulse of a hidden force moving beneath polite words and delicate smiles."
Moonsen nodded solemnly, his brows knit in quiet concern. "I've seen signs of it too. Your words are not an exaggeration, Your Highness."
Jade didn't speak. He simply watched her, his gaze intense. He knew exactly what she meant—and he knew she was right.
Genie's voice rose slightly, no longer calm but blazing with conviction. "I will not stand by and watch this happen. I'm going to confront them—and crush their poisonous grasp on this kingdom."
Her declaration sent a chill through the air. Both men felt it—the charisma, the fire, the unshakable purpose within her. She was young. She was beautiful. But in that moment, she was something more. A sovereign rising.
"I will dismantle their self-serving authority," she continued, "and return them to their rightful place—as servants of the people, not masters over them. This kingdom's officials were meant to bring joy and justice following God's guidance, not fear and inequality."
She turned, her gaze landing on the two men seated before her, and then shifted to Lady Han and Park who stood silently behind her like ever-watchful shadows.
Her voice softened, but her resolve did not waver. "Will you all walk this path with me? Will you join me in restoring Hana's true purpose—one of love, hope, and joy for every citizen?"
For a moment, no one spoke. But the silence carried an answer, heavy with loyalty and silent promises.
Later that same night, when the palace had fallen into deep slumber and the world outside lay cloaked in moonlight, Jade sat across from Kim Jin in the guest room of the latter's private residence.
The atmosphere was tense, the walls seeming to absorb every whispered word.
"What took you so long to come, Jade?" Kim Jin asked, his voice hushed and edged with irritation. "I waited last time for hours. You never showed."
Jade exhaled slowly, not looking up. "I'm sorry. The tasks... they've doubled since I was transferred to the Princess's Pavilion. Sorry."
Kim Jin nodded slowly, forcing himself to understand. After all, Jade's loyalty was essential. The Princess needed him—and so did the Ash Kingdom.
"That's fine," Kim Jin murmured, leaning forward. "There's a new command from Ash."
Jade's posture stiffened.
"They want the details," Kim Jin continued. "Exact locations of Hana's major weapons depots. Inventory counts. Amounts. Everything."
Jade's silence stretched long.
"It's critical," Kim Jin added, his voice low and urgent. "Can you get it within a week?"
Jade looked down, his jaw clenched. 'This isn't information I can just pull from a drawer. That access isn't mine.' But he couldn't say no—not here, not now. This mission was the reason he was embedded in Hana. The reason he'd trained. The reason he was chosen.
"I'll do what I can," he said finally. "Give me a week."
Kim Jin's shoulders slumped with relief. "Good. That's good. We're counting on you, Jade. Ash Kingdom is counting on you."
A long silence fell between them. The flickering candle between them cast tall, flickering shadows across the room.
"Is there any other update to report?" Kim Jin asked, his voice low.
Jade lifted his eyes slowly, a flicker of conflict flashing in their depths.
"…Princess Genie announced that she will succeed the throne."
Kim Jin's eyes widened, a slow smile creeping across his face. "Excellent. That's good news, isn't it?"
"Yes, Sir," Jade replied quietly. "It's not public yet, but she called for me and another official tonight. She asked us to stand by her side. I'll be supporting her with military matters from now on."
Kim Jin's smile grew broader, practically glowing with satisfaction. Things were unfolding exactly as Ash had hoped.
"That's wonderful, Jade. Just as we anticipated," he said, leaning forward, his voice filled with smug delight. "Once she's crowned, you'll likely be given full command of Hana's military. With that kind of power, nothing will stop us."
Jade didn't respond immediately. A cold knot had formed in his chest. The excitement Kim Jin radiated only deepened his unease. The thought of betraying Genie—of standing beside her by day while plotting her downfall by night—twisted painfully inside him.
Still, keeping his expression as neutral as possible, Jade continued, "Yes, Sir. But because I'll be working closely with her from now on, I may not be able to meet with you often—perhaps not for quite a while."
Kim Jin laughed, brushing the concern aside with a wave of his hand. "That's not a problem at all. In fact, it's perfect. The more you're with her, the deeper her trust will grow. Focus all your attention on gaining her confidence. Help her ascend the throne. Once that happens, Hana will be ripe for the taking. Ash won't even have to lift a finger."
"…Yes, Sir," Jade said softly.
The meeting ended soon after. As Jade stepped out of the private house and into the night, the air felt unusually cold against his skin. The sky above stretched wide and silent, glittering with a thousand indifferent stars.
He tilted his head up and stared at them.
But all he could see was Genie's face—her smile, full of conviction and trust; her eyes, so sure of him, so certain that he was one of the few people who would never betray her.
And it hurt. Deeply.
'What am I doing…?'
The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the weight of his silent guilt.