SAFBIAN Ch 107

Chapter 107

Step, step.

A man carrying a large sack on his shoulder widened his stride. Despite the hot season, several animal tail furs tied around his waist swayed and jingled with each movement.

Dressed like a hunter, he was the one who had received the sack that had been passed out through a small hole in the palace wall.

‘I wonder if I’ve taken on something I shouldn’t have.’

It seemed he had gotten himself involved in the wrong thing. He had accepted the job in a heartbeat simply because it promised a large sum of money, but who would have thought it would turn out to be something this suspicious?

‘If I had known it was about smuggling something out of the imperial palace, I would’ve never agreed!’

The man reached out to grasp a tree branch firmly rooted between the rocks and kicked the stone in frustration.

No matter how heavily guarded the imperial palace was, it wasn’t as if the entire area was constantly watched or patrolled every moment. So it wasn’t entirely impossible to attempt something like this, but unless one had multiple lives, who would dare try such a thing?

Yet the three people who had been monitoring him from either side and from behind showed no signs of fear. The hand that had pushed the sack from the inside was the same. What were they thinking, planning something like this?

When he had received the sack and examined the wall closely, he noticed signs that a previously sealed spot had been reopened recently. It wouldn’t allow a person to pass through, but it was just big enough for a sack like the one he received.

‘And how did they even know about this path?’

More precisely, it couldn’t even be called a proper path.

The northern wall of the palace was connected to steep mountains, and due to the difficult terrain, ordinary people wouldn’t bother traversing such areas.

As a result, no formal path existed. The hunters who climbed up and down the mountains had formed their own unique routes, and they alone referred to those traces as “paths.”

‘Anyway, I was told I just need to deliver it.’

The place the man climbed up to with great effort was like a shack—used either to temporarily tie up trapped beasts or to handle game.

“Damn it. I’m almost there and now it starts raining.”

The man shook off the water with rough hands. The sound of rain was ominously loud.

“Just my luck.”

Creaaak. As he opened the old door and entered, the lingering stench of blood still hung thick in the air.

The man tossed the heavy sack inside and shut the door. Whatever it was, his part was done, and he needed to get away from here quickly.

“Ugh, ahhh!”

But not long after, a scream echoed from afar.

Fweeeee—

A court musician, playing alone, drew out the final note, letting it ring.

At that moment, the swirling hems of the dancers’ skirts flared and then came to a sudden halt.

From the dancers’ hands, the thin, narrow strips of long silk fell gracefully in semicircles through the air. It was a flawless performance with not a single error.

Soon, the dancers bowed and began exiting the stage in a single line. A few of the watching ministers smacked their lips in disappointment.

Had the former emperor still been seated in the place of honor, he would have had each of them seated beside him and summoned the most beautiful dancer to stay close. But the current emperor didn’t even spare a glance at such breathtaking beauty—so that was out of the question.

Soon, the next performance was prepared. Five frames were set in a row on three sides, each holding a drum.

Women dressed identically took their places at the center of each frame. As one of them raised her drumstick high and turned around, the final performance—drum dancing—began.

Doom, doom-doom, tadak, tak!

The fast-beating drums, vigorous and dazzling hand movements, and the graceful figures of the women—all of it was so mesmerizing that the ministers forgot their earlier dissatisfaction and stared in awe.

‘Should I call it fortunate, or pathetic.’

Had even one person shown the slightest sign of ulterior motives, they might not have lived to see another day.

Even though the drum dance had been placed last on purpose—to confuse sight and sound—not a single suspicious movement was detected. Watching this, Haban clicked his tongue.

The banquet had finally reached its end.

As the drum dance finished with sharp beats and the stage was cleared, Haban rose from his seat with a cup in hand.

The ministers, still caught in the lingering awe and chatting among themselves, immediately stood up.

“This was a gathering to honor all of your efforts. I hope it was enjoyable.”

Haban raised his cup and downed the remaining liquor in one gulp. The ministers followed, raising their cups skyward with both hands, then turned their heads slightly to drink. Not a single one failed to do so.

‘So, they still refuse to show their hands.’

Haban’s eyes narrowed as he observed them.

“Continue to serve the Empire faithfully in your respective positions.”

As Haban signaled the end of the gathering, Jippyeong, who had been tense all throughout, finally relaxed his stiff expression, seemingly relieved. In contrast, Geumhu frowned and tilted his head in suspicion.

Jippyeong, with his simple nature, seemed to be at ease just because the banquet had ended without incident. But Geumhu, more wary, hadn’t touched a single bite of food and suddenly began poking around the dishes with his chopsticks.

When the silver chopsticks didn’t change color, Geumhu fell deep into thought.

Yes, something felt off. Things shouldn’t have ended this quietly. If the food had been poisoned, at least that would’ve made sense.

Worried the trouble might involve the Princess of Jin, he had kept Jippyeong close to her side. But she was too busy genuinely enjoying the banquet.

‘Did she sense something and choose to lay low?’

Could Yungak’s sudden excuse to leave the palace have been a precaution in case their rebellion failed, to avoid implication?

Even Haban was bothered. As he rubbed his chin, preparing to return to the palace—

“Whoa, what’s going on? The clear weather suddenly turned!”

“Hurry! Quickly!”

Shaaaaa! Rain began to pour with terrifying force.

It was as if the sky had burst open, with water so heavy it made it difficult to see. Fortunately, the outdoor banquet had just concluded—otherwise, it would’ve been a disaster.

Palace servants rushed out in confusion to clean up the venue. Ministers who had been waiting for the emperor to leave first scrambled to shield themselves with their sleeves.

Having no time to fetch an umbrella, Secretary Kim hurriedly covered the emperor’s shoulders with the cloak he always carried. But the rain was so fierce that even that was quickly soaked and rendered useless.

While Haban stood motionless, rain drenched his robes. Drops clung to the fabric and fell along with the pouring rain.

Secretary Kim paced nervously, then cautiously urged the emperor.

“Y-Your Majesty! Please, we should go inside!”

Haban, scanning every corner of the banquet with sharp eyes, finally turned away.

Something was wrong.

He felt an unexplainable sense of dread.

As Haban’s slow steps began to quicken, the palace servants rushed after him, nearly sprinting. The ministers, startled and flustered, began shouting and making a scene.

The end of the banquet was like fallen flower petals drenched in rain—foreboding.

“……”

It was probably just needless anxiety. No matter how disappointed he may be in him, there was no way he’d harbor ill intent.

He should go and soothe Dori’s feelings. Also, he must firmly remind him never to leave the palace.

Though Dori had no memory of it, Haban couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud—but Dori must not leave the palace during this season or until the year’s end. So Haban intended to head straight for the Fox Palace.

But someone arrived faster than he could move—Cheong-i was running toward him.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

In that moment, a chill ran down Haban’s spine.

Even without being questioned, Cheong-i collapsed to her knees in the rain-soaked mud and bowed down, seemingly too frantic to care about anything else.

“M-My lord, the, the Fox is missing from the room!”

Shaaaaa! The rain grew fiercer.

Haban stood still for a moment, then suddenly took off running. His soaked robes clung to him heavily, but it didn’t slow him down.

Clatter!

He burst into the room, eyes sharp as blades, sweeping the space.

Hong-i must have gone out looking for Dori as well—the room was eerily cold. Rain blew in through the open window. Creak, creak, the window banged in the wind, making an unpleasant sound.

Why?

Why?

His fingertips began to tremble.

“Haban, hey… what if I disappeared someday…?”

Did he mean those words?

In that instant, Haban recalled something and strode across the room. It was obvious where Dori would hide something.

He opened a desk drawer and dumped out its contents, then overturned the bottom shelf of a decorative cabinet. Jewelry tumbled out, clinking loudly.

“……”

Straightening up slowly, Haban scanned the room again. The messy blankets and pillows on the bed. Clothes, as if someone had slipped out of them.

“……”

No. This time was different.

He clearly remembered how much Dori treasured those items, how he insisted on keeping them no matter the circumstances.

Haban slowly closed and opened his eyes.

Then—

“Bring Jippyeong immediately!”

He roared and spun around.