Chapter 18

Rather than simply being a matter of “good affinity,” Inho suspected that the mysterious beast, Gasari, had instinctively recognized his imperial blood. Of course, even if that were the case, not all shinsu¹ were fond of princes, so the fact that Gasari was showing such warmth toward him was surprising even to himself.

“I’ve been worried lately that Gasari seemed lacking in energy, but he shows no such signs in front of you. If it’s not a bother, would you spend time with him now and then?”

At the prince’s suggestion, Inho nodded readily.

“From the hour of yoo² onward, there aren’t many visitors to Inyeondang, so I’ll come to see Gasari then. He seems to have a lot of energy — would it be all right if I observed him from horseback?”

“Thank you. I’ll have a mount worthy of you prepared. But don’t try to race him — Gasari is far too swift.”

Inho declined, saying he already had his own horse, but Prince Eunhun insisted, saying that once Seol grew up, they would need two mounts anyway, and thus gifted him a horse.

It was far too great a gift in exchange for something as small as playing with Gasari for a short time in the afternoons — but, looked at another way, it showed just how much the prince cherished his shinsu.

After tidying up Inyeondang, Inho headed to the stables. If Moonbyeok’s recovery was still slow, he might need to try riding the newly bestowed horse in advance.

“I heard from His Highness — you’ve agreed to spend time with Gasari? How can you bear to be around such a fearsome creature?”

A palace servant shuddered as he gestured toward a stable on the right. Two horses stood side by side.

“They’re both very gentle. They’ve only just begun training, so if you grow alongside them from now, they’ll be steadfast friends in the future.”

“Of the two, which would be best for a young lady to ride?”

“The second one, the dapple, comes from a smaller line on the sire’s side — it would suit a young lady well. But… you, on the other hand, look like you’ll grow much taller. Are you choosing to suit your sister?”

Looking curiously at Inho, who was already tall for his age, the servant awaited his answer. Inho stroked the brown horse mottled with white and nodded.

“I’ll take this one.”

Having chosen the horse, Inho went to the stable where Moonbyeok was kept — but a visitor was already inside.

“Hm… a truly rare steed. Wouldn’t it rival the five princes’ eight finest horses?”

“Indeed. I’ve never seen one so splendid. Truly rare.”

“What kind of incident could have left such a rider of this horse so badly injured… it’s suspicious. Bring it out. Let’s see it run.”

The man in a white crane-pattern robe wore his long hair in a single neat braid over one shoulder.

He was short and a little gaunt, his face sharp, but his long, narrow eyes gave off a bright and decisive gleam.

This was Bun Gajin, one of Bun Hoegyeong’s sons.

The stablehand looked troubled under his order.

“But the horse has only just recovered… His Highness ordered it be well cared for.”

“I only mean to examine it. I’m not Bun Seo-jeong — would I tell it to perform some stunt?”

Unable to refuse the command in the end, the servant started to fit the bridle — but Moonbyeok began to buck and toss about violently.

Seeing this, Inho stepped cautiously inside.

“I greet you, Lord Bun.”

“You are…”

Bun Gajin’s gaze swept over him.

Quickly piecing together who he was, Bun Gajin smiled.

“You must be the boy I heard was being treated at Cheongrinwon. Is your body well now?”

“Thanks to His Highness and Lord Bun Seongsu’s kindness, I am fully recovered.”

“I also heard you have a young sister. What a hardship you must have faced. Hwalwon Palace treats guests generously, so don’t feel it too much and live here at ease.”

The words sounded gentle, but the intent was clear — to remind him of the favor owed to Hwalwon Palace.

As expected, Bun Gajin gestured at the now quieted horse upon Inho’s arrival.

“I’d heard from the stablehands that this was a rare steed, and by chance today they told me its treatment was complete. May I try riding it?”

“…It’s not used to carrying a rider. It’s very strong — I worry you might be injured.”

“It’s fine. I’m not going to ride it myself.”

One of his men, dressed in martial attire, was waiting at the side. Inho’s gaze flicked to him.

Even the most skilled rider would find it impossible to mount Moonbyeok without resistance.

The truth was that Inho did not particularly care if Bun Gajin or his subordinate were thrown — what worried him was that if any accident occurred, they might blame Moonbyeok and punish him for it.

If they said they meant to punish Moonbyeok…

After a moment’s hesitation, he reluctantly nodded and stepped back.

Perhaps because Inho was nearby, Moonbyeok allowed the bridle to be fitted, but he snorted, shook his massive head, and made the handlers sweat.

When they tried to lead him to the outdoor riding arena, already crowded with people, Inho quietly suggested that the smaller arena next to Inyeondang would be better, as the horse was high-strung.

Circling the horse as though appraising it for purchase, Bun Gajin opened and closed a folding ruler, measuring its legs, mane, and girth.

From a short distance away, Inho watched. Sure enough, the moment the martial attendant tried to mount, Moonbyeok reared high on his forelegs in violent protest.

“Whoa—! Ugh!”

Unable to stay seated, the rider fell off hard, and Moonbyeok, now agitated, bucked wildly, trying to tear free from the loosely fastened reins.

Bun Gajin himself stumbled backward and fell flat.

“Catch that horse!”

“He’s too fast!”

“Get the reins! You close in from that side, I’ll—ahhhh!”

With no stablehands brought along, only Bun Gajin’s two attendants scrambled in futile pursuit of the horse.

Standing behind them, Inho watched the commotion and turned to other thoughts.

Moonbyeok’s name was given by Bae Honyoung — I should change it now…

The sight of the horse’s flaming red mane streaming as it leapt gracefully over people’s heads was striking. Clever and courageous enough to risk his life to save Seol and himself — he deserved a worthy name.

Stroking his chin, he watched the galloping figure.

He soared over sheer cliffs to save his master — “Danwollin”³ shall be his name.

By now, Bun Gajin and his two men were sprawled in exhaustion on the ground. Surely they would no longer covet the horse. Inho was about to call Danwollin over when the opposite gate opened and Bun Seo-jeong appeared with her party.

At the sight of the rampaging horse, she vaulted over the fence, seizing the reins in one swift move.

“Whoa there!”

Though startled by someone suddenly approaching from behind, the horse reared — but with practiced ease, Seo-jeong began calming him.

Before becoming captain of the Black Wolf Troop, every horse in Hwalwon Palace had passed through her training. Having ridden since childhood, she knew full well how to soothe a spirited steed.

Startled by the sudden intervention, Inho entered the arena as well, and Danwollin, now composed and stately, turned his gaze toward him.

“Thank you, Master Bun. May I settle Danwollin now?”

“You can manage it?”

Seo-jeong passed the reins to him with a doubtful look, then, seeing how readily the horse obeyed, praised him as an intelligent beast. She then turned her head, taking in the chaotic scene.

“What in the world happened here?”

“Lord Bun wished to try riding Danwollin, so I was accompanying him.”

“Ha! Riding, my foot. He was here sniffing out something else to sell off, wasn’t he? Did he ask you to sell him the horse?”

She knew her brother well, it seemed.

When Inho shook his head, she snorted.

“Good. If he asks again, don’t answer, just go straight to His Highness and tell him — that one’s trick is to buy low and sell dear.”

Seo-jeong strode toward Bun Gajin, brushing dirt from his white clothes.

“Just look at you. You can’t even ride properly — what possessed you to come to the arena?”

“None of your business. What, you’ve been out hunting again?”

“Hunting? I was patrolling the perimeter for Hwalwon Palace’s sake. Better that than strutting around in fine clothes like you.”

“Fine, keep patrolling the empty outskirts where not even bears appear. When I become seongsu, you can’t even hope for the command of the guard — stick to your Black Wolf Troop or Half-Lang Brigade or whatever it is.”

“More of that nonsense! The next seongsu will be me. Whether you ignore it or not, it doesn’t change that I’m carrying out duties Father personally entrusted me with. What do you do but pester the palace hands every day? Don’t you realize Father hasn’t given you the post because he doesn’t trust you?”

“It’s not about the position, it’s about trust. Do you know how many servants Hwalwon Palace has? What its official duties (gukyeok) are? How many guests have come and gone this year? Or what His Highness and Father are currently concerned over?”

“T-that’s something I’ll learn once I’m the formal successor. At least I have the tact not to go bothering His Highness and Father without cause, unlike you.”

“When ‘later’ comes, will your idle brush and sluggish mind suddenly start working? You dolt.”

“What? How dare you—?”

Footnotes:

1. Shinsu (신수) — In East Asian-inspired fantasy, a sacred or divine beast that forms a bond with a person of high lineage or spiritual power.

2. Yoo (酉時) — The double-hour in traditional East Asian timekeeping from roughly 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

3. Danwollin (丹越麟) — A name meaning roughly “Crimson-Leaping Qilin,” evoking a mythical steed or beast that leaps over cliffs to save its master.