🌹 What Burns Beneath Still Eyes
Yun Yuhua and Ji-nara had chosen to eat in Ji-nara's room, deliberately avoiding Tian Ke and Seo Ju. Later, as the inn's doors were opened to the morning, Seo Ju stepped outside with a wide, leisurely stretch. Ji-nara trailed behind him, her eyes sharp with irritation.
"What did you boys talk about last night?" she asked, voice laced with curiosity. Seo Ju glanced at her, then at the inn behind them. Without a word, he gently pulled her aside, out of view.
"What were you thinking last night?" he asked in a hushed but stern tone. "If Aunt finds out I was here with you, who knows what kind of chaos she'll stir?"
Ji-nara yanked her arm free.
"Then tell her!" she snapped. "And while you're at it, throw in a few details—tell her I slept with him! Maybe then she'll stop trying to shove me into marriage with that stupid prince!"
Her voice cracked at the end, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Seo Ju let out a long, exasperated sigh.
"You know I'd never tarnish your name," he said, more gently now, though his tone held firm. "Telling her something like that would ruin your reputation."
Ji-nara looked away, her shoulders tense. She knew he meant well, and that made it sting worse.
"He rejected me…" she murmured. "I'm humiliated."
Seo Ju didn't even blink.
"Obviously. He's got more important things on his mind than falling in love with you right now," he said bluntly. Ji-nara's eyes flared.
"Yeah? Well, his precious little sister doesn't like you either. She probably thinks you're just some arrogant playboy!"
Seo Ju smirked.
"I concur. She'll definitely fall for my tricks," he said, mocking confidence dripping from his voice. Ji-nara punched him squarely in the shoulder.
"Ow!" he winced, rubbing the spot. "Hey! Hitting a prince is a crime!"
"I'm royalty too, remember? And if you dare play with her feelings, you'll get more than just a punch from me," Ji-nara warned. "She's a sweet girl. I like her."
Seo Ju blinked, thrown off.
"I'm your family. You can't just side with outsiders…" he said, pouting like a child.
"Outsider or not, her heart is kind," Ji-nara said firmly. "You can doubt them all you want, but don't ever doubt that. She's the kindest one of them all."
With that, she turned and stormed off, leaving Seo Ju staring after her.
"What the heck…?" he muttered, baffled. Just then, Jinji appeared, looking unusually urgent.
"Your Highness," Jinji called.
Seo Ju sighed, rubbing his temples. "What now?"
Jinji took a breath, then bowed his head.
"His Majesty has summoned you. Diplomats from Ming are scheduled to visit soon."
Seo Ju's expression immediately shifted—serious, calculating. Then he smirked.
"Well, that's new. They've avoided us ever since Royal Grandfather's time. I wonder what changed their minds," he said, more to himself than to Jinji. Before leaving, Seo Ju looked at Yun Yuhua one last time. She met his eyes, and she didn't flinch. Her brow furrowed, a silent defiance in how she held his stare. His smile widened.
"I'll be back to see you," he said, his voice soft and deliberate, carrying across the distance between them.
Yun Yuhua's lips barely moved, but her eyes burned with irritation. "Bye!" she muttered, the words escaping barely above a whisper, her tone sharp despite the silence. Seo Ju chuckled softly, clearly entertained by her response, before turning to walk away.
As he left, Yun Yuhua stood still, frustration swirling with something unnamed. She pouted, trying to ignore the stir of emotions he left in his wake. Focused on her task, she forced herself to turn back to the customers, but Seo Ju's words clung to her thoughts, lingering in her mind like an unanswered question. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, the weight of his departure seemed to fill the space, thick and undeniable. Yun Yuhua exhaled softly, pushing the heavy feeling aside, but her mind couldn't shake the confusion his presence had stirred within her.
Outside, Seo Ju, now dressed in his royal attire, made his way back to the palace, his thoughts shifting from the lingering tension of their encounter to the responsibilities of the day ahead. His steps were steady, purposeful—his first stop: the King's royal quarters. Upon arrival, he paused just outside the study room, waiting silently. The eunuch, seeing him, quickly bowed.
"Your Majesty, His Highness, Seo Ju, has come to visit," the eunuch announced. In moments of silence, Seo Ju stared at the door without a face of emotion.
"Let him in," King Lee Jae commanded calmly. The doors opened with solemn grace, and Seo Ju stepped inside. He approached the royal desk and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty," he said with firm reverence. King Lee Jae's gaze lingered on his nephew. He noted the composed face, but the distance in Seo Ju's eyes did not escape him. The King let out a quiet sigh.
"The diplomats from Ming are expected to arrive soon," he said, his tone low and deliberate. "I will require sharp eyes and sound counsel at my side. You shall attend."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll attend," Seo Ju robotically responded. He swiftly turned away.
"Seo Ju…" Lee Jae casually called out. Seo Ju glared at the door, tension flaring in his jaw.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he formally replied. Lee Jae's face was expressionless, but on the inside, he was disappointed.
"Why haven't you returned to the Eastern Palace? This is still your home," Lee Jae asked curiously. Seo Ju turned to look at Lee Jae and bowed.
"Your Majesty, I'm not ready to return. There are things I still need to reconcile," Seo Ju answered sharply. Lee Jae knew that was not it. The trust and the bond between the uncle and nephew were long gone in Seo Ju's eyes.
"Very well. Take care of your mental health. Let the Empress Dowager know I send my regards—if you choose to see her," Lee Jae said evenly. Seo Ju gave a curt bow and left without a word. His expression remained tight as he made his way toward the Eastern Palace, only to stop short at the gates. The eunuch stationed there stepped forward and bowed in greeting.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince," he called. Seo Ju glanced at him, then away.
"I'll be out. Send word when the Ming diplomats arrive," Seo Ju said before storming out of the palace. The eunuch hesitated, watching him disappear through the gates, unease curling in the eunuch's chest like smoke. He sighed, frustration tightening his jaw.
"Why bear the title if you refuse the throne?" he muttered under his breath, turning back toward the palace. Behind him, the Eastern Palace loomed in silence—meant for the Crown Prince, yet empty. A place of honor left hollow. A duty named, but never truly embraced.
Seo Ju returned to the inn where Yun Yuhua and her brothers were staying. Though they didn't like him much, they didn't send him away either. So he made their inn his usual resting place. But this time, he wasn't alone—A shadow slipped through the market behind him, tailing his every move.
Do-hae returned from visiting Seo Ju's grandmother. He didn't bring much news—Seo Ju's grandmother had kept her mouth shut, just as expected. Seo Ju knew this would be the case, so he was not disappointed. Seo Ju's eyes landed on Yun Yuhua. Around her belt shimmered a brooch—the serpent-eating crown. Once she got closer to Seo Ju's table, Seo Ju tried to snatch it from her. Her reaction was quick to pull away.
"What's your problem?" she asked. Seo Ju smiled slyly.
"Pretty brooch," he said lightly. She frowned and looked away. She stormed to the back of the inn to stay away from him as fast as possible. Seo Ju chuckled and sighed in frustration.
"Keep your hands to yourself, loverboy. If she doesn't like it, then stop it," Qian'ai scolded. Seo Ju turned to him and was delighted at the reaction.
"Really? I think she enjoys my company," Seo Ju teased. Qian'ai pretended to barf.
"Go to the gibang, please. They'll find it more attractive," he said, walking away. Seo Ju laughed more. Do-hae looked bewildered.
"Young Lord… are you really okay?" he mumbled.
"I'm fine. Their reaction is just well disguised," Seo Ju stated. Do-hae sighed in frustration—Seo Ju almost seemed to enjoy the tension. He lingered in those moments before he decided to return to Joseon Palace to meet the Ming diplomats.
The days slipped by quietly after that. Tension quietly swelled in the capital as news spread that Ming diplomats were en route to the Joseon palace. Among them were two seasoned elders and one notably young envoy. Seo Ju returned to the palace without a word to Yun Yuhua or her brothers.
Ji-nara noticed the political winds shifting—but chose not to care. Her thoughts remained anchored to Tian Ke, watching him more than the politics unfolding around them. But the stillness would not last.
Inside the palace's grand central hall, the atmosphere had shifted—tense, breathless, expectant. Seo Ju sat just below the steps to the throne, his gaze sharp and unwavering. King Lee Jae remained seated in solemn stillness, awaiting the arrival of the Ming delegation.
The doors creaked open. Echoing footsteps approached across the polished stone floor. Three figures entered, robed in Ming finery—two elder diplomats with measured strides, and behind them, a younger man with a quiet, steady gaze.
He was the only one who knew Yun Yuhua by name. Lui Cheng Yi.