Chapter Thirty-Nine

Tiyung sits in the Palm Teahouse in Tamneki, watching rain where he once met Count Bay Chin with Sora. He recalls fleeing Qali Palace after his usually composed mother urgently told him to run and, to deflect suspicion, called him a “charming fake” in front of Rayna before walking back inside.

As Tiyung considers why he is in danger, he notes his father declared him dead when placing a bounty on the fugitives, making Tiyung’s survival inconvenient. Stranded with almost no money or contacts, he agonizes over his isolation and his longing for Sora.

Remembering Hana’s distance and her covert messages during their travels, Tiyung concludes she betrayed him. He dismisses his father as her handler and weighs whether she worked for King Joon or, more plausibly, for Rune—an idea that explains how she knew the others were not in Rahway and fits shifting alliances after recent deaths.

Concerned for Sora and for himself if Rune is involved, Tiyung finishes his tea and, despite limited means, heads to the messenger house to pursue answers through correspondence and uncover who orchestrated the setup at Qali.