Contents
Chapter Twelve
Overview
Sora and Aeri attend the Banquet of the Sky King to approach General Vikal but gain little access. Sora glimpses Queen Quilimar with her son, challenging rumors about the queen. Count Seok confronts Sora on the dance floor, revealing he sold Daysum to brothels. Enraged, Sora counters by exposing Tiyung’s imprisonment, escalating their personal war.
Summary
Sora prepares for the Banquet of the Sky King, choosing beauty and poison as her weapons since blades are barred. The team has split: Mikail, Euyn, and Royo head to the Temple of Knowledge at Lake Cerome, while Sora and Aeri will use the banquet to reach General Vikal.
At the armory, Sora notes Khitan’s gilded splendor and the active, confident role of women in society. Ambassador Zeolin, a Yusanian noble, greets them by their forged names and escorts them to General Vikal. The general is poised and distant, offering only formal pleasantries before being pulled away, leaving Sora without a chance for a substantive exchange.
During dinner and early dancing, Sora overhears that General Vikal repeatedly reassures nobles that Queen Quilimar and the prince are safe. Stepping to the windows, Sora briefly sees Quilimar affectionately lift her young son, a glimpse that clashes with Yusanian claims that the queen stole the throne from him.
When Zeolin draws Sora to the dance floor, Count Seok suddenly appears and cuts in. He taunts Sora by implying she abandoned what mattered most; when pressed, he reveals he sold Daysum to the brothels, shattering Sora with guilt and rage. Sora swallows her urge to strike and instead warns Seok that Tiyung is rotting in Idle Prison, threatening his legacy.
Sora walks away, having failed to secure Vikal’s confidence but having provoked a dire escalation with Seok. The night ends with higher stakes: a personal vendetta reignited, a sister imperiled, and proof that access to the queen remains tightly controlled.
Who Appears
- SoraProtagonist; attends the banquet to reach Vikal, glimpses Quilimar, and confronts Count Seok, learning Daysum was sold to brothels.
- AeriJoon’s hidden daughter; accompanies Sora to the banquet under an alias, attempts to gain proximity to General Vikal.
- Ambassador ZeolinYusanian ambassador; escorts Sora and Aeri, introduces them to General Vikal, and dances with Sora.
- General VikalKhitan’s general; briefly greets Sora and Aeri, publicly reassures nobles about Queen Quilimar and the prince.
- Count SeokSouthern count; confronts Sora at the dance, reveals he sold Daysum to brothels; is warned that Tiyung is imprisoned.
- Queen QuilimarKhitan’s queen; glimpsed affectionately lifting her son, contradicting rumors that she opposes him.
- Prince of KhitanYoung son of Queen Quilimar; appears briefly with his mother on the palace steps.