Contents
Chapter Twenty-Six
Overview
In Idle Prison, Tiyung realizes Hana did not poison him; he was sick from rich food. Hana returns after days with supplies and reveals a covert order for Tiyung’s imminent death.
She bargains for intelligence on Seok and his operations, suspects a traitor in Sora’s mission, and Tiyung, confessing love for Sora, agrees to share everything.
Summary
Tiyung, imprisoned in Idle Prison, realizes he was not poisoned by Hana; his severe pain came from eating rich food after subsisting on bread and water. Days pass without Hana, and Tiyung’s hope fades as he clings to Sora’s letter to confirm she was truly there.
Hana finally returns with guards, dismisses them, and brings a sack of food. She confirms Sora is alive and that Seok is in Khitan, then probes Tiyung about Seok’s possible connection to the Oosant laoli warehouse. Tiyung admits it could be Seok, though nothing was on the books and the drugs bore Gaya’s royal insignia.
Hana offers a deal: Tiyung shares everything he knows about Seok’s businesses and history in exchange for food, light, paper, and—crucially—time. She reveals an order she heard that day: the king wants Tiyung to die in prison, staged as accident or sickness, with General Salosa instructing the guards. Hana can delay, but not for a full month.
Crushed that he may die before Sora returns, Tiyung silently grieves and admits he has loved Sora since childhood. Hana, focused on saving Sora, says the mission was never meant to succeed and that someone is betraying them. She presses for information to help Sora’s group.
Resolved, Tiyung agrees to talk and begins with Seok’s attempt to buy Sora, recounting how Seok threatened to slaughter Chul’s family when he refused to sell her. The iku’s moaning echoes through the cell as the exchange begins, with Tiyung committed to revealing what he knows.
Who Appears
- TiyungImprisoned in Idle; survives illness, learns of a covert death order, admits love for Sora, agrees to divulge Seok’s crimes.
- HanaSpy and Sora’s ally; brings food and a deal, reveals the king’s order via General Salosa, suspects a traitor, seeks intel on Seok.
- SoraAbsent but central; confirmed alive in Khitan and the reason Tiyung cooperates, target of Hana’s efforts to protect.
- SeokTiyung’s father; in Khitan, suspected of Oosant drug ties; past threats against Sora’s family begin Tiyung’s account.
- General SalosaConveys the king’s order to kill Tiyung in prison, staged as accident or illness.