Contents
Chapter Sixty-Five
Overview
In Khitan, Euyn hides his illegitimacy while Mikail, Sora, and Aeri propose an alliance with Quilimar against Joon. They offer trade concessions and Joon’s death, with Aeri asserting she removed the Immortal Crown. Before terms settle, war drums sound: Joon has arrived, forcing immediate decisions.
Summary
Euyn reflects on Quilimar’s revealed illegitimacy and his own secret, concluding he cannot confess the truth to Mikail. Pressed to deny it, Euyn lies, claiming he is the late king’s son. The tense hall watches as Quilimar prepares to dismiss them and refuse Joon the Ring of Khitan.
Mikail interrupts, warning that a war of the realms is imminent and that the Yoksa edict was broken in Khitan. He explains they once planned to leverage Quilimar’s invasion of Yusan to seat Euyn on the throne, but shifting stakes require an alliance instead.
Quilimar demands terms; Mikail offers trade privileges, tariff relief, an end to the lost indenture tax, and Euyn’s indebted crown, plus the shared goal of killing Joon. Quilimar counters that Joon’s Immortal Crown prevents his death. Sora admits they stole the decoy crown during an assassination attempt, and Aeri states she was the one who removed it, a claim that could sway Quilimar.
Before negotiations resolve, war drums thunder through the palace: Khitan is under attack. Realizing Joon has arrived in force, Euyn concludes they must act immediately regarding the Ring of Khitan to avoid slaughter, pushing the alliance and relic decisions into an urgent crisis.
Who Appears
- EuynNarrator; hides his illegitimacy, lies about his parentage, and pushes urgent action as Joon attacks.
- QuilimarKhitan queen; also illegitimate, weighs alliance terms, and controls the Ring amid looming attack.
- MikailStrategist; presents alliance terms, reveals realm-war intelligence, and pressures Euyn to tell the truth.
- SoraEnvoy; frames the alliance pitch, admits their decoy-crown attempt, and supports Aeri’s claim.
- AeriHolds the black egg; claims she removed Joon’s Immortal Crown, seeking Quilimar’s belief.
- JoonAntagonist king; arrives in force as war drums sound, threatening slaughter without the Ring.