Yongsun had just climbed into bed when her newest lady-in-waiting peeked through the door.

“What is it?” Yongsun snapped as she tucked her hair into her nightcap.

“Minister, there are several rebels seeking an audience with you.”

“Throw them in the dungeons. I’ll deal with them tomorrow,” Yongsun ordered as she pulled her eye mask over her face and collapsed onto her pillow.

“B-but they seek an audience with you right now. And they’re not alone—Captain Moon Byulyi is with them.”

--

Five minutes later Yongsun strode into the throne room in her nightgown with a contingent of fifty soldiers. In the middle of the room stood three people. She immediately recognized her Byul, except she looked ten years older and was covered in wounds. Standing next to Byul was the traitor Soojin, looking none the worse for wear. Beside her stood a slender woman with long black hair and large eyes.

“Moonbyul? What is the meaning of this?” Yongsun shouted as she walked down the dais.

But Byul simply shook her head and stepped back.

“Minister, please, hear what I have to say.”

Yongsun narrowed her eyes but stopped. A little delay wouldn’t harm anyone. She had the upper hand here in numbers and cunning.

“Minister.” Byul cleared . “Soojin and Krystal demand the release of the prisoner Amber Liu in exchange for my life. I promised them on my honor as Captain of the Royal Guard that I would meet their demand.”

Yongsun raised her eyebrows.

“Captain, we do not negotiate with rebels.”

“All the same, Minister, the release of Amber will not threaten your regime.”

Yongsun thoughtfully regarded the trio. Why did Byul always have to get into these scrapes? Sometimes she could be frustratingly dense, especially when she let her feelings get the best of her.

“What if I order my guards to capture these two insurgents right now?”

Moonbyul drew herself up to her full height.

“Then I am honor bound to protect them.”

“Oh? You’d sacrifice your life for nothing? You’re in no state to fight.”

Yongsun swept back up the dais and settled herself on the throne and looked at Soojin.

“I have a bone to pick with Soojin. After all those promises you made, you betrayed me. How come you can’t learn from Captain Moonbyul what it means to have honor?”

Yongsun watched as Soojin flushed an angry red.

“Traitors like you do not deserve honor,” Soojin spat.

The girl beside her put a restraining hand on Soojin’s shoulder before looking