Although he called her, there was no response. When he turned around, Geon saw Yeon Woo’s face had turned pale blue.

Sensing something was wrong with her, Geon asked with a voice full of concern.

“What happened? Did the author do something to you?”

Relieved, Yeon Woo felt her legs losing strength. If Geon hadn’t supported her, she might have collapsed.

Geon, recalling the agreement not to touch her, quickly withdrew his hand that was supporting her.

However, Yeon Woo, whose mind was elsewhere, did not even realize that Geon had supported her. She pointed her finger in the direction where Kim Tae-seok had disappeared.

“Him… It’s him.”

“Now, it is confirmed.”

“He is the person I mentioned, the one who attacked you during the tiger hunt. His name is Kim Tae-seok, the leader of the assassins.”

“Is it certain?”

“Yes, it’s certain. The scar on his right eye and his voice match. I’m not sure how he survived a blow to the heart.”

After swallowing her saliva, Yeon Woo continued, “And… I think I’ve figured out who sent the assassin.”

Geon waited silently for the continuation.

“The person referred to as ‘Mama’ instructed Kim Tae-seok to bring Gwangho Army’s leader’s head. The voice belonged to a young man.”

“…”
“Here… The person who would be called ‘Mama’ here is none other than His Highness, the Crown Prince, right?”

Geon couldn’t easily answer Yeon Woo’s question. He wanted to deny Yeon Woo’s speculation, but Geon also knew the truth.

Who was the one secretly sending assassins, continuing the hidden agenda? Who would benefit the most from Geon’s removal? Unless a fool, Geon could easily deduce why Hwan revealed his enmity.

It was a fact he held only as a suspicion without concrete evidence.

However, even knowing that Hwan was behind the continuous assassinations, Geon had limited options against the Crown Prince of this country. Despite leaving the palace, Geon couldn’t simply let himself be killed by Hwan, who continuously sent assassins.

All Geon could do was stubbornly survive and return as if nothing had happened.

Observing Geon’s reaction, which seemed calmer and more bitter than expected, Yeon Woo asked, “Did you know, Lord?”

“…Yes.”

Yeon Woo recalled the words Geon had spoken about his family at the Gwangho Army training camp.

—Those who would trample their own kin without hesitation for their gain.

The bitterness she felt from Geon and what he said about family began to make sense. She thought there could be people who would use their family for their gains like her family. However, did that mean they could kill their family for that reason?

Now, she seemed to understand how the numerous scars on his body and the wounds he had when they first met on Baekaksan might have occurred.

Did the royalty entangled with power always live in such dangers?

Yet, not everything seemed justifiable.

“Isn’t the Crown Prince almost like the next king? What could be lacking for you to…?”

“He probably wants to eliminate any potential threats early on. It’s not uncommon for those who seek power to get their hands dirty with their family’s blood. It’s not surprising, given the nature of the world.”

“Still, how could he… with his brother…!”

“Shh. This doesn’t seem like the right place for this conversation. Let’s move away from here first.”

As Geon suggested, the palace was not an appropriate place for discussing the Crown Prince’s matters. They relocated to a different location.

Meanwhile, an unexpected memory flashed through Yeon Woo’s mind.

During the tiger hunt, when she fought the assassins to save Geon, she had faced Kim Tae-seok, the leader of the assassins.

—How could a woman…?

Cold sweat ran down her spine, accompanied by a sense of anxiety.

At that time, Kim Tae-seok had undoubtedly recognized that Yeon Woo was a woman.

Revealing her identity as someone hostile to Geon wasn’t something she was looking forward to.

However, the real problem lay elsewhere.

Yeon Woo had witnessed the face of the one attempting to assassinate the prince. Now that Kim Tae-seok knew she was a woman, he might not let her off easily.

What should she do now? Right now, she couldn’t afford to think about reconciling with Geon.
In the tiger hunt, Kim Tae-seok’s attempt to assassinate Geon was thwarted thanks to Yeon Woo’s intervention. However, at that time, Yeon Woo was able to prevail by using the surrounding terrain and tools. She wasn’t confident that she could win again if Kim Tae-seok, harboring any ill intentions, attempted to attack.

“Should I talk to Lord…?” With the thought of seeking advice, Yeon Woo turned her head to glance at Geon. However, Geon’s expression appeared deeply troubled after the recent conversation with Hwan and Kim Tae-seok. Considering the weight of the revelation about the assassins, Yeon Woo couldn’t burden him further.

“No, it’s not the right time now…” Even if she wanted to discuss it later, now wasn’t the appropriate moment. Given Geon’s current distress, adding another concern was not feasible. Yeon Woo, feeling compelled to keep Kim Tae-seok’s story to herself, let out a heavy sigh.