It would not be an exaggeration to say he had tested compatibility with every Yeongchunhwa in existence. And yet not a single person, no one, had been able to quiet this endless pain. So that child would be the same.

'Very well.'

Even so, Hwi could not let go of a thin thread — not even a lifeline — and headed to the Deputy Minister's family home. In the carriage he deliberately called to mind the scattered affairs of state, trying to be indifferent. Just thinking about the power struggle with Gong Hwancheol made his mind turn cold.

'Your Majesty. Since the establishment of Hwasicheong, this would be the first time a court noble has sprouted in the capital — do you wish to bring the court noble into the palace?'

Sino, who had been riding ahead, slowed his reins and drew near to ask. Being a general who had served beside Hwi for many years, undisguisable anticipation showed in his face.

The establishment of Hwasicheong had included quite a pure and sentimental reason — a wish that the Yeongchunhwa who would someday be his match not suffer the same hardships he had. But a greater purpose was to grasp the blind spots that previous emperors had missed while leading campaigns to the Hell Realm.

Having ascended the throne at a young age, he absolutely needed to know the conditions and livelihoods of each region in order not to be manipulated by the court.

After discussing with chief ministers and enduring tiresome confrontations with officials, he had gradually expanded Hwasicheong, but there was none in the capital. The reason was that establishing one in the capital where the imperial palace stood had little practical benefit, and since no Yeongchunhwa had yet sprouted in the capital, formulating a legal code had also been put off.

'Have him remain at the family home until he blooms. Is he not young.'

'However, I am concerned about whether it would be alright for him to spend his formative years under the influence of the Deputy Minister.'

'What matters is not origin but nature.'

Even if the background of the aristocracy made him haughty, many of those who stepped into the Hell Realm as Yeongchunhwa came to accept their duty. Even if the Deputy Minister manipulated his own child, it would be enough to clearly sever that connection after entry into the palace.

'It is not too late to separate him from his parents' care after he has bloomed.'

Normally a boy would bloom within a year or two of sprouting. By that time the child would only be nine or ten at most. There was no need to take so much away so early.

'Have you found out about him?'

'Yes. He is the youngest, with a large age gap from the eldest, and it seems he is greatly doted upon.'

To him the Deputy Minister was nothing but one of the petty and unpleasant subjects, but to an eight-year-old child he would simply be an imposing father. Hearing that the child was doted upon, his resolve to have him remain at the family home solidified further.

Upon arriving at the So household, the Deputy Minister greeted Hwi with what appeared to be tremendous emotion. He let that irksome display pass and sat behind the screen that had been prepared.

Not long after, the Deputy Minister brought the child in. The screen was closely woven, making it impossible to see the other side. But the sound of a rapidly beating heart was clearly audible. That rhythm sounded like the chirping song of a sparrow, making the child's age feel real.

It suddenly struck him as ridiculous, the present situation of placing hope in this young child. Swallowing a self-deprecating laugh, he extended his hand beneath the screen, and a warm and soft sensation touched his skin. He hesitated at the unfamiliar feeling, then the child curled its fingers and gripped Hwi's hand.

Only after the child had touched him did Hwi realize for the first time that his own hand was cold. The child's hand was so small and frail that Hwi carefully curled his fingers. When their hands were clasped, the child began to wriggle. The squirming movement inside his palm was still unfamiliar and strange.

Hwi slowly closed and opened his eyes and breathed sacred power into the child. The strength burning with eagerness to receive the guardian star immediately reached all the way to the child's seed. For a while the child tried to pull the hand back, but Hwi held the child a little more firmly.

'F, Father……'

A young voice tickled his ear, carrying a tremor in it. Hwi furrowed his brow and examined the child's seed. His sacred power surged as though saying it would touch something not yet even bloomed, and he withdrew his hand together with his strength.

Hwi clenched his fist tight and then opened it before looking down at his own hand. He rose and stepped out from behind the screen, but the Deputy Minister had his hand pressing down on the child's head, so the face was not visible. Hwi fixed his gaze on the small, round back of the head before taking a step.

'How was it?'

Sino and the court eunuch came up as he exited the outer room and asked urgently. Hwi glanced back and answered.

'The largest seed I have ever seen.'

He had never seen a vessel so large. Once bloomed, this would probably be the Yeongchunhwa with the most abundant guardian star among all current Yeongchunhwa. If only that guardian star were compatible with him…… it was a dazzling and vain hope.

The Deputy Minister hurried out and tried to accompany him. Hwi conveyed his intention with a gesture and turned away.

'What do you think?'

'He has potential. Though it is still early, I think preparations for the future should be made.'

At the court eunuch's loose tongue, Hwi's footsteps stopped. Hwi turned back irritably, but only clicked his tongue before taking a step.

If the child's guardian star was not compatible with him, since the quantity was abundant, he would have to bring him into the palace as a court concubine. But quantity alone could not put him on the Empress's throne. Particularly if he was the Deputy Minister's child.

The reason the court eunuch had given advance notice was presumably to have the child properly kept in check. For the child's safety, it could not hurt to be careful. Moreover, if the Deputy Minister turned politically by being given the expectation that the child showed potential, that would be advantageous on this side as well. In any case, the forces of Gong Hwancheol had to be reduced……

Having boarded the carriage, Hwi repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fingers as though revisiting the warmth still remaining at his fingertips. A hollow laugh suddenly slipped from between his lips.

'Young.'

Fingers plump with soft flesh yet small and delicate. Would the day ever come when that hand grew and conveyed a guardian star to him? Hwi shook his hand as though sending the expectation away.

"It would not be the Deputy Minister's doing."

Hwi, emerging from the past that had now blurred into something faint and distant, murmured while looking down at his hand, so much larger than it had been that day. The man who had his eyes blazing wanting only his child to ascend to the Empress's throne — there was absolutely no possibility he would change his thinking.

"It is said that the So household is very quiet. It seems no one has noticed."

"Which direction is he heading?"

"He is heading southeast."

Hwi pulled out a map from the document chest and unfolded it. He placed a finger on the capital and moved it toward the southeast — and at the end of it his eyes landed on Yeju.

Yeahang. If the intent was to leave the Realm, it was not a bad choice. Being a place with many people, the risk of exposure was great, but equally it would be easy to hide oneself among the people.

However, whether that young child would go to such extremes was a question.

"Did he take a horse?"

"He could obtain a horse along the way, but until now he is said to be walking."

Hwi gave a short laugh, set the map aside, and picked up the ledger again. Jeongjoo hesitated for a moment before asking.

"What shall be done?"

"Leave him be. It seems our pampered young lord* wanted to go for an outing."

"……Yes, Your Majesty."

"Make sure the escort is thorough."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jeongjoo withdrew and Hwi immersed himself in his work.

Reading the piled petitions, checking reports coming in from Hwasicheong, reviewing laws to be newly promulgated — time flowed by like a river with a swift current.

"Your Majesty. The night has grown deep."

At the court eunuch's roundabout suggestion to retire, Hwi raised his head and rubbed his tired eyes. Outside the window it had already grown completely dark.

"What time is it?"

"It has passed Injeong.*"

Hwi looked blankly at the candle from which tallow was dripping and then opened his mouth.

"Jeongjoo."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jeongjoo came quickly inside and immediately made his report at Hwi's glance.

"The court noble is currently crossing Yangsan valley."

"He is still going?"

"Yes. He has been walking without any rest at all, they say."

More than three hours had passed since he had first received the report. And yet that young lord was pressing on in the middle of the night — his tenacity deserved acknowledgment. Without a single horse, setting out recklessly without knowing the fear of the world — should he be called foolish?

On the other hand, he was also curious about what had driven that child to such lengths. But if examined, the motive would not be anything extraordinary either.

Not widely known, but historically there had been no small number of Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa who had wished to escape their fate. All the more so if the subject was of aristocratic birth. And what the feelings of those currently serving in the Yongrin Guard and Yeonwiwon truly were — no one could know.

"Shall I go and fetch him."

Hwi lightly cracked his stiff neck and rose from his seat. Their pampered young lord had caused a fuss and provided an excellent pretext, so the start could be said to be good.

It did not take long at all to get ahead of one court noble with a few Yongrin. Hwi looked up at the sky where dawn was beginning to emerge and, sensing a presence coming from far away, fixed his gaze on the forest.

"Your Majesty. What do you intend to do?"

"I wonder."

Since he had come all this way, it would not be bad to show him around outside. Once he entered the palace, the daily non-daily life would begin, enough to make one weary of it.

That child who had known nothing will also inevitably step onto this road in the end. But for now. Hwi opened his mouth with a somewhat coolly settled expression.

"There is a group approaching. Six in number."

"They say bandits occasionally appear in this area — it could be a gang of bandits."

"They will receive a proper welcome. I will deal with them, so conceal yourselves. And…… prepare one horse."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Yongrin crossed to the other side and erased their traces.

*Author's note: 궁도령님 — a metaphorical expression for someone who has grown up in wealth and knows little of the hardships of the world. National Institute of Korean Language, Standard Korean Language Dictionary.

*Author's note: 인정 (寅正) = 4:00 AM