As the king entered and departed the city, a time-honored custom dictated a stop at the pce to pay homage to Sang-je. This mysterious tradition had always been upheld without fail. Rather than viewing Sang-je as an imposing king, the rulers saw themselves as guests and Sang-je as their gracious host. This practice was their way of disying respect.


    Kasser instructed his warriors to wait outside, venturing into the pce alone. Inside, a priest rushed forward, bowing deeply.


    “I seek an audience with His Holiness,” Kasser dered. “It’s a matter of great urgency. Convey the message promptly.”


    The priest’s expression showed concern as he replied, “Your Highness, the Fourth King, His Holiness is currently in prayer. He has strictlymanded not to disturb him. The prayer chamber’s doors must remain closed until he emerges.”


    Meanwhile, the knight who had previously exchanged heated words with the city warriors stood within the pce walls, growing restless as he waited for an audience with Sang-je.


    “How much longer must I wait?” Kasser inquired.


    “Forgive me, Your Highness, but I cannot provide an estimation,” the priest replied humbly.


    “I cannot wait indefinitely today,” Kasser’s tone was resolute. “Nor can I wait for His Holiness to choose to open the chamber. This matter brooks no dy. If I’m unable to meet with him now, I shall return to the kingdom immediately.”


    The priest found himself without words. Hecked the authority to halt the king, the bravery to knock on the firmly sealed door of the prayer chamber, and the ability to gauge priorities. There existed now mandating the king’s audience with Sang-je before departing the Holy City.“I will leave one warrior behind. He will wait and see His Holiness.”


    “Yes, Your Highness.”


    Turning around, Kasser muttered to himself. “Good. It feels like things are going well from the start.”


    He had fabricated a story about an incident at the kingdom’s seed repository. For the n to work, the incident had to be substantial enough to require the king’s personal intervention, yet not big enough to cause widespread rumors. He had meticulously prepared the story, but if Sang-je had probed too deeply, it would have required additional careful work.


    While they had previously agreed on the story, if Sang-je had scrutinized the situation, there would have been gaps in the narrative. If Sang-je had requested a knight to apany them to assess the situation, that would have posed difficulties as well.


    <em>He doesn’t seem to be in the pce right now.</em>


    Eugene had informed him that while Sang-je used prayers as an excuse not to be seen outside, he was on his way to meet Alber.


    For a moment, he was tempted to take Eugene and leave the city like this. But for now, he had to go alone. He needed everyone to think that the king had left for the kingdom alone, leaving his wife behind in the Holy City.


    Kasser swiftly exited the pce. It would be better to leave the pce as quickly as possible before Sang-je emerged from the prayer chamber. He mounted his horse, which was waiting for him, and turned to his warriors.


    “Let’s go. We’ll ride at full speed until midnight.”


    “Yes, Your Highness.”


    They rushed through the Holy City. Riding horses instead of carriages was prohibited within the city, so as they passed, the people who were walking stopped and watched or murmured in surprise.


    The day had fully dimmed, and the gates had long been secured. The knight stationed at the gate observed the figures approaching, his posture wary. Upon recognizing Kasser, he bowed his head.


    “Open the gate. We’re returning from the pce,” Kasser instructed.


    Recalling the urgency that the warriors from the Fourth King’s realm had disyed earlier, the knight deduced that the king and his warriors had hurried here in response to some news. Swiftly, he gestured for the gate to be unbarred. Once the king and the warriors had crossed the threshold, they melted into the epassing darkness.


    Some timeter, a squadron of knights arrived at the gate, only to find the king and his warriors conspicuously absent.


    “Oh dear…”


    The leading knight grumbled in vexation. They had been discreetly assigned to track the king’s movements during his pce visit. Learning btedly that the king had left without announcing his departure to Sang-je—an unprecedented breach of protocol—they had rushed over, their thoughts tangled in bewilderment.


    The knight pulled the reins to redirect their course and proposed, “Let’s make our way to the pce. It seems prudent to meet with His Holiness and gather his perspective on the matter.”


    Without specific guidance from Sang-je regarding this unusual turn of events, the knights pivoted and set their course back toward the pce.


    ***


    Nearly midnight approached when the prayer chamber’s door finally creaked open. Sang-je’s tone was sharp as he turned his attention to the priest, seeking answers about the king’s recent departure from the city.


    “Are you telling me that everyone just watched as the king left? And isn’t it well past the gate closure? Do you not grasp that once they’re shut, they remain sealed without my authorization?”


    The priest trembled visibly, bowing deeply in apology. “I beg your forgiveness, Your Holiness. But there seemed to be no way to detain the Fourth King, who imed pressing matters in the kingdom…”


    Sang-je’s forehead remained creased. “Can you assure me that only the king and his guards departed the Holy City?”


    “Yes, Your Holiness. There’s no room for doubt.”


    Summoning the warrior who had awaited the king’s return, Sang-je probed into the situation. The warrior recounted the story of a fire erupting at the kingdom’s primary seed repository. The inferno had shattered the seeds and unleashed a formidablerk.