Gu Moran put down the charcoal pencil, leaned against the wooden shelf, and watched her with his arms crossed.
He didn't say anything.
Gu Moli's eyes reddened.
Her hands, gripping her sleeves, trembled, but her voice was strained, each word squeezed out:
"Brother, how many women do you intend to marry?"
"If you're just putting on an act, don't give people false hope."
"If you truly care, don't let her overthink things alone in her tent."
Gu Moran frowned.
Sister, our top priority now is to destroy Wa.
At this point, you shouldn't cause any more trouble, right?
No, I must be cold towards her to avoid any complications.
He lowered his voice.
"That's my business."
These five words weren't spoken heavily, but they carried a strong message.
Gu Moli was speechless.
Her lips trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.
Finally, she gritted her teeth, turned around, and left.
He took two steps, then turned back.
"Brother, how dare you be so harsh with me..."
" Moli, stop fooling around."
Your Majesty has many women around you, but they have only known you for about half a year. You are different.
You grew up with your elder brother since you were little, do you understand what I mean?
Upon hearing this, Gu Moli's sorrow instantly turned to joy.
"You know your sister is the most important, huh!"
After saying that, she strode away, walking very quickly.
Gu Moran watched her figure disappear between the tents.
He tapped his finger twice on the map.
He sighed, picked up the charcoal pencil again, and drew a circle around the location of Incheon Port.
The pen tip was pressed too hard, and a small hole was poked in the paper.
As night fell, torches were lit one by one in the camp.
The soldiers on night patrol changed shifts for the first time, and the sound of their boots treading on the gravel road gradually faded away.
Kim Seon-a changed into a plain Goryeo dress in the side tent. Her hair was tied up with a single wooden hairpin, and two wisps of hair hung down by her ears, swaying gently in the evening breeze.
Chunxiang brought in hot water, and when she saw her walking out, she almost dropped the copper basin in her hands.
"Your Highness, it's so late—"
"You wait outside." Kim Seon-a didn't turn around; her voice wasn't loud, but there was no room for negotiation.
Chunxiang opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. She put down the copper basin and retreated outside the tent.
Inside the main tent, Gu Moran was stuffing the things he needed to take on the expedition into a cowhide bundle.
The Sea-Calming Sword sat on the corner of the table, next to several folded military orders and a small jar of cough pills prepared by Shen Ling'er. A red knot was tied to the jar, which was Shen Ling'er's habit.
He put the medicine jar into the innermost layer of his bundle and checked again to make sure he had the tiger tally and token.
Footsteps could be heard outside the tent flap.
It was very light, but the rhythm was unlike that of night patrol soldiers.
The soldiers walked with each step firm and deliberate, their steps hesitant, pausing every two steps as if they had lingered at the door for a long time before finally making up their minds.
Gu Moran up.
The curtain wasn't lifted, and a slender shadow was cast on it, swaying slightly in the wind.
He put down what he was holding.
"Come in."
The curtain was gently lifted from the outside, and Kim Seon-a walked in.
She paused at the tent entrance, her gaze sweeping around the tent before finally settling on Gu Moran's face.
Gu Moran pointed to the chair opposite the table.
Kim Seon-a walked over and sat down.
The two were separated by a table.
A map lay spread out on the table, covered with arrows and circles.
The candlestick rested on the corner of the map, its flame flickering crookedly in the draft, casting long shadows of the two figures onto the curtain wall.
Neither of them spoke first.
The candle flame flickered twice, and the wax dripped down the candlestick, congealing on the copper base.
Kim Seon-a placed her hands on her knees, her cuffs clenched in her palms, her ten fingers tightening little by little, twisting the fabric into wrinkles.
She looked down at her hands, as if she were struggling with her own mouth.
When she finally spoke, her voice was even softer than she had expected.
"After this battle is over, what are your plans for me?"
Gu Moran stopped tidying up the bundle.
He didn't answer immediately.
His gaze lingered on her fingers clutching her sleeve for a moment before he looked up and met her eyes.
Stay by my side.
He paused for a moment.
"Or return to Goryeo."
He paused again.
"Whatever makes you happy."
Kim Seon-a's fingers tightened suddenly.
She gripped the cuffs so tightly they were creased, the fabric stretched so taut it looked like it was about to tear.
She looked up.
"Return to Goryeo?"
The three words were squeezed out of his throat, the last syllable trembling, carrying an indescribable quality.
It felt like someone was slowly cutting my chest with a dull knife.
"You actually want me to go back to Goryeo? What about these past few days?"
Gu Moran looked into her eyes.
Those eyes held so much: resentment, unwillingness, questioning, and a little fear.
I'm afraid he'll say "it means nothing".
Kim Seon-a didn't receive a reply.
She bit her lower lip hard, swallowing the taste of blood.
"I see."
She stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.
He turned and walked out.
I took a step.
My wrist was gripped.
Gu Moran's fingers gripped her wrist bone, not gently, but with just the right amount of force that prevented her from breaking free.
Kim Seon-a struggled.
He couldn't struggle.
She struggled again, and his hand twisted half a circle in her palm, making her knuckles ache.
They still couldn't break free.
Gu Moran pulled her back.
Kim Seon-a's lower back slammed against the armrest of the chair, causing her to fall back down and slide the chair backward by half an inch.
He bent down.
He braced his hands on either side of the chair's armrests, encircling her entirely.
Kim Seon-a Sun-ah looked up at him, her throat tightening.
They were too close, close enough that she could smell the ink residue on his clothes and the metallic tang of his weapons.
Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?
Kim Seon-a's eyes reddened, and tears clung to her eyelashes, threatening to fall.
I just want to know if you're lying to me or not.
His voice was so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable, as if he had squeezed out all his stubbornness and grievances before finally managing to utter that one sentence.
Gu Moran at her.
I've been watching it for a long time.
Then he laughed.
There was nothing I could do. Looking at the face before me, red-rimmed and stubbornly refusing to shed a tear...
I found it a little funny, but also a little touching.
I'm not lying to you.
As soon as she uttered those three words, Kim Seon-a's eyelashes trembled.
But I don't have time to comfort you right now.
He reached out and pointed to the map on the table covered with arrows.
"Thirty thousand Japanese soldiers are burning, killing, and looting in Goryeo. Your people are dying, your ports are being lost, and the body of the previous admiral of the Qi and Lu Navy is still floating in the sea. These things are far more important than whether you ask me if I'm lying to you."
Kim Seon-a was stunned.
Tears fell.
It slid down her cheek to her chin, lingered for a moment, and then dripped onto the cuff of her clenched sleeve, leaving a small water stain.
Gu Moran out and wiped away the tear stain by running his thumb across her cheek.
The fingertips are rough and scratchy when rubbed against the skin.
"You go back first."
He removed his hand from her face and gently pressed it on the top of her head.
"Rest assured. I never betray anyone."
He paused for a moment, then a smile curved his lips.
"After this battle is over, I'll tell you everything you want to know, slowly and patiently."