The morning sun reflecting off the glass of the greenhouse in the manor garden as morning dew began gathering on its surface. Inside, all manner of different flowers and plants filled it from floor to ceiling. But in the back, a small space had been made to fit a small round table and two seats. The table had been prepared with teacups and a teapot being laid out for use. One of the seats was already occupied by a woman, distractedly sipping her drink as she awaited her guest. When she heard the sound of footsteps nearing, she set down her cup on the saucer and smoothed down her dress.
"Lady Sangah," Yoo Joonghyuk called out, his expression serious.
Quickly, she stood up, and bowed to him, a respectful smile painting her face, "Greetings, Your Highness, please, take a seat." He nodded wordlessly and the both of them sat down and faced each other. Ariadne, the maid that accompanied him there, went to fill his cup before going to stand by her master's side.
"Let's skip the formalities. Why were your knights at the Kaizenix ruins and what do you want from me?" The prince questioned upfront, not bothering to glance at his tea.
Sangah smiled at him knowingly, as if she expected him to do this.
"As you wish, Your Highness. To answer your first question, I was trying to repair the dukedom." The corners of Joonghyuk's mouth pulled down, suspicious of why she'd do such a thing.
Yoo Sangah was his distant cousin, and her family was the only one that didn't attempt to claim the dukedom when his mother became the empress. They never had much contact with each other since her family lived in the countryside. However, when Sangah became the Saintess, everything changed. She now held absolute authority within the church and with it a significant amount of wealth, now inhabiting the reserved Saintess' Residence. Why would a person of her stature want to restore a fallen ducal?
Seeing Joonghyuk's face, Yoo Sangah was prompted to continue, "You see, Your Highness, while the Archduke holds the most influence as of now, it's undeniable that had Kaizenix dukedom never been abandoned, it would still be the most influential family today. It needs to be restored, and a new duke shall be appointed to witness its glory."
Joonghyuk was struggling to understand what she was getting at. " What do you mean by that?" he probed.
Instead of directly answering his question, she brought up another topic, "Your Highness, I heard that His Majesty is stripping you of your title in five days."
Joonghyuk' furrowed his eyebrows. "How do you know that?" The matter was only discussed between him and the emperor and empress. While Joonghyuk had told the Underworld duke and duchess, no official news had been made about it.
Sangah maintained her calm demeanor as she went to speak, "Your Highness, as the Saintess, I have access to certain channels of information that others may not. It is my duty to be aware of significant events that may affect the stability of our empire." She paused for a moment before continuing, "I understand this must come as a shock to you, but I believe there may still be options available for you to reclaim your nobility. However, time is of the essence, and we must act swiftly."
Joonghyuk raised his eyebrow as he crossed his arms against his chest and leaned back in the chair, "What kind of options?" He was interested in her proposal; he already had an idea in mind and wondered if she'd drawn the same conclusion as him.
"As you know, while the royal family cannot directly interfere with the church, the church can advocate for actions that we believe are in the best interest of the empire." Joonghyuk nodded in acknowledgment, maintaining eye contact.
Joonghyuk was well aware of the strict separation between the government and the church. However, he'd also seen the influence a royal official could gain when supported by the church, swaying public opinion in their favor by a significant amount.
Amusedly, Joonghyuk reflected on how his stepmother used to constantly talk down to his cousin and her family, belittling the fact that they'd chosen to live amongst the commoners and impoverished in the countryside. But ever since Yoo Sangah had been appointed as the Saintess, she was now desperately seeking her favor. Any member of the royal family lucky enough to get Sangah's support would secure the backing of the entire church. His stepmother was likely striving to get a foothold so her family could have a larger claim to the throne.
Of course, her efforts were proving futile. Despite Sangah's outward demeanor of politeness and grace, she harbored a deep-seated determination to avenge any wrongs against herself or those she held close.
Joonghyuk remained silent, allowing Sangah to continue speaking. "As for your second question: If I appoint you as the new duke of the Kaizenix dukedom using my authority as Saintess, you will have the backing of the public, and no one would dare to oppose my decision." Sangah would be using her influence within the church to shape the political landscape in Joonghyuk's favor.
Joonghyuk processed Sangah's proposition, satisfaction filling him as he realized that their goals had indeed been aligned. He couldn't help but feel a sense of smugness over his stepmother. As he envisioned the surprise on her face once he proved just how much power he still had, a smirk formed on Joonghyuk's lips.
Sangah smiled at his expression, remarking, "It seems you're on the same page as I am." A look of understanding passed between them.
Sangah, securing Joonghyuk's agreement, shifted her attention to the ring on his hand.
"I see you've already located the Kaizenix heirloom."
Following her fixed gaze, Joonghyuk asked "You know about this…?"
She nodded her head "Yes, I'm aware of its significance," she responded calmly. "It holds great historical and symbolic value within the realm. Its presence signifies not only your lineage but also your rightful claim to the dukedom. The ring will be an invaluable asset in your political maneuvering" Sangah took a sip of her tea, "If you've already found that ring, I'm assuming you've also discovered the dukedom's hidden treasures."
Joonghyuk raised his eyebrow inquisitively, "You're familiar with that as well? Why didn't you just uncover it yourself if you knew all this?"
Sangah shook her head and explained further, "The ring and the treasures are intertwined. Only the rightful heir can wear the ring, and with it, access the treasures in the dungeon. Besides that, my only goal was to prepare the dukedom so its next heir could smoothly take the reins.
Joonghyuk absorbed the information, turning it over in his mind. But there was still one major question left unanswered.
"How do you know about this, and what exactly do you get out of assisting me? I may be the rightful heir, but as you said earlier, you have the power to appoint anyone, and no one would contest it.
Yoo Sangah thoughtfully took in his words, pondering over them for a second. "To be frank with you, I didn't 'know' all of this per se... it would be more accurate to say that this information simply presented itself to me in my slumber."
Her unexpected admission left Joonghyuk baffled. "You dream of it?" he repeated, seeking clarification.
Sangah nodded her head in affirmation, "Yes, they came to me in vague visions, the dukedom's ruins, someone finding a ring and discovering treasures that I couldn't even fathom." She placed the teacup on the table, lacing her hands together.
She described visiting the dukedom in her dreams, only to find nothing tangible, leading her to initially dismiss the visions as mere fantasies. However, a recurring figure in her dreams, a veiled man, always delivered a cryptic message, instructing her to protect the rightful heir. She never understood what it all meant until she had heard Yoo Joonghyuk's title being stripped away. At that moment, all her visions had begun to click into a cohesive image.
"I was always skeptical of my dreams, I only followed along because I knew I'd have the power to ensure that the ducal wouldn't fall into sinister hands. So, to address your other question, it's not that I chose you specifically to become the new duke, I was simply following the path that was laid before me. But now, seeing these events unfold, I realize I did the right thing by listening to that figure," she finished speaking, waiting patiently for the man before her to process her words.
Joonghyuk's face took on a contemplative expression. With the mention of the veiled man, Secretive Plotter, Joonghyuk grappled with the mystery surrounding their presence in both Sangah's dreams and his family's history. He could guess that their identity and goals remained just as elusive to Yoo Sangah as they were to him. So far, all these events had fallen towards his favor, but if it turned out that man had ulterior motives…
Joonghyuk shook himself. No, this was no time to lose himself amidst all the intricacies. Right now, he could only do what Yoo Sangah had done, and follow the path laid out in front of him. If things took a turn for the worse later, Joonghyuk knew that he had reliable people around him to count on.
Coming to terms with the situation and all the information he'd just been told, Yoo Joonghyuk faced the woman in front of him, newfound resolve gleaming in his eyes.
For a fleeting moment, the two sat in companionate silence, reveling in the moment. For Yoo Sangah, the results of all her meticulous planning were finally coming to fruition. The secrets she'd kept to herself had found their rightful audience and she could now lean on the people around her moving forward.
As for Yoo Joonghyuk, the reasoning for all the bizarre events unfolding around him had finally made itself known. Though he had found his purpose in Kim Dokja, the future ahead of him had looked uncertain, and he had worried about how he would provide for himself and his sister. But now he could continue to stride forward with confidence.
However, the responsibilities awaiting Joonghyuk pulled at him, reminding him of his duties to his family and his commitments beyond their current conversation.
With a firm nod, he rose from his seat, a sense of drive guiding his movements. "I'll be off now." He knew there were tasks awaiting his attention at home, and he didn't want to cause undue worry to his sister.
"Indeed," Sangah murmured to him as she cast her eyes upon the glass walls. The sun was already shining brightly. During their private conversation, the world around them had awoken, and the citizens of the land were going about their daily business . "Do you want me to see you off?" she offered.
Joonghyuk took a moment to gauge his own fatigue, but then declined her offer. "Take this moment to enjoy your tea. After this, we both will have a lot of work ahead of ourselves," he suggests before walking away. However, just before he left, he paused and glanced back, his tone sincere. "Lady— Saintess Sangah...thank you."
Sangah widened her eyes upon hearing his words, momentarily surprised by the unexpected gratitude. However, she quickly composed herself, offering him a warm smile. "It's nothing, Your H—" she corrected herself, "—I mean, Your Grace."