As soon as Keifer and sumin reached the castle, they gently brought their horses to a halt within the quiet stables, the soft rustle of hay echoing in the still air.
"Look over there… Sumin, the prince, and Mr. Kim are heading to the library together," Keifer murmured, his gaze following them from a distance.
"Yes… it seems they must be discussing something important," Sumin replied thoughtfully.
"Alright then, I'll take my leave, Keifer."
"Mm… I should go check on Haru as well," Keifer said softly.
And with that, the two parted ways—each walking down their own path, as the castle stood silently around them, holding secrets yet to unfold…
"So, Mr. Kim… have you discovered anything about this?" the prince asked, his voice low yet steady.
Mr. Kim studied the evidence carefully, his expression grave.
"Look, Shikuza… I can say with certainty that this is blood. But what's strange… is that it isn't entirely human."
The prince's eyes widened in shock as he looked at him.
"Then… whose blood is it?" he asked, a hint of unease creeping into his tone. "Could it be from some animal?"
Mr. Kim gave a slow nod.
"Yes… it must be from some creature. But we cannot ignore this—we must find and capture it as soon as possible, Shikuza."
The prince met Mr. Kim's gaze with quiet intensity.
"Perhaps, Mr. Kim… it could still be a creature. Maybe even a species we've never encountered before."
A brief pause hung between them.
"After all… no one dares to venture into that part of the forest. It wouldn't be surprising if something like this existed there."
Mr. Kim lifted a hand, resting it against his brow as he turned slightly away, his voice thoughtful.
"…Yes," he murmured. "I believe you may be right. It could very well be some kind of unknown beast."
The prince's gaze drifted across the table, coming to rest on a book lying quietly in the corner.
"Mr. Kim… what kind of book is this?" he asked, curiosity lacing his voice.
Mr. Kim glanced at it briefly, then replied with a faint smile, "Ah, Shikuza… it's nothing special. Just a collection of old, written texts I've been reading."
The prince nodded, a hint of admiration in his tone.
"You have quite the fondness for Haru's writings, don't you?"
Mr. Kim's expression softened. "Yes… I truly appreciate his work."
Then, as if remembering something important, the prince added, "You know… I've asked Haru to write a book about our kingdom—its past and its present. He's currently working on it."
At that, Mr. Kim suddenly looked up, surprised.
"Which kingdom, Your Highness?"
The prince let out a soft chuckle. "Our kingdom, of course."
Mr. Kim gave a slight nod, a little sheepish.
"Ah… I must have drifted off for a moment."
"Mr. Kim… don't trouble yourself with this any further. Try not to worry."
The prince's voice carried a calm reassurance as he continued, "I will have that area sealed off from all sides. Even though no one really goes there… I'll make sure it's properly secured so there is no risk at all."
He gave a slight nod, his tone softening.
"Well then… I should take my leave. And next time, I might borrow a good book from your library."
Mr. Kim lowered his head respectfully, his eyes briefly following the prince as he turned and walked away.
Once alone, a quiet thought lingered in Mr. Kim's mind.
"Why should I worry, Shikuza…?" he murmured to himself, a faint smile forming on his lips. "You've only made things easier for me…"
The prince stepped away from the corridor, his footsteps soft against the stone floors as he made his way toward his chamber.
For a brief moment, he paused and glanced back toward the dense, shadowed forest in the distance.
A quiet thought crossed his mind.
"Perhaps… another seal should be placed there," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "Isn't that right…?"
The wind rustled faintly through the trees, as if answering his words in silence…
As Shikuza walked toward his chamber, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
"Shikuza… my dear, aren't you going to have your dinner?"
He paused, his expression softening instantly. Without even turning fully, he already knew who it was.
"I thought it was you…" he said quietly, turning around to face her.
The maid approached him with a warm smile, gently placing a hand on his head in a motherly gesture.
"Will you eat something?" she asked softly.
Shikuza shook his head slightly.
"No… not right now. I'm not feeling hungry. I think I'll go to sleep."
The maid nodded, her eyes filled with quiet affection.
"Alright then… go and rest."
"Good night," Shikuza said gently, offering a soft smile. "You should also go and sleep, my mother."
The prince responded with a tender, almost loving smile.
"Good night…"
And with that, he walked back to his room, leaving behind a quiet warmth in the stillness of the night..
Once again, as on every night, a serene calm settled over the kingdom of Shikuza.
The castle shimmered beneath the silver glow of the moon, its surroundings adorned with flowers that seemed to embrace the night in quiet elegance.
Even the village lay wrapped in silence… still, peaceful… almost untouched by time.
Yet somewhere within that stillness, a man moved with purpose.
It was Mr. Hoseok.
As he walked, his thoughts lingered on a single idea.
"Tonight… I should take a turn at guarding the treasure myself," he murmured.
Approaching the chamber, he was immediately noticed.
"Mr. Hoseok…? What brings you here at this hour?" a guard asked in surprise.
"I simply thought I'd take on the watch for tonight," Hoseok replied calmly.
The guard hesitated. "But sir… please go and rest. I can handle it."
Mr. Hoseok shook his head firmly.
"No… you should rest as well. Go on."
The guard looked uncertain, then pointed toward another room nearby.
"At least call another guard, sir… look—those two over there are sleeping so peacefully."
Mr. Hoseok followed his gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"And you expect them to handle this duty?" he said, his voice carrying a hint of quiet skepticism.*
The night remained still… but something about his words lingered in the air… as if the calm itself was about to be tested.
The guard left, and Mr. Hoseok settled into the chair, his posture calm but watchful.
Everything seemed normal… almost too normal.
And then—
A sudden sound echoed from within the treasure room.
Something fell.
Mr. Hoseok's eyes snapped open instantly.
In one swift motion, he rose and rushed toward the room.
"Is someone there?" his voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "If anyone is here… show yourself!"
Silence answered him.
His gaze shifted across the room… until it landed on the far corner.
The door to the sealed chamber…
The lock was trembling.
Mr. Hoseok stepped closer, his expression tightening.
"So… someone came here to break this lock…" he murmured.
Then—
His eyes dropped to the ground.
"This… is—".....