In the Hwan Empire, magic was considered unusual, a curse for anyone who possessed it. Only a select few could have it. People with magical powers were neither worshiped nor respected. Magic was always a threat to the kingdom, constantly hunted and killed.
One place where magic could not be controlled was Gwimun Prison. The most cruel and strict prison located underground in the Hwan Empire. A place built over hundreds of years with a single purpose: to block all flows of magic and mana. Gwimun was tightly sealed. Until now, no one has ever been able to break its seal, and it is considered a hell for all sorcerers.
Once they stepped inside, all their magical powers would instantly vanish. Even the strongest sorcerers would be powerless with their magic. In Gwimun, whether a sorcerer or not, everyone was treated the same—at least in the eyes of the guards. There was no way to escape from there.
Gwimun was surrounded by towering walls, at the top of which were sharp wires that could shock anyone trying to cross them. Hundreds of trained, merciless guards were inside. The guards did not hesitate; they could slash and kill anyone with a single sword stroke. Truly dangerous.
Moreover, Gwimun implemented a points system based on the severity of crimes. A murderer or anyone who threatened another's life would be given 100 points during the trial. Prisoners with the highest points would be imprisoned in the deepest layer of Gwimun, the lowest, most tightly secured, dark, and very isolated, far from other inmates.
But the points system did not stop there.
Every minor mistake by a prisoner—such as resisting a guard, fighting, breaking rules, or even attempting to escape—would add penalty points. And when the number reached 200 points, there would be no trial, no mercy, only death. Yes, the death penalty.
Once inside Gwimun, those within it would never come out again. Gwimun was the most terrifying prison in the entire kingdom. There was no prison term here, because once you entered, the only way out was death.
And now, it would become a deadly dynasty waiting for Jae Hyuk.
After that morning's incident, Jae Hyuk was not immediately thrown into Gwimun; he was taken to the Hwan Imperial Court. He would be judged by the court judges and, of course, by the king himself. The king, none other than his own father, would witness his eldest son—the former crown prince—stand as a traitor.
The charges against Jae Hyuk would be increasingly complicated because he was not merely a traitor or a criminal; he was the king's own blood. Who could have expected this?
With his hands bound in chains, Jae Hyuk was dragged along the palace corridors, two guards with spears restraining him on his left and right. There was no way for him to escape from this tight snare.
Along the path to the courtroom, corridors were already filled with many people lined up. Those inside the palace rushed out, while those behind hurried into the hallways, and even those busy paused their work briefly just to see Jae Hyuk in person. Missing mysteriously for five years, and now returning as someone who almost killed his own sibling, he immediately became the hot topic of everyone. People stared at him with various expressions: some astonished, some sympathetic, and some pleased to see him in such a pitiful state.
Whispers and rumors around reached Jae Hyuk's ears. Quite noisy as he walked past everyone.
"His Highness Prince Jae Hyuk… he's still alive?"
"He's still as handsome as before, even more so."
"He must have gone mad over these years."
"Truly heartless, how could a brother attempt to harm his own sibling?"
"Has he become a monster now?"
"Look at his eyes… those are no longer the eyes of a prince. He's a killer."
"Prince Hwan Jae Hyuk wasn't like this before…"
"All these years he's been gone, what really happened to him?"
"Poor prince, even now that he's back, he has no one in the palace. Everyone is judging him."
"And soon he will end up in Gwimun. The most terrifying place."
"Do you remember his mother…? The queen who committed suicide?"
"Isn't it rumored that since that day, Prince Jae Hyuk's relationship with the Emperor worsened?"
"I heard they never even spoke to each other again."
All gossip flowed endlessly. Jae Hyuk's steps did not slow. He continued walking straight. The chains on his wrists creaked softly with each movement. Then, Jae Hyuk lifted his gaze, sweeping across the corridor, and that was all he did. But everything suddenly fell silent, like a fire doused with water.
The lips that had been moving quickly abruptly sealed without a word. Some immediately bowed their heads and looked away.
Jae Hyuk did not say a thing. His gaze merely swept through the corridor slowly, meeting everyone there one by one, sharp and cold, enough to make people's breaths catch in their throats. Not a single soul dared speak again. Somehow, the atmosphere became colder.
At first, Jae Hyuk considered all of this trivial. However, when he heard his mother being mentioned, a lightning struck in his eyes, deepening and darkening. His fingers tensed behind the chains. The chains creaked lightly, pulled by the hardening fists of his hands. Jae Hyuk silently contained his anger deep inside.
Deep in his heart, Jae Hyuk felt uneasy when he heard his mother mentioned. He had to restrain himself, not lose control. No one could see him falter, and not a trace of fear could be read by anyone.
Eyes never lie. They reveal the true essence of one's soul.
And Jae Hyuk would not show a weak soul. To him, that was pitiful.
His thoughts scattered immediately when the guards beside him stopped, forcing him to halt. The two guards immediately bowed respectfully to a girl who had just passed by. The girl also stopped and returned a small nod.
Jae Hyuk glanced briefly, but the dark-eyed girl had already been staring at him intently. For a moment, Jae Hyuk froze. The aura she possessed could captivate anyone. But he did not pause because he was captivated by her appearance; he recognized exactly who the girl was.
A pink silk hanbok the girl wore swayed gently in the breeze. The fabric was so fine it gleamed when touched by sunlight, with a long ribbon at the chest hanging gracefully. Her long dark brown hair flowed freely, softly wavy past her back. Her beautiful hair was adorned with a simple Binyeo tucked among the strands. Unlike other women who neatly tied their hair, she let it fall naturally. Truly beautiful.
Jae Hyuk recognized the girl as Jeon Aerin. The young daughter of a distinguished military family, now 17 years old. In Jae Hyuk's memory, they had a three-year age gap. Meanwhile, he himself had now reached 20.
"His Highness Prince Jae Hyuk?" Jeon Aerin spoke softly, her voice hesitant and surprised. Her beautiful eyes blinked slowly, staring at Jae Hyuk with an unreadable gaze. Jae Hyuk could sense her fear.
Jae Hyuk only gave his usual cold stare. He remained silent, not uttering a word. Eventually, the two spear guards excused themselves and led him forward again.
As he moved forward, Jae Hyuk did not look back, but he could still feel Jeon Aerin's gaze following him. Suddenly, the guard to his left said, "Lady Jeon Aerin… she will be your sister-in-law, Your Highness."
Immediately, Jae Hyuk's steps stopped. His brow furrowed slightly. But the guard quickly pulled him to continue walking. "She will be the crown princess… her fiancé is almost the one you tried to kill, Your Highness." Another guard's sarcastic remark sounded bold, piercing, and full of mockery.
Still with his cold expression, Jae Hyuk understood but pretended not to care. Yet in his mind, he held many questions.
A secret between him and the future crown princess.
In the years before Jae Hyuk disappeared, she had once confessed her feelings to him so foolishly. Jae Hyuk still remembered that. And now, after five years of his disappearance, everything had changed so quickly. The girl who once confessed to him would now become his sister-in-law?
How ironic it all was.
Upon arriving at the palace courtroom, all eyes were on Jae Hyuk with an aura of hostility, staring as if wanting to crush him.
Jae Hyuk sat on a low chair in the middle of the room. Both of his hands were bound with stiff silver chains, and his wrists were beginning to redden and show marks. His long dark hair, almost reaching the nape of his neck, looked slightly disheveled. His facial expression remained firm and calm, while his cold eyes stared straight ahead at the emperor—his own father. Jae Hyuk had even forgotten the last time he had called the emperor "father."
The emperor sat on a high dais, wearing a glittering royal robe and a large crown on his head. He did not look at Jae Hyuk at all. His expression was untouchable. But after a while, their eyes finally met for a moment—a very unfriendly gaze, carrying unspoken memories and pain.
Jae Hyuk quickly turned his face away, somehow feeling his eyes slightly warm, then put on his cold expression again. Meanwhile, in front of him, the chief judge stood at the podium, ready to read the charges.
Elsewhere, nobles and palace officials surrounded the room, sitting neatly along the sides. The two guards who brought Jae Hyuk now stood a few steps behind him, spears in hand, ready if he resisted again.
The atmosphere became silent but increasingly tense. Jae Hyuk remained calm. Not a trace of fear in his gaze, observing the room carefully, then searching for someone.
The General.
Feeling observed from afar, the General looked at Jae Hyuk. Jae Hyuk challenged him so boldly, as if warning through his gaze;
You also have magic, don't you?
From somewhere, the General saw a new side of Jae Hyuk after all these years. He had become fearless, full of courage, and slightly arrogant.
Even on the brink of being locked in Gwimun, with no way out but death, he still appeared calm, as if nothing had happened.
Making the General wonder, behind Jae Hyuk's overly calm demeanor, what exactly was he planning? Was there something he anticipated inside Gwimun?
The chief judge stepped forward, his gaze sharp, his voice firm, pronounced with clear emphasis, leaving no room for denial.
"His Highness Prince Jae Hyuk," the judge began.
He raised a scroll slightly higher in his hand.
"Listen carefully, the following charges are presented to you."
The courtroom fell completely silent again.
The judge drew a deep breath, "The first charge is attempted murder against the Crown Prince, the legitimate heir to the Hwan Empire throne, His Highness Crown Prince Jae Jin."
Some nobles found it increasingly hard to contain their tension. "This act is classified as the highest treason against the empire. The prescribed punishment is eternal imprisonment in Gwimun Prison with an initial score of 150, as you attempted to harm the royal family."
There was a brief pause, "The second charge, the use of violence within the palace environment that threatens the stability of the kingdom." The judge continued without pause.
"This incident not only endangered one individual but also caused panic within the palace. You attacked thirty palace guards, twenty-eight at the outer gate and two at the inner gate. This constitutes a severe violation of imperial regulations. With an additional penalty of 30 points."
Next, the judge's tone slightly lowered but remained sharp, "The third charge, as the crown prince five years ago, your disappearance without a trace was considered a dereliction of duty, triggering political instability within the empire."
Jae Hyuk was shocked to hear the third charge. Something was off, a subtle manipulation of facts. Why was this issue dragged along? Were palace officials deliberately fabricating this to increase his punishment?
This made Jae Hyuk angrier, his jaw tightening as he stared coldly, full of suspicion, at the judge. His so-called disappearance?
Jae Hyuk had never fled the kingdom. But the kingdom had cast him away, attempting to kill him five years ago by drowning him in the open sea, hands and feet bound in chains. Now, seeing him alive, the kingdom twisted the facts?
Jae Hyuk's chest thundered, filled with almost overflowing rage. Anyone involved in this conspiracy would surely receive a fitting and severe punishment. He would personally kill everyone involved.
Jae Hyuk immediately stood, glaring at the judge with full rebellion, "The third charge you mention is not based on facts, Judge!"
"IT IS NOT YET TIME FOR YOU TO INTERRUPT! SIT DOWN AGAIN, PRINCE!" the judge warned him. Jae Hyuk inhaled deeply. He observed around; apparently, everyone was pleased to see his reaction just now. The more Jae Hyuk resisted, the clearer his weakness and fear appeared in their eyes. Not only that, every gesture of his was now being counted and judged, as if measured as an additional burden of punishment ready to be imposed at any time. Damn it.
Reluctantly, Jae Hyuk sat down again. Even a slight provocation would give them a new reason to pressure and increase his punishment.
The judge then closed the scroll with a soft but firm voice. "The total penalty points submitted against you…" The chief judge paused, ensuring everyone heard the next number.
"230 points."
The entire room immediately froze. Some even looked pale. Because everyone knew—the number…
Had surpassed the limit.
The judge stared at Jae Hyuk without expression.
"With this total, according to Gwimun law, the defendant automatically qualifies to be sentenced to death without further trial."