Meanwhile in the warrior's courtyard, Jade reunited with the royal guards who protected the King.
"Captain!!!"
"We were so worried about you, Captain!!!"
The guards all bowed deeply toward Jade.
His direct subordinate, Dan-jin—who held the rank just below him—bowed his head with teary eyes.
"I thought you wouldn't be able to return… But you've come back safely with the Princess… It's such a relief…"
Jade gently patted Danjin on the shoulder.
"Why are you crying, Danjin? Don't cry."
Just then, an attendant of the military court came running.
"Captain! His Majesty is requesting your presence!"
Jade climbed the stairs toward the King's Hall at a brisk pace.
Princess Genie had just finished reuniting with her father and was exiting the King's Hall.
As Jade entered and Genie came out, their eyes met.
Behind Genie, Jade saw ten palace maids and bodyguards standing.
For a moment, the countless memories of traveling from Arabia to Hana with her came rushing back, making him feel anew the reality that she was, in fact, a princess of this land.
It made her feel all the more distant.
Completely unaware of Jade's inner thoughts, Genie paused and waved at him.
Her attendants stopped in their tracks as well.
"Jade."
Jade gave a reserved smile.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Back at the palace, Genie noticed that Jade had become even more formal with her.
It made her feel strangely disappointed.
Still, Genie forced a cheerful tone.
"Are you going to see Father?"
"Yes."
His curt reply made Genie hesitate awkwardly.
"I see… then I'll leave you to it."
Princess Genie and her attendants walked past him.
"..."
Only after she was gone did Jade resume his steps toward the King's Hall.
A faint bitterness stirred in his heart.
He bit his lips tightly as he walked on.
"Jade, you've saved me. By saving Princess Genie, you've saved my life as well," said King Gen, leaning on the table in his chamber.
Jade, sitting across from him, quietly shook his head.
"No, Your Majesty. I merely did what I had to do."
"I heard from the Princess how many times you saved her on the way from Arabia to Hana. Words cannot express how grateful I am. That's why I want to reward you."
"No, I don't deserve a reward."
"I insist. Tell me what you want. As King of this land, I want to give you the best reward I can."
"..."
King Gen gazed at him quietly.
"Take your time to think about what you truly desire."
At that moment, another thought crossed Jade's mind.
'You'll give me anything I want…?'
But he soon shook his head.
"No, Your Majesty."
'I can't tell you what I want… not right now…'
Unaware of Jade's internal conflict, the King simply looked at him with gratitude.
Lady's attendant Park wept as she embraced Princess Genie.
"Your Highness… It's such a blessing that you've returned alive… I'm so sorry I couldn't stay by your side until the end…"
Genie gently patted her back.
"Don't cry. We're all safe and sound now—there's no need for tears."
Lady Han, standing beside her, held back tears and said, "Please forgive us for returning to Hana before you, Your Highness."
"What are you saying, Lady Han? I'm just relieved you both made it back safely ahead of me. God protected all of us—you, me…"
Genie paused.
"And Jade as well… so we could all return safely to the palace."
'Now Jade will return to his role as the royal guard Captain… There won't be many chances for us to be together like before…'
A quiet sadness bloomed in Genie's chest.
Every moment they had spent together since their reunion after eleven years in Arabia felt like a dream.
'Yes… it's time for all of us to go back to where we belong.'
In the dead of night, while the palace slept, Jade slipped out quietly.
He was on his way to meet Kim Jin.
Passing through dark alleys, he reached Kim Jin's familiar little tile-roofed house and carefully opened the gate.
He had come here countless times—it was a place he knew well.
Jade walked up to the main room.
"Sir," he called out in a quiet voice.
Kim Jin's eyes flew open from his deep sleep.
'This voice is…!'
He hurried out of bed in his white sleepwear and opened the door.
"Jade!"
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Sir."
Jade bowed his head.
"You've returned?!"
"Yes, Sir. I came back safely."
Overcome with emotion, Kim Jin took Jade's hands.
"It's such a relief that you've made it back! I had heard rumors that your ship was wrecked on the way to Hana. I can't tell you how worried I was…"
"I apologize, Sir."
"No apologies needed. It's just so good to see you safe. Come, let's talk in the study."
He gestured toward the study and walked in first.
Jade followed.
Just as Kim Jin was about to sit down, he stood again with a start.
"Wait, let me make us some tea."
"There's no need, Sir. I'm fine."
"No, no. Just sit and wait."
Kim Jin hurried out.
Jade sat at the table, surrounded by familiar bookshelves packed with documents.
They had discussed countless secret missions for Ash here.
Returning with two cups of hot tea, Kim Jin placed them on the table and sat down.
"I'm so overwhelmed I can't even speak, Jade."
Jade offered a small smile in silence.
Kim Jin looked at him intently, still in disbelief.
"You went through so much to bring the Princess back. I never doubted you'd return safely."
"I'm sorry to have worried you."
"Don't be. Now that you've brought Princess Genie here safely, she must be completely on your side. You must help her ascend the throne, Jade. If she becomes queen, you'll hold more power than anyone besides the King. They might even give you command of all Hana's forces. If that happens, Ash taking over Hana will be a simple matter."
"..."
"Aren't you excited, Jade?"
"..."
Jade didn't respond, and Kim Jin blinked in confusion.
"Is something bothering you, Jade…?"
"No… nothing."
Yet for some reason, Kim Jin's words, filled with ambition, left Jade uneasy.
It should've been good news for Ash, their long-held plans finally going smoothly—yet his heart was unsettled.
Lowering his voice, Kim Jin continued, "Once the Princess becomes Queen, you must begin neutralizing Hana's military. Then, at your signal, Ash will strike."
Jade's eyes trembled.
Kim Jaejin gave a confident smile.
"Jade, the mission will soon be complete. You belong to the Princess now—you know what that means."
Jade pressed his lips shut.
Kim Jin smirked.
"You are the key to bringing down Hana."
"..."
Genie's face suddenly flashed in Jade's mind.
Her playful smile, her serious, determined gaze…
Somehow, every image of her had taken deep root in his memory.
'So I'm the key to destroying Princess Genie…'
Jade bit his lip.
The reality of having to bring her down struck him in the heart.
The next morning, Princess Genie walked through the Jeru Garden with her palace maids.
After eleven years, the garden shimmered even more beautifully in the autumn sunlight.
Looking at the pines surrounding the garden, Genie thought of the summer in July.
"The palace looks exactly like I remember it," said Genie.
"The palace hasn't changed, but Your Highness has grown up so much. Everyone is amazed by how much you've matured."
Lady Han answered with a warm smile.
"Haha… is that so…"
Genie recalled her reunion with Jade after eleven years in Arabia.
'I wonder if Jade was also surprised to see how much I've grown…'
She gave a faint smile.
'Now that I'm back, I hardly ever see him… He doesn't even come to see me…'
A strange sense of disappointment settled over her.
Noticing her expression, Lady's attendant Park spoke up.
"Your Highness, are you sad that you haven't seen Captain Jade since returning?"
Genie was flustered.
Lady Han gave Park a warning look.
"What a thing to say to Her Highness."
But Park, oblivious, continued. "I only said it because Her Highness seems really down. If it would make you feel better, should I ask the Captain to visit your quarters?"
Genie quickly shook her head, flustered.
"No, n-no, what do you mean visit my quarters… He's busy. There's no reason to call him…"
She stared absentmindedly at the pond where goldfish swam.
"I'm just… very grateful to him, that's all…"
She tilted her head up and looked at the vibrant summer sky.
'Sad? That's ridiculous. He only stood by me for a little while… There's no reason to feel sad just because he's not by my side now…'
Yet she could still see his warm smile clearly, as if he were standing right in front of her.
At that moment, Jade stood on the training platform at the martial yard, overseeing the warriors' morning drills.
"One! Two!"
His eyes followed the warriors moving in perfect sync with the commands, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
The day before, upon his return to the palace of Hana, King Gen had told him to name any reward he desired for bringing back Princess Genie safely.
There was no need for deep contemplation—his request should have been straightforward.
The logical choice was to ask for a promotion to Minister of Military Affairs, the highest position overseeing all military forces.
As a spy dispatched by Ash, gaining control of Hana's military was his most crucial objective for now.
And yet, Jade didn't want to make that request.
He even deliberately left out the part about the King's offer when speaking with Kim jin.
Because… he couldn't stop thinking about Princess Genie.