Chapter Thirty-Five: The Calm Before the Storm

Jin-Seok exhaled slowly, forcing himself to loosen his grip.

Dan-Bi's smirk had already returned, as if he knew he had won this round.

That only made Jin-Seok more determined.

But not here.

Not now.

"Very well," Jin-Seok murmured, stepping back. His expression returned to its usual mask of indifference, as if nothing had happened at all. "I suppose I was mistaken."

Dan-Bi tilted his head, amused. "So easily?"

Jin-Seok smiled—cold, unreadable.

"You are just a scholar, after all," he said smoothly. "Nothing more."

Dan-Bi's gaze flickered, but only for a second.

Jin-Seok turned away first.

Let him think he had won.

Let him believe the prince had given up.

Dan-Bi had gotten too comfortable in his lies.

It was time to shatter that comfort.

Jin-Seok would wait.

He would watch.

And when Dan-Bi least expected it—

He would strike.

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