Chapter Forty-Three: The Chase Begins

Prince Seong-Jin remained frozen in place, his eyes narrowing as he watched Dan-Bi disappear into the shadows of the library.

"I suppose you will have to find out."

It wasn't a denial.

It wasn't an answer.

It was a challenge.

The prince exhaled sharply, his fingers curling into a fist.

Dan-Bi was hiding something. He had known it for some time now. The way he maneuvered through court with precision beyond his years. The way he spoke—always careful, always calculated.

And now, for the first time, Seong-Jin felt something unfamiliar coil in his chest.

Not just curiosity.

Obsession.

He would find out.

And when he did, Dan-Bi wouldn't be able to escape him anymore.

—

Dan-Bi walked briskly through the empty courtyard, heart still steady, but his mind racing.

The prince was getting too close.

He had planned for many things—court politics, assassination attempts, power struggles.

But he had never planned for him.

Prince Seong-Jin was a storm he had not accounted for.

Dan-Bi's grip tightened around the scroll in his hand.

He needed to stay ahead. He needed to make sure the prince lost interest before he uncovered everything.

But something in Dan-Bi's gut told him that once Prince Seong-Jin set his mind on something…

He never let go.

—

The next morning, the palace was abuzz with fresh tension.

A new decree had been announced.

All scholars were to present detailed reports of their recent research before the council.

Dan-Bi's breath hitched.

No.

This wasn't routine.

This was the prince's move.

And it was aimed directly at him.