Traveling the Eastern Road toward Rahway, Euyn privately worries that Mikail is hiding something from him, even as Euyn admits to keeping bigger secrets of his own. Euyn notes Mikail is at least no longer drenched in blood, but remembers having to discard Mikail’s ruined clothes in Gorya and stitch a reopened wound after the Tangun Pass fight.

When Euyn tried to talk about Kito, Mikail shut him down with a firm refusal, deepening Euyn’s unease about what Mikail is withholding. Their journey continues by an expensive fleet carriage paid for with Mikail’s “deep purse,” which makes Euyn suspect Quilimar’s resources and intentions are behind the mission.

Euyn presses Mikail on why Quilimar wants Euyn to take the crown instead of seizing power herself. Mikail argues Quilimar hates King Joon and sees Euyn as the only alternative that avoids a costly war, prompting Euyn to recall Quilimar’s forced “wedding” to Khitan’s king as a peace offering after Khitan’s invasion.

Mikail then reveals the king of Khitan is dead, and Quilimar is acting as regent for her son—while reportedly wearing the Ring of Khitan, a relic tied to alchemy and enormous power. Mikail implies Quilimar’s unusual choice signals ruthless ambition and possible plans to remove any obstacles, including her own child’s claim.

Euyn still questions why Quilimar would invest in Yusan’s throne, and Mikail bluntly concludes Quilimar believes she can control Euyn as a weaker, buyable king. Stung but also newly determined, Euyn is reassured when Mikail insists Euyn’s siblings never truly knew him—only Mikail did—before the tension breaks into a fierce, intimate reconnection between them in the carriage, with Euyn confessing love.