Chapter 74: Euyn Confronts Mikail About Secrets, Loyalty, and Love
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This chapter contains an intimate scene and a raw, emotionally charged argument between Euyn and Mikail. It reveals deep relationship fractures and sets up future conflict. Proceed with caution for full spoilers.
Summary
After a sexual encounter where Euyn failed to become aroused, Mikail dresses and asks whether he wants to talk about it. Euyn refuses, instead accusing Mikail of lying and pressing him on why he plans to kill Joon. Mikail deflects, and Euyn points out that Mikail told Sora about a dead sister, revealing more about his past than he has ever shared with Euyn. The argument escalates: Mikail insists his secrecy is meant to protect Euyn, while Euyn claims Mikail is afraid of truly belonging to anyone. Mikail retaliates by suggesting Euyn only wants to possess him. Euyn insists she belongs to him completely, but Mikail questions whether she could keep his secrets under torture. Euyn hesitates, confirming Mikail’s doubt. When Euyn presses about Mikail’s family, Mikail declares the past meaningless and asks why they cannot focus on the future. Euyn distinguishes between loyalty—which she expects from everyone as a prince—and genuine love, which she craves from Mikail. Hurt, Mikail coldly offers the throne of Yusan as his ultimate gift, then grabs his sword and walks out, leaving Euyn without a single answer.
Key Events
- Failed Intimacy: Euyn is unable to become aroused despite Mikail’s attempts; the chapter opens with the unresolved tension.
- Questioning Motives: Euyn directly asks Mikail why he wants to kill Joon and what he hopes to gain.
- Secrecy Accusations: Euyn contrasts the minimal information Mikail gave Sora about his sister with the complete absence of family details shared with Euyn.
- Vulnerability vs. Possession: The core argument: Euyn believes Mikail fears belonging to someone; Mikail accuses Euyn of wanting to own him.
- The Torture Test: Mikail challenges whether Euyn could keep his secrets under duress; Euyn’s hesitation becomes a silent admission.
- Loyalty vs. Love: Euyn explicitly separates the concept of loyalty—what every palace guard offers a king—from the love she wants from Mikail.
- Mikail’s Last Offer: Frustrated, Mikail states he is giving Euyn the throne of Yusan and, if that is not enough, nothing will be.
- Walkout: Mikail dresses, picks up his sword, and leaves the room.
Character Development
Euyn: Shows unprecedented vulnerability. For the first time, he admits he wants emotional intimacy, not just sexual satisfaction or political loyalty. His frustration stems from knowing almost nothing about Mikail’s birthplace or family, despite having given Mikail nearly his own whole history. Euyn’s privileged upbringing—expecting loyalty as a royal right—clashes with his genuine need for Mikail’s love.
Mikail: Remains guarded and defensive. He claims his secrecy is for Euyn’s protection, but his tone reveals deep fear of being fully known. The offer of the throne is both a grand gesture and a dismissal: he uses the one thing Euyn wants (power) as a replacement for the emotional openness Euyn truly craves. His exit shows he is hurt and unwilling to continue the conversation.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Loyalty vs. Love: The chapter’s central theme. Euyn defines loyalty as the devotion a subject offers a ruler—conditional on duty, law, or reward—whereas love requires willing vulnerability. Mikail equates the two, perhaps because he cannot separate his sense of self from his role as protector.
- Secrecy and Protection: Mikail insists that keeping his past hidden is an act of care. The motif of scars—Samroc claw marks overlaying older wounds—symbolizes layers of trauma that he refuses to let Euyn see.
- Power Imbalance in Intimacy: Their argument exposes the asymmetry of knowledge. Euyn knows Mikail’s present actions but not his history; Mikail knows Euyn’s past entirely. The prince’s expectation of control crashes against Mikail’s determined boundaries.
- Possession vs. Belonging: Euyn claims he “belongs” to Mikail, yet Mikail hears this as a desire for ownership. The semantic battle reveals how differently each character understands commitment.
Why This Chapter Matters
This is a crucial breaking point in Euyn and Mikail’s relationship. The argument clarifies that their bond cannot survive on Mikail’s silence alone. It also tests the foundation of their conspiracy to kill King Joon: if Mikail’s real motives remain hidden, their partnership and possibly the entire plot are compromised. For Euyn, this chapter forces him to confront the limits of royal expectation and the cost of truly loving someone who refuses to be conquered.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Euyn feel that Mikail’s loyalty is not love? Euyn explains that palace guards are loyal to the king because of law, money, or duty—none of which require genuine affection. He wants from Mikail an emotional surrender that goes beyond the transactional loyalty he is accustomed to commanding. Loyalty can be bought or demanded, but love must be freely given.
2. What does Mikail’s offer of the throne actually signify within the argument? Mikail offers the throne as proof of his devotion: he is giving Euyn the highest prize in Yusan. But by doing so, he reduces their relationship to a transaction. He avoids the real demand—emotional honesty—by substituting a political gift. The offer is both a peace offering and a rhetorical escape, signaling that he still cannot give Euyn what he truly needs.
3. How does the chapter use the symbols of scars and clothing to reinforce the emotional distance between the characters? The Samroc claw scars on Mikail’s back are visible yet hidden by new clothing as he dresses. Euyn notes that the newer scars cover older injuries Mikail refuses to discuss. This physical concealment mirrors Mikail’s emotional concealment. The act of putting on a shirt and picking up his sword at the end re-establishes the barrier between them, transforming a vulnerable moment into one of armored withdrawal.