Chapter Thirty-Five Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
During a council by the fireplace, Mikail reveals that King Joon will attend the Millennial Championship in Tamneki one sunsae from now. The group decides to strike during the sport of tuhko in the King’s Arena, where two hundred and fifty thousand spectators will provide chaos and cover. Sora reflects on a past poisoning job that went wrong, forcing her to kill two guards. She now mistrusts her untested companions. While traveling to Tamneki in a fleet carriage, Sora observes the others: Euyn fixated on Mikail, Tiyung and Royo debating weapons, and Aeri acting friendly yet guarded. When Aeri questions Tiyung’s role, it emerges that Tiyung’s father, Count Seok, holds Sora and her sister Daysum’s indentures. Sora explains she has no real choice—success means freedom; failure means Daysum is sold to a pleasure house. Aeri admits she is motivated by money, family, and a personal score with the king. Sora sees a chance to build a bond with Aeri and later persuade her to hand over the crown instead of placing it on Euyn’s head.
Key Events
- The group finalizes the assassination plan: attack during the Millennial Championship tuhko game in Tamneki.
- Mikail explains that Count Dal will bring Sora as a courtesan; the king will want to steal her from his rival.
- Sora recalls a past mission where she had to kill two guards after a nobleman’s death was discovered.
- The team packs and boards a carriage for the ten-day journey to Tamneki.
- Aeri confronts Tiyung about his role, leading to the revelation that Count Seok owns Sora and Daysum’s contracts.
- Sora states plainly that she is here under duress—refusal means her sister gets sold to a pleasure house.
- Aeri shares her own motives: money, family, and settling an old score.
- Sora decides to cultivate a friendship with Aeri in hopes of convincing her to give up the crown.
Character Development
- Sora: Her internal conflict deepens. She is forced to rely on strangers despite her assassin’s instinct for self-reliance. Her past trauma (the guard killing and being separated from Daysum) shapes her current wariness. The chapter shows her analytical side as she tries to read each companion’s true intentions.
- Aeri: Previously seen as cheerful, she reveals a sharper, distrustful edge. Her question to Tiyung exposes her suspicion. Her admission of personal motive adds depth—she is not merely a tool but has her own vendetta.
- Tiyung: He is uncomfortable being peripheral. He tries to present himself as indifferent about the indentures but clearly feels the weight of the group’s judgment. His relationship with Sora is strained; she refuses to engage with him.
- Mikail: Remains the orchestrator, calmly laying out the strategy and making it sound easy. His charisma draws Sora, but she also notes how dependent Prince Euyn is on him.
- Euyn: Quiet and observant, he listens intently to Mikail. His lack of awareness of potential threats (an assassin could kill him easily) suggests he relies entirely on Mikail for protection.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Trust and Betrayal: Sora must trust people she does not know, even as she plans to eventually betray them. The irony is not lost on her. Aeri’s fake friendliness and Tiyung’s deception about “helping” highlight how every relationship is built on hidden agendas.
- Freedom vs. Indenture: The chapter explicitly contrasts Sora’s lack of choice with the others’ voluntary participation. The contract is a literal chain; her only path to freedom is through a high-risk assignment.
- The Arena as Spectacle: The Millennial Championship symbolizes the regime’s pageantry. Striking there turns the celebration into a stage for rebellion—a public, symbolic act.
- The Crown as Prize: Sora’s need for the crown (to free Daysum) creates a secondary conflict. The crown represents not just power but literal salvation for her sister.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter Thirty-Five crystallizes the assassination plot and introduces the central internal conflict: Sora cannot simply kill the king and escape—she must also obtain the crown from Aeri before Aeri can crown Euyn. This seeds future betrayal within the team. It also lays bare the system of indentured servitude that drives Sora’s desperation, giving emotional weight to her mission. The revelation about Count Seok owning Sora and Daysum reframes Tiyung’s earlier actions and deepens the story’s critique of coercive power structures. Finally, the chapter sets a tight timeline—ten days to travel, one sunsae to pull off the deed—raising narrative stakes.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why is Sora so determined to get the crown from Aeri rather than let Aeri place it on Euyn’s head?
Sora’s sister Daysum will be freed only if Sora can secure the crown and prove she has fulfilled her mission. If Aeri crowns Euyn, Sora loses the leverage she needs to burn the indenture contract. Sora believes she cannot steal the crown from Aeri by force, so she must win Aeri’s trust and convince her to hand it over.
2. How does Sora’s past failure inform her present caution?
During an earlier poisoning job, a guard discovered the death early, forcing Sora to kill two men with a hidden blade. She was nearly killed and suffered a cut on her side. The Count punished her by forbidding her to see Daysum for three months. That experience taught Sora to plan multiple escape routes and scout locations—yet now she is forced to rely on strangers, which conflicts with her survival instincts.
3. What does Aeri’s reaction to Tiyung’s indentures reveal about her character?
Aeri expresses horror that Sora is owned, calling it “horrified.” She immediately questions whether Sora had any choice. Later, she shares her own motives (money, family, a personal score), suggesting she sees a parallel with Sora’s situation. This shows Aeri is not merely a cheerful mercenary; she has a conscience and may be more sympathetic to Sora’s plight, which Sora hopes to exploit.