Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Betrayal
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens inside the King’s Arena in Yusan. Euyn is alone in a torchlit corridor, waiting for the horns that will mark the two‑minute warning. Once the horns sound, he believes Joon will be dead, and Euyn will ascend to the royal box to be crowned king by Mikail. The crowd’s roar and stomping fill the arena, and Euyn reflects on the nation’s love for the brutal tuhko championships and its insatiable bloodlust. He tells himself he will become Yusan—or a pile of ashes.
Euyn battles his own thoughts. He tries to dismiss rumors about the Baejkin crown turning its wearer to ashes. He recalls the skulls in Idle Prison and the general’s supposed fiery death, but rationalizes that a burned head could not remain. He wonders why no one has stolen the crown in a thousand years of Baejkin rule. The wait stretches unbearably. The cheering continues, so he knows not much time has passed, but he feels every second as he did when guarding Mikail in the Fallow cave. A sudden chill urges him to flee, but he forces himself to stay, fearing that without him, Mikail would be blamed for stealing the crown and innocent people would die.
As he looks toward the stairs, a sword presses against his back. Only a palace assassin could have snuck up on him. The assassin orders him not to move, saying he was told to bring Euyn in alive if possible. He adds that “your lover would like a word.” Euyn looks for Mikail, Royo, or Ty to come to his rescue, but no one arrives. He realizes he has been betrayed. He knows there has been a traitor among them since the dead assassin was not reported, yet he proceeded because he had no other options. He briefly considers fighting with his ceremonial sword but recalls his poor skill against experienced fighters. He raises his hands. The betrayal stings: Mikail was the traitor all along.
Key Events
- Euyn waits alone in the arena corridor for the horns that will signal Joon’s death and his own coronation.
- He struggles with fear and paranoia, mentally listing reasons the crown’s rumored curse may be false.
- A palace assassin sneaks up on him and holds a sword to his back.
- Euyn hopes for rescue from Mikail, Royo, or Ty, but no one appears.
- He deduces he has been betrayed and that Mikail is the traitor.
- Euyn surrenders, raising his hands.
Character Development
Euyn – Throughout the chapter, Euyn oscillates between bravado and crippling self‑doubt. He tries to convince himself he will be king, but his internal monologue reveals deep insecurity. His inability to trust his own judgment—he knew there was a traitor yet did nothing—shows a fatal flaw: he relies on hope rather than decisive action. At the end, his cold acceptance suggests a weariness that has finally crystallized into certainty.
Mikail (off‑stage) – Though not present in the scene, Mikail’s role is transformed. Throughout the book, he has been Euyn’s closest ally and lover. Here, Euyn concludes that Mikail is the traitor who orchestrated the betrayal. The assassin’s phrase “your lover would like a word” confirms that Mikail is behind the capture, fundamentally redefining his character from protector to antagonist.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Betrayal – The chapter’s central revelation. Euyn’s trust in his companions has been misplaced; the traitor he suspected all along was the person he trusted most. The betrayal is intimate because it involves a lover, making the wound personal as well as political.
Paranoia and Self‑Doubt – Euyn’s internal arguments about the crown’s curse mirror his inability to trust reality. The “chill down his spine” and memories of the Tangun Mountain pass show that his instincts are reliable, yet he talks himself out of acting on them. This motif highlights how fear can override survival instinct.
Waiting and Powerlessness – The entire chapter is built around Euyn waiting for a signal that never comes. The horns become a symbol of the moment when his fate will be sealed. His passivity—staying in place against his better judgment—leads directly to his capture.
Lovers and Trust – The phrase “your lover” ties the betrayal directly to romance. Euyn believed Mikail’s love was genuine, but the assassin’s words imply that love was used as a weapon to manipulate him.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter Seventy‑Seven is the turning point where the romantic and political plots collide. The revelation that Mikail is the traitor reshapes all previous events. Every scene where Mikail seemed to protect Euyn now reads as manipulation. It also fulfills the long‑build suspicion of a traitor among the main group, raising the stakes for the finale. Euyn’s capture leaves the kingdom’s fate in chaos: no one will be crowned, and the capital may descend into violence. This chapter forces readers to reconsider the entire narrative and anticipate how the remaining characters will respond to this betrayal.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Euyn decide to stay in the corridor despite feeling a strong urge to flee?
He fears that if he leaves, no one will crown him king, and Mikail will be accused of stealing the crown for himself. He also worries that innocent people will die during the resulting chaos. He suppresses his instinct in favor of what he believes is duty.
2. What clues does the author provide that the traitor might be close to Euyn?
The assassin sneaks up on Euyn, which only a palace‑trained killer could do—meaning someone on the inside helped arrange this. The assassin specifically mentions “your lover,” pointing directly to Mikail. Additionally, Euyn earlier notes that the dead assassin’s identity was never revealed, and no one came forward, which he now recognizes as a sign of internal betrayal.
3. How does Euyn’s perception of time change while he waits, and what does this reveal about his mental state?
Every second feels like an eternity. He compares it to guarding Mikail in the Fallow cave, where time also stretched. This reveals that Euyn is terrified, hyper‑aware, and losing his ability to remain calm under pressure. His mind is so frazzled that he considers going up to check, even though that would ruin the plan.