Chapter 20 Summary: Sora and Sun-ye Face Off
⚠️ 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 formal dinner at Rune’s estate, Sora spots Sun-ye, a fellow killer from poison school. Startled, she drops her glass and uses the commotion to excuse herself, claiming grief over Daysum’s death. Sun-ye offers to guide her to the powder room. Once alone, both women draw daggers and press blades to each other’s throats. After a tense standoff, they lower their weapons and speak.
Sun-ye reveals that Seok sent her to kill Rune in exchange for freeing her twin sister Rayna. Sora explains that Seok gave her a similar mission—to kill King Joon—and sold Daysum to Lord Sterling when she failed. Daysum later walked the Road of Souls. Sun-ye shows rare sympathy. The two assassins realize they share a target (Rune) and a common enemy (Seok). Though never friends in school, they agree to keep each other’s presence secret. Sun-ye will submit a blank report, and they become temporary allies.
Key Events
- Sora sees Sun-ye at Rune’s dinner and drops her glass in shock.
- Sora feigns distress over Daysum’s death and is escorted by Sun-ye to the powder room.
- In the powder room, Sora and Sun-ye hold knives to each other; they simultaneously release.
- Sun-ye reveals Seok promised to free Rayna if she kills Rune.
- Sora learns that Sun-ye has been observing Rune for a week, awaiting a signal.
- Sora tells Sun-ye that Daysum died after Seok sold her to Lord Sterling.
- Sun-ye acknowledges Seok’s threats and expresses a rare moment of sincerity.
- They recall their past: mutual hidden lovers (Pier for Sun-ye, Hana for Sora) and a history of mutually assured destruction.
- They shake hands without weapons, forming a temporary alliance.
Character Development
Sora shows vulnerability for the first time. Her grief over Daysum surfaces in tears, and she admits that revenge is now her only goal. She also demonstrates strategic thinking by using the glass drop as a cover and by choosing not to expose Sun-ye.
Sun-ye reveals a colder, more calculating nature. She admits she lacks emotional depth and finds Sora’s feelings exhausting. Yet she shows rare sympathy when Sora speaks of Daysum, and she is willing to risk her mission by making a blank report. Her loyalty to her sister Rayna motivates her actions.
Both women evolve from suspicious rivals to reluctant partners. Their shared history under Seok’s control and their common goal—survival and revenge—allow them to overcome past enmity.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Manipulation and Control: Seok manipulates both Sora and Sun-ye by holding their sisters hostage. The “offer” to kill Rune in exchange for freedom is a hollow promise, as he has broken it before.
- Sisterhood and Sacrifice: The bond between sisters (Sora and Daysum; Sun-ye and Rayna) drives every decision. Sora’s grief and Sun-ye’s desperation highlight how far each will go to protect or avenge a sister.
- Temporary Alliances: Former enemies become allies when their interests align. The handshake without weapons symbolizes a trust based on mutual self-interest rather than friendship.
- The Illusion of Choice: Both women believe they act freely, but Seok’s threats and the Poison School’s training have shaped their paths. Even their alliance is a response to his pressure.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the world-building by introducing another trained assassin from the same poison school. It reveals that Seok is actively working to eliminate Rune, the last count vying for the throne. The confrontation between Sora and Sun-ye showcases the cost of Seok’s control and the lengths he will go to secure power. Their uneasy alliance sets up future conflict, as both still have orders to kill Rune. The chapter also solidifies Sora’s emotional turning point: with Daysum gone, revenge becomes her sole purpose, and she is willing to ally with a former enemy to achieve it.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Sora decide not to expose Sun-ye in the dining hall?
Exposing Sun-ye would lead to her execution. Despite their past, Sora does not want to cause another death, especially when she understands the coercion Sun-ye faces. Keeping the secret also gives Sora leverage and a potential ally. -
What motivates Sun-ye to agree to a temporary alliance?
Sun-ye sees that Sora also has a grudge against Seok and that killing Rune is not Sora’s objective. By keeping Sora’s presence hidden, Sun-ye avoids immediate conflict and preserves the chance to fulfill her own mission later. Sora’s grief over Daysum hints that they share a common enemy. -
How does the chapter illustrate the theme of coercion?
Both assassins are acting under duress: Seok holds their sisters hostage. Sun-ye’s blunt statement that “He has always made good on his threats” shows that the threat of harm to loved ones dictates their actions. Sora’s tears and Sun-ye’s twitching cheek reveal the emotional toll of living under that constant pressure.