Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Walk with Fallador
⚠️ 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
Chapter 27 is told from Mikail's point of view. After bathing and dressing, he learns that Gambria has left the villa and that Fallador is in the library. Mikail finds Fallador browsing the shelves but clearly distracted. He invites Fallador for a walk in the gardens, taking care to avoid hedges where spies might hide.
During their stroll, Fallador apologizes for Gambria's recent actions—she confessed her scheme—and expresses gratitude that no one was harmed. Mikail is irritated that Fallador defends her. Fallador compares love to a cloak that can hide deeply held beliefs, and gently presses Mikail about his grief over Euyn. Mikail admits he has not spoken of Euyn because there never seems time, but Fallador urges him to share the burden.
Mikail is torn: he once trusted Fallador completely, but after learning he is not the real prince of Gaya, he questions everything. They stand close together, and Fallador brushes his fingers against Mikail's, sending a familiar spark of connection. At that moment, Sora storms in, filled with fury. She slashes at Mikail with a dagger, catching his shirt and cutting his arm. Fallador helps restrain her. Sora screams, “You knew!” over and over. When Mikail asks if she means Gambria, she shakes her head and whispers that Tiyung is dead.
Key Events
- Mikail seeks out Fallador in the library and invites him for a walk in the formal gardens.
- Fallador apologizes for Gambria's betrayal, but Mikail struggles to accept his defense.
- Fallador encourages Mikail to talk about his grief for Euyn, but Mikail deflects.
- Mikail reflects on his shifting trust in Fallador, who was once believed to be the Gayan prince but is now an unknown quantity.
- Sora arrives in a rage and attacks Mikail with a dagger, fueled by a secret she has just discovered.
- After being restrained, Sora reveals that Tiyung is dead, shocking Mikail.
Character Development
Mikail is caught between grief and duty. He refuses to mourn Euyn because he feels the mission cannot pause, yet the weight of that loss is clearly affecting him. He is also deeply uncertain about Fallador: the “spark” of connection remains, but trust has been shattered by Gambria’s betrayal and the revelation about Fallador’s identity.
Fallador shows empathy and patience, pressing Mikail to share his pain. He defends Gambria as someone driven by unrequited love, which suggests his own capacity for loyalty even when it is costly. His double-speaking hints at a deeper, possibly genuine care for Mikail, though Mikail cannot be sure.
Sora is consumed by rage and grief. Her violent outburst mirrors her earlier fury when she learned that Euyn hunted her father. Now, the death of Tiyung—likely someone she deeply cared for—triggers the same uncontrollable pain. She accuses Mikail of knowing, implying a breach of trust that might fracture their group.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Deception and Trust
The chapter repeatedly questions who can be trusted. Fallador is a “chameleon,” ever blending and altering, and Mikail no longer knows his true loyalties. Gambria’s betrayal compounds the theme, and Sora’s accusation suggests that secrecy among allies is destroying them from within.
Love as a Cloak
Fallador’s metaphor—that love covers even deeply held beliefs—applies to several relationships: Gambria’s one‑sided devotion, Mikail’s love for Euyn and Gaya, and possibly the bond between Fallador and Mikail. Love makes characters blind or willing to overlook betrayal.
Grief and Suppression
Mikail’s refusal to speak of Euyn mirrors a larger pattern: the group has no time to mourn amid the race against gods and men. Fallador insists that grief does not wait, implying that unexpressed sorrow will eventually erupt—which it does, in Sora’s rage.
The Gardens as Control
The rigidly pruned hedges and symmetrical swan pool reflect the facade of order and control in Yusan. Yet beneath the surface, chaos and violence break through—literal attacks and emotional outbursts puncture the artificial calm.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a turning point in the interpersonal tensions within Mikail’s group. The death of Tiyung is a major blow, and Sora’s violent accusation threatens to unravel what little cohesion remains. Fallador’s role as a confidant and possible love interest is further complicated by lingering doubts about his identity and motives. The chapter also deepens Mikail’s internal conflict between duty and grief, setting up a potential emotional reckoning.
Study Questions
1. Why does Mikail avoid talking about Euyn, and what does Fallador’s response reveal about both characters?
Mikail believes there is no time to mourn because the mission is urgent; he also feels helpless against the weight of loss. Fallador disagrees, arguing that grief does not wait and encourages Mikail to share the burden. This exchange shows Mikail’s tendency to suppress emotion for the sake of duty, while Fallador demonstrates emotional insight and a willingness to offer support—though Mikail is wary of his sincerity.
2. How does the setting of the formal gardens reinforce the chapter’s themes?
The gardens are highly symmetrical and controlled, with trimmed hedges and an artificial pool. This represents the facade of order and civility that Yusan projects. However, Mikail and Fallador deliberately walk where servants and spies could hide, and the chapter ends with a violent attack. The contrast between the manicured beauty and the raw emotions of betrayal and grief underscores the theme that control is an illusion.
3. What is the significance of Sora’s accusation that Mikail “knew” about Tiyung’s death?
Sora’s words imply that she believes Mikail was aware of or even involved in Tiyung’s death, or that he hid information from her. This indicates a severe breakdown of trust within the group. The accusation mirrors earlier secrets—Euyn’s hunt, Gambria’s scheme—and suggests that miscommunication and deception are destroying their alliance from within. Sora’s grief turns her against a fellow member, raising the stakes for future chapters.