Min, the Mad King

Chapter 1

                                                                            

"You are doing great, Honey; just one more push and the baby will be here."

"I can't do it, I can't push anymore."

"Yes, you can, just one more big one." She bared down and gave it one last push; when their daughter came into the world, and they heard her first cry, Jong-pil knew that their life was over. "Honey, we have a beautiful baby girl."

He saw the fear in her eyes. "No, no, it can't be. She'll be promised to the King's son. Save her, save our Cho-Hee from that life. Love her for both of us, and I'm sorry. I love you, and I never wanted this for you."

That was the last thing his wife said to him before she died. 

He gathered his four children and ran far, far away. Because if anyone found out that his daughter was born, they'd come for her. He'd do anything to keep her safe, to keep her out of reach of the King and his spawn.

He knew what the King would do if he found her, Jong-Pil has worked for him long enough. He could easily get away with leaving with his sons for a year or two since they had just lost their mother.

                                                                               

"Cho-Hee, come help me with the laundry."

"I'm coming," Hee hurried toward her youngest brother and helped him put the sheets on the line. "Now, tell me a story."

"A story? Which one?" Tae smiled at his silly little sister.

"You know the one I want to hear." She mused; Tae told the best stories.

He sighed as he handed her another sheet, "The fox was the best vigilante the world had ever seen. He could take down 100 men with one hand tied behind his back. Women swooned over how handsome he was."

"Tae," she whined. "He wears a fox mask so no one can see his face."

"Oh, right," he laughed. When a madman swore he would be the fox's end, the fox had just rescued several orphans from a burning building."

Hee sat there listening to her brother tell his story, not caring that she was the only one doing laundry.

"Thanks. It would have taken me forever to do that by myself," he said with a boxy grin.

"Of course, I'll always be here whenever you need help."

A dark look passed his eyes. Hee didn't know what to make of it, so she just brushed it off. "Go help Seokjin. He's probably already started dinner by now."

He got up and ran back towards the fire area, where she saw her oldest brother kneeling in front of the fire. She ran behind him and covered his eyes, "Guess who?"

He hummed, "Ah Namjoon, where have you been all day?"

"Hey, I don't sound like that at all," her middle brother said from behind them, "And you know where I've been, I was studying."

Jin turned around and smiled at her, then pinched her cheeks. "Aigoo, look at my pretty little sister."

Hee smacked his hand away, they live far away from any city. It wasn't until last year that their Dad told her why. Girls were rare; most of them weren't born alive. Only 100 or so girls a year survive until adulthood; the others perish before they are a year old. Her Father wanted to keep her safe, so he moved Fatherather from the city after their mother passed away. 

"When is Dad getting back from his trip?" She asked Jin.

He shrugged his shoulders and went back to cooking. He turned to look at Namjoon but didn't answer her. She'll go to her room if those two want to ignore her. Hee threw herself on top of her blanket, yes she was being dramatic. She wanted one of them to follow her, hug her tightly, and tell her they loved her. Hee knows it's hard for her brothers, they know that they'll most likely never find a wife unless they leave the country but they stay to protect her.