Thief of Twilight

Part One: Chapter 14

If there is anything else that you would like, please tell me. I will do any and everything that I can to make you happy.

Those were the only words that I heard from the emperor before he left. It was kind of sudden too. Last night, the palace seemed to be in some sort of frenzy. Even Lord Baek and Beom were anxious. But this morning, Beom met me for breakfast.

"The emperor went to the capital. I will be on my way soon as well." he took an apple from the bowl and began peeling it with a knife.

"You're leaving too!"

Beom perked up. "You were sad that the emperor left?"

"No...not really..." I muttered. "I mean...I did want to thank him again for the art studio. But...I don't really care if he leaves or not."

Beom smiled softly before setting the apple skin on the side of the plate.

"How long will you be gone?" I asked.

"Probably seven days. At least until the emperor feels better." he started slicing the apple.

"Is he sick?" I didn't know the emperor was ill. I mean, things like that are generally kept a secret from the public. Sometimes the well-being of royalty is kept away from others who may live on the palace grounds. You wouldn't want an assassin or your enemy to know that you're weak. If that happens, you're basically advertising how vulnerable you are.

"He's not sick. He just likes a change of scenery every once and a while. But more importantly, he went to see his father."

"Oh...and what is his father's name?" I still don't know much about the emperor.

"Great Emperor Kang Chunwoo."

"Great Emperor...Kang...Chunwoo..." I looked down at the apple slices on the plate before me. "And...does he hold power at all in this country?"

"Well, yes. He's an elder. Elders are always well respected. But he was previously the ruler of Sincheon before each region was independently ruled."

"He ruled the whole country? Isn't Sincehon one of the largest countries in the world?"

"Ha-ha, yeah. But the country has always been divided into four independent regions. The north, south, east, and west. But he made sure to unite the country as a whole so that each region could have its own ruler. But if there is an external threat from the neighboring countries, then the four emperors meet in the capital to discuss the necessary steps to protect themselves."

"How did he unite the country?" I took an apple slice and placed it on my tongue.

"Well, he married one of the daughters from the four most powerful lords."

"H-Huh?"

"Yes." Beom smiled. "Yohan and his brothers do not share the same mother. But once they were of age, they each took the position of emperor along with the title in the region where they were raised."

"...I-I see..."

"But you should ask Yohan if you want to know more. He knows more about it than I do." Beom stood up and brushed off the front of his trousers.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes. I have to hurry so I can make it to the capital by morning."

"Come here then." I extended my arms out to him.

Beom knelt down before me with his hands on his knees.

"Here." I kissed the center of his forehead. "Now you are protected." I don't exactly know how long it will take for him to reach the capital. Even though he said that he would get to the capital by morning, he could just be saying that so I don't worry. I also don't know if Lord Baldwin is already preparing for his arrival by sending scouts to the neighboring forest.