Ecstacy of Love (vsoo)

1. Ahjushi...It's call humanity.

Edited

Countryside, Forest

Jisoo's POV

Around the time of sunrise, the soft chirping of birds echoed through the air. Flowers bloomed, their sweet fragrance filling the atmosphere, lifting the spirits of anyone lucky enough to pass by.

I was feeding my master's horse, one of the most beautiful creatures I'd ever seen. His coat was as black as midnight, his eyes sparkling with life. He was more than just a horse; he was my only companion in this lonely life.

I smiled as he nuzzled into my neck, his soft breath warming my skin.

"Good boy, Gomma," I whispered, patting his back before I sauntered into the small cottage with a wooden bucket filled with water.

But as I stepped inside, a strange noise caught my attention-uneasy, breathless, like someone struggling for air. My heart skipped a beat, and the unease in my chest grew. The sound was unmistakable.

I dropped the bucket, rushing toward the source of the noise. My master lay on the floor, clutching his chest, gasping for breath.

"Master... MASTER!" I cried out, horrified. I dropped to my knees beside him, lifting his head onto my lap and rubbing his chest in a desperate attempt to comfort him.

His eyes fluttered, his breathing shallow. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw him struggle.

"No... you can't leave me. Not now, not ever," I begged, shaking my head. "Please stay with me."

"Jisoo... my time is near..." he whispered, his voice ragged, before coughing violently. "I... I don't have much time left."

I shook my head again, my hands trembling as I held him tighter. "No, I won't let you go. Please, don't leave me. I'll call for Uisa (doctor)."

But he barely moved, his breath growing more shallow, and I knew deep down he didn't want to be saved. He was clinging to something-some final piece of the past he needed to tell me.

"Jisoo," he breathed, his voice barely audible. "Your father... he wasn't just a commander. He was the late War Minister. He was falsely accused of planning a rebellion... which he never did."

The words hit me like a blow to the chest. I stared at him in shock, my heart pounding. "What?" I whispered in disbelief. "No... no, that's not possible."

He coughed again, struggling to speak. "Yes... after he was executed, your mother... she fought to protect you, to keep you safe. She died in front of me... but before she did, she made me promise to protect you, to keep you safe."

I felt a weight in my chest that nearly crushed me. "But why? Why didn't you tell me before? Why now?"

"Because... because you need to know who you really are, Jisoo. You are the daughter of Kim Jong Il, the late War Minister. Your name must be cleared. You must give justice to your father's memory."

The words were like a cold wind, freezing me in place. Everything I thought I knew about my life shattered in an instant. My father... a traitor? It didn't make sense.

"I... I don't understand, Master. Who could have done this? Who are these rebels?" My voice was trembling, the weight of the truth too much to bear.