"Jaeyun's force continues to rule the Spirits' Keep. In the following fortnights, their march will stop at the Redroots, then to Evenfall, then heading here to tear your family down."
Riki overheard the council agenda at the entresol that night. Yeji and her husband were there, along with the Lord of Accounts and Lord of Warfare and Counsel.
"I'm afraid the King's health is progressively waning, your Grace." One noble said. "Whatever may happen soon, we must prepare Riki to rule. Jaeyun may openly bark his way to defy us, but there shall only be one true ruler."
"The way everyone eagerly awaits their king's death is quite alarming." Heeseung started off.
"Everyone eagerly awaits their king's death ever since the start of his reign. You should never feel alarmed by now." Yeji answered. "Our armies will march to Redroots starting in the first light." She said, moving a piece in the map on the long wooden table in front of them. "We will face that idiot dog and stop this madness once and for all."
"Do you mean to shed blood, my princess?" One of the lords asked.
"No." She shook her head. "We will only offer him some choices that will surely delight him... Ones fit for his station as a bastard. You will go with me tomorrow, dear husband."
Heeseung gazed back. "No, you are not going with me tomorrow, my lady. You are carrying a child inside you."
"And what of it?" She asked, donning a smug smile.
"You need to stay here and save yourself for the labors you may face." The lord of accounts added.
Riki went downstairs, heading to the meeting. "I will go." He said with his hands.
"You will not." Yeji was quick to protest as Hee was quick to agree.
"Don't be so stubborn, my lady. You need to rest." The latter said.
"What I said is final." Riki gestured, facing Heeseung. "I will march alongside you, brother." The prince bowed shortly before leaving.
----
Beneath the wine-colored night sky were two defying enemies standing high against each other with their armies and horses at the very hill of Redroots, facing each other.
"Riki." Jaeyun greeted with a wide smile. "It's been a long while since we've seen each other. I'm pretty sure you can still remember our training days at the royal yard... Always had to pick you up because I'd always knocked you down."
Riki could only return the gaze, thinking about ways to kill his father's lovechild in his mind.
"I've heard a lot about you in the past few years." Jaeyun proceeded, a derisive laugh almost bursting from his mouth. "I've heard you were caught by the savages in Val and father refused to pay them with the damages he has caused trying to rebuild their land. I've also heard they took out your tongue. Nod your head if that's true." The lords alongside him began to chuckle. "Did they chop off your cock as well?"
Seeing the prince clasping his sword, Heeseung spoke. "We don't need to waste blood in this place, Jaeyun. We can end this war before it even grows in all regions."
"Oh, why? Why haven't I thought of this sooner?" Jaeyun said with sheer irony in his tone. "Indeed, we can end this. Just me and Riki. That child. That little princess." He let out a soft laugh, pointing at the prince. "Come on, Riki. Get off your horse now."
Heeseung cued Riki not to give into his bastard brother's spur. "The king is giving you a choice, Jaeyun." He said. "End this rebellion, and you shall be granted legitimation. You will be the Lord Jaeyun of Spirits' Keep, if a name is all you ever wanted. Along with that, you shall be taking your place in the Knights of Witherhall, granting you a privilege to take a wife of your choosing, as well. Or march to Littleroots. You clearly know what happens if you continue to march to Littleroots."
Without a moment of hesitation, Jaeyun spitted out the better choice on the ground. "To the Littleroots we'll march, then. Much bigger and rockier. A good place for battle."
"Careful with your head there. We might chop it off and mount it on a spike." Hee said.
"How about you, Riki?" Jaeyun turned his gaze, mindless of his brother's rightful title before his name. "Do you have something to say?"
Before turning his horse back to the field, leading the armies to their camps, Riki gestured something as to grant the request of the false king, causing him to tilt his head in puzzlement.
Quite pleased, Heeseung eagerly uttered.
"The future king commands you to fuck off, Jaeyun."
