In a kingdom torn by power struggles and political intrigue, Jieun, the rightful heir to the throne of the East, finds herself sidelined as her brother, Jungwon, takes control. Determined to reclaim her birthright, Jieun seeks alliances and forms a...
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RIKI HAD SPENT THE LAST LITTLE WHILE SKIMMING THROUGH BOOKS SURROUNDING THE SUBJECT OF LOCAL PLANTS AND FLOWERS IN AND AROUND EASTERN LANDS. He had come across a few interesting texts, but nothing of true value.
'So,' he said, as he heard the princess walk in, she was late, but the guards had told him the princess would be occupied with a meeting for the majority of the day. He looked up at her and smiled. 'You're here. What a delightful turn of events.' he remarked in a voice that was dripping with sarcasm. 'I did a little reading, so I know the basics about the East's local flora. Would you like to add anything, or are you just here to supervise?'
Jieun smiled, an ironic one, 'I did not come here for you to teach me about flowers, Prince Riki.'
'Of course,' he continued, a faint grin on his face, 'I may have only skimmed the titles of these books so far. But then you did give me a week to discover the true identity of your father's assassin, not to write an academic dissertation on local floral species.'
'You seem awfully calm for someone who will lose their life in a week,' she noted, hands firmly clasped behind her back, posture stiff.
'How should I look, princess?' he asked. 'Should I be wracked with nerves, shaking and fearful for my life? Perhaps that might make you more sympathetic for me.' Another smile spread across his face. 'Why, I might even start pleading for mercy, beg you not to execute me. Is that what you'd like to see, princess? Would that make you pity me?'
Jieun only smiled in return, a polite but forced smile.
'What's wrong with you, princess?' Riki questioned, his grin remaining fixed on his face. 'Or are you simply still annoyed by my presence?'
He could see that she was in some sort of foul mood, but that did not bother him in the slightest. In fact, he found it quite amusing that she was so easily annoyed by him. He decided to see if he could get an idea of her current mood. 'Is my company really so intolerable?'
'Do not flatter yourself, it is not you that strain my nerves, not right now, at least.'
'Then what, my princess?' Riki asked, his head still tilted to the side as he looked up at her. He leaned back in his chair and looked at her curiously, waiting for an answer. He was genuinely intrigued by this, which was something of a rarity on his part. It showed in his tone of voice, his facial expressions, really in everything about him. He was not just mocking or antagonising her for the fun of it this time; for once, he was sincerely interested in what she had to say.
