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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LADY KIM SAT IN HER ELEGANTLY ADORNED CHAMBERS, her quill poised above a parchment as she attempted to compose a letter to Jieun. The room, adorned with opulent furnishings and intricate tapestries, felt suffocating in its grandeur. Lady Kim had grown accustomed to solitude, finding solace in the stillness of her own thoughts. Her upcoming marriage to Jungwon, the king who had taken Jieun's throne, loomed over her like a dark cloud, casting a shadow of unease and uncertainty.
Just as Lady Kim dipped her quill into the inkwell, her maid entered the room with a hushed urgency. The maid, who also served as Lady Kim's discreet informant, knew how to navigate the complex web of palace intrigues.
'My Lady,' the maid whispered, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting prying ears. 'I have important news.'
Lady Kim set down her quill, curiosity shining in her eyes. 'What is it?' she inquired, her voice a mere breath.
The maid's expression was filled with concern as she relayed the information she had gleaned from her network of spies. 'Princess Jieun,' she began cautiously, 'I have heard whispers that she is being taken to the west, away from the Shadow Isles.'
Her hand instinctively clutched the unfinished letter as her heart skipped a beat. The news shook her, causing her worries for Jieun's safety to bubble to the surface. Despite their differences, Lady Kim could not shake the lingering empathy she felt for Jieun, a fellow woman thrust into a world of power struggles and political machinations ━ her soon sister-in-law.
Abruptly, Lady Kim abandoned her attempts at composing the letter, her focus now fixed on the impending danger that threatened her former rival. 'Taken to the west?' she repeated, her voice laced with genuine concern. 'But why? Who would do such a thing?'
'I cannot say for certain, my Lady. But I fear that dark forces are at play, ones that wish to keep Princess Jieun far from the Shadow Isles and away from the throne.'
Lady Kim leaned in closer to her maid, her voice barely audible as she corrected her. 'Queen, it's Queen Jieun,' she whispered urgently. 'The king is dead. . . she is no mere princess anymore.'
