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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CONFUSION AND CONCERN ETCHED ACROSS THEIR FACES AS THEY HURRIEDLY MADE THEIR WAY TO THE SHIP'S DECK. The sight before them was disheartening ━ a fleet of enemy vessels encircling their ship, effectively trapping them.
Suddenly, a jet-black raven swooped down, landing gracefully on the ship's railing. Its piercing gaze bore into Jieun and Riki, as if carrying a message of foreboding. Jieun's hand instinctively reached out, offering a perch for the mysterious bird. With a gentle rustle of feathers, the raven perched upon her outstretched arm, holding a tightly sealed letter in its beak.
Riki's jaw clenched as he watched the scene unfold, his instincts warning him of the weight the letter held. Jieun carefully took the letter, breaking the seal with steady hands. As she unfolded the parchment, her eyes scanned the words, her expression transitioning from confusion to shock.
To Jieun the Pretender,
We've got ya surrounded, darling. You might be claiming to be the queen, but we ain't bowin to no eastern queen. We don't take kindly to those who try to impose their authority on us.
Here's the deal, sweetheart. We want your head. Yeah, that's right, we want ya dead. Sacrifice yourself to us, and we'll bend the knee to your fancy king Riki. You see, we got no quarrel with your man Riki. He's the true king in our eyes. You sacrifice yourself, hand over your head to us, and we'll bend the knee to him. A life for a kingdom, seems like a fair trade to us, don't it?
Don't try to outsmart us, darling. We've got the numbers and the firepower. If you refuse, we'll come for ya, and it ain't gonna be pretty.
Choose wisely, girl. Your life or your precious crown. You got till sunrise to give us an answer.
Jieun's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of the threatening letter still fresh in her mind. She rushed into her and Riki's quarters, her body trembling with a mix of fear and anger. The others quickly followed, their expressions mirroring concern and confusion as they tried to comprehend her distress.
With ragged breaths, Jieun leaned against the desk, her hands flat against the polished surface for support.
Riki, feeling a mixture of worry and hesitation, slowly approached Jieun, his hand tentatively reaching out to touch her. Before he could make contact, however, Lady Kim stepped forward with a calm and steady presence. With gentle hands, she reached out to take the letter from Jieun's trembling grasp, setting it aside.
