Two Kingdoms | Park Sunghoon

24

Aeri re-lived their kiss over and over whilst sat on her throne, unknowingly smiling to herself. It had been a week since their date on the hill, and Aeri had visited that memory so often that it was as though the incident took place an hour ago. Hearing his name in the military meetings brought a pink flush on her cheeks and in her free time, she was busy dreaming of him. Sunghoon may not have been with her physically however she thought of him so frequently one might think he was there all along.

"Your Highness, your afternoon tea has arrived." The guard spoke, Aeri snapping out of her daydreams upon hearing his voice.

"Thank you, Jia." The Queen sent an approving grin to her handmaiden. Lotus tea. Sunghoon's favourite, and now hers. The young woman examined the pile of military statistics in one hand whilst sipping her piping hot tea. Most of the reports contained plans and reinforcements in case of a surprise attack from Saebom, some containing records of men enlisting into the military, and many reports written by Sunghoon with hearts hidden all over for Aeri. Those small messages from Sunghoon were the only reason she wanted to look through the papers, otherwise she would've possibly punished anyone who even brought the stack near her.

Suddenly, the doors of the throne room bursted open to reveal a panicked Army Commander.

"I'm so glad you're here. Remind me why I have to go though all the paperwork and Sunghoon doesn't? He is the Army General after al-" Aeri cut herself off mid sentence upon noticing the veritable discomposure plastered on his face.

"What- What's wrong?" Aeri questioned only to receive uneasy silence and a guilty look in response, "I am ordering you to tell me what happened. Now." She sternly reiterated for him.

"Your Highness... Secretary Adviser Choi. He was murdered." He spoke up, his words hitching.

"Lies. Lies! I can and will have you beheaded this instant, tell me the truth!" Aeri's stern voice echoed, in partial shock to the point she wasn't aware of her words. The Commander did not give a verbal reply, but handed her a paper with his shaky hands. Aeri's eyes widened in terror upon seeing the letter, the teacup she still held in her hand crashing to the ground and its contents absorbing into the rug. She choked on her own words, struggling to speak or comprehend what she had just seen or what was yet to come or who she was yet to fight. She let out a hysterical scream to make up for the words she couldn't let out, scrunching the cursed piece of paper and stuffing it into her pocket.

Grabbing her sword she shouted, "Ready my horse. Immediately!" as the servants went to do the task, she swung over her cloak and headed out into the stables.

CASTLE OF BAEKCHE.

"Park Sunghoon! Explain whatever this is, this instant!" Aeri screeched upon bursting into Sunghoon"s throne room. He looked a her with a concerned glance, watching as she unfolded the letter and threw it at his chest to examine.

Just as Aeri, his jaw dropped letting out a sharp gasp. He stood still, staring blankly at the paper endlessly, giving Aeri shocked and confused looks in between. Eventually handing it back to her for Aeri to look at the appalling message once more:

'Run.'