Two Kingdoms | Park Sunghoon

31

As usual, Aeri sat on her throne doing nothing. She stared into space with an empty head with empty thoughts. There was only so much napping she could do to pass time and only a certain amount of gossip she could talk about with Sang-ah; she did live alone after all. Most of the time, Sang-ah spoke about the secrets of the castle workers or the rumours and scandals of the kingdom. As much as it entertained her in the moment, it all went away within the hour.

Her boredom lasted until she heard three hopeful knocks on the door, hoping it was someone interesting who she could have an actual conversation with.

"Enter!"

"Your Majesty! There is an urgent matter at hand." Daeho entered, breathless as though he had ran all the way to the throne room. Aeri immediately stood up, walking towards him.

"What is the issue? Please... please don't tell me there is another death." She spoke shakily.

"Thankfully not, Your Grace. However, Saebom's army seems to have advanced closer to us. I do not mean a few miles towards us, rather a few miles away from us." He spoke.

"Are you entirely sure?"

"Positive. I went up to the watch tower myself to see if it was the truth. What is your call of action?"

"I doubt they will attack within the next two days. Give me some time, I need to consult Sunghoon. Call the scribe and messenger in, immediately. That's an order." She sternly replied as Daeho rushed out quickly to heed to her orders.

"Shit..." Aeri whispered under her breath. It was hard for her to believe that Saebom truly was after them. Despite her physical strength and military demeanour, she had never fought in a real battle before and the idea of being on the front lines as their leader scared her even more. The thing about Aeri is that she could feign strength and put on a many nonchalant acts as needed, but in the end she was only a scared seventeen year old girl.

CASTLE OF BAEKCHE.

"Your Highness, here is a letter from your Fiancée sent on urgent basis." The messenger spoke, whilst handing the scroll with two hands.

Sunghoon unravelled the letter and read what it said, his jaw slightly dropping.

To Sunghoon,

Saebom is only a few miles away from my kingdom. I fear they are going to attack fairly soon and I cannot let it happen unprepared. What do you suggest?

Please let me know as soon as.

Yours faithfully,
Aeri.

He thought over his reply. He didn't expect Aeri to ask upon his opinion, nor did he think he held such high rank when it came to the matters of her kingdom. He was shocked to say the least.

"You may leave. I need some time to think of an answer. Inform the Queen that I shall have my response reached to her in no time." Sunghoon said, pardoning him by pointing his hand to the door.

The second the messenger left, Sunghoon rushed up to his father's room. Bursting in, which he never would have imagined doing, he caught the King by surprise.

"Son, is everything alright?"

"When were you planning to tell me that Saebom is advancing? I haven't even got any information on her castle yet and you know that!"

"My dear, dear son. Seems like you've underestimated your father. That is only a small number of their army, and they are acting as a distraction. The main squads are camping just behind our palace. You're task is to somehow find the secret passages in her castle, it is from there this army will penetrate." King Park explained, point long outside his window where the army was.

Sunghoon was taken aback by the cunning plan yet worried on how he was going to get Aeri to spill the secrets.

"For now, reply to her letter by asking to meet. Make it seem you are worried and cannot contain your concern for her well-being." The King continued only for a Sunghoon to give a small approving salute and leave the room.

"Write this down word for word." The Prince commanded his assistant.

"To Queen Aeri, my dearest fiancée.

We must act upon their ruthless advance soon. For all we know, it may have been them who beheaded your Generals. I wish to meet with you day after tomorrow, expect my visit love.
We can talk about this in finer detail then.

From,
Prince Sunghoon."