Shattered Empress|kth

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟰

Y/N

The plan changed.

The more I thought about it, the less I liked the fact of June pretending to be the nanny.

Instead, I called her back and told her that she could be one of the guards instead. I mean, all it took was an earpiece and a nice suit. Besides, with most of them trying to get ready for this war, very few were paying attention to me anyway.

So, the morning that I was due to leave, I rose like I always did and readied the children for what was going to be a cold journey. Soft snow was starting to fall, and I couldn't wait to see Hyun Ki's face when he saw it.

Taehyung was nowhere in sight during the entire time I was readying the children, and it hurt, honestly. I thought he would at least tell us goodbye in case it was the last time he saw us, but his absence was very noticeable, and I tried not to pay attention to the crater in my heart, knowing that the curt words we had exchanged the other night were the last time I would talk to my husband.

I couldn't let it go like that. After ensuring that Hyun Ki was occupied with his breakfast, I pulled out a piece of paper.

Taehyung, I started, the words flowing unbidden from my heart.

By now you realize that we will never see each other again, and I beg you to let me go. Let me raise our children in a world that is free from violence, a world where they are free to be who they want to be and not who they have to be. I hope that you know that I love you and will love you until the end of my days on this earth. I just can't compete with your life. I can't stand idly by and watch you destroy yourself. It will in turn destroy me. I hope you find what you are looking for and that you know I did not do this to hurt you, but to save you.

I was crying by the time I finished the letter, folding it up quickly so that I wouldn't smudge the ink with my tears. I carried it to his room, sliding it under the door. I didn't dare enter his bedroom, not wanting to be enveloped by his scent.

This was hard enough. But this was necessary. He would know that I had no intention of coming back, and I could only hope that he would let me go this time. We couldn't keep going around in this vicious circle.

We couldn't keep hurting each other.

"Mrs. Kim?"

I turned to find one of the guards standing in the doorway. "Yes?" I asked.

"It's time to go," he replied, shifting his feet and not meeting my eyes. He was new and I felt bad for him, knowing that he would likely have to face Taehyung's wrath once he understood what was happening. "Of course. Let me get my children."

After handing him my bag, I walked into Eun Jin's nursery, picking her up out of her crib. "This is good for us," I whispered to her as I tucked her body into the snuggly suit that would keep her warm. "And never forget that your father loves you."

She stared at me with those soulful eyes, and I closed mine for a moment, willing back the tears that threatened once more. I didn't want to hurt Taehyung. I was tired of hurting and hurting him. He was a broken man, and I couldn't fix him.

No one could.

Shouldering her bag, I walked into Hyun Ki's room. His nanny was putting on his coat, Hyun Ki fighting her at every turn. "I'll take over," I said to her, handing her Eun Jin.

She stepped aside and I knelt beside my son, taking his little arm. "Come on, Hyun Ki. We are going for a ride. You like to ride, remember?"

He stuck out his little lip. "Dada."