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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THE TIDES HAD BEEN CALM OUTSIDE THE CASTLE OF FIRESTONE, their rhythmic ebb and flow resonating with the stillness that enveloped the land. Through the window, Jungwon stood, his gaze fixated on the crashing waves. Months had slipped by, stretching into a void of silence, devoid of any news from Jieun or Riki. A palpable tension clung to the air, a weighty anticipation that unsettled his spirit.
He brought a goblet of wine to his lips, seeking solace in its rich crimson depths. And for a fleeting moment, as the ruby liquid caressed his tongue, a distant voice whispered upon the breeze. Or perhaps it was merely the enchanting melodies of the bards, their voices intertwined with the wind. Those relentless storytellers had woven intricate tales, crafting a song of Jieun, the queen without a crown. They wove legends of her greatness, how she had defied tradition and liberated the west from the clutches of barbaric tyranny. Her reign had birthed reforms, lifting the downtrodden to heights previously unimagined, and enriching the already opulent. Her beauty, they proclaimed, transcended the realm of mortals, rendering her a divine presence in human form. Some sagas dared to proclaim her as the conduit between humanity and the Three, those ancient deities of power and providence.
Within the hallowed halls of Firegarden, Jungwon listened to these tales with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. He pondered the unseen forces at play, the intricacies of destiny weaving its intricate tapestry. Was Jieun truly the herald of a new era? And what role did he, the reluctant king, play in this grand design?
Jungwon's gaze shifted from the expanse of the sea to the desk that stood in the corner of his chambers. A single letter, weathered by time, lay there among the scattered parchments. It was Jieun's letter, the one that had arrived months ago, inviting him to a ceremony that now seemed like a distant memory. A pang of longing coursed through his veins as he yearned for another missive from his sister, a sign that she still cared, that their bond remained unbroken. It was a desperate desire to prove Lord Kim wrong, to show that Jieun's love for him endured.
His fingers traced the creases of the letter, as if seeking solace in its familiar touch. The words flowed before his eyes, each letter etched with the ink of Jieun's longing and hope. With each line, memories of their shared childhood danced in his mind, fragile but persistent, tugging at his heartstrings.
