𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀. . . nishimura riki ✔

𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳

THE END WAS NEVER THE END. Not for Jieun — no, never for Jieun. A decade had woven its tapestry since the tragedy of Jungwon's blood staining the throne, since that fateful knife's bite into his skin. The crown now rested upon her brow, and the throne, once contested, had become an emblem of her sovereignty.

With a tender hand cradling her belly, Jieun entered her chambers, now adorned with banners bearing the emblem of a resolute black dragon. The echoes of the civil war lingered in memory, a tempest known as the War of Dragons, where flames clashed against flames, kin turned against kin. Jieun's struggle against Jungwon painted a vivid chapter in that saga. And so, she chose to weave a new tale, one of unity with Riki at her side.

In her new banner, her ancestral sigil of the dragon merged seamlessly with the deep black hue that adorned Riki's house. A symbol of their unbreakable bond, of two houses fused into one.

'Riki, my love,' his name escaped her lips like a whispered promise.

He rose from his chair, a graceful dance of purpose in his steps as he closed the distance to her. His hand sought the gentle swell of her stomach, settling over hers in a silent affirmation. 'How fares our little one? This time, I'm certain she'll bear my nose.'

A chuckle escaped her, warm and melodious. 'A girl, you say?'

'Our son, he's already decided on his sister's arrival. It's an unwavering decree,' Riki replied, his gaze briefly shifting to the small figure sprawled upon the bed, a prince lost in the realms of his imagination.

Jieun followed his gaze, her eyes finding their mark upon the young prince, her son. Lost in his musings, he had not yet realised his mother's presence.

'Then perhaps it's high time we impart a lesson, reminding our young prince that the world dances to a different tune,' she mused.

'Jihoon,' Riki called gently, the sound pulling the boy from his reverie. 'Come, greet your mother.

Jihoon's eyes snapped upwards, igniting like twin stars as they locked onto Jieun. 'Mother!'

Caught off guard by his exuberant embrace, Jieun let out an almost musical 'Oh—' in response, her surprise woven with a thread of amusement. Jihoon's arms encircled her, enfolding her in a warmth that spoke of longing. 'Someone's missed me,' she quipped, her voice carrying the gentle lilt of affection.

Jihoon's gaze held a glimmer of genuine concern as he asked, 'Have you been eating?' His unwavering watch over her well-being was a quality she had always admired in him, a testament to his empathetic nature.

Amusement twinkled in Jieun's eyes as she replied, 'I do not require parenting from you, dear prince.' Kneeling with a graceful fluidity, she lowered herself to his level, matching his stature with the ease.

With earnest sincerity, Jihoon retorted, 'But you're always surrounded by people who only talk about the babe. No one pays attention to you, so I'll do it!'

Jieun's voice dropped to a murmur, a tender whisper meant solely for him. 'Such a thoughtful heart.' She drew him closer, pressing a kiss to his forehead, an affectionate benediction that spoke volumes of her love. 'Your father, he looks after me quite well, does he not?'

Jihoon's response was immediate, a declaration filled with youthful zeal. 'But I can do it better.' His fervour swelled, his chest puffing with pride, as if he were ready to take on the world in the name of his mother's well-being.

A playful glint danced in Jieun's eyes as she feigned astonishment, her brows lifting in an expression of mock surprise. 'Is that so?' Her words were a playful invitation, an opening for his youthful confidence to unfold.

With unwavering assurance, Jihoon affirmed, 'Yes!' His voice carried the conviction of a young knight ready to prove his mettle. In a swift, purposeful motion, he darted towards the nearby desk, fingers wrapping around Riki's wine cup. With the poise of a knight presenting a treasure, he offered it to Jieun.

'Jihoon!' Riki's protest hung on the edge of his lips, caught in the act of objection as he glimpsed the shared glance between his wife and son. Jieun's eyes sparkled with mischief, and with a subtle nod and a wink, she communicated her intent. And so, she took a sip from the cup, the unspoken alliance between mother and son cemented in that playful act.

However, the tranquillity that had settled like a gentle mist in the room was swiftly shattered by a persistent and urgent knock on the door, jolting them all back to the present.

Jieun's response to the knock was swift, her figure gracefully rising to its full height, a fluid motion that carried an air of command. Clearing her throat, she offered a composed, 'Enter,' her hand instinctively seeking the gentle curve of her swollen belly, a gesture she had come to adopt. It was both a comfort and a shield, a reflexive way of guarding the life growing within her.

The air grew heavy as Jake, his countenance marked by solemnity, crossed the threshold. His presence seemed to carry an aura of gravity, a harbinger of news that held weight beyond measure. 'I bear news to Queen Jieun and her King Consort, King Riki,' he began, his voice weighted with the significance of his message.

Jieun's gaze met his with an unwavering poise. 'Ser Jake,' she addressed him, her tone a reflection of the respect and authority she held. 'I trust these tidings hail from House Kang?'

A sombre note resonated in Jake's reply, his words hanging in the air like an unspoken prelude to what lay ahead. 'Unfortunately not, Your Grace,' he admitted, his expression a canvas of seriousness. Taking a breath, he gathered himself for the task at hand. 'There has been instability in the West. . .'

The silence that followed was laden with tension, a quiet but palpable acknowledgment that the matter at hand was of profound importance. Jieun, astute as ever, recognised the gravity of Jake's hesitation, the pause preceding a revelation that carried profound implications.

'Riki, my love,' Jieun's voice was both tender and decisive, her gaze locking onto her husband's, 'Why don't you take Jihoon to the gardens?'

Riki, without a hint of hesitation, moved to guide their son from the room, his firm nod to Jieun a silent pledge of unity and support. Jihoon followed his father, casting a lingering glance over his shoulder at his mother, a mix of curiosity and concern in his eyes.

Once they were alone, Jieun turned her attention back to Ser Jake, her composure an unyielding armor. 'Speak, Ser Jake, please,' she implored, her voice a testament to her readiness to confront whatever challenge lay before her.

Jake opened his mouth, the weight of the news evident in the gravity of his expression. Yet, words seemed to falter, caught in the gravity of the revelation he carried. He swallowed audibly, his throat working as he wrestled with the burden of his message. After a beat, he found his voice once more. 

'The Warden of the West has been killed. Lord Lee Heeseung has been killed. We have lost control of the West.'