The bells in the city rang loud that morning. The court was filled with earls and countesses that came to express their deepest sympathies to the royal clan. The villagers below the palace already crowded the side of the road, awaiting the noble burial of the long-reigning King of Witherhall.
Yeji stayed at their father's chamber where his corpse was washed and tended to, his coffin stuffed with fragrant honeysuckles and gardenia to eliminate the rotting stench. The king was dressed in a suit he wore when he won Witherhall, with a gold and silver shroud. The maids never saw the princess weeping since then.
Riki soon entered the chamber, standing at the arched window beside his sister. Yeji grabbed his hands. "You hold the fate of Witherhall now." She said. "The crown is yours."
The Prince--The king--leaned his head on his sisters shoulder the way he would as a child when something overwhelmed him. He was nothing like his father, nothing like a ruler who was never afraid of people. He wondered how he could rule without a voice. He always thought he had already overcome such fear. Father made him think that. In truth, he was still burdened, trapped in the same prison years ago.
"Do not fear, brother. All the regions are yours to rule." That was the problem, they were for him to rule. "Tomorrow, everyone will witness your rise. Our rise. They will love you and fear you. Riki, we cannot turn away from battle. Neither can you show your true, weak self. Remember that."
Adi paced back and fourth at the royal hall as Lady Yang found her. Her crooked smile was different this time. She was more than ecstatic, even enveloping her daughter in her arms. "My queen." She said proudly that some of the lords have heard. Eru could rather wince, her shoulders stiff.
She took the Lady Mother's hand, drawing her in the corner before muttering. "Mother, this is a mistake." The lady could only peer her eyes at her daughter, then reassuring they have all the means to be safe now.
"Lady Yang, listen to me." Said Eru, but she only granted the lady a reason to take a strong grip on her shoulders. "You are the one who needs to listen here, Eru!" She whispered harshly.
"People will doubt you the moment you give them every reason to do so. You'd do good to compose yourself and stop spoiling all my plans for our family!" Her eyes darkened even more, causing the queen consort to look away, defeated.
---
The party of the false king finally arrived at Littleroots.
"See, I told you to trust the King." Said Hoon, climbing the branch of the cork tree. Sunoo shrugged, leaning on the trunk as he sat on the ground. "He doesn't really bite if you don't taunt him. So, how is the letter?"
"Almost done." Sunoo replied plainly, writing the last piece of his conclusion in a cream-colored paper.
"We will march to the palace at dawn. You will remain here as His Grace's royal scribe." The huntsman said, playfully aiming the bow at the writer, who was never impressed by his arrogance. "Good for you to finally leave me on my own."
Hoon hissed. "I promise to get back to you, princess."
"Only if you'll still be alive when that time comes."
"And if I am?" He said, causing him to shake his head and grin derisively. "I'm keeping my eye on you, Sunoo of the Heralds."
"It's done!" He said, raising his article in amusement.
