Bewitched.

chapter 015. the rightful heir.

"Your majesty, I'm sorry but we need to prepare the body, before sunset," one of the staff dares to interrupt her in her moment of grief, as she stares blankly at his body, in complete defeat.

He doesn't know how things run in the North, but if someone had done that to him in his weakest moment, he'd surely throw a table at them.

But Park Chaeyoung surprises him. She takes a deep breath and nods.

"Please give him a royal burial. I know it's last minute," she whispers, "... and prepare a white gown."

He watches as all the staff gasp, as though she'd spoken a curse or taboo. 

"He deserves it," she vocalises looking at everyone, "... he served us wholeheartedly, from the day we became independent to his final breath. He brought back Madam Park Catherine's ashes." 

Just then, the doors open.

She turns, noticing the gentleman on the other hand. 

When he turns, he notices that it's Kim Seokjin. 

Surely——this wouldn't be the right time?

Jeon Jungkook turns to Jung Hoseok, who's fascinated by it all. As a historian and adviser, he knew that the older man was in awe of the secret customs of the North. 

"Jungkook," her voice was strong, despite how weak she clearly was, "... we have time to discuss, what your advisor wanted to say. Let's make it quick, we need to prepare for the funeral."

Jeon Jungkook doesn't know how she does it.

Moments prior, it seemed as though her entire soul was on the ground for the world to digest, and there she was, holding on by a thin thread.

"Your majesty... we can discuss it another time, I understand you need time to grie—"

The girl ignores him, calling on one of her other staff, Park Jimin, "... please prepare a conference room." 

The staff rushes out and Park Chaeyoung turns and looks at the lifeless body once more. 

Jeon Jungkook thinks that he's prying, when he notices the way she holds his hand tightly. 

"I'm sorry," she whispers, "... that I couldn't protect you."

And it was like a light switch, moments later, she was leading him and his friends down the hall. 

"Your majesty..." he speaks, but to be frank, he doesn't know what to ask.

He had so many questions. 

She must've read his mind because she took a breath as she walked and turned to him, turning back to his advisor and motioning for him to come closer so he could hear. Selfless as always, he clearly understood how important information was for him.

"On the day we became independent, I'd lost my mother, you knew that——but Kim Taehyung, he stood by me and took the role of vice without asking. I wanted to curse them, I wanted to put a curse on every single person in Southland——for taking my mother from me, for giving her a painful death too, but he told me not to... he told me to stay true to myself and show grace," she explains, "... but you know what? I didn't even realise it because I was grieving, but that day——I wasn't the only one who'd lost everything. He lost both his parents, his dear parents, who exhausted all their magic to keep us from going to war, that very same day."

The doors open, revealing a grand meeting room.

"And I, despite the fact that I feel like my entire heart has been broken into a million pieces," she takes a deep breath as a tear falls down her cheek, "... I know he's looking down at me, and needs me to be strong."