"I hate you..." Hyunjin's voice cracked, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and betrayal.
"Why... what did I do?" another voice trembled, confusion and hurt evident.
"You knew about everything, but you kept it from me! And I'm not just talking...
English is not my native language, so please excuse any mistakes. This story contains themes of kidnapping (discretion advised for the last paragraph). Some swearing may be present, but it's minimal. This is an author's note
—if these elements make you uncomfortable, I advise against continuing.
Today is a momentous day for Hyunjin; he will turn 20 and eventually assume the throne of Thales, following in his father's footsteps. According to tradition, a king must abdicate at the age of 55, but King Hwang, now 47, has been a tyrant whose reign has cast a dark shadow over the kingdom.
Hyunjin has eagerly awaited this day since his mother's death, yearning to step into his role and liberate his kingdom from his father's cruelty. As he prepares for his ascension, he harbors a burning desire to rectify the injustices wrought by the current king. He knows, however, that his father despises him—he's felt the coldness of that hatred his entire life, like a blade held perpetually at his throat.
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In the Changing Room:
Hyunjin stands before a mirror, his reflection framed by the intricate details of a beige suit. The fabric clings to his form like a second skin, highlighting his slender build. Two maids work diligently, one styling his silky raven hair, the other applying delicate makeup to accentuate his striking features. Excitement pulses through him as he prepares for this pivotal moment, but so does a flicker of fear.
His thoughts drift back to his mother, the late Queen Eun-mi, whose rule brought prosperity and happiness to Thales. Her presence was like a soft, warm light in a darkened room, her laugh a melody that could soothe the hardest of hearts. When she was alive, the kingdom thrived; flowers seemed to bloom brighter, and the sun shone just a little warmer. Her love for Hyunjin was boundless—he remembers the way she would sing him to sleep, her voice a comforting lullaby that chased away nightmares.
But then she was gone, taken from him in the cruelest of ways. Hyunjin recalls the day she fell ill, the way her laughter faded into silence, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She had wasted away so quickly, the color draining from her face as if the very life was being pulled from her by some unseen force. His father had shown no grief, no sorrow, only impatience for the "nonsense" of her illness. And when she finally slipped away, his father's eyes were devoid of tears, his voice cold as he declared her death an unfortunate accident.
Hyunjin's heart twists in his chest. He knows in his soul that his mother's death was no accident. Her sudden illness, the way his father had refused any of the kingdom's finest healers to tend to her... it all points to something darker. He is certain his father had a hand in it, though he has no proof—only the gut-wrenching certainty that gnaws at him day and night. Her death left a gaping hole in his heart, filled with a relentless need for answers—a need that has grown stronger with each passing year. His father's malevolent grin is a specter that haunts him, fueling his determination to seize the throne and uncover the truth behind his mother's untimely death.
