Crown of Thorns

Chapter 10: The King's Countermove

The king sat alone in his private chamber, the weight of the crown heavier than it had ever been. The flickering candlelight cast shadows across his face, but there was no mistaking the tightness in his jaw, the strain in his eyes. Ji-Hoon had become a force he had not foreseen, and though the king remained outwardly composed, he could feel his carefully constructed empire beginning to crack.

For weeks, Ji-Hoon had been making subtle moves within the court, quietly gathering influence among the nobles. The prince, once a laughingstock, had turned into a political predator—silent, strategic, and ruthless. The court buzzed with whispers of Ji-Hoon's alliances, his growing power, and, most disturbingly, the king's own faltering grip on control.

The king was no fool. He knew he had to act swiftly, to undermine Ji-Hoon before the prince could solidify his power base any further. The game was delicate, and one wrong move could spark a full-scale confrontation within the palace—a war of blood and politics that the king knew he could not afford.

But the king was not one to let power slip through his fingers easily. He had ruled for decades with an iron fist, and he would not be undone by his own son. Not yet.

Summoning his most trusted advisors, the king laid out his plan to weaken Ji-Hoon's growing influence. The first step was to isolate him, to cut off the alliances Ji-Hoon had been building in secret. If the nobles could be turned against the prince, the foundation of his newfound power would crumble.

The king started with Lord Sung.

It was a risk, considering the man's recent closeness to Ji-Hoon, but the king had leverage—information Lord Sung wouldn't want made public. For years, Lord Sung had been quietly siphoning wealth from the royal treasury, building his own fortune while pretending to be a loyal servant. The king had allowed it to happen, seeing it as a harmless indulgence, but now it was a weapon.

Late one night, the king summoned Lord Sung to his private chamber. The older man entered with a stiff bow, his face betraying none of the tension he felt. But the king could see the flicker of unease in his eyes, the uncertainty that Ji-Hoon had stirred.

"My lord," the king said, his voice deceptively calm, "I trust you've been well."

Lord Sung bowed again, more out of habit than respect. "Your Majesty, I am at your service, as always."

The king leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I've heard... troubling rumors, Sung. Whispers of certain nobles rallying behind my son. I wonder if these rumors are true?"

The older man hesitated for a split second, but he was too practiced to let his discomfort show for long. "Your Majesty, I assure you, Prince Ji-Hoon is only seeking to strengthen the kingdom. His actions are—"

"His actions," the king interrupted sharply, "are dangerous. Reckless. My son may think he's learned enough to play this game, but he is still a boy, inexperienced in the ways of true power. You know that as well as I do."

Lord Sung said nothing, his expression carefully neutral. He was treading dangerous ground, and he knew it.

The king smiled thinly, but there was no warmth in it. "You've been loyal to this kingdom for many years, Sung. You've served me well. But loyalty is not just about service—it's about foresight. It's about knowing when to stand with your king, and when to stand against those who seek to undermine him."

He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing, his voice lower now, almost a whisper. "I know about the gold, Sung. The wealth you've been amassing under my nose. I've tolerated it because you've been useful to me. But that can change."

Lord Sung's eyes widened just a fraction. The king had him cornered, and they both knew it.

"If you wish to keep what you've taken," the king said, his tone as cold as ice, "you'll do as I command. You will distance yourself from Ji-Hoon. Publicly. If the court sees that even his closest allies are abandoning him, his power will diminish. And you will ensure that any other nobles thinking of aligning with him do the same."

Lord Sung's face was pale, but he nodded, knowing he had no choice. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

The king dismissed him with a wave, a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. Ji-Hoon would soon find himself isolated, alone in his ambition. The king had always been two steps ahead, and this time would be no different.

But the king had underestimated his son's cunning.

When Lord Sung returned to his chambers, he found Ji-Hoon waiting for him, sitting in the darkened room as if he had always belonged there. The older man nearly stumbled back in shock, but Ji-Hoon's cold, calm gaze kept him frozen in place.

"You met with my father," Ji-Hoon said quietly, his voice devoid of emotion. It wasn't a question—it was a statement.

Lord Sung swallowed, his mouth dry. "Your Highness, I—"

"Don't lie to me," Ji-Hoon interrupted, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "I know what my father offered you. I know what leverage he used. But I also know that you don't truly fear him."

Lord Sung opened his mouth to protest, but Ji-Hoon continued, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. "You fear losing your wealth. Your power. But you and I both know that my father is losing his grip. If you stay loyal to him, you'll be dragged down with him when the time comes. But if you stand with me..."

Ji-Hoon leaned forward, his eyes locking with Sung's. "You will not only keep what you've taken—you'll gain more. Much more. I'll see to it that you become one of the most powerful men in the kingdom. But if you betray me..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the threat was clear.

Lord Sung stood there, torn between two impossible choices. The king had him by the throat, but Ji-Hoon was offering him something far more valuable—power, and a place in the new order.

The older man took a deep breath, his mind racing. "I... I will do as you ask, Your Highness," he said at last, his voice shaking slightly. "I will distance myself from your father. And I will bring others to your side."

Ji-Hoon smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "Good. You've made the right choice, Sung."

The next morning, the king was furious.

Reports flooded in from the court—Lord Sung had publicly severed ties with the crown, claiming that the king's rule had become too rigid, too tyrannical. Other nobles began to follow suit, distancing themselves from the king's policies, their loyalties shifting toward Ji-Hoon.

The king's plan to isolate his son had backfired spectacularly. Ji-Hoon had turned his father's own maneuver against him, using the pressure the king had placed on his allies to solidify his own power.

For the first time in his long reign, the king felt something he had not felt in years—panic. His son was no longer just a rebellious prince. Ji-Hoon had become a rival. A threat that even the king could no longer control.

And worst of all, the king knew that Ji-Hoon was only just beginning.