Hwarang (ON HOLD; UNDER EDITING)

03

"What happened?", the king asked.

Both girls were panting but kept a straight posture.

"Nothing, father. Me and Ah-ro just had a race...", Su-Jin lied. The king looked at her with his eyebrow raised. He scoffed,

"I thought you would know better, my daughter. Do not lie to me."

Ah-ro looked at Su-Jin nervously then turned her attention back to the king.

"I have sent out one of our spies to follow both of you. He then came back a few minutes before you returned and told me everything, so there is no point in lying.", the king added.

Then there is no point in asking, Su-Jin scoffed in her thoughts.

The king sighed and shook his head, "I send you outside to buy some bread and this is what happens..."

Just then, the doors flew open and a guard barged in.

"Your majesty, I am terribly sorry for interrupting your conversation, but we have horrible news", the guard said.

The three people turned their heads to the guard.

"What is it?", the king asked.

"Some unknown people, warriors, I think, are outside looking for the princess.", he explained.

Ah-ro looked at Su-Jin worriedly as the king stood up quickly from his throne and walked close to the two girls. "Go to your room and lie down in your bed. I shall tell them that you are asleep."

After saying this, he walked towards the doors accompanied by the guard and went outside. Su-Jin and Ah-ro scrambled up the stairs and went inside Su-Jin's room. Su-Jin lied down and pretended to sleep while Ah-ro sat on the chair beside the bed and pretended to sleep as well.

A few minutes later, the king went inside the room.

"Pack your things. Both of you. Especially you, Ah-ro, you will be leaving first.", he ordered.

"Wa-wait! Leaving!?", the two girls said in unision.

"Yes, leaving. I shall explain more later. Now pack your things!", he said.

"A-arasseo!", they bowed and did what they were told. Ah-ro ran outside Su-Jin's room and went inside hers to pack her things.

A few minutes have passed and they were now ready. The king called both Ah-ro and Su-Jin down to the throne room. As they went downstairs, they saw the king and queen waiting for them at the end of the stairs.

"Daughter, Ah-ro, I guess you both have heard something about leaving", the queen started.

"Ne", the two young girls said in unision.

"People now know who you are, Su-Jin.", the king jumped straight into the point.

"What is wrong with that, father? They knew who I was from the start anyway...", she asked.

The king and queen looked at each other befpre looking at Su-Jin again.

The king then answered, "You do not understand. These people...they are dangerous. They are barbaric soldiers from the outside. They cannot know who you are. But now they do, and they are going to kill you."

The queen started tearing up hearing her husband's words. She choked back her sobs and said, "W-we h-have decided t-that you shall g-go to The Capital".

Su-Jin and Ah-ro's eyes widened.

"The Capital!?", they said.

The king and queen nodded.

"But why there?!", Su-Jin asked.

"Their queen is my friend, and her son is the king-"

"The queen's son is the king?", Su-Jin interrupted her mother.

She looked at the princess and nodded.

"Yes. Now, as I was saying, he is the king, and he is about your age. Just a year older. And we need you to marry him.", she said.

"Wait what!?", Su-Jin screamed.

"Your mother said, you need to marry Silla's king."

"But-"

"Ani, Su-Jin. You will marry the king. We have sent a letter already. You will travel tomorrow. It is a long way, but you can do it. But you will do it alone.", said the king.

"Alone? But what about Ah-ro?", Su-Jin asked.

"Ah-ro will go tonight, and she shall wait for your arrival. She will arrive faster since no one is after her.", the king answered.

He thwn turned to Ah-ro, "Good luck and be careful. Now go. Don't stop for anything. Only if you need a break. Do not take your time, however.", he ordered.

Ah-ro gave Su-Jin a look before nodding at the king. She walked towards the doors with her things. She mounted her horse and rode off.

"Get some rest. You will have a long day tomorrow.", he ordered Su-Jin.

The princess nodded and went up to her room to sleep.