The Edge Of Forever

08| ruby hearts

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o8

r u b y  h e a r t s : 루비 하트

GORYEO, SONGDO, 1213

"-HE DIED." 

My gaze snapped up from the table and pierced into the calculating eyes of my head maid.

"Head maid Park," I began slowly, my expression shy of a glare. "did I not saying only minutes ago that I did not care for the activities of the King?" 

"But I thought Your Highness would appreciate knowing about the hunting trip of His Majesty." She bowed her head and retreated back before swiftly turning around and exiting my room.

I watched closely after her, believing her to be embracing the wall, preying for anything from me like she usually does. After a few terse seconds, I sighed and looked down at the letter I had been previously writing.

To have lived with a head maid who was there to indulge in my ruin for four years had not been an easy task. Chung-Heon had hand-picked Yeon-Hwa Park and had her assigned to be my head maid. There were moments were here sincerity she portrayed looked believable enough but I had lived in the palace long enough to know that even the walls were not to be trusted.

The letter waited for my official stamp to be placed on it and so I signed it off and moved it aside. For the past four years of my time in the palace, every month I would write a letter to Choi as she had instructed. I had initially wanted to write one every week to assure her of my well-being and so she could relay to my mother of how I was as much as possible but that too was restricted.

Four years back in the palace we enough to taint the soul of a being into that of the devil's and most times I had come to believe that that is what the palace had made me. Three years the Crown Princess of Goryeo and then almost one year the Queen of Goryeo. 

I had not expected to become a Queen so soon but with the decline of the late Great King Gangjong's health, it was only when I was at the age of nineteen that I had become a Queen of a nation.

King Gojong and Queen Anhye. 

Becoming a Queen though, did not make my life any bit tender. Where was the warmth in ruling a country in which the people had an image of a cold hearted Queen and living alongside people who either wanted my blood in their hands or just disregarded I was there? 

Solitude only precipitates heartache. And when heartache consumes a person, there is only a minute amount of emotions one can be left with.

"Queen Anhye!" A loud voice bellowed from behind the doors. I recognised it as one of my maid's who usually announced any arrivals or any messages that I had received when I did not want any presence. "The King has asked for your company for dinner in his quarters." 

"Come in." I called out.

Seconds later Maid Hui entered alongside Head Maid Park. Both bowed to me then awaited my orders.

"Maid Hui, have my letter sent off to my brother's residence for Lady Choi." I instructed her then stood up from my chair, turning to my other maid, I added. "Let us go to the King's chambers." 

They both bowed their heads. 

"Your Highness..." Maid Park slowly glanced up at me. "Will you not change your attire?"