Forgotten

Chapter Four

The last few days in the Kingdom of Paragon had been bittersweet. Bitter of course because of the unfortunate passing of their beloved King Kangjoon and sweet for the celebrations that surrounded his being.

The people of Paragon spoke of only good when referring to the late King. Sending blessings and thanks for all that he'd done during his time here.

"Are you sure I cannot convince you to stay?"

The oldest of King Kangjoon's children had been crowned Queen of Paragon two days ago.
And in those two days, celebrations spread all through out the land. The folk of Paragon were more than happy to accept Irene as their ruler. Folks already drinking and toasting to good health for the newly crowned Queen. Even the few artists of Paragon whisked their brushes against blank canvas with replicas of Irene's pretty features in a hurry to display her face all throughout the kingdom.

"I thought we already went over this." The Princess sighed, turning to her older sister with a pained expression.

"We did." Irene nodded. "But that doesn't mean I'm more accepting of your decision two days later."

"I get it." Jisoo said as she turned to look at Irene properly. "Since mother passed away you've always thought it be your responsibility to take on the mother role for Sehun and I. You've sacrificed so much for us, time and time again. Sometimes I even ask myself how you cannot bring yourself to hate me since—"

Confused. Irene was swift to interrupt her. "Hate you? Why would I ever hate you?"

The words that threatened to leave the tip of Jisoo's tongue hesitates. The Princess had kept these thoughts to herself ever since she could fully understand the situation that surrounded her mother's death. The late Queen of Paragon died giving birth to her last child and that was the reality of it all.

"Mother died giving birth to me..I-I am the one that—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" The older woman nearly snapped as she rushed over to her little sister and immediately took her hands into her own. "Is that what you lived with all these years? Thinking I could possibly hate you for something you have absolutely no control over?"

Jisoo remained silent. Moving her eyes elsewhere. Hoping to avoid the tears that we're threatening to escape.

"Little sister, listen to me and here me well when I say this," Irene spoke with much sincerity in her voice, blinking away watery eyes. "Having a child is a blessing. Yet alone three is looked at as a challenge. I remember when she found out she was with child. The physician warned her of what this childbirth could do to her and how stressful it would be on her body but she...our mother did not care. All she cared about was you."

"One evening when the sun was setting, she took me into the garden. I believe a part of me knew from days to come that something would happen to her. I was a little girl only seven but I understood everything that was going on around me. They spoke in hushed whispers, wary if I'd hear but I heard everything." Irene spoke so carefully and so unbelievably okay with it all. Jisoo almost found it hard to breathe as she listened.

"The easier way out would be to hate you wouldn't it?" Irene asked. "But what good what that do? Hating a mere innocent child that had no part in something that tragic. There is absolutely no way that I could even think to hate you Jisoo not when the love she held for you was so blatant in her eyes."

Tears fell from Jisoo's eyes. "Father talked of her often but you..you never spoke of her."

Irene stilled, looking towards the window before meeting her sister's gaze once more. "You and Sehun didn't get the chance to know her. I guess I should have spoke of her more."

"You know we don't blame you for anything." The Princess was quick to say, shaking her head.

"I know," she nods. "I think I believed that if I spoke of her it would just make me miss her more. So I opted out to not speaking of her at all."

"From what I've heard our mother was a very lovely woman and if father says you look like her the most she must have been beautiful." Jisoo's words left just above a whisper. Trying to conjure up a picture of whatever her mind could make up of what her mother looked like.

The youthful Princess had witnessed many sketches and paintings of her mother. The few hung up in the castle. Others from the folks in the towns that could vividly remember what the Late Queen of Paragon looked like. With every sketch and painting though, Jisoo couldn't help but wonder what she looked like with her own two eyes.

"Sehun has father's looks and I have mother's but you have them both. You're the perfect mixture of them both."

Jisoo's heart ached behind her chest, throwing her arms around Irene. She had spent so much time believing her siblings would hold some sort of resentment towards her but that was farthest from the truth.

"I'm going to miss you so much."

"And I you more sister. We'll write each other letters often and I could tell you all about mother."

Jisoo smiles at the idea. "I'd like that."

"Let it be known if I miss one letter from you, I won't hesitate to ride all the way to that forsaken Olympian land and stir up trouble!"

The Princess laughed, shaking her head.

"I don't think it'll be that bad over there. Father only spoke of good memories whenever he spoke of the Olympian Kingdom."

"Yet it still doesn't answer why they banished us." Irene rolled her eyes. "Anyways, you better be going. You have a long journey ahead of you."

Jisoo nods before giving her sister one last longing embrace. "Give Sehun all my love when he returns from exploring the world, yes?"

"That will be the last of his 'exploring' I tell you."

"I love you Irene. I'll write to you as soon as I arrive."

"Safe travels little sister." Irene whispered. Placing a gentle kiss against the side of Jisoo's head and hugging her one last time. She didn't know when she'd see her little sister again and though it frightened her to no end—Irene knew she had be strong and allow Jisoo to make her own choices. So she'll do just that and send her off with a kiss and a longing embrace until faith brings them back to each other again.