Cold-Hearted [Taegi]

Chapter 1

Apart from the occasional roars coming from the throne room where the lion resided, the palace was usually quiet, something a normal outsider was not be used to. Nobody dared speak too loudly. The lion, or better known as King Min, liked his peace. He likes it when it was quiet and any sound which disrupted him would heavily trigger his inner beast. 

Most of the king's servants would only survive a year. Reason? The king would say that they were too noisy, too disruptive, too nosy, but everyone knew he just found it enjoyable to see someone begging him for mercy, begging him to spare their lives. 

A pair of brown eyes could be seen peeking into the doors of the throne room. "Shut up," He said to the servants lining up behind him. "You wouldn't wanna die would you?" His voice might've quivered a bit. He scanned the king, focusing on the king's expressions, whether he seemed fine, angry or annoyed. 

Finally realizing his efforts would only lead to no avail, he decided to go for it. He held his breath and opened the door. The kings head turned to face him. "What?" The king said with his usual, cold, emotionless voice. 

"Your majesty, the...the. Thief,"

"What thief,"

"The one who stole medicine from the hospital,"

"Right, what about him?"

"He's been caught," 

The king's back straightened at the news. "Good, good. Where's he?"

"Just outside the room, your majesty," 

"How very rude of me to let him wait out there for me ey?" The king stood up, his black robes embellished with gold patterns falling behind him as the servant instinctively took a couple steps backwards. The king wasn't a tall man, but his aura itself made it feel like he was a giant. 

The king walked out the door, there was something about the way he walked which made him seem a thousand times more intimidating than he already is. Like a lion advancing towards its prey, a confident, intimidating walk. It doesn't creep, it doesn't charge, it doesn't stalk. It walks calmly, with this hint of confidence knowing there's no escape for its prey.

The servant led the king to the balcony of the room, Outside, bellow the king, was a man with hair like a bird's nest with occasional white strands sticking out and dirty, muddy clothes with holes in them. He kneeled on the ground, hands tied behind his back and legs tied together with two guards restraining him from moving at all. His face was relatively wrinkled and dirty with scars on around his cheek and eyes, fresh scars with fresh blood at the brim of oozing out. His eyes were swollen, swollen so much his eyes almost disappeared. 

"Please, please." The man crawled while on his knees, the two guards stopping him from doing so. "I'll do anything, anything, just don't kill me," His eyes was glossy, like a pearl fresh out of water. "I beg you, I have a family to support,"

"Family you say," The king bellowed, louder then necessary. The man flinched. "However, you still stole our health resources. I dare say you knew the consequences?"

"My...my son. He was sick, and...and we were poor. Please understand, I'll do anything. I'll go to jail I'll do anything, but please. Don't kill me." 

The kings straightened his back and crossed his arms in front of his chest. His smirk disappeared as it was replaced by the furrowing of his eyebrows. "Laws are laws, I can't change it for pathetic people like you who are better off dead," He cleared his throat. "Jail as a punishment has never been shown to decrease crime anyways. It doesn't make you learn. Though I might consider giving you that sentence, if I bring your family to light," 

It was obvious the man was shocked. His stuttered as he glanced around, his eyes dodging from the king and the servant beside him. "D-don't harm my family,"

"I'll give you two choices; both will ensure you learn something." The king's voice grew louder as if showing off his position and power. "The first one, put you in jail and spare your life, but your family will be tortured daily with 3 strokes of the cane every day." He paused, looking at the man like he wanted to see his reaction.

"The second, you die, but your family will be spared. It's your choice to make." There was silence. The man wouldn't speak, he was stunned. His mouth hung open as he looked at the king. "Please, don't-"

"There's two choices, and only two." There was another moment of silence. Though the rhythmic tapping of the king's fingers on the banister of the balcony could be heard.

"Say something! I don't like wasting time on pathetic old hags like yourself." Theking bellowed. The man jumped in fright as he blurted "T-the second choice, thes-second."