The Scarlet Hawk and The Black Knights (Mina)✔️

41: War Is Coming

Previously...

"Are you here to kill me? If yes, then do it fast and painlessly." the woman stated nonchalantly as if she had given up on every bit of life itself. Mi Na was taken aback by the woman's statement and let out a little gasp.

"W-who are you?" the Scarlet Hawk questioned.

"Why does that matter?" she answered and continued chopping some carrots and onions. "Words spread to me that my husband was killed by a sorcerer, I watched my own son get executed by our own kingdom. Nothing else matters now." she scoffed bitterly and poured the chopped ingredients to a small pot, ready to make soup.

"Y-you're Han Sou's....mother..." Mi Na gulped and moved back abit, surprised by the sudden realization. The middle-aged woman looked at Mi Na with a blank face and instantly recognized her just by her voice.

"Princess Mi Na, I get to see you closer at last." she smiled softly and sat down while waiting for the boiling soup. "I know what you've become now. You serve The Horn just as you once served Gariya. A wise choice? I cannot say it. You made your own choice, it's not Sang Gang's to decide whether it's good or bad." the woman sighed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save your son....s-sorry ahjumma." Mi Na pursed her lips and clenched her hands, feeling terribly guilty once again. "I should have known Ji An would trap us and blame us for a false accusation."

"My husband and my son's deaths were not ours to meddle with. If that's what Sang Gang has decided to be, then it will be as told."

".....since when did you move here? And why? Why here alone?"

"I lost faith in Gariya the day I saw Han Sou executed in front of my own eyes while everyone cheered for their merciless deaths as if they were watching a parade, a festival. Our kingdom is slowly and slowly decaying to rot as the result of being under the leadership of a ruthless queen too irresponsible and self-centered to care for her own people. Gariya will not be killed, but it will kill itself sooner or later." the woman breathed out and drank a cup of tea.

"No," Mi Na interjected, "I will be the one to destroy the wretched Gariya whether they like it or not. Their destiny is to die a painful death along with their queen whose heart I will pierce through with my sword."

"Mhm" the woman shrugged a little and continued drinking until it's finished to an empty cup. "It's no longer my business, your highness-"

"I'm not your princess anymore..." Mi Na bit her lip.

"In my mind you still are, ten times a better princess than Ji An. She may be the new queen of Gariya, but I will never consider her as my queen." Han Sou's mother hummed. Noticing the awkward silence going on between the two ladies, she finally decided to speak again. "Ji An ordered for an alliance with the other kingdoms in Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. As many kingdoms as she could reach."

"For what?" Mi Na furrowed her eyebrows in confusion behind her helmet, clenching her fists. Han Sou's mother took a deep breath and turned to look at the Scarlet Hawk standing in front of her as she sighed deeply, looking at her with worried eyes.

"For war."

-

Main Lair of The Horn
The Outer Realm

They were currently in the dining room, the Black Knights and Jeong Yeon having their breakfast as they feasted on delicacies served by the cultists, taken and cooked from both the Outer Realm and the Living Realm. Mal Gu watched them eat as he sat in the main chair, the biggest and tallest one in the middle, folding his arms.