“Woon…?”

Hyuk felt his heart palpitating with anguish and relief as he stared at Hae-eun with his steely, almost grey, eyes. He couldn’t believe it… She was really in front of him, vibrant and full of life with her doe-like eyes staring up at him with the same sadness he was feeling. He clenched his teeth as he composed himself, his expression smoothed into a stoic and icy glare.

“So. This is the woman who had been imprisoned by Yong-joon?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm.”

Hae-eun faltered as she stumbled backwards, tears glistening in her light amber eyes. No, this man couldn’t be Woon. He was too cold, too… reserved to be her fiancé. Her heart broke into a million pieces as she clenched her fists tightly at her foolishness. Tears spilled down her rosy cheeks as she collapsed onto the hard, marble floor. The sliver of hope she had disappeared in an instant.

Hyuk and the man glanced at each other, before the emperor huffed in annoyance as he strolled past her and sat on the ruby-colored sofa. He gazed down at her, his heart breaking in two as he feigned irritation at the crying woman.

“... Dae-hyun, bring her to me.”

The uniformed man bowed curtly before he helped Hae-eun to her feet. She was still crying as the bulky man led her towards the seated monarch.

“... Miss, you must first greet the emperor, you do know that, don’t you?”

“... I… I greet Your Majesty—”

“Do you not know proper etiquette? Is that how you greet the sovereign of this nation?!” a sharp voice called out from behind as a palace matron glided her way inside.

“Ah, Palace Matron Kim. Have you brought what I asked for?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The elderly woman handed the monarch a metallic, silver tablet, containing the investigative files of Hae-eun’s kidnapping. Hae-eun stared at the electronic device in confusion. What was that gleaming thing? Was it perhaps a weapon? She glanced around the room, looking for something to protect herself with.

Sensing her tense and guarded behavior, Hyuk sneaked a quick glimpse at Hae-eun who was glaring at him with great fear and animosity. He bit his tongue as he squeezed the tablet in his hands before flickering his gaze back at the screen. He angrily gazed at the pictures of the makeshift dungeon, fury raging within him. That fucking bastard...! Was it not enough that he had imprisoned her in the past? How could he do the same exact thing again in the future?!

Hyuk flicked his gaze towards Dae-hyun who observed the woman with the same look of apprehension. Why was he looking at Hae-eun like that?

“... Why do you look so tense? Are you—”

“Your Majesty!!!”

Hyuk calmly gazed into Hae-eun’s fiery amber eyes as she pointed Dae-hyun’s gleaming sword at his neck. The sword was only inches away from the monarch. The room was silent and heavy as its occupants anxiously watched the freedom fighter’s every move. A smirk crossed Hyuk’s lips as he started to laugh boisterously, amused and surprised at Hae-eun’s bold move.

“Hahaha! How brave you are!”

“...”

Hae-eun stayed silent as she glowered at the monarch before her. She didn’t care if she was to be sentenced to death. If this country was no longer the Joseon she loved and knew, the freedom fighter had no intention of being enslaved once more by the traitors of her country.

“... Joseon may have fallen, but I will not let my people’s sacrifice go to waste!”

“Ha… For someone who claims to be loyal to Joseon, you dare go against your emperor who is the direct blood of Taejo*?”

Hae-eun faltered in her step as the sword fell from her tight grasp, clanking onto the pristine floor.

“...What…?”

SIDE NOTE:

*Taejo: the founder and first king of the Joseon Yi Dynasty after overthrowing the kingdom of Goryeo. (*Fun fact: The word ‘Korea’ is derived from the Goryeo dynasty!)

**NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**