《Past Promises》


 1 PROLOGUE

    @@


    I am a wandering spirit.


    However, instead of wandering like other spirits, I had only been staying with the same person for over a hundred years. It''s more like I''m actually stuck with him.


    I know who he is well, in his past''s live. He was my lover.


    I don''t know why I didn''t reincarnate but I think I know why I''m stuck with him.


    It was due to a stupid lovers'' promise.


    A hundred years ago...


    On a green field surrounded by colourful flowers, two lovers lied down facing the bright stars on a peaceful night.


    "My future Queen," he spoke and looked at the girl besides him.


    "Yes?" The girl answered without looking at him.


    "Have you ever heard people say that they can do anything when they feel extremely happy?"


    "I''m so happy that I wish time could just stop," his eyes radiated glow of happiness.


    "I think I can die without any regrets right now," he added.


    "Let''s die together," she said.


    The girl looked at him.


    "I''m also happy," she smiled.


    He smiled widely and continued looking at the sky with a satisfied heart.


    "Then let''s stay together even when we are ghosts."


    ***


    "What a joke, I''m the only one a ghost right now."@@

 2 WANDERING SPIRI

    I Was a Queen


    I wake up in a green field that surrounded by beautiful flowers.


    "This is..." I recall a happy memories.


    I remember perfectly who I was and what I did when I was alive.


    I was a Queen.


    I remember everything when I was alive but I didn''t remember the last moments of my life, to be exact, I couldn''t remember how I die.


    The first place that pops up in my head is the Palace.


    I want to see the King.


    ''Will he be sad? Will he probably have a new queen?''


    The thought of it makes me jealous.


    It''s not because I don''t want him to move on and I''m probably the one that should know better that a King will always need a Queen by his side to rule a country.


    They say that ghosts can fly and based on my series of attempts which had failed, I want to haunt everyone who said it.


    Therefore, I run to the Palace but without my feet touching the ground, my steps feel lighter.


    Lucky me, this garden is just right behind the Palace but unlucky me, the small entrance that used to be on the wall has gone and even the South Gate is not there, it''s all walls right now. I had to run around to enter from the North Gate and stupid me just remember I''m a ghost and I can walk through the walls, because I just walked past through the front gate.


    If somebody sees this, I would probably bury my face in the ground.


    I go to the King''s Residence. Since it''s near dusk, the King has probably returned from the Main Hall.


    I wait for the King by the pond near the tree where we used to sit and admired the moon. However, the pond is dry and the tree near it has died. All its leaves are gone left the tree with a dried trunk.


    ''What happened?'' I touch the tree. It has burnt traces on it. ''Did somebody burn you?''


    I look at the pond. It used to be filled with fishes and few lotus flowers but now it has dried and no signs of living at all. I feel sad all of a sudden.


    ''How long have I''ve been gone for you to have dried like this?'' I sit on the porch in front of the door to the King''s chamber.


    There are only the Palace Maids walking around in the residence, the Palace Guards are probably with the King.


    I hear the arrival announcement of the King. The Palace Maids hurriedly lined up in front of the gate''s residence to greet the King.


    I stand up and wait there, a palanquin stops in front of the entrance. I could see a figure sitting in the palanquin, my smile widen as I see a red robe from the small window of the palanquin. Only the King wears red robe in the Palace.


    The eunuch opens the palanquin''s door and I could see a person in the red robe steps out from the palanquin.


    ''It''s the King.''


    I wait there silently but I could feel my body urges me to run to him.


    I don''t know but I miss the King so much that even with an un-functioned heart, I could remember the sounds of my own heartbeat and I hold on to it.


    As the person steps out from the palanquin, he raises his head and looks upfront, he walks towards where I''m standing.


    Each step is proud and the air surrounds him exudes authoritative aura.


    As he approaches, my smile fades.


    He is not the King.

 3 THE CROWN PRINCE

    Crown Princess Consort


    I was seventeen years old when I was first entered the Palace.


    Among twenty-five daughters of the high-ranking officials, I was selected with two others for the final selection process of the Crown Princess Consort.


    My father was not an official, he was only a teacher for the King and the King found out that he had a daughter and asked him to make me participate in the selection process.


    Study Hall, King''s Residence


    "Teacher Kim, I heard you have a beautiful and a very smart daughter," the King heard from Eunuch Song, the one that liked to gossip.


    "I''m flattered by your description of my daughter, she is still young and has many things to learn, Your Majesty," Teacher Kim was feeling uncomfortable at the mention of his daughter.


    "The Crown Princess Consort selection process will be held in a few days," the King observed Teacher Kim''s face while sipping his tea. "I want your daughter to participate in it."


    Teacher Kim was shocked by the King''s demand but hid his expression it then he knelt with his head down. "Your Majesty, I am sinned to have say this but my daughter is used to live in the rural and has never been taught the etiquettes of the Palace, I am afraid that she is not a suitable candidate for the Crown Prince."


    "Raise your head, Teacher Kim," the King cleared his throat. "I have known you for many years and I know what kind of a person you are. You are a very loyal subject of mine; you watch your action and carefully select your words. There is no one else in this nation that I know of is well knowledge as you are and I am sure that you are more than capable to raise a good daughter."


    "Your Majesty, since you have a very high regards of my daughter, I could not afford to reject such compliments, however, if you allow me," Teacher Kim raised up his head and looked directly at the King which was a taboo in the Palace.


    Eunuch Song saw this and almost scolded Teacher Kim for his action but the King stopped him.


    "What is it?" Asked the King.


    "Your Majesty, I know well that if a candidate is not chosen to be the Crown Princess consort, she will have to stay in the Palace as she is labeled to be the Crown Prince''s woman, here I hope that ¨C if my daughter failed ¨C let her leave the Palace."


    "Absurd!" The Eunuch Song was appalled by Teacher Kim''s request. Again, the King stopped him and dismissed him from the Study Hall.


    "If she is chosen?" The King asked.


    "If she is chosen, let her live her life as if she is not restricted by the walls," Teacher Kim pleaded.


    "Walls?" The King laughed. "Teacher Kim, I know why you rejected my offer to live in the Palace. You said the same words few years ago ¨C the Palace is a safe place but the people inside have never aware what happens in the outside as these walls guarded them so well that they don''t even know if it a safe place or actually a cage," the King stood up and walked towards Teacher Kim. The King bent down and held Teacher Kim''s shoulders to make him stand.


    "I granted your wishes," the King smiled.


    "I am much grateful, Your Majesty," Teacher Kim said while holding his tears.


    ***

 4 THE CROWN PRINCE PART II

    Forbidden Area


    I am not used to the etiquettes but my father had brought home a teacher to teach me etiquettes and I had to master it in only a week because the teacher was a Court Lady and only granted a week leave just to teach me the ''Palace Hundreds Etiquettes'' rule book. I was lucky to have a good memory and had learned everything in such a short amount of time.


    The last selection process will take place in another three days so we were asked to rest before the event. We were staying at the Guest Residence which was near the South Gate.


    I heard from the court ladies that there was a beautiful flower field behind the South Gate but the gate was not used anymore and had been locked since years ago.


    When everyone went to the Tea Hall to see the Tea Making Ceremony, I told them I had a stomachache and I wanted to sleep in my room.


    I slipped out from the Guest Residence''s backdoor and a few steps later I arrived in front of the South Gate.


    The gate was covered with bellflowers and green plants that made the gate looked beautiful. It''s like a gate to a secret garden.


    "I wonder if the plants creep from outside," I looked around the gate to find a way to get to the flower field, however since the wall was also covered with the plants, I''m doubtful of any doors at all.


    As when I was about to give up, I saw the plants moved as if it blown by the wind but I couldn''t feel the wind blew at all. I examined the walls and touched it. As I thought I was going to touch a wall, I stumbled forward and dropped to the ground.


    "Ouch!" I was lucky as instead of the hard ground, I landed on a flower bed. I stood up and looked in front of me ¨C thousand flowers greeted me with their colours and as the wind blew, I could smell their scents.


    "It''s true!" I exclaimed. "The flower field is real and it''s beautiful."


    The flower field was so large that I thought it could have covered half of the Palace, I wondered why no one was there.


    I took a stroll around and appreciated the flowers; there were few flowers that I knew and few others I thought I needed to learn about their existence.


    In the middle of the field, I saw a dead tree. My curiousity piqued so I decided to look closer at the tree.


    As I was getting closer, I saw a person sat while leaning against the tree, eyes closed. This view was so beautiful that I didn''t realise the two eyes had opened and were staring at me.


    "Who are you?" The person asked.


    I didn''t know how to answer the question, so I just told him what I was doing. "I''m looking at flowers."


    The person stood up and brushed his clothes off the dead leaves. Based on his silk clothes, I assumed he was a noble.


    "You shouldn''t be here, it''s a forbidden area," he said.


    "What about you?" I asked since a forbidden area should have no entry.


    "Good question. I''m the owner of this field," he said with a smile.


    He was so beautiful that my face reddened when I saw his smile. "You have a nice flower field. I''m sorry for my intrusion, I shall take my leave," I nodded at him.


    "Stay," he said. "It''s okay, take your time but don''t let anyone else in here," he said then he left.


    I looked around for awhile but the wind gotten chilly so I decided to go back to the Guest Residence.

 5 THE CROWN PRINCE PART III

    Last Stage


    Three days later we were called to the Queen''s Residence. The last stage will involved the Queen''s series of questions regarding books and history. My father said the Queen liked to read poems and asked me to learn few poems and learn their meanings.


    When we arrived there, there were three figures sitting in front us. Since it was part of the etiquettes not to look directly at the Royal Family, I could only see their clothes; white upper clothes with a phoenix embroidered with gold silk thread with a pink peach blossom skirt ¨C the Queen, she was sitting in the middle; a soft pink upper clothes with floral patterns and bright pink skirt; the Princess, she was sitting on the left; and a blue robe with dragon emblems embroidered on it, the Crown Prince.


    ''I thought the Crown Prince doesn''t have to attend the selection process.''


    We introduced ourselves and the Queen asked several questions of our households and our hobbies. Since two of the candidates were the daughters of the officials, the Queen showed familiarity and she studied me for a while.


    "So, you are the daughter of Teacher Kim?" She asked softly but it sounded unpleasant.


    "Yes, Your Highness," I trembled a little but lucky my voice was not shaking.


    "The King regards you very highly," I could hear she was smirking. "The King has a soft spot for his friend but ignoring this nation that needs support from strong families and it doesn''t come with a friend''s bond."


    "Queen Mother, if you''re saying it like that, it looks like we are a weak nation that needs support from rich families and couldn''t care less about loyalty," the Crown Prince said.


    "Prince," the Queen said with an authoritative voice.


    "I understand what Queen Mother is trying to say," I could see the Crown Prince took the Queen''s hand. "His Majesty wouldn''t choose just anyone to be my consort, I trust his judgments."


    ''What does he mean?''


    "Teacher Kim''s daughter, raise your head, I want to see you properly," the Queen ordered.


    I raised my head and saw the three people in front of me, the Princess, the Queen and ...


    ''The flower field owner?''


    He looked at me and then smile as he also recognised me. He put his finger on his lips and mouthed. ''Don''t say anything.'' So I swallowed my words and looked at the Queen, she really was looking properly at me.


    Then the Queen said to me, "From today onwards, you are the Crown Princess Consort and act like one until the Royal Wedding. Behave well and carefully select your words, you are no longer a commoner, you are now part of the royal family."


    "Yes, Your Royal Highness."

 6 THE CROWN PRINCE PART IV

    The Owner


    The wedding ceremony will be held a month after the selection process however, I was so busy and dragged around the Palace almost every day.


    I had my body measurement taken for the wedding robe, ceremonial robe, to enter Main Hall robe, to visit the Queen and the King robe, and few other types of robes.


    I had to learn the words to address each of everyone in the Palace, to learn how to make few deserts of the Crown Prince''s favourites, too many things to learn that when it was a day before the wedding ceremony, I finally got to rest.


    Therefore, I decided to go to the flower field, to take a breather.


    I sat and leaned against the tree.


    "Ah, this is nice," I said. I didn''t realise I had fallen asleep when someone tapped on my shoulder.


    "You had slept the whole day," it was the Crown Prince. Since the day I found out he was the Crown Prince we had never met after that.


    It was already dusk, I hurriedly stood up and greeted the Prince. We slowly walked back to the Palace.


    "How are you taking everything?" He asked.


    "A bit tiring," I said.


    "Don''t worry, it''ll will be over tomorrow," he said. "Well, you will still get busy after the wedding as well but not this busy," he smiled then added, "you will get used to it."


    It was suddenly silent so I tried to ask him something to break the silence.


    "So, Your Highness is the owner of this field?" I asked, I remembered the day he introduced himself as the field owner.


    "Oh, that," he laughed softly. "I do really am the owner of this field. This was actually a barren field so I asked His Majesty to give it to me if I manage to make it alive," he picked a flower and handed it to me. I blushed by his action.


    "Every day, five years ago, I brought people that have knowledge in plants to cure the land but to no avail. Then, the Former Queen planted a flower near the tree and after a year, the field miraculously filled with flowers." The Former Queen was the Prince''s birth mother, it was told that she died due to unknown illness that no physician in the nation able to cure her.


    "What about the tree?" I pointed to the only tree on the field.


    "It was always there," he answered short. It felt like there was something more to the story.


    "Why is the gate closed?" I asked another question.


    "I don''t want people to enter the field as all these flowers are frail and I couldn''t make sure that they won''t pick the flowers," he said and I looked at the flower in my hand.


    "That''s for you," he said as he saw my expression changed.


    We arrived in front of the small entrance on the wall. The Prince went to climb the entrance first and held out his hand to me. He took my hand, helped me climbed the entrance and he didn''t let go of my hand until we arrived in front of the Crown Princess Consort Residence.


    He let go of my hand slowly. "See you tomorrow," he said with a smile.

 7 THE CROWN PRINCE PART V

    Formal Visit


    We met again for the wedding but after the ceremony ended, we separated again. We didn''t share the room as the auspicious date had yet been determined ¨C only after the date had been decided then we could share the same room, same bed.


    Few days after the wedding, Court Lady Song told me to be ready for Formal Visit to the King and the Queen together with the Crown Prince ¨C as  husband and wife.


    I felt a little anxious, I didn''t feel like a married person these few days as I didn''t even have my husband beside me but this visit meant I am definitely someone''s wife.


    The next day, as I was getting ready for the visit, a eunuch came and told that the Crown Prince was waiting for me. I hurriedly readied myself as I didn''t want him to wait for long.


    I stepped out from my chamber and saw the Crown Prince was standing under the sun while a eunuch held a parasol shaded the Prince from the sunlight.


    "Eunuch Han, you don''t have to hold the parasol, the sun is not that bright anyway," the Prince told Eunuch Han.


    "No, Your Highness, I don''t want your skin gets dark," the Prince shook his head at  Eunuch Han''s replied. He smiled and I thought that for a second he was glowing. My face felt hot.


    "Your Highness, why is your face so red? Are you having a fever?" Court Lady Song said and the Crown Prince looked at us when he heard the court lady talked.


    "No, it''s just the sun," I said, flustered. I went to greet the Crown Prince.


    "Your Highness, I''m sorry to make you wait," I kept my eyes low so that I was only looking at the Dragon emblems on his robe. I was suddenly feeling embarrassed that I couldn''t look at his face.


    "It''s alright," he said short and then lead the way to the Queen''s Residence.


    The meeting went shorter than I thought as the King had official affairs to attend and the Queen seemed not interested to have a long conversation with the two of us. Therefore, we were now on our back to our residences.


    "Do you have any important matters to attend today?" The Crown Prince asked.


    I looked at Court Lady Song and she shook her head.


    "I think I''ll have an idle day, Your Highness," I said, while looking upfront.


    "Then, will you care to have a walk with me?"


    I nodded and said, "It''s my pleasure, Your Highness."


    We walked until in front of the South Gate then the Prince dismissed everyone but Eunuch Han was reluctant but got dragged away later by Court Lady Song.


    "He was a little bit protective," the Prince said, he meant Eunuch Han.


    "I can see that," I smiled as Eunuch Han struggled to get away but it seemed that Court Lady Song was stronger than him.

 8 THE CROWN PRINCE PART VI

    Discontent


    When they were out of sight, the Crown Prince climbed into the entrance and waited for me on the other side.


    Since I was wearing my official robe, I struggled to climb down as my skirt restricted my movement.


    The Crown Prince looked at me sat and pondered on the entrance so he came closer and wrapped his hands around my waist and lifted me.


    I was brought closer to his body and then he put me slowly to the ground. His hands still on my waist. We were so close that I could hear his breath. At this rate my heart might explode so I slowly pulled away from him.


    We didn''t say anything as we walked across the field until we reached the tree.


    We sat side by side and watched the flowers as they fluttered when the wind blew ¨C their fragrance filled the air around us.


    The weather was nice, the air smelled nice, being here with him, just nice.


    "Do you have any discontent, Crown Princess?" The Crown Prince asked.


    I opened my eyes and breathe slowly. I didn''t know what kind of discontent he was referring, to him or to the Palace, so I just settled for the latter. "No, Your Highness, there''s nothing to be dissatisfied of, I have everything I need in the residence."


    "Not that, but to me," he said. I could see from the corner of my eyes he was looking at me.


    "No, Your Highness, why would I?" I laughed nervously.


    "Because you haven''t look at me since this morning," he sounded upset.


    So I looked at his face, "Did I?"


    "You did. I was watching you." My face felt hot again at his remarks. So I lowered my gaze again.


    "You''re doing it again," he said. "Do you dislike me, Crown Princess?"


    "No, it''s not that," I tried to explain myself but what was there to explain.


    "You like me, then," he said. To this I fell silent.


    ''Is that so, but when?'' I thought for a second.


    "Do you not like your own husband?" He asked.


    "No, I mean yes, no? I don''t know," I didn''t know what my feeling for the Prince was. I was seventeen and married to a total stranger. I had never fell in love with anyone and when my father asked me to participate as a candidate to be the Crown Prince''s bride, I just agreed.


    My mother had passed away since I was little and father was a man that careful of his feelings and never showed his affections.


    I knew about affection, I had them but I had no one to direct it to. My relationship with my father was more like one of a teacher and a student.


    I had no friends since I was mostly home ¨C reading books my father told me to read.


    But father had never restricted my freedom, however, since I was comfortable being home ¨C I never bothered going outside.


    I was trained to be a scholar than to be a lady. So whenever I did go outside, it was to find books and read it on the green field in our village. I just naturally distanced myself from people more than I intended to.


    I didn''t know what I felt, maybe it was affection or maybe this marriage forced me to believe I had a feeling for him, it was confusing. So I just looked at the Prince, I had no definite answer.


    He gave me a warm smile. "It''s alright. We might have been married but the truth is, we still don''t know much about each other. We can take it slow," he assured me. "And I will be glad if in the future that you could like me not only because I''m the Prince and your husband, but for the way I am," he added.


    I smiled at him. This relationship we had still new and it was just like the flower''s seed. I prayed that it will strive to bloom.

 9 HIM AND ME

    Auspicious Date


    The Prince was twenty years of age when we were married. Therefore he looked more mature than I was, he was well-knowledge than I was and he was better at reading person than I was.


    When the auspicious date to ''share room'' was decided, the Prince was supposed to come to my room and the event will be heard rather than witnessed from the court ladies and eunuchs from outside.


    The court lady dressed me in bedclothes and left me alone in the room after that.


    Later, Eunuch Han came and told Court Lady Kim that the Prince was feeling unwell so he will not come that night.


    Thus the Royal Astronomer had to determine another date for the event.


    The next day I lied down near the tree while reading a book I borrowed from Court Lady Song, a romantic love story.


    I wanted to learn about love and affection, then she excitedly showed me her collection of love stories. I picked the thickest one as I had so many things to learn.


    I was consumed in my reading that I didn''t notice the Crown Prince was lying beside me and tapped my book.


    "What are you reading?" He asked, while he read the pages I was on.


    I was startled and sat bolted and threw the book behind my back.


    "Your Highness," I said, flabbergasted.


    "What''s with the reaction? Are you reading something indecent?" He squinted his eyes suspiciously at me.


    "No... I''m not," I stuttered and he grew more suspicious that he tried to take away the book. I tried to stretch my hands further but he has longer hands than mine that he reached the book easily. I struggled to get it back and this time he stood up and stretched his hand up, he was taller than me. So I jumped but I landed on a wrong foot and stumbled toward him, I tried to hold on to him but made us both fell to the ground.


    I was on top of him and his face inches away from mine. I could see his shining dark brown eyes ¨C those eyes were staring into mine. I heard heartbeats pounded, gotten faster as seconds passed.


    Maybe I was heavy that he looked uncomfortable then I realised our awkward position thus I hurriedly took my book in his hand and put it between the layers of my clothes.


    He cleared his throat and sat  against the tree. He tapped the ground beside him, gestured me to sit.


    "Did you wait for me last night?" He asked.


    "Are you feeling well now?" I asked back.


    "I was trying to give you time," he said.


    "Huh?"


    "I would rather we do that because we wanted to not because we were forced to," he said. "I prefer mutual consent after all," he added.


    I didn''t really understand what he meant and took mental note that I should read all Court Lady Song''s collections to grasp this kind of conversation faster.


    "But I couldn''t give the same excuses more than three times though, so I hope we find a way opening up and accepting each other because like it or not, we can''t go back," he said with a serious face.


    "Therefore, I''m asking you these," he said while he looked directly into my eyes, a sign for an honest answer, "Do you regret marrying me?"


    Question one, "No."


    "Do you dislike me? Both as a person and as the Crown Prince."


    Question two, "No."


    "Will you stay with me until the end of the road?"


    Question three, because I''m his wife, "Yes."


    "Then that''s good, anything else can come later," he smiled and patted my head softly. "I''m satisfied for now," he added.


    When I came back to the residence later, I told Court Lady Song about everything then she was suddenly excited and kept asking ''Really?'' and said ''So romantic'' that I had to stop my story because she took her book and jotted down my story and said it was for safekeeping.


    Then she said, "His Highness wanted you to open your heart and accept him."


    "I had already accepted him, I''m married to him," I said.


    "Accept him for he is, not because you are compelled to do so because you''re husband and wife, accept him as a man and a person you would give all your affection to," she explained.


    "All my affection?" I asked. She nodded.


    "How do I know when the feelings come?"


    "Those feelings come naturally." She answered.


    "As of?"


    She rubbed her chin and pretended like a scholar reciting a poem, "Your heart beats fast when he''s around, your face feel hot when he looks at you or everything feels nice just by being with him."


    I recalled moments from that evening then my face blushed unexpectedly.


    Court Lady Song hid her smile and said, "Those feelings are already here." Then she excused herself to prepare me the evening meal.

 10 HIM AND ME PART II

    Will You Miss Me?


    The second auspicious date was decided a month later but the Prince also said he was feeling unwell that day.


    I heard from Court Lady Song which she heard the gossips from the Palace Maids in the Queen''s Residence said that the Queen made a sudden visit to the Crown Prince''s Residence and found out the Crown Prince was perfectly healthy.


    The Queen was furious of the Crown Prince''s lies and punished him to help the soldiers to distribute rice to the poor citizen.


    Thus, the Prince said will come back to the Palace only after they distributed all the rice, which usually take weeks.


    So, a night before he left the Palace, he came to my residence and took me for a stroll.


    He took me to a pavilion that built in the middle of a lake so that we had to cross a bridge to get there.


    From the bridge to the pavilion, there were lights on every two steps distance which made the pavilion glowed in the darkness of the area.


    The lights from the pavilion illuminated the lake and I could see lotus flowers decorated the large lake.


    There were no chairs so we sat on top of the railings, feet dangled and we stargazed.


    "Did you hear that I''m going out of the Palace tomorrow?"


    "Mmm hmm,"I answered while trying to count the stars.


    "It''s going to be two or three weeks till I come back."


    "Mmm hmm," It''s difficult to count the stars and involved in a conversation.


    "Will you miss me?"


    "Huh?" I lost count.


    He smiled and dismissed the question.


    We didn''t say anything after that but I felt comfortable with the silence and his company satiated me.


    After a while we decided to go back. I was struggling with my skirts as I pulled back my legs from the rail when the Crown Prince suddenly put his hands on my waist and gently put me down.


    His hands were still on my waist and slowly his arms wrapped my waist as he pulled me into his embrace.


    Heart beaten faster.


    Face burned.


    I couldn''t say a word.


    The Crown Prince just embraced me then he let go. He walked me back to the residence without saying another word only ''Good night'' then waved me goodbye.


    The next morning, the Prince and few soldiers departed with stack of rice sacks piled on the back of ten or more carts.


    I looked from afar. There was a weird-unexplained feeling I felt on my stomach when I saw the Crown Prince left the Palace.


    It will be weeks till I meet him again.


    "Will you miss me?" I suddenly remembered his question last night. I didn''t realise I was thinking out loud, "Maybe."


    "Pardon, Your Highness?" Court Lady Song asked, thought I was requesting something.


    I shook my head, "Nothing, let''s head back to the residence."


    ***


    A week had passed and I heard that the Crown Prince had returned to the Palace but he head out again a few hours later.


    "His Highness reported to His Majesty that there was a natural disaster in the west border, the whole village was destroyed by a big flood two days ago," Eunuch Han told me. Eunuch Song was there when the Crown Prince reported to the Majesty and he told every detail of the meeting to Eunuch Han where later Eunuch Han came to my residence to ''share'' the news.


    Court Lady Song served teas and deserts for us and didn''t leave the room.


    She whispered to me, ''I will accompany you, Your Highness'', when I knew she just wanted to hear story so I just let her sat there, then she took out her book and jotted down every word Eunuch Han said.


    ''Safekeeping'' she mouthed to me.


    "His Highness didn''t just ask for rice supplies but other food supplies and he brought a few more soldiers with him. He said the villagers need help to restore their homes," he stopped for a while and sipped his tea. "I know that His Highness has such a good heart but I''m worried about him," he added.


    "His Majesty said the Crown Prince shouldn''t go but the he insisted and said the soldiers will need supervision and he could lend extra help. If General Sun isn''t in the north border to negotiate with the Ming, His Majesty might have sent the general instead," he said.


    "How long will His Highness be there, Eunuch Han?" I asked.


    "If I''m not mistaken, this mission probably going to take about a month," he said and suddenly I felt a knot in my stomach.


    "That is why I''m so worried, His Highness had never left the Palace more than a month," he took one of the desserts and suddenly Court Lady Song slapped the back of his hand.


    "Where''s your manner?" She scolded him.


    "It''s alright, Lady Song. Help yourself, Eunuch Han," I offered him then he smirked at Court Lady Song.


    It was supposed to be only two weeks, now I can only see him after a month. I left out a sigh.


    "The Prince will be alright, Your Highness," Court Lady Song said. I didn''t know whether it was a statement or an assurance.

 11 HIM AND ME PART III

    I Miss You


    The next day, as I was taking a stroll near the pavilion the Crown Prince took me the other day, I saw a soldier on the back of a horse galloped across the front court and stopped in front of the Main Hall. He dismounted hurriedly and ran into the Main Hall.


    The next few minutes, I saw Eunuch Han was running to where I was.


    "Your Highness!" He shouted as he ran. He stopped in front of me. He coughed a few times as he tried to recover his breathing.


    "What''s the matter, Eunuch Han?" I inquired.


    "Your Highness...a soldier...just reported...to His Majesty," he struggled to finish his sentence then he took a deep breath and said, "The Crown Prince is missing!"


    "When they arrived at the village, there was a heavy rain so they decided not to enter the village with the supplies first. The Crown Prince and a few soldiers went to monitor the village and few of them stayed behind with the supplies. They need to cross a bridge to go to the village. His Highness and the soldiers didn''t come back after an hour so they sent someone to check but later came back and said the bridge had submerged under water and the area near the river was flooded as well." He stopped, took a deep breath and continued. "The flood dissipated yesterday morning and they went to search for His Highness in the village but the villagers said they had never seen any outsiders came into the village except them."


    "One of the soldiers came to deliver the news and requested soldiers to search for the Crown Prince," he added.


    I didn''t know what to do so I sat there and fought with worst thoughts that came.


    "Will he be okay?" I asked to anyone who was there, anyone that could answer but I heard nothing but silence.


    A few minutes later, about twenty soldiers came out from the Main Hall, mounted their horses and left the Palace hurriedly.


    I prayed that they will found the Prince and brought him back safely, I prayed desperately.


    ***


    A few days had passed but there was no news about the Crown Prince.


    I went to the flower field and sat under the tree. I looked around the place and I remember the moments I had shared with the Crown Prince there.


    ''Does he really not coming back?'' I thought.


    Then I felt a sudden rush of regrets.


    I regretted that I didn''t tell him that I had grown to like him.


    I regretted that I didn''t tell him that I will miss him when he left.


    I regretted that I didn''t tell him to stay.


    I was starting to like and him but I would never have the chance to tell him about it.


    This made me sad.


    "I miss you, come back," I cried while hugging my knees.


    I cried myself to sleep and woke up in my bedroom. "Huh?"


    Court Lady Song came while bringing a bowl of water to wash my face.


    "Who brought me back to my room, Lady Song?" I asked while wiping my face with a towel.


    "His Highness," she said.


    "His Highness?" I asked confused.


    "Oh, I forgot to inform you, Your Highness. The Crown Prince had come back last night and he came to look for you but I didn''t..."


    "Where is he now?" I interjected. I will hear her story later.


    "His residence..." I stormed out of the room, wearing only my stockings.


    "Your Highness, your shoes!" Court Lady Song shouted.


    I arrived in front of the Crown Prince''s Residence.


    I saw him came out from his chamber with Eunuch Han. I ran towards him and stopped in front him.


    "Crown Princess, why are you running? Where are your shoes?" He asked while looking at my feet.


    It''s him. It''s really him.


    Then I hugged him.


    "You''re back. You''re safe. You''re here." I said then he hugged me back.


    Eunuch Han hid his blushed face and lowered his gaze.


    After a while, embarrassment hit me. I didn''t even have a wash and I ran all the way here wearing only stockings.


    I pulled my hands slowly and let him go. I looked at my feet, the stockings were filthy.


    "Your Highness, your shoes!" Court Lady Song came running. She put the shoes on the ground and I wore it.


    I was so embarrassed that I hurriedly excused myself from the Crown Prince and returned to my residence.

 12 HIM AND ME PART IV

    Can I Kiss You?


    That evening Eunuch Han told me that the Crown Prince was waiting for me in the flower field.


    Before I went there, I asked Court Lady Song about my appearance and she answered while hiding her smile.


    Eunuch Han escorted me until in front of the South Gate and then Court Lady Song dragged him away.


    The Crown Prince was lying under the tree with his hands behind his head, eyes closed.


    As I was drawing near, his eyes opened and he greeted me with a smile. He gestured to me with his eyes to lie besides him, so I did.


    Before my head touched the ground, he extended his other hand so my head lied on his arm instead of the ground. I looked at him with a blushed face.


    "The leaves might stick on your hair," he said. So I just thanked him for being considerate.


    "What happened?" I asked. I still haven''t heard anything about what happened to him in the west border.


    He looked up, he paused for a while maybe he was trying to arrange his story to make it easier for me to understand and then he smiled at me. He took a deep breath and began his story, "After we crossed the bridge, the river''s water level risen rapidly and sunk the bridge so we decided to get to the higher ground. We were still far away from the village and it started flooding again. We climbed the nearest hill just so we could avoid the flood. One of the soldier said we could detour to the village from the hill but since it was raining, our tracks gotten slow and we only arrived the next day.


    "When we arrived there, the soldiers told me they thought that I was missing and reported it to the King. Then, later the evening, the search soldiers His Majesty sent came but instead I told them to help us with the supplies and repair some of the destroyed houses since we were short of hands. We were occupied with the duties that we forgot that His Majesty''s might have waited for the search results.


    "I decided to come back yesterday to report of my being to the Majesty myself. He told me to let the soldiers settled things in the village and I was not allowed to go back there. I went to look for you after that but Court Lady Song didn''t know you were here. Lucky I found you here, if not, you might have slept here until morning." He looked at me and smiled.


    I was so grateful that he was alright. I thought I could never see his smile again.


    I didn''t notice that I was looking at him for a while that he asked, "What is it?" He raised his eyebrows.


    "I missed you." I said. He looked surprised first then his lips curled into a smile.


    He pulled me closer to him until my head was on his chest. Then he wrapped me with both of his hands. I could hear his heart beaten as fast as mine.


    He loosened his hug. His put his hand on my wrist while the other hand still under my head. I was lying while facing him and he was looking at me, his eyes pierced through mine.


    He was hesitated for a while but then he asked, "Can I kiss you?"


    My face felt hot again, so I lowered my gaze then I nodded.


    He drew closer then kissed my lips gently. I could taste his smile when I replied his kiss.


    When he finally let go, he asked, "When is the date to share room?" Then I felt my whole body was burning with embarrassment.

 13 HIM AND ME PART V

    Our Days


    After both of us confirmed our mutual feelings, the Crown Prince was suddenly the easiest person to see in the Palace.


    He came to my residence four times a week and took me around the Palace when before, it was hard even to see his shadow.


    Then Court Lady Song said to me, "It was because His Highness was trying to give you some time and space."


    "Eunuch Han told me that His Highness was always contemplating to meet you because he didn''t want you to feel burdened," she added.


    "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is waiting for you," a palace maid reported from outside the room.


    Court Lady Song finished doing my hair and followed me outside.


    The Crown Prince looked dashing in his sport clothes. A belt wrapped around his waist, showed his firm body. I am used to see him in his robe that I didn''t notice he had a slim figure.


    He told me the other day that he wished to teach me how to ride a horse after I told him I didn''t know any sports.


    We walked side by side and I felt our hands kept grazing each other''s and suddenly he took my hand and held it along the way.


    After a while I pulled my hand and he looked at me questioningly, a bit disappointed.


    "My hand is sweaty," I said, embarrassed and more disappointed to have to let go of his hand.


    He smiled and walked to the other side and took my other hand. "This okay?"


    I was bewildered by his action but elated to hold his hand again.


    We arrived at the stable and he introduced me his favourite horses and other few horses which he raised. He took a horse to the practise field.


    A man in full sport clothes approached us, "Your Highness, I''m Yun, I will be the teacher for today," he introduced himself.


    "Where is Teacher Jin?" The Crown Prince asked.


    "She couldn''t make it today, Your Highness, she is feeling unwell," Yun reported. "But I will try my best to train Her Highness since I''m Teacher Jin''s disciple and I''m familiar with her teachings," he added.


    "Alright, take care of the Crown Princess," the Crown Prince ordered. He stood at the side and watched us.


    Yun and I just nodded briefly at each other and he went straight to the lesson.


    "You just have to put your foot right here - these are called stirrups and hold the reins..." he took a long strap which tied around the head and rested on the back of the horse, "...of the horse firmly and evenly." He asked me to put my left foot on the stirrup and the other to push me up onto the horse which I couldn''t really grasped his instruction "And try not to kick the horse''s sides, Your Highness," he advised.


    Yun helped me to mount the horse and I struggled to place my foot correctly.


    "I''m sorry, but this is my first time to mount a horse," I said to Yun and I repeatedly failed to mount the horse. I could feel the horse was mocking me as it neigh each time I failed.


    "If you don''t mind, Your Highness," he suggested, "I will help you, but I have to hold you to do that," he asked for my permission.


    I nodded. He came closer and put his hands on my waist and effortlessly lifted me up and suddenly I''m already on the back of the horse.


    "I made it," I said happily to Yun. I waved at the Crown Prince but I felt like he was staring fiercely at us and I thought maybe he wanted me to be serious in this lesson.


    Yun cleared his throat, "Hold to the reins, Your Highness."


    I took the strap from his hand and our hands brushed. I saw Yun''s face reddened. "Are you not feeling well? Your face is so red," I asked and pointed to his face.


    He looked flustered and stuttered, " I''m okay," he composed himself. "I''m okay, Your Highness. It''s just the weather."


    "Really? Alright, but if you are not feeling well, don''t hesitate to tell me," I said and smiled at him. His face became red again, but I just ignored it.


    Yun hold another strap on the horse and pulled the horse to move then it slowly trotted and I struggled to balance my body as so not to fall from the horse. The horse trotted slowly following Yun''s pace. We finished a round the practise field and the Crown Prince stopped us.


    "I''ll take it from here," the Crown Prince said and dismissed Yun.


    The Crown Prince mounted the horse and he sat on the back. He put his hands on top of my hands and held the reins. He was so close that I could feel his body heat.


    He leaned closer to my ear and asked "What did you say to him to make his face that red?" I could feel his breath on my neck.


    "Nothing, Your Highness. He said it was due to the weather," I answered.


    "Huh." Then the Crown Prince went quiet for the whole lesson until he sent me back to my residence later that evening.


    I saw him walked away from my residence and he paused then returned back to where I was standing.


    He dismissed everyone that ushered us and when they were out of sight he pulled me closer to him. I was flustered at first but let him held me.


    He leaned in for a kiss. I knew no one was there but I was sure Court Lady Song was watching. So I pulled away because I didn''t want Court Lady Song to write this in her book.


    The Crown Prince looked hurt and he let me go. I didn''t want him to go so I pulled him back and kissed him. He smiled and took my hands to his back and put his arms around mine.


    I will ask Court Lady Song to give a copy about this later.


    We stopped when someone cleared his throat from a far. It was Eunuch Han. The Crown Prince pecked my check and let me go.


    "Your Highness, His Majesty called for you," Eunuch Han said.


    "This late?" The Crown Prince asked.


    "It''s urgent," Eunuch Han said, his expression was serious.


    The Crown Prince looked at me and said, "Let''s meet there tomorrow." He smiled then left with Eunuch Han hurriedly.

 14 HIM AND ME PART VI

    End of Happy Days


    I woke up early and remembered our promise to meet at the flower field. I forgot to ask the time of the meeting and I didn''t want the Crown Prince to wait for me so I told Court Lady Song to help me dress after breakfast.


    I asked Court Lady Song to not bother waiting for me since I was unsure when will the Crown Prince come anyway, so I just borrowed her book and dismissed her.


    I spread out a wide fabric I brought and lied on top of it. I started reading and stopped in between while glancing on the entrance. It was already afternoon but the Crown Prince still hadn''t come. I waited until late evening when Eunuch Han came running from the entrance to the tree.


    "Your Highness," he said, his face was gloomy. "I regret to tell you that His Highness couldn''t make it today and ordered me to escort you back to your residence," he said.


    Eunuch Han helped me to climb the entrance and I saw two Palace Guards were waiting for us.


    "His Highness is worried," he said and I looked at him questioningly.


    "It''s a gloomy period, Your Highness," he answered short. But I didn''t understand his words not until the next few days.


    It was rumoured that His Majesty has fallen ill and the Ming was planning a revolt but since the rumour couldn''t be confirmed, they were holding back their plans.


    But I was sure it was true since it had been a week I hadn''t heard about the Crown Prince and the only thing Eunuch Han told me that the Crown Prince had some important matters to attend to and the ministers were starting to show sides.


    Later I heard that His Majesty had been demanded by few ministers to abdicate since His Majesty was frail and unable to rule a country. And since there was a pressure from the Ming, the ministers that favoured the Crown Prince started to pester His Majesty.


    The Crown Prince agreed to rule as regent and asked not to spread rumour of His Majesty''s wellbeing and assured the people His Majesty was only feeling unwell due to the unstable weather.


    Eunuch Han kept me well updated with the news about Crown Prince and unfailingly came to my residence once every two days. He even reported to me about the Crown Prince''s diet and sleep hours to make sure that the Crown Prince was taking care of his health even he was busy so that I wouldn''t worry about him.

 15 HE, THE KING

    The Crown Prince''s Last Days


    A month had passed since I last saw the Crown Prince. Eunuch Han had also stopped coming to my residence.


    It was due to the news that the King had became gravely ill and the Crown Prince had been tied up with official matters, mostly related to the Ming ¨C which had built up armies to attack the frail nation.


    General Sun, the commander of the nation''s army had been seeing went back and forth to the Main Hall and the army camps in the North Border, probably discussing progress of any plans they had came up with and I prayed not a single bad news entered the Main Hall.


    I was reading a book in my room when Court Lady Song interrupted with a whisper. She was serving the evening tea for me.


    "Your Highness," she whispered.


    "Why are you whispering?" I asked in a whisper as well.


    She came closer, "I think that we are in the verge of war," she said while looking at the front door.


    "Few of the noble men had left here with all their families, leaving their houses behind," she added.


    "Where did you hear this?" I asked.


    "Eunuch Han told me," she said. "The Crown Prince had formulated negotiation strategy with General Sun but it was said that the Ming denied every proposal and insisted the Crown Prince to surrender the crown to them." She paused and poured me the tea. "But there''s no need to worry, if the Ming wanted to attack us, they would have done so a long time ago. They just wanted to pressure the young prince since His Majesty had been ill."


    "Then why are you whispering?" I asked.


    "I don''t want the Palace Maids to hear us, they might exaggerate and start to panic," she said.


    "You are not afraid?"


    "I believe in the Crown Prince, Your Highness," she looked at me, "And you should too."


    I nodded, "I do."


    Later that night I heard a multiple taps on my window. I went to open it and I saw the Crown Prince was standing outside with his hands full of small stones. He threw away all the stones and waved at me.


    "Hi," he said with a smile. "Come out."


    I grabbed my outer garment and draped it on top of my bedclothes. I wrapped a shawl around my neck and took an extra shawl.


    The Crown Prince was wearing his robe. Maybe he just came back from the Main Hall since I could see Eunuch Han and few Palace Maids stood at the distance, probably on their way ushered him to his residence.


    I stood in front of him and resisted the urge to hug him. It has been a month since I saw him and he looked a bit thin. I examined his face. A trace of tiredness was transparent.


    "Long time no see," he said and his breath foggy.


    I wrapped the shawl I brought around his neck, "You might get cold," I said.


    We sat at a gazebo in my residence. He took my hand and wrapped it with his both hands.


    His face was serious, "I have something to tell you," he seemed reluctant to say the next few words. He paused for a few seconds.


    "His Majesty is gravely ill and the Ming is planning a revolt ¨C these things you probably knew." He sighed and continued, "I will go to the North Border tomorrow..."


    "No!" I interjected. I grabbed his hands and shook my head.


    "Relax," he said softly. I knew what will happen if he went there. They had tried negotiated with the Ming countless times but always failed and the Crown Prince decision to go there meant only one thing, to fight them. He was going to a war.


    "We are stronger than them, that I''m sure. If the Ming wanted to attack us, they would probably have done so since they knew about His Majesty''s illness. They are afraid of us," he assured me.


    "I''m going there to represent His Majesty and to show that we''re not afraid of them. If there''s going to be a war, General Sun would probably the one to drag me away from it," he wrapped my hands tightly and uttered words of assurance, "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine."


    ***


    The next day I went out from my residence before dawn and headed to the Crown Prince''s residence. As I arrived, the Crown Prince was just heading out from his residence. He stopped his steps when he saw me.


    "Crown Princess," he looked like he was going to scold me at first then he just sighed and smiled weakly.


    "I just wanted to see you before you go," I said with my head down.


    He came closer and cupped my face with his hands and gently lifted my head so that I was looking at him. His thumbs rubbed my cheeks lightly and then he put his forehead on mine.


    "Be safe," I said.


    "I will."


    We stayed like that for a while then he let go and left me there as he strode away until he was out of my sight, out of my reach.


    ***


    After the Crown Prince left, the Queen brought me to visit His Majesty.


    There were white curtains hung in front His Majesty''s bed, shielded him from the plain view.


    The Royal Physician explained about His Majesty''s condition to the Queen with a disheartened tone of voice.


    I could see sadness formed in the Queen''s eyes but she blinked it away as if she was not allowed to show any weaknesses.


    "I''m afraid His Majesty wouldn''t able to wait until the Crown Prince returns," he concluded his report and left the two of us with the dying King.


    "Crown Princess, you may go. I''ll stay here with my husband." She emphasised the King''s title as her husband.


    Maybe I looked dumbfounded because the Queen then added, "He is the King for all his life, he gave all his time to this nation and I''ve been sharing his affection with all of his subjects for long as I''m his wife. But now, I want him to be just mine in his final..." she paused.


    "...moments. I want him just as my husband till he...go." I saw tears streamed down her face but she quickly wiped it away and went to the King''s bed.


    I left them alone and gave all the moments for them to cherish.


    ***


    The only news I heard from the Crown Prince as what Eunuch Han told me was the Ming negotiated terms and pressured the Crown Prince that they will sever the diplomatic relationship the two nations had if the Crown Prince failed to fulfill their wishes.


    The two nations were never in war. Both were in business relationship since long ago and both had exchanged resources and been at peace not until His Majesty had fallen ill. The Ming might have thought that the nation had became weaker as the next in line was a very young prince.


    That was why the Crown Prince himself went to negotiate with the Ming, not just to show he was brave but to show that he was a capable and a competent Crown Prince. He wanted to show that he will be as great as his father and to wipe all the Ming''s doubts. He will show that he deserved the throne.

 16 HE, THE KING PART II

    The King''s Will


    "Eunuch Han," the Queen called. It had been a week since the last time I saw the Queen when she requested to be alone with the King. I was called by the Queen''s court lady that morning and when I had arrived, Eunuch Han was also present.


    "Yes, Your Royal Highness?"


    "Still no news of the Crown Prince?" The Queen asked from behind the curtains. I could see by her silhouette that she was sitting on the end of the King''s bed.


    "His Highness had departed from the North Border''s camps three days ago and should have arrived this morning but due to the storm, I''m afraid,  he will only arrive the earliest ¨C tomorrow morning. His Highness is taking more time due to the storm, Your Royal Highness," Eunuch Han reported.


    "We don''t have much time," the Queen said weakly. She stepped out from behind the curtains. She looked paled and lost some weight but her aristocratic aura was still there.


    She instructed Eunuch Han to leave and said, "I''m going to the Main Hall to," she paused and looked at the front door, "... ''entertain'' those ministers. They might already come up with thousands of plans for the Crown Prince." She looked annoyed for a second then dismissed it with a sarcastic smile that made her frail look just then washed away and changed into more reserved but unreadable facade.


    "Stay here," she said. "Look after the King for a while," she looked at the direction where the King was and then quickly left the room.


    I sat closer to the King''s bed but didn''t dare to pass the curtains so I just examined him from behind the curtains.


    It was already past dusk, the Queen took longer than I thought, I was thinking what would the ministers discussed with the Queen. Since the Crown Prince was not in the Palace, the Queen was next in the hierarchy; and the ministers had been noisy since the Crown Prince left the Palace.


    I didn''t notice I had fallen asleep when I heard the King called for someone. I rushed to his side.


    "Your Majesty, it''s me, the Crown Princess," I said.


    "Where is the Crown Prince?" He said each word one by one using all the strength he had left.


    "His Highness is not here yet, he''s still on his way from the North Border," I said. The Majesty was stretching his hand out so I took it.


    "Crown Princess, hear my will," the King said and I was stumped for words. I looked at the front door and hoped the Queen arrived at that time but she was not there and I knew the King has limited time. I didn''t want to take the last moments that the Queen wished for but I couldn''t just refused the King''s wishes. So I just said yes.


    "Tell the... Crown Prince to rule... this nation... better than me," he tightened his grip on my hand then the next words were for me, "Take care of him," he said then he let go. His chest went up and down rapidly.


    "Eunuch Song," I called. "Eunuch Song!" The King took his last breath and suddenly it was silent and he looked at peace.


    Eunuch Song ran inside the room followed by the Royal Physician. He ran to the King''s side and panicked. The Royal Physician took the King''s hand and checked his pulse then his face was grim and shook his head as he looked at me.


    The King has gone.

 17 HE, THE KING PART III

    His Reign


    "The King has passed away!" Eunuch Song announced in despair.


    All the people in the King''s Residence dropped to their knees and started to wail.


    Then there were sound of horses galloped and stopped in front of the residence and the Crown Prince ran inside but stopped in front of the King''s chamber. He looked at me and I didn''t know how to convey the news of his father''s death but I was sure he knew from the moment he entered the residence and heard the people wailed.


    In a second all eyes turned to the Prince, this was the sign of a new reign. He knew it. He just lost a father but the responsibilities lied on him now. He had no time to be sad. He had to rule the nation. He wiped away his tears.


    "Long live the King!" I said the sacred words aloud, confirming, that he was the King.


    Then one by one, his subjects pronounced their loyalty to the new King.


    Main Hall, The Palace


    All ministers lined up according to their ranks and duties. It has been a week since the King had passed away and everyone talked about the new King. All the people present wore white as they are still in ''mourning period''.


    I was called into the Hall to recite again His Late King''s posthumous decree as part of the formality since I was the only one heard His Late King''s will; and this was also served as a confirmation as there were ministers that weren''t exactly in favour of the new King.


    I was standing in front near the throne withCourt Lady Song stood right behind me. It was the first time I stepped into the Main Hall and the air in there didn''t help in calming my nerves.


    "His Highness has arrived," a eunuch announced from outside the hall. The Crown Prince was technically the King but due to some formalities and he had not yet appointed formally which was until the Coronation Day, the title still not applied.


    The Crown Prince strode and passed by me too quickly - that I didn''t even have the chance to take a glance at him - he took the stairs two at a time and he sat on the throne. He was occupied with a lot of things since he came back from the North Border and he has to shoulder  everything after his father left him, not just the throne but also the people. I was sure he was overwhelmed with everything but he was the hope of his people and he couldn''t afford to show weakness.


    He lifted his hand and Eunuch Han came closer to him. He said something and Eunuch Han listened attentively then nodded. After that, Eunuch Han stepped forward and looked at my direction.


    "Your Highness, please step forward," he said.


    I took a few steps forward and stood at the middle of the hall, right in front of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince looked down at me from the throne and suddenly I felt so little and I doubted myself. Was I really his wife? Was I even qualified to be his companion? To be his Queen? To be the Mother of this Nation? Will I be able to accompany him through the journey?


    "Your Highness, please recite everything of His Late Majesty''s will," Eunuch Han said and he looked at the transcriber at the end of the stairs. "Teacher Im will transcribe the words into the scroll and it will be documented  as His Late King''s decree, so please say everything that His Late Majesty said without leaving any words behind."


    As I was reciting what I heard from the late King, I could hear few ministers grunted and looked dissatisfied. Were they dissatisfied by the late King''s choice for their next King? But he was the Crown Prince and he was eventually going to be their King. Or were they dissatisfied due to his young age? But the Crown Prince was proven to be knowledgeable and brave that for someone of his age, it was considered great traits. He had also succeeded the negotiation with the Ming and he personally met the Ming which before, the proposals brought forward by General Sun kept rejected. The only conclusion I made was that they wanted another person to be the King. But that would be treason.


    "Based on what Her Highness Crown Princess heard from His Late Majesty was that the Crown Prince was selected as the next King and as the sole witness of the decree, the integrity of Her Highness will be regarded highly and without prejudice; as Her Highness is the Crown Princess and was selected by both His Late Majesty and the Queen Dowager," Eunuch Han said and I could hear grunts and murmurs.


    Then the Crown Prince stood up and stepped forward, "My late father regarded me highly and I was crowned as he Crown Prince the moment I was born, he was sure that I was his successor.  I know few of you doubted my capability to be better than my father, even I doubted myself. How could I be better than him?" He paused.


    "But, His Late Majesty trusted me and gave me the throne and his trust is enough. If His Late Majesty left me the throne then I will take it and prove to you that I will be as better as our Late King and together, you will help me to make our nation better."


    After the Crown Prince finished his speech, Eunuch Han said, "Bow to our new King."

 18 THE KING LEFT ME

    @@


    Where''s the King?


    I follow him into the chamber. He sits behind a table clustered with the scrolls, must be reports from the ministers. He takes a scroll and starts reading. I sit in front of him, examining his face.


    He resembles the ''King'', I could see it from his eyes, his nose and the way he knitted his eyebrows when he is thinking of something, but he''s not ''him''.


    I look around the chamber, the room is still the same but it feels different.


    There''s a red robe hanging stretched open on a long wooden rack, the Dragon emblems showing clearly on the center. It''s the one that I made for the ''King''.


    I embroidered the Dragon emblems on the robe but since I didn''t have any experiences in embroidery, the Dragon had sad eyes when it supposed to be fierce.I remember I was scolded by the Queen Dowager since Dragon was an important symbol for the King and I made it looked like a disgrace. However, the ''King''still wear it and said, ''It''s alright, a Dragon can be sad too.''


    The robe looks worn out, old.


    ''"How many years had passed? Where''s the King?"''


    I feel lost. I never thought that I''ve been away for so long. "''I didn''t even manage to see him."''


    I look at the person behind the table. He must be the new King or maybe there are other before him.


    "''Did he become a ghost as well? Or did he get reincarnated? Where can I find him?"''


    I couldn''t remember how long I''ve been sitting in the room until the King calls the eunuch to help him change into bedclothes. The eunuch takes off his clothes each and every layer and I don''t know why I''m watching this so I decided to go out.


    As I pass by the King which he''s now only wearing trousers, I couldn''t help but notice a familiar scar on his right chest.@@

 19 THE KING LEFT ME PART II

    I Was a Mother


    My pregnancy was in the third month and my belly has started to show. I hadn''t told the King about it and not anyone except for Court Lady Song.


    I had been wary of0 the pregnancy for the things that had happened in the past haunted me.


    Will I be losing my child again or will I ever provide an offspring for the King? What if I couldn''t protect my child again? These thoughts made me restless.


    However, I decided to tell the King for he was the only one I could rely on in this place.


    I requested Court Lady Song to go into the King''s Residence and looked for Eunuch Han to arrange a secret meeting with the King. I couldn''t afford to let anyone in the Palace discovered that I was pregna4nt as the news would probably reach the Queen Dowager like an arrow and I will be in danger again.


    As I requested, the King dismissed all the Palace Maids and Palace Guards in the residence and only the King, Eunuch Han and Chief Guard Jin were there. Anyone could be the Queen Dowager''s informant so I decided not to let anyone in there when I met the King.


    I arrived before dawn, the King waited in his chamber.


    "My Queen, what is the important matter that you request such arrangements?" The King asked, worried.


    "Your Majesty, for everything that I will ask you after this, I hope you could agree without conditions," I took his hands and held tightly.


    "What is the matter?"


    "Your Majesty, I am with your child," I told him then his face turned bright.


    "Is this not a haply news?! He exclaimed. "Oh, My Queen!" He pulled me into his embrace and I felt safe. How I wish time stopped right there at that moment.


    Then he suddenly let me go and looked at my face curiously. "What you have in you mind?" He asked as if he knew what I was planning.


    Then I told him. "Your Majesty,I want to go somewhere and take care of our child until he is safely born. I will take care of him and come back until he is strong enough to help you rule our nation."


    "Does that mean you will leave me?" He studied my face for a while. "No, I won''t allow it."


    "Your Majesty!"


    "I will take care the both of you now. This time I won''t let anyone touches you," he was resolute.


    "Your Majesty, I beg you to hear my explanation."


    "My Queen, I..."


    "It''s my wish," I interjected."It''s not that I don''t believe in you, My King. It''s everyone else in this Palace that I distrust.After I knew I was with a child, I live each day in wariness, I''m in constant fear." My tears wetted my cheeks.


    "I have to leave for us. I promise you that I will come home as soon as I can. Just let me go, alright?"


    The King wiped my tears using his thumbs. He kissed my forehead, his lips rested there for a while. He pulled me into his embrace and hugged me tightly, "How will I live apart from you? I could go for a week but months or maybe years? No, just take me with you."


    "Your Majesty," I sighed.


    "I know," he said, "I know," he smiled wearily. "I will arrange everything but please, give me a month. Just a month to be with you and I will be the one to send you there safely."


    I nodded at his request.

 20 THE KING LEFT ME PART III

    My Prince


    After a month , the King announced that I will go into seclusion in a mountain to treat my frail body and will only come back when I was fully treated.


    The Queen''s seat left empty and I heard the Queen Dowager kept pestering the King to strip me off my title. She argued with the King of my capability to give an offspring to continue the Royal Family''s legacy.


    However, the King kept ignoring her. These of course were reported by Eunuch Han through the letters he sent to Court Lady Song. He still couldn''t help being nosy and said he was lonely since no one picked a fight with him after we left.


    I didn''t allow the King to visit me as I didn''t want to rouse any suspicions. I told the King to make it looked like he didn''t care about me anymore so that no one will be interested in my matter.


    However,the King still send a letter every once a month and expressed his distraught in pages long. The letters will come together with our food supplies hidden beneath the stacks of food. It will be a lie if I said that I didn''t miss him but I refrained myself to reply to his letters for fear someone might interjected it.


    Five months after I left the Palace,it was finally the day.


    After a night long, fighting for both my life and my child''s,the midwife told me that I had a son.


    Finally,an heir to the throne. A prince.


    The King was dying to see the Prince but I told him that I will come home soon and he didn''t need to trouble himself to travel miles away. I told him that the nation needed its King - the throne shouldn''t be left empty for such a trivial matter.


    I promised the King that I will come back in a month but eventually it had dragged to couple of months because the Prince was very frail and I was afraid that the long journey would affect his health further.


    One morning, I received a letter from the King. The King had expressed his disappointment in the letter and said that I had no intention to return at all. Therefore, he wrote in his letter that he will come to take me home.


    It will take at least three days of journey from the Palace to where I was and if my calculation was right, assumed the King had began his journey after he sent the letter, then he will probably arrive before dawn, the day after.


    I told Court Lady Song to pack all our things and told her that we will finally going home.

 21 THE KING LEFT ME PART IV

    "Don''t Hurt My Child."


    That night, Court Lady Song had packed all of our things and I dismissed her early. I asked her to put the Prince to sleep and reminded her to wake me up early the next day.


    I was sleeping soundly when suddenly a cold iron touched my neck and I startled awoke. I woke up and saw a person wearing a mask. He stood beside my bed and held a sword where the tip rested on my neck.


    "Who sent you?" I asked, my whole body was trembling but I tried not to show my fear.


    Court Lady Song entered my room with the Prince in her arms. Another person who was also wearing a mask gripped on her shoulder.


    She was holding him tightly and cried when she saw me, "My Lady." I told her never use my title in front of other people.


    The person behind her forcefully took the Prince from her arms and he swung his sword to her back. Her blood splattered on the walls. Her eyes wide opened as she looked at me and slowly her body dropped and her blood wetted the floor.


    "NO!" I screamed. I tried to go to ger but stopped by the man beside my bed. He pulled me to sit on the bed.


    "What do you want?!" I demanded. I swallowed my tears as I saw Court Lady Song lied on the floor unmoved.''Is she dead?'' I shook away the thought.


    The man yanked my hair and put the sword on my neck, I could feel the edge cut my skin. The person who was holding the Prince took out a dagger and I could see his murderous eyes.


    "What are you doing?! Stop!" I shouted.


    "Move, and you will also die," the man pressed the sword on my neck and I could feel my blood dribbled and wetted my top.


    "No, don''t hurt him. I beg you!" I pleaded. I couldn''t help to let go of my pride as my child''s life was in danger. My sight blurred as my tears spilled incessantly.


    Th person stripped the Prince off his blanket and he put the dagger against his pale skin. The tip rested on top of his right chest. He pressed the dagger and it pierced the Prince''s skin and blood was oozing out from the Prince''s small body. He pressed it slowly and I saw the dagger went deeper into the Prince''s right chest.


    The Prince started crying and screamed probably due to the pain. I was starting to feel nauseous and hazy.


    "You animal! He''s just a child!" I pleaded and pleaded him to stop his action.


    The blood started dripping from the Prince''s body, his screams sounded unbearable.


    Suddenly the door to my room kicked opened, "Who dare to lay hands on my heir?!" It''s the King''s voice. He wielded his sword and pointed it to the person who was holding the Prince. He looked like he was going to rip the person into pieces.


    The people in the masks were shocked and didn''t manage to run away as few soldiers came in and held them down to the ground.


    The King took the Prince and wrapped him with a blanket, "Call the physician, hurry!" He ordered a soldier.


    I was relieved and as the King came to me, I fell into his arms, unconscious.

 22 THE KING LEFT ME PART V

    My Prince, A King


    "Your Majesty, if I may, I would like to recommend a medicine that said can heal scars," the eunuch said.


    The King touches the scar and ponders for a while, "No, it''s alright. I would like to keep this scar as it''s the only thing the Queen Mother left me, even it''s a very painful one," he smiles bitterly.


    Hearing it makes me sure that he is indeed my child, the Prince.


    "''My Prince,"'' I study his scar. How could I possibly forget the scar that I used to see each and every day? I look at him dearly, "''It''s you."''


    I remember when he was a child, his first step and his first word. It''s all so vivid but I couldn''t remember when he grew up this tall, a fine man he has become.


    I had probably died even before he grew up to be a man. I really couldn''t recall the last days of my life and worst, I might even forget lot of things than I ever thought.


    His features took after his father and since he looks so much like the ''King'', it pains me.


    "''I''m sorry that your Mother left early,"'' I say to him and how I wish he could hear me.


    "''If you''re the King, then your father must have probably left you as well but to be a King this young..."'' He looks in his twenties and to be a King; the previous King must have passed away or abdicated his throne. How I wish the ''King'' had abdicated so that I''d probably still have a chance to see him but from the look of it, the ''King'' had passed away as well.


    He is staying in the King Residence with much of his father''s belongings still in place, one sign that the ''King'' is not around anymore.


    I stay in the chamber for a while until the ''Prince'' goes to sleep. I watch him sleep for a while then I decided to go to the place where I think I can find the ''King''.


    ***


    The room illuminated by the candles that placed on the candle holders on each corner of the room. The light''s dim but I could see clearly each letters carved on the woods. I scan each name engraved on the wooden plaques - I found my name and his besides mine.


    I found him, at least for now.

 23 ANNOUNCEMEN

    @@


    Actually, I have this story posted in wattpad first due to the layout. But Webnovel offers more readers ...


    And, personally I love how my story look in wattpad than here.


    I couldn''t write in italic or bold a word.


    so, if you want a better layout, read this story in wattpad, if you could accept the weird layout, then...@@

 24 I AM ALONE

    @@


    I Left Him, He Followed Silently


    I look at the years of our death, it was a year apart. I died when I was thirty five years old and the King was fourty. The ''Prince'' would be eleven when he had to take over the throne.


    "Poor child," it must have been hard for him.


    I try to remember how I died and trace back my memories to when I was alive but the last thing I could remember is my twenty-ninth birthday as that day, the ''Prince'' gave me flowers for the first time. He was five years of age at that time.


    Few years ago...


    "Queen Mother, I have a present for you," the young Prince said with sweats dripping from his forehead. His hands on his back.


    "What is it, my Prince?"


    He held out the flowers he hid on his back and gave it to me. "Thank you for being born and thank you for giving birth to me, Mother," he said with a bright smile.


    "Where did you learn such sweet words?" I asked, touched by his innocent attitude."And where did you get this beautiful flowers?"


    "From the flower field," he said. "Ah, please don''t tell His Majesty," he put his palms together and pleaded charmingly.


    "Tell me what?" The King asked, he was standing behind the Prince. The Prince startled and jumped to hide behind me.


    I smile at the memory. It feels so vivid as if it happened just yesterday.


    But that is the farthest I could remember. I couldn''t recall the next birthdays and years after that. I just knew today when I died.


    ''What exactly happened that year? Was I sick? Or did I get killed?'' I shake my head, it''s such an unpleasant thought.


    I look at the his memorial plaque, "Were you sick? Or were you trying to keep that silly promise?"@@

 25 I AM ALONE PART II

    @@


    Our Silly Promise


    It was after we had confirmed our feelings for each other.


    One night, the Crown Prince took me out to the flower field.


    I took Court Lady Song with me and let her came with us into the flower field. Eunuch Han was there as well but the Crown Prince didn''t let them near the tree, he said it was a special place just for both of us.


    The next day, Court Lady Song gave me a book and asked me to read it.


    "What is this?" I flipped through as I looked at her suspiciously. I could feel my face became hot when I started reading it.


    ***


    On a green field surrounded by colourful flowers, two lovers lied down facing the bright stars on a peaceful night.


    "My future Queen," he spoke and looked at the girl besides him.


    "Yes?" The girl answered without looking at him.


    "Have you ever heard people say that they can do anything when they feel extremely happy?"


    "I''m so happy that I wish time could just stop," his eyes radiated glow of happiness.


    "I think I can die without any regrets right now," he added.


    "Let''s die together," she said.


    The girl looked at him.


    "I''m also happy," she smiled.


    He smiled widely and continued looking at the sky with a satisfied heart.


    "Then let''s stay together even when we are ghosts."


    ***


    "How did you?" I closed the book.


    "Your Highness, your face is so red," she laughed.


    "We didn''t speak that loud, you were few feet away!" I said.


    "Well, I have a wolf''s ears for this thing," then she laughed again.


    "I''ll report this to the Crown Prince," I threatened her.


    "No, Your Highness! His Highness will scold me," she pleaded. "It''s just a safe keeping," she snatched the book from my hand and ran away.


    "Lady Song!"@@

 26 I AM ALONE PART III

    A Betrayer


    "If you become a ghost as well, then where are you?" I drop to my knees and sit on the cold floor. I hug my knees and put my head down. "Come back, take me with you."


    "I miss you," as I said these words my tears spill out. "Where should I go?" I cry and cry the whole night.


    I didn''t realise that it''s already morning when someone enters the memorial room. I look up and I see the ''Prince'' comes in and he''s still wearing his bedclothes.


    He sits in front of the memorial table and after he paid his respect, he sits on the floor while looking at the memorial plaques.


    "Queen Mother," he says. I come closer to him when he calls me as though he could see me.


    "I dreamt of you again last night," his eyes are teary while mine already spilling out. "Oh, My ''Prince'', I''m right here."


    "Do you remember the time when we laid on the flower field? His Majesty was busy that time and didn''t have time to play with us and you said that we would have all the great time ourselves and wouldn''t invite him," he laughs softly but his eyes are sad.


    "Then His Majesty sulked and didn''t let us enter the flower field and we had to coax him for a week!" he smiles and his tears roll down his cheeks. "I miss that time."


    He was only five-year at that time, how can he remember it so clearly?


    "Mother misses you too," I say to him. I want to wipe his tears and hug him on this instant but when I touch his face, my fingers penetrate through and I quickly retracted my hand.


    "Why did you do that?" He says suddenly and I look at him questioningly.


    "Why did you do that and left me behind?" He looks angry as his eyes fixed on my memorial tablet.


    ''What did I do?'' I thought.What did I do to make him look this angry? Was it because I left him and his father behind? I am sure I had no choice. Did I?


    "Why did you betray ..." he trails off. His head down again and he couldn''t finish his words as he starts sobbing.


    "Betray?" I ask him. "I never betrayed anyone," I say defending myself. It hurts to hear my child to say such a corrupted word.


    "What do you mean, my ''Prince''? Who did Mother betray?" I demanded, I want him to answer me but he couldn''t even hear me, how could he possibly answer me?


    He stops crying when he hears someone''s coming into the room. He wipes his tears.


    "Your Majesty," a woman calls. "Why are you here this early?" She drapes a thick garment on him. "Let''s go, you''ll get cold," she says, worried.


    I follow them until inside the chamber, he sits on his bed. The woman orders a palace maid to prepare a hot tea for the King then she returns to him and sits beside him.


    "My Queen," the King says while looking at her. He''s wearing a very sad expression.


    "What is it, My King?" She looks worried.


    "I dreamt of her again," he says and tears filled his eyes.


    "Oh, My King," she takes his hands and wraps it with her small hands. "I''m sorry that I couldn''t comfort you enough but if I could give you a piece of my advice, let her go and you will feel better after that."


    I feel offended by her words and say to her, "How dare you making my child forget about me."


    To my contempt, he agrees with her, "I know. How could I keep thinking about her when she betrayed us like that but My Queen, whenever I dreamt of her, it was all a happy memory. I''d never once dreamt a bad thing about her despite what she had done to us."


    "What did I do to make you say such treasonous thing, my ''Prince''?" I feel anger rushes in me, my heart breaks into pieces.


    My own child said I was a betrayer.

 27 I AM ALONE PART IV

    No One''s Left


    I couldn''t afford to hear their conversation anymore so I stormed out from the room and run towards the South Gate but then I remember the old gate has gone and the entrance into to the flower field has been closed.


    I look at the walls and contemplate to use my ghost-ability to go to the flower field but then, who cares?


    I brace myself and walk through the walls.


    ''Ergh, this feels weird.''


    I reach to the other side and step into the flower field. I run across the field towards the tree.


    I sit under the tree and hug my knees. I relive what the ''Prince'' said in my head.


    My heart feels like it has been struck by thousands of arrows and it pains me more when it was caused by my own child.


    How could he say such words? The charming little prince that I adored before said right in front of me that I betrayed him.


    What did I do that I deserved to be called that?


    I swallow my tears. I wouldn''t cry for such ridiculous claim! I''m sure I didn''t do anything to him. I loved him. I loved the King. I was a good citizen and I was a Queen! Why in the world would I betray them?


    There must be someone that turned me into a betrayer and my child was brainwashed by him! Yes, this must be it.


    "My Prince, Mother is innocent. I would never betray you and your father "


    ***


    After I feel better, I walk back into the Palace and on my way back to the King''s Residence, I noticed a familiar gate.


    It''s the gate of my residence, before. It''s tightly closed and I notice that no one''s around.


    I once again use my ability to get into the residence.


    Quiet.


    The gazebo near my chamber has wild flowers spiraling and covering the wooden pillars and the cement ground covered with green moss. The small pond near it has dried. There used to be a swing on the tree, but the rope had broke off and the swing laid on the ground.


    I go to the chamber and the floor are full with dust and dried leaves. No sign of people living in there, maybe for years. Or, after I died.


    "Isn''t this supposed to be a Queen''s Residence? Doesn''t the current Queen supposed to live here?" I feel weird.


    When I was appointed to be the Queen before, I moved from the Crown Princess''s Residence to the Queen''s Residence while the Queen Dowager moved to a new residence. I was told that the Queen''s Residence will only be used by the Queen.But why no one''s here?


    I come inside the chamber and look around. Most of my things-the things I used to own- are still there!


    The Queen''s robe still hanged on the wooden rack. The jewelleries are still on the table. The books are still stacked on the shelves.Everything that I used to hold, still there. Except for the dust.


    There''s a memorial table with my memorialtablet placed on the corner of the room but there''s no offering. Just an empty table with ...clothes with a blood stained folded next to the tablet? It''s my clothes! Was this my blood?


    How did I die? What exactly happened after I died? No, six years before my death that I couldn''t remember, those years are a mystery!


    ***


    After that day, I had never seen the King enters the Memorial Room again. Maybe he follows what the Queen told her, to let me go. Sigh.


    He''s busy with the nation''s matters and I only go to his residence once a week just to see his face. Most of the time, I''ll be in the Memorial Room, my ''residence'' and the flower field.


    When the Queen gave birth to my ''grandson'', I added the Queen''s residence as my favourite place. I would come and visit the little prince. I like him because he could see me!


    He will laugh when I''m making faces to him and at night I''ll accompany him in his room. But, the joy was short lived. He stopped seeing me as soon as he reached a year-old and I was lonely, yet again.


    I never left the Palace and since I''m used being in the Palace, I''m scared of going out of the Palace. What if I run across a Shaman? That would be a nightmare!


    Moreover, I wonder if the ''King'' became a ghost. Maybe he was searching for me as well, like I do. Maybe he will find me if I just stay in the Palace.


    But, he never came. And a year, ten years and fifty years just went by just like that.


    My ''Prince'' grows old and now he is in his death bed. I watch him silently as his breathing becomes slower and until he breathed his last breath.


    As the ''Prince'' closes his eyes, a younger version of him appears right beside his body, wearing in white, watching sadly at the lifeless body.


    "My Prince?" I call him.


    He looks at me, shocked. "Queen Mother?" Then suddenly his eyes filled with sorrow and he looks at me with those eyes.


    I feel dejected, ''Why would you look at your Mother like that?'' I come closer to him but as I reach out to him, he slowly turns in mist.


    "No, not yet, My Prince!" I cry out. My hand touches an empty air.


    The he disappears, leaving me and the world.


    Even my child left me. Now, I don''t have anyone left in this world. His family feels so unfamiliar to me. I have no place to go and maybe I have no place at all in this world.


    I look at the sky with my teary eyes. Everything feels blurry and my heart feels void. I feel discontent, anger rushes in me.


    "WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR ME?"


    ''Anybody...answer me.''

 28 REINCARNATED

    Living a Ghost Life


    Several years after the death of the ''Prince'', I was lost for a while. I stayed inside my ''residence'' for a few years since I didn''t know what should I do with my ''life''.


    Living a life as ghost is already sad and being alone downgrades me into being a pathetic ghost. No one to talk to or pretending to talk to like what I did with the ''Prince'' or read the scrolls and books with him.


    I couldn''t touch things so whenever the ''Prince'' read a book I was overjoyed because I could read with him but after he left, I had no one to share my ''hobby'' with and the books they read were simply not interesting.


    I guessed the ''Prince'' had inherited my great taste in books and it''s the only ''hobby'' that I could ''participate'' as a ghost.


    I couldn''t taste the tea when there''s a tea lesson, I couldn''t stand to watch the Palace Maids in the embroidery classes. Who could stand to watch people embroidered a flower for an hour?


    There are many things I couldn''t participate and then I was swallowed by sadness and anger, I didn''t even noticed I was staying in the residence for years!


    When I first walked out from the residence, I heard some Palace Maids talked to each other and said that the residence is haunted and sometimes they heard a woman wailed from the building. They said it might camefrom the person who used to stay there and she had become a ghost and have unfinished business so couldn''t get to the other side.


    It felt scary when I heard them shared their paranormal experiences but later I realised they were talking about me.


    I felt sad so I went inside the chamber again. I made a scary noises at night to revenge.


    ''How dare you talk about your late Queen like that?'' What, a ghost? Unfinished business? Ceh!''


    But then, everything they said was the truth that I couldn''t accept. I didn''t know why and when I died, why my child called me a betrayer, why the ''King'' died a year after me, and why there''s a blood on my clothes in my ''residence''.


    I thought my unfinished business was only because I''d wanted to see the ''King'' thus I didn''t get reincarnated but then I realised, there''s more to my death than I thought.


    There''s a story to be told, a secret to be revealed.

 29 REINCARNATED PART II

    My Great-Grandsons


    I was wandering around in my ''residence'' when I heard an announcement from outside the residence.


    "The Queen gave birth to a Prince!"


    The person who announced the happy news was running on his feet around the Palace.


    Now, I''m on my way to the Queen''s chamber. Since the Queen gave birth not just a Prince but also my grandson, I thinkI have a fair share of the commotion.


    There are several Palace Maids, the Royal Physicians, the midwives and even the King are present in the Queen''s Residence.


    This is indeed a happy news. Both, the King and the Queen had been waiting for 10 years for this day.


    The Queen was pregnant before but due to her frail body, she got miscarriage on her first three months. I remembered when I first lost mine.


    After 5 years of waiting, the King brought in a lady from a noble family and made her as his concubine. Few months later, the concubine got pregnant and later gave birth to a son. Thus, he was my first grandson.


    4 years later, the said concubine was given the title of the Royal Concubine and her son was going to be crowned as the Crown Prince.


    But, later the nation received a happy news that the Queen was pregnant thus the decision to crown the Royal Concubine''s child was put on hold.


    Now that that the Queen had given birth to a son, I guess the decision will be put off, forever.


    ***


    The Queen is lying on the bed with the little prince. When I come closer, the little one looks at me and gives a beautiful smile to me.


    There''s a little boy standing near the bed, watching curiously of the adorable little prince. I guess he''s the First Prince.


    "Hello, both of you." I say. But only the little one hears me.


    "Prince Lee, do you know who he is?"


    The Queen asks.


    "A tiny human," he answers innocently.


    "He''s your little brother," the Queen says.


    ''What a great personality.'' I thought. Despite the First Prince being the son of the Royal Concubine, the Queen still treated him as her son. Except for the fact that the little one is the most rightful one, the First Prince still the subject to the throne. His being in the Palace will be difficult as he growing up. The King should take action early.


    The next days after, I frequented the Queen''s chamber to play with the little prince. I feel like, rather than a ghost, I''ve turned into a guardian angel for him.


    He looks so much like the Late Prince when he was a child and being with the little prince cured my missing for the Late Prince.


    ***


    Then few years after, he''s grown into a very fine man.


    He was crowned as the Crown Prince when he was 5 years of age. That day, the King sent out the First Prince and his mother outside the Palace.


    I believed the King feared treasons and other things that you wouldn''t expect could happen in the Palace if you have two heirs of a throne.


    But, 3 years later, the King brought back the First Prince into the Palace. It was told that the Crown Prince was being alone and the Queen apparently didn''t allow him to befriend anyone.


    "Crown Prince shouldn''t have friends, you shouldn''t trust anyone in this Palace and you have to accept that you''ll have a very lonely journey." I heard the Queen said the other day.


    It was harsh but it''s the truth. Being a subject to the throne, no one will be trustworthy enough to be called a friend. You''re actually walking with a sword on your neck. You wouldn''t know, who''s who. A friend or foe, thus it''s better to live without one.


    The King allowed both of them to spend most of their time together.Since the First Prince is older, the King ordered him to teach the Crown Prince. They would be seen together around the Palace almost every day.


    But when the First Prince reached 15 years of age, the King ordered him to join the soldiers in doing missions and he would always out of the Palace after that. This move merely to show that the First Prince is under the authority of the King and those who have treasonous minds are under the King''s scrutiny.


    Even if the two brothers had shown no signs to compete over the throne, they couldn''t run from the schemes inside the Palace. The King knows who and whom are with with and who have knives under their robes, always prepared to end His reign and replaces him with someone else; and Prince Lee is among their candidates.


    He will always end up being the subject to the throne even when he has no purpose to do so.


    ***


    "Your Higness, Eunuch Yun wants to see you," a palace maid says from outside of the room.


    "Let him in," the Crown Prince says while his eyes still locked on the scrolls in front of him.


    "Your Highness," the eunuch pays his respect and then says, "His Highness Prince Lee asked if you have time for a sword practice this evening."


    ''Prince Lee?''Since he was sent out to join the soldiers, it has been five years since I saw him. He will occasionally came into the Palace but only for a short time to meet the King and the Queen.


    I had never had the chance to see him since the Crown Prince will see him at his residence which is on the East Side of the Palace and I have to walk a bit far to go there. Being a lazy ghost is hard.


    "Older Brother has returned from the East Border?" The Crown Prince asks.


    "Yes, Your Highness, His Higness Prince Lee has arrived late last night and ordered me to convey his message this morning."


    "It''s not a good thing to start pointing swords at each other after a year not meeting him," he chuckles. "As expected from Older Brother."


    "Eunuch Moon," the Crown Prince calls the eunuch that attends him. "Please prepare my sport clothes."


    Then he says to Eunuch Yun, "Tell Older Brother to not be late. I would love to show how I''ve progress since our last ''battle''."


    When I heard they are going to the Royal Training Ground, I''m thinking of coming along since it has been years I''ve been in the same place, wandering and haunting the Palace Maids.


    I want to breathe some fresh air and maybe look around the Soldier''s Residence for fresh looks.

 30 REINCARNATED PART III

    The Crown Prince only asked the Eunuch Moon to accompany him to the training ground and I leisurely follow them from behind.


    When we reached the training ground, I split with them and run aroundthe place. The Crown Prince goes straight inside and I walk around outside the place first.


    The last time I was here when the ''King'' wanted to teach me to ride a horse. That time he was still a Crown Prince and unfortunately I still couldn''t ride a horse by myself even after days of his teaching.


    Then he told me not to learn anymore and just ride with him if I want to ride a horse.


    Truthfully, I was just pretending so that I could spend more time with him that time.


    It has been more than a hundred year had passed and the training ground has change a lot.


    There used to be a horse track outside the place but now it has been been replaced with pavements,covering most of the ground around the place.


    The horse stables that used to home the Royal''s horses are replaced with a store for training weapons.


    There are now only few things left that hold the memories of me and the ''King'' and few more years there would be nothing left and I might even forget them myself.


    ***


    After looking around and reminisced some old memories, I decided to go inside and watch them train. I could hear some cheering and applauses come from the middle of the training ground.


    There are a few men - must be the soldiers - standing and shielding my view from the people in the middle. Only the sound of wooden swords thuds repeatedly could be heard emerges from the center of everyone''s attention.


    ''It must be the Princes.'' I try to sneak, I mean, passing through the crowd to go through the middle.


    "Excuse me," I step forward as I pass through each of the soldiers'' bodies like crossing a thick fog. "Oh, this feels weird," I could feel weird sensations each time I pass through each one of them.


    As I reached to the front, I could see both of the Princes are engaging in more to a fierce battle rather than a training. The soldiers are thrilled by the show.


    I look at both of them swaying their swords at each other. I could see the back of the First Prince. He has also grew taller the last I saw him.


    "Ah, they''re both has grown up into a fine man. I''m so..." I couldn''t finish my words as the First Prince turned around and my eyes landed on his face.


    As if the time has stopped and the world stops spinning.


    I couldn''t take my eyes of the First Prince, "My...King?"

 31 REINCARNATED IV

    I stand at the same place unmoved, my eyes locked on the figure in front of me.


    He''s the perfect duplicate of the ''King''. No, He is him!


    They had stopped their training and I step closer to the First Prince.


    "Older Brother, you really not giving me face right now," the Crown Prince says.


    "Do you still want to play now that you''re this old?" He says sarcastically.


    "Hey, don''t be so serious!" The Crown Prince put his hand on the First Prince''s shoulders. "Living in the camps made you rogue, Older Brother," the Crown Prince pouts.


    His eyes, his lips, his nose and even his height are a complete identical to the King when he was young, when I met him for the first time. He looks so alike to be not the ''King'', he must be him.


    His reincarnation!


    He smiles at the Crown Prince, "Maybe you should go and live at the camps as well," he suggests.


    Even his dimples!


    "No no no," the Crown Prince holds his hands up. "I would rather read the scrolls and burning the midnight oil every day than live there," he says and he makes a face as if he is scared.


    "I heard that sometimes you don''t take a bath for a week!" He imagines the situation, "Oh, I couldn''t live without bathing a day! No, thank you. Older Brother, you go, I''ll help His Majesty rule this nation."


    Then his smile fades. The Crown Prince notices it and says, "Hey, let''s go to the city tomorrow. When you''re not here, there''s no one dares to take me out."


    "Alright, let''s wrap up here. I need to pay a visit to His Majesty later," he says and heads to the door.


    I look at the Crown Prince, "My good grandson, I''m not coming back with you," then I run after the First Prince.


    ***


    I follow silently behind him. As if he could hear me anyway.


    I watch his back as he strode back to his residence. His walk has changed. Before, he walked gracefully and every step exuded authority. But now every step is firm and rhythmical. Maybe because he has been trained as a soldier for years and I could see his physical is more sturdy than delicate as the ''King'' used to be.


    ''You must be living a tough life,'' my hand''s reaching out to him but I leave it hanging than touching him. I know I couldn''t touch him and it pains me more if I see my hand passes through his body.


    He lives in the residence close to mine near the South Gate and I noticed only his residence and mine are here and the rest are the library and archive''s buildings.


    "No wonder it feels so quiet around here." I didn''t notice before there are a lof of changes at the South Gate as well.


    There used to be the Crown Princess'' residence near mine but the building has turned into the storage building.


    He enters his chamber and I follow him from behind.


    No one''s attending him and I could see only few Palace Maids around the residence. The eunuch from before just standing outside his chamber.


    ''Probably he''s used to attend himself at the camps.''


    He enters a room and I follow him inside.


    He starts taking off his clothes and I could feel my face blushes as his bare body comes into my sight. When he''s about to take his trousers off, I shut my eyes tightly.


    The I heard a sound of water ripples.


    When I open my eyes, half his body has submerged into the small pool. I just noticed it''s the bathing room then I stormed out the room through the walls.


    "Oh my goodness," my hands are on my cheeks and I could feel it''s burning.

 32 REINCARNATED PART V

    "She''s Waiting For You."


    It has been forever since I step out from the Palace.


    When the First Prince headed out from his residence and went to the Crown Prince''s residence, I followed him behind and suddenly we''re outside the Palace.


    I never wanted to go out from the Palace since the Shamans are probably out there, and I don''t want to experience exorcism. I''m not a bad ghost!


    But, when I realised that I''m actually walking outside of the Palace, it''s already too far away from the Palace and I don''t want to go back alone since I don''t know the way.


    I don''t want to be a lost ghost, so I just follow them closely from behind while keeping my guard for any shamans that could possibly pops up from any directions.


    Both of my grandsons are having so much fun and I''m happy of the two''s bonds.


    I was wary before when the King''s decided to bring the First Prince back into the Palace but looking at them today makes this Grandma''s heart of mine soothed.


    I know that probably the First Prince is indeed the ''King'' and he has finally reincarnated.I felt glad because at least he''s not a ghost and he''s not alone, like me. And, I could see him again even in this form, as long as he''s living healthily, I won''t ask for more.


    For now, this is enough. I would become his ''guardian''.


    ***


    The city is so lively at night and there are tonnes of citizens at the streets walking around and I keep bumping and going through everyone and I didn''t know a ghost could feel nauseous from passing through people.


    After almost three hours of spending time in the city, finally the Crown Prince calls it a day.


    We''re walking back to the Palace when someone''s stops us on our track. An old lady is crouching and her hands are searching something on the ground.


    "Grandma, what are you looking for?" The Crown Prince asks politely.


    "Oh, young man, someone bumped me and sent my stick flying away. I couldn''t find it," she says. She''s a blind person and her eyes are all white.


    I see a long stick not too far away and point at it, "It''s there, there." But no one hears me except for the old lady. She seems to lift up her head and her all-white eyes are looking at me.


    The First Prince picks up the stick and hands it to her.


    They bid her goodbyes and as they walk away, the old lady grabs the First Prince''s arm.


    The First Prince looks at her quizzically. Thenshe leans closer to him and whispers.


    I come closer to hear what she says.


    "It''s time to pay what you had promised," she lets go of his arm and as she says the next words, she ''looks'' at me. "She''s waiting for you."


    The First Prince knits his brows as he looks at her.He wants to ask her something but she walks away and disappears in the crowd.


    "What did she say?" The Crown Prince asks.


    "I had promised something and someone''s waiting for me?" The First Prince scratches his head and looks towards the crowd.


    "What''s that mean? Why does it sound like a marriage''s promise? Do you have someone, Older Brother?"


    "Why does it suddenly about my marriage?" The First Prince looks annoyed. "Whatever,let''s go back, it''s late."

 33 HIS FIRST REINCARNATION

    Treasonous Mind.


    That night after we had returned from the city,I stayed for a while inside the First Prince''s chamber.


    He looked like he was in a deep thought.


    I guessed we were thinking about the same thing - about what the old lady said.


    What had he promised in his previous life? And what did she mean by I was waiting for him? Does his promises related to me? Or does his fulfilling his promises will help me getting reincarnated as well?


    ''He should''ve no recollection of his previous life, doesn''t he? So how would he fulfilled what he promised?'' I''m getting headache by all the thinking so I left the First Prince''s residence and went back to mine.


    ***


    Years had passed by and the old lady''s incident has been forgotten.


    The King, my grandson, had abdicated his throne and gave it to the Crown Prince due to his frail health.


    There were tensions for a while in the Palace since some of the Minsters were found in favour of the First Prince thus they were executed for treason.


    Apparently, few ministers had formed an alliance and formulated plans to challenge His Majesty''s will and claimed that the First Prince had the right for the throne as well.


    ***


    The day before the Corronation Day...


    All the Ministers were present in the hall.


    They were summoned by a mysterious person.


    I saw some of them brought a letter and compared it with the others''. They said they all found the letters tied up on an arrow, stuck on the walls of their residences. I caught a glimpse of the letters'' content,


    ''For The Better of The People, Choose A Wise King. Come To The Main Hall After Dawn.''


    The hall filled with murmurs of the ministers and each of them had their own speculations.


    I could see sides formed between them.


    "The new King had been selected, this is nonsense," a minister said.


    Another minister cleared his throat and said, "We have two heirs to the throne, the people should be given the right to choose."


    The Prime Minister glared at the minister, "Watch your words, Minister Heo. Those are words of treason," he warned.


    Few ministers grunted and held in their tongues. They indeed had the thoughts of showing their support for the First Prince but every wrong step could cost their life.


    The Crown Prince stepped into the Main Hall and then the hall fell silent. He strode to the throne with a gloomy face.


    His voice echoed and broke the dead silence.


    "Seems like the people have another candidate for the throne," he paused then scanned each one of the ministers that were present. "May I know who is their choice?"


    The ministers looked at each other. The Crown Prince was asking a rhetorical question and they knew well enough not to answer.


    Then the First Prince stepped into the hall.


    I was watching nervously at the side. I was afraid that both of my grandsons would be fighting over the throne.


    What would happen to their bonds? Blood is thicker than water, I prayed; maybe I was abandoned but I desperately begged to the sky, ''Not my family.''


    "I believe they had chosen me, Brother," the First Prince said.


    The Crown Prince''s eyes widen and he clenched his fists. He spoke through his gritted teeth, "Not you, Older Brother," his eyes are red. "I would accept anyone else but not you."


    "But I''m afraid there''s no one else, Brother," he said with an unreadable face.


    "No, Princes. Please don''t fight."

 34 HIS FIRST REINCARNATION PART II

    Long Live The King.


    "You think too high of yourself, Prince Lee," the Prime Minister spoke. "His Majesty has abdicated the throne to the Crown Prince, the decision couldn''t be challenged," he glared at the First Prince.


    "Is that so?" The First Prince said. He lifted his right handand suddenly few soldiers ran into the Main Hall and each stood behind the ministers.


    I could see few others guarded the door and some on their horses and lined up in the front court.


    "You planned a revolt?" The Prime Minister tried to come closer to the First Prince but held back by a soldier.


    "Treasonous!" The Crown Prince slammed his hands on the throne and stood up.


    The First Prince smirked and said to the ministers, "I am also the rightful heir to the throne and I was almost crowned as the Crown Prince but my dear brother was born and I was kicked out of the Palace!" He said these words without even looking at the Crown Prince.


    "And then I was told that I can get all the support I could have if I want the throne," he chuckled. "Don''t you see that Dear Brother, they don''t like you," he looked at the Crown Prince but his face still bore the same facade.


    "Stop this, First Prince!" I begged him. But then he pulled out a paper from his clothes and unfolded it.


    "This," he said and lifted the paper towards the Crown Prince. "All the things I would get if I were to overthrow you, Brother."


    "Who are behind you? Spill it!" A minister shouted with rage. Then a soldier grabbed him from behind.


    "No need to rush, Minister Kim," the First Prince said and he nodded to the soldiers that stood behind the ministers.


    The soldiers drew out their swords and pointed it to the ministers.


    "Audacious!" The ministers were taken aback by the soldiers'' action.


    "Stop all this, Older Brother!" The Crown Prince shouted but the First Prince ignored him.


    "Just let go of the throne, Your Highness," a minister said and he stepped forward from the rest of the ministers.


    "Minister Yun, you?!" The Prime Minister said.


    Minister Yun cleared his throat and said, "Admit it, Prime Minister Ji, you don''t want a young and inexperienced King! The First Prince is a better choice for us!" As he said these another minister stepped forward then another until there are 10 of them showed their face and their support for the First Prince.


    "Look at these faces, Brother," the First Price said, "These are the people that you should be aware of." The Crown Prince knitted his brows. There''s something in the First Prince''s words that suddenly soothed him. Then he smiled.


    "Is this a right time to smile, Your Highness?" A minister asked with a sarcastic tone.


    The First Prince drew out his sword and pointed it towards the Crown Prince.


    "Audacious! This is treason!" The Prime Minister shouted.


    Then the First Prince turned around and stepped closer to the ministers that supported him.


    "Your Highness," Minister Yun bowed to him, "We will serve you well."


    With an expressionless face, the First Prince swung his sword to Minister Yun and it cut through his body. His blood splattered on the floor.


    All the ministers gasped.


    Minister Yun was shocked and spoke through his bloody mouth "Your...Highness... you..." Then he dropped to the floor, dead.


    "What''s the meaning of this, Prince Lee?!" A minister grabbed the First Prince by his collar. "We are your alliances!"


    "Don''t lump me with the likes of you," the FirstPrince snorted then he pushed his sword into the minister''s left chest.


    He nodded at the soldiers and then they swung their swords towards the remaining treasonous minsters. One by one dropped to the floor and then the soldiers dragged their bodies outside.


    The First Prince then said, "This should serve as a reminder for what will happen if you betrayed this nation." He turned around and looked at the Crown Prince, he dropped to one knee and his head bowed down to the throne.


    The First Prince''s voice echoed through the hall as he pronounced his loyalty to the Crown Prince, "Long live the King."

 35 HIS FIRST REINCARNATION PART III

    Loyalty and Pride.


    The ministers had left the Main Hall.


    The First Prince still on his knee.


    I sat next to the First Prince.


    "First Grandson, when did you plan all this? I''d always followed you, why didn''t I know about this?" My heart almost fell to the ground when he pointed his sword to the Crown Prince.


    For a moment the word ''betrayer'' popped up in my head. I thought maybe I was a betrayer and it runs in the family.


    Fortunately, it was all the First Prince''s schemes. I wouldn''t want to witness both of grandsons to swing their swords against each other.


    "Dear Brother, explain to me what hadjust happened. You almost got me when you drew your sword," the Crown Prince asked.


    He looked relieved but somehow there was something unreadable behind that facade.


    "They came to me after His Majesty announced his decision to abdicate. I just played along with them and gained their trust by agreeing to plan a revolt."


    "Why did you wait untill today?" It surprised me that there was a suspicion in his tone.


    "I''d wanted to make them to show themselves. I''d only met few of them and the others remained silent not until today. I believed they trusted me and decided to show themselves.If you knew early, you might had them killed long before and we might wouldn''t be able to disclose the others'' involvement," the First Prince explained. His head still lowered down.


    "How can I be sure that''s all of them?"


    The First Prince looked at the Crown Prince, "You''re doubting me, Your Highness?"


    "I never wanted too, Dear Brother. But as soon as I sat on this throne, I shouldn''t give my trust easily. Even if it''s you." The Crown Prince eyes lowered and his hands clasped on the armrests.


    The weight of becoming a King showed in his eyes.


    The words he said were all the truth but I could see the First Prince''s was hurt by those words but he shielded it and put on an expressionless face.


    "Moreover, everything you said about you as a rightful heir is the truth and it sounded like you were saying things from the bottom of your heart."


    "My heart is for this nation but not the throne, I wouldn''t dare to even dream of it," the First Prince defended himself.


    "What''s with this tension? What''s wrong with the two of you? How did we come to this?" Their bonds were breaking slowly and I knew they felt that too.


    "Let''s hope that would last, Older Brother. The ministers might showed themselves but I believed there are more of them in favour of you. Indeed, I was younger and inexperienced compared to you that has lived as a soldier and went to few wars since a young age. I would also pick you if I was a citizen myself."


    "Your Highness..." the First Prince wanted to say something but the Crown Prince interjected.


    "But," he said with an authoritative voice, "His Majesty had chosen me and I trust his choice and I would appreciate it if you accompany me through this journey, Older Brother. I believe both of us would do anything for this nation," the Crown Prince said and he stepped down from the throne and walked towards theFirst Prince.


    He extended his hand toward the First Prince and the First Prince grabbed it and he stood up.


    "Stay with me, Older Brother, be the one that I could give all of my trust. Help me make this nation better."


    The First Prince lowered down his head and said, "I only have my loyalty and my pride to offer you, Your Highness."

 36 HIS FIRST REINCARNATION PART IV

    "General Lee."


    A Few Days After The Coronation Day...


    The King summoned all the Ministers to the Main Hall. He wants to greet the new Ministers that had been elected, replacing all the previous ministers that had been executed in the name of treason.


    I heard the assembly''s also to introduce a new General, the commander of the Royal Soldiers.


    I didn''t see the First Prince in his residence this morning and when I went to the King''s Residence to find him, he was also not there.


    Then the King left his residence and headed towards to the Main Hall, so I decided to follow him instead.


    ***


    I stand right beside him on the throne.This makes me reminisces some old memories when I was a Queen and my seat was next to the throne. It has been hundred years since the last time being this close to the throne.


    Before, I will always accompany the ''King'' during the official banquets and I''d already forgotten what it felt like looking at the people from the throne.


    Standing here next to the King today, rather than feeling superior, I feel heavy. I try to put myself in the place of the King, being young and have thousands of people relying on him, the weight suffocates me.


    The hall falls silent as Eunuch Moon stepped forward, opening a scroll in his hand and he reads it to the people that present there.


    The scroll''s content directed to the new ministers regarding their positions and responsibilities which also included the King''s congratulatory messages.


    "Today, I would also want to introduce to you, the new general for our Royal Soldiers," the King says and he looks at the entrance, "Come in, General Lee."


    All heads turn to the entrance and a person in a in a soldier''s uniform enters the hall.


    Each step is sharp and rhythmical. His head is looking up front, his face is void of expression.


    "First Grandson? The First Prince is the new general?" I''m suddenly feeling proud of him.


    Appointed him as the General means the Kinghas decided to trust him since the General has the Royal Soldiers under his command.


    I''m glad they both protecting their bonds as brothers and now as the King and his subject.


    I could see the changes of expressions in few of the Ministers'' faces as the new General strides across the hall to the front and stops before the throne.


    The General down to one knee and greets the King.


    "Rise, General Lee," the King says and then helooks at the Ministers. "Minister Yun, I''m looking forward to see you work together with General Lee in the Ministry of Defense."


    ***


    After the Ministers left the Hall, the King and the Royal Advisor Li stay behind.


    I stay behind since the General went to the Soldiers Training Camps to greet the soldiers, as the new General.


    The Royal Advisor looks like he''s in a deep thought and the King who''s reading the scrolls notices it and he stops reading, "What is it, Royal Advisor Li?" He asks.


    The Royal Advisor steps closer to the throne and says, "Your Majesty, I am worried for the appointment of the Prince Lee as the General."


    The King raises an eyebrow, "Care to elaborate?"


    "Your Majesty, the First King has received support before and the Ministers even dared to plot treason for him to be the King. I''m afraid by being a General and have thousands of soldiers under him, we will face a backlash," he says in a serious tone.


    "Those ministers are dead, Royal Advisor Li. They showed their support and he killed them. He chose to be loyal to me. I''m sure the same thing will happen if he were to be approached by traitors, again," the King dismisses the Royal Advisor''s speculations and decided to believe in the First Prince.


    "How can you be sure of him, Your Majesty? On top of being the First Prince now he''s also a General, I''m afraid there will be more of his supporters out there, planning to take over the throne."


    The King holds in his rage and grits his teeth, "What are you suggesting, Royal Advisor Li?"


    "Your Majesty, you''re still new to the throne and having the General in the same place with you will lead to comparison from the people. We need to send him away and during that time, we will strengthen your position and show to the people that you''re the best King they would''ve hope for," the Royal Advisor seems been planning a devilish plan that it creeps me.


    The King seems to have taken the bait and responded, "What''s your plan, Royal Advisor?"


    I know the King still doubt not just the First Prince but also himself. When he was younger, I could hear some people compared him with the First Prince. The First Prince isn''t just knowledgeable but living as a soldier since an early age, people look highly of him. People respect him.


    Thus, actually, during the planned revolt, I heard some people whispered that they also preferred the First Prince to be the King. Of course those just whispers, if not they might also face the same fate as the treasonous ministers.


    I''m sure the King also know he''s been compared to his own brother and he does feels insecure about it, it just that he suppresses everything inside and he decides to trust the First Prince.


    ''But the Royal Advisor seems to planning something. Something that might destroy theKing''s trust on the General.''


    The Royal Advisor thinks for a while then say, "Send him to the North Border, Your Majesty."


    The North Border marks the borders with the Ming''s. Before, the ''King'' managed to sign the ''Peace Treaty'' with them and ceased weapons but after the ''Prince'' took over the throne, I heard the Ming broken the peace by attacking the regions near the border. It has been years this nation been in war with the Ming. Before the region was a harmonious village but then in turned into a chaotic region. The Ministry Defense had stationed the Soldiers Camps there to reduce the impact of the war to the regions. Sometimes the Ming will attack them and steal the region''s food supply therefore they are always on guard and sometimes they will engaged in a war and it brings casualties for both sides.


    "To the battlefield?" The King asks. Even though the First Prince has been living with the soldiers and went to a few wars but he has never entered the battlefield and his life has never put in danger. Suddenly, the King feels worried.


    "He''s a General anyway, Your Majesty. Let''s make him prove his worth."

 37 THE GENERAL

    A Crack in Trust.


    After the General left to the North Border, I feel worried for every minute that passed. It has been months he''s there and I''m only hearing news of him from the informants that came to report to the King.


    ''What if something happens to him? What if the Ming attacks the camps when he''s there?'' Bad thoughts filled my head.


    The King has also become busy and the assembly that should be done once a week turns into four to five times a week.


    The King urges the ministers to formulate new proposals for each Ministry and discuss over each plan thoroughly that any flaws detected will have to be devised and presented again.


    The King also ordered the Ministers to revise present laws and regulations for an improvement or to check for irrelevancies.


    Few Ministers complimented the King for being attentive of the Nation''s matters but few others complained that they have so much work and unable to spend more time with their families.


    Not only that, in order to capture the hearts of the people,the King has increased subsidies and reduce taxes. The people are starting to believe the young King is reliable and one that loves his people and the Nation.


    They have forgotten the First Prince as the second heir and once a rival for the throne after he left and the only name that receives all the compliments from the people is the King.


    ***


    The King sits behind the table, stacks of scrolls waiting to be read. He''s in the library accompanied by the Royal Advisor and Eunuch Moon.


    The Royal Advisor looks at the King, "Your Majesty, it seems like the people are in favour of you now. Not other name is mentioned when asked who is the most perfect King for this nation, just you."


    The King feels proud when he heard the news. Indeed, it takes few months to make the name of the First Prince disappears from the people''s mouth when it comes to the question, ''Who is the most suitable King?''


    After months of plans and the General is preoccupied with North Border''s matters, at last, the King receives all the attention from the people.


    The King''s lips form a thin smile, "It''s no use of asking that Royal Advisor, I''m their only King, there shouldn''t be other names."


    "Indeed, Your Majesty, forgive my mistake," I could see the Royal Advisor smirks at the King but the King doesn''t notice it.


    "Eunuch Moon, did you call for the informant?" Th King asks. He ordered EunuchMoon to call for an informant to ask regarding the situation in the North Border.


    "Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Moon calls the informant to enter the room.


    As soon as the informant enters the room, the King inquires him regarding the First Prince and the situation in the North Border.


    "Your Majesty, I received two news from the border this morning, a good and a very unfavourable one," the informant says.


    "Elaborate," the King orders.


    "The good news is the General has completedthe construction of the fortresses as planned and it protects the villages from the attacks of the Ming''s. Soldiers are stationed on each village''s fortress and the attacks has reduced this past month," the informant explains. Now, he looks a bit hesitant for the next part.


    "What is it?" The King demands.


    "The fortress has indeed protected the villages however, the Soldiers Camps has been targeted by the Ming''s and the General went to negotiate some proposals with the Mings but unfortunately the Mings had rejected every offer and they planned to attack. They threatened the General that they had prepared thousand of troops," he paused.


    "The General has decided to attack them, tonight," he says with a heavy tone.


    "What''s the issue?"


    "The General has ordered the few soldiers remained at their respective stations and protect the villages and the others will join him into the battle. But, the Mings said they have thousand of soldiers and compared the numbers of soldiers in the camps, the difference is too big," his face is gloomy. "The General might not have a chance, Your Majesty."


    The King throws the scroll in his hand to the informant, "Audacious!This is all your speculation?!"


    The informant prostates to the floor, " Forgive me, Your Majesty, I''mmerely stating the facts."


    "Facts? The Mings are known for their big mouths. Always lying, arrogant and never ceased to exaggerate. I believe the General has done necessary researches regarding them. That''s why he''s ready to attack them," the King glares at the informant. "Take your filthy mouth out of here before I change my mind."


    "I''m grateful for you grace, Your Majesty," the informant says then he scrambles out of the room.


    The Royal Advisor has been listening to everything in silence and after the informant left he says his thought, "Will it be okay, Your Majesty?"


    The King puts his thumbs between his eyebrows and closes his eyes, "What is it? Royal Advisor?"


    "If the General wins the battle, he''ll be a hero and people will look up to him and he''ll steal the people''s hearts," the Royal Advisor says mockingly.


    The King opens his eyes and glares at the Royal Advisor,"Then do you wish him to lose and die in the war, Royal Advisor?" He speaks with an annoyed tone.


    "Not to that extent, Your Majesty. I''m just calculating possibilities if the General wins the first war he leads and on top of that it''s the war that has been fought by our ancestors - without winning, how will the people think about him after this?" He''s asking a leading question.


    He clearly stating that when the General comes back with victory, the people will start comparing the two again and the King''s efforts will go to the drain. He''s trying to make the King feels inferior of the General and if he succeeds, then the King will always feels insecure and suspicious of the General. ''What is he scheming?''


    "You''re a snake!" I glare at him. "I will haunt you every night. You dare to play with my grandsons!" Is there not a superpower comes with this supernatural life? I had enough being a kind ghost. I want to scare him to death!


    "Don''t think I don''t know what you mean, Royal Advisor Li. I''d appointed you as the Royal Advisor so do what you need to do, advise! Stop speculating about the General, I''ll pretend that I didn''t hear anything. Now, leave."

 38 THE GENERAL PART II

    Rival Once Again.


    I come closer to the King, "Second Grandson, I don''t like that Royal Advisor. Why did you appoint him? He''s trying to wedge war between you and your brother. Expel him," I complain.


    The King sighs as if he''s thinking the same thing as me. The Royal Advisor is truly an unlikable person but his qualifications exceed every man in this nation. I''m sure the King considers his qualifications more than his personality.


    I just wish the King doesn''t take into consideration of what the Royal Advisor said about the General.


    ***


    A few days later, during the weekly assembly an informant from the North Border comes and asks permission to meet the King.


    "Call him in," the King says to Eunuch Moon. The King dismisses the Ministers as he knows some of the Minister dislikes any news regarding the General, any progress he made will make them suspicious.


    The informant greets the King. "Your humble servant greets you, Your Majesty."


    "Rise. What''s the news?" The King enquire.


    "Your Majesty, I bring a good news for you," his face brightens. "Our soldiers had won the battle against the Ming! It''s all thanks to General Lee''s strategies."


    "It''s indeed a good news!" The King smiles widely. "Tell me more on the General''s strategies that brings us victory!"


    I sit on the steps, waiting for the informant to share the story of my grandson''s first battle experience.


    "The General knew that the Ming was only exaggerating about their numbers to make us scared but the General told us to let the Ming think that we really were scared. He sent an informant into the Ming''s soldiers camps to spread rumours that our soldiers were afraid so that the Mings will become more arrogant." The informant smirks.


    "The night before the battle, their Commander sent an observer to observe our camps and the observer returned with a bright face. He reported to the Commander that our camps looked deserted. Only few tents had lights and others were dark, sign of no people inside. Only few campfires were burning, sign of only few people needed heat. Since it''s still snowing in the North and it was indeed very cold, the observer believed our deception. The camp was so quiet that he believed most of the soldiers had indeed deserted. He calculated our numbers to be less than theirs.


    "It was actually the General''s ideas. He ordered us to tear down some tents and put off the lights on few other tents so that they think some of us indeed had ran away due to being scared. Then the General told us to make only few campfires and made us wore thick coats so that we wouldn''t be froze to death since he asked us to take turn to sit in front of the campfires and made a little noise as possible. Like what the General had predicted, we managed to deceive them."


    The King laughs, "As expected from Older Brother, he''s such a trickster. Continue."


    "On the day of the battle, we could see the arrogance of the Mings as they''re few meters away from the border. The Commander and General Lee met at the center and he made a proposal to the General."


    "What is it?" The King''s body moves forward as he asks, curious.


    "It''s an irrelevant information, Your Majesty. The Mings were being arrogant."


    The King becomes more curious, "Are you trying to withhold something from your King? Spill it."


    The informant drops to his knees, "Forgive me, Your Majesty. The Commander knew that the General is the First Prince and he offered him his full assistance if he wishes to become a King."


    "Absurd!" The King stands from the throne and strides down towards the informant. He stops a meter away. The informant bows lower as the King''s standing in front of him. "What was the General''s reply to this?"


    The informant lifts his head a little and says, "The General did not reply, Your Majesty. He came back to his line and told us to ready to fight and I heard the Commander''s arrogant remarks as he saw our small numbers. But he didn''t know that our soldiers had already surrounded them and they broke their formations when being ambushed. The Commander had fled and eventually their soldiers fall back."


    The King looks uninterested for the rest of the story. There is something in his mind instead and I know what it is.


    The thought of the General being his rival surfaces again, his face shows insecurity.


    "My Grandson, there''s nothing to worry about. I''m sure the General didn''t take into consideration of that offer."


    He dismisses the informant and asks him to relay his congratulatory message to the soldiers and he is proud of their achievements.


    The King sits on the throne and lean back on the chair. He closes his eyes and sighs, "Brother."

 39 THE GENERAL PART III

    The Sword of a Betrayer.


    The Royal Advisor comes into the hall followed by two Grade 5th Officials bringing piles of scrolls in their hands.


    "Your Majesty, these are the reports regarding the new lands that need your approval," the Royal Advisor ordered the officials to put the scrolls on the table.


    The King doesn''t say anything and gestured them to leave.


    The officials leave the hall but the Royal Advisor remains.


    The King looks at him, "What is it, Advisor Li?"


    "Your Majesty, I heard the news of our soldiers'' victory in the North Border," the Royal Advisor takes a step forward. "And I heard the General showed an excellent leadership."


    I roll my eyes. ''What are you trying to say now, Snake?''


    "He had indeed excelled in his duty, he proved his worth," the King says sarcastically.


    "Of course, Your Majesty," the Royal Advisor''s face looks annoyed. He was the one who proposed to send the General to the North Border. I guess he didn''t expect him to win the battle.


    "But, Your Majesty, I heard a few Ministers are taking this news rather¡­negatively," he throws the bait.


    The King knows what the Ministers are thinking but he heard the General''s vow, his loyalty shouldn''t be questioned.


    "Let them think what they want, I''m tired of their speculations," the King stands up from the throne and walks out from the hall.


    The Royal Advisor looks disappointed that the King ignored him. He follows the King from behind.


    The King heads to the Memorial Room and stops on a corner. In front of him lays a sword, nicely placed on a gold stand. I recognise the sword, I know the owner.


    The Royal Advisor knits his eyebrows.


    The King takes the sword from the stand and unsheathes it. Despite its age, the sword looks shiny and nicely polished. Someone must have been taking care of it.


    "This going to be a good reward for him," the King holds the sword horizontally and examines it. The light reflected from its blade. For a moment I feel like I''m seeing something else as the light shine into my eyes.


    ''What was that?''


    "You''re giving him the sword?" The Royal Advisor raises an eyebrow.


    "Yes," the King answers short and put the sword back into its sheath.


    "You must have known the history of the sword, Your Majesty?"


    The King''s face looks unpleasant. "Like you said, it''s a history."


    "And history always repeats itself, Your Majesty. Years ago, the Great King Lee III, killed his most trusted general, who betrayed him, using the same sword he awarded him to."


    I look at the Royal Advisor, The Great King Lee III was the ''King'' and the General he said was General Sun. Why did he say the ''King'' killed General Sun? When did that happen? Was it after I died? General Sun betrayed the ''King''? But he was a loyal subject!


    Suddenly my head starts spinning and the sight before me becomes so bright that it hurts my eyes.


    "What is happening?" I shut my eyes tight and when I open them, I''m suddenly in a different place.


    ***


    I look around me. I''m in front of a door to a chamber. I heard people arguing inside the chamber. I step forward and walk through the walls into the chamber. My heart beats faster as I''m getting closer to the voices. I recognize the owner of the voices and I never thought I could hear it once again.


    It''s the ''King''. He''s arguing with the Queen Dowager.


    "Your Highness, all evidence is right before you, why are you still denying it?"


    "The Crown Prince is just five years old, isn''t it absurd to have people wanting him to be a king at such a young age? This is all just an absurd rumours to humiliate the Queen!" The King''s face is red. I had never seen him so angry.


    "You are right but it''s not the Crown Prince they serve, it''s the Queen and General Sun is her lover!"


    "Audacious! She''s the Mother of this Nation, beware that someone might hear you, Queen Dowager." The ''King'' glares at her.


    "It is better someone hears me so that they know how rotten she is behind her golden robe."


    "What is happening? Why would I be someone else''s lover? My heart is all for the King!"


    I try to pull the ''King'' out of the room but I dropped to the ground as soon as I touch him and my whole body passes through him. I swallowed my tears.


    "I showed you all the proofs of her betrayal but still you are defending her. You must be blinded by that stupid love. Remember, you are a King, don''t let love fools you and let this nation suffers just because she looks innocent."


    The ''King'' leaves the chamber and I run after him.


    "My King, what is happening? Why is everyone calling me a betrayer? I''m not, I''m loyal to you."

 40 THE GENERAL PART IV

    Loyalty and Betrayal.


    The ''King'' stops in front of a chamber and asks a palace maid, "Is the Queen asleep?"


    Huh? This is weird.


    "The Queen went to put the Crown Prince to sleep, Your Majesty. She is now not in her room."


    The ''King'' enters the chamber and sits behind the table.


    I look at his troubled face. What did the Queen Dowager showed to him to make him look like this?


    A few minutes later, a woman enters the room. I feel astounded and weird to look at myself from another ''perspective''.


    But, I don''t remember this moment. I don''t have any recollection of this memory. Was this a part of the forgotten memories of mine?


    "My King, what brings you here this late?"


    The ''King'' doesn''t say a word but only looks at her.


    "What is it?" She sits next to the ''King'' and takes his hands, "You look troubled."


    The King sighs, "My Queen, I want you to be honest with me, are you hiding something from me?"


    She knits her eyebrows but she says confidently, "I have nothing to hide from you, My King."


    "Then, that''s all that matters." He smiles weakly. "Go to sleep, it''s late." He stands up and ready to leave.


    "It''s already late, just spend the night here. I''ll call the palace maid to prepare the bed."


    "No, it''s alright, I still have matters to attend to. Goodnight," he bends and kisses her forehead then he leaves without looking back.


    I look at myself wearing a worried face then I follow the ''King''.


    He goes to the Main Hall and asks Eunuch Han to call General Sun.


    A few minutes later, General Sun comes. "Your Majesty," he greets.


    "General," the ''King'' says with a heavy tone. "Let me be honest with you," the King''s eyes are intense.


    "I heard some unpleasant rumours about you lately, care to enlighten me?"


    General Sun knits his eyebrows and looks confused, "Pardon this lowly servant but what sorts of rumours Your Majesty is referring to?"


    The King sighs, "I heard you are training soldiers with a different purpose, General Sun. They are Royal Soldiers and their service should be for the King and the nation but instead I heard¡­" the King paused and stands up from his seat. "They serve you," his tone sharp.


    General Sun drops to his knees with his head low, "Your Majesty, it''s a false accusation! I''m being slandered," he says defending himself.


    "You are, of course," the King steps down from the throne towards General Sun. He walks past General Sun and says, "Follow me."


    I walk right behind them, following silently. I don''t even know my existence in this world anymore, am I a ghost or a lost spirit? But this moment may bring the answers that I had been looking for.


    ***


    The King brings the General to a building next to the Ministry of Justice. Inside the place, there are five people tied on chairs and their clothes are wet from their blood. There are three people sitting in front of them, I guess they are the interrogators while the ones standing are the ones carrying out the punishments.


    The interrogators rise from their chairs and drop to one knee to greet the King.


    The King stops right in front the bloodied men and looks at General Sun.


    "Do you recognise them?"


    General Sun looks appalled by the view and he doesn''t even hide his anger, "They''re the Royal Soldiers, my comrades and my brothers. Who did this to them?"


    "Me," the King says. The General looks questioningly at the King.


    "Your brothers over here were found plotting regicide and they admitted they were ordered by you," the King says.


    "Nonsense, I will never do such treacherous act! Your Majesty, we are being slandered!"


    "He''s lying, Your Majesty," a man in the chair gathered his strength to speak and looks at General Sun. "He made us practice in a different place with thousand others without anyone''s knowing. He''s a greedy human! He wants to be a King!"


    "YOU! Who made you say this?" General Sun questions him, his hand is already on his sword''s hilt.


    "You stepped on our pride and made us bowed to you. You don''t deserve to be called a General!" Another man shouts.


    The King becomes angered that he takes the sword from the General''s sheath and cuts all the men to death mercilessly. The blood splattered on his robe and his face.


    My heart almost fell to the ground. I don''t think I recognise the ''King'' in front of me. I feel nauseous from seeing all the blood.


    General Sun drops to his knees. "Your Majesty, I won''t defend myself anymore. My comrades that I''d treated as my brothers said I don''t deserve my title. I feel humiliated to hear such words from them. Even if this is an act to defame me but let me die honourably before my name becomes tarnished.Forgive me, Your Majesty. I failed you."


    The King puts the swords on the General''s neck. The blade cuts him and blood slowly flowing out from his skin. Then the King pulls the sword away and throws it to the ground.


    "Don''t you dare to end your life without my permission," then the ''King'' walks away and leaves the General.

 41 THE GENERAL PART V

    "I Trust You."


    Then the next day, the Ministers requested the ''King'' to attend an assembly in the hall.


    "What will be the urgent matter that all of you are here today?"


    "Your Majesty, we received suspicious letters from an unknown source and the said letters contain treasonous information."


    "What is the content?"


    The Prime Minister steps forward. He gives the King the letters. The ''King'' reads the letters intently and his rage shows as he rips the letters into pieces.


    "Audacious! Who would believe such accusation from a letter?!"


    "I believe this is not a false accusation, Your Majesty," the Prime Minister says. "Last night, the interrogators to such accused people said you had killed their witnesses and may I know if the action was to protect the perpetrators?"


    The ''King'' stumped for words as General Sun and the ''Queen'' come into the Hall. They greet the King and stay on their knees.


    "Your Majesty, we heard we are being the center of everyone''s rage. We come to show that we''re not afraid to be interrogated and will give our full cooperation," the ''Queen'' says.


    "General Sun, I don''t think that it''s necessary to ask questions anymore," the Ministry of Defense says. "The result of the interrogation last night helped us to find the thousand others that perpetrated with him, Your Majesty. We had already executed them," he reports.


    General Sun is shocked to hear the news and unsheathed his sword and points it to the Minister. "What did you do to my brothers?! We are being accused of things we didn''t do, why did you just simply took their lives without a concrete proof?" The sword is just inches away from the Minister''s face but I could see that the General has no intention to swing his sword to anyone there. His rage does not cloud his judgement.


    "I think you''re mistaken about something, General Sun. Your brothers had been interrogated for days and they had told everything about your plans, you''re one greedy human aren''t you?" The Minister of Justice steps in.


    "Your Majesty, we had also inspected General Sun''s residence and found excessive amount of proofs of his despicable plans," the Minister instructed few servants to bring in a chest and put in front of the throne. He opens the chest and makes most of the audience there gasped and starts to murmur.


    Inside the chest I could see stacks of gold bars and few land deeds and expensive jewelleries. To my surprised, I catch a glimpse of a jewellery that I used to own before the Ministry closes the chest. The ''King'' stands up, he looks perplexed as he looks at both the General Sun and the ''Queen''.


    "Your Majesty, it''s not what you think. I''m not a traitor!"


    "Everyone, leave," the ''King'' orders. "My Queen, General Sun, both of you stay."


    "Your Majesty, we still have not decided what¡­" the Prime Minister has not finishes his sentence as the ''King'' snaps, "LEAVE!"


    The Ministers are hesitant and look at each other. They leave the hall and the Palace Guards close the main door.


    "Your Majesty, please strip their titles and expel them from this Nation. Please make a wise judgement, Your Majesty!" I could hear the Ministers say these words repeatedly from outside the hall.


    The ''King'' looks worn-out, "How did we come to this?" The ''King'' asks in a low voice.


    "My King, I admitted that I was baffled when I first heard of this accusation. They said that I want my five year old son to become a King and that General Sun is my lover and willing to help me to¡­" she pauses and looks down. "Kill you. Where will I get the courage to kill the King of this Nation and on top of that, My Husband? All of this totally absurd! I can''t believe that they could go as far as to create false proofs to turn us into traitors!" She stands up and looks directly at the ''King''.


    "My King, I am not asking this for myself but you should know how loyal General Sun is to you. He has served the King before and now he serves you. If he has treasonous mind, he would have been a traitor long ago, why wait until now?" The ''Queen'' defends the General.


    I feel like she''s not me at all. All the words she said and her feelings she portrayed feel so unfamiliar and distant. I doubt that we are the same person and I''m just watching a stage play.


    The ''King'' doesn''t say a word but looks at the General with a wary expression.


    The General looks hurt by the King''s expression and he succumbs to his fate. He grips his sword tightly and says to the ''King'', "My King, my life is yours." Then he stabs his left chest with his sword right through his heart.


    As he says his final words, bloods dripping from his mouth, "Betraying you will never be my choice but having to lose your trust makes my existence no longer valuable in this world." He drops to the floor.


    The ''King'' runs to his side and shouts, "Call the physician!" He pulls the General to his lap and wipes his bloodied face. "I''m sorry to have doubted you. I trust you. I trust you." He says repeatedly.


    The General smiles when he hears the words but the pain takes over and he winches while saying, "Thank you. Say to them that you kill me, Your Majesty. Tell them that I admitted my fault and the Queen is not involved in this," then he closes his eyes and breathed his last breath.


    "No!" The ''King'' hugs the lifeless body and tears stream down his face.


    The ''King'' stays there for a few minutes and the ''Queen'' comes to him, "My King," she puts her hand on his face, wipes out the marks of tears off his face. She pulls him to his feet and straightens his robe.


    "Go," she says.


    The ''King'' pulls the sword from the General''s body slowly and heads to the door.


    "Open the door."

 42 HIS DEATH

    The King''s Dark Sides.


    The ''King'' stands in front of the door. The Palace Guards open the door slowly and the bright light enters the hall. I close my eyes as the light touches my face and when I open my eyes again, I''m back in the Memorial Room.


    The King and the Royal Advisor are still there.


    "The Commander managed to flee during the battle. Don''t you feel something was off, Your Majesty?"


    The King doesn''t say anything but stares at the Memorial Table.


    The Royal Advisor continues his speculations, "The General was offered assistance by that Commander and he managed to flee while his soldiers were apprehended. I''m afraid the General had promised something to that arrogant Ming," he sneers.


    The King pulls out the sword and put it on the Royal Advisor''s neck, inches away from his skin, "Enough! I''m tired of everyone saying the same thing all over again!" The King snarls.


    The Royal Advisor is taken aback by the King''s action but stay composed. "Your Majesty, I''m your advisor and I vowed to serve you and this Nation with my life. You couldn''t hide the fact that the General is a threat to you and the throne. He might be loyal now but we will never be able to guess human''s heart. For the sake of this nation, strips him from his title and expel him, Your Majesty."


    The King drops the sword and sighs.


    "Advisor Li, I grew up with my brother and we share the same blood. He vowed his loyalty and I trusted him. But what you said are all true, human''s heart, it couldn''t be predicted. Do you know why I let him stay near me?"


    He puts the sword back into its sheath and walks toward the Memorial Table.


    "The Kings before me either killed their siblings or anyone that have rights to the throne as soon as they became the King. They thought that was the best thing to do but they had lost their families. I don''t want to be like them, Advisor Li," his eyes teary.


    "My Father told me to believe him but do you know what came to my mind when he said that? Jealousy! I know he cared so much about Older Brother but that was just an ugly emotion. Older Brother taught me many things and I know why Father asked me to trust him. All those words and speculations I heard about him, do you think I just ignored it? It consumed me!" He put his hand on his chest.


    "I''d started to be wary of him and the day before the coronation day, I was scared! He could''ve killed me back then but instead he bowed to me. But it made restless, these evil thoughts!"


    "That''s why I let him stay, I let him near me, at the place where I can see him clearly. His every word and every action, I know each of it," he looks at the Royal Advisor. "I couldn''t let him far from me, it makes me restless."


    The Royal Advisor seems to have discovered a treasure chest when he heard the King''s confession. I could see that he will use this for his own benefit. His face brightens but then he puts a concerned fa?ade.


    "Your Majesty, forgive me for being unaware of your worries. I am such an incompetent servant," the Royal Advisor''s head low and his face gloomy.


    The King sighs, "I couldn''t blame you, Advisor Li. For these I had long buried in my chest, it''s not a desirable sight of a King to have such thoughts. It''s a weakness and I would prefer you not to disclose any of it to anyone," the King says more like an order to the Royal Advisor.


    "Understood, Your Majesty."

 43 HIS DEATH PART II

    Serves as a Warning.


    The King sits on the throne while the Royal Advisor stands next to him.


    ''We'' are waiting for the arrival of the General. He just arrives from the North Border and is on his way to the Palace, an informant reported a few minutes ago.


    I hear horses galloping from the North Gate and stop in front of the Main Hall. A Palace Guard announces the arrival of General Lee together with Lieutenant Ji and Lieutenant Han; both are second in command of the Royal Soldiers after General Lee.


    "Your Majesty," they greet the King. The King tries to form a smile on his face. He looks happy to see his brother comes back alive but deep in his eyes I could see his wariness.


    "Older Brother, welcome home," the King says. "I am delighted to see you. You managed to bring victory to our Nation," he congratulates them.


    "We humbly accept your compliments, Your Majesty," they say in sync.


    The King calls Eunuch Han. Eunuch Han comes in with tray on his hand. On the tray is the sword the King wanted to give to the General; the sword that said the previous King used to kill his subject.


    I witnessed the said event and I knew the ''King'' did not kill General Sun but General Sun wanted the ''King'' to say he killed him, to save me and most importantly it was to protect the ''King'' and his name.


    How hurtful was it for the ''King'' to tell them that the General was a traitor? What happened after that day? Why did I not remember any of the events? Even I looked different in the vision, was it a vision?


    I guess the ''King'' said everything as according to the General''s last wishes. The General sacrificed his life for the sanctity of the ''King'' and he even protected the honour of the ''Queen''. Maybe that was why everyone thought the General was a traitor and the sword awarded to him was used to kill him.


    It saddens me that I couldn''t tell anyone about his sacrifice and he was nothing a betrayer but a loyal servant.


    "General Lee, come forward," the King orders. He takes the sword from the tray and slowly descends from the throne towards the General. The General stands up but his head stays low as he takes a step forward.


    The King stops in front of him. "Lift your head, General Lee," he orders. He hands the swords to the General, "This sword has been passed to the Kings before me and Father had handed down it to me before he left this world. This sword was used by the Great King III when he fought with the Mings and subdued them. Now, I''m giving you this as your award to have won the battle that we had long desired."


    The General drops to one knee and accepts the sword, "Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty."


    The King also rewarded the other soldiers and granted them three days banquets to celebrate their victory. He attended the first day but left early, the same went with the General. The General went back to his residence after he greeted all his comrades and excused himself by saying he was feeling unwell.


    I followed the General back to his residence.


    He''s in his chamber. I thought he was going to get a rest so I didn''t follow him into his chamber but after a few hours, his chamber still bright with light.


    I enter his chamber and see he sits with his back leaning against the wall. His eyes closed and the sword lies on the floor in front of him. His jaw tensed and his brows furrowed.


    "What are you thinking, First Grandson?"


    Then there''s a knock at the door, "General Lee, can I borrow a bit of your time?"


    He opens the door and let the man in. It''s the Lieutenant Han.


    "Why aren''t you in the banquet?" the General asks.


    "What about you? You went missing minutes after the event started,"Lieutenant Han is speaking informally to the General, more to like friends having a conversation.


    "I''m just¡­tired," the General''s giving excuses.


    "You are not, I know," the Lieutenant says as his eyes linger on the sword.


    The General notices the Lieutenant''s gaze and takes the sword and put it on the table.


    "What are you thinking, General?" He suddenly turns formal.


    "This sword serves more than just an award, that it serves as a warning for me," the General spills his thought.


    "How did you arrive to such scary thoughts? I believe that His Majesty has no other meanings behind that," the Lieutenant''s looking at the General with a puzzled expression.


    "He''s the King of this Nation, nobody knows what he''s thinking," the General says. "But, as his General, I know exactly what this sword means and I''m thankful that he decided to arrive to such conclusion - to not believe easily. That is what this sword means that my life is his and I''m more than willing to offer him that. But as a Brother, this sword means that I am too under his control and that also means, he does not believe in me anymore, even as his Brother," the General looks pained.


    "I know I shouldn''t let personal feelings getting through my relationship with him but before I serve him as the General, I was his Brother. I wanted him to believe me as his Brother that even the world turns back at him, I will still by his side. I don''t want him, to be wary of me. I know that he''s restless because of my position and what the people had been saying about me. I could let go of this position anytime but I couldn''t do much as his Brother without a position, this place is a scary place and I don''t want him to face it alone."


    The Lieutenant just sits there silently and hears the General''s concern.


    "Forgive me Lieutenant, I shouldn''t say any of these to you."


    "No, General Lee, I''m happy that you''re willing to spill everything that''s been in your head," the Lieutenant smiles. "You''re always on restraints and less words. Sometimes I feel frustrated to guess what''s on your mind," the Lieutenant complains.


    A thin smile forms on his mouth, "Thank you for your understanding, Lieutenant."

 44 HIS DEATH PART III

    The Devil''s Plans


    After taken a rest for a week, one early morning the General heads out in his sport clothes to the Royal Training Ground.


    The General and Lieutenant Han start running in laps and after that they continue with sword fighting and after that they practice some martial arts.


    After a few hours, they stop and sit at a gazebo near the training ground. A Palace Maid comes and gives them water.


    "I''m thinking going back to the North Border tomorrow to monitor some progress," the General says after he finishes gulped down three cups of water.


    "We''d only here for a week, we need more rest, we had been in the battle ground for months," Lieutenant Han complains.


    The General shakes his head, "My body already feels rusty and I''m only going for a while."


    "Well then, I''m going with you," the Lieutenant offers.


    "No," the General refuses, "I need you to be here, watch after the King for me."


    Lieutenant Han does not refute but just smile and nods his head.


    ***


    As the General prepares his things, I go to the Main Hall to check on my Second Grandson. It has been a week since I saw him and I never trust that Royal Advisor to be constantly near him. My plans to haunt him failed when I found out that he has shamans living in his resident, he is said to be very devoted to his religion and I couldn''t risk being exorcised by the shamans.


    When I arrive, the King is reading scrolls and discussing some important matters with few ministers so I just sit idly on the steps and hear their discussions.


    When I was a ''Queen'', I had never involved in assemblies. My time was occupied with the Royal Court matters, which included matters regarding the Court Ladies, Palace Maids and rules and regulations for women in the Palace. The ''King'' had never really discussed such matters with me unless he needed some opinions from a different perspective.


    After the assembly, the King heads back to his residence but he does not take a rest instead he continues reading books. I guess the hobby runs in the blood.


    After a while, Eunuch Moon comes in and says that the Royal Advisor Ji is seeking an audience with the King.


    "Your Highness," the Royal Advisor greets the King with a troubled expression.


    "Advisor Ji, what''s your concern?" The King inquires.


    "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this is a very bad news," Royal Advisor says.


    "What is it?" The King''s face turns serious.


    "Your Majesty, I am not sure who is the perpetrator but words have been speculating around the Palace and it is making people afraid."


    "What words?"


    "About the Commander of the Ming''s proposition to the General Lee," the Royal Advisor says with a heavy tone.


    The King stands abruptly and almost shouts, "Who dare to spread those words?"


    The Royal Advisor drops to his knees and says with a trembling voice, "Forgive me, Your Majesty but I have no knowledge of this. I was on my way to the Royal Library yesterday when I heard the palace maids whispering to each other about the matter. When I asked them where they heard such words, they said it has been around ever since the General arrived from the North Border."


    The King grunts at his answer, "Are you sure you have investigated thoroughly?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty. I even threatened to expel them if they tried to protect the perpetrator but they all did not know how it started," the Royal Advisor explains.


    The King sits back to the throne and sighs, "This is not a good situation, if the words spread until out of the Palace, the people might demand the General to be stripped from his title, there will be uproar."


    From the way I''m seeing this, the King is surely worried about other things, the one that instigated this might hold hatred towards the General or worse, he is supporting such words and his hatred is towards the King. Both situations are not in favour for the General.


    If the person is holding hatred against the General, then spreading those words might cause retaliation of them who had long been restless of his position and how near he is to the throne. They might demand him to be stripped from his title or worse, executed in the name of treason.


    But, if the person is holding hatred against the King, then his action is merely to instigate a cold war. Nobody knows of what the King''s thinking about the General, only one person¡­ the Royal Advisor. If he is the one that spread those words or there had been no such incidents but merely his stage play, he is using the King''s weakness for his evil plans.


    Both end with the General''s fall.


    "Should I execute them, Your Highness?" The Royal Advisor suggests.


    "No, they merely heard from someone that might purposely do it due to some personal grudges towards the General. Killing them is unnecessary."


    Suddenly the Royal Advisor stands up and says, "Your Majesty, what about we send the General to the South Border," he suggests.


    "Why so?"


    "The people will be worried if the General stays too long in the Palace and due to the rumours, they will feel restless and concern about you, Your Majesty. Let the General be away from the Palace and during that time I will find the perpetrator behind this."


    The King contemplates, "The Jin Clan in the South Border is known for their barbaric nature and their hatred towards the Mings. If by fault these words made known to them, they might retaliate against the General. It is such an unsafe place."


    "The South Border is far away from here, Your Majesty, I''m sure that no one have heard of these words just yet, it''s probably safer there for the General than here," The Royal Advisor says and then he adds, "I''m sure you are worried about the General''s safety as well, Your Majesty, but sending him away is a better choice for now."


    Then the King nods, "Alright. Eunuch Moon, call the General."


    As I glance over at the Royal Advisor, I could see a smirk on his face but he quickly washes it away.


    "What now?"


    ***


    "Your Majesty, I was about to visit you," the General greets the King.


    "Of what purpose, Older Brother?"


    "I was going to ask for your permission to go to the North Border, I would like to monitor some progress. There were some casualties and destruction caused by the battle with the Mings before and I would like to check how are they progressing with the restoration," the General explains.


    The King raises an eyebrow, "Hmmmm."


    ''He''s doubting him.'' I thought as I''m assessing the situation.


    "There''s nothing to be worried about regarding the matters in North Border. I have sent Lieutenant Ji to handle the situation over there," the King says.


    The General looks at the King questioningly.


    "I have another mission for you instead, General Lee," the King''s voice turns authoritative.


    "What is it, Your Majesty?"


    "Go to the South Border."

 42 THE GENERAL PART VI

    The King''s Dark Sides.


    The ''King'' stands in front of the door. The Palace Guards open the door slowly and the bright light enters the hall. I close my eyes as the light touches my face and when I open my eyes again, I''m back in the Memorial Room.


    The King and the Royal Advisor are still there.


    "The Commander managed to flee during the battle. Don''t you feel something was off, Your Majesty?"


    The King doesn''t say anything but stares at the Memorial Table.


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    The Royal Advisor continues his speculations, "The General was offered assistance by that Commander and he managed to flee while his soldiers were apprehended. I''m afraid the General had promised something to that arrogant Ming," he sneers.


    The King pulls out the sword and put it on the Royal Advisor''s neck, inches away from his skin, "Enough! I''m tired of everyone saying the same thing all over again!" The King snarls.


    The Royal Advisor is taken aback by the King''s action but stay composed. "Your Majesty, I''m your advisor and I vowed to serve you and this Nation with my life. You couldn''t hide the fact that the General is a threat to you and the throne. He might be loyal now but we will never be able to guess human''s heart. For the sake of this nation, strips him from his title and expel him, Your Majesty."


    The King drops the sword and sighs.


    "Advisor Li, I grew up with my brother and we share the same blood. He vowed his loyalty and I trusted him. But what you said are all true, human''s heart, it couldn''t be predicted. Do you know why I let him stay near me?"


    He puts the sword back into its sheath and walks toward the Memorial Table.


    "The Kings before me either killed their siblings or anyone that have rights to the throne as soon as they became the King. They thought that was the best thing to do but they had lost their families. I don''t want to be like them, Advisor Li," his eyes teary.


    "My Father told me to believe him but do you know what came to my mind when he said that? Jealousy! I know he cared so much about Older Brother but that was just an ugly emotion. Older Brother taught me many things and I know why Father asked me to trust him. All those words and speculations I heard about him, do you think I just ignored it? It consumed me!" He put his hand on his chest.


    "I''d started to be wary of him and the day before the coronation day, I was scared! He could''ve killed me back then but instead he bowed to me. But it made restless, these evil thoughts!"


    "That''s why I let him stay, I let him near me, at the place where I can see him clearly. His every word and every action, I know each of it," he looks at the Royal Advisor. "I couldn''t let him far from me, it makes me restless."


    The Royal Advisor seems to have discovered a treasure chest when he heard the King''s confession. I could see that he will use this for his own benefit. His face brightens but then he puts a concerned fa?ade.


    "Your Majesty, forgive me for being unaware of your worries. I am such an incompetent servant," the Royal Advisor''s head low and his face gloomy.


    The King sighs, "I couldn''t blame you, Advisor Li. For these I had long buried in my chest, it''s not a desirable sight of a King to have such thoughts. It''s a weakness and I would prefer you not to disclose any of it to anyone," the King says more like an order to the Royal Advisor.


    "Understood, Your Majesty."

 43 THE GENERAL PART VII

    Serves as a Warning.


    The King sits on the throne while the Royal Advisor stands next to him.


    ''We'' are waiting for the arrival of the General. He just arrives from the North Border and is on his way to the Palace, an informant reported a few minutes ago.


    I hear horses galloping from the North Gate and stop in front of the Main Hall. A Palace Guard announces the arrival of General Lee together with Lieutenant Ji and Lieutenant Han; both are second in command of the Royal Soldiers after General Lee.


    "Your Majesty," they greet the King. The King tries to form a smile on his face. He looks happy to see his brother comes back alive but deep in his eyes I could see his wariness.


    "Older Brother, welcome home," the King says. "I am delighted to see you. You managed to bring victory to our Nation," he congratulates them.


    "We humbly accept your compliments, Your Majesty," they say in sync.


    The King calls Eunuch Han. Eunuch Han comes in with tray on his hand. On the tray is the sword the King wanted to give to the General; the sword that said the previous King used to kill his subject.


    I witnessed the said event and I knew the ''King'' did not kill General Sun but General Sun wanted the ''King'' to say he killed him, to save me and most importantly it was to protect the ''King'' and his name.


    How hurtful was it for the ''King'' to tell them that the General was a traitor? What happened after that day? Why did I not remember any of the events? Even I looked different in the vision, was it a vision?


    I guess the ''King'' said everything as according to the General''s last wishes. The General sacrificed his life for the sanctity of the ''King'' and he even protected the honour of the ''Queen''. Maybe that was why everyone thought the General was a traitor and the sword awarded to him was used to kill him.


    It saddens me that I couldn''t tell anyone about his sacrifice and he was nothing a betrayer but a loyal servant.


    "General Lee, come forward," the King orders. He takes the sword from the tray and slowly descends from the throne towards the General. The General stands up but his head stays low as he takes a step forward.


    The King stops in front of him. "Lift your head, General Lee," he orders. He hands the swords to the General, "This sword has been passed to the Kings before me and Father had handed down it to me before he left this world. This sword was used by the Great King III when he fought with the Mings and subdued them. Now, I''m giving you this as your award to have won the battle that we had long desired."


    The General drops to one knee and accepts the sword, "Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty."


    The King also rewarded the other soldiers and granted them three days banquets to celebrate their victory. He attended the first day but left early, the same went with the General. The General went back to his residence after he greeted all his comrades and excused himself by saying he was feeling unwell.


    I followed the General back to his residence.


    He''s in his chamber. I thought he was going to get a rest so I didn''t follow him into his chamber but after a few hours, his chamber still bright with light.


    I enter his chamber and see he sits with his back leaning against the wall. His eyes closed and the sword lies on the floor in front of him. His jaw tensed and his brows furrowed.


    "What are you thinking, First Grandson?"


    Then there''s a knock at the door, "General Lee, can I borrow a bit of your time?"


    He opens the door and let the man in. It''s the Lieutenant Han.


    "Why aren''t you in the banquet?" the General asks.


    "What about you? You went missing minutes after the event started," Lieutenant Han is speaking informally to the General, more to like friends having a conversation.


    "I''m just¡­tired," the General''s giving excuses.


    "You are not, I know," the Lieutenant says as his eyes linger on the sword.


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    The General notices the Lieutenant''s gaze and takes the sword and put it on the table.


    "What are you thinking, General?" He suddenly turns formal.


    "This sword serves more than just an award, that it serves as a warning for me," the General spills his thought.


    "How did you arrive to such scary thoughts? I believe that His Majesty has no other meanings behind that," the Lieutenant''s looking at the General with a puzzled expression.


    "He''s the King of this Nation, nobody knows what he''s thinking," the General says. "But, as his General, I know exactly what this sword means and I''m thankful that he decided to arrive to such conclusion - to not believe easily. That is what this sword means that my life is his and I''m more than willing to offer him that. But as a Brother, this sword means that I am too under his control and that also means, he does not believe in me anymore, even as his Brother," the General looks pained.


    "I know I shouldn''t let personal feelings getting through my relationship with him but before I serve him as the General, I was his Brother. I wanted him to believe me as his Brother that even the world turns back at him, I will still by his side. I don''t want him, to be wary of me. I know that he''s restless because of my position and what the people had been saying about me. I could let go of this position anytime but I couldn''t do much as his Brother without a position, this place is a scary place and I don''t want him to face it alone."


    The Lieutenant just sits there silently and hears the General''s concern.


    "Forgive me Lieutenant, I shouldn''t say any of these to you."


    "No, General Lee, I''m happy that you''re willing to spill everything that''s been in your head," the Lieutenant smiles. "You''re always on restraints and less words. Sometimes I feel frustrated to guess what''s on your mind," the Lieutenant complains.


    A thin smile forms on his mouth, "Thank you for your understanding, Lieutenant."

 44 HIS DEATH

    The Devil''s Plans


    After taken a rest for a week, one early morning the General heads out in his sport clothes to the Royal Training Ground.


    The General and Lieutenant Han start running in laps and after that they continue with sword fighting and after that they practice some martial arts.


    After a few hours, they stop and sit at a gazebo near the training ground. A Palace Maid comes and gives them water.


    "I''m thinking going back to the North Border tomorrow to monitor some progress," the General says after he finishes gulped down three cups of water.


    "We''d only here for a week, we need more rest, we had been in the battle ground for months," Lieutenant Han complains.


    The General shakes his head, "My body already feels rusty and I''m only going for a while."


    "Well then, I''m going with you," the Lieutenant offers.


    "No," the General refuses, "I need you to be here, watch after the King for me."


    Lieutenant Han does not refute but just smile and nods his head.


    ***


    As the General prepares his things, I go to the Main Hall to check on my Second Grandson. It has been a week since I saw him and I never trust that Royal Advisor to be constantly near him. My plans to haunt him failed when I found out that he has shamans living in his resident, he is said to be very devoted to his religion and I couldn''t risk being exorcised by the shamans.


    When I arrive, the King is reading scrolls and discussing some important matters with few ministers so I just sit idly on the steps and hear their discussions.


    When I was a ''Queen'', I had never involved in assemblies. My time was occupied with the Royal Court matters, which included matters regarding the Court Ladies, Palace Maids and rules and regulations for women in the Palace. The ''King'' had never really discussed such matters with me unless he needed some opinions from a different perspective.


    After the assembly, the King heads back to his residence but he does not take a rest instead he continues reading books. I guess the hobby runs in the blood.


    After a while, Eunuch Moon comes in and says that the Royal Advisor Ji is seeking an audience with the King.


    "Your Highness," the Royal Advisor greets the King with a troubled expression.


    "Advisor Ji, what''s your concern?" The King inquires.


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    "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this is a very bad news," Royal Advisor says.


    "What is it?" The King''s face turns serious.


    "Your Majesty, I am not sure who is the perpetrator but words have been speculating around the Palace and it is making people afraid."


    "What words?"


    "About the Commander of the Ming''s proposition to the General Lee," the Royal Advisor says with a heavy tone.


    The King stands abruptly and almost shouts, "Who dare to spread those words?"


    The Royal Advisor drops to his knees and says with a trembling voice, "Forgive me, Your Majesty but I have no knowledge of this. I was on my way to the Royal Library yesterday when I heard the palace maids whispering to each other about the matter. When I asked them where they heard such words, they said it has been around ever since the General arrived from the North Border."


    The King grunts at his answer, "Are you sure you have investigated thoroughly?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty. I even threatened to expel them if they tried to protect the perpetrator but they all did not know how it started," the Royal Advisor explains.


    The King sits back to the throne and sighs, "This is not a good situation, if the words spread until out of the Palace, the people might demand the General to be stripped from his title, there will be uproar."


    From the way I''m seeing this, the King is surely worried about other things, the one that instigated this might hold hatred towards the General or worse, he is supporting such words and his hatred is towards the King. Both situations are not in favour for the General.


    If the person is holding hatred against the General, then spreading those words might cause retaliation of them who had long been restless of his position and how near he is to the throne. They might demand him to be stripped from his title or worse, executed in the name of treason.


    But, if the person is holding hatred against the King, then his action is merely to instigate a cold war. Nobody knows of what the King''s thinking about the General, only one person¡­ the Royal Advisor. If he is the one that spread those words or there had been no such incidents but merely his stage play, he is using the King''s weakness for his evil plans.


    Both end with the General''s fall.


    "Should I execute them, Your Highness?" The Royal Advisor suggests.


    "No, they merely heard from someone that might purposely do it due to some personal grudges towards the General. Killing them is unnecessary."


    Suddenly the Royal Advisor stands up and says, "Your Majesty, what about we send the General to the South Border," he suggests.


    "Why so?"


    "The people will be worried if the General stays too long in the Palace and due to the rumours, they will feel restless and concern about you, Your Majesty. Let the General be away from the Palace and during that time I will find the perpetrator behind this."


    The King contemplates, "The Jin Clan in the South Border is known for their barbaric nature and their hatred towards the Mings. If by fault these words made known to them, they might retaliate against the General. It is such an unsafe place."


    "The South Border is far away from here, Your Majesty, I''m sure that no one have heard of these words just yet, it''s probably safer there for the General than here," The Royal Advisor says and then he adds, "I''m sure you are worried about the General''s safety as well, Your Majesty, but sending him away is a better choice for now."


    Then the King nods, "Alright. Eunuch Moon, call the General."


    As I glance over at the Royal Advisor, I could see a smirk on his face but he quickly washes it away.


    "What now?"


    ***


    "Your Majesty, I was about to visit you," the General greets the King.


    "Of what purpose, Older Brother?"


    "I was going to ask for your permission to go to the North Border, I would like to monitor some progress. There were some casualties and destruction caused by the battle with the Mings before and I would like to check how are they progressing with the restoration," the General explains.


    The King raises an eyebrow, "Hmmmm."


    ''He''s doubting him.'' I thought as I''m assessing the situation.


    "There''s nothing to be worried about regarding the matters in North Border. I have sent Lieutenant Ji to handle the situation over there," the King says.


    The General looks at the King questioningly.


    "I have another mission for you instead, General Lee," the King''s voice turns authoritative.


    "What is it, Your Majesty?"


    "Go to the South Border."

 45 HIS DEATH PART II

    Be Safe, Grandson.


    The The General knots his eyebrows, "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but the South Border is known to be a peaceful district, I don''t understand the purpose of sending me there."


    "You''re right, General. It is indeed a peaceful district and have a very beautiful environment compare to here. I''m sending the Finance Officers to do some inspection, there have been some complaints about their tax collections there and you''ll be their Chief of Guard. Take it as your holiday."


    "But..." the General tries to protest.


    "Accept it, Older Brother," the King somehow sounds irritated. He inhales a deep breath and sigh. "You had just come back from a war and I don''t expect you to go there again. Get some rest, you haven''t done that much, don''t you? It''s an order."


    The General looks hesitant but does not want to refute, "Yes, Your Majesty."


    ***


    General comes back to his residence and makes a few preparations to go to the South Border. When he thought he was going to the North Border, he only packed a few clothes because he was planning to go only for a few days. However, going to the South Border means he''s going to stay there for a while since the King did not say his duration of stay. When the King did not say how long he is supposed to be there then he can only wait until the King summons him home.


    I look at the back of him when he mounts his horse and slowly getting farther away from the Palace. Thinking of how long he will be in the South Border making me missing him. How long it will be till I see his face, again?


    "Be safe, my grandson." I say as I look at the view of him becomes smaller. I wave at the distant, "Be safe, my ''King''."


    ***


    A few weeks after he left, an informant comes and gives report on the situation in the South Border. However, his face is pale and he looks nervous.


    "Your Majesty, a few days ago, Lord Min from the Min Clan was found to have embezzled a large sum of money from the tax collected. The General had ordered people to investigate about the incident and¡­" the informant looks hesitant.


    The King raises his head from the scroll he''s reading and looks at the informant, "And?"


    "The General found proof of their crime and the General had ordered Lord Min to surrender himself and pay back the amount he had stolen," the informant says.


    "So, how''s the progress?"


    "The Min Clan is seizing the district right now," the informant lowers his head as he speaks.


    "What?!" The King retorts, he throws the scroll aside. His brows furrowed.


    The Min District is mostly populated by the Min Clan as they had been staying there for generations. It situated near the South Border together with other 5 districts and it is said to be the richest district in the Nation due to its natural resources of herbs and livestock. The district is a preferred place to do trades and businesses.


    The King''s tone makes the informant flinches. He clears his throat and arranges his words wisely for fear the King''s mood turns ugly.


    "The Finance Officers had found out that Lord Min had indeed embezzled large amount of taxes collected from the district. He had done such treacherous act since he was appointed after his father passed away." The informant carefully reports the situation.


    "This had never happened since the Min Clan was responsible of the tax collection decades ago. That explained why the amount reported to have decreasing over the year," the Royal Advisor interjects. He also shows his displeasure of the news. "They had been giving excuses of bad weather affecting their resources, those deceivers."


    "The Head of Magistrate of the district asked for the General''s help to deal with Lord Min. Since the Min Clan is the largest clan and Lord Min is the highest ranking official in the district, the Head of Magistrate was afraid of the clan''s retaliating against the Magistrate''s order to pay back the money that had been...stolen," the informant continues his report.


    "Then what is this ''seizing'' about?" The King inquires.


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    The informant looks anxious at the question but he answers it anyway, "When Lord Min knew that the Head of Magistrate asked for the General''s help, he was furious because the General was an outsider. But the General told him that the district is part of the Nation and under Your Majesty''s jurisdiction, thus any issues arisen in the district is his concern. However, at the mention of Your Majesty''s name, Lord Min became angry and provoked the General that he will terrorise the area."


    The King tries to hold in his anger but the more he listens the more annoyed he gets, "So, what was the General''s response to these?"


    The informant gulps down his saliva and answers heavily, " ''Do as you please. You will regret the consequences'' the General said."


    "What?" The King asks almost to a shout. The informant flinches the second time, as if he''s the one who had initiated a cold war.


    "Lord Min is a man with full ego, Your Majesty, I am sure he is seizing the district because he did not want people to think he was afraid of his own provocation." The Royal Advisor interjects, saving the informant from further explanation as he''s nodding his head to the Royal Advisor''s words.


    "Can he not follow a standard procedure and discuss politely? Min Clan is not just the largest clan but they also hold the most resources this Nation has, we could not afford to anger them!" The King could not hold in his outburst anymore. He huffs as he asks the next question, "So, what is the General''s doing right now?"


    "The Min Clan had their men over the district and they had shut down the main gate, not letting anyone in or out. The General instructed the soldiers located in the South Border to join him and surround the fortress but he did not discuss further of his plan," the informant concludes his reports.


    "What is he thinking?" The King sighs.


    "Your Majesty, if I may, we should send our soldiers there to help the General. We should prepare for the worse," the Royal Advisor suggests.


    "A cold war? Are you mad? Did you not listen to what I was saying about them? We could go hungry without them!" The King howled.


    "I am suggesting that we send our soldiers to make them realise that we are stronger and make them afraid of us. When they are afraid, we take them down and force them follow your rules. They wouldn''t dare to disobey someone that is stronger than them unless they want to lose everything."


    "You want to threaten them?"


    "Not necessarily threatening, I would say, but rather playing with their minds," the Royal Advisor smiles crookedly.

 46 HIS DEATH PART III

    Troops.


    The King summons Minister Lee from the Ministry of Defense to discuss on the plan to deploy soldiers to the South Border. Minister Lee places the map of the district and a drawing of the fortress in the South Border and put small miniatures made from wood that look like small soldiers and horses. The Minister points at the drawing as he speaks.


    "There are only 150 soldiers stationed in the South Border and according to the informant only 100 of them joined the General in ''surrounding'' the district. While the other stay in their stations. There are 10 archers placed on the high grounds, 50 soldiers on horses, while the others are on guards with some holding shields and spears," Minister Lee explains the situation.


    "I don''t think the General has a plan, Your Majesty, except for surrounding the place" the Royal Advisor says while studying the map.


    The King shifts his intention from the map to the Royal Advisor.


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    "His intention is unclear but from the look of it, the General is only going to stay outside of the fortress and wait till they surrender, the Royal Advisor says.


    Minister Lee agrees at the Royal Advisor''s comments as he nods his head, "There are only civilians in the district and the General would never act rashly as to attack them unless he wants to hurt them. The district also relies on food supply from the next village," he points at a village located few miles away to east from the fortress. "And they send supplies every month. If the General block the supplies just to cut down their supplies they might have to wait longer since the villagers in the districts are also growing their own crops and livestock. They are probably have prepared everything inside the fortress. If the General expect them to go hungry just by that then this going to take a while. The longer we wait the more damages the clan could do and we could not guarantee the civilians'' safety inside the fortress, we should hurry."


    The Minister looks at the Royal Advisor and nods his head lightly. He lowers his head towards the King and says, "I think it is best to follow the Royal Advisor''s suggestion, Your Majesty. We will send the cavalry and instruct them to move at their fastest speed so they can save a day time to reach the border. The sooner they arrive, the faster this problem resolves."


    The King stands from his seat, "There will be no need to bring a lot of weapons. I think it is enough if they carry just their swords for their own protection as this is not a battlefield they are going and I hope it stays that way," he orders.


    ***


    People are lining up along the road to send the soldiers on their way. Even if it''s not a war but people still worry about the soldiers'' safety, since among them is their son, husband or a father, their family. Some shout words of encouragement, some send their prayers and wish for their safety.


    The soldiers slowly ride their horses through the crowds.


    Suddenly an informant on a horseback comes galloping and stops right in front of the Chief in Command, Lieutenant Han.


    "Lieutenant Han," the soldier dismounted his horse and greets the Lieutenant.


    The Lieutenant holds up his hand to stop the soldiers behind him, "What is the rush, Chief Song?"He asks the soldier.


    "Lieutenant, may I know where are you going?" He replies with a question.


    "We are on a mission to where you came from, Chief Song. To the South Border," the Lieutenant answers.


    "Well then, I come to deliver the news that you can abort the mission to the South Border because the General has resolved the problem there," the soldier says which makes the people around that hear the news murmuring about the event.


    "Did the General defeat the Min Clan with just little soldiers?"


    "The General is so great that he doesn''t need help to take down the Min Clan."


    "The General is indeed a great leader."


    There are amazement flashes on every person''s face there that heard about the General and some feel astounded of this sudden end of conflict that gained within short amount of time.


    The Lieutenant is dumbfounded then he suddenly laughs. His fellow soldiers could not hide their amusement as well. They had already said their goodbyes and readied themselves to be away from their families for at least a couple of weeks but suddenly they are not going anymore.


    "Did you not hear that my brothers, we are not needed there, let''s go back to our base," the Lieutenant shouts with a smile on his face. Then he looks back at the soldier in front of him, "Let''s go and convey this news to the King."

 46 HIS DEATH PART IV

    A One-Sided Proposition.


    The King shifts in his seat and waiting for the soldier to tell the back story on how the General managed to make the Min Clan surrendered.


    *Min District, South Border...


    "Report," a soldier from outside the tent where the General stayed announced his presence


    .


    "Come in," said the General.


    The soldier greeted the General and gave his reports. The soldier was facing the General''s back as the General was studying the map of the district.


    "We managed to cut down all the vendors and suppliers from reaching the fortress," he said with a steady tone.


    "Well done. Are they aware about the issues?"


    The General asked still examining the map.


    "No, Sir. We are following your orders as to


    not make them alarmed and send them back with the excuse of the district was attacked by sudden flood and we are currently doing search and rescue." Since the district was located near the hills and rivers, the trick went rather smoothly. People just believed the reason without acquiring about it deeper.


    "Good. How''s our formation doing?" The General then stopped looking at the map and faced the soldier. The soldier straightened his shoulders and looked straight as the General came closer to him.


    "One of them received signals that it starting to get chaotic inside as they failed to prepare for emergency food supplies before locking themselves inside the fortress. They were actually waiting for the monthly food supplies when we came. And some of them are actually begging Lord Min to surrender because they do not want to upset His Majesty."


    "Perfect. Now we have our chance," the General smiled and put his sword on its holder. "Let''s go," he headed out and took few others and went in front of the fortress.


    The watchmen from top of the fortress noticed the General and the soldiers then notified Lord Min.


    It was silent until Lord Min was seen on the top and looked down on the few soldiers standing outside the fortress. He smirked at their number and thought they will not be able to do anything and this Nation''s soldiers will never hurt commoners. They just need to step away and he will come to the King and play tricks on Him and blame all these soldiers for this mess.


    "Lord Min, I have a proposition for you," the General said with a loud voice so Lord Min could hear him from down there. "Let me in."


    "I will not succumb to anything, Prince Lee," Lord Min said with a sarcastic tone. "You can''t do anything to us. We are the richest district in this Nation and His Majesty will be upset you if you offend me and I believe I''m already feeling uncomfortable with you."


    "I will not do anything to you, Lord Min. I don''t have any weapons on me," the General put up his hands and turned around slowly to show he did not carry any weapons, "Let''s just have one discussion to end all of this."


    Lord Min grinned as he said, "Alright, but just you."


    The soldiers were trying to protest but the General stopped them. "Nothing will happen, just be on guard. His Majesty might already have sent troops and if they have arrived hold them. Hold them until I''m out from there. Understood?"


    "Yes, General."


    The main gate opened slightly just enough to make the General passed through. The soldiers were wearing worried expressions on their faces. Even though they were only normal civilians, who knew what tricks they had on their sleeves.


    ***


    The civilians were watching the general as he passed through them. They were lining up along the streets while holding forks and sticks, not even one of them was holding a real weapon. The only ones with real weapons were the Lord Min''s guards which walked while circling the General. The civilians looked rather intimidated by the General even though he did not carry any weapons with him. He was a well-known warrior and they had heard of his exceptional records. They did not even want to provoke him but they had been threatened by Lord Min and they could only followed his orders as to not let their belongings confiscated by the greedy merchant.


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    Lord Min brought General to his mansion and went inside a large living room. A guard brought out a chair and put it in the middle of the room in front of where Lord Min was sitting. The guards were standing beside the Generals with their hands fixed on the swords'' hilt. The General sat relaxed on the chair that the Lord Min felt suddenly unease by his manner.


    "What is your proposition, General?" Lord Min asked after he sipped his tea.


    "I am asking you this, Lord Min. What are you expecting the outcomes of this situation?" The General asked while looking straight to Lord Min.


    "It was not me who make all the mess, General. You forced me to it. Do you know how many trades you had ruined just these past days? How do you think His Majesty will react to this?"


    "Do you still not realise what you had done wrong, Lord Min?" The General started to feel annoyed by Lord Min''s ignorance.


    "I have not done anything that wrong but I do know His Majesty will listen to me better than you, Prince Lee." Lord Min tried to show that he was not intimidated by the General''s presence but he played his card wrong. The General knew that Lord Min intentionally addressed him as the prince because he was known to be the failed-to-be-crown prince among the civilians and people looked down on him because of that. They regarded him as prince only on title but people did not really consider him to be worth of noble respect. No matter how many astounding achievements he had achieved, whenever people reminded that he was a prince, they went back to his past rather seeing his presence being.


    The General looked unfazed by Lord Min and his face remained expressionless. The General had no concerns to all those stories attached to him as he had only one motive for all his life, to serve the King.


    "Let me just get this straight, Lord Min. I''m a general and I follow strictly to our soldiers'' commandments and one of it is not to attack children and women. What are you expecting with this rebellion, Lord Min? Do you think you will still be holding your position and your current status after this? What will be the lives of your clan, your family, your children? The troops are coming, Lord Min. And I''m not sure what sort of orders do they bring. From what I''ve known of His Majesty, He will not tolerate anyone that made chaos in this Nation and put the lives of the citizens in danger under His nose. I''m making a proposition for you, to surrender and keep your status but maybe you have to pay a lot since you stole a lot or... be stripped from your title and beg for food, only if His Majesty allows you to live. Are you willing to see your children and your clans live the life I said?"


    Lord Min shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "Are you threatening me, General?"


    "I''m not because it''s a merely a painted picture of your future because no one in this Nation should ever anger His Majesty and you just did. What do you expect of the consequences to your actions, Lord Min? To be forgiven? You know that is highly impossible. Once the troops came in, you would not even have the chance to speak a word, let alone seeing His Majesty." The General stood up and the guards flinched by his movement.


    "I give you an hour to think, no, to be ready. There''s nothing you should think of, there''s only two consequences for all this, one, to be killed or second, follow as I say, and you shall live a little bit longer." Then the General strode away.


    The next hour the Main gate opened and the conflict ended in less than a week. The General stayed longer as the Finance Officers requested him to be there with them, for fear for another chaos as they were completing their reports. As soon as the Finance Officers finished their duties, the General will come back to the capital.


    ***


    "I dispatched a little earlier than the General to report about the events, Your Majesty" Chief Song says after concluding the story in South Border. "The General and the others will be here only after the Finance Officers completed their reports, Your Majesty."

 47 HIS DEATH PART V

    Jealousy.


    As soon as the matters in the South Border finished, the General and the others were reported to have made their way home.


    However, upon arriving at the Palace, the General was preoccupied dealing with Lord Min''s issue after he had been transferred to the Ministry of Justice and the General had to prepare reports on the events before presenting it to the King thus his visit to the King was delayed.


    Only after two days being in the Palace now the General has time to visit the King.


    "Your Majesty, your subject comes to visit," General Lee greets the King.


    "General Lee," the King smirks. "Only now you have time to visit me?"


    "My apology, Your Majesty, I had to transfer Lord Min''s issue to the Ministry of Justice and they required my assistance in providing information regarding to the event.


    I also bring along the reports from the ministry for your perusal and approval. Good news, The Min Clan had surrendered completely and Lord Min had agreed to pay back the money he had stolen, doubled the amount," the General delivers the news.


    "Good news?" the King smirks then his face suddenly turns stern. He stands up and ambles down each step from the throne towards the General. The General is still on his knees so when the King crouches down in front of him, he lowers his head down almost to a kowtow.


    The eunuchs and all the ministers that present prostrate themselves on the floor for fear the act of treason to be standing taller than the King.


    The King lowers his head and whispers to the General, "I heard the people paraded when you came back," the King grits his teeth. "They threw compliments to you," the King says bitterly.


    "Brave. Strong. Generous," his eyes fixed on the General''s sword. "Long live?!" The King pulls out the sword and put it on the General''s neck. With just a little move, the General could die right now this instant.


    The King tightens his grip on the sword, "Those words are for me, the KING!" The King''s about to cut the General but a few ministers stop him.


    "Your Majesty, please refrain your anger," Minister Yun, the Minister of Defense says. "General Lee is nothing but loyal to you and the people have high regards of him. Your Majesty''s action will anger the people," he adds.


    The King stands up and strides towards Minister Yun who is still in prostrate position. He puts the sword on his neck, "You want to take his place instead?" the King asks.


    "Your Majesty, killing your subjects won''t make you look good to the people," the Prime Minister interjects.


    The King shuts his eyes for seconds then he drops the sword. He sits on the throne and composes himself. He lets out a sigh. "All of you, dismiss. General Lee, you stay," the King orders.


    A few of the ministers are hesitant to leave the Main Hall and the King notices this.


    "Don''t worry, I will not hurt your beloved hero," the King says sarcastically. Only when they hear this, the ministers then dismiss themselves, leaving the King, the General, and me alone in the large hall. And of course my existence is unknown to these two.


    The King sits on the throne with his eyes closed, for a minute I thought he was asleep but as he opens his eyes, he stares at the General.


    If his eyes shot arrows then the General might have been dead with thousand arrows pierce him. The General is still kneeling with his head down. There is a long silence and as the spectator, I found myself intimidated by it.


    "Dear brother," the King breaks the silence. Since the hall is now empty, his voice slightly echoes.


    "Do you know why I let you stay rather than mercilessly killing you?" The King asks rhetorically. The General knows better not to answer the question.


    "There''s no use of keeping this feelings anymore. Let me tell you everything. I don''t fancy killing my only brother and rather than sending you away, it is better for me to keep you right beside me. It makes me peaceful to be able to know your every actions. I couldn''t afford to send you far away and feel restless every day, thinking what plans you''re plotting to take me down," the King looks wary.


    "And of course most of it was due to my affection towards you, my only brother," the King stands up and looks directly at the General.


    "I let you do whatever you want and despite them telling me," he lifts his hand pointing at something, "They told me to kill because you might vie for the throne but I didn''t, because you are MY BROTHER!" he shouts.


    "Why did you ask me to appoint you as the General? Why do you want to be the General? Do you really want the throne?" the King asks and this time he demands an answer.


    "Your Majesty," the General stands up and takes the sword from the floor. He walks up to the throne holding the sword then he kneels while holding up the sword, presenting it for the King. "You gave me this sword when I came back alive from my first battlefield. This sword is not just your grace but it also serves as a warning for me, that my life is in your hand. I am no more than your loyal subject, I serve you and this Nation, my life is yours."


    As the General said the words, I suddenly feel like being stabbed on my chest. I feel like I have heard those words before.


    The General is ready to lose his life to the King. He knows well the King has been restless ever since he requested the King to appoint him as the General since the General controls the army and many stories told by their ancestors that armies were often used to revolt.


    When their father was alive, he did not mind leaving the Palace and joined wars because he knew that their father will always protect his little brother. However, as soon as his little brother was chosen to carry on their father''s duty, he was anxious to stay beside the brother he cherished so much that he made the first request ever in his life. But he has only one motive ¨C to protect his brother from the cruelty that the throne brings.


    The King however takes the sword then he stabs the General. Blood drips from his right chest. "Remember the words well, your life is mine," the King pulls out the sword throws it on the floor. I could see the King grimaces when he looks at his brother being hurt but he hides his feeling and walks out from the hall.


    The General tries to stand up and walks to the door. He staggers and before he reaches the door he falls to the floor. The Palace Guard on the door sees him and hurriedly takes him to the physician.


    ***


    He''s lying on the bed. The physician had treated his wound and told his servant to change the bandages on his chest every day.


    I stay right next to him watching him sleeps.


    "How can you sleep peacefully after being stabbed by your brother like that?"


    "How can a brother be cruel like that?"


    It pains me to see him living like this. He is such a loyal brother but living in the Palace and having a Royal Blood only made him the center of suspicions. Every step he takes leads to scrutiny. People only see him as the person who vies for the throne, even when he never expresses any desires towards the throne. Being silently followed orders led him to being the useless prince but now being capable led to another problem. Now the King is losing his trust towards his own brother.


    "Why bother reincarnated if you are going to live this kind of life?"


    ***


    I run to the King''s residence to check on the King. I do not think his action was purely his, there must be someone who instigated it. The Royal Advisor seems to be the main suspect.


    As I reached the Residence I could see the current Queen of this Nation also comes to the residence.


    The Queen comes inside the King''s chamber without even announces her arrival and she greets the King in haste.


    "My Queen, what brings you here?" The King looks questioningly at the Queen.


    "I heard you stabbed the General?" the Queen asks with a very worried face.


    "Even my Queen sided the General," the King laughs bitterly.


    "That is not why I come here for," the Queen says with a firm voice. "Your brother is a good man but you''ve been restless just because someone else said something about him. You both grew up together, you know him longer than anyone else so why the needs of suspicion?"


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    The King looks at the Queen with a weary expression.


    "I know how happy you are for having a brother that cares about you and you know how loyal he is to you but why every time the Royal Advisor said something about him you went crazy? Don''t you see the Royal Advisor is the one that you should banish from this Nation?" The Queen suggests.


    Now the King''s expression turns grave. "Are you saying that the Royal Advisor has control over me?"


    "That''s not..."


    "Stop!" The King grits his teeth. "There''s no one having control over me, I am the King and all of you are my subjects. You listen to me!" His eyes are red with anger. "The people keep forgetting that the General is also my subject. They forget that I am above all of you. I stabbed him so you remember that he is my subject and his life is mine."


    The Queen tries to say something but she does not want to anger the King no more. She comes closer to the King and takes his hands into hers.


    "Never once I forget that I''m your subject, My King. Forgive me if my words hurt you. You rule this Nation with pride and you make us stronger each and every day but I also want you to be a good brother like you used to. Trust me, if there''s someone that can give up his everything and even his life just to save yours, it''s your brother. You know him better."

 48 HIS DEATH PART VI

    Two Nations.


    A few days later, the King summons the General early in the morning.


    Eunuch Song runs into the General''s residence and announces his own arrival since the General does not have someone attending him except for a few servants.


    "Your Highness," he calls from outside.


    The General shifts on his bed and slowly opens his eyes. He winches as the pain on his chest hits him. He sits up groggily. The bandages on his chest are red with his blood but he just ignores it. The wound on his chest is too deep that it still bleeds even after been treated by the physician twice.


    The General slowly stands up and opens the door, "Eunuch Song?"He opens the door wider and steps outside.


    "Your Highness, forgive me to have disturb you this early but the King has an urgent matter that needs your attendance," Eunuch Song says with a troubled expression.


    The General looks pale and weak but he could not deny the King''s request. "Alright, give me a few moments," the General says and he goes back into his room. He changes the bandages and wears his formal robe and he looks charming for someone that just woke up with a pale complexion. He''s always in his sport clothes or his armour that sometimes I forgot that he''s a Prince and right now he looks exactly like the ''King'' except there are no delicate features on his face just like a prince should be. He''s just so restrain and have too little expressions.


    He steps out quickly and calls Eunuch Song, "Let''s go."And I follow him behind, as always.


    As we reach the Main Hall, the King is sitting on the throne and the Royal Advisor stands near him.


    There''s another person kneeling in front of the King and he''s wearing a foreign clothes.


    Since the General still weak, he just walks slowly and as soon as the King sees him, the King''s expression changes. It''s almost a week had passed since the incident and they had never meet each other since that day. The King had never visited the General when he was lying unconscious in his bed for two days and the General had never mentioned about the King either.


    The General kneels and greets the King. The King looks at the General with an icy cold stare. There''s a long silence before the King greets the General back that I feel awkward just by looking them.


    The General stands up and lowers his head. He glances at the person that''s kneeling besides him and then his expression turns ugly but he does not speak a word.


    The King clears his throat and speaks with a cold tone, "I believe you are familiar with this person''s attire, General." The General nods his head slightly.


    "He''s a messenger from the Ming and he brings a letter from their Emperor," as soon as the King introduces the person I feel my heart beats faster.


    ''Why would a Ming dares to step into our Nation?'' I look at the General and his jaw tightens. He spends most of his life fighting with the Mings and even put under scrutiny after his confrontation with the Commander and his hatred towards them piled up because of that.


    "Apparently they want to build peace with our Nation!" The King says with an amusement on his face. "And I find the reason to be hilarious. Do you want to hear the reason, General?"


    Before the General could answer the King speaks, "They say that we have a very astounding General that leads thousands of capable and brave soldiers. The Emperor acknowledges your ability of commanding the soldiers and he believes that with you being the General, they will never be able to defeat us so they wish for being in peace with us and hoping for mutual benefits of prosperous Nations by building a business tie."


    The King looks unpleasant by the letter''s content that it shows on his face.


    "You are able to unify two nations. You are indeed a prominent person." The King looks displeased since the words used by the Emperor were supposedly only for the King.


    It clearly was intentional that the Emperor was trying to provoke the King.


    Then the King says, "Alright, I''ll allow them to come on one condition, they should bring no weapons. Tell your Emperor that I will welcome your people to come."


    The General lifts his head and looks at the King to voice out his protest, "Your Majesty..." the King raises his hand as to tell he does not want to hear it.


    The Ming stands and bids his farewell to the King and says that he will convey the King''s reply to his Emperor as soon as he reaches his nation.


    ***


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    As soon as the Ming left the Hall the General inquires the King.


    "Pardon me, Your Majesty, why would you agree to the Mings coming into our Nation? They are the most hypocrite people that I know. Their proposition is probably just their trick so that they could enter our Nation and who knows what they are planning to do after they have seen every corner of this Nation!"The General could not hide his suspicions towards the Mings.


    The Royal Advisor interjects, "Your Highness, General Lee, the Mings had offered to make peace with our Nation after years of conflicts and even few wars we had engaged with. This is such a great chance to stop this war and we can plan for a better business strategy that can benefit our Nation. So instead of using the people''s money on weapons, we better make them rich with food and a peaceful nation." He politely nods his head to the King as he had just spoken before the King.


    The King ignores him and looks directly at the General, "The Emperor clearly tries to provoke me by using you." The Royal Advisor raises his eyebrows on the King''s remarks while the General stays composed, since he had notices the Emperor''s intention earlier than that. "I think they know about us more than I expected and they dare to use our relationship to provoke me?" The hint of annoyance flashes in his eyes. "They are making us into a joke. A business tie? Nonsense!" The King shouts and making the Royal Advisor flinches.


    "I''ll let them in and show them that we are not in the slightest afraid of them," the King huffs angrily.

 49 HIS DEATH PART VII

    The Enemies'' Arrival.


    Two weeks after the invitation to enter the country, the Ming envoys arrive in


    the Nation.


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    The citizen run and hid inside their house when the envoys pass


    through the city road.


    The road becomes deserted and as they arrive in the Palace, all the Ministers that present in the Main Hall show their uncomfortable expression.


    The General stands in front on the left side of the hall, facing the throne, his jaw tightens and his hand is gripping his sheathed sword rather tightly.


    The envoys walk into the Main Hall and stop right in front the throne. They greet the King lightly.


    One of the Ming steps forward and looks at the King directly, "King Lee, I''m Commander Zu, I lead the soldiers in my country and you can also consider me the chief of this envoy," he introduces himself arrogantly.


    The General looks at him displeased, "Watch your manner, you are speaking to the King of this Nation," he warns him.


    The Commander looks at the Commander and smirks then he shifts his attention to the King, "Oh, apologise my behaviour because I only bow to My Emperor," his remarks make the Ministers gasp with disbelieve.


    "I adore your loyalty," the General says, "but remember, you are in our territory and you are our guest, so behave like one," the tension arises.


    Then the Royal Advisor steps forward, "Please excuse my interruption, General Lee and Commander Zu" he nods slightly to both of them, "This meeting is a very special occasion. We are building a better relationship where we were once enemies. We would not want any uncomfortable situation during our discussion on this delightful matter, wouldn''t we?"


    The General looks intensely at the Commander then diverts his attention stands back at his position facing the throne. The Commander grins at the General''s reaction, "Of course, of course not. We come with peace." He opens his hands widely and make a turn, "We even followed your request to no weapon."


    The King who has been silent then finally speaks, "I''m flattered to hear the Commander of the Ming kindly follows our request. I hope you do not feel troubled by such arrangement since the main reason for this gathering is solely for peace, is it not?"


    The Commander clasps both his hands and forms a thin smile, "Yes, of course, King Lee. I understood perfectly. I think we can continue our discussion later," his gestures at the other envoys, "My brothers are tired from the long journey. I would like to excuse ourselves."


    The King orders the Eunuch to take them to the Guest House and as soon as the


    leave the hall, one by one the Ministers show their dissatisfaction.


    "They are so arrogant as if they are still in their country," the Prime Minister huffs.


    "They are rude and act like they are superior than us," the Minister of Finance says.


    "We should not let them stay longer. The longer they stay here, the more restless the people will be," the Minister of Defense speaks his thought.


    The King clears his throat and all the attention shifts to him. The Ministers stop talking and lower their head facing the King.


    "I understand your restlessness to this issue but this is such a historical event. We had been fighting with the Mings hundreds of years. The North Border is our witness to such relentless events. If this gathering will be able to stop the war and open new opportunities for our Nation, then I will not hesitate to step forward. I hope that all of you will give your best cooperation so that this discussion will go smoothly."


    The Ministers look at each other and feel that they had no other choice but to agree as this is for the goodness of their Nation, "Yes, Your Majesty."


    ***


    When all the ministers returned to all their respective departments, and the King also returned to his Reading Room, I followed the Royal Advisor instead of the General.


    I heard the Royal Advisor asked the King''s permission to greet the envoys properly and to send the welcoming gifts to them in behalf of the King.


    Every act of the Royal Advisor is very suspicious to me, so to satiate my curiousity, I plan to follow him.


    As soon as he arrives at the Guest House, the Commander greets him. "Advisor Ji, finally the man himself," he speaks to him with a hint of familiarity.


    "I hope the Great Emperor speaks well of myself," he grins. The way he addresses the Ming''s Emperor sounds like he is one of the Ming, this could be considered an act of treason!


    "Bring the gifts inside and leave after that," the Royal Advisor orders the servants.


    The both of them went inside a small room and two, I guess, guards, are guarding outside the room. There are only the Commander and the Royal Advisor in the room, sitting on the table , like talking business.


    "I hope that all your plans are going out perfectly," the Commander says.


    I become wary.


    "Of course, it''s going on very smoothly. Now, we only need to raise suspicions between the two brothers and when it''s going tense, that''s when you play your role," the Royal Advisor says sinisterly.


    "You realise this is a very dangerous plan you are planning? If not for the Great Emperor''s trust on you, I will never risk this. The General is a very clever person, he will catch up even before I take out my sword."


    "Are you afraid, Commander Zu? I am also risking myself for this plan, if it doesn''t work out, where do you think I will be? This is the only chance to take down the General, is it not your wish to do so?"


    "I am a man of my word, I''m already here, there''s no such thing as being afraid!" The Commander scoffs. "The General had ruined my name during the last battle and the Emperor was mad of our running away from the battle. He played trick on us and I was shamed in front of my subordinates! I will make sure him to pay for that humiliation I felt." He clenches his fists then he looks at the Royal Advisor, "Will his death the outcome of this plan or do you plan to keep such outstanding man and turn him into one of us?"


    The Royal Advisor laughs but it sounds devilish, "Of course I want his death,


    not just him but also his brother. We do not need such a weak king to rule this nation. True, the General is such a waste to kill but he is a loyal dog to the King, not killing him means we are looking for a trouble for ourselves. That''s the plan, I''m giving away this Nation to the Great Emperor, and you just have to make sure you follow the plans accordingly. Kill the King and his dog, and this Nation will fall in no time."


    ''They are planning a revolt!''


    I try to calm myself when hearing their conversation. I know the Royal Advisor hates the General but I never thought he will come to this extent as to selling this Nation to the enemies!


    How am I going to tell this to the General, I''m just a ghost!

 50 THE FALL

    Trap.


    "The King is an easy feat for me, he will swallow everything that I feed him but the General..." the Royal Advisor closes his eyes and falls into deep thinking.


    The Commander stays silent as he also tries to think a way to trick the General to fall into their schemes.


    And I still trying to find a way to tell their plan to the General but I couldn''t think of anything. Being ghost for years didn''t help me in learning any ghost talents except for wailing and haunting.


    And I don''t think haunting will do any good for this situation, I''m trying to make the General listen to me not running away, or even worse, I could trigger an exorcism activity in the Palace.


    I should just stay being an audience since my ''King''s reign had already ended years ago.


    "I know what to do," the Royal Advisor suddenly says and he opens his eyes slowly. His smirk always annoys me, "Gather everyone around and we''ll meet after midnight." Then he calls his guard.


    "Go to the General''s residence and give this to the servant," he gives the guard two silver coins, "Make sure he does everything so the General knows about this, only the General. Go."


    ***


    I followed the guard to the General''s residence. He is being cautious for not letting anyone sees him and since there are only few people in the General''s residence, he managed to sneak in smoothly. A servant comes to him and greets the guard, I guess he is a spy the Royal Advisor planted in the General''s residence. The servant smiles widely when the guard handed him the coins and as hurriedly put it into his pocket for fear anyone sees it.


    Then I follow the servant into the kitchen where other servants are gathering around and eating their dinner.


    "Where were you?" Another servant asks.


    "Oh, I was meeting my brother. I told you I have a brother working as a guard here. He told me he is granted three days off and he is going home, so he was just asking me if I have anything to give to our parents in the village."


    "Oh." Then they continued eating silently.


    "I just remember, my brother said he was guarding outside the Guest House where the Mings are staying and he said the Royal Advisor went there and stayed about an hour," he starts throwing bait.


    "Ey, he must be mistaken. Why would the Royal Advisor stayed too long with the enemies?!"


    "Are you saying my brother lied? And he also said he heard from the servants there," he gestures them to get closer, "They are having a meeting after midnight."


    "So are you saying the Royal Advisor and the Mings are allies?!" Someone says with a shocked expression.


    He warns everyone there.


    Then after they finished eating, one of them excuses himself saying the General asked him to help to clean up his room. I followed him.


    I slipped inside the General''s room and see he''s polishing his sword. Then the servant knocks on the chamber''s door slowly.


    The General goes and opens the door. "What is it, Servant Choi?" The General asks.


    Servant Choi comes closer to the General and speaks to almost a whisper.


    "Pardon me to have disturbed you, Your Highness, but I come bringing you an


    unpleasant news."


    The General looks around and then asks the servant to come into his chamber.


    "What is the issue that keeps you awake, it''s already near midnight."


    "Your Highness, I heard that the Royal Advisor and the Commander are allies and they are having a meeting after midnight."


    The General''s face turns grim, "Who told you this?"


    "Servant Man, he said his brother was guarding the Guest House and he heard


    the servants'' conversation."


    "Then, it is not a reliable information," the General ponders.


    "My apologies, Your Highness, I thought it''s an important news that is why I''m in a haste. I care about this Nation, Your Highness. It didn''t give me the life that I wished for but it gives me the one that I needed and I''m grateful every day. When I heard of this news, I couldn''t put away my fear that someone is compromising this Nation''s well-being and I don''t have anyone else I could tell this worry except to you, Your Highness."


    "I understand your frustration. I will have someone to look into it, let''s just hope that this Nation is not in any danger."


    The General sent Lieutenant Han to investigate about the matter and after more than two hours he came back with a dark expression; it carried both worry and anger at the same time.


    Both of them sit on the floor with a table in the middle of them.


    The Lieutenant''s eyes are red, "General..." he hesitates.


    "Whatever you had witnessed or heard, speak without any constraints." The General orders.


    The Lieutenant takes a sip of the wine placed in front of him and with much effort he says with anger, "I believe the Royal Advisor is in hands with the Mings to plot a regicide!"


    The General is taken aback by the news. It is indeed a big news. Whoever dares to mention the word regicide is bound to not see the next sunrise. He will be killed immediately!


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    The General steps up and checks outside the chamber and he closes the door swiftly, "Slow down your voice, it is not a word to be thrown publicly." The General sits again and asks the Lieutenant to continue.


    "When I arrived there, they are already gathered in a room. They were only few guards there, I guess they didn''t want to make it obvious but they had the audacity to have a meeting about regicide in the Palace!" The Lieutenant grits his teeth and he gulps down another cup of wine.


    "What did you hear?" The General calmly asks.


    "From what I heard, the Royal Advisor was their leader and the Commander was hired or sent by the Emperor to help the Royal Advisor to carry out their treasonous plan. The Royal Advisor said that all the Ministers that willing to support them will be given rewards after their plan succeeded. Those traitors! They dare to speak of treachery under His Majesty''s nose!" He suddenly withdraws his sword, "I''ll kill those snakes!"


    The General grabs his hand, "Calm down, you have drunk too much," he speaks with a low but firm voice.


    The Lieutenant sits silently and indeed he is drunk, his eyes are half-closed, "What is your plan, Your Highness?"


    "If they are planning a regicide then we have to be careful. They must have been planning this for long if they managed to make the Emperor joined hands with them."


    The Lieutenant looks at the General, "We have to inform the King but we also must tread carefully, the King trusts the Royal Advisor and the Royal Advisor could use this to blame you of treason! He''s a very manipulative man, I don''t like him," then he drops to the floor, sleeping.