The Rogues (6): The Bloody Sword

She was standing there, stunned at the scene in front of her. The boy was hardly older than her. Yet, his eyes were bloodshot red. His face was stained by drops of crimson as he stared at her. His expression was unreadable as she stared at him in shock. She looked from his face to the blood soaked sword in his hands.

"Y-you…" she stammered. Her eyes fell on the figure lying on the ground. A man in his late forties was lying on it, his lifeless eyes still open.

"Father!" she screamed. She fell to the floor, shaking the still figure. "Father! Wake up!"

But there was no response. Her father was dead and the one who was responsible for it stood in front of her without a shred of remorse. Her father's sword was next to his corpse. She grabbed the hilt and pointed the sharp blade at the perpetrator.

"You killed my father," she whispered in fury. Her wrath knew no bounds. The boy. No. The murderer in front of her took away her precious father. "I will kill you!"

She raised her sword but he easily caught it and disarmed her. He grabbed her by the wrist and shook her.

"Your father was a criminal!" he shouted at her. "He was plotting to overthrow the Emperor!"

But Shina was not listening. The person who was holding her was her father's killer. She glared at him with hatred and spat at him.

"I'll kill you!" she shrieked, pouncing at him but the boy held her hands tightly.

Palace guards stormed the room. They were astounded to see the Crown Prince holding a struggling girl in his arms while the Finance Minister lay dead near their feet.

"My Prince!" Pyojin stepped forward and knelt down. "My Prince, we must inform the Emperor of this treasonous act of Finance Minister Wang!"

"No!" Seyoung ordered. "Do not tell him anything."

Shina was still struggling in his arms, trying to break free but in vain. The boy was too strong. If she had heard correctly, he was the Crown Prince. Which means he was her…betrothed.

"I'll never marry you!" she spat. "I'd rather die than marry you!"

He grabbed her shoulders and made her look straight into his eyes.

"Remember this, Lady Wang," the Crown Prince said. "If we reveal that your father was a traitor, then not only you but your entire family and friends will also be killed. Remember the law. The family and acquaintances of a traitor are also killed alongside him. Your mother, his mistresses and your half siblings. Everyone will be killed. Anyone remotely related to your family will be slaughtered. Do you want that?"

His eyes were challenging her. She wanted to gouge them out but if she even scratched him, fifty guards will shoot their arrows at her. And he was right. If her father was branded a traitor, then everyone related to them will be killed too.

"If you keep shut and go ahead with this betrothal," the Prince went on. "Then we will tell the Emperor that the Finance Minister was killed by enemies of the nation. No one outside this room will know. My followers won't tell him anything!"

Shina wanted to rip his tongue out for even considering such a proposal. Her eyes were burning and she thirsted for his blood. She would rather face a million swords than marry him.

But he was right. If she wanted her mother to live, she must comply with his terms. She did not care about the rest but her mother was dear to her.

She lowered her eyes, ashamed of her action. Seyoung was relieved that she had at least calmed down but there was no saying as to how long she could stay obedient.

However, Shina was not going to stay put. She was not the type to let things slide. If this Prince wanted a wedding, then she would give him one. A deadly one.

Just you wait, Crown Prince Seyoung, she promised herself. I will have my revenge.

Seyoung saw the burning desire for revenge in her eyes. The gentle look which he had seen on her at the temple was gone. In its place was a look of pure hatred. She was going to destroy him.

"Take Lady Wang back to her chamber," he ordered his guards. "And clean up this room. Throw away any evidence which may prove Finance Minister Wang's treason."

The guards immediately obeyed. Shina was taken back to her chamber while Pyojin and a few other guards stayed back to aid the Crown Prince. She threw one last glare at Seyoung.

I will destroy you, Kang Seyoung, she swore.

"My Prince," Pyojin said. "The Emperor is on his deathbed because of the Finance Minister! Should you let his family live on? They will surely plot revenge!"

"I know that very well," Seyoung replied. "But they are still innocent. I could not punish them for something they have not done."

"But why did you not tell her the full truth?" Pyojin hissed. "That her father-"

"Clean up the place," Seyoung repeated. "Do not utter another word to anyone. The wedding will go on as planned. Do not tell anything to the Emperor. He is dying and if he hears of this, he will send out a decree to stop this marriage."

Pyojin did not protest but obeyed. He knew, for the sake of his friend, he must stay quiet. Instead, he went on to carry out the Crown Prince's orders.

Seyoung stared at his hands which were colored with Minister Wang's blood. They were shaking in fear.

She should not find out, he vowed. Never.

….

Jinhyun awoke with a start. He was sweating and his body was shivering. He was not feeling cold. He was scared.

All this time, his dreams were unclear and hazy. But this one was vivid, as if he was watching it on a TV. He had been seeing these dreams for years but most of the time, they were too abstract and foggy. So what changed?

And worst of it was the fact that he saw himself. But was it really him? He was wearing dark, long robes which were worn by princes of the Joseon era. With the golden embroidery on it, he looked like a Prince. And there was someone who was calling him the Crown Prince.

Moreover, she was there too. Cherry.

She saw him murdering someone in front of her eyes. She addressed the dead person as her father. Her spiteful gaze and hate filled eyes...everything was haunting him.

He could not block out her cries. "Stop," he moaned, shutting his ears. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the visions but everytime he did, the images flashed clearly in front of him.

His head was a mess and his heart was racing fast. I need answers, he decided.

And yet, he dreaded looking for them.