WAR OF THE FLOWERS
"Why must you dwell on this instead when it is bound to create for you enemies and perhaps even distance you from the people that you love?" Bidam asked.
"Because I love Shilla." Princess Deokman replied, "People shall come and go but Shilla shall remain for generations and Generations to come." She added.
"You are a politician and perhaps I can not see through you but all of you promise the same thing and when power is in your hands you fail to relinquish it while you do nothing." Bidam said.
"Why do you think I chose this path, I would have also married the man of my dreams, I would have given birth to children and I would have raised a home.
I didn't because I am fearful not for myself but for the men of Shilla, they that have corrupted power and can live up to nothing more than the expectations of their bodily desires.
What hurts me more than that is the thought that me being a woman I am the only one who is most considerate and most prudent in my own sight, who hurts when people die and starve and others are separated away from their families." Princess Deokman replied.
"We have able Courtiers but believe it or not, this Shilla that I like is enduring because of our King and me otherwise slowly by slowly, their usurpation actions are tearing the Shilla I am confident you love apart." She added.
"What have I to hold dear, what have I to give up for the grandiose manifestation of this country as a man?" Bidam asked.
"Your heart Bidam, your talent, your hand and perhaps even your wisdom itself." Princess Deokman replied.
"What you are asking of me is something that even I can't see in myself, how then can I live up to your expectations?" Bidam asked.
"I am not asking you to live up to my expectations, I am only asking you to fight for Shilla, let the others abandon it but you a child of Samhan you should know better." Princess Deokman replied.
"Why do you want to be our Heavenly Kingdom's ruler?" Bidam asked.
"Why do you think I hang Mishil's portrait on the wall behind me?" Princess Deokman asked him.
Bidam looked around the whole room.
"I don't know." He replied.
"I reflect on everything that I have that Mishil didn't, everything that I have done that she didn't do, everything that has happened to me that never happened to her.
Bidam, Mishil wasn't an enemy but she was rather an ambitious woman who took long enough for herself to realize her own dream to rule the country that she died before achieving it.
Everytime I must look at this portrait it is to remind myself of the very consequences that could arise if like her I don't rule this Shilla that I dearly love." Princess Deokman replied.
"I'm not asking you to try and understand me but I am only asking you to listen to me and whatever it is that I have to say because should I not posses the talents and help to build this country that I shall do whatever it takes to vanquish them should they dare to bring about its downfall." Princess Deokman replied.
"I have heard Your Highness." Bidam said, "You are the Princess of Shilla so it is natural that you love it but what is your love for Shilla?" He asked, "Is it peace, is it rule, is it uniting the three Kingdoms?" He added.
"It's something that none of those can compare to." Princess Deokman replied, "Loving Shilla to me is loving you, Yushin Rang, Alcheon and all those people so much that I desire to do nothing more than protecting you all if I must and dying for you if it's the last there is, even if it means that I must rule this Heavenly Kingdom and make it mine, to me that is Loving Shilla." Princess Deokman replied.
"I'll think about it Your Highness." Bidam said as he stood up and bowed his head.
"Whatever your decision is then confide in me your final answer, it shall be that which shall define our relationship in the years to come." Princess Deokman remarked.
"Aren't you afraid of having me as an enemy?" Bidam Rang asked.
"Enemies and friends are all the same, they'll either push you or hold you down accordingly so to me a formidable ally is no different from a formidable foe, because either way they encouraged me to fight for or against them." Princess Deokman replied.
"I'll take my leave then Your Highness." Bidam said as he bowed his head and turned around slowly to depart from the room.
Reaching at the doorway the moment that it was opened he caught sight of Yushin Rang who was fiercely staring him in the eye.
Bidam smiled ghastly as he walked out and descended the staircase of the Princess' Chambers while Yushin rushed inside and found Princess Deokman seated with a smile on her face.
"Your Highness." He called.
"Yushin." Princess Deokman replied.
"Are you alright?" Yushin Rang asked.
"I am fine." Princess Deokman replied.
"So what happened?" Yushin asked.
"Nothing much." Princess Deokman replied.
"Did he agree?" Yushin asked.
"Calm down." Princess Deokman remarked.
Yushin took a deep breath and sighed.
"He needs some time." Princess Deokman said.
"What if he rejects your proposal?" Yushin asked.
"He won't." Princess Deokman replied.
"How sure are you Your Highness?" Yushin asked
"Like it or not whether he is a friend or a foe, be it his mission or not, Bidam and I were destined to walk together and if we must the both of us shall reach a lot of great things however should everything fail I wouldn't be discouraged I would have learnt just as much from him." Princess Deokman replied with a smile on her face.
Bidam was still walking towards the Arena when everything that the Princess had mentioned to him lingered at the back of his head.
"I love Shilla." She had said.
"I'm not asking you to try and understand me but I am only asking you to listen to me and whatever it is that I have to say because should I not posses the talents and help to build this country that I shall do whatever it takes to vanquish them should they dare to bring about its downfall." She had made it sound like a threat.
"Loving Shilla to me is loving you, Yushin Rang, Alcheon and all those people so much that I desire to do nothing more than protecting you all if I must and dying for you if it's the last there is, even if it means that I must rule this Heavenly Kingdom and make it mine, to me that is Loving Shilla." She had gone ahead to say.
Bidam touched his chin.
"If Shilla were a man he would have been the happiest in the world to have the assurance of your love." Bidam remarked while a certain memory came into his mind.
"Do whatever you can and get close to the Princess and watch over Seungman so keenly, don't forget who you are." Haek Ga had ordered him and Bidam looked up at the sky.
"When would someone like me have a dream?" He asked himself, "Not with Princess Deokman, Seungman or Galmunwang Gukban but only with yourself Bidam." He concluded.
However when he recalled the Princess' face a smile was all over his face and he felt young once again.
"What should we do now Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.
"I believe that it has been only a short while but we still have to figure out who Seungman really is." Princess Deokman said.
"How far had we reached Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.
"The sword that Seungman has in her possession belonged to my Grandfather Crown Prince Dongryun." Princess Deokman replied. "After he died the sword was passed down to my Uncle Galmunwang Gukban by King Jinheung when he was still young." She added.
"That's a good lead already." Yushin Rang remarked.
"We can't be sure as yet if Uncle lost it or he gave it to someone else but let us begin by finding out if there was someone that was called Moo Mak whom Uncle knew." Princess Deokman said.
"How Your Highness, are you going to ask him directly?" Yushin Rang asked.
"Not at all." Princess Deokman replied, "If we ask around and he knew a thing or two then it would be troublesome on our side.
I can't trust anyone just yet and I must be as confidential as I can be." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang replied.
King Jinpyeong was in his quarters when he heard a knock on his door.
"Come in." He said and his Eunuch entered while he was reviewing some of his Memorials.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Greetings Your Majesty." the Eunuch replied with a rather sombre tone in his voice.
"I don't have much time so please tell me what has brought you here." King Jinpyeong asked.
"Your Majesty, there is someone from Ilsan Palace that wishes to see you." The Eunuch replied.
"Let them in." King Jinpyeong said as the Eunuch withdrew and a palace maid entered a while later herself breathing heavily and sweating profusely all over her body.
She was shivering and she looked distraught while she faced the King.
"Your Majesty." She said feeling so short of breath.
"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Pardon me Your Majesty but there has been a situation at Ilsan Palace." The maid replied.
"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked with concern as the maid gasped for air.
"Her Highness the Queen passed out early in the morning and we called for the Royal physicians who are rather worried, she is pale and running a very high fever right now." The maid said.
"What?" King Jinpyeong stood up at once with concern all over his face he could barely believe his ears.
"What did you say happened to Her Highness?" He asked.
"Her Highness the Queen passed out early in the morning and we called for the Royal physicians who are rather worried, she is pale and running a very high fever right now." The maid replied.
"Let's go to Ilsan Palace at once." King Jinpyeong said as he got out of his sit and despite being old he had the strength in his feet to rush like a youth.
The moment that the King was outside he was joined by other ladies in waiting along with a couple of Royal guards who followed him across the Courtyard in the direction of the Queen's Palace.
Princess Deokman was still inside her Chambers with Yushin Rang when Alcheon and Gopheung hurried inside.
"Your Highness." They both said hastily as they bowed their heads which compelled Yushin to slowly stand up from where he was seated.
"What is the matter?" Princess Deokman asked, "Why do you look worried?" She added.
"Her Highness the Queen." Alcheon replied.
"What happened to her?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I don't know Your Highness but she passed out, rumour has it that it is something serious and as we speak the King is on his way to Ilsan Palace." Gopheung replied.
"Ilsan Palace?" Princess Deokman said as she felt that there was something suspicious.
"Alert all the Royal guards within my residence, they are to watch each and every part of it and no one must be allowed inside as I leave my Chambers to you Gopheung Rang." Princess Deokman ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Gopheung and Yushin replied.
"Why are you doing this Your Highness?" Alcheon Rang asked.
"We must guard against any thing that could be hurled our way." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin said.
"Yushin Rang, Alcheon Rang you come with me to Ilsan Palace." Princess Deokman ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." The two replied bowing their heads as Princess Deokman stood up from. where she was seated and she strode out of the room as they followed her.
Queen Sungman was lying down on her bed and being tended to by the Royal Physicians when the doors of her Chamber's were flung open and King Jinpyeong walked into the room.
The physicians noticing his presence stood up and faced him.
"Greetings Your Majesty." All four of them said in unison.
"What is wrong with the Queen?" King Jinpyeong asked sternly.
"Your Majesty may you Pardon us, Her Highness as we speak she has passed out due to being poisoned." The head of the Royal Physicians replied.
"What do you mean by being poisoned?" King Jinpyeong asked as he walked closer.
"Right here your Majesty." The Royal Physicians said as he held up the Queen's right wrist which had a thick dark circle and the other assistant that was nearby with Bora carried a bangle and he brought it in front of the King.
"What's this supposed to mean?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Her Highness is devoid of enough strength as we speak and she has mild toxins in her body however the foetus in her womb is very safe because we were able to identify the poison very soon." The Royal Physician replied.
"What poison?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"The Bangles that were being worn by Her Royal Highness the Queen were already infected with snake venom." The physician replied.
"Snake venom?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." The Physicians confirmed.
"As though that is not enough even the clothes that she has been wearing." The physician added as he pointed at the scarlet dress that had been displayed on a stand.
"What's wrong with them?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"They had Purslane on them and it had been put even within the dress so she has been inhaling some of it for a short while." The Royal physician replied.
"What was purslane doing in the Queen's clothes?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"I don't know but under normal circumstances if she hadn't sought immediate diagnosing and she wore the two more frequently, her child would have been in grave danger she would have even miscarried." The Royal Physician replied.
"Miscarried?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Yes." The Royal Physician replied.
The King turned around and looked at Bora.
"You." He said angrily and Bora hurriedly went down onto his knees.
"Please forgive me Your Majesty." She pleaded.
"You have one job and that is to ensure that Her Highness is safe and the child within her womb as well, how could you be so reckless?" King Jinpyeong reprimanded.
"Pardon me Your Majesty but we didn't expect the dress and the ornaments to be poisoned.
"What do you mean by not expecting the dress and the ornaments to be poisoned?" King Jinpyeong Asked.
"Your Majesty, these clothes were given to Her Highness the Queen by the Princess at the day that we were holding prayers for the Queen and her child here in Ilsan Palace." Bora replied.
King Jinpyeong widened his eyes while the Physicians looked down.
"What did you say?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"These clothes were given to Her Highness the Queen by the Princess at the day that we were holding prayers for the Queen and her child here in Ilsan Palace Your Majesty." Bora replied.
"Leave." King Jinpyeong said as he turned to the Physicians.
"Yes Your Majesty, we already prescribed the medicines that could help with her Highness the Queen's condition." The Physicians replied.
"I said leave." he yelled at them once again.
"Yes Your Majesty." They replied as they picked up their tools and then they walked out of the room slowly finding the Princess walking inside just then.
"Your Highness." They said as they bowed their heads while Princess Deokman did the same before she continued inside the room.
"Are you saying that my daughter Her Highness Princess Deokman is the one who poisoned Your Mistress?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"I don't dare to make baseless assumptions Your Majesty. " Bora said as she noticed Princess Deokman who had just come right behind her father.
"Her Highness is right there Your Majesty, you can confirm with her if these aren't the clothes that she brought over to Ilsan Palace last time." Bora said.
King Jinpyeong turned around and he looked at his daughter.
"Your Majesty." She said as she bowed her head.
"Deokman." King Jinpyeong said as he raised his left hand slowly and he pointed at the dress that was hanging right next to the Queen's bed with his hand shaky.
"Yes Father?" Princess Deokman replied.
"Tell me my dear." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Father." Princess Deokman replied.
"Did you give that dress to the Queen last time during the prayer ceremony that was being held before here in Ilsan Palace?" He asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Princess Deokman replied as she bowed her head.
King Jinpyeong looked at her as he lowered his head and at that very instant turning back to look at his daughter he noticed that she was holding her head and her wrist was purple.
"Deokman." He called while the Princess started showing signs of dizziness.
Yushin standing right behind her and noticing that the Princess was losing her stamina he hurriedly rushed over and put himself behind her.
Princess Deokman collapsed.
"Call the Royal physicians back." King Jinpyeong shouted at Alcheon Rang.
"Yes Your Majesty." Alcheon Rang replied as he bowed his head and he hurriedly walked out of the Queen's Chambers while he bumped into Eun Hye and Boyeong.
"Alcheon Rang." They called him.
"Where are the Royal Physicians?" Alcheon asked immediately.
"They went that way." Eun Hye said as she pointed at her left right across the courtyard.
"Go inside, Her Highness the Princess has fainted." Alcheon Rang ordered them.
"What?" The two said as they led Princess Deokman's other ladies in waiting and they entered into the Queen's Chambers while Alcheon Rang trotted after the Royal Physicians.
King Jinpyeong was already inside as Yushin Rang carried Princess Deokman in his hands and they moved to the side Chamber of Ilsan Palace while the King hurried after them.
Bora was pacing around the Queen's room wondering what had happened to the Princess and she was already in panic herself.
Alcheon Rang caught up to the Royal physicians and running past them he halted right in front of them.
"Sirs." He called.
"What are you doing here?" Their head Asked.
"His Majesty the King summons you back to Ilsan Palace, Her Highness the Princess Deokman has passed out right now." Alcheon Rang replied.
"Let's go." The Head Immediately told his friends as they turned around and trotted back with their equipment to the Queen's residence.
Seungman was standing outside Princess Deokman's palace and watching as the guards there didn't seem to be bothered by her.
She recalled what she had heard earlier on behind the Queen's Chambers.
"Don't worry Your Highness, the Purslane and the Venom were applied only in mild volumes so that it won't harm you or the baby brutally.
The physicians shall conclude that they could only save you because you didn't come into contact with the infected clothes so frequently." Bora had said to the Queen.
"Wonderful." Queen Sungman had remarked.
Seungman was pacing around the Princess' Chambers and Gopheung who peeped outside seemed to notice her presence.
"Seungman?" He called her and hearing his voice she hurriedly turned around and faced him.
"Come here." Gopheung said as he signalled to her and Seungman mounted the stairs that led up to the Princess' doorway where Gopheung was.
"What are you doing here now?" Gopheung asked.
"Her Highness told me to come here and wait for her." Seungman replied.
"Wait out here until she returns." Gopheung said.
"Yes." Seungman agreed as she stood right there.
The King stood right beside his daughter while the Royal Physicians inspected her body as well.
Their head inhaled the dress that had been hang right by her side and he touched it as he got off a black substance which he tasted with his tongue.
"What is wrong with the Princess?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Your Majesty, I am so sorry." The Royal Physician said.
"About what?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Her Highness the Princess' case is no different from the Queen's as well, like her she has also been poisoned with both purslane and snake venom and luckily it is not that fatal." The Royal Physician replied.
"What's wrong with everyone poisoning, do they plan to poison everyone in the entire Royal household?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Your Highness, forgive us, we were careless with the Princess' safety." Boyeong and Run Hye said in unison.
"Forget about it." King Jinpyeong said, "Yushin Rang." He added.
"What is it Your Majesty?" Yushin said as he bowed his head.
"Contact the Royal Investigation Bureau and tell them to carry out a survey on all the members within the palace and check out their clothes and for the women their make up as well.
They shall be with the Royal physicians and don't stop until you have looked through every nook and cranny to find purslane and snake venom around or check whether they have all been infected." King Jinpyeong ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." Yushin Rang replied as he bowed his head and strode outside.
"Her Highness is lucky that she was saved in time because the venom hasn't yet gone deeper into her skin it can easily be extracted and expelled from the body." The Royal Physician said.
"Thank you." King Jinpyeong said as he bowed his head to them.
"It is our duty Your Majesty, you needn't worry because in a very short time I assure you Her Highness shall have fully recovered from this." The Royal Physician said.
"Have you prescribed her some medicines?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." They replied.
"If that is all I don't wish to keep you held up here." King Jinpyeong said.
"Very well Your Majesty." The head Physician said, "We shall take our leave." He added as the others behind him bowed their heads and picking up their equipment once again they walked out at once.
King Jinpyeong turned to look at Alcheon Rang and Princess Deokman's ladies in waiting.
"When Her Highness is alright you shall arrange for her to move back into her Chambers." He ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." They all replied in unison as the King slowly walked closer and closer to his daughter.
"Deokman." He calmed her name as he lowered himself right onto his knees and he ran his hand across her forehead while he looked at her lying their unconscious.
Alcheon Rang looked down.
"Who did this to you?" He asked himself as his eyes became teary while he held up her right hand and then he kissed it.
"If your mother would hear of it that I failed to protect you and you got poisoned then she would never for the rest of her entire life try to forgive me." King Jinpyeong remarked.
"She'll be alright Your Majesty." Alcheon Rang mentioned from behind, "we are sorry that we couldn't be more cautious to protect her." He added.
"Perhaps it is my fault." King Jinpyeong said, "I designated her as a Princess and gave her power which though granting her friends have her the very enemies that envied her for it." He added.
"People are generally prone to corruption." Alcheon Rang remarked, "You are a good father after all Your Majesty because regardless of the situation Her Highness has never felt let down by you " Alcheon Rang remarked.
The King wiped his tears and then he stood up.
"All of you take better care of her this time around and ensure that what has happened to her doesn't happen once again " King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." They all replied in unison as they bowed their head.
"I need to first handle some issues." King Jinpyeong said as he walked out of the room.
Bora was seated right next to her Mistress when the Queen opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling that was above her head.
"Your Highness." Bora said as she helped her sit up while a smile overwhelmed her Mistress' face.
"Tell me the good news Bora." Queen Sungman demanded and Bora who was smiling immediately lost the liveliness on her face as she silked.
"What happened, you appear to be Rather disappointed." Queen Sungman said.
"What would you know Your Highness, you had passed out for three hours." Bora replied.
"Was Her Highness apprehended or not?" Queen Sungman asked.
"Your Highness, even I don't know how it happened, before the King had even told her what had happened to you and your clothes, Her Highness fainted and it turns out that like you she was poisoned." Bora replied.
"What?" Queen Sungman said as she clenched her fists angrily.
"Your Highness, as it is the Princess is lying in the side Chamber right now." Bora said.
"How is it even possible that she got poisoned?" Queen Sungman asked.
"Perhaps there is someone that like yourself resents Her Highness but to think about it that she was poisoned at the same time that we wished to apprehend her it is in deed something that is coincidental." Bora replied.
"No." Queen Sungman replied, "It can't be the work of her enemy." She added.
"Then perhaps are you suggesting that Her Highness was aware of our plan beforehand?" Bora asked.
"If she was aware of our plan beforehand then she would have made sure that nothing of the sort happened in the first place." Queen Sungman replied.
"Then perhaps someone tipped her off about what we were planning." Bora said.
"Yes." Queen Sungman replied.
"But who would have done that, it was between Your Highness alone and me, I am sure that there was no one else who knew what we were talking about." Bora said.
"There must be someone within Ilsan Palace that could have eavesdropped our conversation so I want you to do whatever you can and learn about all the movements of the various ladies in waiting including the Eunuchs." Queen Sungman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Bora replied.
"When everything is over I want you to make sure that no matter what happens, the Princess leaves Ilsan Palace immediately." Queen Sungman said.
"Don't worry Your Highness, everything has already been prepared and His Majesty already passed an order that she gets transferred back to her Chambers the moment that she regains consciousness." Bora replied.
"Good." Queen Sungman remarked.
Seungman was seated on the stairs that led to Princess Deokman's Chambers when she caught sight of Her Highness being supported by Bora and Eun Hye as they advanced towards her.
She hurriedly descended the stairs and stopped right in front of Princess Deokman who smiled at her.
"Your Highness." She said.
"Seungman." Princess Deokman called.
"Are you alright?" Seungman asked.
"Don't worry, I am fine." She replied.
"I am so sorry Your Highness." Seungman said.
"I should be thankful that you alerted me in time." Princess Deokman said.
"First go in Your Highness." Seungman said.
"Hmmm." Princess Deokman muttered as she mounted the stairs and entered her room.
"Yushin Rang, Alcheon, Gopheung and Seungman sat with her the moment that she got inside and placing her right hand at the arm of her chair she was immersed in s series of thoughts that they all noticed.
"Your Highness." Yushin called, "Are you alright?" He asked.
"Had it not been for Seungman perhaps I would have nearly lost everything that I had worked for all these years." Princess Deokman Said as she turned to Seungman.
"Your Highness, I thought too that they were suspicious and before I could get to you I confirmed where they had kept the rest of the snake venom and the Purslane." Seungman said.
"Your Highness, couldn't there have been a better way?" Alcheon Rang asked.
"That was the only way that we had left." Princess Deokman said as she turned to Alcheon, "Had I not sacrificed myself then I was bound to be punished and apprehended for the attempted murder of the Queen and her child." Princess Deokman added.
"I never knew that Her Highness could be so heartless even with her own." Yushin Rang remarked.
"For the sake of power people can be determined to do a lot more than anyone would have expected and I believe that given the situation that has happened it has given us a clearer picture of who we are up against." Princess Deokman remarked.
"Your Highness, the Queen shows no intentions of sparing you at all, it is high time that you returned the favour." Yushin Rang said.
"Do you think that I am going to let this go without a fight, all it required me to do was to be patient to get this far and I believe that if we are patient a little bit longer heaven itself shall deliver Her Highness into my hands." Princess Deokman said.
"What are we going to do Your Highness?" Seungman replied.
"First thing's first we need to find out the whereabouts of the Priest that announced the prophecy of the female Ruler Jin." Princess Deokman replied.
"Your Highness, I think that the Queen could have secured him of he really was as accurate as he is said to be so acquiring him shall be a most cumbersome task." Gopheung said.
"I am confident that she won't let him go easily and if you can find out from which temple the priests were invited then it would be good enough for you to start.
I also need you to send out your most capable men and keep an eye on the Queen and all there servants within her household as well as those going both in and out of it." Princess Deokman ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Gopheung said.
"Yushin Rang, I need to speak to my uncle Galmunwang Gukban so I'll need to get out of the Palace as soon as possible and this time around I am coming with Seungman." Princess Deokman said.
"The safest your Highness shall be in two days time because even his residence is under close surveillance by Galmunwang Baekban's spies and in two days supplies shall be taken into his home." Yushin Rang said.
"We'll use that time." Princess Deokman said.
"Alcheon Rang, I want to give you three important tasks." Princess Deokman said.
"I am listening your Highness." Alcheon replied.
"Keep an eye on Soseok Rang, whatever happens at the Royal Investigation Bureau make sure to inform me and lastly I want you to abstain from keeping an eye on Bidam Rang." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon replied.
"All of you must see to it that you fulfill each of the tasks that I have given you and should you fail as an individual then everything that all of us shall be doing shall have been in vain." Princess Deokman cautioned.
"Yes Your Highness." They all replied in unison.
"Beyond this point there is no turning back and all of you being the very people that I trust I have decided that from this day onwards we have not only declared war but we are fighting the battle." Princess Deokman said.