Origins 2

"Dad" It was the boy this time, Lee Min.

"my boy... you must promise to protect your sister and mother" Lee Chu had ruffled his son's hair.

"Dad, do you remember that day at the palace?, I had an archery competition with the Prince and won, the king gifted me a white horse..."

"yes my boy, I remember. I was so proud of you that day. It is getting late, now you must leave with your mother and sister"

"Dad, is the king behind this?, or is the Grand Queen behind all these?"

"Lee Min!"

"I heard it all, the day at the palace, when i wanted to go meet Min Hyuk because he was sulking after the competition, I ran into some officials and heard them talking about you. They must have thought I was harmless so they paid no heed when they saw me"

"Lee Min. I will not ask what you heard. But remember, you must not say a word of it to anyone. Not even your sister. And we will meet again. Remember you must keep your mother and sister safe"

"Dad..."

"promise me"

"Dad..."

"do it now"

"I will protect them dad"

"Now go"

Lee Chu had hurriedly escorted them through the back door. He had given his wife a kiss on her forehead and stared into her eyes which held fresh tears.

"we will meet again" he had whispered into her ears. He then put something into her hands. Seeing what it was, she had gently nodded.

Then they had begun their journey; two kids, two women - for their maidservant and nanny had insisted on following them. The lady had set them all free anyways before the run and they had all been permitted to flee and become free persons. This particular maid had chosen to die with them than return to her home town. After fruitless dissuasions, she had followed them.

Back at the house, the Royal Guards sent from the palace had arrived.

"Traitor Lee Chu, Come out and accept the Royal Verdict"

"I am here. Do what you must, but leave my family out of this"

"a traitor has no say in what becomes of his family" This had come from Minister Choi; a well known enemy of Lee Chu.

"the one with the surname Choi, did you come to witness the death of a man greater than you...? hahaha"

"you must not know that you will die a gruesome death here today..."