The Useless Queen

"What's happening?" she questioned, her heart racing from the surprise.

"Your voice is so loud it's giving my horse a panic attack," he said with a blank face and a deadpan voice

Jin-Ri, slightly offended by Young-Sik's remarks but ultimately touched by the kind gesture, launched into her usual chatter, "Thank you so much, My Prince! I knew only someone as extraordinary as you would come to my rescue. I appreciate your kind heart and would like to say that… hold on a second!" Young-Sik, clearly at his wit's end with her endless talking, swiftly lifted her off his horse and placed her back on solid ground.

"What was that for? Why did you get me off the horse? It wasn't even a few steps?" Jin-Ri asked the prince as she trudged beside his horse.

"Your constant babbling is now giving me a panic attack," Young-Sik remarked, his eyes locked forward, not even glancing at the court lady trying to keep up with his horse.

"Please, Your Highness, let me ride with you! My feet are killing me. I swear I'll be quiet, even on the way back to the capital!" Jin-Ri pleaded, her eyes wide and innocent like a child making a solemn vow to behave.

The prince stopped his horse and leaned in, a playful glint in his eye, "Promise me you'll keep quiet?" Just as Jin-Ri was about to protest, he cut her off, "But if I hear even a single word—just one word—your legs can turn to jelly for all I care!"

"Is it just me, or are you looking down on me right now, Your Highness?" Jin-Ri asked, her eyes narrowing at Young-Sik, who was confidently seated on his horse.

"Well, I am up here, so what do you think?" Young-Sik replied with a teasing grin. "Can you keep that mouth of yours quiet like you promised?"

Jin-Ri, with her lips in a cute pout and eyes sparkling like a child, raised her arms as if begging to be lifted. Young-Sik sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I must be out of my mind," he told himself, half-amused.

Once more Young-Sik lifted Jin-Ri back onto his horse and snuggled comfortably between his arms. "I was going to put you behind me, but you might fall and accidentally maim yourself," Young-Sik said "Don't get any ideas"

"I wasn't exactly pondering…much of anything," Jin-Ri's voice faded as she met the prince's smoldering eyes. She playfully pressed her lips together, mimicking the act of sewing them closed, a cheeky smile threatening to break free.

Suddenly, Jin-Ri's senses were tickled by a delicious fragrance. She scanned her surroundings, quickly ruling out the other soldiers, and pinpointed the source: the prince! "Goodness... we've been on this journey for nearly a day, and he still smells like a fresh bouquet," she thought, a mischievous smile creeping onto her lips with a coy sniff of her outfit, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself, "He smells better than me!"

With a soft sigh, she nestled her head against Young-Sik's chest. "Oh wow, he smells even more amazing up close," she chuckled to herself, feeling a flutter in her heart.

Young-Sik glanced down, noticing the court maiden snuggling against him. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked raising an eyebrow. Jin-Ri slowly lifted her head, her lips forming a playful pout as she chose silence.

She responded with a series of adorable mumbling sounds and exaggerated gestures, reminding him of her promise not to talk or risk walking the rest of the way. "All right, you can speak… but only when asked, got it?" he relented. Jin-Ri beamed, nodding eagerly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

In disguise, Queen Eri arrives at an exclusive room in the Golden Dragon that evening. Minister Lim and Minister Gi were waiting for her. "Your Majesty, we were waiting for you, please sit" Minister Gi invited the Queen, pointing to an empty spot opposite Minister Lim

"I won't be staying long, what is it, Minister Lim?" Queen Eri asked, the defiance in her voice palpable

Minister Lim laughs at the bravado Queen Eri is trying to exhibit. He signaled for the two Kisaeng to leave the room. The two ladies hurriedly stood up and left, closing the door as they exited the room. "Sit down Your Majesty," he said

Queen Eri, once again tried to pass off an aura of defiance but was cut mid-sentence "I said I won't…"

"I SAID SIT DOWN!" Roared Minister Lim. This frightened the Queen and she immediately sat at the pointed spot. "Never make me repeat myself!" Minister Lim warned everyone present in the room.

The door to the room opened and in came Lady Hu "Is anything the matter my Lords? Will you need security?" she asked

"Sorry Madam Hu, just a little misunderstanding with our friend" Minister Gi said, assuring the owner there were no troubles.

Lady Hu, scanned the room and saw everything was in place. She then bowed to Minister Lim and Gi and bowed to the Queen who was in disguise and had her back turned. "Should you need anything don't hesitate to call" she said before closing the door

After a few moments of silence, Minister Lim began to unfurl his plans to the Queen. "Tomorrow at the assembly, I want you to push for the selection of the new Queen"

"Isn't it too early?" Queen Eri clarified

"Minister Gi pointed out that in the olden times, Kings must already have a Queen and an heir before assuming the throne. That has not changed" Minister Lim explained

"What is important is…the selection process must go in favor of Lady Ji-Hye, Lord Lim's daughter" Minister Gi added

"Why so early? And why Lord Lim's daughter and not one of my choosing?" Queen Eri asked, surprised that the Ministers planned to interfere with her duties

"May I remind you, Your Majesty, if it wasn't for your lack of vigilance that a pebble slipped through the cracks? Now that the pebble has wedged itself tightly, the only way to get rid of it is to seal the crack. That is what we are doing here" Minister Gi explained, his tone belittling the Queen

"I will not have you or anyone talk to me like that!" Queen Eri said, raising her voice

"May I remind you, wretched woman, that you have not delivered on your promise to control those two brats! If it weren't for the King, Young-Sik would have probably thrown you out of the palace. If you do not comply… By the break of dawn, a new King will claim the throne, while you and your son will be left to rot in the depths of a cold, unforgiving well!" Minister Lim said, his voice calm yet cold.

The ominous threats from Minister Lim wrapped around the Queen like a cold shroud, igniting a deep-seated dread within her. At that moment, she realized the harsh truth: her crown held no significance in the presence of a monster like Minister Lim.

Minister Lim, took a bite of the grilled pork, and after savoring its delectable taste he spoke "Please remember Your Majesty…you are the real reason for the slaughter of the former royal family" he stared at her menacingly "Imagine what that pebble will do to you and your son for your betrayal"

The Queen calmed herself and decided to cooperate "What will you have me do then, my Lord?"

Minister Lim chuckled before speaking "Make sure that my daughter will be crowned Queen!"

In a remote campsite nestled deep within the mountains, Prince Young-Sik, Jin-Ri, along with the soldiers huddled around the fierce flames, the scent of roasting deer filling the air. "Your Highness…the meat is ready," Captain Gi announced, his voice cutting through the crackling fire.

With a commanding nod, Young-Sik stated, "Lady Jin-Ri should be served her portion first. The men can feast afterward; I'll take what's left."

Captain Gi handed Jin-Ri a skewer piled high with roasted vixen. After expressing her gratitude, she stole a look at the prince, thinking, "No one has ever referred to me as a lady." She watched as the soldiers expressed thanks to the prince for allowing them to eat before him, pondering, "How can someone so ruthless show such kindness to ordinary soldiers?" She continued to watch the prince whittling, slowly sculpting the piece of wood into a toy horse

She leaned closer to Captain Gi and inquired, "Is this how the prince behaves when he's away from the capital?"

The soldier glanced at the prince and replied, "You mean allowing the soldiers to eat before him?" Jin-Ri simply nodded.

Captain Gi chuckled as he savored a piece of roasted meat. "I have talked to soldiers who served with the prince in countless battles. This is how he treats all of us. He even let you ride on his horse right after leaving the capital, which is hardly a long walk."

Jin-Ri's brow furrowed. "But… why does he act so differently at the palace? The way… you know," she said, making a slicing gesture across her throat.

Jin-Ri expressed her bewilderment, saying, "It's just that he acts as if those people didn't matter at all. But the way he treats his soldiers, it's all confusing" Her tone was filled with a need for understanding.

Captain Gi responded, "When he was a child, Prince Kim Young-Sik witnessed the horrific murders of his mother, brother, and sister-in-law. The girl who helped him survive in the mountains perished while trying to save him, and then he lost his father. It may seem drastic, but wouldn't you go to any lengths to protect the last remaining member of your family?" he explained to the court maiden

The captain then shared, "You have to trust me when I say he mourns each life he has taken. He recognizes how valuable life is, and that's why he feels the need to destroy the evils in the Kingdom so that no one else has to experience the suffering he went through."

Captain Gi resumed his meal, while she burdened by sorrow, cast another look at the prince as he began to eat, her gaze drifting to the completed wooden horse resting on a low branch. "You're still a kind child in heart," she murmured. "I hope you discover a path to confront the darkness of the world that doesn't leave your hands stained with blood."

After a couple of bites, the prince found himself in a coughing fit, a tiny piece of food refusing to budge in his throat. Jin-Ri couldn't help but let out a soft giggle, the sound escaping before she could catch it. Young-Sik, noticing her reaction, raised an eyebrow and shot her a stern look. Flushing, Jin-Ri turned her attention back to her meal, determined to keep her laughter at bay.

After finishing his meal, Prince Young-Sik approached Jin-Ri. Suddenly, his eyes were drawn to the darkness nearby. She noticed this abrupt change in his behavior. "Is everything all right, Your Highness?" she asked, standing up and following his gaze.

Suddenly, an arrow whizzed through the shadows, aimed straight at Jin-Ri. Thanks to Young-Sik's remarkable agility, he intercepted the projectile just inches from her chest. "TO ARMS! TO ARMS!" he bellowed, grasping Jin-Ri's hand and leading her to his horse. Drawing his sword, he turned to her and said, "If anything goes wrong, make sure to ride back to the capital and inform the King that we were attacked!"

She observed as the prince dashed into the chaos. With determination, he directed the soldiers to establish a defensive formation, and they swiftly readied their spears. Before long, a horde of men emerged from the darkness, poised to launch an assault on the prince and his troops.