Draw The Lines

Inside the grand courtroom, the air was thick with tension as King Man-Ju's chilling directive echoed against the walls. Minister Shin, his heart racing, struggled to mask his disbelief. "Your Highness, you wish for me to remain in the capital? What of the prince? Should I not be at his side?" His voice trembled slightly, betraying the urgency of his concerns.

King Man-Ju, perched upon his ornate throne, regarded the minister with an unyielding glare. "Your allegiance is to me, not to the prince. As my wartime minister, your role is to safeguard the capital."

"But, Your Highness, the prince—your brother—will be left to navigate this immense responsibility with only a handful of seasoned generals to guide him. He bears the weight of defending our land, and he will require all the support he can get." Minister Shin's voice rose as he implored the king, desperation lacing his words, hoping to ignite a flicker of reason in the monarch's heart.

Man-Ju's expression hardened, his piercing gaze a steel trap. "Do I need to say it once more, Minister? Or do you lack faith in your student's abilities?"

"This is a matter of Chiongsun's security. As the King, you must allocate every resource for the challenges that lie ahead," Minister Shin insisted, his tone heavy with the weight of his convictions, the stillness of the courtroom amplifying his plea.

With a dismissive wave, King Man-Ju turned his back, his voice cold as ice. "This conversation is finished. You will stay here to guard me; that is my command!" He strode away, leaving the minister speechless, frustration boiling beneath the surface.

Outside, the air crackled with Jin-Ri's defiance as she confronted her own fears. "What? No! I refuse to stay behind. I'm coming with you," she declared, her eyes bright with determination as she sought to stand by Young-Sik's side.

"You don't understand, Jin-Ri. This isn't just a simple trip; I'm going to war, and in war, people lose their lives," Young-Sik explained, his heart aching as he struggled to convey the gravity of his mission.

"I don't care if you're going to the moon or oblivion. I won't leave your side," Jin-Ri insisted, tears welling up as the thought of separation pierced her heart. The uncertainty of their future loomed like a dark cloud.

"Jin-Ri, please, don't make it harder than it already is. For now, head back and rest at my home. I will drop by later. I need to prepare the soldiers." Young-Sik hurriedly turned away, his heart heavy as he made his way to the military office, leaving Jin-Ri to grapple with her fears.

As she watched him go, a deep sense of dread enveloped her. She turned and made her way back to the prince's residence, her heart pounding with worry.

At the pavilion, Ministers Im and Go stood to watch. Their conversation was halted by the sight of Minister Shin approaching, his face a mask of anxiety.

"You seem troubled, my friend. What has the King conveyed to you?" Minister Go asked, impatience swirling in his tone, unaware of the storm brewing within the palace walls.

In the dimly lit chamber of the palace, the weight of a looming war hung heavy in the air like the dark clouds gathering on the horizon. Minister Shin, his brow furrowed, paced back and forth, the tension palpable in his every movement. "The King has commanded me to remain in the capital to ensure his safety," he finally declared, his voice a mix of frustration and concern.

His fellow ministers, Im and Go, exchanged bewildered glances, their shock evident. "What?" Minister Im exclaimed, his voice rising in alarm. "What will happen to the prince? He's on the brink of facing a battle-hardened war machine, backed only by a group of fresh-faced officers who are still finding their footing!"

Minister Go, his expression grave, interjected, "The prince has commanded several skirmishes, but nothing of this magnitude. This is madness!"

With a deep breath, Minister Shin sought to quell their fears. "We must have faith in our student. We have trained him well. He will utilize what we taught him to his advantage. This is one battle that he has to face alone. He will triumph over this; he will not let Chiongsun fall, I am sure of it."

"But what if he falters?" Minister Im countered, worry etching lines across his face. "He needs the best officers by his side. Without them, he is at a grave disadvantage."

Minister Go nodded, his voice steady yet anxious. "Then it would be best to keep the truth about the King's death a secret until he comes back. If we can't help him, it would be for the best if we do not add to his already mountainous burdens."

"Agreed," Minister Im replied, resolve hardening in his tone. "We will reconvene tomorrow afternoon. I will voice the concern that Prince Young-Sik is going into battle without the most experienced Chiongsun general."

"We will back you on this," Minister Shin affirmed. "I just hope we can sway enough ministers to our side to force the King to give the prince the best officers to help him." The three men bowed to each other, their hearts heavy with the knowledge of the battle to come, both on the battlefield and within the court.

Meanwhile, in a lavishly adorned royal chamber, King Man-Ju found his mother, Queen Eri, waiting for him, her presence a storm cloud in an otherwise sunny day. He bowed respectfully, his demeanor polite yet cautious. "What are you doing here, Queen Mother?" he inquired, dismissing his entourage with a wave of his hand.

The Dowager Queen regarded him with an icy gaze, waiting for the servants to exit the room before she spoke, her tone sharp. "What preparations have you made to ensure our security?"

"The new recruits will stay within the capital to protect the palace," he explained, bracing himself for her response. "I instructed Minister Shin to stay in the capital to secure the palace. I will ask some of the veteran generals to do the same."

"That is not enough," Queen Eri ordered, her voice cold as steel. "Send the recruits into battle to replace most of the veteran soldiers so they can stay here to defend us. If he is to face this threat, we must ensure our safety first."

The King's heart sank at her words, recognizing the treachery hidden beneath her maternal façade. The weight of his responsibilities pressed down on him as he realized that the stakes were higher than anyone had anticipated, and the true battle was only just beginning.

Jin-Ri paced back and forth in Yeng's room, her heart heavy with the weight of impending war. "He said... I can't accompany him when he faces the invaders," Jin-Ri replied, her disappointment palpable. She stopped and looked at Yeng, her eyes wide with worry.

Yeng leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, a playful smirk on her lips. "And what exactly do you think you'll do there? Serve up some gourmet food for the soldiers and while you're at it, keep the battlefield clean and spotless?" Her tone dripped with mockery, but there was a hint of concern behind her words.

Jin-Ri opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. "Well…" she began, faltering under Yeng's teasing gaze.

"Oh my goodness! Don't tell me that was your actual plan?" Yeng exclaimed, her laughter filling the room as she realized the truth.

"What? Of course not! I plan to fight alongside the prince!" Jin-Ri declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

Yeng's expression turned serious as she held Jin-Ri's shoulders. "Jin-Ri, look, you are a nice and brave girl... but every time you throw a punch, you hurt your hand, and when you kick... you get sprained. For some reason, you get hurt more than the person you are trying to hurt." She paused, letting her words sink in. "Just do what the prince says. He won't be able to put his heart and mind into the task of fighting if he has to worry about you."

Jin-Ri felt her shoulders sag as she hung her head low. "I understand, you're right, of course. I should not hinder the prince's efforts and concentration." With a weak sigh, she turned and slowly walked to a corner of the room, feeling the sting of reality settle in.

Yeng sighed, shaking her head at her friend's retreating figure. She quickly sat down in front of her vanity table, pulled out a piece of parchment, and began to write a message about the impending war.

Meanwhile, at the Cherry Blossom secret hideout, Young-Sik and Captain Gi were bracing themselves for the storm that was Lady Hu. "Wait, you two are going where for what reason?" she screeched, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Now, now, Lady Hu, let's not get all dramatic! Please don't throw that—someone might get hurt, and I'm not wearing my armor today!" Captain Gi pleaded, dodging a flying vase that narrowly missed his head. He glanced at the prince, who was blissfully sipping tea as if it were a casual Sunday picnic. "Your Highness, a little backup here?"

"Why do you think I invited you?" Young-Sik replied, savoring his tea like it was the elixir of life. "Just keep dodging her projectiles, and she'll tire out in a few hours."

"A few hours? I'm not going to last that long!" Captain Gi exclaimed, his eyes darting to the next incoming object that looked suspiciously like a teapot.

With a resounding clang, the teapot collided with Captain Gi's face, leaving him as unconscious as a rock. Lady Hu then zeroed in on the prince, her fury palpable. "And you! You little scoundrel! What possessed you to lead an army of soldiers who think a sword is just a fancy stick? Are you out of your mind?" she yelled at him, her voice ringing with a mix of anger and concern.

"Unni, come on! You know it is my duty! Think of the bright side—we trekked all this way just to clue you in on our plans!" he said coolly, his voice a gentle wave against the storm of Lady Hu's fury.

"Don't you dare 'Unni' me! I'm this close to tying you up to the wall so you don't go and get yourself into trouble!" Lady Hu hollered, her eyes blazing. Young-Sik merely quirked an eyebrow, as if dodging bullets with every syllable she fired.

Breathing deeply, Lady Hu steadied herself, her tone shifting as she asked, "What did the country bumpkin say?"

"She cried," Young-Sik replied simply, his expression softening. "That's another reason I came here. I ask that you could please watch over her."

"Watch over her? What am I, a nanny?" Lady Hu retorted, crossing her arms defiantly.

"She's headstrong, maybe too headstrong for her sake... I want to be sure that she will be alright. You don't have to babysit her, just keep an eye on her," Young-Sik implored, taking her hands in his. "Please, Unni, I just want to be sure that she is okay."

Lady Hu shook her head, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Fine... I'll keep an eye on her. But you have to promise me, no matter what, you're coming back alive. You understand me?" she said, her voice firm. Young-Sik nodded quickly, a smile breaking across his face, relief washing over him.

"Keep an eye on this big oaf for me, will you?" she whispered to Young-Sik, glancing at Captain Gi, who was slowly rejoining the land of the living. "I have a feeling he's about to audition for a slapstick comedy."

Prince Young-Sik glanced over at their friend, wobbling like a newborn giraffe. "Don't worry, Captain Gi will be back in one piece," he reassured her, flashing a grin that could light up the darkest corners of the room.

"Now, go get ready for the chaos ahead," she ordered, eyeing Captain Gi, who was finally upright. "And you... you better not trip over your own feet!"

"Wait, you're concerned about me?" he beamed, as if he had just won the lottery.

"I'm more worried about the prince! If you get yourself into a pickle, who's going to babysit him?" Lady Hu shot back, her tone teasing but protective.

As Young-Sik and Captain Gi prepared to exit the room, Young-Sik called back, "Thank you, Lady Hu, for everything." She merely smiled at him, a warmth in her gaze.

"Also... if she needs money, lend her some, okay?" he added, hastily closing the door behind him. Just then, a vase came crashing against the door, a fitting punctuation to the madness.

After several deep breaths, Lady Hu calmed herself, muttering, "Don't worry, your Highness, I will watch over her," a silent promise echoing in her heart. With a brush of her clothes and a determined posture, she stepped out of the room, only to find her servants all eavesdropping.

"What? Haven't seen an angry lady before? Clean this mess up!" she ordered, her voice laced with authority, the chaos of the day still swirling around them.

Later that day, a carrier pigeon arrived at Mt. Yangge Village. The person in charge of the pigeons, ran frantically through the village streets all the while shouting. "WAR! WAR! THE ARANESE ARE INVADING CHIONGSUN"

Seuk and Dam, came out of their house, they went directly at the path of the man shouting "Why are you making a ruckus?" Soon enough, several other people joined and gathered

"A message I got a message from Jin-Ri ang Yeng, The Aranese have invaded the western corridors" The man informed them

Upon hearing the dreadful news everyone was in panic, "The western corridors are only seven days from where we are!" One of them exclaimed, another was shouting hysterically "They will kill us all, The Aranese will kill us all!"

Seuk shouted to calm the people and get their attention "SHUT IT!" He then asked the messenger a question "Does the palace know? And does it say what they planned to do about it?"

The man nodded "Yeng said, that Prince Young-Sik along with the entire army was sent to halt the Aranese advance"

Seuk sighed in relief "At least the crown plans to fight the invaders" he expressed

"What about us? Did it say what the palace intends to do with us?" An old lady asked. The question prompted some negative reactions from the other people.

This Dam stepped in "SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" Everyone became quiet "The prince is already tasked in driving the invaders away...now we must do our part"

"What do you mean do our part? We are composed of the extremely young and extremely old, how can we fight?" An old man asked

"We are not fighting" Seuk exclaimed "but we are not going to be a hindrance either. Now I want you all to go home and pack your necessities only so we are ready to escape in a heartbeat should the enemy come this way" He exclaimed. Upon hearing his plans, the people clamored back to their houses to pack.

Dam, embraced her husband "Our daughter Seuk, she is in the capital, that is the first place they will attack"

Seuk assured his wife, "Our little Jinnie is a tough girl, she will find a way to stay safe. Now let's go and pack our things" he guided his wife back into their house