It was the first time the Emperor had summoned King Jinyeong to his private chambers. Despite repeatedly promising himself not to have expectations, the fact that it was his father calling made his heart race uncontrollably. Realizing his face had flushed, Jinyeong awkwardly rubbed it with his hands, but the trembling wouldn't stop. The closer he got, the stronger his heartbeat grew. It was so noticeable that one of the court ladies assisting the Emperor approached to ask if he was feeling unwell. Jinyeong tightly closed his mouth and shook his head in denial. Though she looked concerned, she didn't dare question the prince further and stepped back respectfully.
Soon, the final door opened. Bathed in a flood of red light, Jinyeong momentarily lowered his gaze. The intense crimson, like a blooming camellia, stung his eyes.
At the center of it all was the Emperor, dressed in a simple white robe. His usually tied-back silver hair was down, and he lounged in his chair, looking at Jinyeong. In the Emperor's arms, wrapped in his royal robe, lay Kang, fast asleep. Though already 14 and grown, Kang seemed particularly small against the Emperor's towering and well-built frame. The Emperor often lamented, "Small, so small," and it was easy to understand why. The atmosphere between them was warm and tender, like a summer sun—not too hot, not too mild. Jinyeong, feeling as if he were intruding on an intimate moment, blushed.
Should he be here? Should he leave immediately? Did the Emperor really summon him? His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
"Mm…"
Kang shifted uncomfortably in the Emperor's arms. Surprisingly, the Emperor adjusted his position to hold Kang more comfortably. Kang's head now rested on the Emperor's shoulder, his long, strong arm wrapped around Kang's waist. Kang's legs dangled over the Emperor's lap, and the Emperor picked up the fallen robe with one hand, draping it over Kang's small, frail back. A few strands of Kang's long hair spilled out, signaling his presence.
The Emperor's lips slowly parted.
"I need you to conquer the Ju Kingdom[1]."
"Me?"
King Jinyeong widened his eyes at the unexpected statement. The Emperor looked at him directly, a hint of amusement playing on his lips.
"Why are you so surprised? It's not like you haven't participated in a war once or twice before."
King Jinyeong knew that the Emperor wants to annex the Ju Kingdom, but until now, there hadn't been a suitable pretext. The Emperor was merely seizing the opportunity. At that moment, a skirmish broke out in the Daesan border region between the Ju Kingdom and Yeon Kingdom over ownership of a white oak tree. The roots lay in Yeon’s territory, but the branches extended towards Ju Kingdom. As both nations worshipped the same deity, the white oak held sacred significance for both. The Yeon Kingdom wanted to sculpt the image of the heavens from the tree, while the Ju Kingdom wished to build a shrine. When the Ju Kingdom attempted to cut a branch, they were intercepted by border guards. The soldiers argued that since the roots belonged to Yeon, the tree belonged to Yeon. However, the Ju Kingdom argued that since the branches faced their territory, they belonged to them. The dispute quickly escalated into a matter of national pride for both countries.
The Emperor proposed a treaty, suggesting that the tree in the neutral zone remain untouched. However, when the Ju Kingdom made the first move to intervene, the Emperor declared the treaty null and void. The Emperor of Ju, proud and stubborn, stationed troops along the border. The ceasefire that had been maintained for decades was now meaningless. Though both countries shared the same sky and ancestors, their spears were aimed at each other's hearts.
The Emperor contemplated who would lead the military. King Gyeonghye and King Jinyeong also sensed that this war would alter their positions. It was the opportune time to display their selves as worthy to be the crown prince. Knowing that the Emperor's favor would shower upon the king who led them to victory in this war, the ministers subtly hinted at their preferred king to the Emperor. Ultimately, the decision rested with the Emperor, who at that moment, summoned King Jinyeong to his chambers. King Jinyeong sensed the underlying currents.
The emperor decided that he, instead of King Gyeonghye, was the right person for this war.
The emperor carefully laid Kang he was holding onto the bed. His movements were so delicate and kind that for a moment, he even entertained the futile fantasy of wanting to become Kang himself. At the end of the emperor's gaze, and in the tips of his fingers, there was tenderness overflowing. As he tidied the disheveled strands of Kang’s hair and gazed at King Jinyeong, surprisingly, the affection he felt when looking at Kang vanished as if washed away by water, replaced by the cool, calculating eyes of a father.
In those eyes, only objective emotions, seemingly assessing objects, circulated.
“Gyeonghye is impatient, cruel... self-willed. But you are different. I thought your temperament, generous and kind, and your ability to endure, are suitable for a ruler.” His heart pounded as if it would explode. King Jinyeong clenched his fist. Leaving Kang on the bed, the emperor slowly approached King Jinyeong. He reached out his hand. With trembling eyes, King Jinyeong looked back and forth between the emperor's large hand and beautiful face. When he was unable to rise, the emperor grasped King Jinyeong's wrist and helped him up. The emperor then placed his hand gently on King Jinyeong's shoulder, bowing his head. The emperor's silver hair cascaded down like sunlight.
"Bring the king's head to the throne."
"Yes, Your Majesty," King Jinyeong replied firmly. The emperor's smile deepened. He leisurely brushed his hand over his son's young cheek, whispering graciously.
"It's time to decide the crown prince." The emperor laughed. He turned his back to King Jinyeong. His broad and sturdy back felt imposing. Despite wearing plain clothes, his exposed strong physique felt mature. King Jinyeong couldn't take his eyes off the red light sliding down his back. The sacred white, the red symbolizing the royal family... all stirred King Jinyeong's heart at the thought of symbolizing the emperor. He wanted to make it his own. Place it under his feet. He wanted to lie on that bed where Kang slept...
The most primal desire gradually dominated King Jinyeong.
Where the Emperor's foot halted was the wall adorned with his family's emblem. He effortlessly drew out the sword. The sword, engraved with the claws of a wolf symbolizing the royal family, gleamed fiercely as it reflected the light.
"Bring the Ju Kingdom under the feet of the heavens."
The Emperor handed over the sword. King Jinyeong approached him slowly, kneeling down to accept the sword. The weighty sword felt pleasing in his hands. The image of the sword was vividly etched in King Jinyeong's eyes. The Emperor smiled satisfactorily as he saw King Jinyeong transforming into a figure suitable for the imperial palace. His hand lightly moved to touch King Jinyeong's head. His index finger traced down to King Jinyeong's forehead, nose, lips, and cheeks, tilting his chin lightly to make eye contact.
"If you want to become the crown prince, you must win. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. With this sword, I will surely bring the head of the Emperor of Ju."
The Emperor withdrew his hand and stepped back. He walked towards the sleeping Kang. His hand touched Kang’s forehead. It was so different from looking at himself. It was then that King Jinyeong realized. The Emperor would never acknowledge him as his son. If he didn't acknowledge him as his father, that was that. They would return to a strict ruler-subject relationship.
Since then, King Jinyeong never sought affection from the Emperor. Unlike Gyeonghye, who showed his vicious side to gain even a bit of the Emperor's attention, he was different.
Following the Emperor's wishes, King Jinyeong embarked on the path to become a thorough Emperor. To adorn that path, he needed the head of the Emperor of Ju. It wasn't for the Emperor's desire but for his own.
He opened his eyes wide. Unlike Yeon Kingdom, Ju Kingdom was adorned with greenery. The blue silk adorned with dragons ascending to the sky was torn apart. Ju’s subjects were already buried in the ground. All that remained were the majority of the people and a few members of the royal family.
"Your Majesty[2], are you truly going to execute him yourself? Such tasks should be left to me."
General Jo-Woon, who supervised King Jinyeong, approached and whispered to him. King Jinyeong, who had been gazing dryly at her well-painted face, stood up without a word. His blood-stained armor emitted a metallic clang as he rose. Drawing the sword secured at his back, King Jinyeong declared, "I will carry out the execution."
Pushing aside the generals who tried to stop him, King Jinyeong strode forward. In the center of the fortress wall, where the people were crowded, knelt the last king, looking at King Jinyeong with a miserable face. As King Jinyeong entered the wall with the sword raised, the seated people, stricken with grief, cried out. The soldiers from Yeon raised clubs to silence their cries, striking them forcefully. The sound of skulls cracking vividly echoed from below the wall.
"Capturing me alone was enough. Why kill the poor and young people under me!"
Whether it was because the commoners dying beneath him were pitiful or not, he shouted in protest. Unwilling to hear the fallen emperor’s angry cries, King Jinyeong slapped his cheek. Bound by ropes, his body writhed and convulsed below. King Jinyeong pressed his head with his foot, preventing him from raising it. As his head hit the stone, blood streamed down. King Jinyeong pressed down harder with his foot and muttered in a low voice.
"Whether to kill or stab them to death, it's my decision. It's not the decision of an emperor of a fallen country."
"Please, just leave my people alone. Can't I just admit defeat?"
The emperor cried with the commoners, pleading. King Jinyeong looked at him with cold eyes. It was a pitiful sight of a fallen emperor. His torn dragon robe, disheveled hair, and tightly bound body. King Jinyeong didn't like seeing him dare to plead for the safety of the people. Killing him and sparing the people were all his decisions.
It was exhilarating. They weren't pitiful at all. He couldn't understand why they should be pitied. They were not the people of Yeon. They were the people of the enemy, who must be killed.
King Jinyeong raised his sword towards the emperor, who looked at him with tear-filled eyes. Despair spread in the emperor’s eyes as he gazed at the merciless executor, feeling futile. With a bright smile, King Jinyeong, enjoying the sight of the defeated's eyes filled with despair, cheerfully spoke.
"Farewell. I hope your journey to the afterlife is as miserable."
His sword soared high into the sky. Then, as if in response to the high-pitched scream of a woman, it plunged into the old emperor’s neck. His eyes rolled back, and beast-like sounds emanated from his mouth. Blood splattered on King Jinyeong's face.
"Oh well. Humans don't die so easily, that's the problem...."
With a low laugh, King Jinyeong pulled out the embedded sword and thrust it back into the neck. The action was repeated until the king's neck was completely severed. Each time, the cries of the princesses and princes witnessing the death of their emperor and father grew louder, and the wails of the people flooded. King Jinyeong focused solely on cutting his neck. His hand did not stop until the white bone was severed. He grabbed the limp neck by the hair and pulled it out. The distorted face of agony moved under King Jinyeong's hand. General Jo-Woon approached, watching the act with an indifferent face. Inside was piled with Yeon Kingdom’s red silk.
It was a gift brought from Yeon to present to the Emperor. Inside, the head of the Emperor of Ju was placed. King Jinyeong locked the chest himself and placed the key in his bosom. Holding the blood-soaked sword loosely, he wiped the blood-drenched face with his other hand. Finally, King Jinyeong tapped the chest with satisfaction.
"It's perfectly fitting. Indeed, a craftsman is a craftsman."
General Jo-Woon faintly smiled in response to the boyish, cheerful tone and voice.
"To be honest, I was worried that the chest might be too large, but I'm relieved it fits perfectly on the head. His Majesty will be very pleased. It's a truly precious gift you've prepared, isn't it, Your Highness?"
King Jinyeong, Jo-Woon, and the generals guarding the fortress laughed loudly. It was a grotesque sight. While above, one person's neck was being severed, below, there were people witnessing the decapitation of others, their heads smashing. Both above and below were filled with bloodied, broken bodies. The enemy princess, who hadn't watched such a scene for long, finally fainted. There was no one to hold her. Her body fell backward.
"Are you trying to become the crown prince even by killing innocent lives? Then you'll never become one! A ruler should love and care for the innocent! Even if they are people of the enemy country, killing them in such a cruel way is unforgivable by heaven!"
A priest who guarded the kingdom, worshipping the same heaven as Yeon, shouted angrily at King Jinyeong. Tears of blood flowed from his eyes, and veins bulged on his neck. His face was flushed with blood. Watching his face, ready to burst, King Jinyeong, with a stern expression, snatched the spear from Jo-Woon’s hand.
"You will never become the crown prince! Heaven does not forgive unjust slaughter! You are deceived by the Emperor! You will die just like us!"
King Jinyeong's spear pierced the priest's chest. He threw the spear towards the priest's chest like shooting an arrow. It pierced through the priest's chest and bounced out. The priest's blood splattered like droplets to the people around. King Jinyeong looked at the dying priest with an expressionless face.
"Speak in the underworld."
The surroundings quickly became quiet. King Jinyeong turned around with a smirk. He opened his eyes slightly as the sunlight, tinged with red from above and below, shone upon him. Encased in armor, his hands gently touched the fortress.
"It's just like Yeon Kingdom."
His lips trembled slightly. It was a smile full of joy. As if envisioning his future self, King Jinyeong was delighted. Watching him with indifferent eyes, Jo-Woon smirked, subtly revealing a disdainful light.
"You will not become the crown prince, as the priest said. The crown prince will be... King Gyeonghye."
With her thoughts swallowed, General Jo-woon stood behind him. When King Jinyeong turned to her, she wore the mask of a loyal subject and smiled.
[1] Ju-guk. Meaning Ju country. Just leaving it here as empire kingdom
[2] Using Cheona honorific