Hyuk sighed as he massaged his neck, glancing at the journals placed carefully on his desk. He grimaced, shooting a look at Dae-hyun, who only smiled in response. The emperor stifled a yawn, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. Why was he dragged out of his bed on a weekend morning to his study... only to read those stupid journals? Did Dae-hyun have nothing else to do?!

“… You woke me up at 4am… To do what?”

“Well, sire, you have a full day ahead of you! You have a meeting with the foreign envoy from—”

“Okay, okay. I got it. No need to recite my entire schedule…” Hyuk grumbled as he rested his head on his chair. He didn’t even want to think about his long day ahead.

“… How is she?”

“She’s adjusting very well. Um, well, her way of speaking is still a bit off, but other than that, she’s fine.”

“… I wasn’t asking— never mind.”

“Your Majesty, may I ask you a question?”

“What—”

“Why are you making her take part in the Selection? Are you really planning on making her your empress?!”

Hyuk groaned in irritation. Did they have to talk about her at 4 in the morning?! He glowered at his best friend before letting out a tired sigh. He had been avoiding this topic for the last two weeks. And knowing Dae-hyun’s temperament, he was never going to let this question go unanswered.

“Yes. And before you ask why, I… Don’t you know that you should keep your friends close but your enemies closer? I need to keep an eye on her and you...” he paused, looking up at Dae-hyun’s confused stare, “... You are the only one I can rely on to keep watch on that woman 24/7.”

“Awwe! Your Majesty! I feel honored—”

“Stop. If you have nothing better to do, go check up on Yong-joon.” Hyuk growled, his face flushed with annoyance and embarrassment.

“Tch! Fine! I’ll take my leave then, Your Majesty!”

Hyuk rolled his eyes as Dae-hyun slipped away from the office, softly closing the door shut. He sighed, glancing at the old, tattered journals once more. Hyuk could practically hear the anguished cries echoing in his ears as his eyes welled with tears. Shakily, he reached out to pick up one of the books on the very top. Closing his eyes, Hyuk allowed the old memories to wash over him...

~~~

~~June 4, 1926, Gyeongsung (Seoul), Korea~~

The doors to the underground cells of the Imperial Police Station banged open, echoing with a deafening thud. A man dressed in all black trudged inside the room, a hunting rifle falling to the concrete ground with a loud clack. The masked rebel tugged his mask off his face as he stared in horror at the lifeless and badly mutilated body of a woman in front of him.

With heavy steps, he inched forward, terrified of confirming his suspicions. His golden necklace glimmered in the dim light as he and a few other liberation leaders made their way to the lifeless figure. Kneeling on the ground, Yi Woon slowly reached out with shaking hands as he turned the woman’s body to face him.

An agonizing wail erupted from his lips as he clutched Hae-eun’s cold and limp body within his arms. He had been too late. The imperial prince looked down at her calm, peaceful expression, mourning for his beloved’s untimely death. If only he had arrived a bit sooner, then he would have reunited with her once more. And saved her from the endless torture and torment…!

The members of the Rose Noble stood frozen in place as they wept for the loss of yet another of their comrades. It had taken them seven years to find her… But in the end, they were too late. Horace, the only foreign independence fighter from the United States, hesitantly made his way up to the prince. Wiping his tears, he rested a hand on Woon's shoulders.

“... Sire, we must join the others… I will have someone stay by her side so please—”

“No. I won’t.”

“Are you going to abandon your people? They need your help more than ever! Don’t you want to save them?”

Woon side-glanced at the man with bloodshot eyes as he held Hae-eun closer to him. He couldn’t leave her. How could he after his failure to protect the one he loved? What could he accomplish? He had been too prude to believe that he would be able to lead his people to freedom. How utterly foolish he had been.

Horace clenched his teeth, seeing the dejected and hopeless expression on the royal’s face. How could a man who was responsible for millions and millions of people be so weak-hearted and cowardly? Where was the charismatic and responsible leader they had grown to love and admire for the past seven years? Was he really going to give up on their goal for liberation?

“Your Highness!!!”

“LEAVE. LEAVE ME ALONE! What do you expect me to do or say? I couldn’t even protect the woman I was going to marry! What makes you think I will be able to lead a nation to victory? Look for a different leader…! I’m…”

Woon choked on his words as he let out a sorrowful sob. He merely held Hae-eun close as one by one, his disappointed comrades of the Rose Noble left their leader. The men each ripped off the golden pin on their shirts, throwing it on the ground— a sign of abandonment. They charged out of the building, roaring with anguished cries as they met their unfortunate demise by the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army…

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**NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**