Destined to Meet

They advance toward me to attack me when their leader finally speaks. 

"stand down all of you and return to base", she ordered. 

"your master has proven himself and you just prove yourself too, you are a loyal one and your legacy speaks that you are true", she as she appreciated me. 

Her words are like water to my fire, I feel extreme relief. So this all is a test, and I am drained of all my strengths. I have not eaten or had enough sleep since the incidents. 

I looked back and saw some servant going to the crown prince to carry him back inside, I didn't know when I fell unconscious to the ground. 

**The hidden village leader POV** 

My name is Seo Hwa, I am the only daughter of the previous Minister of War. My father is always away and never home to spend time with the family because he has a duty to discharge to the nation and that is to protect the nation from enemies. 

"When you grow up Seo Hwa you will understand me and what comes with great power, I have to protect us at the border so you can have a good sleep at night without an enemy coming to enslave us", he said the last time I cried to him to stay. I was only ten(10years) then. Now I am 27 years and I am coming to understand what comes with great power and that is a great responsibility. 

I ended up the first female leader because my father did a great help in founding this place and the people heed his word even until his death. 

"pack your loads and wait for me in the barrack", my father said barging in to change his war armour to his royal dress. He has been summoned to the palace. 

"what's happening, honey? You just returned after 2 months", my mother replied. 

"listen to me woman, I will explain when I return to the barrack, just stay there to be safe. I can't risk leaving you here alone", he said as he sat my mother down. My mother always listens to him because he is a good husband and they love one another. 

She started packing our few clothes and called on my only brother who was almost 20 years old then. He is busy studying for the state exam. 

"Help me in packing what we will need in the barrack, we will be there for a few days", she said to him. 

"But I can't study there Mother and you know the state exam is in a few days", he said back. 

She gave him a warning look and she stood up immediately to pack his clothes. I was just sitting there watching them. 

"I will be going now, follow my right hand, he will take you to the barrack", he ordered and left immediately. He trusted only his right-hand commander the most so he left us in his hands. 

We headed to the Ministry of War barrack where all the soldiers in the nation trained and trained and waited on Father. Not knowing that everything we know is about to change because of a little crown prince. 

We were there waiting quietly for Father when his right-hand commander ran in and told us we had to run for our lives. My mother insisted on knowing what happened before she moved from here and left her father behind. 

"I promise to tell you everything in our safe camp, the court is at war now and we are not safe here. My Lord will return to us when everything is settled", he promised. We left in a hurry with few soldiers they trusted. 

The journey was a long one, after traveling for some hours we headed into the forest until we reached our hidden village. 

"where is here?", my mother asked with curiosity. 

"This is the place we are raising a secret army to help the King destroy the Kim from this nation. No one knew about here except The King, My lord, I, and some few soldiers", he explained. 

We trusted him so we entered the house he pointed to us and the soldiers brought in our loads. I was only eager to play with my doll so I ran to it and immediately started unpacking. I was too little then. 

My father's right hand entered again 

"I will go back to the palace now and find out the situation of things and report to you", he promised my mother. 

"OK and tell my husband to hurry home or I will enter the palace at once (which is forbidden for ordinary people at the time)", my mother swore. 

"I will return with good news", he promised and left with some soldiers, the rest were left to protect us. 

My mother stood outside since he left without taking a single grain or a drop of water while I was playing away my time and my brother trying to study in the next room. 

In the late evening time, my father's commander returned with a sad face and said a few words to her which I did not understand then, my mother fainted immediately and she was rushed in. It took some minutes before she woke up. 

"my husband, where is my husband", she stood up immediately. 

"you need to rest. I only brought you the news, I will return to him now and be a witness in his interrogation tomorrow", he said sadly. 

"what interrogation?", my brother asked instantly. 

He looked at my mother for answers but she closed her eyes in tears. Then he faced the commander. 

"What happened to my father? I am old enough and have the right to know", he asked again standing up. 

"he was arrested for treason of raising an army to attack the royal house, and the evidence was found in a crook in your kitchen, someone hid it there, someone helping the Kim Teayoung", he managed to answer. 

My brother sat down in shock. 

"but you said he is doing it secretly for the King", my brother asked again. 

"yes but the King can't utter his involvement in it to secure his seat and his son's life", he explained. 

"so our own lives are not valuable", I managed to say. They all stood in shock looking at me. 

My mother covered my ears immediately and took me into another room as the commander left to see my father in prison. 

"your father is saved, he will return to us alive and our life is as valuable as the King. Every life is equal", she tried to make me understand. 

She put me to sleep not long and waited in the next room with my brother. I had a dream that night, a dream I can never forget. The King raised his sword and cut off my father's head while laughing with his son. 

The next day my mother left for our house and saw all our places turn upside down like they searched through everything. He was brought back by the commander saying she was wandering around like a woman in the market. 

"your father has been found guilty and sentenced to death for taking the poisonous liquid in the market square", he explained to my brother in the next room but I was hearing. 

"But we are saving him and bringing him here on the King's order. The Kim family do not know of this place", he further explained. 

I was relieved by that because at last, my dream would not come true. My father will live. 

We didn't eat all day and waited for my father as we looked at the small village gate, she was too weak so my brother took her in and stood by her, I was alone staring at the gate, and surprisingly, my father walked in wearing the prison wear. 

"Mother, Brother", I screamed as I ran to him. 

I ran into his arm and he carried me as always. My mother and brother ran out too and jumped on us. We all miss father. 

"How did this happen, did the King betray you?", my brother asked eagerly. 

"No, the King didn't betray me, I failed him, he gave me a mission and I couldn't protect it, I betrayed him", my father says. 

The commander returned with a few soldiers but dressed differently ( in black tight wear and mask)

"we lost them in the bush, we are safe now", he said and my father took a deep breath. 

"I hope the King is safe by doing this", my father said worrying about the King when his neck is on the line. 

We went inside and slept beside him as a family after we finally ate. We can't let him out of our sight again.

The next morning, a soldier returned and went in to see Father and they talked quietly in the next room but I moved quietly to the door to hear them. 

"I will follow you and give in myself for breaking into the prison the saving you or else", the commander said. 

"No let me go alone, I can't let the king sacrifice his son because of me", my father said. 

I felt light and didn't know when I faint. That was the last time I heard my father's voice. 

He went back to prison himself, took the liquid, and died in the market square with his right-hand commander by his side because of the King's son. My brother went with him and was caught too, he was hanged after torturing him to give them the location of the secret village but he didn't. 

My mother fell and died as the soldier gave us the news. I lost everything in a day because of the King and his Son. I must have my revenge.