7: The King’s Death and War for the Throne

"Appa is gone," Seok Hoon's voice cracked as he paced the war chamber, his face pale and strained. "And the vultures are already circling."

I leaned against the cold stone wall, arms crossed, the weight of his words settling heavily. Gone. The finality of it gnawed at me, though guilt drowned out my grief. "What did you expect? This court thrives on chaos."

"Min Soo!" Hyejin snapped, her voice sharp as steel. "Not now."

I shrugged, watching the tension radiate from my siblings. Seok Hoon looked as if he might shatter, while Hyejin's usual composure wavered.

"What are you going to do, hyung?" I asked, my tone biting. "Sit there and cry while the council decides your fate for you?"

He turned to me, his eyes blazing. "You think I don't know what's at stake? You think I wanted any of this?"

"Enough!" Hyejin's voice rang out, silencing us both. She stepped between us, her glare cutting through the air like a blade. "Appa's death has left a void, and if we don't act now, someone else will fill it. Seok Hoon, you have to claim the throne."

Seok Hoon hesitated, his hands trembling. "The council is divided, noona. Half of them back me, but the others... they're listening to Eomma."

At the mention of the queen, Hyejin's face darkened. "Eomma's scheming will destroy us all."

I pushed off the wall, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "Then stop her. You're the heir, aren't you? Act like it."

"You're one to talk," Seok Hoon shot back. "You've done nothing but make things worse. This curse—whatever it is—has only brought more trouble."

My jaw tightened. "Don't pin this on me, hyung. You were always Appa's golden boy, the perfect prince. If you can't handle the crown, maybe you don't deserve it."

"Stop it, both of you!" Hyejin's voice broke, and for a moment, the weight of her despair silenced us. "We're losing everything—our family, our kingdom. And all you two can do is fight."

---

The council chamber was suffocating, the air thick with tension as the royal advisors argued amongst themselves. Eomma sat at the head of the room, her expression serene but her eyes calculating.

"The kingdom needs stability," one advisor said, his voice measured. "Prince Seok Hoon must ascend the throne immediately."

"Stability?" another countered, his tone sharp. "The prince lacks the experience to lead us through this crisis. We need wisdom, not youth."

"And who do you propose?" Hyejin asked, her voice cutting through the noise.

The advisor's gaze flicked to Eomma, and the room fell silent.

"This is absurd," I muttered under my breath, earning a sharp look from Hyejin.

Eomma rose gracefully, her every movement deliberate. "My sons are both capable in their own ways," she said, her tone dripping with false warmth. "But the council must decide what is best for Goryeo. Seok Hoon may take the throne, but only if he agrees to an alliance with the Kingdom of Buyeo through marriage."

"What?" Seok Hoon's voice rang out, his face a mask of shock and anger.

Hyejin stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "You can't be serious, Eomma. Buyeo is our enemy."

"Enemies can become allies," Eomma replied smoothly. "A marriage will secure peace and strengthen our position."

"And what about me?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do I get a say in this grand plan?"

"You forfeited your right to a say the moment you defied your father," Eomma said, her gaze cold. "This is not about you, Min Soo. It's about the kingdom."

---

That night, the palace was eerily quiet, the weight of the day's events pressing down on all of us. I found Seok Hoon in the armory, staring at the weapons lining the walls.

"You can't seriously be considering this," I said, breaking the silence.

He didn't turn to face me. "Do you think I have a choice?"

"Of course you do," I snapped. "You're the crown prince. Act like it."

He let out a bitter laugh. "And what would you know about responsibility, Min Soo? You've spent your whole life running away from it."

I clenched my fists, his words cutting deeper than I cared to admit. "At least I'm not selling my soul for a throne."

"This isn't about the throne," he said, finally turning to face me. "It's about survival. For all of us."

"Survival?" I scoffed. "You think marrying Buyeo will save us? It'll only make us their puppets."

"What would you have me do, then?" he asked, his voice rising. "Fight a war we can't win? Watch our people suffer because I was too proud to make a deal?"

Before I could respond, the doors burst open, and Hyejin stormed in, her face pale. "It's Eomma," she said breathlessly. "She's meeting with the Buyeo envoy in secret. She's planning something."

---

We followed her to the queen's private chambers, our footsteps silent against the stone floor. From the shadows, we watched as Eomma spoke in hushed tones with a man dressed in Buyeo attire.

"The prince will agree," she said confidently. "He has no choice."

"And if he doesn't?" the envoy asked.

"Then we'll ensure the throne falls to someone more... agreeable," she replied, her smile chilling.

Seok Hoon's face hardened, his hands clenching into fists. "She's betraying us."

"No," I said, my voice low. "She's betraying you."

---

As we stepped back into the shadows, the sound of approaching footsteps made us freeze. The envoy turned, his eyes narrowing. "It seems we're not alone," he said, drawing his blade.