Chapter 1

“ And now the first place goes to….. Rose Lee everybody! Her poem truly moved the judges but that’s not really a surprise now is it, our little star is truly incredible. Everyone, give it up for the university’s pride Ms Rose Lee!!.”

Applause. Congratulations. Smiles. Real and fake. Celebrations. Center of attention. The feeling of being on top of the world.

That was all two weeks back. Old news. Everyone moved on with their lives. Which, frankly, is an obvious thing. The present was busy hitting a whole new level of low.

What to do next?

Write something new. Another poem? Maybe a novel. No, that is pushing it too far. Better to stick with a short story. But what exactly to write?

Pretty sure the answer wasn’t hidden in the white ceiling above. Hours of staring concluded only one sensible observation. It is insanely white! There is not one spot on it. How is that even possible?

‘Last Christmas I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to s-’

“Hello?”

“Hmm”

“What ‘hmm’? Where are you?”

“Home.”

“Ugh! Please don’t sound like the world is ending.”

“But it is. The forests are barbecued and the glaciers have become iced tea.”

“Yeah great whatever. Now listen to me! So I was telling you about this story I was reading right. How much do you remember?”

“Everything.”

“Okay you don’t remember anything. I’ll just give you a quick summary of what happened. We have a king, he is a...well not a decent human being. He marries Ha-Eun the queen….yeah but not because he wanted to. It was his mother who decided all of it so that….you know the power is limited to her clan. Now like I had told you the king, Joon-Woo, being a douche , has many concubines. I am guessing it is just to piss off his beloved wife...not really sure because the author doesn't tell much about him. The queen hates the concubines and does stuff to make their life a living hell. I mean duh! What else can you expect? This all is not that important. I just wanted you to give you a background of them. The real deal is Hyunwoo, this gu- wait are you listening to me?¨

¨Yeah….bad king, many concubines, jealous queen and let me guess there is a guy out for revenge because his whole clan was killed by the king or it can be the former king. Which one is it?¨

¨The former king. That dude died of a heart attack and honestly that was such an easy death for someone who went around killing so many people.¨

¨And now the price of his greed, his son is paying. That is just sad.¨

¨Yup also because Joon-Woo is not that great of a king. He never pays attention to the court and is busy drinking his life away. There are a whole group of people ready to revolt against him. And you guessed it Hyun-woo is there leader.¨

¨ Who?¨

¨ Oh that guy...the guy whose whole clan was killed, remember?¨

¨Ah okay okay got it.¨

¨Yeah and I genuinely thought that he would either march in the palace with his rebel group and kill the king or sneak in to kill the king. But you won´t believe it!! He makes the queen kill the king! Wait okay I will read out this part to you.

Ha-Eun sat sipping her tea slowly observing the man sitting across from her. The king had come to meet his queen after a long time. She wanted to question him but she knew his answers wouldn't matter anyway. Not after tonight, it wouldn´t.

`How have you been spending your time?´

`Oh you know this and that. This kingdom is not run only by the king you know.´

`No one knows that better than me.´

In the room illuminated only by a lamp Ha-Eun smiled, hiding her secret behind the sweet mask. Joon-woo poured a cup of soju and offered it to the queen with both his hands.

`It has been so long. Why don't we share a drink for this special night?´

Ha-Eun searched his face for any signs of suspicion. He was either genuinely clueless or an incredible actor. Be it anything, if she refused the drink he would put his walls up.

Shifting closer she accepted the cup....¨

¨ Wait a minute.¨

¨Yeah, what?¨

¨Why is she doing this again?¨

¨She loves Hyunwoo and is helping him get the throne.¨

¨She doesn't love the king?¨

¨She did but….you know...he was busy with his concubines and Hyunwoon gave her attention and love. Of course she fell for him, he was just so perfect for her.¨

¨ Okay makes sense. Continue.¨

¨Yes now where was I…..

Shifting closer she accepted the cup and took a mouthful. Looking into Joon-woo´s eyes she hooked her hand behind his neck and pulled him closer ever so gently. Connecting their mouths she forced the poison into him.

`Someone is impatient today.’

`I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.’

Joon-woon pulled away as he felt short of breath. Clenching his fast beating heart he looked at Ha-Eun in shock.

`We can’t really trust anyone in the palace,can we?”

The queen pulled him and placed his head in her lap. She stroked his soft hair as he body twitched in struggle.

`This is what you made me do.’

Joon-woon tried to fight his heavy eyes as his pulse dropped by each moment. He gasped for air one last time before he shut down completely. A tear which had been trapped in his eye flowed down freely.

Ha-eun didn’t move from her place and continued to stroke the growing cold body. There was some movement in the dark and out came Hyunwoo.

`The king is dead. Long live the queen.’

He crouched in front of the royal couple pleased with himself. The queen sat staring into the distance, still processing what she had done as the king lay `sleeping’ in her lap. No amount of planning and practice could have prepared her for the absolute stillness she experienced against her body.

Hyunwoo put a finger under her chin and raised her face forcing her to look at him. He gave her his sweet smile. The smile she received every time he met her and were usually followed by words deep coated with honey but not tonight. Tonight his face was glowing, his master plan was a success. Only one tiny milestone was left before he could move on to the final act.

He turned to the table and picked up the queen’s pair of chopsticks. Ha-Eun watched as he delicately cleaned the fried Bogeo. Removing its skin and bones he offered her the creamy liver. Without thinking twice she opened her mouth to eat. Hyunwoo watched her closely as she chewed and offered her more of the fish as soon as she swallowed.

`Life is truly a tragedy after all. Well for some, especially little lambs who fall for the wolf in sheep’s clothing.’

Hyunwoo sat back and watched the queen frown at his statement. He could see her sense the numbness spread across her body. She tried to reach for him but she had already lost control over her body and fell back. Staring at the ceiling she thought back to all the times he was there for her all the while spinning his web. The hands that helped her up had claws hidden on the inside.

The wolf laughed in delight as the poison spread throughout the little lamb. Paralysing the respiratory system while she remained conscious and felt her organs throb in pain, desperate for oxygen.”

“Wait What???!!!!”

“He killed her.”

“Why?! What was the reason?!”

“Because she had killed Seo-yeon.”

“Who?”

“She was the Royal Noble Consort. Oh wait her death was also amazing even though it was only a tiny part. Let me just find it. She was actually burnt alive. I think that is why he chose Bogeo, you know, so that she could also feel the pain.”

“Now this is going over my head.”

“Just shh and listen to this…

Seo-yeon sat with her precious gayageum at the center of her room not minding the flames dancing around her, playing it with all her being because she knew it would be her last time. The maids ran to and forth in urgency, getting water in everything they could find. The fire had become big before anyone could realise and now neither anyone could go in nor come out. The eastern palace was lit up in the middle of the night bringing chaos. The shouts and cries were overridden by the melancholic melody the Royal Noble Consort played from the center of the chaos.

With morning came the deafening silence of grief. Even with everyone’s great effort they couldn’t save Her highness. Her body was found beyond recognition still holding her family’s treasure, an instrument her mother had passed on to her before dying.”

“Who was she t-”

“Rose!”

Loud banging on the door echoed in the room.

“Rose, mom is worried about you. Are you planning on staying holed up in this apartment the whole vacation? Are you there?!”

“Oh for chri-”

The sudden standing up resulted in black spots appearing on the ground and soon they were all that were left

Birds were singing. A sweet smell of...possibly flowers hung in the air. Rose opened eyes and closed them back wanting to sleep mo-. Wait, that wasn’t the spotless white ceiling of her apartment. She immediately sat up and observed the room she was in.

A girl in a plain muted blue hanbok was sleeping leaning against her bed. Everything was wooden, her phone was missing well so was all her other stuff.

“E-excuse me?”

She slightly shook the sleeping girl. Was it really okay to disturb a sleeping person? Then again Rose was in an unfamiliar room wearing traditional clothes even though she was sure New Year was nowhere near.

The girl got up and tilted her head back for a few seconds before resting it on her hand. The two girls stared at each other as minutes passed by. One sat in confusion while the other was stuck in between sleep and consciousness.

“Oh! Your highness, you are awake!”

The girl jumped up in excitement and held Rose’s hand. Tears welled up in her eyes but she pushed them back. Her highness was finally awake. She was fine and sitting up, looking at her….confused?

“I’m sorry but who are you?”

The girl fell back, eyes wide and hand over her mouth. Her highness, the lady she grew up with didn’t remember her anymore. The tears she had pushed back made their way down her cheeks.

Rose got off the bed and hugged the girl in panic.

“I was joking, I am sorry. Yes I remember you. How can I forget you?”

She lied through her teeth even though she had no idea who the human in front of her was.

“Exactly, we have always been together.”

“ Yes you are my best friend.”

“I am?”

“Yes you are, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“I knew it! You are my best friend too.”

Rose pulled back and wiped the girl’s tears. Making sure that she wouldn’t cry again she asked

“I think I know what happened but just to be sure. What happened to me?”

“Last night when you were coming back from the washroom you fell in a hole. I had accompanied you and on our way there I am sure there was no hole in the ground. When we were coming back you were walking in front of me and then suddenly you fell. I didn’t know what to do as you lost consciousness and ran to our head for help. We both carried you back here and then the nurse came. She told us that you twisted your leg and fell but you fainted because of stress. What are you stressed about? Is it the queen? It must be her only. God knows what problem she has from all the concubines. I mean the king doesn’t even come here usually. He is always with the other concubines. That woman is….”

Rose blocked out the girl’s rant and got to thinking. So she was in a new room of wooden everything, wearing traditional clothes with a girl who calls her `Your highness’ and is currently complaining about some queen. All this indicated only one thing : She had finally lost her sanity.

There was another possibility, but that was just crazy. She had heard of the concept, didn’t really think it could happen in reality. It couldn’t be, could it? Rose turned to her maid..(?),she guessed, and held her by the shoulders. Time for some important questions.

“What is the queen’s name?”

“How could I take her name?”

“It is only us here. Say it.”

“Her highness Yi Ha-Eun.”

Ha-Eun the jealous Queen.

“And me?”

“You? You are Her Highness Mun Seo-yeon.”

Seo-yeon the Royal Noble Consort.

Rose laid back on the floor with a thud and stared at the wooden ceiling hopelessly. Out of all the characters she could be, she had to be the one who has no importance other than dying. If she had to be a side character, why couldn’t she be someone who actually survives!

“Your highness! Are you okay? Is it the Queen? Is she giving you stress again?”

“Yes she is my biggest stress.”