Traitor

"Two people who spent months in the mountains of Shinju needs to have their rendezvous in the capital itself?"

"Let me add what the immaculate account of your agent has omitted," Seo says breezily. "Gongjunim mama went out with her brother, the crown prince on that evening in question."

"And I vouch for that."

"Yun wangjanim was the one playing in the brook, we were merely accompanying him in the spirit of the festival. There are witnesses from the imperial guard to the same. At my personal residence -" he pauses. "I was not with her highness."

"That is a fabrication. Where is your witness?"

"That would be me," the man who speaks has barely arrived at the back of the court chamber. The ministers of outer tire have to move out of his way. A fresh murmur arises to greet his presence and the princes standing below where the crown prince sat stands up. The grand prince Anjong strides in, accepting the bows from his nephews and bowing elaborately to his imperial brother.

"General Kang was with me - since he was removed from his majesty's presence in the late morning. The nature of our conversation is confidential, and I am not at liberty to reveal who else took part in the discussions. On that note I evoke the authority of men of wind and dust; there shall be no further probe into that particular aspect of this scenario."

Seo's mouth twitches.

"There was an incident in the morning that required urgent assembly of shadow forces. When I was removed for the same, I wanted to ascertain the safety of my ward, who this court is aware has undisclosed enemies among its populace. Therefore I had her removed from her own pavilion to my private residence - under guard of my trusted soldiers, until we were certain of the nature of the threat that had occurred and of the safety of each imperial relation.

"On allegations made against me, I have his imperial highness the crown prince, his royal highness prince Yun and grand prince Anjong of first rank as my witness. May your infinite wisdom uphold justice - Pyeha!"

There is a moment of pause. The emperor ignores them all and looks at his daughter. Seol has her eyes upon the court lady. Her face is pale, her lower lip trembles.

"First princess," he addresses her. "You have your opportunity to speak on your behalf." Seol looks at him, there's a silent begging in her eyes. "Speak."

"Gongjunim mama!" The court lady cries before she opens her mouth. "Your conscience knows this servant speaks the truth. Gongjunim mama -" the lady makes a move to approach her, her features screwed with sheer desperation. Seol jumps back, her fists clenched. She couldn't look at the girl without recalling all the good times spent together - of all the smiles shared that she was beginning to question the authenticity of. Seo steadies her with a hand on her shoulder. A brief, impersonal touch that is quickly withdrawn. The guards thwart the court lady from approaching her. Seol tears her eyes away from the pitible woman.

"My lord protector has never compromised me," her voice is steady. Seol keeps her head raised with a dignity that makes the court fall silent. "Instead it is I - who lack the proper bearing worthy of an imperial princess and have caused a good man's name to be dragged through ridicule." Gracefully, she lowers herself to her knees. "Forgive me imperial father," Seol bows towards the emperor before turning her head to look at Seo. "Please forgive me General Kang."

Seo squeezes his eyes shut, his shoulders falling. He remains resolutely not looking at her.

"No!" The court lady cries, "mama - how can you be so cruel? Mama - mama!" The guards drag the girl who had dissolved into her sobs. The Minister cowers when he finds the emperor's eyes on him. Not a peep rises from the court in his support. The emperor rises slowly, every inch the predator the man had been in his youth.

"Bring my sword!"

Seol scrambles to her feet, her frame trembling. She fumbles over her skirts in her hurry to leave. Seo reaches with a hand and grabs her shoulder.

"I can't -" her voice breaks. "Let go." She tries to wrench his grip off her. He holds fast, his grip unyielding, his face hard. Seo turns her around to face the court, his hands on her shoulders steadying the tremors that ran through her body.

"Watch," is all he says.

"This court has truly run wild," the emperor begins, his voice dropping into a dangerous pitch. "I have conferred honors on men who think it a sport to cast doubt upon my own honor. To make a spectacle of my daughter and call the last surviving member of my own maternal clan a man of questionable origins."

"Pyeha," the minister falls to his knees, trembling violently. A deathly pallor has come over his face and his mouth twitches uncontrollably. "Please this official begs your imperial majesty, please see the good intentions behind this official's actions!"

"I see who is behind your actions," the emperor assures him. "I want your end to be a lesson to those very people who have burrowed your hands to slender my house."

The sword makes a sharp cry of cutting wind as it completes a downward arch. Seol makes a squeak and turns away, borrowing her face against Seo's shoulder. Seo stands unmoving even when they are both sprayed with blood. The emperor drags in a wheezing breath, mouth twisted in disgust.

"Scum," he spits, looking every inch a half rabid predator. "Let it be known -" he continues further, reaching them in a few heavy strides. "Let it be remembered. The next person to question my daughter's honor will have his head cut off before the despicable words leave his tongue. On that matter imperial authority is granted to General Kang, the presiding lord of the north and lord protector of her imperial highness."

Seo accepts the sword, still dripping with the traitor's blood with both his hands. He kneels immediately, raising the blade to his forehead in reverence. In the reign of the emperor nearing a decade, none had been conferred with his own blade before.

"This official is at your imperial majesty's disposal," he echoes. "Your grace is immeasurable pyeha!"

*