It was the dead of night, the only sound that cut through the air was the cooing of owls and howls of the wolves in the distant forest. The girl could barely hear them, not over the deafening pounding of her heartbeat, harsh gasps bursting from her lungs as she ran for her life. As only the faint moonlight illuminated the stone path in front of her, only forcing the girl to realize how utterly alone she was, not one soul out for her to seek help from. Her whole body was drenched in a cold sweat, and even though she could feel her lungs giving out and her legs losing energy, she didn't dare stop, or even check back to look at what was chasing her. Even one glace and she knew her life would be forfeit if it wasn't already.
Though, even if she didn't look back, she could still feel her pursuer's blood-thirsty gaze cutting through her back, never letting up no matter how much she tried to evade it.
Coming across a series of houses, the girl desperately sought help by frantically pounding on the doors, screaming out for someone, anyone to come save her… but no one responded. But that had been a mistake. Stopping to get help had allowed her pursuer to close the already tiny distance she had been able to make between them.
Before she was even able to turn around and scream in horror, a hammer struck her head, the girl could hear her skull crack as she crumpled to the ground. Her head in agony and the rest of her body too tired to get up again, the girl could only accept her fate as her vision blurred. She faintly realized that the strange sensation around er head was her own blood, as it started pouring around her.
The unknown man calmly approached the lifeless body of the girl, his gaze fixed upon her. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a necklace adorned with a scarlet pendant. As he brought the gem closer to the girl's body, a strange light emerged from the corpse, flickering like the fire of a match, before being absorbed into the gem. With that, the girl was drained of her essence, her body crumpling up until the corpse was a dried up husk.
The man nonchalantly returned the pendant to his pocket and continued walking without glancing back or attempting to conceal the body.
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In the morning, chaos ensued as Hyunsung burst into Joonghyuk's room, panting from exertion since he ran all the way from the knights' quarters since he heard the news. He urgently called out, "Your Highness!"
Joonghyuk, still groggy and half-asleep, complained to Hyunsung, "It's still 7am Hyunsung... let me sleep." He clung to his pillow, seeking a few more moments of rest. However, Hyunsung disregarded Joonghyuk's plea and snatched the pillow from his grasp."The hell?" Joonghyuk opened one eye, peeking up grumpily at his personal knight.
"Forgive me, Your Highness but there's an emergency"
Recognizing the urgency in Hyunsung's voice, Joonghyuk reluctantly sat up on the bed, still in a drowsy state. He realized that there must be a pressing matter requiring his attention. "First the emperor now this, can't we catch a break? Tell me what happened," Joonghyuk responded, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
"We found a dead body of a woman on the plaza this morning, sir"
Upon processing his words, Joonghyuk's expression turned serious. He furrowed his brows."What do we know about the situation so far? Any leads or information?"
"The only thing we know so far is that the state of the woman's body is strange, you would probably have to see it yourself, Your Highness...though I've already ordered by men to start securing the scene, commoners have started causing a commotion over it."
Joonghyuk nodded solemnly. "I see. We need to investigate this matter swiftly and thoroughly," he replied "Make sure preservation of any potential evidence and interview the witnesses that came upon the scene or saw the crime. I will join you shortly." Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Joonghyuk began to prepare himself to address the hnfolding crisis.
Hyunsung respectfully acknowledged Joonghyuk's instructions with a bow before leaving the room to carry out his krders. Taking a moment to collect his jumbled thoughts, Joonghyuk got out of bed and began preparing himself to join the investigation, mentally preparing for the difficult task ahead.
As he walked out of his chamber, he noticed Mia waiting outside the door for him."Mia, what do you need?" he asked. Usually, he tried not to be so brusque with his sister, but as much as he loved her the empire was facing emergencies left and right, with his lousy stepmother and brother pushing all the responsibility onto his shoulders. Right now, he was more than a little stressed out.
"Good morning brother...I just wondering if I can go play with Gilyeong and Yoosung again today?" she asked nervously, perhaps sensing his bad mood.
Joonghyuk softened at Mia's request and gently replied, "Of course, Mia. You can go play with them. However, make sure to stay safe and be mindful of your surroundings. If you need anything or if there's any trouble, don't hesitate to find me or one of the guards. Have fun, but remember to take care." He emphasized the last point as much as he could. He was glad his sister had finally found friends of her own age to hang around with, and he didn't doubt the security of the Underworld Ducal. But at times like this he could never be too careful.
Mia's eyes narrowed reproachfully. Her brother wasn't like this before, overprotective to the point of not wanting her to go out at all. But more recently he'd been letting her go around the capital and wander around the shopping district with the knights. Her first thought was that he only allowed her so he could hang out with that ahjussi.
As bitter as the thought of her brother pushing her away for anyone else made her feel, she knew that she couldn't keep on clinging onto to him like she'd aways been, both for his happiness and her independence. Though, it didn't mean she couldn't poke fun at the ahjussi, the way his eyes bulged out of his head like a squid when he was surprised was kind of funny. And since she could finally get out the stuffy castle, who was she to not go out and have fun with her friends.
Joonghyuk noticed the change in Mia's expression and wondered if there was something on her mind. However, he didn't push the matter further, knowing that Mia was growing up and becoming more independent. He trusted her to make good decisions and was willing to grant her the freedom to do so. "Is there anything else you need from me,Mia?" he asked.
Mia looked at him ,about to dismiss him, but had remembered what had happened the other day when Jihye had taken her home early. By the time she had gotten back home, the castle was still in a state of uproar, with her brother running around and busy. She didn't bother asking any of the other maids or knights, only trusting her brother to tell her the truth.
"Brother, Jihye sent me home early even when I still wanted to play with my friends. She wouldn't tell me why, she only told me to ask you about it"
Joonghyuk paused for a moment, considering Mia's words. He understood her curiosity though debated with himself how much of the situation he wanted to reveal to her. He didn't want to burden her with any unnecessary stress since she was still young. With a gentle look in his eyes, he knelt to her.
"Mia, sometimes there are circumstances or situations that require us to prioritize your safety and well-being over other things. I know you don't like being holed up in the castle all the time, but we only do it because we care about you and want to make sure you are safe. I want you to trust that me and the other knights are making these choices with your best interest at heart, even if we can't explain the full situation or if they seem unfair at times."
He hoped he worded the explanation well enough for her to understand. He looked at her patiently, waiting for if she had anymore questions for him.
Mia looked contemplatively down at her hands, which she had been fiddling with as she listened to her brother.After a moment, she nodded her head. "Ok," was all she said.
Joonghyuk could sense that Mia might not fully grasp the explanation, but he appreciated her willingness to accept his response. He gently ruffled her hair and reassured her, "Thank you for understanding, Mia. Just remember that we always want you to be safe. If you ever have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask. Now, go and enjoy your time with your friends. Have fun." He gave her a warm smile, hoping to alleviate any lingering confusion or worry she might have had.
Mia nodded again, more enthusiastically, "Alright, then I'm gonna go now brother."
Joonghyuk nodded in acknowledgment. "Alright, Mia. Remember to be back before dinner," he called out as she walked away, hoping that she would have a joyful and safe day with her friends.
The smile was wiped off his face as soon as Mia left his sight, returning to its original stoniness as he remembered what he'd been in such a rush for earlier. Joonghyuk made his way out of the castle to see that Hyunsung had already prepared his carriage for him. He wasted no time boarding it, while Hyunsung mounted a horse up front.
The carriage began to move, and Joonghyuk's mind was filled with thoughts of the investigation ahead. He knew that time was of the essence, and he hoped that they would be able to find answers.
------
Joonghyuk's expression turned grave as he uncovered the cloth, revealing the lifeless, desiccated body of the woman. The sight was unsettling, and he could sense that something was amiss about the body just as his knight had told him earlier. The body had been tampered in some way, since it was completely dry and there was no blood at all besides the small splatter on the ground. From the mark on her head, she may have been killed by a strong blow to the skull.
He instructed his team to carefully document the scene and collect any potential evidence. He knew that a thorough examination and analysis would be necessary to uncover the truth behind the woman's death. The Lee Ducal had already sent out a physician to the castle after his father's collapse, maybe they could consult their expertise for this case too.
Frustrated by the lack of evidence in the immediate vicinity despite his thorough scrutiny, Joonghyuk decided to expand his search. He instructed his team to carefully comb the surrounding area, even the smallest detail could hold vital information.
"Hyunsung," he called out, getting the knight's attention, "Move the woman's body to the castle infirmary for the physician to examine. The only thing it's doing right now is attracting unnecessary attention. Joonghyuk said, eyeing the commoners that were not so subtly trying peek at the scene. Hyunsung didn't say anything and just nodded,working with other knights to cover up the body and carry it away, treating the body as delicately as he could and making sure the others did the same.
Hearing someone running towards him, he saw Jihye approaching him, looking serious. "Your Highness...His Majesty as requested your presence."
Upon hearing Jihye's urgent words, Joonghyuk's couldn't help but groan internally. Of course he couldn't deny a request from the emperor himself, but Joonghyuk was already sick of his presence after he had to take care of the whole fainting ordeal the other day. It didn't matter if the bastard chose to finally kneel over this minute, Joonghyuk would be happy to finally be rid of that nuisance.
Holding in a big sigh, he turned to the young knight, "Inform His Majesty that I will be there promptly." Jihye ran back to deliver his message, and Joonghyuk gave his team a few more orders and words of advice for the investigation, though he was ultimately just procrastinating on meeting the king.
The crime scene was already barren of evidence, and he and the knights were only able to gather the citizens that first stumbled upon the body. They hadn't told them anything useful, just things they knew already. After one last scan over the area, Joonghyuk went over to his carriage to go back to the castle, dreading meeting with his father.
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"I'm here as you requested, Your Majesty..." Joonghyuk announced his presence at the entrance of the emperor's bedchamber, his face carefully blank face. He walked into the room towards the bed where the emperor was resting, turning sour when he noticed the queen sitting on the other side of the bed. She was glaring daggers as always.
"Do you need something from me, Your Majesty?" Joonghyuk's words were delivered empty of anything besides the surface-level respect expected when addressing the emperor, absent of any indication that they were father and son.
The strained relationship they shared was evident, their only connection being in blood and in name. The only reason Joonghyuk maintained any form of decorum in front of his father was for Yoo Mia. For her to live a fulfilling life where she could be raised somewhere safe and not have to worry about getting by. He simply had to fulfill his duty to position as the prince and a member of the royal family.
Perhaps at one point of time, when he was still an ignorant teenager, he was jumped for joy to finally be personally called by his father. Back then no matter how hard he tried to get his attention, his father would only respond with indifference. Joonghyuk had thought that it was how his father chose to test his capability as prince, that he'd only get his approval if he excelled at everything.
So, he began training and taking on the duties of the crown prince at an age anyone would deem he was still to young, begging the knights for matches and sneaking into the royal study to learn about the inner workings of the Empire and royal palace. While the servants and knights complained about him poking around in business he shouldn't have, but Joonghyuk had long gotten used to being regarded as a nuisance.
Of course, no matter how many tournaments he won, enemies of the palace he slain, or territories he conquered in the name of the empire, his father never gave anything more than formal congratulations, and he was lucky if he even got that.
After accepting his father would never look his way, Joonghyuk spent the next few years in a limbo state, wondering what his purpose was, why he spent all those years of blood, sweat , and tears for nothing. It wasn't until his last farewell to his mother that Joonghyuk had found his resolve again. Which is why the emperor's next words caught him off guard.
"My son… do you desire… to the be next emperor?"
For once, Joonghyuk and the queen's thoughts were one and the same, the both of them taken by surprise.Joonghyuk took a brief moment to gather his thoughts before responding respectfully, "Your Majesty, my role and aspirations are to serve the Empire and its people to the best of my abilities. Whether it is as an Emperor or in any other capacity, my focus has always been on fulfilling my duties and responsibilities towards our nation."
The emperor listened in silence, and as if the very action of speaking took an immense amount of effort, braced himself as he gathered up breath for his next words.
"Such eloquent words from the renowned crown prince himself. But I must still ask, what of the possibility of your brother succeeding the throne?"
Joonghyuk's shock was palpable as the emperor finished talking. The implications of this revelation weighed heavily on him, there was no telling the damage the queen and archduke could do with their influence over the second prince.
Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Joonghyuk responded cautiously, "Your Majesty, as a member of the royal family, it is my duty to support and uphold the best interests of the empire. If it is deemed that my brother is the most suitable candidate to assume the role of Emperor, I will respect that decision and offer my support." but it doesn't mean that he won't do anything to prevent it from happening.
The emperor regarded him for a moment.
"I'm so glad my own son can see what's best for our empire. But with that being said, you can still contribute to the empire's growth and wellbeing. With the reputation you've garnered for yourself, it may be hard, but I'm sure there are still plenty of powerful suiters that would gladly take…" The emperor's words faded away as Joonghyuk's mind went blank. In hindsight, he probably should've expected his father to do something like this, to use him as nothing more than a political pawn, seeing him as nothing than a means to expand the empire's power and influence.
After spending his whole life bettering the empire and serving the throne, how much more would he be a slave to the passed, whichever happened first. But it seemed the emperor wasn't just satisfied with everything Joonghyuk had done for the empire, he wanted to monopolize Joonghyuk's future, exerting his control for the rest of his son's life.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Joonghyuk spoke with a firmly, "Your Majesty, I understand the importance of alliances and the needs of the empire. However, I kindly request that you consider the accomplishments that I've already gotten, and the numerous contributions I've already made to the empire's interests. Marriage is not necessary for me to continue to do so. I hope for the opportunity to contribute to the empire in a way that aligns with my own values and goals."
"But—"
"I'll be taking my leave so you can consider my words closely," Joonghyuk bluntly interrupted and turned to walk away, ignoring his father pleas for him to come back. When he reach the door, his father's calls broke out into a coughing fit. The last thing he saw was the emperor beginning to spit out blood, the queen rushing to his side worriedly. Walking down the hallway, numerous servants and physicians ran past him to attend to the emperor.
He was almost out of the castle when the furious clack of heels approached him. When the weak grip of a dainty hand wrapped around his wrist, Joonghyuk didn't even need to look back to know who it was.
"How dare you do that to His Majesty?" the queen angrily questioned him as her grip tightened, her fingernails digging into his skin "Don't you know how fragile of a state he's in, how could you show such disrespect for your own father?!"
Joonghyuk slapped her hand out of his wrist, "Don't act like you care, you wench," he glanced at her dismissively,"we all know the only thing you care for is the throne, shouldn't you thank me for making him keel over?"
The queen glared at him, her fingers twitching as she resisted the urge to wrap them around his windpipe."Shut your mouth, I'm still the queen!" she yelled at him then she pointed her finger at his face "Learn some respect for once in your useless life!"
Joonghyuk scoffed at her "Really....why should I?" Joonghyuk's oppressive stare weighed on her like stones, her stomach dropping as fear filled her to the brim. He had the eyes of a hunter, and her feet were planted to the floor, refusing to move.
"Y-you…"
Joonghyuk leaned in close, his voice lowered to a spiteful whisper, "Your Majesty, no matter what your title is, don't think you'll ever have any sway over me" For all the cruelty that the prince had been known for, nobles could still recognize his strength of character, the capability as a leader he possessed, the hardworking prowess he'd built up over his many years of service. On the other hand, whispers of the queen's numerous temper tantrums had leaked from the castle. With every respectful bow and extravagant gift offered to her, a fearful glance was cast her way.
"Your Majesty...." he said, whispering to in her ear, " Know your place..."
With that, he stepped away from her, a stricken look on her face as she bared her teeth at him. Joonghyuk started making his way to the castle doors again.
"I'll find my place just fine when you drop dead like that mother of yours."A flicker of anger surged up inside of him, but Joonghyuk didn't bother to respond, continuing to make his way out.
He wouldn't allow himself to fall for her lowly bait.Stepping outside, he pondered what he should do. He trusted the knights to take care of the rest of the investigation,they would probably drop a report of their findings later on and from there Joonghyuk would decide how to proceed.
And whatever happens to the emperor, he'd leave it in the hands of the palace staff for now. In just one day, many burdens had been cast upon his shoulders and his future position in the royal family had been shaken, whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not.
For now, Yoo Joonghyuk would grant himself a small amount of reprieve, a breather from the responsibilities that he had yet to face. His reprieve presented itself in the form of star-laden eyes and glinting smiles. His back straightened up as his steps became more confident.
With a lightness to his heart, Joonghyuk made his way to the Underworld Ducal.