If you asked me on my deathbed what I regret most in life, I'd probably say I regret not seeing you one last time and telling you how much I love you.
That thought alone keeps me awake at night. The uncertainty, the fear that I might never see you again, tears me apart. I need more than just your touch—it's not enough anymore.
I want you by my side, forever.
It might be impossible. Even after a hundred years, we might never truly be together. But just knowing that we love each other is enough for me to keep going.
You know, if I hadn't met you, I'd probably be dead by now. There was a hollow in my heart that I never knew how to fill. The darkness that haunted me every night in my dreams slowly ate my soul. I was struggling to reach the surface of peace, and I'm losing myself had you didn't exist in my life.
You're the reason I chose to live. You're the reason my heart beats again. You filled the emptiness inside me with your perfect imperfection.
You're my everything, Wangjanim...
***
"Daegum jaga!"
Asura's harsh voice snapped Min Jun back to reality just in time. The guard's sword was mere inches from piercing his heart. Min Jun spun and blocked the strike with his own blade. Chaos still reigned around them. Since their escape from the governor's house, the guards had pursued them relentlessly. Uk had stayed behind to face Jun Pyo alone.
"Protect the Gongju!" Min Jun shouted to his royal guards. They quickly formed a barrier around Myung Yu and her court maids, guiding them away from the battle. Despite their efforts, they were still outnumbered. Hope was slipping through their fingers.
The only thing keeping them going now was the will to survive.
Min Jun's thoughts kept drifting to Uk. He wanted to end this fight quickly, to rush back and save him, but his mind was too clouded.
"Daegum jaga! Focus!" Asura gripped his shoulder, shaking him after he narrowly avoided a slash to the face.
"Uk... we need to save him!" Min Jun's voice trembled, panic and fear seeping through every word.
"If that's what you want, then fight! Fight with everything you have!" Asura shouted, his eyes burning with determination.
Min Jun stared at her, hope flickering in his eyes. Asura was right. If they died here, nothing would matter. He would never see Uk again.
"Watch out!"
An enemy soldier fell to the ground, an arrow piercing his back. From the distance, Min Jun saw Indra, Dan, and Soo Young arriving with troops from the White Convoy. Relief washed over him.
"Dan!" Min Jun called, his heart lifting at the sight of his allies. The reinforcements quickly shifted the tide of the battle.
"Soo Young, get Gongju to safety!" Dan ordered, and Soo Young hurriedly led Myung Yu and her maids toward the palanquin, where the Red Ruby guards stood waiting.
"Daegum! You need to leave now!" Indra shouted as he fended off more attackers. Dan rushed over to guide Min Jun toward the palanquin, but the prince broke away, running in the opposite direction.
"Daegum!!" Dan called after him, but it was too late. He was swarmed by enemies before he could pursue.
"I'll go after him!" Indra said, but Asura stopped him, shaking her head.
"It's too late. Let him go."
---
"Join me, and together, we can conquer the kingdom. The world even!" Jun Pyo laughed harshly, his voice echoing in the empty chamber. He stood tall, staring down at Uk, who remained calm and resolute despite his anger.
"How could you do this? How could you betray the one who gave you everything—shelter, a purpose, a life?" Uk's voice trembled with disbelief and pain.
"They didn't give us life, Uk. They made us their dogs, doing their dirty work. We killed for them, all in the name of the kingdom. Is that what you call a life? A life as murderers?"
Uk's eyes filled with tears. Jun Pyo had become something unrecognizable—too broken to fix, too far gone to save. Uk knew that pain all too well, those same nightmares had haunted him for years.
"Jun Pyo, we all have choices. No one can take that from us. It's never too late to turn back. Forgive others, forgive yourself. It's the only way you can escape the nightmares."
Jun Pyo scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Empty words, Uk. You don't even believe them yourself."
"I do." Uk's grip tightened on his sword. "I found meaning in life again when I left that darkness behind. And I'll protect this life, the people I care about, with everything I have. If you threaten that, I won't hesitate to stop you."
Jun Pyo sneered. "Fine. If that's how you feel…"
Without warning, Jun Pyo lunged, his sword aiming straight for Uk's chest. Uk, with years of experience, dodged it easily, but the fight was only beginning.
The clash of swords rang through the chamber as they fought with everything they had. Every strike was fueled by rage, every parry by desperation. Jun Pyo's strength seemed almost overwhelming, but Uk refused to back down.
Their swords locked in a fierce struggle, energy crackling between them. In the heat of the battle, both swords were knocked from their hands, leaving them to fight hand-to-hand. Exhausted, bruised, and bleeding, Uk's mind flashed to Min Jun, imagining his prince lost in the chaos outside.
Finally, with all his remaining strength, Uk delivered a crushing blow to Jun Pyo's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. Breathing heavily, Uk turned to retrieve his sword, but a shadow loomed behind him.
Jun Pyo was on his feet again, ready to strike. But before he could land the blow, blood splattered across the floor. He stumbled, his mouth filled with blood.
Min Jun stood behind him, sword in hand, trembling.
"Hyung-nim…" Min Jun whispered, dropping the sword. His face was streaked with blood and tears.
"Wangjanim!" Uk shouted, rushing to catch Min Jun as he collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Uk pulled the prince into his arms, holding him tightly as Min Jun buried his face in Uk's chest, crying until his voice was hoarse.
"I should've killed him long ago… but I loved him so much. I was a fool!" Min Jun gasped between sobs.
"It's over now. It's over…" Uk whispered, stroking Min Jun's hair gently.
"I'm sorry, hyung-nim. I'm so sorry…" Min Jun clung to him, shaking with grief.
Uk tightened his hold, staring at Jun Pyo's lifeless body. His heart shattered bits by bits, knowing that Jun Pyo had paid a price for his poor choice in life.
It's over and done. There's no turning back.
***
Everyone was relieve to see Sun An with the troop came from the other side of the governor's house. Along with the governor himself. They managed to catch the man before he could reached the ship that he prepared overhand, just in case if he lost the battle.
"Hearing will be held in two days. Until then, enjoy your stay in the cold cell!" said Indra. One of the army forced the governor into the iron palaquin for a prisoner.
"Good job, young man!" Dan patted Sun An's shoulder as the young nodded with his exhausted face. He looked at Asura, Indra, Soo Young and Myung Yu, who gather at the spot after manage to defeat the enemies.
"Where's Gisa Ahn?" Sun An asked with eyes enlarged. Upon hearing the name, the air filled with bitterness.
"We wasn't sure about him. Dul beonjjae wangja was fleeting the scene to save him and not return until now..." Asura softly explained to Sun An.
"What happened to him?" asked Sun An.
"He.. sacrifice himself to save everyone..."
Sun An shut his eyes tight. He shook his head in sorrow, praying to the Heaven for the man's safety.
"Wait! I saw a movement..." Soo Young grabbed Dan's hand. They turn their head at the spot as all of them were in alert mode. Soo Young left Dan's shoulder and gripped her bow, while her boyfriend was holding the sword tight.
"Troops! In formation!" Indra ordered them to stay alert. They wait for the movement to come closer. As the movement got more rapid, they were ready to fight again.
"Orabeonim!" Myung Yu exclaimed as she ran towards Min Jun, who hanged Uk's hand on his shoulder. The princess hugged him as she cried uncontrollably in Min Jun's embrace. Sun An slowly approached them, taking over Uk from Min Jun. The man smiled in bitter, while his eyes glare at Min Jun casually.
"How's going, hero?" Dan playfully smacked Uk's forearm. The man shook his head as he let a smile form in his face. Min Jun and Myung Yu slowly walking towards the crowd with ease.
"It's over," Min Jun replied in short. He took a glance at Uk as the man stare at the group.
"No. It's not over yet. We still have issues to tackle..."
As he spoke, Uk looked at the governor who was kept in the iron palaquin. His eyes squint as he knew the path won't be easy after this.