"Min Soo, what have you done?" Hyejin's voice trembled as she burst into the war council chamber, her gaze piercing.
I didn't look up from the map spread across the table, the borders of Goryeo marked with threatening red lines. "I did what needed to be done."
"You insulted the envoy from Silla in front of the entire court," she hissed, slamming her hands down on the table. "Do you understand what this means?"
"They were demanding more than we could give, noona," I said calmly, folding the map. "What was I supposed to do? Bow to their greed?"
"You were supposed to show restraint! Diplomacy!" She glanced around at the silent counselors. "Do none of you have the courage to tell him how reckless he's been?"
Minister Jang cleared his throat, his voice measured. "Your Highness, while I admire your passion, the consequences of this... incident may be severe. Silla's cooperation was crucial."
I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed. "Their cooperation was extortion. We don't need them."
Hyejin shook her head, disbelief etched into her features. "You're blind, Min Soo. This isn't about pride—it's about survival. Appa's condition worsens every day, Seok Hoon is drowning in court politics, and you're burning bridges we can't afford to lose!"
"I'll fix it," I said sharply, standing. "I always do."
"No, you won't," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You can't see the damage you've already done."
---
The weight of her words followed me as I strode through the palace halls, my footsteps echoing in the emptiness. Outside, the storm that had been brewing all day finally broke, rain pelting the stone courtyard.
"Prince Min Soo!" a guard called, rushing toward me. "The king—he's asking for you."
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded, following him to Appa's chambers.
The room was dimly lit, the smell of herbs and incense thick in the air. Appa lay on his bed, his face ashen. His breathing was shallow, each rise and fall of his chest a struggle.
"Min Soo," he rasped, his eyes fluttering open.
"Appa," I said softly, kneeling beside him.
"Do you know what you've done?" His voice was weak but laced with anger.
"I've protected our kingdom," I replied, though the words felt hollow.
"You've doomed it," he said, his gaze piercing. "The Silla envoy... their alliance would have strengthened us. Without it, we are vulnerable."
"We don't need them," I insisted.
His hand shot out, gripping my wrist with surprising strength. "Your arrogance will destroy us. Mark my words."
I swallowed hard, unable to look away.
---
The storm raged on as I left Appa's chambers, my mind a whirlwind of doubt and defiance. I needed air, space to think. The rain soaked through my robes as I wandered into the palace gardens, lightning illuminating the twisted branches of ancient trees.
"You seek answers in the storm, young prince?" a voice said, low and otherworldly.
I turned sharply, my hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of my sword. A figure stepped out from the shadows, cloaked in tattered black robes. Their face was hidden, but their presence was suffocating.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
"An observer. A witness to your folly."
"Speak plainly," I snapped.
The figure chuckled, a sound like dry leaves rustling. "You've upset the balance, Min Soo. Your defiance, your refusal to heed the warnings of those wiser than you... it has consequences."
"I've made mistakes," I admitted, my voice low. "But I can fix them."
"Fix them?" The figure tilted their head. "No, prince. You've set events into motion that cannot be undone."
"What do you want from me?"
"Not what I want," they said, stepping closer. "What the spirits demand."
Before I could react, they raised a gnarled hand, and a blinding light engulfed me. Pain seared through my chest, as if my very soul were being torn apart.
"You have been cursed, Min Soo," the figure intoned, their voice echoing. "For your hubris, for your failure to protect your kingdom, you will bear the weight of your actions for eternity."
"What... what does that mean?" I gasped, clutching my chest.
"You will die before your time," they said, their tone almost pitying. "And when you do, your spirit will be bound to the place of your demise, unable to move on, unable to rest."
"No!" I shouted, struggling against the invisible force that held me. "You can't do this!"
"The curse is sealed," they said, their voice fading as darkness began to consume me. "You will know the pain of watching your kingdom fall, powerless to stop it."
The last thing I saw before the void claimed me was their shadowy form disappearing into the rain.
---
When I awoke, I was lying in the garden, the storm gone. The sky was eerily clear, the air heavy with an unnatural stillness.
"Min Soo!" Hyejin's voice jolted me back to reality. She ran toward me, her expression panicked. "What happened?"
"I..." My voice faltered as the memory of the curse washed over me.
Before I could answer, a soldier approached, his face pale. "Your Highnesses, terrible news. The Buyeo forces have reached the outskirts of the capital."
Hyejin's face drained of color. "This can't be happening."
I staggered to my feet, my chest still aching. "It is," I said grimly. "And it's my fault."
As the warning bells began to toll, their mournful sound echoed through the palace, signaling the start of the kingdom's darkest hour.