Oh my damnit~! My eyes! They're on fire! Ah, I'm burning! Ahhh! This is horrible, oh how I hate THE SUNLIGHT AT THIS MOMENT! Ohhh, couldn't these assholes give me atleast some damn clothes! Ah, I could die bit I can't even do that.. Ahhh.. shit.. this is embarrassing.. I lived too long in that forsaken tower, I didn't even realise that I am not even wearing adequate clothing, just chains, shackles and nothing, damnit..
"I'm sorry you both have to see me in such a state, I hope you do not mind too much.." Hye-Rin asked in a much calmer tone than before. The guards kept a straight face, trying to remain as composed as possible. "No need, Gene- I mean.. ummm.."
"It's perfectly fine to call me by my name now. I am now a criminal, am I not?"
"Why yes, but you were once the person we looked up to and.."
"And things have changed. Tables have turned. I'm sorry for disappointing you, my dear comrades, for I have failed to serve my duty-"
"No, we are sorry. We let the intruders in and you have suffered a great cost to protect us from being eradicated from this world. For us, you will always be our general."
Hye-Rin smiled weakly at the guards, who were so kind to her even though she had reached peak bottom and had failed to serve her nation properly. If only that night I...but what could I have done, he had sister and he was prepared for everything..I can't take on the blame myself, I must not..I need to be strong..but.. They'll all hate me. I..have failed..I never should've had to reach such a point to protect them! The gaze..the horror...
"Ahh.." Hye-Rin groaned as her head started to spin..
.
.
.
THE EMPEROR'S OFFICIAL CHAMBERS
The emperor and his second advisor are shouting at a small child, barely of the age of 4. The emperor's wife is crying and pleading for mercy , the emperor's eldest daughter of the age of 8 crying loudly and her younger brother (7) trying to stand and protect the small girl being scolded. The second advisor is scolding the child as the emperor silently watches, giving a cold look to the poor child,"You are not worthy to be called the child of the emperor, you insignificant brat! How dare you try to call yourself his child when you do not even have powers?! For such a crime, you Han Hye-Rin will be sent to THE SHUFFLE! "
.
.
.
"General! Are you alright?" The guards continued to ask Hye-Rin as she was crouching, looking concerned. "I'm fine.. the heat is a little too much today..", Hye-Rin answered weakly, after remembering something she would only ever see in her dreams, the past that she doesn't remember. The dreams of the past which never existed. Hye-Rin, for all she remembers is that she has had a happy childhood, which she spent with her brother and sister.
I've gone insane... This is the first time I'm going to enter The Shuffle. I've never been there before. These dreams really have a way of worrying me..
She looked up ahead at the stadium which lied far ahead. "General, you will travelling in a car with..his highness now..", the guard spoke nervously.
"I see."
A luxurious car arrived to the gate of the prison. The driver got out of the car and bowed to Hye-Rin with respect and opened the car door for her and she gracefully sat in, right next to the emperor. The driver got off and the car started to drive by itself, the two sitting at the back together. Hye-Rin started to speak "Your Majesty, it is my utmost pleasure to be seated-"
"Cut the nonsense, Hye-Rin. I don't like that."
"Of course, I'm sure you'd prefer to have me on my knees, begging for mercy, wouldn't you now, Yun-suk?" Hye-Rin scoffed.
"Of course not. I'm not that cruel."
"You are."
"If you say so."
"State your purpose. I have to mentally prepare myself for The Shuffle. I can't clear my head sitting next to my oh so Magnimous emperor!"
"Hah. Aren't you funny? Regardless, I believe that you'll be absolutely fine down there. It's not like it's your first time going there, darling." Yun-suk smiled cheekily.
"You speak as if I've gone there before." Does he know something? I haven't been there at all! Not even once! Except...in my..dreams... No! It can't be! He's playing with me.. calm down, Hye-Rin..
"If only you'd acknowledge your past.."
"I do acknowledge my past. I grew up proudly as the emperor's youngest daughter. I have been in military training since the age of 15-"
"And before that?"
"I was a happy child."
"When's your birthday, Hye-Rin?"
"..." "I don't celebrate my birthday-"
"But when is it?"
"..."
"Tch, tch, tch..how shameful. You don't even remember your birthday. But I do." Yun-suk laughs loudly. He gently places the tip of his index finger beneath her chin, pulling her face closer to him and looking softly into her eyes, speaking in a mischievous yet a slightly serious tone, "Darling, do you even have any idea what you have really been through? I know you know that... Your past is just a dream."
He knows something. "What do you know about-!"
"Mm, Hye-Rin~ we've arrived, sweetheart ~ It's time for you to take a walk through the corridors of your past. The whole kingdom will be watching, including your precious lover. You wouldn't want to be late now, would you? Unless you wish to spend some quality time with your magnimous emperor-"
"No. I'll go."
As the car stops, Hye-Rin rushes out of the car and the stands the gate of the stadium, through which she live enter a magnificent world of The Shuffle.
Oh great, I can't believe I really have to go through this.. I'm scared, but I have no reason to be..After all, if anything my past has prooved is that.. I seriously can't die..