The Breaking Point
686 Words
Far from the mountains—
Consort Lee’s caravan arrived safely.
Magistrate Lee rushed forward at once, pulling his daughter into an embrace.
“Are you harmed? I heard what happened in the capital.”
“I am safe, Father,” she said. “And your grandson as well.”
He turned to the boy.
“How are you, my prince?”
“I am well… Grandfather,” Man-Ju replied. “But I worry for my brothers.”
The magistrate placed a hand on his shoulder.
“For now, we can only send word to the King.”
Man-Ju looked toward the distant mountains.
Unaware of the blood being spilled there.
Meanwhile—
Eun-Ae and Young-Sik pushed through the forest.
“We have to move faster,” she said. “The sooner we reach your grandfather, the sooner we can send help.”
Young-Sik suddenly pulled away.
He stopped.
Head lowered.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “We cannot stay here—there are wild animals—”
Without a word—
he turned—
and ran back.
“Your Highness—!” Eun-Ae shouted. “You’re going the wrong way!”
She groaned in frustration.
“That boy is going to get himself killed—!”
She ran after him.
Young-Sik burst through the trees—
and froze.
The battle had worsened.
Bodies littered the ground.
Only a few remained standing.
He watched—
helpless.
The last archer fell.
Yoo-Na, now too close to use her bow, drove arrows into her enemies’ throats with her bare hands.
Seo-Joon faced four men alone.
He cut them down one after another—swift, precise, merciless.
Soon—
Only a few remained.
Husband and wife stood back to back.
Breathing heavily.
Exhausted—
but alive.
Seo-Joon looked at her.
And smiled.
Young-Sik stepped forward—
about to call out—
when movement caught his eye.
Behind them—
figures.
Five masked men.
Closing in.
Silently.
Too late.
One struck.
A blade burst through Yoo-Na’s abdomen.
She gasped.
The sword was ripped free—
blood followed.
She stumbled forward.
Another strike across her back—
She fell.
Seo-Joon turned—
Too late.
“YOO-NA!”
He caught her before she hit the ground, pulling her into his arms.
Her breathing was already failing.
She looked at him—
just once—
Then her eyes closed.
Her body went still.
Seo-Joon broke.
A sound tore from him—raw, unrestrained.
He held her tightly, his entire body shaking.
From the trees—
Eun-Ae covered Young-Sik’s eyes.
“Don’t look…”
But it was too late.
He had already seen.
A slow clap echoed.
One of the masked men stepped forward.
Then removed his mask.
Lim Do-Yung.
“Your Highness,” he said calmly. “It seems this is where our paths end.”
Seo-Joon’s grief vanished.
Replaced by fury.
“Lim Do-Yung…” he said, his voice shaking with rage. “You will die here.”
He gently laid Yoo-Na’s body down.
Then stood.
Sword in hand.
“You misunderstand,” Do-Yung replied. “I had intended to take you alive.”
A faint smile.
“But this is… more convenient.”
He gestured slightly.
“The one who brings me his head… will be rewarded.”
The men surged forward.
Seo-Joon moved like lightning.
Two men struck—
He blocked both.
Then cut them down in a single motion.
Another lunged—
He drove his blade into the man’s throat.
Two more circled him.
One attacked from behind—
Seo-Joon sidestepped and cut him down instantly.
Only one remained—
and Do-Yung.
“Afraid?” Seo-Joon said coldly.
Do-Yung shoved the last man forward in panic.
Seo-Joon killed him without slowing.
Do-Yung turned to run—
but slipped and fell.
He scrambled for his sword—
Seo-Joon stepped on his hand.
A sickening c***k.
Do-Yung screamed.
“Please—Your Highness—spare me! I will serve you—I will support you—anything—just spare me—!”
Seo-Joon raised his sword—
his eyes filled with nothing but rage—
- Writer
