What Remains
1021 Words
Do-Yun approached Seo-Joon’s body in silence.
His face had gone still.
Cold.
He grabbed the prince’s arm and began dragging him across the ground.
The body scraped against stone and dirt, leaving a dark trail behind.
At the edge of the cliff, he stopped.
For a moment, he simply stood there, looking down at the raging waters below.
Then—
he kicked the body.
Once.
Again.
And again.
Even in death, the prince did not move.
Do-Yun’s breathing grew heavier before he finally stopped.
As he reached down to push the body over, something caught his eye.
A faint glimmer beneath the prince’s garments.
He crouched and pulled it free—a pendant.
It shimmered faintly in his palm.
“I will take this,” he said quietly.
“…as my trophy.”
He tucked it into his robes.
Then, without another word, he shoved the body over the edge.
Seo-Joon disappeared into the rushing river below, where the current surged violently against jagged rocks.
Do-Yun watched for a moment.
Then turned away.
The sound of marching footsteps echoed through the trees.
Do-Yun quickly retrieved his father’s sword and stood guard beside the body.
When the figures emerged—
He dropped it at once.
“My King…”
The King stepped forward, his eyes scanning the scene.
“Minister of War… what has happened here?”
Do-Yun fell to his knees beside his father, his voice breaking.
“Your Majesty… forgive us… we failed to protect the royal family…”
He lowered his head.
“The rebels… they overwhelmed us. My father fought to the end… protecting the Crown Prince…”
The King grabbed him by the shoulders.
“What do you mean overwhelmed?” he demanded, his voice rising. His eyes shifted to Yoo-Na’s body—
then back.
“The prince—where is the prince?!”
Do-Yun hesitated, then slowly turned his gaze toward the cliff.
“He fought valiantly… like my father,” he said quietly.
“…and he fell.”
He pulled aside the cloth around his neck, revealing the wound.
“I survived only because they thought I was dead.”
The King’s strength faltered.
His gaze drifted—
to Yoo-Na.
To the blood.
To the silence.
His legs buckled, and the soldiers rushed to catch him.
Another group approached quickly.
“Your Majesty… we found the Queen’s caravan…”
They hesitated.
“…no one survived.”
The King collapsed.
Grief tore through him, raw and unrestrained.
Do-Yun lowered his gaze.
But his eyes darkened.
This is not enough.
Then suddenly—
The King looked up.
“The prince,” he said urgently. “The youngest—has anyone seen Prince Young-Sik?”
The soldiers shook their heads and immediately scattered, searching.
Do-Yun froze.
The boy…
His eyes swept the area.
The trees.
The shadows.
He was here.
A cold realization settled in.
If he saw…
His jaw tightened.
He cannot be allowed to speak.
“My King,” he said, stepping forward, “allow me to lead the search—”
“No.”
The King’s voice was firm despite his grief.
“You are wounded. Tend to your father.”
A pause.
“…I will find my son.”
The order was final.
Do-Yun bowed his head.
But his eyes lingered on the forest.
Night fell quickly.
The forest grew cold.
Young-Sik’s sobs had not stopped.
“They’re all gone…” he whispered. “They’re all gone…”
Eun-Ae sat beside him, gently holding him despite his trembling.
“You need to stop crying, Your Highness… you might get sick,” she said softly.
“They died because I couldn’t do anything,” he said, his voice breaking. “I was too weak… too scared…”
“It’s not your fault,” Eun-Ae replied carefully. “There was nothing you could have done.”
She glanced around the dark forest.
“We need to keep moving. It’s not safe here.”
After a moment—
He nodded.
They walked in silence.
Branches snagged repeatedly at Young-Sik’s outer robe, slowing him down.
“You should take it off,” Eun-Ae said. “It keeps getting caught.”
“No,” he replied stubbornly. “A prince must always look presentable.”
She glanced around.
“…To whom?”
He hesitated—but still shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Eun-Ae sighed.
“Suit yourself. But if a tiger comes and you get stuck again… I won’t help you.”
She continued walking.
A sudden rustle sounded in the trees.
Young-Sik froze—
Then, he hurried after her.
His robe got caught again.
“Wait—!”
When she didn’t turn back, he struggled for a moment before finally pulling the robe free and throwing it aside.
He ran after her in his inner garments.
When he caught up, he noticed her arm.
“…Does it still hurt?” he asked quietly.
Eun-Ae glanced at the wound on her elbow.
“It’s healing,” she said. “It doesn’t hurt much anymore.”
After some time, they found a hollowed tree.
Eun-Ae peeked inside, then nodded.
“We can stay here for the night.”
She crawled inside and settled herself.
Young-Sik looked in, his face tightening at the damp, narrow space.
“What are you waiting for?” she called softly.
He hesitated—
then crawled in beside her.
The space was cramped and cold.
Eun-Ae gently guided his head onto her shoulder and wrapped her arms around him.
He stiffened slightly.
“…What are you doing?”
“Reminding you,” she said quietly, “that I’m still here.”
He was silent for a moment.
Then—
“…Eun-Ae… do you have any family?”
She paused.
“I was sold to the palace when I could barely walk,” she said simply.
Then, gently:
“We should sleep. It’s going to be a long journey.”
Young-Sik nodded faintly.
Exhaustion finally overcame him.
His eyes closed.
Beside him, Eun-Ae stayed awake just a little longer—
listening to the forest,
watching the darkness,
until sleep finally took her too.
- Writer
