THE DETHRONED CROWN: To Marry The Enemy.

Chapter 10:aftermath

CHAPTER 10: Aftermath

Day 6 of 7.

The tents were set up between two armies.

Joseon on one side. Northern on the other.

And in the middle: one table. Three chairs.

Seo-ah sat in the middle chair.

To her left: Minho. Still mad. Arm bandaged.

To her right: Kadir. Also bandaged. Jaw tight.

"So," Seo-ah said. "Let’s talk."

Neither man spoke.

"Fine. I’ll start." She took a breath. "The war started because Joseon thought the North was weak. The North attacked because Joseon took our land 20 years ago. Both sides have blood on their hands."

Minho scoffed. "And what does that have to do with you marrying him?"

"Everything," Seo-ah said. "Because if I marry him, the war ends."

Kadir finally spoke. "She’s right. A marriage alliance. Joseon keeps the southern border. North keeps the mountains. Trade opens. No more raids."

Minho slammed the table. "You want me to give my sister to the man who killed our soldiers?!"

"I didn’t kill them," Kadir said quietly. "My father did. I’m trying to stop it."

Seo-ah put her hand on both of theirs under the table.

"Please," she whispered. "For me."

Minho looked at her. Really looked.

"You’ve changed," he said.

"I had to," she said. "To survive."

Long silence.

Then Minho sighed. "If I say no, you’ll stay with him anyway."

"Yes," Seo-ah said.

"If I say yes, Joseon will call me a traitor."

"Then we change what Joseon thinks," Seo-ah said.

Kadir spoke. "I will return 3 Joseon hostages. I will pay reparations. And I will sign a treaty. In blood."

Minho closed his eyes.

When he opened them, he looked 10 years older.

"Fine," he said. "But there are conditions."

"What?" both of them asked.

"One: You visit Joseon every winter. Two: Your first child is raised learning both languages. Three: If he ever hurts you, I burn his kingdom down."

Kadir nodded once. "Agreed."

Seo-ah burst into tears.

The treaty was written that night.

By torchlight. With three signatures.

Minho of Joseon.

Kadir of the North.

Seo-ah, in between.

Day 7 came.

No attack.

Instead, there was a wedding.

Not a big one. Not a royal one.

Just Seo-ah in a blue dress. Kadir in black.

Minho giving her away.

And two kingdoms watching.

"I choose you," Kadir said.

"I choose you," Seo-ah answered.

And for the first time in 20 years, the border was quiet.

**EPILOGUE: One Year Later**

Snow again.

But this time, no war.

Seo-ah stood on the wall with Kadir.

Below them, Northern and Joseon merchants traded.

Children ran. Speaking both languages.

A letter came. From Minho.

"Proud of you, little sister. -M"

Kadir wrapped an arm around her.

"We did it," he said.

"We did," Seo-ah smiled. "Together."