.ninety.

-

"General Wang Jung led us on a wild goose chase through the palace. He's on their side and was trying to protect the traitors from the start, so that they would have time to escape."

-

"His majesty turned himself in to the soldiers." Hae Soo started in a solemn tone and everyone fell silent. It was like a huge weight had fallen on their chest and they all collectively found it difficult to breathe, their hearts wrenched and a terrible feeling in their stomachs. Han especially found himself choking up at her initial words. This was his brother who he had been with since the moment he was born. They had the same mother and father, unlike most of the other princes who were typically only children or had sisters. They had always been together and now it was very likely that he would never see him again. Yo wanted him dead, and turning himself in, it was more than likely that he would succeed. By his side, he saw from the corner of his eye how Soon Deok's eyes filled to the brim with tears. 

If Minji wasn't somewhere close by and didn't join them soon, it was clear what was going on. Hae Soo didn't even have to say it.

The court lady continued explaining through saddened eyes. "Lady Hak Soon didn't want to let him go alone, so she went after him. I tried to stop her, I really did. But she just wouldn't listen to me."

Baek-ah muttered angrily through tears in his eyes that stung and made his vision blurry. "Those two idiots. They could have made it here if they tried. Everything was going so well." He was saying this more to himself than to anyone else. Without another word, he took off running back towards the palace. He knew it would be futile. But perhaps if he pleaded with his brother Yo, then maybe he could let them go. The were absolutely harmless to the kingdom and everyone knew it.

Now with six children on the small boat and the two adults, Soon Deok handed the smaller children to her husband and took one step off the boat. She was determined to do something about it. She didn't want to leave without them, and she didn't just want to sit there and wait for something to happen. Her father always said that if one wanted to see a change, one had to be the first to initiate it. "I have to go help my sister. She needs me, I have to protect her."

Han wanted to do the same. Every fiber in his being wanted to take off running behind Baek-ah too. To see what he could do to help as well. The fighters in their respective families were both Soon Deok and Han. They knew Eun and Hak Soon could not defend themselves, as much as they would probably try. Han motioned to leave the boat as well with a hastily made plan. They wanted to sneak back into the palace, retrieve the missing couple, and bring them back to the docks. All while leaving the six small children in the care of Hae Soo. Han knew their chances were slim, but he also knew that they had to try if they wanted to see their siblings again.

Hae Soo stopped them with her words, trying to reason with them. Yet she was gentle, so as not to stir up their emotions any further. She didn't want them to think that she didn't care about Eun and Minji. She just wanted them to remember that they were responsible for the children now. Without them, Yo would find them and either have them killed off, or sent off to orphanages or peasant families if he was feeling kind enough. Eun and Minji would not want that fate for their children. 

"His majesty and Hak Soon surely will not make it." She said as she tried to bite back her tears. The back of her throat was starting to hurt as well, from keeping in her sobs. "If you go find them, the four of you will die and then the children will have no one to take care of them. You must think of them now before you make a decision."

At that, Soon Deok started sobbing while standing on the docks. Han stepped out of the boat and pulled her into his arms, after settling Eunji in Soohyun's arms to watch over her for a moment. It hurt him to see her in such pain, as did it hurt him to come to terms with the fact that he would never see Eun nor Minji ever again. Soon Deok cried into the material of his gown, her tears soaking through the fabric, and he just held her, shedding tears silently.

"They loved both of you so much." Hae Soo told the young couple who continued to embrace through their tears. "They knew no one can take better care of their children than their siblings."

Han looked to Hae Soo through grateful eyes. He remembered when he first met her, up until now, she had always been a kind person. She genuinely cared about Eun and Hak Soon. He would always be grateful to her for that. And he knew Eun and Hak Soon would be grateful for all her help as well.

Pulling back from their embrace, Han coaxed Soon Deok back onto the boat. Hae Soo stood on the docks, keeping watch, as Han undid the rope that held the boat tied there. With Soon Deok now holding the babies in her arms and the older children sitting by her sides, Han took the oars in his hands and started rowing away from the docks. The court lady stayed behind, watching as the boat got smaller and smaller in her line of view before it eventually disappeared. 

The moment they were gone from sight, she turned on her heel and headed back to the palace, to the courtyard where everything was about to take place.

-

Jung had been captured and taken away by the very same soldiers he had been leading through the palace just moments earlier. Where they had been nice and obedient, now they were against him, restraining him in their hold. The new General in charge of the group scolded himself for having let Jung lead them in the first place. He knew he should have seen it coming sooner. "I should have known you were on their side. Everyone knows how you've always wanted your brother's wife for yourself. Were you planning to help them escape so that you could join them later on? Perhaps Prince Eun would let you have a night with her since you so graciously helped them out." The soldier taunted with a smirk on his lips.

The fourteenth prince's blood boiled in anger. He struggled in the hold of his soldiers and wrenched an arm free just long enough to throw a punch at the new general in charge. He had been taken by surprise and stumbled backward, a hand moving to touch his nose when he felt a small trickle of blood running down. 

"Don't you fucking soil Hak Soon's name like that." Jung hissed through gritted teeth. 

The general merely laughed in his face, deciding not to retaliate. This was the fourteenth prince after all, brother to the king. He was different to the other two brothers because this was his full brother. The General knew Queen Yoo would not appreciate it if she found out someone had hurt her precious son. There were rumors going around the village that she once got a man's arm chopped off because he had beaten Jung in a fight. "When will you understand that she doesn't love you, and she never will?" He questioned, though he did not expect the fourteenth prince to provide him with an answer.

The troops dragged Jung to the courtyard where Yo was waiting for the show to begin. Yeon Hwa was by his side, biting her lip in worry. Her eyes widened as they saw the soldiers arrive, but upon seeing it was only Jung, she felt a bit of relief. Yo and Jung were full brothers. The Queen was not interested in watching the execution of two princes she always deemed as unworthy, thus she remained in her room. 

Yo would never allow the soldiers to do anything to Jung, less he had given them instructions to do so. If they had them in custody, it had to be because he had interfered with their search of the palace. Yeon Hwa wasn't surprised, since she knew Jung liked Hak Soon and would do anything to keep her safe. He had been in love with her ever since they were children, from the very first moment that they met. But in a way, she suspected that Eun had liked her from the start too. It was too painfully obvious.

People did always say that boys who picked on girls did it because they liked them. Eun seemed to find a special joy in picking on Hak Soon, ever since they were kids. He just never wanted to admit it, perhaps because he was too shy or because he did not understand that what he felt for her was a special feeling. What he felt for the general's daughter was called love.

The general instructed for the soldiers to get the fourteenth prince down on his knees, which they immediately did by pressing their hands down on his shoulders. Jung didn't struggle anymore, as he knew that his little stunt would surely buy them the time they needed to make it to the docks safely. He would just have to keep them distracted as long as possible.

"What have you done now, brother?" Yo rolled his eyes in annoyance.

The king also figured that Jung had been arrested because he assisted in their escape. But he thought that the threat on Hak Soon's life would keep him in check. Apparently, it had not been enough to scare Jung into full obedience.

"Your majesty," The general bowed out of respect and proceeded to explain what had taken place moments earlier. "General Wang Jung led us on a wild goose chase through the palace. He's on their side and was trying to protect the traitors from the start, so that they would have time to escape."

"The Park sisters and our brothers have done nothing wrong." Jung argued, trying to reason with Yo. "You are wrong in wanting to have them killed. That's why I had to help them. Not because I have anything against you, or this kingdom, brother."

Yo's hand balled up into a fist in anger. That meant that the two couples were probably long gone from the palace by now. He would never find her and look like a failure in front of the whole kingdom. All because his younger brother Jung had a little crush on the general's daughter. That was why Yo did not believe in love. It made people weak and he didn't have time to be looking out for another person. Yeon Hwa was merely a trophy, someone who would make him look good. But he certainly did not love her. That was for the weak.

Through gritted teeth, Yo said to his younger brother in front of everyone. "If I hadn't promised our mother that I wouldn't kill you, I would kill you." Jung said nothing back to him. He had nothing more to say to his brother. His work was done and he hoped Eun and Minji had gotten out to the docks on time with their children. As Hae Soo had told him, he needed to let her go, and as much as it hurt, he would do it. 

Jung would rather know that she was safe somewhere far away from him than having her in Goryeo knowing she was wanted for something she didn't do.

Yo gave a dismissive wave of his hand and turned away from the scene before him. Jung kneeling in the blinding sunlight, surrounded by soldiers. "Hold him here, but don't let him break free. The rest of you continue searching the palace. They couldn't have gotten too far. When you find them, bring them to me. Jung will get to see the show as well."

The remaining soldiers nodded their heads and continued to search the palace for the two couples.

-

a little update for you all. i wanted to update twice today but im not sure if i'll be able to. 

also, suddenly i have gotten some new inspiration because i started watching this really good anime. so i kind of want to write an exo fanfic based on it. i know i already have a ton of stories posted.

but one more won't hurt. 

i might post it on wednesday, so please stay tuned for that. 

-clary