The whole Hwaseong castle had been busy since the break of the dawn for the wedding preparations of Empress Seohyeon and Emperor Eunwoo. Inside one of the rooms in the castle is where Empress Seohyeon is staying, all clad in her red wedding hanbok with the golden royal crest in the middle of it located in both the front and back parts of her attire. 

Seohyeon couldn't help but to feel anxious; she couldn't pinpoint why and what her anxiety was all about. "Maybe this will all go away when I see Eunwoo later on." She muttered to herself while taking in deep breaths.

"Seohyeon?"

"Eunwoo!" She gasped and hurriedly opened the sliding door, welcoming him into her arms to which he did the same. The two pulled apart for a bit.

"I have something to give to you." Eunwoo said and then he handed her a golden hairpin with a dragon as its crest at the other end. "In a few hours, you will be my empress already. May this hairpin remind you of my love for you and protect you in times of trouble."

He stared into her eyes lovingly and cupped her face in his hands. "I will always protect you, Seohyeon." He said in a soft voice.

The moment that was filled with love between the two royal lovers was interrupted shortly by one of the empress's attendants. "Empress! You are not to see the Emperor until the wedding ceremony starts!"

"Oooopsss... gotta go!" Eunwoo said cheekily as he ran off. Seohyeon smiled as she admired her husband-to-be from afar.

She turned to her attendants, "Can one of you please put this hairpin on me? It's a gift from the Emperor..."

—-

"Let us all welcome, Empress Seohyeon!" The chief imperial guard announced as the big wooden doors to the fortress opened up, revealing the glorified beauty of the empress. Emperor Eunwoo couldn't help but to feel in awe as the woman of his dreams will be his wife on this day forward.

The empress finally reached her spot in the fortress which is beside the emperor and they both looked at their people with pride and joy while vowing to themselves that they will rule this nation to the best they can. Just then, the look of happiness in Seohyeon's face changed into a horrified one as she saw an approaching arrow into the direction of Eunwoo.

"Your Highness!!!" She screamed as she blocked the arrow with her back, its poisonous tip piercing through her dress and flesh.

"Seohyeon!!!" Eunwoo cried in horror as he watched the love of his life slowly wither away in front of him. Not long after that, the soldiers finally went into battle against the invaders while the other guests and officials ran away for safety, leaving the Emperor Eunwoo distraught with Empress Seohyeon dying in his arms.

"Seohyeon, stay with me, please! I will get you treated!" He cried as he tried to pull her weight along his but she stopped him.

"Leave me now, Your Highness..." She replied in a weak voice. "I don't have much time left... please... save yourself. This country needs you more than they need me..." She started coughing up blood.

Eunwoo shook his head, "No! No! I am not leaving you here, you hear me?! I will save you, my love!"

Seohyeon placed her bloodied hand on his right cheek. "I am very happy and grateful to have been your Empress..." She said. "I love you, Eunwoo." And with that, the empress took her last breath.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!" Eunwoo cried in despair as he grabbed a dead soldier's sword and used it to slaughter the invaders before him; but they were too many for him. One invader slashed his back, which caused him to drop on his knees.

"Those arrows..." He growled as he glared at the General of the invading group. "Y-You used those arrows to kill the mother of this nation..."

"You will pay for this!" He cried as he raised his sword and attacked the enemy while grief-stricken, however, the General was a seasoned warrior. With one, smooth and quick move, he stabbed the emperor right through his heart.

Eunwoo dropped to the cold, hard pavement as he tried to crawl back to Seohyeon's body but the General was not satisfied with his despair and decided to slash his throat, making Seohyeon's dead body as the last thing that Eunwoo saw.

"Seohyeon, I promise you I will find and protect you in our next lives." Eunwoo whispered before succumbing to his own death. The rain started to pour down as the thunder and lightning went off, the heavens also mourning for the sacred lost lives that were lost in battle between good and evil.