The song in the room almost inaudible. No whisper from the wind. No rattle noise from the tree. It was silence.
Mute.
A droplet of blood dripped on the floor. Then, comes more droplets; three to four. Softly, a gush sound serenaded the whole room. Blood mixed with sweat. Mixed with the grunt and a deep sigh.
"Just as expected..." the voice cracked the silence. Eyes lifted, stabbing the shocking reaction from that face. Those mellow look, eyes droop as the right hand held the blade so tight, it pierced deep into the skin.
But, not enough to kill her.
"Manora..."
"I might looked stupid, but I'm not that stupid. If you think you can take the reign away from this family, you're one hella moron bitch!" Athea gushed as she pushed Jang Bin away from her.
The concubine gasped, shocking by the sejabin's strength. Just as she thought Athea is dying slowly because of the poison that she sent through a hired assassin, it looked like she underestimated the power of the so-called innocent crown princess.
"Manora! I thought–"
"No one should take the God's job, Jang Bin. Especially, a satan like you!"
Jang Bin finally scoffed. She threw away the blade, fixing her hanbok as she stood there, weariny her snobbish face.
"There's no place for the weak in this world, manora jaga! Whoever holds the utmost power will win. I have that, more than you! Even more that jeoha mama!"
Athea sighed. She pluck off the acupuncture needles from her neck in one blow, balancing herself after being stiff for a long time.
"Power is useless when it doesn't come with brain, Jang Bin! If you think I'm a fool, you better look how silly you are into the mirror," said Athea. "Even if you claimed the power is all yours, remember; hierarchy comes first before that. I am still a sejabin, and no matter how powerful you are, my people will always be my people."
Jang Bin suddenly laughed. Her voice was thunderous, enough to chase all the birds away from the compound of the palace.
"Do you think you can get supports from The Sapphire? Let me tell you something, manora... For all this time, they pretend to listen to you. But, under the veil, I am the one who holds the power! Even jeoha listens to me! That's why, when I ask him to join force with your orabeonim, he did, with no hesitation!" Jang Bin shrieked as she felt proud of herself.
"All of you are damn stupid! The only thing in their mind is power! Jeoha mama and your orabeonim; they are no different! One desired for the throne, while the other one desired for a kingdom! They will do anything just to achieve what they want!" Athea grunted as she explained the truth. "Even killing their own siblings for that!"
"I know the greedy nature of my orabeonim . But, why jeoha mama? Why did he joined force? It's not like the throne will slip through his finger!" Athea asked.
"Only one reason. One solid reason..." Jang Bin glared at Athea when the crown princess stood there in static, waiting for the answer.
"Min Jun Daegun... That's the reason why..."
***
"If it's true, daegum jaga is a threat for you, jeoha mama!"
Miju calmly sipped his tea, eyes glaring at the milky white skin man; with long hair tied in long, blue silk ribbon. He wore a normal, commoner robe today; in dark green. But his charismatic feature as a leader of a nation couldn't be dismissed by his look.
"Saturn orabeonim, my little brother has no interest in politics; let alone the throne. He would've fight for it long ago if he really wants it–"
"He is unaware about his true condition! Now that he knew, there's no way he could be passive about it!"
***
"It took us a long time to persuade jeoha mama to take an action," said Jang Bin. "He is indeed a loving brother."
Athea frowned. She felt choked inside. All this time, they thought Miju hated Min Jun for so many reason. Never knew he would be scared of him, seeing the young prince as a threat, but at the same time, he had a trust on Min Jun.
"Everything changed after the attack at the Red Ruby..."
***
"There's an attack at the Red Ruby two nights before..." Miju glared at Saturn, as they sit together while enjoying some teatime. "Is that your doing?" the crown prince asked.
"It's just a trial to see whether he do really care about the throne or not, jeoha mama..."
"Are you out of your mind?! That's an act of treason!"
"If he keeps his toes in tact, that means he never really care to die," said Saturn. "But if he fights back, that means he can fight you, jeoha mama..."
"That's outrageous!"
***
"Jeoha mama still had a doubt, even though a lot has been going on after that. He kept his trust, although the wall around him was shaking bits by bits..." Jang Bin chuckled. "And the north incident truly opened his eyes on how capable daegum jaga is..."
***
"What now, jeoha mama? We lost our position in finance department! Most of the officer who got fired, they're from our wing!" Saturn almost slammed the table rudely, when Jang Bin halted him and subtly reminded the man that he should dealing with Miju respectfully.
"I didn't expect that jeonha mama will take the action seriously..."
"I told you it was daegum! He's the one who persuade jeonha mama to conduct the investigation! He took over the administration, bits by bits, starting from the core; financial department!" Saturn crumpled his fist. "Who knows maybe he will soon takes over the military. I heard, he is now close to General Kim. And there are two powerful special ops officer who work for them; Asura and Indra."
"Not to mention, one of his friends; Sun An, is the Governor of the North. He'll get a lot of supports, all from important people in the kingdom..." Jang Bin added more fuel in Miju's turbulence heart.
***
"To have such a power to influence jeoha mama, I'll said, I'm proud of myself," said Jang Bin. "It's not that hard to play with his weak mind. He's not a wise man to begin with, actually!"
"How could you betrayed someone who loved you so much, Jang Bin?! Jeoha mama trusted you more than his own life!"
"That's his mistake, anyway! Like I told you, he's not a wise man. Weak minded! Always lived in paranoia!" Jang Bin spurred, looking non-chalantly at Athea. The crown princess literally was shaking all over her body while learning the truth.
"If this is a plan between jeoha mama and Saturn orabeonim, why did you kill him? Why jeoha mama?!" Athea finally mustered her will to ask the crucial question.
Hearing that, Jang Bin scoffed. She rolled her eyes up as she looked a bit annoying and mad.
"Even if he manages to sit on that throne, he's nothing but kkokdu gaksi wang. So, why bother keeping him?"
Athea's eyes grew larger upon hearing Jang Bin casually spurred those insulting words. Tears rolling from her eyes, as she faced the woman that her husband loved more than herself insulting the deceased till that extend.
"Now that jeoha mama is gone, the coast is clear for me," Jang Bin smiled wickedly. "But, it will be more clearer if daegum jaga follow suits. It will be a lot more secure for me!"
"Over my dead body, Jang Bin!" Athea bravely pointed out a surgical knife towards Jang Bin. With a loud chuckled, the concubine walked closer to her, with a knife in her hand.
"Oh, I am so gonna do that, manora jaga..."