Jo Ri arrived at her new residence the gilded cage where she was destined to spend the rest of her life. Forced by tradition to sit upon the freezing floor, the dozens of padded layers of her bridal attire acted as a shield against the icy ground. Yet, it wasn't the floor's chill that numbed her it was the frost within her own heart, a coldness so profound it seemed to lower her very body temperature.
She remained motionless, awaiting a groom who did not desire her. Happiness was a foreign land to her heart instead, she was submerged in the depths of misery, drowning in the mysterious fate that lay ahead. But Jo Ri, a woman who had never known the taste of fear, vowed not to dread her future with him. Her heart, now hardened into stone, would no longer be submissive even if a blade were pressed against her throat. Within her exhausted mind, she built fortresses of pride, unsure if they were true strongholds or merely illusions to keep her soul from shattering.
If she was to survive in this palace, she would do so on her own terms. She would show him what it meant to be truly invisible, even while standing right before her eyes. She would teach him that, in her sight, he was worth less than a speck of dust. She would defy him at every turn, leaving no room for apology even if he were to return crawling in regret. Though she doubted her victory against a rival of such immense charm, the woman who had conquered hearts with her embroidered silk and masterful paintings knew one thing for certain: she could make him regret his disdain, even if it took a lifetime.
A Slaughtered Painting and a Captive Wedding
Jo Ri's eyes scanned the room everything was pristine and meticulously arranged, save for one corner that brought her wandering gaze to a jarring halt. There, within the frame of the very painting that had secured her place in this chamber, she was horrified to see her masterpiece slashed down the middle by a sharp blade. Black ink had been poured over the canvas with a sense of loathsome arrogance, defiling the colors she had so carefully chosen.
It looked as though her painting had been slaughtered, just like that poor tree from her past. She swallowed hard, a bitter lump forming in her throat, as a chilling thought echoed in her mind:
"Will De Lan tear me apart just as he tore this painting?"
Her heart began to race frantically, hammering against her ribs, but she forced herself to breathe slowly, whispering a silent vow of defiance:
- I will not let him break me no matter how hard he tries.
The hours of waiting dragged on, heavy as centuries, until the muffled chatter of women outside reached her ears. They were teasing the Crown Prince, playfully pushing him and forcing him toward the door to fulfill the night's rites. He, however, seemed to be fighting back, resisting the entrance to her room as if he were being led into captivity or to his own execution. Finally, the door swung open with a sharp creak and at last, he stepped inside.
Accusations Behind the Veil - The Heated Confrontation
De Lan sat far from her, shrouded in a heavy silence he didn't dare break even with a whisper. She, too, remained still, though a volcano of screams seethed within her throat. His gaze darted around the room, desperately trying to avoid her, while she watched him with razor-sharp intensity. When their eyes finally collided in a fated moment, he broke the silence with a question dripping with bitterness:
- Are you satisfied now, with having deceived me?
Jo Ri's soul recoiled behind her heavy bridal veil. She had been waiting for a single word to ignite her fury, but this specific accusation had never even crossed her mind. She repeated his words, her voice trembling with a mixture of shock and searing contempt:
- Deceived you?!
Jo Ri could not bear another word she felt her entire being shudder with rage. She lunged toward the door, a desperate attempt to flee this nightmare, but the maids stationed outside—the ruthless guardians of tradition forced her back inside. The door slammed shut with a sharp creak. She spun around, pointing a defiant finger at him, unable to fathom that this man truly believed she was a willing accomplice in his mother's twisted schemes.
War of Words in the Silk Dungeon
- Do you think I'm stupid enough to waste my life deceiving you?"
she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. Then, she gritted her teeth and let out a word that shook the room: "Idiot!"
Di Lan bolted upright, his eyes flashing with fury.
- Who are you calling an idiot, you cunning fox? Like a viper, you slithered your way into my life!
Ju Ri let out a bitter, jagged laugh.
- And you think your life is so magnificent? You, who can't even step past these palace walls? Have you tried living my life even once?"
She paused, her voice breaking.
- I breathed freedom... and now, I am a prisoner.
Di Lan scoffed, his voice laced with mockery.
- A prisoner? Every girl in this world dreams of being in your shoes right now!
- For your information,
she snapped,
- I am the only girl who was running away from this fate with everything I had!
Di Lan stepped closer, his tone intensifying.
- Then why did you paint that picture? Why put in all that effort?
She met his gaze head-on, unflinching.
Because you called me stupid. You said I couldn't win. I only wanted to prove to you that I could make you choose my painting by your own will... and I did!
A heavy silence fell before Di Lan asked in a choked voice,
- Are you truly that foolish? You are the winner now... are you happy?
She screamed back,
- Of course not! Who would be happy entering a prison?
Di Lan spat his final words like venom:
- Do you have any idea how much I loathe you?
Without a second's hesitation, Ju Ri replied with a coldness that shattered what remained of his pride:
- And I... hate you.
The Dungeon of Fate.. and the Bolt from Heaven
Ju Ri nudged him hard with her elbow. Di Lan stood up abruptly, trying to escape the suffocation of the room, but the maids blocked his path again, trembling:
- Forgive us, Your Highness, but we will be executed if we let you leave.
Ju Ri mocked him with a jagged laugh:
- Running away now? Do you really think you can leave? You've been sentenced to this prison since the day you were born.
Di Lan turned to her, his eyes blazing with resentment:
- Don't think I'll be imprisoned alone... I'll take you down with me!
"So," she said with biting sarcasm, "you'll keep me by your side?"
- No!
He roared.
- I will cast you out of my life once and for all!
Ju Ri didn't flinch:
- Show me how. You'd be fulfilling my only dream.
Losing his mind, he grabbed her wrist the grip so tight it bruised and dragged her toward the door.
- From now on, get out of my life! You are expelled!
He flung her out and slammed the door, but the maids, driven by fear of the Queen, immediately pushed her back inside.
The Head Maid finally snapped, shouting at them both: "Please! Grow up and settle this between yourselves! Are we going to spend the entire night pushing you back and forth like children?"
The door was locked once more. Di Lan stood facing Ju Ri, both pointing their fingers at each other, and screamed in perfect unison:
"I wish I could be free of you!"
Suddenly, a terrifying bolt of lightning struck the roof. A violent wind swept through the windows, extinguishing every candle in the chamber, plunging them into total darkness... a heavy silence broken only by the sound of their ragged breathing.
The Ghost of Freedom in the Dark
A sudden, eerie silence washed over the room a silence the palace had never known. Perplexed, Ju Ri moved toward the door with cautious steps. She pushed it open only to find the long corridor, once bustling with maids and guards, completely deserted. They had vanished as if swallowed by the earth itself.
The Crown Prince asked, his voice trembling with a visible edge of fear:
- What happened? Where is everyone? No one is here,
Ju Ri replied, peering into the hallway. "The servants have disappeared."
Di Lan retreated back into the shadows of the room. Sensing her intent to slip away, he called out:
- You must not go anywhere! Stay here this room is the safest place for us. She turned toward him, a mysterious smile hidden by the darkness.
- Stay if you wish... but I am leaving. This is my golden chance to escape this hell you call a palace.
Di Lan bolted up and stood behind her, squinting into the pitch-black void outside. He whispered in disbelief:
This is strange... in all my life, the guards have never left my door for even a second.
Receiving no answer, he reached out and pulled her back inside, clutching the heavy silken folds of her wedding gown.
- Can we please not venture any further into this? Let us stay put until this mystery clears,
He said, his royal command masking a hidden plea.
Ju Ri looked at him defiantly and uttered a single word that defined her entire spirit:
- I... love adventures.
Under the Shadows of a Treacherous Moon
He gripped her wrist, forcing her to stay; every instinct in his mind screamed that staying put was their only chance. But she wrenched her hand away, snapping:
- Don't you dare touch me!
Di Lan stammered in disbelief,
- What? You are my wife!
She let out a bitter, mocking laugh.
- Your wife? I am the girl you loathe, remember? I won't stay by your side for another second.
With that, she stepped into the pitch-black corridor. A strange shiver ran through her a mix of dread and inexplicable joy. She was heading toward freedom she would leave and never look back. Smiling to herself, she gathered the heavy skirts of her gown and hurried toward the main gate. Suddenly, a firm hand caught hers, leading her forward. He walked ahead, pulling her through the darkness until they reached the outer courtyard.
Shadows loomed everywhere. The full moon struggled behind thick clouds, casting the world into a murky gray. Once she realized it was him dragging her along, she snatched her hand back. - I told you, do not touch me!
Di Lan replied with stifled frustration,
- You wanted to go out, and here you are. I don't understand why you're so angry.
- I wanted to leave, she hissed,
- But not with you!
- What difference does it make?"
She opened her mouth to deliver a stinging retort, but he silenced her instantly, pressing his hand firmly over her mouth. He pulled her close, whispering into her ear with a voice thick with dread:
- Quiet... there is the sound of fighting coming from the King's palace.
Between Flight and Honor
He dragged her toward the thick bushes to hide, forcing her to sit low on the ground. He glanced around frantically, whispering in a strained voice:
- I don't know what's happening, but we must head back to our palace. It's the only safe place for us.
Ju Ri glared at him, her eyes flashing with defiance.
- I told you, I won't be with you! You can go back alone. I am going to the King's palace to find out what's happening.
Di Lan's eyes widened in shock.
- What? How can you head straight into the heart of the trouble?
She countered with a stinging tone that shook him to his core:
Your parents are in trouble, and all you want to do is run away?
"No," he stammered, trying to justify himself,
- But they told me... they told me if anything happened, I must escape to survive.
Ju Ri let out a bitter, contemptuous laugh, her words cutting through him like a blade:
- You... are a coward!
Di Lan's face contorted, his fear instantly replaced by a burning rage. He hissed under his breath: - I am NOT a co.
The Secret Passage and the Cold Light
Ju Ri didn't wait for him to finish; she slipped away like a ghost through the trees, weaving toward the King's palace. She knew every nook and cranny; these paths had been the playground of her childhood. She felt him behind her, following in silence, but this time he didn't dare grab her hand.
They reached an open stretch leading to the palace. Di Lan stopped and whispered urgently:
- It's better to enter from the back. Come, I know a secret passage the guards don't use.
- I told you... stop following me!
She snapped without looking back.
- I'm not following you,
He insisted, his voice surprisingly calm.
- I just want to be sure... come this way, it's safer.
Once again, he took her hand. But his grip had changed it was no longer harsh or demanding, but a hand reaching for stability amidst the chaos. He led her toward the back courtyard, where the palace was swallowed by a deathly silence and total darkness.
They slipped inside through the secret corridor, only to freeze in their tracks. Pillars were fixed to every window, and atop each was a large box emitting a strange, glowing light. "What is this?" Di Lan asked, stunned. "I don't know," Ju Ri replied, stepping closer cautiously.
- It's very strange.
- Are they weapons? Di Lan whispered. Is there fire trapped inside those boxes?
Ju Ri bravely reached out and placed her hand behind the glowing object, then quickly pulled it back.
- It's cold! I don't think it's fire... fire doesn't leave behind a chill like this.
The Shattering of Reality.. and the Thunderous Voice
The strange pillars cast their cold light upon the Grand Plaza, turning the night into a false day. They peered through the window, and their hearts nearly stopped. The plaza was crawling with soldiers, and the King the ruler of the land was kneeling in bitter defeat. Above him stood a man, raising a sword with chilling indifference. With a swift, dynamic motion, he prepared to strike.
In that split second, all fear vanished from Di Lan's heart, replaced by the terror of a son and the pride of a Prince. He lunged to his feet, shouting with a voice that ripped through the plaza's silence:
"Stop right there!"
In his violent haste, he collided with the nearby pillar. The light box crashed to the ground and shattered, its glow vanishing instantly. In that moment, hundreds of eyes turned toward the window where the Crown Prince and his bride stood in their wedding finery.
Suddenly, the response wasn't the clashing of steel. Instead, a booming voice louder than any human sound they had ever heard thundered with a rage that shook their very souls:
- Cut! Cut! What on earth is happening? I'm going insane! Didn't I tell you I wanted absolute silence for this scene?!
The blood froze in Ju Ri and Di Lan's veins. They didn't understand the words, but they realized the world they knew was crumbling right before their eyes.
"The swords, the blood, the kneeling King... everything froze at the shout of 'CUT!'. If you were in Ju Ri and Di Lan's shoes right now, how would you react? Are we in a historical era, or are we behind the scenes of a modern-day drama?"