***Author's Note***

Okay, so we have a bit of a different chapter here. I decided I wanted to show what happens right after So's death, so this chapter, as well as the next, will have details of those events. Hope you enjoy!

***End Note***

The night of So's death, Ju found a man standing in his room. On high alert given the events of the day, Ju drew a small dagger that he kept on him always and sank into a defensive position. Rather than attack, however, the man had sunk to his knees, "Long live the king," he said with his fist over his heart. "Paeha, I am here at the order of your Uncle, the late Prince Baek-Ah"

Whatever Ju had been expecting to hear, it hadn't been that. "Sam...Samcheon? Are you sure?"

The man nodded, "Yes, Paeha." He had to clear his throat before he continued, "I met with your Uncle just a few days ago. He told me very specifically to bring this package to you tonight. He told me it was going to be his final request of me...I never thought..." The messenger shook his head and fell silent as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Ju nodded, "I see," he said quietly. "Please let me see what you have brought to me." The man stood and bowed deeply, wiping his face on his sleeve as he crossed to the young King, handing him a thick envelope. "Thank you," Ju said. "Out of curiosity, do you know what's in here?"

The man shook his head, "No, Paeha. I was expressly forbidden from inquiring or looking inside – on pain of death. He's had assassins following me, should I break his orders. They haven't bothered to hide, either. I never intended to break my word to your Uncle; he is...was simply a very cautious man, especially when it came to the brother he loved so dearly. I imagine that the assassins have been paid in advance, as I have been, and will lose interest in me in a few days now that I have completed my job. Is there anything else that you need, Paeha?"

Ju shook his head, staring at the package in his hand. Just as the man turned to leave, Ju called out, "Wait." The man froze and turned back, bowing. Ju dug through his drawers and found his personal seal that his mother had ordered for him, melting some wax and dripping it onto a sheet of paper before pressing the seal into it. "If you see a letter with this seal on it, I expect you to respond immediately to my summons. Until the day you die, understand? I see now that you can be trusted; my Uncle trusted you, and he trusted very few. He like everyone, but trusted only a few."

The man stepped forward and accepted the piece of paper, peering curiously at the seal before bowing again, a look of new respect on his face, "Yes, Paeha. I understand. Your trust honors me, Sir. I will serve you faithfully, as will those who follow me. If ever you need anything, just send word and I'll see it done. Your Uncle often used me for information gathering or the delivery of sensitive materials. I see that you have inherited your Father's good sense of judgment. I look forward to serving you faithfully, Paeha." The man bowed once more before turning and leaving Ju alone in his room.

Ju sighed heavily and rang for a servant. The moment the woman appeared, he requested his favorite tea but ordered her to prepare it in front of him and to drink a cup herself before he would take a sip himself. As the girl stood to leave, Ju reached out and took hold of her sleeve, "I'm sorry," he said softly. "It isn't that I distrust you. It's just...tea is what killed my father."

The woman – who had served Ju since he was a baby – smiled and bowed, "I know, Paeha. I can't blame you for that. I'm not upset, Paeha. My job is to protect and care for you; if that means taking poison for you, then I will do it gladly."

Ju smiled at the woman, "I know that. You're just the type of person I want serving me; someone that I can trust. You may go now."

The woman bowed and once again, Ju was left alone to pour his tea and contemplate the mysterious package. Just what did you send me, Baek-Ah Samcheon? Ju sighed heavily as he sat down at his desk; at the age of twelve, he felt like he'd aged a decade in the last day alone. Ju took a sip of tea as he opened the envelope he'd been given. Inside were two letters – one from Baek-Ah, and the other from his Father. Ju's throat became suddenly obstructed as he looked at the two letters; the handwriting had become so familiar to him that the very sight of it was an ache in his chest. Sighing again, Ju chose his Uncle's letter to read first; he felt that his father's words would be far too painful to hear, at least until he was finished reading his Uncle's letter, which read:

Wang Ju:

By now, your father and I will be dead, and I'm sure that you will be grieving terribly. There are reasons behind what we have done, and I know that your father wishes to tell you himself in the letter that he is writing, so I will say nothing further on the matter here. However, I do wish you to know that whatever anyone else might say to you, every word your father has ever said or written to you is nothing but truth. He loves you so much more than you know. Everything that he is going to tell you is all for your sake, and I hope that you will listen to all that he says – no matter how fantastical it might seem – because it is all the truth. I can personally bear witness to many of the things that I know he wants to tell you. I was there for all of it, so I know better than anyone just what your father has to tell you.

Believe me when I say that in his last days, your father thought of two things and two things only: Your well-being and his beloved Hae-Soo. I think that you know from the stories he told you in his final days that his love for her was all-encompassing, and it never faded. Not for so much as a moment. It was the kind of love that you cannot forget for the rest of your days, no matter how badly you might want to sometimes. I know this because I had a love like that, myself.

Her name was Woo Hee, and she was a disgraced Princess from another land – where isn't important anymore. The point is that I forced her into doing things that made her miserable. Between the pressure that I put on her by trying to make her happy and the pressure of being the beloved Princess of so many dissatisfied people, she couldn't handle this life any longer and chose to jump from the palace walls to her death. Watching her fall was the longest moment of my life. By the time I reached her, she was dead.

The reason I have told you this story – sad though it is – is a simple one: Once you find love, be careful to nurture it, treasure it, and tend it like the beautiful flower it is. Even too much water will kill a flower, as too much attention will kill love. It is a delicate balance, love. It is difficult, and it hurts but it is worth every moment of pain, suffering, and hardship to have that one person who will stand beside you, fight beside you, and die beside you no matter what you've done in your past. Don't make the same mistakes that so many of your predecessors have made. If there is only one thing I could make you understand it would be this: marry for love, not power. The throne is secure enough. Surround yourself with those who are loyal to you and you alone, so that you never have to worry about someone trying to steal the throne from you. If many show loyalty to you, then many will respect the power you have. This is not to say that you won't have to fight sometimes, but you will at least know that you and those you love are safe. This is something that cannot be undervalued. There is no reason that you cannot be King and have a happy life.

I have included the music sheets for a couple of my favorite songs – one of them is the song that made your father fall in love with Hae Soo. I have also left you my finest gayageum. Learn to play it well, and fill the Palace with music. forget that your father and I loved you to our very last breaths.

-Wang Baek-Ah

Ju's hands trembled as he folded up his Uncle's letter and returned it carefully to its envelope. His chest felt heavy with the grief of his loss as his eyes were drawn to his father's letter, both by curiosity and by a need to read his father's words one last time. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Ju unfolded the second letter and, as though his father was in the room speaking to him, read:

My Beloved Son:

I have tried to imagine how you must be feeling just now, but I can't seem to grasp it. I can scarcely imagine the depth of loss and pain you are feeling right now at my death. I imagine Baek-Ah will have died with me, as well; it is certainly like him. He wouldn't have wanted me to die alone. I am so sorry to have put you through all the pain of watching me die. I wanted more time with you, but I was not destined to have it, it seems. It hurts me deeply to leave you like this, but there is little choice left to me now.

What I have to tell you is very difficult to understand, and perhaps will make you see me as a poor soul who lost his sanity in his dwindling days, but I swear to you that every word I have to say is nothing but the truth. I know that this concept is difficult to grasp, but saying that I have died is somewhat inaccurate. Yes, I have died in my current life, but I have a new life waiting for me in another time and world.

I have explained to you about Hae Soo, but what I did not tell you is that she was from the future. She should never have been here, but her presence gave me immeasurable peace so it couldn't have been all bad, her being here. She is alive in her time and has been blessed with all of her memories from her time with me. She has been working to prepare a place for me there, which is why I allowed your mother to murder me. I know that this reason sounds terribly selfish, and I suppose it is, but I could not continue in this life without her knowing that there was a chance for me to live my life with her as I should have been able to do the first time. I wanted you to know that nothing which has happened has anything at all to do with you. I know it is difficult, being King already by your age, but I have left journals with instructions and suggestions to help you get through the first few years, should you choose to use them. I hope that some day you will be able to forgive me.

There is one more bit of information that I need to pass on to you, and it was too dangerous to impart while I was still living, which is why I had Baek-Ah arrange this the way he did. I suppose that is another thing that I should apologize for. There was so much more I wanted to teach you. I wanted to be there for you as you grew into a man; I wanted to console you over your first heartbreak, and congratulate you when you found the one you will spend your life with. There is so much that I will lose. I'm sorry, my Son. There just wasn't enough time. There is one more thing about Hae Soo that I did not tell you. She and I had a daughter together. Her name is Seol.

I received notice a few days ago that my brother, Jung, is dying and is not expected to survive much longer than I have. He may well pass on the same day. Seol will be sent to you, and I want you to make sure that she arrives at my first wife's house safely. Please see to it that her presence is kept a secret and that none learns of her existence – particularly your mother. If there is any way for her to harm me, that woman will find it. Please take extra care, both of yourself and of my daughter. I want her to be raised by my first wife and her husband. That way, she will be out of the palace but she will still be well cared for. I want you to check in on her now and then, to be sure that she is doing well. I suppose that is more of a request than an order, but I hope you will follow it nonetheless.

If there is one thing that I want you to understand, it is that I have always loved you. When I was withdrawn and distant, it was because I wanted to protect you. People who are close to me have always had a tendency to get hurt, and I did not want that to happen to you. I suppose I most needed to protect you from your own mother; she is a naturally jealous woman. Please forgive me for all those years that I did not pay you the attention you were due. Just remember that I have loved you always, and the day that you were born was one of the proudest of my life. I am impatient to see what kind of King you will become, my Son.

Please, while you are King, make sure to have time for yourself. Even if it is simply spending time with growing things or out on the lake, it is important for you to have time. You will not truly live if you are locked up in the throne room all day; it is not a life that I would like to see you live. Step out among the people during festivals now and then – go out in disguise with the woman you love. Live a little; I did. I used to sneak out during festivals with Hae Soo, and it was well worth it. Perhaps not the safest course of action, but it was worth every moment.

In closing, my Son, I have hidden the journals of which I spoke in a secret compartment in the bottom of my desk, in my personal quarters. You will need to move in there immediately before your mother has a chance to search the room. She will have realized that I was up to something by now. There is a slight depression on the underside of the desk; if you press on it, the hidden drawer will be released. I also had Baek-Ah gather all of the evidence that will be required to see to it that those responsible for my death are punished, should you desire it. I have left these materials, as well as instructions on how to proceed with such a delicate matter on top of the journals that I have left for you. Please use them wisely, and should you choose to go forward with that course of action, please follow my instructions precisely or all will be in vain.

Always remember, my Son, that I have loved you for your entire life, and I will continue to love you for the remainder of whatever life I have left – now, or in the future. Please do not blame yourself for my death. This was my choice.

With all my love,

Wang So, Guangjong

Ju clamped a hand over his mouth as he finished reading his father's final letter, his shoulders shaking with sobs that left his chest aching and his eyes sore. After thirty minutes, he finally managed to regain his composure. Crossing his small room, Ju dipped his hands into his water basin and washed his face. When he was sure that he was somewhat presentable, he rang for a servant. When the woman arrived, he spoke quickly, "I am moving into my father's old quarters, immediately. I will be sleeping there tonight; you may bring my personal affects in the morning." Without another word, Ju left the room of his childhood, snatching up the letters from his father and Uncle on the way out, and headed to the Royal Chambers, claiming them as his own. The moment the doors slid shut behind him, Ju crossed to the desk his father had referenced.

He made short work of the hidden compartment and impatiently yanked out the documents that had been hidden there. As his father had promised, directly on top were numerous documents that detailed all of Ju's mother's crimes, and all those that had been threatened and blackmailed to do her bidding, along with his father's recommendations – in Baek-Ah's handwriting – on sentences for all of those involved. Also included was a full pardon for Ju, releasing him from any and all responsibility for his father's death. Ju's hands began to tremble once more and he saw dozens of journals and letter that his father had written during his final days. Each letter was in its own envelope that was labeled with events or ages, and none was to be opened before the appropriate time. Ju's knees went to liquid as tears spilled freely down his cheeks once again. I will avenge you, Father. I'll make you proud if it's the last thing I do, Appa!

***Author's Note***

Hope you all enjoyed things from Ju's perspective! I promise, it's an important part of the story ^_^ I'm actually really looking forward to the next chapter! Thanks, as ever, for reading. Lots of love!

- Lady Darkwind