.

Chapter 25 – Epilogue

.

When Yona's party haven't arrived yet in Hiryuu Castle, Soo Won realizes that Setsuna feels apprehensive about this. He has asked her to not worry that much considering the baby, but it doesn't mean that he doesn't worry as well. They haven't had information about them at all, not to mention they also don't know about what happen to Yin Quelbo's group because Tsubaki who goes with Tsurara and Aruma also haven't given the newest information yet.

A week before the day of Tribunal Judgment for King Il assassination case is supposed to be held, when Yona's group are supposed to be there already, Setsuna collapses and she loses her consciousness with high fever. On the day of Tribunal Judgment for King Il assassination case, only Jae Ha with Zeno who replace Yona and Hak to attend on this place. They come with Tsubaki, Tsurara and Aruma's group. The reason is because both Yona and Hak can't attend here due to their state.

Mulan stands up before stopping herself in front of Jae Ha, hands on her hips "and what do you mean with their state, Ryokuryuu Jae Ha, Ouryuu Zeno?".

"you're still beautiful like always, Snow Empress", Jae Ha kisses Mulan's hand. She doesn't mind of the casual gesture from Green Dragon though, there's one other pervert who always flirt with her after all. Instead she asking him "did Yona and Hak alright!?".

Jae Ha shows grim expression before explain to them that they have ambushed by Yin Quelbo's group. Luckily, Tsubaki with Tsurara and Aruma's group have found them in time and helped them "Hak injured terribly when protecting Yona-chan as they fell to the cliff, again. He hasn't woken up yet till now, it's been a week already and Yona-chan refused to leave his side".

"Miss only has minor injuries like bruises and cut thanks to Mister's protection when they fell to the cliff but her body exhausted, drained by sleep deprived and last night we forced Miss to sleep with kid's sleeping drugs, so they're still sleeping right now. It would be bad if this was a Winter".

A week ago? Wait, it's the same exact number of the times since Setsuna's health has started to worsen. Does it coincidence?

"it's not only coincidence… Princess Suzaku can create 'bond' with the people who has shared her blood with…", Mulan answers to Soo Won with constricted eyes in remembrance of bad memories "Setsuna and Hak have shared each other's blood which creating 'bond' between them, but it happened without they realize it".

Their 'bond' which created by their blood has prevented Setsuna to able to see into Hak's heart or Hak's mind without Hak's permission, like Setsuna does with Hak but they still can feel each other's feeling. They also can have telepathy to each other no matter how far the distances. You can say it similar with the bond between twin siblings or the bond between Hiryuu with her Four Dragon Warriors. Because Setsuna is the one who create the 'bond' with giving her blood first, if something happened to her, Hak would know, but fortunately it would only affect his mental, it would affect his body that much. But if something happened to Hak, not only it would affect her mental and her body, she would lose her life as well when Hak loses his life. Be it Hak or Setsuna are supposed to die before, but because one sharing its life's energy when the other's drained, they can survive till now. But now, with Setsuna's body is weakened by her pregnancy and Hak's condition not good enough, they don't know they will survive or not.

There's a proof about this 'blood bond' from what happened to first Princess Suzaku with her husband who have tied in blood bond. When her husband has died on the battlefield, this first Princess Suzaku also has passed away due to heart attack.

It's clear Mulan has tried to hold her anger when Tsubaki drags Kou Kiryu and Yin Quelbo in front of her as the main culprit of last incident that endanger her son's life. She snaps her finger "Tomoe, your turn".

Tomoe nods her head and smiles proudly for her mother's truth, she strolling to the front before clutching Yin Quelbo's and Kou Kiryu's neck, using her power "you will tell us all of the truth that you've known because you will not be allowed to tell a single lie here, ever".

After that, either Yin Quelbo or Kou Kiryu confess their crime in front of the audience of the Tribunal Judgment today.

Yin Quelbo confesses his crimes for participate within the ambush towards Hakuya and Mulan who wanted to bring Setsuna to Mundok about 17 or 18 years ago as the informant and spies to Kou Koryu, also one of those mercenaries that cooperate with Zen who succeed to flee when the earthquake which overthrow that mountain into lake and valley have been occurred. No wonder actually, remembering Yin Quelbo is the son of the leader of the Wolves of Wind at that time. Yin Quelbo has lost his father because of that earthquake. It's a miracle that Sakaki has found Mulan's and Hakuya's body haven't be buried under that mountain because of that earthquake. He who has lost his father, holding the grudge towards Mulan who survive from that incident. His action to disapproving Mulan unlike other Nomads also because of his own grudge. He wants to bring his own Clan, Turan Clan as the strongest within Kai Empire, not Yukimura Clan where her late husband from or Gozen Clan where she belongs with.

About Touya's assassination, actually he wanted to kill Tsubaki to make Mulan suffering but after he has been cooperating with Kou Kiryu who want to take the throne as well, he also has planned to kill Shuichi and Touya because they're also prince of Kai who have the same right with him to ascend the throne and big hindrance for him to get the throne.

About Kou Koryu's assassination, Kou Kiryu confesses that he indeed killed Kou Koryu, his own father with the poison that he put within one of Kou Koryu's liquors because Kou Koryu has refused to give Setsuna and the throne to him. He also confesses that he has cooperated with Kan Soo Jin who cooperate with Yu Hon's illegitimate son about King Il's assassination.

Kan Soo Jin has sent assassin to kill the late Queen Fuyo with using princess Yona as the bait, as if the assassins have aimed for princess Yona's life. Kan Soo Jin also let information about Yona's assassination attempt known by Yu Hon to make him felt guilty about the late Queen Fuyo's death. With that, first plan to get rid of Lord Yu Hon has succeeded. Second plan, to kill King Il. Kan Soo Jin has planned to take the throne after Il's death thus he's cooperated with Li Hazara to rebel but Yu Hon's illegitimate son has planned to make his half-brother to become the King after King Il's death and Yu Hon's illegitimate son has succeeded this time.

One thing that has happened out of their plan only that Princess Yona has witnessed King Il's assassination with her own eyes. Because Yona's life in danger, Hak as her bodyguard has taken her out of Hiryuu Castle after that which automatically make Soo Won as the sole heir that left in the Hiryuu Castle become the King. Even if Soo Won has become the King, Yona and Hak still become the threat for Yu Hon's illegitimate son so to keep the throne on his half-brother's crown, he does the exact: Yu Hon's illegitimate son has sold all of the information he's known about Hak and Yona also the Four Dragon Warriors to Yin Quelbo and Kou Kiryu. Yin Quelbo and Kou Kiryu are hired by him after that to get rid of Hak and Yona because they are the threat for his half-brother. They have planned to kill Hak and Yona also taken Four Dragon Warriors with them as well.

"good, you've spilled that much, very good information~ now, tell us…", Mulan claps her hands before tipping Kiryu's chin up, glaring dagger to him with rage and murderous intention bursting out of her entire body as she clenching her fist on his hair "who the hell is this Yu Hon's illegitimate son?".

Kiryu gasps for air before gulping and forcing the words out "A-Advisor Keishuk from Kouka Kingdom?!".

Mulan shoves Kiryu to the ground and spins around with one hand tightly gripping the hilt of her katana. She lunges into Keishuk but Mundok holds her sword with his spear and Sakaki wraps his arm around her waist with his other hand holding her hand that gripping her katana from behind "MOVE ASIDE, MUNDOK, SAKAKI?!".

"sorry, but you can't, Lady Fong Mulan… as Empress of Northern Kai Empire, it will become the problem if you kill someone from other Kingdom like this", Soo Won steps forward "so I asking them to stop you".

Mulan snickers and smirks "why? To protect your half-brother?".

"no", Soo Won turns around, approaching Keishuk and slashing his sword to Keishuk as anger and rage surging his entire body as well "I want to kill him with my own hand?!".

The shrieking sound of steel and pained scream ranging within this throne room. Soo Won's cold expression hasn't changed at all despite Keishuk's blood splattering into his robe and his face, just like that night when he has killed King Il, his uncle with his own hand. Now his hands become more and more dirty and bloodied. All of audience in this room stunned, don't know what to say, it's the first time for them to see his usual gentle, lax and warm personality turns into cold and sharp like the sword that he holding.

Soo Won pulls Keishuk upright, fisting his collar and asking quietly as he stabbing his sword through his heart "who the hell asking you to do this, Onii-sama?".

Keishuk chokes as coppery taste of blood flooding his mouth "it's for the sake of… the crown on your head… and father's last wish… to make you as the… King…".

"with sacrifice Hak and Yona?", Soo Won straightens himself, releasing his grip and letting Keishuk's body drops to the floor, pulling his sword before breathing raggedly with constricted eyes "sitting in the throne is not something I want… I only want to make this country become stronger, strong enough till can't be invaded by other country… I never wanted the throne if in the end I must lost two most precious person for me in this world… and in the end… only Setsuna that left by my side…".

Silence.

They sometime forget that their King still only 19 years old, he does still have something naïve within the part of his heart.

Mulan breaks the silence with tapping Sakaki's bicep "oi, Sakaki, let me go already… for how long you're planning to hug me like this?".

"how about them, Hahaue? Can we get rid of them, now?", Tsubaki lifts his thumb, pointing to Yin Quelbo and Kou Kiryu before pulling her sword "I will gladly punish them for their crime".

Yin Quelbo smirks, letting the dark chuckle out of his mouth "congratulation then, princess Tsubaki… I will gladly tell your lover in the Hell when I met him, about how pathetic you are after he died meaningless?!".

"well then, you should go to hell first…", Shuichi stabs his sword through Yin Quelbo's heart before Tsubaki doing that with her own hands. Once he pulling his sword out and cleaning his sword and his face with dry fabric from blood, he approaching Tsubaki "what with that face?".

Tsubaki lowers her head further and yells "I never asking you to take my place?! why did you not let me do that with my own hands?!".

"I've told you before, Touya never wanted you to dirt your hand, neither do I", Shuichi pulls her hand and buries her face onto his shoulder "handkerchief's alternate, I don't have one".

"again?", Tsubaki chuckles before sniffs and tightly clenches her arms on his back "Baka".

"I killed Yin Quelbo for his crime to kill Touya, my twin brother and Tsubaki's fiancé. how about him, Hahaue?", Shuichi turns his head to Kiryu, pointing his sword to Kiryu "he must be punished as well for all of his crime".

One arrow lands on Kou Kiryu's head, right on the forehead above in-between his eyebrow. The audience is more stunned as they find Setsuna lowering her bow with a single tear cascades her cheek "Sayonara, Kou Kiryu Onii-sama… send my words to father if you meet him, that I love him and I forgive him…".

"Sayonara, Setsuna…", Kou Kiryu smiles on his last breath as his body collapses backwards with blood spilling out of his forehead, flowing down to his face that seems peaceful "even if all of this world thought of me as crazy, but I love you…".

After wipes her tears away, Setsuna approaches Mulan and smiles, pointing Jae Ha and Zeno with her chin "go with them, Hahaue. You've been holding yourself to not meet with your son all along this time but looks like Hak lost his way to go back here. That's why he hasn't awake till now, and what holding him to prevent him to go to the other side only your first husband, Hakuya-sama".

Mulan touches Setsuna's cheek, she can feel her fever still high "but you—".

Setsuna shakes her head and smiles brightly with flushed cheeks "don't worry about me, I'll be alright once Hak is alright… Hak has halted you from going to the other side about 17 or 18 years ago, so now it's your turn to bring him back here".

Mulan orders her subordinates to take care the protocol when she's going with Jae Ha and Zeno after informing that she will take Hak and Yona with her "I can't risk my children's safety here, so don't blame me if I will hide them for a while".

After Mulan's party with Jae Ha and Zeno disappears in the thin air using Sakaki's ability, Soo Won catches Setsuna who collapses unconscious to the floor.

After finishing several protocols and his job as the King, Soo Won sits on the bed side, looking to her peaceful sleeping features. She's fallen asleep and lost her consciousness for weeks, her belly though, keeps bulging as her child growing within her womb. He doesn't care about what people said about him outside, what he cares about is only his wife, except his job as the King.

What if she doesn't open her eyes again?

What if she leaves his side as well?

Vaguely he remembers that Lily and Tae Woo come here, of course Lily encourages him but Tae Woo only wants to check upon Setsuna and accompany Lily. Other Shogun also worried, they have encouraged him with their own ways but still…

What should he do if she leaves his side?

"…Won…", weak and gentle voice that he's missed so much pulling him back to the reality from his daydream. Her callouses and warm finger touching his face "…why are you crying?".

That blue eyes stare blankly with worry on her eyes. He doesn't deserve this, really. But he's afraid of lost her and he wants her. He takes her hands with both his hand and brings up to his forehead while clenching hers after kissing her palm.

"…I'm afraid… that I might have lost you…".

She smiles weakly "silly… I've told you before, right? I will stay by your side and I won't leave you".

"but these hands have been smeared with bloods… and you're still…".

"don't be… you're not alone…", she waves her hand slowly, asking him to come closer. Once he does, she let him to lean his ear on her chest, to hear her heartbeat, to feel her warmth "don't be afraid, I'm still here… I'm alive… you haven't lost me yet… I will stay by your side, as long as I can… now".

"welcome back, Setsuna", Soo Won wraps his arm around her body before kissing her forehead down to her eyelids, her cheek, her neck, her collarbone and ended on her lips "Il Oji-san… Chichiue… please forgive me… even if I had intended to not marry and die after I fulfill my purpose for the sake of Kouka Kingdom, now I have something to protect with… can I allowed to live my life a bit longer with Setsuna who has willingly given her warmth to my cold heart? This time, I want to live a life to protect what was left for me, for the sake of someone I love, without looking back into the darkness ever again".

Outside their chamber, Joo Doh who watches everything, goes to Yong Hi's chamber to report about Setsuna's and Soo Won's condition to Yong Hi. Only one thing still unsettled about her, that one of his master, Yong Hi still looks upset, the same anxiety that she feels about Mulan.

"but what are you worrying about of Lady Fong Mulan, Lady Yong Hi?".

"she does know, of course, but she still learning that forbidden swordsmanship…", Yong Hi lifts her head up, on the verge of her tears as she turns her head to Joo Doh "she will die, Joo Doh".

.

To Be Continued to Book 2

.