Words: 3,289
Updated: 06.06.18
Reuploaded & Edited: 05/22/21

The Tower - Ramin Djawadi

The city remained on edge in the wake of the imperial chancellor's visit, word quickly spreading around the city of the empire's veiled attempt at trying to control the council. Tradesmen were slowly becoming afraid to go beyond the borders of Goryeo's sea to Lucis and Accordo, fearing death at the hands of the machines of Nifelheim. The council of princesses had been in various meetings regarding the silent threats the empire was leaving the kingdom.

Various tradesmen had reported the fire and death that had consumed the islands of Galahd a year ago, the show of power a clear message to all of Goryeo.

One wrong move and our island kingdom would be raised to the ground. The looming shadow of the empire's wrath being brought down upon Goryeo was enough to slow the communications between our island and Lucis even further, the two week delivery period for letters increasing to a month and a half as fewer wished to stray too far from shore.

I sat in front of my small dressing table reading over a letter from Noctis, the pages dating back to the previous month as I unfolded them from the envelope. The sharp handwriting that I had grown to associate with Noctis looped across the page.

Soo,

Life is the same as usual; exams are destroying my sanity, Ignis is being a mother-hen, Gladio's a hardass, and Prompto is more interested than ever in what you look like now that he knows I have a friend that lives outside of Lucis that isn't Luna. *Dad's*

Luna sends her love by the way, and wishes you a belated happy birthday. She told me to tell you that in the last message she sent me, and that she wishes she could send you letters, but Pryna is too weak and she doesn't want to overexert Umbra.

I miss you, both you and Luna. Even though I'm surrounded by Prompto, Gladio and Ignis, I feel lonely….With everything happening with the empire, I hope you stay safe. *I don't know what I'd do if you died.* Ignis said that Galahd was a demonstration of the empire's power but it was unclear of who it was for. I just hope you stay safe despite what's going on.

Noct

P.s. Prompto thought it would be a good idea to include a photo of me since we haven't seen each other in eight years, he was in it too so it wouldn't be awkward or whatever. So yeah….Prom's the blonde obviously. Hope to hear from you soon.

I pulled the photo free from the envelope, staring down at it in slight awe.

While I had seen Noctis in his dreams on occasion, it was not quite the same as seeing the boy as others did in the waking world. He was not as thin as I remembered, his frame slowly filling out and being emphasised by the cut of his uniform jacket. The light smirk on his face contrasted against the beaming smile the boy, Prompto, gave the camera.

I traced the familiar but somehow different features with my finger before tucking the photo into the lining of my hanbok for safe keeping.

I pulled out fresh paper along with ink and a pen, hoping to compose my reply before the next ship headed for Galdin.

Dear Noct,

I'm glad that life continuing as usual for you despite the mess occurring outside Insomnia. Please thank Ignis for me since he's managed to keep you alive all these years, we know how hopeless you are at taking care of yourself. And give Luna and your father my love as well.

I miss you deeply as well. While I am thankful to be exposed to mother's culture firsthand, I wish I could have seen you at some point throughout these years. It was difficult growing up apart from you, but I'm glad you're safe at least. The council of princesses is unsure of the kingdom's political relationship with the empire after what happened in Galahd, but as far as I can tell, Nifelheim is merely displaying a show of power in order to deter the council from becoming involved in the conflict. However, I doubt Goryeo will go to war against the empire unless there is a direct attack against our people. I will try my best to remain safe, I promise.

With Love,

Soo

P.s please tell Prompto thank you for the photo and he is very skilled with a camera; he should consider pursuing it as a career. You are growing to be very handsome, Noct, I'm sure you have all the girls swooning at school from your looks alone. Unfortunately we don't have cameras in Goryeo, but I've included a pencil and ink portrait a friend of mine did of me so you can have some idea of what I look like now.

I sprinkled sand on the parchment in order to get the ink to dry, pulling out the portrait and envelope before folding the letter, and placing both it and the portrait in it. I sealed it with wax before carefully writing the P.O. box address that Noctis used on the front.

A light knock came from the door frame, causing me to call out for whomever to enter. Bo-Ra stepped into the room quietly, closing the door behind herself.

"Lady Soo, the third princess requests that you come to her chambers." the younger girl told me, her head lowered politely.

I hummed lightly before rising from my dressing table as I tucked my letter into my hanbok.

"Very well." I replied, following the handmaid out into the courtyard and making our way towards Eun-Byeol's quarters. It was rare for the princess to call for me on my day off, but despite this, I always answered.

"You wanted to see me, your highness." I stated, announcing my presence as I stepped into the room, bowing respectfully.

Third princess was dressed in a simple hanbok considering her position, taking her afternoon tea with the first and second princesses. The two older women nodded towards me in acknowledgement before continuing to sip at their tea.

"Ah, Soo-Min. Thank you for coming on your day off, I know they are rather important to you. Please, have a seat; would you like some tea?" Eun-Byeol offers, setting her tea cup on the table before offering a cup for me as I sat before her and the other two princesses.

"Yes, please, your highness." I murmured softly, preferring to have something in my hands to fiddle with for this conversation.

Pouring tea into the ceramic cup, she turned to look at me as she slid it towards my hands, "I have a request for you, and although the first and second princesses also believe this is a reasonable course of action, you are under no obligation to agree with me of course."

"Whatever it is you need, your highness, I will see it done." I replied, meeting the gaze of the third princess as a tense aura filled the air around us.

"You were present during the chancellor of Nifelheim's impromptu audience and are just as aware of the tensions between our kingdom and the empire as anyone else. We cannot continue to remain under this threat, our people slowly taking to the sea less and less due to fear. This shadow of a threat can no longer continue, not after what occurred in Galahd." the second princess began, Se-Hyeon's beautiful face appearing far older than she was in that moment.

Gyeong-Hui nodded her head in agreement, clasping her hands together as she started to speak, "We have reached out to the empire and they have agreed to come here to arrange a formal peace between our countries. The council has discussed our concerns with pursuing the peace, and we agree that we are willing to give up anything we possess to protect this kingdom. However we do not entirely trust in the words of a conqueror and his attack dogs that this can be solved without violence or death."

"We would be fools to even entertain the thought of doing so." Se-Hyeon added in softly, her gaze distant as the first princess continued.

"We must consider that the imperial empire will attempt to deceive and destroy us much like they did to Galahd. As a result, the week before the imperial embassy arrives to broker peace, Eun-Byeol will be escorted out of the country to Galdin Quay, where she will remain until it is certain that the peace is legitimate. If anything befalls the council or Goryeo, she will be brought to Insomnia to call on King Regis' aid for those who survive."

I looked to the third princess as she remained silent and staring blankly into her tea.

"I take it you're telling me this because you wish for me to take her highness' place during the empire's visit?" I question, cutting to the chase once I was given a moment to speak.

The first princess looked to me with a faint expression that I couldn't quite interpret.

"You are able to decline, Soo, you have a choice in the matter. This is your life on the line after all." Se-Hyeon answered, her honey-coloured gaze focusing on me at the sound of my voice.

"But it isn't just my life at risk; I'm in as much danger as any of the citizens of Goryeo regardless if I do this or not. But if me standing in as the third princess can increase the chances of at least some of the people surviving, I am willing to do so, your highnesses."

The room remains silent for a few moments, the only sound is that of my fingers picking at the varnish of my cup.

Gyeong-Hui sighed heavily before shaking her head, "Very well then. We will begin to slowly integrate your belongings into Eun-Byeol's chambers as the empire's arrival draws closer so that you may be comfortable during your stay."

"Of course, your highness. I still have some errands to run before the day ends, so will that be all?" I asked politely, removing my hands from the cup of tea.

The first princess gave a nod of dismissal, turning her attention back to her tea as I stood and bowed to her and the other two. I left the third princess' chambers swiftly, ignoring those who greeted me throughout the corridors in favour of getting outside the place walls as soon as possible.

Being outside the high red walls was like a breath of fresh air, the sounds of the vibrant city life being carried up by the salty wind off of the sea. I slowly made my way down the hard dirt road down the mountain the castle sat upon. It was a short walk to the city that hugged the seaside, weaving my way through the crowd that slowly grew larger the closer I came to the heart of the city.

The shouts of the port men mixed with the calls of the seagulls, creating a familiar atmosphere as men loaded and unloaded in the shipyard.

I walked towards the shipyard master as he stood at his podium going over his record book, clearing my throat loudly to gain his attention.

"Excuse me, sir, but I was wondering if you could tell me if any ships will be making their way to Galdin Quay soon? I have a letter that I need to be delivered to Lucis."

The shipyard master looked at me from over his spectacles before glancing down at his record book and flipping through a few pages.

"A ship will be setting out this evening, they're exchanging some goods with Galdin before heading to Altissia," the shipyard master told me as he began to write something down on a scrap of parchment, "Give this to the captain of The Dragon's Flame, he'll make sure your letter gets into the proper hands."

I smiled kindly at him before dropping a few coins into the payment box sitting at the top of the podium.

"Thank you, sir." I replied, receiving a nod in goodbye as he turned back to his record book.

I walked through the shipyard at leisurely pace, bowing gently to the sailors who tipped their hats in my direction as I passed. I came to the end of the dock and found the ship as men loaded various goods onto it and checked the rigging.

I cleared my throat before calling out to a man bellowing orders to those loading the ship.

"Excuse me, but could you direct me to the captain of the ship? I have a letter to be delivered to Galdin and was told you would be stopping there." I said with a raised voice to be heard over the shouts of the men as I handed the note from the shipyard master to him.

"Well ma'am, the captain is on board at the moment. But I can put your letter with the other parcels destined for Lucis." He replied as he read over the note, looking back to me as he finished.

"Thank you, it's rather important to me that it reaches the main land." I told him, bowing my head graciously before handing my letter over to him.

"It's no trouble, girl. We'll make sure your letter gets to where it's supposed to be." the man assured me, turning back to the ship to continue preparing for their departure.

I began to walk back into the city slowly, allowing myself to take in the setting sun on the water.

Eun-Byeol's departure from Goryeo was to be a swift and subtle affair, done under the cover of a moonless night, similar to a cliche novel that my first mother would have read.

Over the past week, the princess and I had been moving items from one room to the other in order to make the transition of places unnoticeable.

At this point, there was only a week remaining until the arrival of the Nifelheim delegation, and only a week for us to settle into our new roles of common handmaid visiting family on the mainland and an elected princess preparing to greet foreign dignitaries.

The night of the switch, I attended the third princess for the last time as she hosted the other two princesses as a form of farewell. The only handmaidens present aside from myself were my mother, and Chae-Rung, an old friend of the first princess.

It felt like we were performing this occult ritual in secret—as the princesses ate their rice cakes and drank their tea in the flickering light of the candles, Myung-Hee and Chae-Rung readied a casual hanbok and night clothes in the bedroom while I attended the princesses. Gyeong-Hui was the last to finish her tea, placing her cup down onto the table so gently, you were unable to hear the porcelain hit the wood.

She gazed at Eun-Byeol with sad eyes before turning her expression onto me.

"Shall we begin, ladies?" she questioned, giving the veiled signal to us both.

The third princess and I removed ourselves from the dining area, walking towards the bedroom as if it were a death march.

Before entering the bedroom, the princess grabbed the sleeve of my work hanbok and pulled me to a stop, whispering a quiet, "Thank you," before opening the doors.

I followed her to where my mother and Chae-Ryung waited for us, coming to a stop in front of Myung-Hee and beginning to undress. I removed the green shirt and carefully placed it in the hands of my mother, who placed it in her bag, my skirt following shortly after.

My mother helped me release my hair from it's pinned and braided updo once I had put on the cotton night clothes, carefully combing through my long black locks as I sat in a chair in front of her. I could see Chae-Ryung doing the same thing to Eun-Byeol, the third princess dressed in a simple gray cotton hanbok with no embellishments as the handmaid braided and pinned her hair in a simpler manner than before.

Myung-Hee set the comb on the vanity before resting her hands on my shoulders, making eye contact with me through the mirror.

"No one will be able to tell the difference between you two… You're really brave for doing this, Soo…" she said quietly, kissing the crown of my head gently and squeezing my shoulders before following Chae-Ryung out of the room. I offered a reassuring smile before I stood up and approached Eun-Byeol.

The princess fiddled with the hem of her sleeve as she worried at her lower lip, "It's strange to be wearing a simple hanbok again…" she murmured lightly.

I smiled in an attempt to reassure her, taking both her hands in my own.

"Don't worry, it won't be for too long. As soon as this business with the empire is finished, you'll be able to wear your silks again." I teased, hoping to lighten the tension in the room.

"Let's hope the negotiations will be that swift…" the princess trailed off before looking to the doors to the bedroom where my mother and Chae-Ryung had disappeared.

She paused before pulling me into a tight hug, burying her face in my shoulder.

"Thank you so much for doing this; not just for me, but for Goryeo too." she mumbled into my shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper.

I gripped her shoulders just as tightly, relishing the feeling of my friend being with me.

"Be careful in Galdin. It's not as big as the crown city but who knows what kind of people roam around there. I have few enough friends as it is without one being kidnapped in a foreign land," I replied with a small chuckle, giving her a squeeze, "I'll do my best to protect you and Goryeo, even if it means giving my life."

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that." Eun-Byeol said, pulling away as a light knock sounded on the door, drawing our attention.

"I guess that's my cue," she murmured, pulling me into one last hug before stepping away.

"Good luck, your highness," the third princess said, offering a cheeky curtsey before heading out the door.

I watched her go with a heavy feeling settling in my stomach and heart, still standing in the center of the room when Chae-Ryung came to check on me.

"You should get some rest, third princess. The guards will see the court lady to her vessel safely," she advised, her wisened brown eyes watching me carefully, "I will send a replacement for her in the morning to wake you."

"Of course. Thank you, Chae-Ryung." I replied, making my way over to the large bed slowly.

The mattress was softer than the palette that was in my room, the blankets made of embroidered silk and filled with feathers. I curled up in that large lonely bed and prayed for the safety of my friend.

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