I was still in shock at everything that was happening to me, yet for the very first time in my life, I stood before the grand palace. A strange smile lingered on my face. At that moment, I was not worried about the future, nor did the past weigh on me. Death could come at any moment, and so, living each second to its fullest felt like the only right choice.
The soldiers who had accompanied me approached the palace guards at the entrance. One of them announced that we had been sent by Prince phils. The guards at the gates demanded something from my soldiers, and suddenly, the men beside me began arguing among themselves. Summoning my courage, I stepped forward and asked them, "What's going on? Why are you fighting?"
They fell silent, though worry clouded their eyes. I asked again, more firmly this time. Finally, one of them admitted with unease, "We… we forgot our identification papers. Without them, we cannot enter the palace. And we've traveled so far. It took us a full day to get here—we cannot go back now."
Despite their worry, I smiled gently and said, "Don't worry, sir. He must be coming soon." My words silenced them, but in their uneasy glances I could sense they were hiding something from me. I decided not to press further and quietly returned to sit in the horse carriage.
One soldier went back to retrieve his ID, while the others remained. Yet every face around me carried the same sorrowful look. The sadness weighed so heavily in the air that I could no longer bear it. I stepped out again and took with me the papers and colors I always carried. Standing before them, I said, "Everyone, please sit together, in order. I will draw a picture of all of you—with the castle in the background."
No one responded. Silence hung thick. My patience wore thin. I had tried to persuade them kindly, but they remained still, like statues. So I walked up to each soldier one by one and pulled them into line.
They lacked compassion, I knew it well, but I had decided to bring some back into their hearts. With firm voice I shouted, "You all look wonderful like this. I'm starting now—don't move too much!"
Slowly, as I began sketching, the stiffness around them started to ease. By the time the sun began to set, I had nearly finished the painting. One soldier was missing from it, the one who had gone to fetch his ID, but the others were there. And for the first time, I saw smiles on their faces—as though laughter had finally returned to them.
Just as I was about to finish, the atmosphere shifted. The soldiers suddenly moved away from the road, and a long shadow fell over me. A cold sensation brushed against my neck. Turning my head, I froze. The sharp edge of a sword pressed against my skin.
It was the weapon of the one I feared most—the enemy of my every lifetime.
A harsh voice rang out, "Why are you all standing here like this? What madness is this?"
Immediately, the soldiers dropped to their knees and bowed low. "Forgive us, Prince!" they cried.
"Stupid!" the Prince barked. He pulled his sword away from my neck and finally turned to face me. It was the first time I had laid eyes on the Prince of my kingdom.
Without hesitation, he snatched the painting from my hands, only to rip it apart and hurl the shreds back at me.
I had never witnessed such cruelty done to something born of love. My head lowered, my heart shattered. The torn pieces of my painting lay scattered on the ground, as if each one was asking me, What crime did you commit to deserve this?
Tears welled up in my eyes until they spilled freely down my cheeks. My cries broke out into the night, raw and unrestrained.
The Prince's voice thundered, "Why are you crying so loudly? No one has died."
Through my tears I screamed back, "How could you ever understand my grief?"
The soldiers gasped—stunned that I had dared to raise my voice against the Prince.
His expression hardened. With no warning, he kicked me to the ground. Pain shot through me; the blow was merciless. But deep down, I had known such cruelty would come.
Clutching the ground, I bent low and whispered desperately, "Forgive me…"
Until now, I had only heard stories that the royal family was cruel. But tonight—I witnessed the truth with my own eyes.