"if two points are destined to touch, the universe will always find a way to make the connection. even when all hope is lost, certain ties cannot be broken." 

"where am i?"

absolute silence in response.

"excuse me, but i demand that you tell me where i am. right now."

it was possible to hear a pin drop amidst the tension that had settled in the air. 

it was rare – nay, unheard of – for a princess of sora's stature to be caught in such a tricky situation. she glared at the unrecognizable man in front of her, studying his features all the while. his hair was slightly graying, with a clean-shaven face and deep, piercing eyes that were impossible to read. had he not been the very man that had sora snatched from her own kingdom, she would have guessed he were a commoner like any other. the silence finally dissolved when his voice pierced the air.

"your highness," he sneered, "we are awaiting one more guest before we begin negotiations."

before sora could interrogate the stranger any further, the tall oak doors behind her slowly creaked open, as if on cue. refusing to allow the sound to capture her attention, she continued to face forward with a blank expression. however, this did not stop the thoughts that began racing in her head. could he be an assassin? was he about to torture her for her father's crown? did he want something in exchange for her lifeless corpse?

"for someone who intends to run the joseon kingdom, it appears that princess sora is unfamiliar with even her own subjects." sora would have done anything to strike the smug look off of the man's face when he looked towards the other man that had entered. "jongin, please come forward."

... jongin?