Chapter 2: In Which a Shru Falls Out of the Sky

The next morning, the ants were buzzing, the gophers were rattling, and the bees were crawling about, carrying hunks of tree moss in their back divots - all in all, Eunkyung thought, it was a beautifully average, beautifully peaceful, Council-free morning.

Seated with her back pressed up against a tree stump, she closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to enjoy the lazy warmth of the sun as it climbed in the sky. Early mornings were the only time she had to rest before the deluge of paperwork and meetings and political nightmares began, and she always spent it reading in the royal gardens, where her younger siblings occasionally joined her to play.

Of course, on days when they did join Eunkyung in the garden, like today, it was never quite as peaceful as she would have liked.

“Eunkyung, Eunchae’s a meanie! She stole my pet rock!” cried her youngest brother, pulling at her sleeve and looking up with eyes that were simultaneously teary and furious. “Tell her to give Granite back!”

Eunchae stood up, indignant. “It was my turn with her! You’ve had Granite for the last ten minutes, and Daddy said we -”

Eunkyung sighed and put down her book. “Eunchae, you had Granite all of yesterday. Give her back to Sunghun now.”

“But -”

“No buts.” She narrowed her eyes, hardening her gaze until the younger princess sighed and gave in, opening her hands and letting the pet rock hop back to her brother.

“Fine. But I want to play with her tomorrow morning.” With a last glower at Sunghun, silently threatening him in that way only older sisters can, Eunchae turned and flounced off to join her other sisters at the edge of the garden.

Frustrated, Eunkyung groaned. Eunchae had just turned nine and was going through the stage in which she thought herself superior to everyone younger than her, and Eunkyung didn’t know how to deal with an overly confident, bratty nine-year-old on her own. I don’t want to bother Mother with this either, not when she’s already sick and worrying about the queendom.

At her side, Sunghun curled into a ball and buried his face in her arm. “I just wanted to play with Granite,” he sniffled, voice coming out muffled. “And Eunchae wouldn’t let me, and - and -”

Sensing a flood of tears rapidly approaching, Eunkyung sighed and moved her book to make space for her brother and pulled him into her lap, letting him wrap his chubby arms around her neck. “Eunchae’s just moody lately, Hun. It’s not your fault. Don’t let her bother you.”

Too late. She could already feel wet drips on the collar of her dress. Oh dear. “Come on, Granite’s waiting for you to play,” she coaxed, rubbing his back gently. “Why don’t you go play fetch with her?”

Sunghun let out a wordless wail in response, making her frown. It wasn’t like her brother to be quite this easily upset, even if he was only six years old. Something else must have happened. “What is it, darling?”

He sniffed again. “Eunchae said -” Another wave of hiccuping whimpers shook him, and Eunkyung patted his back silently, waiting. “She said - she said I can’t be a royal guard when I grow up.”

Eunkyung paused. Well of course he can’t be a guard, she thought, brows furrowed. He’s the one who will be guarded! How ridiculous!

Sunghun barrelled on courageously through his tears. “Eunchae says boys can’t be royal guards. She says boys are too stupid and loud and - hic - can’t foc- foe-”

Eunkyung couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Focus?”

Sunghun wiped a hand across his face, leaving a trail of snot, then sniffed again. “Yeah, that.”

“Oh, Hun.” She pulled him closer, squeezing his little body in a tight hug. “Don’t listen to Eunchae. You can be anything you want, alright? Anyone can be a guard if they work hard enough, girl or boy.”

The six-year-old looked up, eyes still watery. “But then why are all the royal guards girls?”

“What?”

“They’re all girls,” he explained. “Eunchae says that's because only girls are smart enough, and boys would just mess it up.”

Eunkyung felt her stomach drop, and her arms tightened around him. I need to talk to that girl. “Well, Eunchae is wrong. I’m Crown Princess, not her, right?” She tickled his armpit, eliciting a teary giggle. “I’m going to be Queen, and if I say you can be a royal guard, you can. And you know -”

“Everyone has to do what the queen says,” Sunghun finished, eyes solemn.

Eunkyung grinned, tucking a wayward lock of hair behind his ear. “Right. So now that’s settled, Royal Guard Sunghun, run along and play with Granite before she hops off into the forest and leaves you behind. Quick! Off you hop!” This was accompanied by another tickle, this time on the bottom of a foot, and her brother’s face brightened, leaving all traces of tears behind.

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