The rain started to slow down and the battles around them had come to a full stop. Jinhee looked to the sky, feeling the weight of Jongin's arms around her and wondered if she had died and gone to heaven. He started to move from around her and she groaned at the disruption of her one moment of peace for months.

 

"Sorry, but it sounds like the battle is done. I have to make sure everyone is alright." Jongin kissed the top of her head and stood up with a painful moan. Even though he was in pain, he still made sure to reach out his hand to help her stand up. The two of them stood and headed towards the main entrance but with two steps, Jongin's knee gave out and he stumbled. Jinhee grabbed him and put half of his weight onto her and together they made their way out. Bodies were laid everywhere, many rebels and many soldiers had lost their lives that day and Jinhee felt a deep ache in her heart for them but with their sacrifice came freedom for the rest of the Kingdom.

 

"Your highness!" A voice called out and Chen came running out of the throne room, wounded and covered in a large amount of blood, most likely not all of it was his. Once Chen reached Jongin and Jinhee he went down on one knee. The remaining soldiers that were standing around also went on their knee. "You are the victor, my King." Chen looked up at his old friend with a smirk. Jinhee looked to Jongin who couldn't help but smile. He looked around at all of the men bowing down to him and felt a sense of pride over himself. "The only problem is.." Chen stood up and fixed his clothes to try and look presentable in front of his new King and Queen. "...We can't find that little worm that was formally known as your brother."

 

"I know where he is." Jinhee said and the two man looked at her. She lead them to the hallway behind the throne room and pointed out the room that Kyungsoo tried to drag her into. Jongin forced himself to stand by himself and brought his sword out. Chen threw the door open and Kyungsoo squeal when he had been found out and the look of panic in his face when he saw his brother, was unmistakable.

 

"W-Wait! I-I know what you're thinking and...and...I...uh...it wasn't my idea!" Kyungsoo begging for forgiveness but Chen grabbed onto him by the collar of his clothes and dragged him out of the room. They brought him out onto the main steps where soldiers and now the nearby villagers were gathering.

 

"SILENCE, you're King is about to speak." Chen called out as he held Kyungsoo down on his hands and knees. Everyone looked to Jongin who looked exhausted but puffed up with his chest as he knew there was never going to be a moments rest again. Jinhee comfortingly rubbed his back and Jongin collected his thoughts before speaking to the crowd.

 

"I am proud to announce that the rebellion is now over." Cheers erupted from the crowd and strangers turned to each other and embraced. "The recovery from this war will be difficult and long but I know that we can pull through. And as for this traitor..." Jongin looked to his brother who he had looked up to for so many years and now felt nothing but pity for the trembling man. The crowd started cheering for his public death but Jongin raised his hand and they grew silent. Jinhee's heart was beating hard as she watched her husband control a whole crowd of people with nothing more than a wave of his hand. It was inspiring and filled her with pride. "..He will be banished to the North country with no name and no title. No one shall help him. No one shall pity him. From now until his death, he is nothing." Jongin saw Kyungsoo lower his head in shame and Jongin felt nothing anymore for the man that would slaughter his own family and innocent people just for a moment of power.

 

Chen kicked him down the stairs into the waiting crowd. They pulled and ripped at his clothes, stomping him as he tried to crawl away. By the time he had broken free of them he was only in his undergarments, running for his life out of the palace walls. The crowd was cheering once more and Jongin felt he had made their right choice. He didn't want anyone else in his family to die, but the man he had once known turned into a monster that deserved to be punished. The next few days were rough for the country as they tried to piece themselves together after the war.