“Since my brother is to rule, I have to stay outside the palace ofcourse. There are those who sees me as a threat to the throne. My brother is sickly and has no heir so they find him weak. But there are those who wants to kill me so I wouldn't have to be a threat. My brother can easily be persuaded by someone although he is a good ruler. I was told that my life is in peril and I gathered my guards to protect myself. He was..."

For a moment he looked into the distance, his eyes angry and hard. “The king was told by someone . . .” Pausing, he took a breath. “He was told that the army I was gathering was to attack the palace and dethrone him."

"I was imprisoned and and was given a hasty trial. It was very painful-- to see my brother's eyes glimmer of hate for me when I wouldn't even think of such... atrocity. He gave a decree to execute me. I had but six days before I was to be beheaded when you... when you called me here."

"Then why look so sad! You should be happy," Hongki said. "Beheading. That's disgusting," Hongki made a face.

"My mother told me that she has a lead as to who might have betrayed me," Jonghun continued. "I must return and prove that I am not guilty or my mother will live in shame."

Hongki thought about what Jonghun told him.  Of course none of what he was saying was real, but if it were, perhaps there was something to be learned today from the history books. “Do you have any idea who told the king your guards was going to be used to take his throne?”

Jonghun put his hands in his head in despair. "I am not sure. But when you brought me forward, I was writing a letter to my mother. I remembered a man who five years ago might have held grudges against me. Perhaps he..." Jonghun left his sentence hanging.

Hongki almost reached out to touch Jonghun's hair but he stopped himself. He reminded himself that this man’s problems were not his, and there was no reason on earth he should spend his time trying to help Jonghun find out why he—or maybe one of his ancestors—had been unjustly accused of treason.

Oh. My. Gosh. History changed. It was different from how he heard it from Shinhye during their class. Instead of being hanged, he died of heart failure. Wow.

Hongki looked at Jonghun, his eyes alternating between the photo on the book and on Jonghun's face.

"Oh my. It is you," his eyes are wide from disbelief.

Jonghun bowed,. "Yes. It is I."

"You died," Hongki pointed at his book. "My history book says they found you dead on your cell."

Jonghun's eyes widened. He grabbed the book from Hongki's hand and read the article about him aloud.