"HAHAHA! Everyone, let the celebration begin!"
The Kingdom of Jin glowed with lights and fireworks.
In the village, the streets were decorated with glowing flowers. Soldiers patrolled the roads while children played joyfully. Elders stood nearby, chatting as they watched them.
Two elderly people sat on the porch of their house, watching the fireworks.
"Hmm… freedom, huh."
"How many generations did it take to gain freedom from them?" he said with a faint smile.
"But even now… I don't think they've truly left this kingdom."
"And how long are we going to feel this freedom?"
"What do you think, Hapi? How long will this last?"
The other elder, Hapi, didn't respond. She simply looked at him, her eyes closed, a peaceful smile on her face.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A massive firecracker exploded in the sky.
The royal palace was decorated with lights, and the entire building echoed with the sweet sound of violins. The polished floor gleamed, reflecting the lights above.
In the dining hall, a long table was arranged with nine seats on each side, one seat at the bottom, and a throne at the head—making a total of twenty seats.
Soon, the hall filled with eighteen royal members and thirty guards. The royals wore white suits with blue lines along the sides, each bearing a star on their shoulders.
Five musicians played violins at the side of the hall. Some royals stood listening to the music, holding glasses of wine, while others gathered in small groups, chatting.
But one royal sat alone.
He was a short, black-haired, fair-skinned man. Sitting to the left of the throne, he lowered his head, both hands covering his forehead, lost in deep thought.
The doors of the dining hall opened, and servants entered, neatly arranging food and plates on the table. One servant hesitated near the silent royal, wanting to wake him—but fear stopped her. She quietly placed the plate and moved away.
The servants then stood beside the seats.
Two guards entered and took position beside the doors.
Moments later, the king entered.
He wore a golden crown, his long black hair flowing behind him. His beard and mustache were neatly trimmed, and a bright smile spread across his face.
He raised his hand.
"Stop the music."
The violins fell silent. Everyone turned toward him.
"I ask everyone to gather at your seats."
The royals took their places.
"Now, I think everyone knows why we celebrate today," he said with a smile. "I have achieved something that my father… my grandfather… not even my great-grandfather could."
"Today, our kingdom has become the second independent kingdom in this world."
The hall erupted in applause.
"Alright… from this day onward, we must work hard for our kingdom's growth. We no longer need anyone's permission to thrive."
The king took a deep breath.
"Now everyone… raise your glasses. Let us toast to a new beginning."
Everyone obeyed,except the man lost in thought. He hadn't even noticed the king.
A nearby royal tried to wake him, but the king stopped him.
"Wait. I'll handle him."
After the toast, everyone sat down, and the servants began serving food. The king signaled for the music to resume, and the hall filled with melodies once again.
Seated on his throne, the king glanced at the empty seat to his right, then walked over to the distracted man and gently shook him.
"Rim. Wake up, Rim."
After a few shakes, Rim snapped out of his thoughts and looked around.
"Huh… Your Majesty."
"What are you thinking about in the middle of a celebration, you bastard?" the king whispered.
Rim rubbed his head. "Ah… it's nothing."
The king raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing? If it were nothing, you wouldn't act like this."
"You know I understand you. So speak—what's on your mind?"
Rim took a deep breath.
"Do you really think they've truly freed this kingdom?"
The king stared at him.
"What are you saying? You were there when I spoke to them."
"Yes… but why did they accept it so suddenly? Didn't you feel anything suspicious?"
"And now we're their enemy… you can't ignore that."
The king blinked, then sighed.
"Why think like this? Be positive, you bastard. Our kingdom is too small for them to care about."
"They have more important matters to deal with."
"So stop worrying… and enjoy the feast."
Rim wasn't convinced.
"No… something isn't right."
The king's expression hardened.
"General Rim, I order you to join the feast."
"You will not refuse."
Rim met his gaze, then exhaled softly. He picked up a glass of water, took a sip, nodded, and began eating.
The king returned to his throne, glancing once more at the empty seat beside him.
"Do you know where that idiot went?"
Rim shook his head while chewing.
The king pressed his lips together, then gestured to a guard.
The guard approached and bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Find General Gin. Tell him I've summoned him immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The guard left.
On the palace balcony, a man stood alone, feeling the cool night breeze. The distant sounds of insects and fireworks filled the silence as he looked over the glowing village.
He wore a royal suit with five stars on his shoulder.
The guard approached him.
"General Gin."
Gin turned.
"His Majesty orders you to the dining hall."
"I'll be there," Gin replied calmly.
The guard left.
Gin turned back toward the village.
Dark clouds slowly began to cover the sky.
Within moments, the stars vanished.
Gin took a deep breath—and turned.
A man stood right in front of him.
"Haa—!"
Gin stumbled back, startled, his heart racing. He placed a hand on his chest, trying to steady his breath.
"What the hell—who are you?"
The stranger wore a red suit with white lines and buttons—clearly not from this kingdom.
Gin stepped back, drawing his sword and pointing it forward.
"Who are you?"
The silence deepened. Only the faint buzzing of insects and—
BOOM!
Another firecracker exploded.
Moments later, the dining hall doors opened.
The violinists stopped playing.
Heavy footsteps echoed.
The king spoke casually while eating.
"Did I need to invite you personally, Mr. General Gin?"
Then he noticed something was wrong.
Everyone had stopped eating… and was staring behind him.
The king slowly turned.
His eyes widened.
His voice trembled.
"Emperor…?"