Kita took a few days to recover, but when she had regained consciousness, San had kicked Wooyoung out of the room. In a surprising twist, he took over caring for her and making sure she got healthy again. He only left her alone for a few hours if he had important business to tend to, sending in Jongho to sit with her.

The guard was silent as always, staring straight ahead and not moving until his king returned.

When she was finally able to venture out again, San would walk her around the palace, showing her what was going to be her new home. Part of him seemed excited about it, his eyes lighting up when he explained something about a new room or when showing her some of the craftsmanship that went into building the palace.

Even so, she couldn't bring herself to be excited, often forcing a smile. This place reminded her of everything she had lost.

He had started sleeping with her in the bed at night too, always holding her to him possessively. She kept waiting for him to snap again. There were a few times when she would speak to one of the servants or guards, smiling with them, when she would turn to see him watching her, a hungry look in his eyes.

She didn't dare ask about Wooyoung, even though her heart ached from not seeing him. She prayed he was ok.

One night, while they were lying in bed, she could tell San was restless. She tried to ignore it, but then he whispered, "What can I do to make you happy, Kita?" His arms tightened around her. She felt him placing his light kisses on her shoulders again, brushed the fabric of her shirt aside.

She did her best to ignore it. He wouldn't give her what she wanted to be happy.

"Kita?" She felt him shift so he could look at her, but kept her eyes closed. He growled a little when she didn't respond and just pulled her tighter to him.

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San knew she was still awake. He was trying to make this work, but if she was going to ignore him she could continue to suffer. Why did he even care anyway? She was just here for his personal gain.

He stared at the back of her neck. If that was true, then why hadn't he slept with her again... He wanted to, desperately, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to force her again. Part of him wanted her to want it.

It shocked him when he realized he hadn't had any fun with Wooyoung either. Not since the journey here. Ever since he had been with Kita, his mind hadn't gone anywhere else.

He squeezed her again. She was making him soft and he hated it. Tomorrow. It would happen tomorrow.

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In the early hours of the morning, Jongho ran down the hall carrying a rolled up piece of parchment in his hand.

When he reached the king's room, he knocked several times. He knew the king hated to be disturbed, but this couldn't wait.

King San opened the door with a dark look on his face. Jongho immediately bowed and held up the parchment. The king took it from him and unrolled it, his mouth moving as he read the words, then he froze.

"Is... Is this true?"

"Yes, Sir. It was delivered by a hawk just moments ago..." Jongho said, glancing over the king's shoulder into his room.

"I'll tell her." The king said quietly. "Thank you, Jongho." He closed the door.

Jongho bit his lip and made his way to the far end of the palace where they kept the performer. The guards let him in without asking questions.

He was surprised to see Wooyoung up already. He was seated in front of the window, as always, staring blankly at nothing.

Jongho cleared his throat and waited to be acknowledged. Wooyoung turned his head slightly, but didn't look at him. "We just got word... from Twilight." The performer's head turned more, locking eyes with the guard. "The queen has passed."

Wooyoung's hand flew to his mouth and he jumped up and hurried to Jongho, grabbing his arm. "Does the princess know yet? Please, you have to let me see her."

"His Majesty is telling her now. I just thought I'd do the right thing and let you know too." Jongho pulled himself out of Wooyoung's grip.

"Please, please let me see her... This is going to be too much for her."

"I cannot." His chest hurt a little when Wooyoung fell to his knees, tears running down his cheek. "I'm sorry." He said quickly, slipping through the door and locking it behind him.

High pitched cries came from behind the door and he was pretty sure the performer had started throwing the few things in his room.

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Kita felt San sit next to her in bed. He stroked her cheek for a moment before choking out, "Kita?"

Her eyes flew open at his tone and she sat up in bed.

"Something's happened..." He handed her the parchment. She took it and scanned the writing.

Her world shattered. She had to read it several times to fully understand what it said. "No..." She shook her head. "No, you're lying! Is this another sick joke to you?" she ripped the parchment in half and moved to get out of bed.

San grabbed her hand to stop her and she spun around and slapped him. He stared to the side for a long moment, then stood over her, looking down his nose. She could see he was fighting off his anger.

"I'll give you some time." He said, his voice low.

She watched him walk from the room, hands clasped tightly behind his back. When the door closed, she sat back down on the bed feeling incredibly numb.

Then the tears came. The note hadn't said how, but deep down she knew her leaving had killed her mother. She hadn't even been able to say goodbye...

---

Kita didn't eat anything for the next few days. She didn't even get out of bed. All her crying had left her empty, but still the tears came when she least expected them. She wished she could go home for the funeral. She wished she could see her father and Seonghwa again, oh how she needed her brother.

She wished she didn't have to feel this pain anymore.

San came and tried to get her to eat, but when she didn't look at him, he would storm out of the room cursing under his breath.

At the end of the third day, it was Jongho who came to visit her. The king had sent him, hoping a different person would help.

The guard came and sat on the end of the bed. Kita heard him speaking, but didn't register what he was saying. She just stared at the same spot on the wall she had been looking at for days.

"Princess," He said, kneeling in front of her so he could look into her eyes. "Princess, please. I don't think your mother would want you to starve yourself like this." He said softly.

Kita met his eyes and a new wave of tears came. She didn't know why, but she found herself sitting up and hugging the guard, suddenly needing to come in contact with another person. He hesitated for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.

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Jongho's forehead creased as the princess hugged him. She had never really spoken to him after he'd given her the cold shoulder during their trip.

But he couldn't not comfort her. She had a hollowed look to her face and even though she was in pain, when her hands pressed into his back, he could feel her healing energy wash over him.

He knew how she felt. He had lost both his parents to the previous king's war, that's why he had joined the guard. He had wanted to avenge their deaths.

King San had seen his potential and promoted him quickly, promising he would get his revenge one day. He just needed to fit a few more pieces together for his plan to work.

The princess was one of those pieces.

He knew of his king's temper. He had even been burned a couple times himself if the king got mad enough. But he did his best to ignore it. He was loyal to the crown and his king. If it meant he could avenge his parents' death, he would do whatever it took.

At least, until now. He had watched the princess close herself off to everything during the trip here. He had heard what the king had done to her one night and secretly admired the way she put on a good face the next day. The joyous look in her eyes when she was helping the people of Volkin was something he'd never forget.

And now, seeing her fall to pieces in front of him broke his heart.