Just when Lord Yong and the King felt relieved by releasing Prince's soul, Mi-sook took hold of her dagger and stabbed Lord Yong, and said, while standing beside him, "I am not afraid of death. I am only afraid to see you slayers living happily. I'll destroy your whole lineage. I'll come back again." With this she again stabbed the old man, making him fall in the darkness, hurtling to the floor.

Mi-sook flees from the palace by killing the guards.

The King felt devastated looking at Lord Yong. He summoned a Royal physician and said in a concerned voice, "You must save his life, do whatever you want but save him."

"Your Majesty! He is already suffering from an excessive blood loss plus he is too old to handle the injury. It is difficult to save him," said the Royal physician

Lord Yong asked in a stuttering voice to call Nyang. He has something really important to tell him regarding her daughter.

The King sent his guards to inform Nyang. He held Lord Yong's hand and said, "Don't worry, you'll be alright".

Lord Yong looked at him and smiled. "Your Majesty! I'll always be grateful to you for giving me your daughter. Si-ri is everything that I could ever wish for. Because of you, I got to know how it feels to be a father, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world....but my little girl won't be able to bear the pain of my death after her mother. She'll be shattered. Take care of her."

Tears filled in the eyes of the King. Just then Nyang entered the room, he was on the verge of bursting into tears looking at his master's condition.

"What happened to my master?"... Nyang was crying like a little child.

"Be a good boy and stop crying, dear Nyang. From now you need to take care of your sister. The page that I tore out from the Devil's book, you too know what was written on that page. I was saving my life so that I could sacrifice it for my child's wellbeing and to lift her curse but now I think that I was fated to die early. Maybe almighty has some other plans for Si-ri."

"I have something to say to my daughter. Convey my message to her, after my demise." Lord Yong slowly and with utter difficulty told everything to Nyang that he wanted to tell Si-ri.

Lord Yong started reminiscing those precious memories of her daughter. His eyes brimmed with tears but miraculously the pain was no longer bothering him. Everything became calm and silent, he could no longer feel his body due to the numbness spreading over his body. Before getting lost in the eternal darkness, the old man prayed for his daughter's long and happy life for the last time. He closed his eyes and saw Si-ri's smiling face. The old man never opened his eyes after that. He left the world. He died.

The beads of water started falling down. The King didn't want to cry for his loss in front of others. He wiped his wet eyes and announced, "Lord Yong was not only an integral part of our family but also a great and loyal friend of mine. Royal family of Noam will never forget his contribution and sacrifice. I hereby declare that he will be cremated with full affection and royal honour tomorrow morning along with Prince Jian." The devastated King then walked away from the room in grief.

Next morning, the news of Prince Jian and Lord Yong's sad demise spread in the whole Noam like a wildfire.

The whole Noam became deserted in no time. Folks reached the palace to mourn the death of their beloved yet kind Prince and one of the great scholars, Lord Yong. The magnitude of despair in their eyes was enormous.

The King's and his family stood at the front of the funeral all wrapped up in white clothes. They were looking like soulless zombies disguised in waxy faces with puffed red eyes. The coffin was pulled from the hearse by six royal guards, all wearing suits.

Both the coffins were dark stained cherry and were perfectly polished. It was good to know that both of them are now resting in a comfortable place.

Princess Ruyi held her sobbing mother-in-law's shaky hand the whole time. She wiped her tears and rested her head on her shoulder. The Queen curbed her emotions as Ruyi kept solacing her but it all became wasted, when all the memories came flooding back like a tidal wave. Recalling his son's bright and happy face, the Queen couldn't help but wonder what he'll be looking like under that closed wooden box. Her eyes stared blankly at it hoping that a miracle would happen and he would rise again and come back to the world, come back to her. But nothing happened. He was gone.

A single moment is enough to turn one's world upside down. How shattering it is to see a person die, whom we used to love, adore and celebrate every day and suddenly, they're gone and when they go, a part of you goes with them too.

The royal priest started reading prayers. The Emperor then addressed the crowd and fond memories spoken out.

"Today, we have lost two pure souls. They left this world but they will always be alive in our hearts. Death is an undeniable truth, it is the body that dies but the soul is the one that continues its journey to take another birth therefore we must accept them both with a wholesome heart." The Emperor ended his speech with a heavy heart.

The cremation of Prince and Lord Yong took place at the royal cemetery.

On the other side, Min-ho arrived at Si-ri's place with some hint of disappointment on his face.

Si-ri was looking restless and tensed. Upon his arrival she rushed and hugged Min ho as if she had seen a nightmare.

"Thank god, you came. I saw something terrible in my dream last night. I saw that eight year old me was playing hide and seek with my father in that mansion, we both were looking happy. The old mansion was echoing with our giggling but suddenly I couldn't find my father. I cried and looked everywhere but father was nowhere to be found." Si-ri narrated

"Don't worry, he'll be fine." Min-ho said while stealing his glances.

"You are hiding something, right. Tell me what you are hiding". Si-ri became anxious after reading Min-ho's expression.

"Actually, Prince of Noam died. I wanted to hide this news because I was afraid that you might feel sad, after all he is your twin brother." Min-ho confessed.

"I knew about his condition, brother Nyang told me about him. Yes, I am sad hearing about his death but I never felt any affection toward him as we never met he didn't even know my existence, he was like a stranger to me. But still it would be an arduous state for everyone in Noam especially for his parents. Noam again became heirless. I can feel their pain, as everything they did was to give an heir to Noam and now he is gone. It's really heart wrenching." Si-ri said in a weak voice.

Just then Si-ri saw Nyang walking towards the cave. Nyang looked tired as if he hadn't gotten any sleep since several nights. When Si-ri got the clear image of his face she becomes scared. His eyes were swollen and his overall appearance was inkling that something terrible had happened.

Nyang stood mute in front of Si-ri looking at the ground. Si-ri's heart was thumping fast looking at Nyang's bizarre demeanour. She came close to him and asked him in apprehensively, "Brother, is everything alright? How is father, is he fine?"

Nyang broke down after listening to the word 'father'. He couldn't hold it anymore and told Si-ri in a shuddering voice.

"Ma...Master is... no more" and bust out in tears.

Min-ho too had heard that with Prince Jian there is also a well-known scholar who died at the palace but he was not expecting him to Si-ri's father. He was worried for Si-ri now.

Si-ri froze there in disbelief. Nyang told her everything about the portentous night and how the Emperor had conducted his funeral with royal honour.

"No. This can't happen. Father promised me that he would never leave me, he can't go like this. He can't make me an orphan. Brother, take me to his coffin. I'll ask him, I'll beg him to wake up. My father loves me so much he always fulfills my wishes. I know he is waiting for me. Let's go," Si-ri continued saying gibberish as if she had lost the balance of her mind.

Nyang stopped and shook her to bring her back to her senses. "He is no more. He will never come back again. You need to accept this bitter truth."

At that very moment her world collapsed. The pain came out as an uproar from her throat in the form of loud screaming. She cried her heart out.

Nyang gave Si-ri her father's note. Nyang has written his words on a paper as he knew he wouldn't be able to convey this emotional message to Si-ri.

Si-ri opened the paper and started reading wailing in pain.

Dear Si-ri,

I know my love that the news of my demise will shatter you. But it's my humble request to you dear, this time do not let yourself become vulnerable and weak like the moment when you lost your mother. Seeing you in pain and tears was like a punishment to me. You are mature, intelligent and strong, my child. If you cover yourself in grief my soul will never get peace. Being confined in a mansion you have missed the beauties of life. I want you to see that and you need to do this for me. You have to survive and lead a happy life.

Never blame yourself for my death as I was fated to die like this. I would like to thank you, my child for making me a proud father of such a wonderful girl. I can clearly remember the day you start walking holding my finger and the day you called me father for the first time. Now the only difference would be that you won't be able to see me or meet me but still you can feel me whenever you smile you'll feel me around you.

Life is not always fair to everyone. Crying over lost things won't conceal your pain in any way. Instead, focusing on your dreams will give you strength to detract the pain. You need to try hard to keep our boat afloat in this storm. Promise me, that you'll be strong enough to face every hurdle and lead a happy life.

Always remember that I love you, my child and for your father's sake you have to do this.

Si-ri cried hysterically reading the letter. "I love you too father. I'll become strong. I'll survive and I'll lead the happy life of your dreams. This is my promise to you".

Min-ho and Nyang consoled Si-ri.

"Don't worry, I am fine. From now on my only focus is to lift my curse and punish that cruel lady who is the reason for this whole annihilation." Si-ri wiped her tears by burying her pain inside.

"Brother, did you see the Tree of Paradise ? How far are we?" Si-ri asked.

"We are quite near sister. You just need to fulfil one more wish and then the tree will bloom with blue flowers," answered Nyang.

"We don't have much time. The coming full moon day would be the last full moon to put an end to all this ruckus. Go and bring me those wish bottles," said Si-ri. Soon both the men walked away to the forest.

"Get ready Mi-sook, your end is here," she mumbled in her thoughts.

No doubt the death of her father left her traumatised but at the same time it made her strong somewhere. Si-ri is acquainted that her father spent his whole life looking for the solution to lift the curse, so that she could live a happy life like others. Hence, living in doldrums won't do any justice to his anguished journey. Therefore, she pledged to not to become weak in his absence.

Still, it will take some time to heal herself from the bitter truth that hit her like a hurricane, shattering her into numerous pieces. Till then, she wants to be silent, silent as night.