Sigh... Reminiscence... Sacrifice... The Story of the Seven Princes

Episode 13. The Ending

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

Are you saying that I should send the Crown Prince... as a hostage?

(동제국황태자)윤기

okay.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

Ha... I don't think this is something I can decide on my own.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

I would rather give you the land. How much do you want it?

(동제국황태자)윤기

I have plenty of land, too. It is better for us to capture the Crown Prince. Either send the Crown Prince away or we all die together.

(동제국황태자)윤기

One day. I will give you one day. Bring me an answer by this time tomorrow. Otherwise, the final attack might begin.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

All right.

Shinjeo's camp

Minhyuk spoke up at the gathering of princes.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

This is about the negotiation details... I'd like you to pay attention...

(1왕자) 은광🌞

What's wrong...

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

Fortunately, I didn't avoid the negotiation.

(6왕자) 일훈❔

I guess what I asked for was strange...

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

It's not particularly strange.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

Since they usually take the Crown Prince as a hostage...

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

That is... forming a sibling relationship

(4왕자) 현식💧

That's fine up to that point...

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

Right... but......

(1왕자) 은광🌞

It's okay, tell me.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

They told me to send the Crown Prince as a hostage...

.....

A moment of silence followed.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

This... I don't think this is something I can decide on my own... They said they'd give me until tomorrow. Let's try to come up with another way.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

I'm fine...

(3왕자) 창섭❄

what?

(1왕자) 은광🌞

It's not like I'm going to die.

(6왕자) 일훈❔

That's exactly what I should be saying right now!

(1왕자) 은광🌞

There's no other way.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

If I don't leave like this, we'll all die!

(1왕자) 은광🌞

Only the innocent civilians and soldiers are dying!

(1왕자) 은광🌞

Will I not go and drive everyone to death, or will I go and save everyone?

(1왕자) 은광🌞

If I had to choose between the two, I'd go with the latter!

The princes couldn't help but be surprised, as Eun-gwang had rarely gotten angry or raised his voice even once.

(7왕자) 성재🔥

Hey bro, calm down. We still have time. Let's take our time and think about it.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

I've been thinking for the past two months. Whether there is a way to beat this...

(1왕자) 은광🌞

It just won't come out...

......

(4왕자) 현식💧

Still, just a little more...

(4왕자) 현식💧

Let's think about it a little more.

(3왕자) 창섭❄

Yeah. There's no rush.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

......

(6왕자) 일훈❔

Did you even try offering to give me the land instead?

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

(Nod. I refused.)

(4왕자) 현식💧

Ugh... this is hard...

(1왕자) 은광🌞

......

all

next

The next day

(3왕자) 창섭❄

Oh no, what should I do...

(6왕자) 일훈❔

I've stayed up all night thinking about it, but there's no answer...

(4왕자) 현식💧

I stayed up all night thinking about it, too...

(1왕자) 은광🌞

Yeah. I'm telling you, there's no answer. I'll just go.

(5왕자) 동근👨

......

(1왕자) 은광🌞

It's not like you can't come back after going.

(7왕자) 성재🔥

Still... still....

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

There isn't even an hour left.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

let's go.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

......

(3왕자) 창섭❄

Ah... this isn't working.....

The princes grew anxious, but there was nothing they could do.

A frontal assault was foolishly unwinnable, and

Even so, there wasn't enough time to build anything on the Yellow River plain.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

(Nods.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

Because... I can see you again...

......

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

(Press firmly. Let's go.)

(1왕자) 은광🌞

Okay. Everyone, take care.

At that one word, all the princes burst into tears.

(7왕자) 성재🔥

Yeah. You too, bro....

(1왕자) 은광🌞

See you later.

.

Soldier: Your Highness the Crown Prince. Crown Prince Sinjeo and the Second Prince will have this.

(동제국황태자)윤기

okay.

(동제국황태자)윤기

Have you made a decision?

(동제국황태자)윤기

It looks like it was done.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

I am Eungwang, the Crown Prince of Sinjeo.

(동제국황태자)윤기

Crown Prince Yun Gi-yo of the Eastern Empire.

(동제국황태자)윤기

Is this what you decided in the end?

(1왕자) 은광🌞

(Nod)

(동제국황태자)윤기

Fine. The Second Prince may go. I promise to withdraw by the end of today.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

yes.

Before leaving, Minhyuk met Eungwang's eyes.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

......

(1왕자) 은광🌞

(chuckles)

.

(동제국황태자)윤기

It's touching.

(동제국황태자)윤기

I heard there are as many as seven princes. They must get along well with each other.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

Yes. We get along like friends.

(동제국황태자)윤기

Even so, it will just fall apart later over a succession struggle.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

I heard that the Eastern Empire must hold a succession struggle before the children reach adulthood.

(동제국황태자)윤기

That's right. I'm not the eldest either, but I killed my brother in a fight for succession and rose to this position.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

ah...

(동제국황태자)윤기

We used to be really close, too. We just fell out after the fight for the succession.

(1왕자) 은광🌞

That must be tough for you.

(동제국황태자)윤기

Not really

(1왕자) 은광🌞

Still, it’s so hard not having anyone by your side when you’re having a hard time.

(동제국황태자)윤기

Maybe I've gotten used to it... I guess I should get going.

(동제국황태자)윤기

Withdraw all troops to the home country!

.

Shinjeo camp

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

......

Minhyuk, having returned alone, looked as if he had lost his mind.

The same was true for all five of the remaining people.

(3왕자) 창섭❄

Ah. The Eastern Empire is withdrawing.

(2왕자) 민혁🌑

We are also returning to the capital.

.

Everyone ㅠㅠ

I'm so sorry. I don't plan the story on the spot.

Inevitably for the sake of story progression...

I have to let Eungwang go ㅠㅠㅠ

This is a bit of a spoiler. (If you don't want to, it's okay to leave here.)

The first prince... eventually returns to Shinjeo.

Thank you for reading today as well.

Sincerely, Author Gaul