41 THE GENERAL PART V (2/2)

”Your Majesty, we still have not decided what…” the Prime Minister has not finishes his sentence as the 'King' snaps, ”LEAVE!”

The Ministers are hesitant and look at each other. They leave the hall and the Palace Guards close the main door.

”Your Majesty, please strip their titles and expel them from this Nation. Please make a wise judgement, Your Majesty!” I could hear the Ministers say these words repeatedly from outside the hall.

The 'King' looks worn-out, ”How did we come to this?” The 'King' asks in a low voice.

”My King, I admitted that I was baffled when I first heard of this accusation. They said that I want my five year old son to become a King and that General Sun is my lover and willing to help me to…” she pauses and looks down. ”Kill you. Where will I get the courage to kill the King of this Nation and on top of that, My Husband? All of this totally absurd! I can't believe that they could go as far as to create false proofs to turn us into traitors!” She stands up and looks directly at the 'King'.

”My King, I am not asking this for myself but you should know how loyal General Sun is to you. He has served the King before and now he serves you. If he has treasonous mind, he would have been a traitor long ago, why wait until now?” The 'Queen' defends the General.

I feel like she's not me at all. All the words she said and her feelings she portrayed feel so unfamiliar and distant. I doubt that we are the same person and I'm just watching a stage play.

The 'King' doesn't say a word but looks at the General with a wary expression.

The General looks hurt by the King's expression and he succumbs to his fate. He grips his sword tightly and says to the 'King', ”My King, my life is yours.” Then he stabs his left chest with his sword right through his heart.

As he says his final words, bloods dripping from his mouth, ”Betraying you will never be my choice but having to lose your trust makes my existence no longer valuable in this world.” He drops to the floor.

The 'King' runs to his side and shouts, ”Call the physician!” He pulls the General to his lap and wipes his bloodied face. ”I'm sorry to have doubted you. I trust you. I trust you.” He says repeatedly.

The General smiles when he hears the words but the pain takes over and he winches while saying, ”Thank you. Say to them that you kill me, Your Majesty. Tell them that I admitted my fault and the Queen is not involved in this,” then he closes his eyes and breathed his last breath.

”No!” The 'King' hugs the lifeless body and tears stream down his face.

The 'King' stays there for a few minutes and the 'Queen' comes to him, ”My King,” she puts her hand on his face, wipes out the marks of tears off his face. She pulls him to his feet and straightens his robe.

”Go,” she says.

The 'King' pulls the sword from the General's body slowly and heads to the door.

”Open the door.”