The Royal Family had already settled at their thrones. It was the time when Yuhan would say some words and execution process would start.
"Three times," King Yuhan began, his tone echoing through the speaker, "three times our kingdom has bled through the hands of those who honour hatred."
The whole kingdom watching stirred, listening to their saviour's words.
"Three times, and within a single month. And, with each, we buried not only our beloveds but also the pieces of us... fragments of our hearts, our unity, our faith."
The whole time, the look on the man's face was the same. Instead of being guilty or scared he looked furious and disgust. He was disgusted by the Royal Family.
"Today," he said quietly, "we stand not in celebration of vengeance, but in remembrance of justice."
"You," Yuhan turned to the man, "have taken what can never be returned. You painted our kingdom in red, and left the cries and ruins of their homes."
It was hard for to keep his mouth shut, not utter a single word that could reveal the truth. He was not afraid of losing his life. He was going to die in both situations. The only thing that kept him silent was his family. If he dared to even raise his finger against them, he knew they won't leave him alone or his family.
"You destroyed everything for fun. Just for moments of joy, you forgot humanity. You chose cruelty over your humanity. Now, what happened at the end?"
He didn't cared what the King Yuhan was saying or how the public praised him. The moment that was about to come after he ended his speech, scared him.
"Did you get your full enjoyment by crushing others? You might have! But, that's where it ends."
The moment when death would face him was not far away. He bit his trembling lips, clenching his hands into fist. He was panicking.
The eyes of the public that glared, their swears and threats, the sound of drumbeats and camera flashes, and the words of King Yuhan.
"By the law of Alaezuma," Yuhan declared, voice firm and filled with resolute, "and in the names of those who were wronged by the cruelty of this man, I, Kang Yuhan, The King of Alaezuma, pronounce the final judgement."
All of it was suffocating for him. He wanted to run away and disappear. Disappear into the abyss. Escape from everything... everything that was sharpening the knife at his throat.
"For crimes of terror, and bloodshed at the Royal Palace, the district of Blackthorn and abduction of the son of the Commander of Royal Army, you are sentenced to death by hanging."
The drumbeats become aggressive as the public shouted thanks for the king. They thanked him, screaming words of gratitude of having a ruler like him.
"Proceed." Yuhan signalled to began the process and settled back on his throne. He glanced at his wife who smiled noticing his anxiety. She took his hand into hers, caressing it slightly, comforting him.
The man's eyes went wide as he was dragged by the officers to the wooden platform. They made him stand at the wooden stool and tightened the rope around his neck.
Jung Minseok's breath hitched as he tried to struggle to free himself from their grasp. No... No... p-please.
"I-I..." The man tried to say something. "N-no... I didn-" He couldn't say anything further when his eyes landed on them.
His mother and wife, they were present too. But, what he saw on their faces shattered his courage to defend himself. They were holding such hatred for him that it took everything in him to lower his eyes.
Minseok wanted to cry. Even his family was among those cursing at him. He closed his eyes not letting any tear fell from his eyes.
When the officers were done tying the knot, checking one last time if it was tight enough. They moved to the handle waiting for the last signal.
It was the moment his life would end. It was meaningless. His every effort for his family was meaningless. To think just for their better life he sacrificed himself. He took the blame of the things he had never done.
He was not a terrorist. He was not a murderer. He was not the one who spread the cruelty in the kingdom. But, still he was the one being punished. Punished for making efforts to make his life better. Punished for doing everything to bring a smile on his family. Punished for trying to make his condition liveable.
Minseok finally understood, life had its favourites. There were always the chosen ones, effortlessly basking in comfort and luxury, never needing to lift a finger to have the world bend in their favour. And then there were the others — the forgotten, the unchosen — who spent their entire lives striving to make things better, only to have their efforts swallowed by silence. No matter how hard they tried, life never looked their way.
"The execution process for the terrorist Jung Minseok proceeds." The voice from the speaker sounded.
On the instructions, officers pulled the handle. The rope began to pulled upward. His breath hitched. Minseok's feet touching the wooden stool began to move up ward.
When his toes were barely touching the stool, one of the officer came kick the stool away. Minseok struggled to breathe.
His face was turning blue and pale. His eyes were about to come out of his socket. He grasped the rope around his neck to make space for the air, but the rope only scratched against his skin.
His vision started to blur as tears were falling from his eyes. His lungs burnt for air. When the darkness was finally consuming he one last looked at his family, smiling. I'm sorry... for not being the one chosen one.
His movements become slow before his body went limp, hanging lifelessly on the platform.
The people cried and screamed their happiness. The whole Royal Palace was erupted in slogans of 'Long live King Kang Yuhan.' 'The Great KingYuhan.'
Hawoon clutched on his table tightly. He couldn't watch it anymore but forced himself. He needed to remember the sight. It was to punish himself.
He needed to watch it to always reminded of what he had done. He had took a some innocent's life. Even if he regret it, but, it was too late now. He could not change what is already done.
But he can change the future. He vowed to bring justice to Minseok and others who lost their lives unjustly. Your sacrifice will always be remembered in my heart. And... I'm sorry.