The Girl of an Old Mansion

The land of Noam was a little country bordered between huge forests to the North, woodlands to the South and mountains to the East and West. The country of Noam mainly lived off farming, crafting, and alchemy.

The country's landscape was absolutely stunning. The emerald forests, white sandy beaches and the exuberant aquatic wildlife were just a small part of the grace Noam had to offer. Naturally, this made the country favoured among foreigners.

However, the people of Noam were cold towards foreigners and tended to welcome them with neutrality. They felt that foreigners could harm the country's well-being and prosperity.

Noam was said to be the most beautiful kingdom on the earth. People here were also quite simple, they lived together in harmony. They wake up with the first rays of the sun and start their work in their fields, shops, and at other workplaces.

But like the old saying, 'Nothing lasts forever', Noam's prosperity too, was soon lost.

Noam is deeply suffering, the sun's power has been declining now more than ever, weakening the kingdom. (The sun is a common symbolism for the King.) The neighbouring kingdoms have been targeting Noam, like a hawk hovering over its prey, waiting for the right time to pounce.

Noam was heirless, and this matter had grabbed the attention of other emperors. They wanted to conquer Noam to expand their empire. Many other Emperors had come to Noam's help, but the ambiance of the kingdom was still chaotic.

There was one person who prayed for an end to this misfortune, and for insight on the King's rightful path. He was Lord Yong, the royal astrologer, advisor, and head physician.

Lord Yong was one of the most trustworthy men to the royals. He was not only a great astrologer but also a scholar who showed his loyalty in every step to the royal family. He always prayed for the wellbeing of his King and the people of Noam.

After offering his daily prayer he walked out of the shrine, when he noticed lots of crows cawing over the Queen's chamber.

"Crows are a symbol of bad luck. People call them messengers of evil but spotting lots of ravens at the time is an indication that something worse is yet to come."

"Maybe, even a DEATH," Lord Yong thought.

"Lord Yong, you have been summoned by the Queen," the guard informed. Yong nodded, before leaving to the queen's chamber.

When Lord Yong entered the queen's quarter, he found Queen Iseul in a rather cheerful mood. She slowly lifted her face and approached Yong.

"Lord Yong, I had an odd dream the previous night, and I'm unable to decode the message behind it. I saw myself shivering in fear as a black shadow was chasing me, then in the blink of an eye it entered my belly. Is it an indication that I'll soon be with a baby?" asked the Queen.

She grinned from ear-to-ear, hoping this was a sign that she could finally be pregnant.

Yong's gaze wavered at the mention of a dark shadow, but he remained silent. Being in a state of poise for some time, he finally uttered, "My Lady, let's not rush to any conclusion before getting a proper check-up."

Lord Yong checked the Queen's condition and sadly revealed that she was not bearing a child. The Queen's face fell, while everyone else in the room exchanged uneasy looks.

The entire kingdom speculated on the queen's ability to provide an heir for the throne.

In a gloomy mood, Queen Isuel watched the sunset from her balcony as the cold breeze teased the thin strands of her shoulder-length hair. She had the deepest green eyes with a touch of hazel in them. Her smile was so radiant that it could melt your heart, and when she flashed her pearly white teeth, she would light up an entire room. Her voice was soft as a feather and every bit as beautiful as her glamour. Her blue dress tight enough to show her flawless figure. She was possibly the most beautiful lady in the country.

The thought of not having any heir was a matter of distress for both the King and Queen.

Noam has always been in the eyes of enemies. Several have even tried to conquer Noam but all in vain. But this time, the problem was complex. Along with the Queen none of the other consorts gave birth to any child.

"I can't sit here idly. I have to do something. I am the mother of this nation, and I have to give them an heir," the Queen mumbled in her thoughts.

Her thoughts drift to the shaman who had been exiled from the country for practicing black magic against the royal family. 

It was rumoured that she could do anything using her black magic. Seeing no other way, she immediately ordered her guards to bring the shaman to the palace.

King Eun too was lost in his thoughts of not having any heir.

King Eun was a man of few words, but the two traits his people liked the most about him were his selflessness, and love for his people. Of course, he's also conscientious, warm and determined, but they're tainted by and mixed with habits of being shallow as well.

There were many instances when his people counted on him for his cooperation in times of need. Fortunately, his loving nature is usually there to help mend things when needed.

"I have no hope. I've become a poor King who can't give an heir." The King mumbled in his thoughts.

Shaman's Arrival

The guards placed the palanquin at the entrance of the palace. Shaman slowly made her way towards the palace. With every step, she observed the beautiful architecture of the palace. Her eyes wandered, capturing the splendid sight of the mesmerizing palace. Even though it was not her first time at the palace, she couldn't sway herself from the splendour of the majestic looking palace.

The mighty palace was situated at the hill overlooking the town, its sharp towers piercing the sky, giving it the look of an eccentric crown. Tall, wide windows are scattered generously around the walls in seemingly perfect symmetry, along with huge crenelations for archers and artillery. It was as big as thirty ordinary houses of the town and employed a good number of the townsfolk as servants. Well-kept gardens with fragrant flowers, gorgeous trees and bushes decorated the outside of the castle, and the giant statues of former Kings were lined up outside of the castle gates adding up its beauty along with serving as the reminders of the past. The castle has stood the test of time, and its inhabitants are intent on making sure it stays that way for ages to come.

The sound of the King and his ministers who were in a heated court session, completely died down. They watched in complete silence, as the Shaman walked into the courtroom.  

Mi-Sook continued to walk deeper into the courtroom, the silence erupted into Chaos. The ministers, guards and the King expressed their inner turmoil, and the court resonated with the cacophony of rage.

"How dare you enter the palace? Do you not value your life? You know you will face the consequences of stepping foot here again." The Court people threatened her.

"How dare you disobey a royal command? You were exiled from this kingdom because of your terrible deeds? What brings you here?" King Eun asked Mi-sook furiously.

"I know your Majesty! I had committed a heinous crime, but trust me this time, I won't repeat my mistakes. Pardon me for my crime, your Highness," Mi-sook threw herself on the floor and continued to plead to the King to forgive her.