Thief of Joseon:Trench Queen.

Chapter 1: The villa night. Rain poured down, drumming against the roof. Inside, Geumja stood shrouded in the shadows her face hidden.Geumja's hand , adorned with a black beaded bracelet, holds a gudugae (a smoking pipe)she takes a slow drag . only her lips were visible, pursed as she exhales smoke. Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside. A group of rough-looking gang members burst in. One of them, a lady assistant went inside the villa, bowed deeply. " Leader, we have brought the captive. " Geumja's calm eyes gazed out the window watching the rain. "Is he with an offering?" Geumja asked, her voice calm and steady. "Yes, leader," the lady assistant replied. A hint of a smile played on Geumja's lips. "Let's go have it." With that, Geumja turned, her movements fluid and commanding. As she reach outside the gang members bowed to show their respects and proclaimed in unison 'Leader!'" The gang members parted, revealing a figure bound and gagged. Geumja's eyes looked onto the captive,her expression unreadable. Geumja walked closer to the captive, her eyes piercing. "I didn't think my message would reach you," the man stammered. Geumja smiled,one side of her mouth curving up. "The silver you offered caught my attention. You must have trusted servants that smuggled it out of the capital. " The man nodded cautiously "they are loyal only to me." Geumja chuckled,her voice low. "Yet, they exposed your r**e charges. "Was it a servant!" The man trembled his eyes wide. I-I thought...." he stammered, fear choking his words. Geumja's expression turned cold. "You thought you could fool me!" The man knelt, pleading."Mercy ,please!" Geumja's voice remained calm, but anger simmered beneath. "My motto is simple:the more the crimes, the higher the price. To be part of Hyeolmok-maeul (Frozen hell village) ,you have to pay accordingly. " She held up the silver, her gaze piercing. "Get me more of this.Now" The man nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face. "I will sent a word immediately." Scene:The Crown prince's chambers,late morning. The warm sunlight streaming through the ornate windows highlighted the chaotic scene within. Toys and trinkets scattered across the floor, a testament to the occupants youthful indulgences. Crown prince Mokha, a handsome but petulant with a childish personality young man spoiled and pampered, lay sprawled across his bed, fast asleep. Advisor Shin, clad in green robes, stood beside the bed, frustration etched on his face. He gently shook the Crown prince's shoulder. " Your Highness, it is time to rise. Your studies await." The Crown prince groggily opened his eyes, then promptly closed them, burying his face in the pillow. " Five more minutes, advisor Shin......just five more...." Shin's expression turned stern ." We have already delayed twice, your highness. The officials await your presence. " Crown prince Mokha walk through the halls as a group of royal attendants or servants followed behind eagerly. Crown prince Mokha was like a ray of sunshine, So innocent and kind regardless of his personality disorder of behaving like a child when he is an adult , the subjects really adored him. Some would mock him , making him look like he is not suitable to be the Crown prince but he did not care as everyday meant everything to him. "Advisor Shin today is indeed a beautiful day," he smiled brightly breathing in the morning scent. "Yes your highness," advisor Shin answered respectfully. " Advisor Shin," the Crown prince halt so did the attendants. "Yes your highness!" advisor Shin lowered his head. "Where is Hwan-gi?" he asked looking at advisor Shin curiously with wide eyes. Advisor Shin felt cornered by the question, " have you already forgotten Your Highness. " "Forgotten what!" Crown prince Mokha was clueless. "You gave him an order not to come today," he explained anxiously. "why would i do that?" "Hwan, is my bodyguard so he should be by my side always." Crown prince Mokha was still clueless. "Bodyguard Hwan-gi made a suggestion on Lady Ae-ri and you sent him away." He explained uncomfortably. "Well, I never knew Hwan would definitely follow that order since he entitled to his duty!" He made an assumption childishy. "Following your order is also his duty, that's why he did, Your Highness," Advisor Shin explained cautiously. "I see, I guess I was not wise about it!" he said as he see how childish he was about it. In seeing the concert in Crown prince Mokha's eyes, "I guess you miss him already, I'm sure he will be here soon ." he said comforting him. " who said I miss him," he tried to hide it." Now that you mentioned Ae-ri's name, I can not wait to pay he a secret visit again. I already miss her beautiful face." He was blushing with love. "Your Highness, you can not keep on going to these secret missions, your safety is paramount," he explained worryingly and in a low voice looking out for people who might here and spread rumours . "Ae-ri is the reason why Im always happy, you can not stop me from seeing her. I will give her some of my new toys." " Your Highness, I don't think.....," he couldn't finish the Crown prince was already ahead. "Your Highness," he whispers as he follows behind. The officials were waiting eagerly for the Crown prince and Lord Kim who was the Chief state councillor, with influence and power of them all,was annoyed by Crown prince Mokha's lackings. The royal study Hall,Palace of Joseon. (Upon the arrival of Crown prince Mokha, the officials bowed to pay their respects to the Crown prince. Crown prince Mokha sits nervously,surrounded by high ranking officials, the room filled with tension. ) Chief state councillor Kim (smirking) "Let us begin Your Highness. Today's examinations will test your understanding of cofucian classics." Crown prince Mokha ( fidgeting) "I-I'm ready. " Minister Lee (sternly) "Recite the opening verse of the Analects." Crown prince Mokha (stammering) "umm.....(pauses) Ah......" Chief state councillor Kim (raising an eyebow) "Your Highness time is not on our side. " Crown prince Mokha (nervously ) (incorrectly recites the verse ) ( The officials exchanged disappointing glances) Minister park (disappointed) "That's incorrect,Your highness." Chief state councillor Kim (leaning forward,voice dripping with disdain) "It seems Your Highness's studies have been lacking. " Crown prince Mokha (defensively) "I did study!But....(pauses) I forgot. " Chief state councillor Kim (skeptical) "Forgot ?or never learned?" (Crown prince Mokha's face flushes with embarassment.) Minister Lee (Firmly) "We may proceed with the next question. " (The examination continues,with Crown prince Mokha struggling to answer correctly Chief state councillor Kim's expression grows increasingly displeased. ) Chief state councillorKim (To himself) 'This child will bring ruin to the Kingdom. ' ( As the test ended, crown prince Mokha hastily rises from his seat, eager to escape the humiliating examination. As he turns to leave,a toy called a yoyo slips from his royal robe sleeve and rolls across the floor,coming to rest at Chief state councillor Kim Minister Lee (stunned) " what..... is this?" Chief state councillor Kim (embarassed) "silence!" (The officials exchanged disbelieving glances. Crown prince Mokha's face flushes with embarassment .) Crown prince Mokha (nervously) "it....It's just a toy. " Chief state councillor Kim (disapproving) "A toy?In the royal studying hall?" (The servants were looking at each other stunned at the event.Advisor Shin was very worried looking wishing there was something he could do to save the situation. ) Minister park ( whispering) "This is unacceptable." Chief state councillor Kim (sternly) "Your Highness , your lack of focus is alarming. It will raise questions,you need to focus, Your Highness. " He bowed . Crown prince Mokha ( defeated) " pardon me." (The Crown prince left the royal studying hall as he walks fast to leave their sight. He halts) " Adivisor Shin, the officials are very disappointed in me, why am I like this?" he asked innocently. Advisor Shin ( comforting the Crown prince) "There is nothing wrong with you Your Highness, You just need to focus a little and they will see what you are capable of." " Advisor Shin, you are like an uncle I never had," ( he pausese) Advisor Shin was very touched by his words, he bowed respectfully." Your Highness I'm just a mere servant bound to serve you, I can not be compared so high to be your uncle. " he added wisely. (Crown prince Mokha smiled) , " You are more than just a servant, advisor Kim." Advisor Kim kept his head down wailing up with tears in his eyes " Ah , that reminds me, I need to see my Ae-ri," The Crown prince smilled brightly as he hops up and down walking with love joy. Advisor Shin stunned, and immediately worried " Your Highness!" as he follows behind quickly. Hyeolmok-maeul,Geumja's villa. The atmosphere was covered in smoke as she exhales the smoke from the gudugae(smoking pipe).She felt drifted away as she enjoys the pleasure in smoking. "Leader," the assistant lady bowed to show her respect. Geumja calmly turned her gaze to her. "The other silver you requested has arrived," "Then, we should give our new resident of Hyeolmok-maeul a befitting welcoming gift. " Geumja rose from her seat. "He should get familiar with the people of Hyeolmok-maeul, The captive is now one of us." Geumja gaze at the open window, smoking her gudugae( smoking pipe). "Naohmi, strangely enough i have been wishing for a change. " ( The lady assistant's name was Naohmi.) (Naohmi, wondered as she looks at Geumja who is still gazing at the window.) "Leader, they say change is constant." her answer befitting for Geumja. Geumja ( one sided grin) " It is, isn't it!" she agreed with Naohmi. "The silver they offer is not enough, I guess the change i need is more silver. " Geumja made selfish remark, her eyes so cold as she grinned looking out the window. "Now Naohmi, let's go and give a warm welcome to our new inhabitant( referring to the captive who was a criminal ,who gave her silver seeking refuge from her. ) With that, Geumja left the villa swift as a shadow, Naohmi following behind.