* * *
His breath rose all the way to his chin. According to Hyunseo, “fearful and timid beyond compare” Doha was running northward without looking back.
‘I suppose he’s following on his own?’
Though concerned about Hyunseo whom he had left behind, he soon shook his head. Considering that strength that had tormented him last night, dealing with assassins would probably be nothing.
Moreover, a Yangin’s strength after going through Pleasure Period was extraordinary. What mattered now was meeting him safely again. Gritting his teeth, Doha quickly cut through the underbrush.
As Doha ran, exhaling rough breaths, he heard a presence near his ear. It was a faint sound, like leaves rustling, but Doha keenly detected it. Immediately, he ducked his head and lowered his body.
‘It’s coming from the front.’
Regulating his breath to make no sound, he carefully stepped to avoid rustling leaves and slowly hid behind a tree trunk.
Is it an assassin ahead, or one of the guards who came to rescue me?
Doha thought as he surveyed the inner forest with wary eyes. If it were the assassin who had attacked the lake, they would have ambushed him from behind. Then it was likely the royal guards. But it was suspicious that he sensed only one person.
‘Or could it be…’
Doha’s thoughts naturally drifted to Dojin. Had he come looking for him as promised to protect him? As Doha recalled Dojin’s face, silently applying ointment for him, he rose from his spot.
And approached the front where the presence was felt. The owner of the presence seemed to have no intention of hiding, continuously making noise. Leaves and branches crackled from the front.
A large tree stood between them. Just past this tree. Doha swallowed hard. Soon, he took a step.
It was then that a hand emerging from behind the tree caught him as he walked quietly like a cat. Before he could cry out, Doha’s body headed toward the ground.
* * *
It was Court Official Park, who had come to deliver news about Seowoo, who stopped Dojin’s sword. Having run so hard his hat fell off, he opened the door to the royal audience hall and shouted loudly.
“The Noble Consort has awakened!”
Dojin’s head whipped around. The Noble Consort might know about Doha and Hyunseo. After all, he was the one who had been with them until the end.
Dojin’s blade, which had been pointed at the Chief State Councilor, lowered to the floor. At Dojin’s movement, the ministers in the royal audience hall exhaled in relief.
“Where is the Noble Consort?”
“He is at Gyopung Palace! He has just awakened…!”
Before the words were finished, Dojin dashed out of the royal audience hall. His steps were so quick that Court Official Park couldn’t even follow.
Court Official Park stood blankly at the door, looking at the mess in the hall.
“What is all this…”
The royal audience hall, where state affairs were discussed, was filled with private soldiers summoned by the Chief State Councilor, while Lord Kim and Kim Jipyung were engaged in a staring contest with the Chief State Councilor.
Court Official Park’s gaze stopped at the floor, covered with the footprints of soldiers and Ungeom. When would this be cleaned up?
It had been just one day since His Majesty and Flower Bin Mama had disappeared. Already the palace was becoming a mess. Court Official Park quietly sighed.
Lord Kim, who had been observing the situation, leaned toward Jeonghyeon.
“Jeonghyeon.”
At Lord Kim’s voice, Jeonghyeon also tilted his head slightly. He still hadn’t taken his eyes off the Chief State Councilor.
“I’m going to the hunting grounds. I’ll leave your mother and the Chief State Councilor to you.”
“Will you be alright going alone?”
“Even if I’m not, how can I just stay still? You just protect your mother well.”
Silently, Jeonghyeon nodded. Watching the Chief State Councilor who was talking with other ministers, Lord Kim slowly backed away.
“I leave the rear to you, Court Official Park.”
Court Official Park, who had already drawn a conclusion from the fact that the royal audience hall was filled with soldiers, nodded.
“Don’t worry about here and go.”
Even the Chief State Councilor couldn’t arbitrarily deal with the king’s court official. If it became known that he not only brought soldiers into the royal audience hall but also killed a court official, he could lose public trust even if he later occupied the palace.
Moreover, the conversation with His Majesty before the hunting competition began was troubling Court Official Park.
<If something happens to me, prioritize Lord Kim over the Chief State Councilor.>
<Your Majesty! What do you mean by ‘something happens’!>
Hyunseo smiled at the alarmed Court Official Park as if it were nothing.
<I said ‘if’, just ‘if’.>
Had His Majesty anticipated all of this? Court Official Park bit his lip. Eventually, gathering his resolve, he slowly crossed past Jeonghyeon toward the Chief State Councilor.
“My Lord.”
The Chief State Councilor, who had been discussing with ministers what testimony to extract from Seowoo, raised his head at the court official’s voice.
“Oh, isn’t it Court Official Park.”
Though Court Official Park always boiled dumplings to offer to Doha, he had spent some twenty years in the palace. He faced the Chief State Councilor with a hardened expression.
“My Lord, to bring private soldiers into the royal audience hall…”
“Court Official Park, it’s not that—”
“Well done.”
The Chief State Councilor’s head tilted at the unexpected words. It was the opposite of criticism. Soon, a smile bloomed on the previously confused face of the Chief State Councilor.
‘Ah, already trying to pick sides.’
What a cunning one. No wonder he’s been sitting in the court official position for so long. Having reached this conclusion, the Chief State Councilor smiled while stroking his beard.
“I didn’t know Court Official Park and I would be so like-minded. If my plan succeeds, Court Official Park will also have a position…”
“You brought the soldiers to find His Majesty and Flower Bin Mama, didn’t you?”
Court Official Park, interrupting the Chief State Councilor, looked at the ministers. As if saying he wouldn’t forget, he met the eyes of each minister standing in the back one by one as he spoke.
“Indeed, you are the Chief State Councilor. To gather even private soldiers for His Majesty like this.”
The ministers who received his gaze flinched their shoulders. Having finally surveyed all the ministers, Court Official Park looked up at the Chief State Councilor again.
“When His Majesty returns, I’ll be sure to inform him of your sincerity.”
He smiled faintly. It was a threat disguised as praise. Ministers on Lord Kim’s side, who detected Court Official Park’s true intention, nodded and concurred.
“Ah, as expected of the Chief State Councilor.”
“To bring even private soldiers, how admirable.”
Pretending not to know about the threats made against Lord Kim, the ministers added their voices one by one. At the ministers’ words, the Chief State Councilor glared at Court Official Park.
Grinding his teeth, he eventually gave orders to his soldiers.
“You all immediately go to the hunting grounds and find His Majesty and Flower Bin Mama.”
“What? My Lord, the original plan was…”
“Silence! When an order is given, you follow it. Why so many words!”
The Chief State Councilor, who had silenced the soldier to prevent unnecessary talk, clicked his tongue. Glaring at Court Official Park who had interfered with him and Jeonghyeon standing behind him, he calculated.
‘If necessary, just kill them on sight.’
Then it wouldn’t matter whether they found them or not. The Chief State Councilor stood at the head of his soldiers. With a sullen face, he struck Jeonghyeon’s shoulder as he left the royal audience hall.
‘The young brat takes after his father, putting on airs.’
With his plump belly forward, he exited the royal audience hall. The ministers on both the Chief State Councilor’s side and Lord Kim’s side, who had been watching cautiously, dispersed to their respective places.
Only then did Court Official Park catch his breath and address Jeonghyeon.
“Kim Jipyung, are you alright!”
“I’m fine, but my mother is being transported here.”
The person who usually went around laughing was expressionless today. That calm face strangely emanated pressure. Even Court Official Park, who always spoke warmly, asked Jeonghyeon with formality.
“How is Flower Bin Mama’s mother being brought to the palace?”
“The Chief State Councilor captured mother while suspecting my youngest brother. He probably wanted to take a hostage.”
Jeonghyeon turned his head to look outside the royal audience hall. The palace, now empty of all ministers, was quiet. It was an eerie silence, like before a storm.
Holding the sword at his waist, Jeonghyeon continued.
“I will search inside the palace. Court Official, please inquire among the palace people.”
“Yes, I will certainly find them.”
Exchanging glances, Jeonghyeon and Court Official Park crossed the royal audience hall. Jeonghyeon headed outside the hall, while Court Official Park went toward the living quarters to the north of the hall.
A resolute determination was inscribed on both their faces.
* * *
Two hands suddenly protruded from behind the tree trunk. As they caught Doha’s body, he tilted unsteadily.
As his body headed toward the ground, Doha shouted and flailed his arms.
‘I’m falling!’
Doha tightly closed his eyes, bracing for the impact. However, no matter how long he waited, he felt no pain. Only a familiar scent surrounded him.
When Doha cautiously opened his eyes a crack, he saw Hyunseo holding his waist and smiling. Somehow he had fully dressed himself, and in perfect military attire. He pushed Doha’s hair back and said,
“Was I late?”
Contrary to his affectionate voice, blood droplets were splattered on his face.
“Our Flower Bin is good at running too. I’ll have to hold you tight so you don’t run away.”
As he smiled with eyes curved, the blood droplets on his cheek streamed down. Doha frowned at the horrible sight.
There was something chilling about seeing blood splattered on his handsome face. Unconcerned, Hyunseo looked down at him, making Doha’s Adam’s apple bob.
His eyes were coldly settled, perhaps still filled with the excitement of battle. The scent seeping out was also exceptionally sharp.
Before the blood flowed down his neck, Doha hurriedly raised his right hand. Then, wiping away the blood drops with the back of his hand, he asked,
“How did you get here so quickly? What about the assassins?”
“I caught half and missed half. So we can’t go back to the lake.”
Without blinking once, Hyunseo lied and pointed ahead.
“If we go further north, there’s another rest area. Everyone will check there first when they come north, so it’s better to go there.”
“We won’t be attacked by assassins on the way, right?”
“They probably don’t know this path well, so it’s fine. You run so well yet worry so much.”
“That’s the problem.”
Doha, smiling awkwardly, looked at Hyunseo. Then he gestured with his eyes toward his ankle.
“I think I twisted my ankle when I fell.”
Looking down, his ankle was already swollen. Doha and Hyunseo made eye contact over the ankle, which was starting to turn purple. So you should have taken it easy. Doha glared at Hyunseo with reproachful eyes.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
