The Hunt ✓

👑36| Third death

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"His knowledge about Ji Min means he might know something about what happened in the palace years back. I wonder who he is."

Woo Hyun nods in agreement with him and raises a scroll in his hands. He couldn't seem to concentrate on the matters of the nation with just the mere thought about this guy.

"Find out about all the children from the palace fifteen years ago, ministers children and maids inclusive."

Moon Bin returns a sharp nod and glances at the documents over his table.

"Do you need help with those?" He asks while crossing his hands behind his back. Woo Hyun quickly lifts his head with a smile and points to a seat opposite him.

With his eyes lighting up, he takes a seat closer to him and picks up one of the documents. Woo Hyun passes over two documents he was looking through before he left.

"Those relate to the security posts all over the palace. I need you to work with Yoo Min on that."

He shrugs off the rescinding thoughts while looking through the reports from the Noron and Soron faction. His concentration is disturbed by a voice at the door.

"Your Majesty!" He orders him to enter with his lowered eyes before rolling the scroll into its original state.

"Ji Min has installed high security at the dungeon. I couldn't find out the identity of that man. What I found out is that he visits him frequently and calls him Joon Jae." He gives a quiet nod and allows him to leave.

"Joon Jae? Who's that?" Moon Bin exclaims with his eyebrows furrowed. Turning away from the documents, his fingers loosen and drop one of the scrolls on the table.

Far from his chambers is a dark old building reeking of blood and dirt exposed. The cells are virtually empty with the exception of one. In it lies an old man clutching to his body at the far corner, looking dirty. His gray beard looks unkept and very long without shave.

He gets up slowly and holds on to the bars for support. Under his dim and low voice, he manages to mutter a few words which he directs at a guard standing by his cell.

"Please. I-I want water." The guard looks around with his shaking eyes and ignores his plea.

"Please." He cries while screeching his hands over the bars as he lands on the floor coughing.

The guard gazes over the place before marching out and comes back. Standing beside him with a mug of water, he lowers it through a hole and gets up immediately the other guards look his way.

The man reaches out for the water with his wobbly hand. He drinks the water quickly and grasps for breath on between each gulp.

"I'm sorry. Your Majesty!" The guard says in a low tone while holding back his desire to help him escape.

The old man smiles at him after putting the mug down.

"Dong Goo-I understand why you're obeying his orders. But please tell me, is my daughter still alive?"

He looks at him sadly and bows his head cluelessly.

"I don't know about that, but I don't think she's still alive." He folds his lips with his face pale as harmattan. With a heavy heart, he turns around and walks slowly back to his seat.

I smile to my inner self with my eyes reaching out for my diary. It is an old book I found in mom's house when I was five. I had boldly enshrined my name at the cover then. There are a few paint brushes in a container lying in the cupboard.