The Hunt ✓

👑42| Mockery

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"You? You're just like us! Don't dream big okay?" Minister Kim starts to laugh thinking about what he had just said.

Minister Baek does the opposite hearing their mocking tone. To relief himself of their mockery, he lets out a scoff as he moves to stand by the window. The murmurs amongst the ministers silences when they hear footsteps coming from the entrance.

Knowing very well who is approaching, they step back into their positions quickly and look over the door in his expectance. In a few minutes, the Crown Prince steps in in his royal red hanbok touching the floor. His head is covered with a black hat with a beaded line dangling over his face.

Entering from the main quarters, he flaunts his sleeves while he walks to the centre staring to make sure that all the ministers are present in the room. They all look up when he stops at the end of the room opposite them. With reverence, they bow rattling simultaneously.

"Your Majesty!" they exclaim after bowing their heads together. He walks to the upper front and takes a seat by the throne room. The table is long enough to contain a number of seats beside it. Only he sits at the edge facing the whole ministers with a long face.

They look at him from both sides waiting for him to talk. Silence lurks through the room as they patiently wait for him to proceed with the talking.

"Your Majesty. Children are dying in the town. There's also a book written by an anonymous person. It describes the event that took place here years ago."

He nods quietly silencing the whole crowd with his raised hand. "You all have to calm down. I'm doing everything in my power to bring these problems to a halt-", he starts but Minister Kim interrupts him at his mid sentence.

"We know Your Majesty. But it's becoming serious. We need to do something quickly. As soon as possible!"

The other ministers nod in agreement to his request. From the end they nod following each other's example till it gets to the last person sitting beside him.

They exchange affirmative nods before glancing silently at the expression on the Crown Prince. His mere gaze makes their lips seal immediately exchanging quiet glares.

"Then what do you suggest we do? I'm listening?" he asks while looking at him. Minister Kim rolls his eyes fidgeting on what to say. At this point he realizes that he has no ideas to present to the other ministers. Unable to contain their curious looks, he turns his head away with a cough.

He remains silent to give him the chance to continue. "–Ji Min said he has nothing to do with the death of the little girl yesterday—meaning there's another vampire around."

Their eyes widen in shock before they begin exchanging looks at each other trembling.

"What?! That's impossible! We're all at risk!" The others shake their heads in doubt while their eyes flicker in fear.

"Another vampire? How is that possible?" Recognizing the same puzzled look he had in his eyes when he heard it hours back, he sighs and pulls out a painting from a book he carried along here.

He passes over the painting in several copies and wait for their thoughts on the issue at hand. Crossing his arms, he overlooks each minister who receives the copy.

On the painting, there's two portraits of the neck of two little girls' neck. Although they both have bite marks on their necks, the design on each is totally different, from taking a good look at it.

"Take a close look at it. It's neither the doing of a wild animal nor is it Ji Min. He usually tackles the lower part of the neck, and not the head."

Waiting for them to look over the portrait to understand what he is saying, he continues to explain further.