Timeless Love || Jinx (Manhwa)

Chapter 23: Reunions

―So... are you ever telling me? Or will I have to wait until we reach your future in-laws' house? ―Hak-Kun asked his cousin, trembling softly as the cold night covered them in the middle of their trip to Hanyang.

―No. ―Jaekyung answered, holding the reins of his horse with both hands as he evaded eye contact with his cousin, who has asked that same question at least fifty times since they left the house.

―'No' as in not telling me or as in until we reach the house? ―he looked at his cousin, receiving silence as an answer. ―Come on! At least the surname!

―If you keep asking, I'll make sure you never reach the city alive.

Hak-Kun groaned softly in his spot, riding his horse for a couple of minutes. They've only been on the road for two hours, meaning the horses, whose pace was slow and steady, could handle the next five needed to arrive at Hanyang. However, he wasn't sure how much of a good idea it was to wander this late, considering the weather conditions and that they still had a long time before reaching the city; it wouldn't be safe. They also had to worry about bandits, the horses freaking out, and the weather once again: they needed to stop.

He opened his mouth a couple of times, but wasn't sure how to even expose that idea to his cousin. Not because he didn't knew what to say, but because whenever he faced him he had a determined look on his face placed onto the horizon, holding tight in his left hand the tube where his proposal letter rested.

―Will you keep opening your mouth over and over or will you talk?

―Jaekyung, we should stop. ―Hak-Kun dared to say, holding his breath.

―Why? The horses can handle this trip. ―The lord looked at his cousin, sort of confused. ―If we keep going all night we'll be there by morning.

―It's not safe. Your proposal isn't going anywhere, we'll be better off if we continue tomorrow after a good night of rest.

―I don't want to stop, I have to keep going. The sooner I marry this person the better.

―Jaekyung, whoever it is, I don't think they're leaving you for one extra day of waiting. I appreciate your determination, but there's no point in putting your life in danger and leaving her as a widow before marriage. ―Hak-Kun looked at his cousin as he ignored him, galloping a little faster to position himself in front of him, blocking the way.

Jaekyung frowned, trying to walk around his cousin, but whenever he moved, the other horse moved with him.―Move or be moved, Hak-Kun.

―Jaekyung, stop now. You haven't rested all day long...

―And I won't until I'm married.

The cousin looked exasperated, about to explode due to the dramatic aspect of Jaekyung at this moment. Why is he so hard-headed? He was about to complain when a couple of hurried gallops were heard near them, making both of them draw their swords instinctively. Was it a bandit? An animal?

Jaekyung felt the blood abandoning his face the second he saw the guard that brought Dan to his house the very first night. He quickly put his sword away, looking at the man in detail. His face was flustered, and his breathing shaky as he tried to reincorporate himself before he delivered the awful news, slowing down the horse as he approached the nobles.

―My lord! It's Kim Dan!

―What happened to him? ―He immediately asked.

'Please, tell me he's sick, tell me he's sick...'