The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 11 -

Yeseul waited in front of the Hwarang House. She had heard that they would have a break today. Maybe she would be able to talk to Yeowool for a bit. She wasn't sure what she would talk about with him, but she wanted to at least say 'hello'. What she had heard was right, the doors of the Hwarang House opened and the Hwarang in their purple robes left the facility. Yeseul spotted Yeowool coming down the stairs, as usual with a fan in his hand. She watched as he lay his arms around Banryu's and Suho's shoulders. After a short chat first Banryu and then Suho left him standing alone. Then their eyes met. Yeowool smiled happily as he came towards her.

»I just got dumped by two men in a row. I'm heartbroken. I need comfort«, he announced sulking. Yeseul laughed.

»Who? Mister Banryu and Mister Suho?«

»Yes. They don't want to go to Okta with me«, he whined, »Let's go somewhere else.«

A short while later the two of them were on their way to the forest. Yeowool had changed out of his Hwarang robe into a black hanbok with dark blue and grey accents at the collar and sleeves. Yeseul wore the dark blue hanbok she normally wore for archery and which wasn't at all wide so that she was able to move better as they didn't plan to stay on the roads. So, they left the road and started wandering through the woods.

»Did you hear about the rumour?«, Yeowool asked.

»Which one?«

»That the king is among the Hwarang.«

»The king?« Yeseul hadn't heard of that rumour yet.

»Yes. The two candidates that would fit are Jidwi and Seonu as we don't know much about them. But the Hwarang believe it's Seonu. They even already treat him like the king, being much more careful around him suddenly«, Yeowool explained.

»And what do you think?« They bend down to get past a low hanging branch.

»Be careful don't hit your head«, Yeseul warned and put her hand between the branch and his head.

»Thank you«, he thanked and then continued, »I also think it could be Seonu as everyone suddenly abandoned the idea of it being Jidwi.«

»What does Mister Seonu say about that?«

»He doesn't want to deny or confirm it, so I guess we have to wait until the Queen reveals the king.« The two reached a big tree trunk that lay over a little brook. Yeowool climbed up and held his hand down. Yeseul took his hand and let him help her onto the tree trunk. She couldn't help but feel happy about holding his hand again.

She nodded. »I'm curious when we'll get to know the king.« They balanced their way over the brook. Continuing to hold hands.

»But then again it's obvious that Princess Sookmyung likes Seonu.«, Yeowool said pensive.

»What do you mean?«

Yeowool stopped and turned around to her and smiled. »The way she looks at him. It's clear were her heart lies.«

»Ah.« Yeseul nodded knowingly. He turned around again. At the end of the tree trunk, he let go of her hand and jumped off. Yeseul got to him and wanted to take his hand again but suddenly slipped off the log. She didn't even had time to scream. Yeowool caught her and carefully lifted her in his arms. She let out a deep breath of relief as they locked eyes. For a moment they just looked into each other's eyes. Time seemed to slow down for a moment. Those calm and joyous brown eyes she had last seen up close in the storage of the Hwarang House. Her heart fluttered.

Yeowool slowly let her feet meet the ground but still held her close to him, his hands still on her back keeping her close to himself.

»Are you alright?«, he asked calm, not breaking the eye contact. Yeseul nodded slowly.

»Yes«, she answered slowly as if in trance, »Are you alright?«

»Yes.«

Even though she liked being close to Yeowool and didn't want this moment to end, she suddenly panicked and took a step to the side.

»Thank you«, she said and then continued their way, »Anyway. You got dumped by Banryu and Suho, where is Hanseong?« Yeowool got next to her again.

»He was the very first one to dump my today in the morning. He stayed behind in the Hwarang House. He said his foot hurts and wants to get it checked by Aro«, he explained.

»I hope he isn't hurt badly.« Yeseul was concerned about the young Hwarang. He shouldn't be hurt.

»I don't think so. I think he pretends so he doesn't have to train with his brother Dansae.«

»Why?«

»Hanseong doesn't like fighting.«

»But he is a Hwarang.«

»Do you know about his family?«

»A little bit. Suk family, right? They lost status, right?«

»Yes, Hanseong is the last True Bone of their family. Dansae is a half-breed. That's why his grandfather put a lot of pressure on him. In Hanseong he sees his last chance in saving the families status.« They supported each other as they went down a hill that lead them back on a path near the city.

»Oh, that sounds like a lot, being the last one.«

»You know how dreamy he is. He doesn't enjoy sword fighting, not as much as other things.«

Yeowool and Yeseul ended their walk on the marketplace. Many people were wandering around looking at the different vendors. It was a nice late afternoon and Yeseul was happy about the time she had spent with Yeowool. They had laughed and joked a lot as if they already knew each other since childhood. She was overwhelmed by the joy he brought to her every time they met.

»See you soon«, he bid goodbye. Yeseul looked up to him and smiled. He smiled back and lightly hugged her from the side. Yeseul returned the hug.

»See you soon«, she said too and watched as he made his way back into the direction of the Hwarang House.

»Look, they were together again today«, she heard a young voice say. She discreetly looked into the direction the voice came from and saw three young girls. Two of them were the ones she had seen whispering the last time.

»Yeah, I wonder if that's even allowed«, another said.

Yeseul was hurt by these words. She didn't know how she should handle this situation. She wanted to defend herself but at the same time she didn't have the courage. Was it so unbelievable that a Sacred Bone was befriended with a girl that wasn't a True Bone? But it was true, there was a limit to what they could be.

She went on with her way not wanting to listen to them anymore. Heading home she went by the residence of Park Youngshil, Banryu's adoptive father. As she went around the edge to go by the entrance, the door opened and the five robbers came out of the residence. Panicked Yeseul hid behind the edge of the wall. What did they have to do with Park Youngshil? As they left in another direction without noticing her, she went on, still thinking about what these two parties had to do with each other. A Minister and a small group of robbers?