Smile

Chapter 26

Hangyeol took a damp cloth and placed it on Jihoon's forehead. He sat back at the desk, sorting through the herbs before looking at the herbs that were found in Jangmi's incense. His eyes widened and he stood up.

"Noona!"

Ari walked through the door, holding fresh sheets. "What happened, Hangie?"

"These herbs are the same as Princess Jangmi."

"The same? So that means that Gwangbaek gave the herbs to Nawon." Ari said.

"It makes sense now, Jihoon fell ill suddenly and no one knew why. Myeong offered Prince Chinmae so Sanghoon could become king."

"Should we tell the others?" Ari asked.

"Not right now. Taehyung and King Seokjin aren't doing well. I need to do more research on the herbs and come up with a stronger antidote to help them."

She nodded, heading towards the door.

"You know Noona, I've been thinking," She looked at her brother as he turned to meet her eyes. "Everyone thinks Nawon kidnapped Joonwooie but...a tactic like that isn't Nawon's style. Especially for someone like Sanghoon, he's a brute and a show off. There's no way he would do something sneaky like that."

"That actually makes sense. Do you think Gwangbaek is involved?"

"If we want to compare the two, who would have a bigger grudge against Joonwooie? Myeong or Misun?"

Ari's face paled as she gripped her fists. "Joonwooie is Dambi's and my grandson, hurting him doesn't just affect Taehyung and King Seokjin, it's to hurt us too. Almost to say she failed to kill the twins so she won't fail...this time..." Tears fell from her eyes.

Hangyeol hugged her tightly. "Joonwooie is safe, I just know he is. His name means Divine Protection. Taehyungie said the name came to both him and King Seokjin. He's our future and our hope, he will be returned back to us."

She nodded, wiping her tears away. "You're right. Joonwooie, will return to us."

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Myeong stood straight, smoothing out her dress as her parents walked into the palace.

"What is going on? What happened to the entrance?" Her father asked.

"Since we were taking over the palace, I just thought it would be better to start doing some renovations to add our own touches." She smiled.

"Hmm. You said you imprisoned Dambi. Let me see her. I want to see her arrogant face filled with helpless anger."

"Yes, this way." She led her parents down to the dungeons. Her complexion drained of color when the cell was empty and the door was broken. "This can't be! She was just here!" She turned to a guard. "Where were you?! Why isn't Dambi here?!"

"You had us all taking care of everything when the vehicle ran into the palace and the horses got loose."

"What?!" Myeong's father yelled, glaring at her.

"F-Father, I swear I can get everything in control! Junyo will fall! I have their infant son!"

The guard shook his head. "We can't locate the infant."

"What?!"

"He's nowhere to be found."

"What do you mean?! He can't get up and walk away!" She then paused. If Dambi was gone, she probably took the infant. She turned to her father. "Father, I-"

The dungeon erupted with the crack of a hand against flesh. Myeong's gaze was glued to the stone floor as she clutched her throbbing jaw.

"How could you have messed things up this badly?! I'm not funding a war just to lose it!"