NEFARIOUS

5 / 다섯

  "What do you think, Your Highness?"

  Yoong Il blinked. She let her thoughts drive her away from reality once again. But when she gazed around her surrounding, the Two Ministers and Commander Kwan's daughters seemed to not notice her odd behavior. She should have been aware of the life circling around her presence.

  "Pardon?"

  Hyun Bin, daughter of Ministry of Rites, smiled kindly at the Princess. Between the other girls, her smile was the most genuine one. "Min Uk says Kwang Gyeong has a great charm when he holds sword in his hands."

  At the familiar name, the guards who stood surrounding by the pavillion shifted. A few of them appeared to be leaning closer toward the girls, taking an interest of their conversation. Let them know. Nothing important would come from them anyway. The least thing Yoong Il would ever want was hearing these girls talking about pretty boys in the palace.

  Min Uk's small cheeks reddened, she flashed a look at Hyun Bin. "I didn't say that!"

  Hyun Bin hid her light giggles with her fan. "Oh, I heard it quiet a deal. I know you've been prying on him, especially when he practices. He is such a beauty, isn't he?"

  "I- I never pried on him! Even once! Gods above, Ryung, help me with this."

  Min Uk's hopeful expression lingered on Ryung Kwan for moments, but the Commander's daughter only paid attention to the apple in her grip. She took a mouthful bite. "That's a fact though."

  "See? What have I told you? There's no need to conceal your hidden feelings, Min Uk. I will not be judgemental to it, for I agree he is breathakingly handsome myself."

  "I don't care whether you judge my feelings or not! It is not the truth." Min Uk shifted her eyes onto the Princess, hopeless expression spread on her face. "Your Highness, please do not listen at this utter nonsense."

  Yoong Il curled her lips into a practiced smile. "I remain neutral on this, Min Uk. But I share the similiar thinking as Hyun Bin, he is indeed a beauty."

  That was entirely a lie, of course. Kwang Gyeong was anything but beauty, for he shared war and ruthless blood with own his father. It was only a matter of time until he revealed his true colors to those girls.

  Yoong Il had once seen the boy giving a terrible punishment to a royal guard, he'd been bleeding greatly from Kwang Gyeong's tough punches. When Yoong Il had caught them accidently, the poor guard avoided his gaze from her. Then Kwang Gyeong turned to face her. "Your Highness," he'd snarled, indignation blazing through his demonic eyes, "may I help you?"

  She'd glanced at the guard, he still did not look at her presence. "I need him to escort me toward my chamber." The Princess flashed a thin smile to the monstrous boy before her. "If you might?"

  Kwang Gyeong considered before spitting at the poor guard, he didn't even bother to wipe the dirt off his bruised face. "We're not done yet, you pig." The Minister's son immediately strode to the dark corridor, the flickering lights from oil lamps swallowed his figure.

  "Get up, guard." Yoong Il had demanded without looking at his way, and he did. When the Princess glanced at him, he only stared at his heels, shame clouded his entire face. "Don't be too grateful. You may return the favor soon enough."

  The guard had bowed slightly. "Yes, Your Highness." The voice came from him was surprisingly hoarse and deep. Given from his young face, the boy would have been no more older than Yoong Il's whole seventeen years.

  The next day, Yoong Il had informed the King she needed a new private guard. When the bruised guard appeared before her chamber with a sword on his hips, she found that the boy's name was Daehyun.