NEFARIOUS

12 / 열두

  Jung-Hee had been waiting for over, persumably, fifteen minutes for Hye's arrival.

  But as another minute passed, Hye appeared with only her inner white garments. The scholar uniform she had used were gone elsewhere.

  "No matter what, the Princess will see me." Jung-Hee had said to Hye on the previous night. He didn't tell Jae of this plan, but he'd soon find out anyway. "We have met in eyes. She has seen my face. There is no way she will not recognize me, even under my disguise. I send someone to blend in with the scholars to get her mind on him, and not you. Keep in mind to always remain unseen. Look terrified when you meet the King. Talk to another. Gossip if you want."

  Jung-Hee had noted that the King would probably greet his guests at the throne hall with his two children. He paid a castle servant for this information. Princess Yoong Il would never stand to watch over the scholars, or remain by the King's side for a greater view. It was impossible. There was no chair beside the royal throne after all.

  She would always sit ahead the scholars, alongside her older brother. And the possibility of her seeing through all the scholars was undoubtedly small. She might have known of Masulsa's involvement with the disappearance of the Mad Queen, but not about Moonbird and its secret members. Hye was a clever hunter, she would not want to appear in the Princess's vision as a threat.

  "Fierce your senses, Hye." Jung-Hee had warned her. "She might look like a spoiled princess. But we don't know what she's truly capable of. Watch over your back more."

  "I don't understand." Hye had shaken head. "If I disappear-"

  "I send two persons." Jung-Hee had interrupted her. "One to distract the Princess. The other to replace you. It doesn't really matter when he appears. You just need to focus on vanishing from the scholars when the Crown Prince decides to accompany them throughout the palace. All is good if you remain unseen."

  In Hanseong, Jung-Hee had made an infamous gang- the Dawn Lions- to be indebted by him. When their leader had been taken by the royal guards for treason, Jung-Hee and the Moonbird fellows- except for the Eun twins- freed them all three months ago. He visited them at day, right after he did some talks with Eun Jae in Moonbird, and offered them a job. The leader chose two skilled spies to do this, and he was known to be a stragetist. Jung-Hee did not concern about his choice.

  Now, hiding inside the Hall of Worthies, Jung-Hee stripped the garments of royal guard he had been taken down. They only fainted, it was best if they were not dead yet. The total was three, who had posted to watch over the inside rooms of the hall.

  Jiphyeon-jeon was placed on the left of the throne hall, bordered by a tall and long wall, and a pathway between. It was often used for scholars of the palace to study and doing their research. But since there was no schedule for them, it was empty. And Commander Kwan did not really bother to add more guards to watch over the hall. Three inside, four outside.

  The twins followed his movements. Then all of them were drowned in crimson garments, and head wrapped in gat with hat strings surrounding their jaw. Jung-Hee took his gaze around the room; the Hall of Worthies was a maze of library books and tables. There was no chair, only a carpet on the floor, and few pillows on it.

  Jung-Hee looked at his two fellows. Hye was shapeshifted into one of those guards again. Eun Jae adjusted the gat on his head. They all waited for him. Until he turned on his heels to stalk outside the room.

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  Hye hoped her replacement would go fast on his work.

  Because if not, the whole plan would shatter. The noisy boy would immediately know she was missing, and she did not want to know the possibilities that would come after it. Hopefully, he would be distracted by the presence of Princess Yoong Il between them, and made talks with the other scholars.