Secret of the Two Kings (89 CHAPTERS - ON HOLD)

제 23 부

As everyone in the dais was left hanging with Chil Yook's statement, the King cut in the suspense and asked him directly, "Speak!"

Chil Yook raised a brow and breathed deeply. The Prime Minister looked at him in the eyes, telling him on his mind to shut his mouth and say nothing. He had trust in his henchman. However, there was a strange aura in Chil Yook's stare, which made him rattled deep inside—a bit.

The former Grand Marshal spoke, "I would gladly accept my punishment. I would accept if I should be stripped of my position. But I do have one request."

"What is it?" the King asked, his eyes narrowed curiously.

"This headband, which represents my pride. This would be the last piece of my honor as a Gukseon. Please let me take my headband, Your Majesty," the former Grand Marshal requested, looking skyward.

The King did not expect what he just said. He thought that it would be a confession about the Prime Minister's orders—even though that would unlikely to happen. As a response, he just sneered into him, and he turned his head to Jung Ho, in an eagle-like stare. "Prime Minister, what do you think?"

The irked prime minister arched a brow and gazed at the King shortly. He bit his lower lip, chewing his teeth. What is this drama, Chil Yook?

He squinted before he spoke, "Well, I-I mean, there would be nothing wrong with that. He will be exiled so that means there would be no way in which he can roam freely on the island and flaunt his status."

Dae Wong butted in, with his counterargument. "No, Your Majesty. Do not allow it. It would be a great insult to the Hwarangs!"

Jung Ho defended, "Minister Dae Wong. I got your point. However, we cannot deny the fact that he did a good job of being a Gukseon in the past years. He had facilitated crucial training to our military, shared some of his war tactics, and motivated weak nangdos. My only point is that, even though he had done a gruesome crime, it would not be a big deal if we will let him keep his headband for memories. Sending him into an exile is enough."

Jae Joong snickered. "Enough, you two," he stopped the two from arguing.

He resumed, looking at the former Grand Marshal. "All right. Take that headband with you... Guards? What are you doing? Assist the two of them, go back to the palace and prepare everything for their exile."

The escort guards bowed their heads and grabbed the arms of the two criminals. They started parading down the market square, clearing the crowd. Chil Yook turned his head back as they walked, fixing his eyes to the Prime Minister.

The minutes passed by quickly. The vivid panorama of the crowd started dissipating until the square was decongested. The hwarangs and other palace officials removed the dais, the drums, the flags—everything until the entire square returned to its normal, daily appearance—a regular stony courtyard surrounded by different booths of diverse sellers. The King and the council members went back already to the palace. Some, for instance, in a forest trail almost a few kilometers away from the palace, the Prime Minister's palanquin stood still as his personal hwarangs guarded the vicinity. He discussed important matters with Lady Min.

"How is everything?" Jung Ho asked.

"Perfectly ready, My Lord," Lady Min answered.

"Good job. Make sure that it will be executed perfectly according to my instructions."

~~•~~

In the palace, while the King was walking down the courtyard going back to his chambers, he saw Jung Min, with Lady Seo, walking towards his direction. The little boy and his personal matron bowed their heads and paused.