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

제 53 부

Sae Joo froze in his position. His eyes dilated in shock. His ears seemed like fooling him. He hoped they really did. He tried to grasp back to reality, wanting to express his side but his father spoke first.

"Hmm, is that so? That is not a bad idea," Jae Joong nodded.

The Prince blurted in an instant, voice shaking. "Yes, it is. I hate to break it to you, uncle but it is not a good idea." Jung Ho smirked at him, shaking his head in disdain. "Did I hear it just right, Your Highness? You... are telling us that we have a bad idea?"

"It has come from your mouth, firsthand. 'Shun is a competent hwarang'. The palace needs him more than Dokdo. He is staying."

Jae Joong wanted to pacify Sae Joo. He composed words on his head, kind and gentle to calm his kid. The King believed that the Prince was not aware of the whole situation, the bigger problem outside the main island of Silla. The entire council agreed that an indirect war was about to happen now that Tang has claimed one of Dokdo Islands. In an attempt to strengthen the security on what Silla had, Jae Joong agreed with Jung Ho. Their part in Dokdo needed more competent hwarangs. Shun could be one of them.

"Prince, you need to understand that Tang poses a great threat for us, now that we are partly neighbors. That island that used to be Yamato's is now a property of Tang. Knowing their Emperor, he might take interest in claiming our part in that island."

Sae Joo paced down the courtyard, steps quite heavier than usual. He expressed his frustration about what everyone seemed to think about him, even though he had shown quite an improvement. Maybe Jin Ri was right, he was still childish after all, "I understand the problem, Your Majesty. I know the situation. You are worried that Tang might ignite a war against us by stealing our part in the Dokdo Islands. You just want to think one step ahead. Yes, tightening the security should be the primal tactic."

"So what is your problem then, Your Highness?" asked Jung Ho.

"You cannot bring Shun to Dokdo Island. One, because I believe that he is not that good yet. There are a lot of tenured hwarangs out there with more experiences and skills compared to him. You should know, uncle—you are the former Hwarang head. Two, he is palace hwarang. Like his name, he should stay in the palace, serve in the palace. Lastly, the most important reason why he cannot go..." he paused, turning the tables as he sneered back to Jung Ho.

"... I declare him as one of my personal bodyguards."

Shun was surprised with the Prince's sudden move. Deep inside, he appreciated Sae Joo's effort to keep him by his side. Not just because he did not want to be separated from him, but most especially because of his father. If he was sent to Dokdo Island, he would not be able to go home to his father once a month. He could not risk that—not seeing his father in that span of time. He had endured so much: losing their home, worrying about his sick father, thinking about how he could repay Dae Wong and Sae Joo's good deeds for him. But at the same time, fear thunderstruck him on a certain level. He was afraid that Sae Joo would not have the power to consistently defend him. At the end of the day, they were his family. They were his father and his uncle. How about him? He was just a confidant. A friend. A mere, low-life trainee.

Jae Joong frowned, wondering about his son's abrupt decision, "What is this, Sae Joo?"

"You heard me right. I declare him as my personal bodyguard. I am his master now. He is mine."

Jung Ho interrupted, trying to lure the Prince into the other side of the road, "Prince Sae Joo, I understand that Shun is your savior. He has done a thing or two for you, but... you cannot just appoint him as one of your personal bodyguards. You have said it yourself, he has a lot of things to learn. He is a juvenile. He should not be assigned as a bodyguard for a precious person like you."