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

제 65 부

Jung Min paused and turned back at the door, thinking about the private discussion between his father and the Balhae Queen. He knew his old buddy. A man who was always one step ahead, a person fed by his towering pride and blinding self-idolatry. Remembering Jae Joong's most essential piece of advice not to anger the Queen, Jung Min's paranoid self could not help but worry about the way his father solve the problem. He could not be at peace, flares of regrets burning on his chest. He wanted to go back, storm inside, and insist to be involved. But something was holding him back: Queen Songyeon herself.

A light feeling caressed him the moment their eyes met. Something strange, but good strange. He knew she was a good person. But also, part of him was unsettled. Something he could not pinpoint specifically. Her irises were brown but her pupils were icy blue. A pinch of honey in a dark chocolate pool. Instead of being more concerned about his father's unusual and unexpected tactics, he was more troubled about the Queen. He had yet to know—more about her personality. She was crazy decisive. But to what extent? Guilt boggled his mind; it was like he left two big, unstoppable boulders crashing and destroying each other.

He walked back to the door, his hands a few inches away from pushing it but he retracted. What is wrong with you, Jung Min? he thought. Conscious about the ladies-in-waiting gawking at him awkwardly, he strode away, down to the first floor, and out of the pavilion. The waiting nangdos and palanquin escorts bowed at him.

"Don't follow me. I'm just going to take a walk," he ordered.

His deep heavy breaths climbed up to his throat, some to his nostrils as he stomped heavily on the cobbled courtyard, head down. "What are you thinking, father? What are you doing?"

"Don't anger her... Just don't—"

He was not able to finish his statement as a dark shadow overcast the view of his path. He raised his head and saw a grand red palanquin escorted by a number of Balhae soldiers, that stopped right in front of him. The door opened, and he saw a fine, beautiful woman in an elegant blue robe and skirt came down. Her braided loops and dangling silky hair glistened under the afternoon skies. A small tiara and golden hair ornaments officially claimed her high-status in the palace.

"Are you the Silla delegate?" her firm, round voice washed the anxious man's dark thoughts.

"Y-ye-yes. To what honor do I owe this serendipitous conversation with a beautiful woman in a wonderful palanquin?"

The woman scoffed and made a wide, faux smile, her teeth were white as a paper. "I've heard that men from Silla were smug awful talkers. Guess you're an exception."

"I'm not an exception because those rumors are not true." Jung Min's eyes, sparked in a slow interest, paired with his thin smile.

She squinted, eyebrows suddenly showing contempt (a quick turn of emotions). "Now they're not."

The spark blacked out, a short circuit between the two sets of eyes. Jung Min's bright face dimmed once again in an instant. His dark eyes resorted to a frown. "Excuse me?"

"Why are you even here strolling here in the courtyard?"

Another insult and Jung Min's blood pressure might rocket to outer space. His lips thinned out as he walked closer to the woman. "A piece of advice, agassi. If you're on the wrong side, I guess it's better if you humble your tone a little bit, especially when talking to the offended party." the stress on the penultimate word made the woman grit her teeth.

"Tone it down? For what? So that you can have total control over us?"

"I didn't say that. I'm sorry but you're misunderstanding things. I was just walking here silently to get some air because the Queen has requested to have a private talk with our Prime Minister. I hope that answers your question.