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

제 69 부

Sae Joo's parched throat constricted, his bronchioles squeezing tightly. He ran down to the pavilion steps, coughing and craving for some precious space he had been wanting since the beginning of the council meeting. He rubbed his neck, trying to grab some air from the cold surroundings. Hoooh, haaaahh!

He dashed as fast as he could away from the mental mayhem. If he did not, his brain would splatter all over the courtyard. Maybe his heart would too and everything inside him. No guards, no hwarangs—just himself.

As he was running away from everything, tears plunged under his eyelids and dripped down his face, glistening under the bright rays of the sun. His path seemed endless and pointless. All he wished was to run and drift away from everyone—find a suitable place to calm down and think about things thoroughly.

He suddenly found himself outside the palace—into the woods. The tall canopy trees filtered the blinding lights. Balding evergreen trees were his additional spectators, alongside with their brown fallen food makers. A show only the Prince could direct.

Sae Joo let a deep breath in... and screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" his light-lyric tenor paved the way for the panic of the chirping birds. A heavy boulder with blunt edges expelled from his chest. Good riddance, but there were more. So he did it all over again.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

He wailed and sniveled like a stunned boy whose candy just fell into the ground while playing. He leaned against a big tree and sank slowly down to its big roots. Tears overflowed from his scarlet eyes, soaking his entire face for about ten minutes.

It was all dark from the inside. The absence of light and hope tore his heart gradually as it was chained from all the responsibilities and burdens of being a Crown Prince. The despair and pain sucked his positive energy, leaving him with nothing but random, dispersed particles of self-appreciation. He did not know who to blame. Himself? The King? The Head Priestess? The Prime Minister? Merciful Heavens, even all deities that created him! Might as well, all of the above!

Everyone seemed to be playing with him—a prank that could never end as long as he lived. He wanted to understand everything that has been happening in his life. He wished for signs from the Gods and Goddesses but apparently, he received nothing—as if the deities were mocking and scornfully watching him from their thrones in the Heavens.

His tired eyes shut as he was staring blankly up into the gnarly vines of a big tree. He has grown tired of crying and thinking about his own existence. All he wanted was serenity—a momentary escape from the uproarious life in the palace. Hush, hush. Give this Prince a break, please!

Suddenly, he heard footsteps rustling on the dead leaves. Crisper, louder... closer. He opened his eyes abruptly and unsheathed a dagger from his sleeves. He rose slowly and leaned alertly on the trunk, ready to defend himself.

The onyx shadow of the unknown person exposed itself to the Prince as he glanced sideward. A long figure of a man. Sae Joo was aware it was a man. His senses heightened twice—or thrice. Who are you? he thought. He bit his lips and exhaled deeply, chasmic than the ocean trenches. He stomped out of the tree, revealing himself in a fighting stance.

His heart almost dropped to his butt when he realized who the person was.

"Shun?"

The nangdo raised his hands and flinched. "Your Highness, it's just me. You can put the dagger down."

"Goodness! You scared me! You should've called me instead of sneaking like a rat. How did you know I was here?"

"I apologize, Your Highness," Shun scratched his head and chuckled. "I saw you running so I followed you. You look distressed. You're not fine, are you?"