Chinese Trumpet Creeper || extraordinary you

[4] The Next Morning

Sorry for the late (and bad) chapter. Finals and birthday distracted me, but I'm done! Hopefully, no more late posts, bad chapters, or author's notes to come.

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"So, Lord Eun had a daughter?" Gyeong set his book down on his desk.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ha Ru bowed. He stood in front of him, and he could see Gyeong tap his fingers slowly across the wooden surface. "Her name is Eun Dan Oh. From what I saw and heard, the two of them seem to care deeply for each other."

For a while, the room was silent. Ha Ru had nothing more to say, and the prince was absorbing this new information. The only sound that could be heard came from Gyeong's fingernails hitting the hard surface, until he suddenly stopped.

"Ha Ru," he said. "How old is she? Do you know anything of the daughter's marital status?"

Was the prince planning to marry her? It did appear to be the most simple solution, though the plan seemed so unlike Gyeong.

"She is young, quite possibly around our age," Ha Ru still answered. "She is unmarried, and I do not think her family has promised her to anyone, yet."

Gyeong laughed. "Well," he said in a dangerously happy tone, "that makes this much easier than it has to be. He laughed again, longer and harder until tears came to his eyes. "Ha Ru, you have no idea how happy you made me tonight," he said as he dabbed at his eyes. "Especially after my meeting with the King." This last word was spat with disgust, all traces of laughter gone.

"You met with the King, Your Highness? Alone?" It was unusual for Gyeong to go anywhere without Ha Ru, and even more unusual for Gyeong to meet the King without him.

Gyeong looked unbothered, waving his hand. "Don't worry, I knew what he had planned. I didn't drink the tea he gave me." He looked up at Ha Ru with a sarcastic smile. "Like parent, like child, isn't that the saying?"

Ha Ru knew Gyeong was hinting at the scandal years ago when the Queen Dowager was thought to have poisoned Gyeong's mother. Though this was never proven, and even speaking of it meant punishment, Gyeong always believed it to be true. "Perhaps, Your Highness."

"Of course," Gyeong added, "I don't believe the Queen Dowager would ever fall for one of the low-class workers, don't you think?" Without waiting for a reply, he continued speaking. "After all, how could someone who calls himself a king of the nation fall in love with a court lady? What would the people say, if they found out?"

"They would be most unpleased, Your Highness." Ha Ru rarely spoke unless directly spoken to, but when he did, he knew only to say what would please Gyeong the most.

"Exactly." Gyeong stood from his seat. "In fact, we take our first step tonight."

"Do you mean with Eun Dan Oh?"

Gyeong frowned. "Who?"

"Eun Dan Oh is Lord Eun's daughter, whom I just told you about," Ha Ru explained patiently.

"No, not yet. I meant with overthrowing the King's followers. Lord Baek has prepared a list of those who remain loyal to His Majesty. We can start disposing of them tonight. After all, shouldn't we eliminate as many of his people first?"

Ha Ru nodded. How could he refute? "Of course, Your Highness."

"Good. Now, I have to meet with Lord Baek to discuss this further. Let's go."

Ha Ru followed Gyeong out of the room to wherever Lord Baek was waiting for them. On their way, a handful of the King's officials and ministers bowed to them. As they passed them, Ha Ru couldn't help but wonder how many of them he would have to kill that night.