Save me back

Part.4

Hyungwon awkwardly followed the others into the big hall. He had been right. The whole hall was packed by people, mostly men and women older than Wonho himself, wrapped in warm clothes and animal skins. The voices died down a little as soon as Wonho entered as everyone turned their attention towards their king.

As Wonho sat down on the throne Shownu naturally stayed standing right next to his brother, his arms behind his back and with a strict expression on his face as his glaze wandered through the crowd.

Some of the people were seated at tables, around the fire places or on random chairs, but most of them were standing. Hyungwon could smell food and beer and honey wine as everyone had at least a wooden cup or a drinking horn in their hands.

It looked like as if the throne hall had turned into a pub until the very moment the brothers had entered. If Wonho himself didn't look ominously enough, then Shownu did for sure. The aura of those two was screaming power and strength. Both being natural born leaders, making everyone else feel submissive.

Hyunwon couldn't tear his eyes away from the brothers, being sucked in by their presence and charisma. 

He himself stayed behind, far at the side of the hall, close to Mark's side as Jooheon had disappeared without Hyungwon noticing, probably having other duties.

It didn't take long however until Hyungwon could feel many pairs of eyes on him, seeing people whispering to each other as they pointed towards Hyungwon. They all had seen or at least heard of how Hyungwon had been brought to the city, cuffed and dirty. Nothing less worthy than a slave.

And now he was standing next to the lord's personal guards, dressed in pretty and elegant clothes, as if he had the right to be someone important. He could understand that the people were confused and curious, but that didn't make the stares and the talk any less uncomfortable for him. He tried hard not to look at any of them, but failed when he caught a glimpse of the golden blonde hair of Minhyuk from the corner of his eyes.

Minhyuk's eyebrows were meeting in the middle of his forehead as he stared at Hyungwon, confused and seemingly angry for a reason unknown to Hyungwon.

"Thank you all for coming." Wonho suddenly spoke up in a loud and clear voice, catching the attention of the people again. "Before we start with what we all originally came here for I think I owe you an explanation." Wonho turned his head towards Hyungwon and everyone else followed him. Hyungwon tried to keep a straight face, but clenched his teeth together feeling the weight of the stares.

He tried to only focus on Wonho's calm and somehow apologetic expression as the other's eyes met Hyungwon's for a brief moment.

"I know what you all must be thinking."

"That's the boy who was brought to our city yesterday." some woman called out loudly and people started to agree and wild chatter broke lose once again. Everyone was talking about how they had seen him cuffed, being brought to the city by another king's soldiers. Giving their opinions about the whole matter even though no one had asked them to.

"It is true-" Wonho began loudly and his voice forceful, trying to get the attention back on him and making the people stop talking. "that he was brought to this city yesterday. King Jimin send him to me in hopes that it would improve relations between our countries." The last sentence was added with an amused smile and some people started laughing. King Jimin obviously didn't had much fans around here. One thing they had in common with Hyungwon.

"But" Wonho started again after the people had quiet down a little again. "if King Jimin had known who that boy really is, he wouldn't have given him away, like trash.  Especially not to me. He would have done the same as I did, because I know who he is and what an powerful ally he makes."