The desiccated air in the garden combined with the Prince's crimson-hot gaze pushed the dew of sweats out of Jin Ri's pores, accumulating all on her forehead. Contrary to the physical weather outside, her sweats were surprisingly cold as ice caps, melting and dripping down her face. Waiting for the Prince's condition, her heart drummed loudly. She felt the strong bass of every throb, overpowering the treble of her head's static sound.
"Yo-your Highness, what is it that you want me to do?"
Sae Joo did not even blink when he blurted, "Confess. Go to the King and confess all of your sins. Clear my name, Jin Ri."
"C-co-confess?" stammered Jin Ri.
"Yes. If you are indeed apologetic of what you did, I think this is just the right thing to do. This is just fair, do you not agree?"
Jin Ri's eyes dashed sideways, her body swinging in a tense, irregular beat. "Uh, Your Highness... I know that but uh, the King might punish me more if I admit what I did... Please, I do not want to experience another beating."
The Prince's eyebrows met at the center of his nose bridge in a scowl. "Beating?"
Without any hesitations, Jin Ri quickly pulled her skirt up and removed the extra layers of clothes in her leg part. She did not even care if the Prince could see her bare skin. At that moment, the only thing that mattered to her was to show Sae Joo her bruises on her hips and lower back. Upon exposing the young lady's skin, the Crown Prince's eyes rolled in shock, seeing the purple blots on his cousin's white, delicate skin.
"The council members had decided to punish me—fifty beatings using a thick paddle."
Sae Joo suddenly took one step back when he heard Jin Ri's statement, alongside with a visual validation supporting her claim. "What? They did that to you?"
"Apparently, yes, Your Highness. They punished me for what I did, for my mistake."
"I did not know," said Sae Joo, shaking his head.
"I understand, Your Highness. Are these bruises still not enough for you? I have already paid for my sins. Please, let us just forget about this and start a new. After all, I am still your best friend, am I not?" she trudged closer to the Prince and wrapped her arms around his neck. Sae Joo was half-paralyzed; half of him wanted to let go and half of him wanted to comfort the sobbing young lady. Confusion about his feelings started to cloud up his head. He did not know what to feel anymore. For a few moments, he just let his cousin wrap him with her warm embrace.
"Your Highness, please answer me. You are still my best friend, are you not?"
The Prince deftly dodged the question. He pushed the young lady gently and held her shoulders. "Jin Ri, I am sorry that you had to experience that. I guess that was enough punishment already. Alright, let us just forget about what had happened and move on with our lives."
After a quick faint forced smile, Sae Joo patted her shoulders and left.
Lumbering down the stone courtyard, the Prince could not omit the young lady in his head. Her bone-tingling embrace lingered in his mind, blurring his head out of focus. Little did he know, the minister saw him from afar and approached him. "Wangja-nim, what happened?" Upon hearing the minister's voice, his senses suddenly landed back on earth, and he replied, "Minister Dae Wong, I have no idea that Jin Ri was beaten fifty times."
"Oh, about that? I forgot to tell you, Your Highness. Please, forgive me."
"No, it is perfectly fine. She showed me her bruises, and I felt so sorry for her."
At that moment, Dae Wong knew that what he had been fearful about the Prince's slow change would happen—consistency was indeed questioned. He knew that Sae Joo's emotion would be easily swayed by just using emotional appeal, especially that his doubt and mistrust to the whole Prime Minister's clan was not established fully yet. Because of the situation, he tried to get the Prince back to his motive. "Wangja-nim, I know that you feel sorry for her, but uh..."
"I know what you would like to say, Minister. I feel sorry for her, but that does not mean that my trust towards her will be fully restored." after letting out a sigh of disappointment, the Prince continued, "I think I should let this issue go. Since we do not have hard proof, all I could do for now is to forget, move on, and above all, become more careful."
The Prince pinched his palm as he started walking again, opposite the minister's direction. "Where are you going, Your Highness?" Sae Joo turned his head to the left, giving the minister a sideward glance. "I will fulfill my promise to that man. I will talk to the King—convince him to lower the man's sentence. Are you not going with me?"
Dae Wong respectfully rejected the Prince's invitation. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I have another errand to do."
Sae Joo's lips pouted as the word, errand, sparked another thought on his mind. He suddenly remembered Shun and his father who were in the inn. "Ah, I nearly forgot. Could you please go to Shun and his father after you are done with that particular errand? I want to see them before they go home."
"Err... Of course, Your Highness. Definitely."
The Prince smiled and expressed his gratitude, while the Minister bowed his head, turned around, and walked the opposite way.
~~•~~
Meanwhile, in the small inn room, the doctor had addressed Chil Yook's condition fully. When he returned from the central part of the East Market a few minutes after the two boys, he had performed some procedures to alleviate Chil Yook's heart problem. After drinking some extracts of different herbs, the ill man felt his energy coming back to his body again. Chest pains were nowhere to be felt, and his face became even brighter. The doctor left the moment that his condition improved.
In the growing fangs of the dusk, Chil Yook raised from his bed and instructed the two boys to prepare all of their things, for they were going back to Myeongju. Shun noticed the distress in his father's face so he spoke up and contradicted his father. "Father, your body is on the process of recovery. Let us just stay here until tomorrow morning."
"No, Shun. Please just follow what I say. I am not comfortable with this place anymore. Could you please grant your father's request?" Chil Yook held his son's hands, eyes sparkling with an irresistible favor.
Being a good son, who would do anything for the sake of his sake father, Shun smiled and nodded, granting his father's kind appeal. "By the way, where are we going to ride? I did not see a horse when I saw you."
Deok Cheol snapped his finger and butted in, remembering that the horse from their neighbor was tied at a nearby tavern before Chil Yook collapsed on the public square. "Ah, I think I left the horse on a nearby ginyeo tavern. Let me just go there for a while to check it."
"Alright," said Shun. Faster than a thunderbolt, Deok Cheol sprinted out of the room. Shun even laughed for he felt a slight vibration in the room brought about by his heavy steps. When the friend left, Shun's face became serious again as he asked his father's strange behavior again. "Father, please be honest with me. Could you please tell me the reason why you never allowed me to set foot in this place?"
The ill man looked down, trying to avoid his son's concerned yet suspicious eyes. He darted his weary eyes sideways, thinking of made up stories to tell. When a sound story finally pictured on his mind, he lifted his head and looked to his son's eyes straightforward. "I was a slave of a powerful nobleman. He was vile, corrupt, and deranged. Luckily, when my other colleagues planned to escape, they included me. We were able to escape from the nightmare, and we had different lives after."
Chil Yook pouted his lips as a pearl of tears dropped from his tired eyes. Seeing the pain from his father's eyes, Shun's conscience was disturbed—he realized that maybe he should not had asked his father's real reason. He finally understood what Chil Yook felt (that he was just a protective father, afraid that his son might experience the same thing that we went through). The young boy hugged his father as he apologized. "Forgive me, Father for asking you. I should have never done that. I never knew that you have had a traumatic experience in this place."
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Chil Yook gently pushed his son, letting go from the embrace. "I am sorry for not telling you, Shun. This place is dangerous. I just want you to be away from this hell."
"I understand, Father, but maybe not all people here are like your previous master. There are still people who have good hearts, like the Prince," chuckled Shun.
"Yes, I know that. This place is just too traumatic for me, and I do not wish to remain here longer."
"Alright, Father. We will go home now, as you wish."
After then, the plump friend came back with pleasant news. "Shun, Muhyuk-seonsaengnim, I have found the horse! Thank Heavens, the tavern owner did not touch him. Phew!"
Chil Yook suddenly felt ecstatic and excited when he heard the good news. Finally, he would be able to bid goodbye to the place which had been haunting him for years. He could now go back to their home and live in peace with his son forever. After picking all their packed things, the three left room and bid goodbye to the inn owner. Upon gazing at the dazzling constellations in the night sky, Chil Yook's heart was finally free from too much worry and negative thoughts, knowing that his son finally agreed with his plea—to get out of Seorabeol immediately.
Shun assisted his father in riding the horse, and when all was set, Deok Cheol lashed the whip, and the muscular equine galloped away. About ten minutes after, Dae Wong arrived at the inn, together with some yellow group nangdos. He went inside and asked the owner, but he was informed that the persons he was after had already left.
"Chil Yook, you will regret doing this," mumbled he.
~~•~~
Two days had passed quickly like a speed of light traveling in a vast space of devoidness. The entire palace got extremely busy for the preparation of the Crown Prince's fifteenth birthday. Just like what the Prince had suggested, the banquet was just simple—just exclusive for his family and some high-ranking government officials. Preparations for the event started before the sun's crown ever had a peek at the dawn sky.
The hwarangs had arranged a special dais at the middle of the grand courtyard in front of the King's pavilion. Chairs and tables were also assembled based on the ranking of the officials. A yellow carpet ran through the middle of the courtyard up to the foot of the dais. Between the dais and the chairs for the guest was a huge space for the entertainers. The assorted color of silk strips ran from the top of one pavilion to another, providing some colorful decoration from the top view of the palace. The guards and the entire hwarangs were briefed properly of their assigned locations. Some were assigned on the eight main gates, others were deployed on the courtyard surrounding the whole banquet area, and some stood vigilantly on pavilion terraces, guarding the palace against aerial threats. Security was tight to make sure everyone's safety, especially the royal family.
When the sun struck straight forward on the afternoon sky, the selected noblemen and their families arrived with their elegant dresses. The wives and daughters praised each other's intricate dresses, while the noblemen talked about their businesses. Shortly after the guests came, a eunuch announced the arrival of the Prime Minister's family.
The nobles paused from their chatters and stood, dipping their heads in a bow. Jung Min, Jin Ri, and Jung Ho climbed up the dais and sat on their chairs on the right. Soon after, the eunuch announced the coming of the royal family. "The King and the Crown Prince grace us all."
Jae Joong, wearing his maroon ceremonial robe and golden towering crown, ascended to the dais and sat at his throne in the middle. Sae Joo, on the other hand, wore his cobalt-blue royal robe and his golden topknot. He sat beside his father to the left.
When the King raised his arm, the nobles sat. Gong and drums rang, marking the commencement of the celebration. The courtesan entertainers dashed gracefully on the carpet and went to the center, performing their dances of abundance and good fate for the Prince. Some hwarang groups showed off their fighting skills as they performed their fighting stunts. After the entertainment portion, the King stood and all ears were lent before him.
"Allow me to send my utmost gratitude for joining us in the Prince's fifteenth birthday celebration. As you all know, this year is one of the most special, for his fate as the new successor shall be known." he raised his wine glass and continued, "To the glory of our Heavenly Kingdom."
The guests raised their glasses and praised the King and the Prince. "All Hail to our King! All Hail to our Prince!" Soon after, the kitchen servants brought out the food and distributed them on the guests. All guests enjoyed their food and their precious time, mingling with each other.
After the simple banquet, the more important detail of the Prince's birthday would finally be revealed. It was about the ritual—predicting the Prince's future as a ruler. Once the result turned out to be positive, Sae Joo would absolutely sit on the throne without questions. However, if the result turned out to be negative, more problems would arise. When the guests left, all council members and the royal family went back to their chambers, changed their clothes, and went to the shrine. They had changed their clothes from elegant into just plain white, symbolizing respect and solemnity for the ritual.
The quick transformation of the entire vibe—from festive to ceremoniously quiet sent a quick tingling sensation on everyone's spine. The council members lined up on the two sides of the black carpet in the middle of the marble floor of the shrine. Candles and incenses had been lit, giving the entire area an eerie ambiance. Jae Joong ambled down the carpet and groveled at the praying area in front. He bent forward while down on his knees, praying to the deities. When done, he moved to the side and waited for his son.
Sae Joo, wearing a pure white long robe, with his black long hair gently swaying in the beat of the pacified wind, sauntered down barefooted. Just like what his father did, he knelt down and prayed to the Heavens. After praying, he just remained seated at the middle of the circular praying area.
Soon after, the Head Priestess walked down the carpet, holding a small, golden pot and a bell. She went to the prayer area and did her fervent supplications, asking for guidance and correct declaration. After praying, the ritual finally started. With nothing but pure silence, the Head Priestess stood and a shrine maiden approached her. The maiden poured pure spring water into the pot and moved to the side.
She respectfully asked the Prince to do his contribution, "Your Highness, I need a portion of your blood, please. Sae Joo stood as the Head Priestess handed him a dagger with a golden hilt. After releasing a deep exhale, he slashed a finger with the dagger and blood dripped on the pot. When enough amount of blood was given, another shrine maiden approached the Prince with a clean towel to stop the bleeding.
Sae Joo moved to the side as he was pressing his wound with the towel—an obvious grimace of pain was painted on his visage. Alone at the center of the circular praying area, the Head Priestess gently shook the pot, mixing the blood and the water. While doing that, she also whispered unknown chants to the pot. Everyone's hair stood as the Head Priestess's voice became louder every second. Viewing from the side, Sae Joo noticed that her eyes rolled upwards—her iris disappearing and was dominated by her sclera. Seeing the horrendous look of the Head Priestess made him worried and quiver at the same time.
Then, a piercing sound of the bell echoed on the four corners of the shrine, marking the end of the ritual. She opened her eyes—sweat dripping down her face and soaking her entire body, despite the cool air of the late afternoon. With swaying movements as she walked, she brought the golden pot at the center aisle and showed the contents to everyone inside.
The council members, including the King and Sae Joo, came forward and peeked on the content of the pot. Some were confused about what they saw—a turbid red solution of water and the Prince's blood. Dae Wong raised his hand and asked the result, "What does this mean? All I could see was a red liquid."
Shaking her head, the Head Priestess announced the result. "The Prince's reign is going to be bloody! Once he sits on his throne, bloodshed, rebellion, and famines will occur. The whole kingdom will be drenched in blood!" her full, resonant voice reverberated, almost breaking the entire shrine down.
Sae Joo gasped upon hearing the revelation as he fell down on the floor. "No, no..." his body was rooted in his place. Moving even a single muscle became heavy and unwieldy for him.
"Your Highness!" exclaimed Dae Wong as he swiftly flew to the Prince and held him.
The council members, on the other hand, had mixed reactions. Some were shocked while others were disappointed. However, Jung Ho was different. He raised his arm and asked the Head Priestess, "So, what should we do now?"
Cocking her head to the King beside her, she answered, "Your Majesty, I just reported what I have seen. Unfortunately, I saw the downfall of the kingdom in my vision. More people will rebel against the Prince. Famines, drought, and even typhoons will intensify. The political system will slowly crumble down, which will lead to civil war and bloodshed."
"Is that so?" said Jae Joong calmly. However, all could notice that his shaking lips and restless eyes meant something.
"Yes, Your Majesty. But, I also had another strange vision."
Jung Ho butted in and asked, "What was it?"
"I saw another person ruling the kingdom. His face was blurry, but he wore the ceremonial robe and the golden crown. I saw people cheering in my eye vision. I also saw abundance in terms of food and medical supplies. Generally, a better ruler."
Upon hearing the Head Priestess's statements, Dae Wong dipped his head down and thought, Could that person be... Sae Yoo? Now it makes sense. Prince Sae Joo will destroy the kingdom, while Prince Sae Yoo will restore it... Is it really Sae Yoo?
Confused with what the second revelation was, Jae Joong asked, "What? Another person? Who could that be?"
The Head Priestess did not respond. Instead, she just bowed her head away from the King.
Suddenly, Sae Joo had the strength to speak up, mumbling from his place. "Wait... wait..."
Everyone's attention was nabbed by the Prince.
Worried about the Prince's condition, Jae Joong advised the shrine maidens and the guards to take him back to his chambers, for he believed that everything that the Prince had heard was too much to handle. But instead of following his father, Sae Joo resisted the hwarangs and gathered his strength. He stepped forward, closer to the council members and spoke.
"I... think I know who that person is. I think... I know who that glorious ruler is."
__________
NOTES:
Ginyeo (기녀) - Korean term for "courtesan"
Ginyeo (기녀) - Korean term for "courtesan" [https://em.wattpad.com/2c14cd2cd6b29c49eec89aee7343a392517aabde/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6a677863596a65716b4647724a413d3d2d3731313632393732302e313538663862656637643939616236623337363531363834353136342e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]