Chapter 10
Sang-Ki removed the bag of ice from Joonwoo´s shoulder and inspected the bruise again.
¨So she just threw it at you?¨
¨Yes.¨
¨You didn't do anything to deserve?¨
¨Obviously no.¨
¨Oh my god, this liar is giving me migraine!¨
Rose leaned back on the wall, sighing. Dani-Bi immediately made her sit and massaged her temples.
¨I am not lying!¨
¨Yes of course Your Royal Highness! How could the great and just King ever lie?¨
Sang-Ki chuckled remembering that Dan-Bi had said something similar about the Queen just a few moments ago.
¨Woah! Come on, I was just coming towards you. Ah!¨
In the passionate attempt of defending himself, the king moved forward too quickly and ended up pulling his shoulder. Sang-Ki made him lean back, glaring at him.
¨I clearly vocalized my disagreement with that.¨
¨And you threw a rock at me for that! Who does that?!¨
¨I do! And I won't hesitate to do it again.¨
Rose picked up the toy hammer used to check people's reflexes from Sang-Ki´s tool kit lying next to her. She didn't mean to pick something like a hammer up but that's what came in her hand first.
¨Sang-Ki aren't you going to say something? She is threatening the King!¨
¨I am sorry I am just the Royal Doctor I can't interfere in the Royal family.¨
¨Then do it as my sister.¨
This great information made Rose choke on her saliva and she dropped the hammer on the floor. Dan-Bi rubbed her back as Rose fanned herself with her eyes wide from shock, trying to recover. She was a dramatic mess.
¨I am not your sister Your Royal Highness. Please refrain from saying anything like this in the future.¨
Sang-Ki said it with such seriousness that Rose started calming down. The king was just bullshitting then.
¨You came out of the same passage as I did, but it is true that the one to put us in were different people.¨
¨Oh god just let me die already.¨
Dan-Bi looked over at Sang-Ki apprehensive about her reaction while holding onto Her Highness who just had a hyperbolic fall into her arms. Sang-Ki made sure to wrap the bandage a slightly tighter than necessary as a little silent revenge.
¨Your Royal Highness!¨
Rose opened her left eye slightly to check who burst into the infirmary and closed it right back sighing. Of course it is the Queen.
¨Ha-Eun, you are here!¨
¨Yeah I heard you got hurt so I came here immediately. Oh my, is that Huibin? Are you okay Huibin?!¨
Ha-Eun sat next to the Royal Noble Consort who was pretending to be unconscious but made sure not to hold her even though she really wanted to, they had not reached there yet.
¨I am fine.¨
¨Wha-...I….why?.....I was the one who got hurt!¨
¨Yes. How did that happen? Sang-Ki is it serious?¨
¨It's not serious, since the rock wasn't very heavy. We will need to put ice on the swelling for three to four days. I have wrapped it in a sling so Your Royal Highness please don't move your hand. He should be all okay in around fifteen days.¨
¨I can't move it for fifteen days?!¨
¨You can start slowly moving it after a week or so, but I am afraid you can't put much pressure on it.¨
Rose raised her head and looked at the King's worried face. Rolling her eyes she laid back on Dan-Bi.
¨It's fine only, not like rice on your table depends on a day´s hard labour. You can still attend your court with one hand.¨
¨I need my hand for other things!!¨
¨Guys please don't argue.¨
Rose completely ignored Ha-Eun´s attempt at keeping peace though.
¨What other th-¨
¨Doctor, Her Royal Highness Jeongseong is on her way here to His Highness.¨
¨Okay thank you, make sure everyone returns to their rooms.¨
¨How did mother come to know?!¨
¨Oh my god I am so sorry! I was supposed to go meet her but then one of my maids saw you coming here and told me so I rushed here. She must have enquired about me and come to know about you.¨
Rose noticed the change in everyone. Ha-Eun was looking towards Sang-Ki in worry, feeling really stupid for her mistake, while the King stared at the floor, shaking his right leg vigorously. The doctor had a poker face on. She simply came and stood in front of her, blocking her view of the door. Dan-Bi was frozen in her place so Rose sat up and wrapped her arm around her.
¨Goyangi...¨
Sang-Ki looked back at Dan-Bi and took a step back, moving closer to her. Dan-Bi nodded for some reason and grabbed onto the doctor´s skirt, who turned back and stood tall to face the one coming.
Oh….Sang-Ki was trying to block Dan-Bi´s view, not hers.
Rose shifted her gaze between Sang-Ki and Dan-Bi. Her best friend looked at her and gave a weak smile. Rose pulled her closer, making her lean on her.
¨Ha-Eun come sit next to me.¨
The queen instantly got up and took her place next to the king, just before the door opened. The Royal couple sat up straight, head slightly bowed down. They looked like kids waiting for a scolding. The tall middle aged woman...wait when did she give birth to this masterpiece to look that young and have a grown son too. Is this what maintenance looks like?
She only took one look at the king´s bandages and then directly into his eyes. Joonwoo´s eyes darted from left to right.
¨Meet my gaze. You are the king. The most powerful person in this kingdom. Don't show an ounce of fear they will pounce on it like hungry hyenas.¨
¨Yes mother.¨
The queen dowager bent down to the queen's face level and smiled. Her smile made Rose uneasy.
¨Learn from Ha-Eun. She hasn't flinched even once since I entered, despite the terror stabbing her heart. Look how well she is suppressing the dread rearing up within her. The lessons have been effective right?¨
¨Yes mother.¨
Ha-Eun held her gaze returning the same intensity, her face devoid of any emotion. She was the true queen of them all.
¨Then why weren't you there today?¨
¨His Royal Highness has been injured.¨
¨And?¨
¨As his wife I was worried about him.¨
¨You are a queen before his wife!¨
The sentence wasn´t yelled on the contrary it was spoken in a calm low tone but the sheer power in the voice towered over everyone present.
¨And he is the king! We are a team.¨
Rose almost whooped with joy at the comeback but kept her excitement in.
¨Hmm...¨
Queen dowager straightened back up and turned her attention to Joonwoo.
¨...How did this happen?¨
Fresh terror reared up in Rose. If this woman comes to know that she threw the rock at the king…
What would she do?