Enemies among foes
I wake up on my bed with the royal physician by my side and the Queen.
" the king is awake", he announced
Everything storms back into my head, my son is dead, this can't be, now I have nothing to protect. What is the essence of my love?
Since that day, I was not able to stand up, I lost all will and my royal seal to the prime minister(Kim Muyoung). They should do everything they want. I have nothing to fight for again.
I hardly eat, I only drink strong liquor every day to relieve my pain. The servant has been by my side since I attempted to take my life.
Now there is no King in the land.
**Yi San POV**
Everybody accepted us fully into the village, I was given the role to be one for adviser to the leader, and my servants were guards to patrol the village boundary.
"I don't know what you do to the Leader to make her give you this role but trust me, I will expose you soon enough and you will be put to death", he threatened me as we went for the morning meeting.
We enter a big hall where I was pronounced a traitor of the village, weeks ago I was one of the Advisers. My plan is about kicking off.
" We need to send some people with the peddlers to buy copper from China, the best has been defeated with the help of the Prince here, so we can return to our business now", (the leader)Seo Hwa speaks.
"His warrior and bodyguard killed it not him, you should not take the honor of another man, that will be cheap of you", Gu won (the young physician) said.
"I didn't take their honor", I fight back.
"then why is your name included", he bounced back at me.
"That's enough both of you, they are his servants and he is their master so the honor is his, and arguing on this will take us nowhere we have much to do", Seo Hwa cut in.
"they are too young to be here advising you", a leader said.
"There are too many young people here so this is expected", another elder said.
They are referring to Seo Hwa, those are the people that don't want her to sit on her rightful chair. We must do better to shut them up. We are the only people she trusts here. I looked at Gu won and we both said at the same time.
"we will follow the peddlers to get the copper"
I move to Gu Won to speak silently to him
"We can't both leave her alone, I have two servants to go with and I have been to China many times", I convince him
He nods in acceptance and I withdraw to where I stand before.
"The prince and his servants will join the peddlers", he finally said.
Seo Hwa nods in acceptance and most of the elders want me gone so they accept too.
I aim to go into the nation and find out what is going on with the people and see if I can hear any news about the King(my father). The Kim family might have done the worst. Fear every night.
We discussed the development of the village and security and ended the meeting there when the sun was coming up.
"follow me", Seo Hwa whispered into my ears. I followed her immediately and Gu Won watched me as I disappeared after closing the door. He always followed the Leader after the meeting so he wondered why she called me so he followed us.
"why would you decide that without telling me first", she said as we entered her room.
The fragrance in the room rushes into my head bringing sweet memories with it.
"I want to earn my stay here, you can't be protecting me always, I ought to be protecting you not otherwise", I defend myself.
"the way is dangerous, what if danger happens, you want to leave me too", she burst into tears.
" All my loved ones always end up leaving me every time", she said again.
"I promise you I will come back alive and with the copper, I won't fail and I won't betray you", I promise her.
She has no choice but to trust me because I have already made up my mind and I have some things to do in the city too. I kissed her and we ended up in bed again.
**Gu Won POV**
After following our leader and the prince I these their discussion and how they ended up cuddling on the bed, I couldn't watch it anymore so I left them.
My father made me promise to protect Seo Hwa before he died. And this prince can only bring harm to her so I will have to get rid of the Prince for good. I am waiting for him to make a mistake before but I think I have to make a move before he makes her make a mistake and put our village in danger.
I met up with my servants secretly and paid them to get rid of the prince on their journey without his guard finding out.
"I saw him fight in the arena, so don't only fight him, put this portion on your sword or arrow and attack him, he will become weak so you can end him"_ I said finally.
The next day my servant switched with some peddlers and joined them as they embarked on the journey. The prince wouldn't know the danger that awaits him on the journey.
**Yi San POV**
As we exit the village, my thought is with my father and Seo Hwa, I pray they are both safe.
"Your Highness, what are you thinking about", Kang Yun asked me.
"Nothing", I replied to him.
"Since we been in the village, you have changed, what is with you sneaking into the leader room at night", he whispered.
I punched him to shut up before the peddlers heard him.
"I will gist you about it later but now, let's focus on the journey. I need to go into the city too if I can hear anything about my father too", I told him
"I understand but I will go for you your Highness, and bring you news, just send me on some errands so it won't look suspicious to the rest", Rang Min joined.
That is a good plan,
"Ok, I will send you when we reach the small city we will pass through on our way", I said to him
After getting to Pyongyang, I sent Rang Min on a mission to Hanyang unknowingly to them. We headed down to the south border which leads to China.
We rent an inn to rest the night because we are not allowed to cross at night unless we are fugitives or wanted criminals. Rang Min returned late at night, later than the time I ordered him.
I went in back after going to take some night fresh breeze.
"I bring bad news your highness", he said as he rushed inside.
"What is wrong Rang Min tell me", I asked.
He paused for some minutes and I knew it was something serious so I braced myself for the hit.
"the Kim family lied to the King that you died so the King is not in his right mind now so the Kim family are the ones ruling the kingdom now. Your father is not functioning again", he split out.
I felt like fainting, why is it that the Kim family always has their way every time?
"I must get to the palace this midnight to see my father", I said without thinking.
"No your Highness, we can't leave the crew, they will think we run away", he said immediately.
"Don't try to stop me, we will return before the day breaks, Call Kang Yun", I ordered him.
"I am here your Highness", Kang Yun rushed in after a minute.
"get prepared we are going into the palace this night", I ordered.
"It's a long journey, your highness", he said.
"we will run and make it before they leave in the morning, Rang Min will hold them till we return", I ordered.
We immediately begin the journey and ride all through the night until we enter Hanyang, I have lived in the palace for half of my age so I know every shortcut that entered the palace.
We enter the palace in no time and head to my father's chambers. The guards in his palace are few and the servants are not present. My heart sank immediately.
"Hope my father is still alive", I thought.
Rang Min makes all the guards unconscious, so I enter my father's chamber, to see him lying down like a lifeless body.
"Father, father", I called out
He stood up immediately and ran from me like he saw a ghost, but I immediately held him back.
"Father it's me Yi San",
He relaxed and held my hand.
"Yi San, is that you?" he asked. His mouth smells of strong liquor
"It's me, Father, I am alive", I said again.
"they told me you are dead", he said crying.
I narrate everything to him about how they want to kill me and how I end up in the secret village.
Before I could finish we heard a footstep approaching.
"let's check on the drunk King," Kim Muyoung said.
"They must not see me, let them believe I am dead so I can prepare myself for my comeback", I said silently and found a place to hide in my father's room.
"I smell the crown prince fragrance", Kim Muyoung said as he entered the room.