False Accusations
"I will, grandfather; you don't have to worry," Young-Sik answered. He then helped Jin-Ri mount her horse before mounting his.
Jin-Ri waved to everyone, her radiant smile shining through. "Goodbye, everyone, we'll see you again in a few days," she said, promising a swift return
Young-Sik gave a knowing nod to his brother and grandfather before wiping the reins and directing his horse out of the gates, followed by Jin-Ri on her horse.
Another day passed as the court maiden and her prince approached the palace gates. The guards were taken aback when they saw the couple riding in on their horses. They halted at the entrance, and the guards swiftly grabbed the horses' reins. "Your Highness, we've heard about the incident. We're relieved to see you and your court maiden unharmed," one of the guards remarked.
Young-Sik acknowledged him with a nod and a gentle pat on the soldier's shoulder. He then took Jin-Ri's hand and made their way directly to the courtroom. After a short while, they arrived at their destination, where they found Kwan standing guard at the doors.
"Your Highness!" he exclaimed, his face lighting up with surprise. He hurried over to greet them. "I'm so pleased to see that you both are..." His words trailed off as he noticed the bandages on the prince. "Your Highness, you're injured." He immediately knelt. "Forgive me, your Highness; I have failed to protect you. I deserve your punishment!" he said, remorseful for not safeguarding the prince.
"You have saved me more times than I can count, my friend," Young-Sik said, as he walked past a still-kneeling Kwan. Young-Sik stopped and turned around. "Would you get up? You look ridiculous kneeling."
Kwan stood and walked with the prince and Jin-Ri. "How are the others?" She asked Kwan
"On our way back, we had a run-in with some of the Guiong assassins. We were able to fend them off, but we lost five soldiers in the process," Captain Gi sadly reported to the prince
"Have you reported the incident to the court?" Young-Sik asked the captain
"Yes, your Highness, however, the King was..." Kwan, however, stopped mid-sentence
Jin-Ri sensed the hesitation in Kwan and pressed the question, "The King was what?"
Young-Sik spun around, his impatience boiling over as he demanded Kwan's response. The captain let out a heavy, troubled sigh that echoed through the air. "The King... the King said it was of no consequence," he admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor, desperately trying to escape the prince's incredulous stare.
Young-Sik's expression twisted in disbelief. "My brother didn't give a damn?" he exclaimed, his voice rising with anger at the King's indifference. Without waiting for Kwan's reply, he stormed into the courtroom.
Inside, King Man-Ju was deeply conversing about trade agreements with the Ministers when the doors burst open. "Trade agreements? You're seriously discussing more deals with Guiong?"
Minister Gi stood in the prince's way. "Your demeanor is unbecoming of a prince; you should bow and beg for the King's forgiveness!" Prince Young-Sik grabbed the minuscule minister by the neck with only one hand and threw him halfway across the courtroom.
"Why are we discussing trade agreements when we should talk about how the emperor desired a war with us?" Young-Sik declared as he marched towards the King's pedestal. However, a group of the King's bodyguards blocked him.
Man-Ju stepped down from his elevated pedestal to address the prince. "How would you know of such a thing?" he asked, feigning interest in the prince's words
Young-Sik chose his words wisely, not wanting to involve his cousin, the Empress, in the matter. "My sources within the empire informed me that the Guiong Emperor is waiting for an excuse to wage war on us!"
Man-Ju laughed boisterously, "They would never dare to challenge us; we are their most loyal allies." The King circled the prince with an air of authority. "A Guiong envoy is set to arrive in three days. We shall deliberate on how to facilitate trade by opening our borders."
"Open our borders? Don't be stupid, brother, they are playing for a fool!" Young-Sik attempted to go near the King but was blocked and held by the King's guards. "Do not grant them an audience, your Highness! You must send them away! Brother... Man-Ju, you must heed my warning!" Young-Sik exclaimed, his voice rising in desperation to capture the King's attention.
Man-Ju's gaze snapped to the prince, and the King, filled with fury, lunged at his younger brother, striking him hard across the face. The force of the blow sent the prince's head spinning. The King seized Young-Sik by the neck, his voice dripping with contempt, "How dare you call me a fool? Who are you to utter my name?" he hissed. "You are unworthy to stand in my presence, let alone belittle me in front of my court."
Young-Sik's visage was a portrait of shock, rendered speechless by his brother's brutal slap. "You are henceforth barred from the courtroom; maybe time in jail will teach you some manners!" echoed the command, yet he could only stare, dumbfounded, at the betrayal unfolding before him. The sheer audacity of his brother's actions left him reeling.
"Did you not hear the King?" Minister Lim roared at the guards; his tone laced with disdain. "Remove him from this courtroom and put him in a cell!" he ordered, a malevolent grin spreading across his face. Like puppets on a string, the guards seized the dazed prince and dragged him away.
Outside, Jin-Ri and Kwan were jolted by the sudden flinging of the doors. They witnessed the guards unceremoniously dragging Young-Sik out. Inside, just as the guards prepared to close the doors, King Man-Ju's eyes were locked on the woman he yearned for, racing toward the one he despised most—his brother, the prince.
"Where are you taking the prince?" Jin-Ri shouted at the guards, struggling to free him from their grasp.
Captain Gi intervened, his voice booming with authority, "STAND DOWN! Release the prince immediately!"
One guard, however, blocked Kwan and Jin-Ri from stepping in. "We have orders from the King to take the prince into custody. Please, Captain, do not interfere!"
The guards forcefully pushed Jin-Ri and Kwan aside as they escorted the prince away. Jin-Ri turned to Kwan, her face a mask of confusion. "Why would they? How could they?" Without waiting for an answer, she sprinted toward the courtroom.
Kwan watched as the court maiden burst through the doors, then glanced back at the prince being taken away. He turned to see Jin-Ri vanish into the courtroom. "The prince can handle himself, but that girl is bound to get into trouble," he thought, deciding to chase after her.
At the palace jail, one of the guards took the prince's sword while another frisked him for any concealed items. Once they were sure that the prince had nothing hidden, they opened the doors to a cell. Once the prince was inside, they shut the doors and locked them tightly.
Young-Sik was still in a daze from the earlier events. He scanned the interior of the cell, and as if drained of energy, he slumped to the floor. He thought of what happened to his brother, to not care for him or heed his advice.
Young-Sik stared at the sky through a small window. He was caught in a trance, so he did not even notice it was already nightfall when somebody called his name and snapped him out of his trance. "Prince Young-Sik, the King is summoning you." The guard opened the door to let the prince out. They returned his sword to the prince and escorted him out of the jail complex. They continued to escort him to the King's residence.
The guards escorted the prince to the reception area, where they left him alone in a dimly lit room adorned only with flickering candles. Young-Sik took a moment to survey his surroundings, admiring the lavish decorations and exquisite paintings. Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "Have you learned your manners?" it called out.
Turning to his left, Young-Sik spotted the King, leaning against the door with a smug expression. "I asked you if you've learned your manners," he taunted.
Suppressing his frustration, Young-Sik focused on the urgency of the situation. "Brother, you must listen to me. The entire Kingdom is in danger if we don't take action," he urged, stepping closer to his brother.
"The Kingdom is in danger because of the disrespect you showed to the emperor," Man-Ju retorted, advancing until they were just a few feet apart. The King glared fiercely at the prince. "A Guiong messenger arrived a day before you and reported that you killed one of their most esteemed soldiers. An envoy will be here soon to demand reparations for your actions."