Capítulo 42: Chapter Forty-two: Missing but found
The market is bustling with activities. Buyers haggling with the sellers and the sellers shouting at the top of their voices trying to convince their buyers to buy at the designated price before curfew hour.
At one particular side of the market, people were clearing away as if they are trying to avoid something or someone.
Looking at the peculiarity of the space they are making, those watching from faraway can't help but shiver at a feeling of foreboding around them.
One of the customers buying a beautiful bolt of silk , humming a song to herself that she bought it cheap suddenly trembled, looking back to know what could cause cold shivers to run down her spine trembled at the sight walking behind her.
A young man around the age of 15 or 16 years was walking as if he was in a trance . His eyes were bloodshot, his arms bleeding due to a cut and he lips were shaking as if he was mumbling something.
Disregarding her initial command of run, she walked a little closer to hear what it is. Maybe it's because of his noble cloth, he still looked distinguished eventhough he looked shabby.
Leaning closer now , she was shocked at what she heard . The young master seems like he just lost his lover as he kept repeating a girl's name "Yoona"
She drew back and allowed him to pass while pitying him.
The young master passed a weapon shop .He stopped and turned back into the shop, picked up the finest blade and dropped one silver ingot and left immediately.
The weapon seller ran towards him shouting that the money is too much for such a measly blade ,but he just stared coldly at him and he withdrew peacefully mouthing words of praises for him.
The question is... where is a bleeding young master going to with a sword in his hands at that hour of the day?
The answer was soon provided when he entered the dark alley from where his woes first started.The thieves rendezvous.
Apparently, due to curfew hour fast approaching , they already retired but two men were still lurking around waiting for their final customer .
Immediately they saw the young master, they surrounded him . He smirked and asked them "Where are they?" and they turned confused.
Oh yeah, this ones were pickpockets in the afternoon thus they didn't witnessed the fight that took place between their counterparts and the young master before them.
The bold one among them asked him to shut up and made to search him but he didn't get the chance to come closer as a blade struck on his heart.
The other one tried to escape after witnessing the fall of his comrade but a cold metal resting on his neck dispersed that thought and he knelt down begging for his life.
The young man smiled and repeated his question, the other one turned smarter and asked if he was asking about his gang members and he nodded.
The ruffian sighed and told him that due to an unexpected incident that happened that day the rest went back to the mountain where they live and act as bandits at night .
"Show me" the young master ordered .
_____________________________
The spies and assassins ordered to look for him has been asking questions and tracking him but they still couldn't find him. Forget about the thousands of royal guards, police, tribunal and even the prefecture officers who don't even know how to report that the crown prince left from their office a long time ago.
The sky has blackened but still no sign of him.
The head assassin of the empress family appeared before her and reported about a bloody fight that took place earlier at the market place and she became angry.
"You... what exactly are you saying? ... are you trying to say that my son went to the market to fight with some filthy thugs?"
"I'm afraid so your Majesty" the head assassin with the bamboo hat covering his face replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
He narrated the story he received with the description of a young boy around the crown prince's age involved together with a young girl. When she heard the young girl's part , she dismissed the story but the emperor ordered that the chief of the prefecture office brought before him.
The empress clearly amused snickered at the emperor.
"Your Majesty, l know my son very well , why would he involve himself in a fight because of one lousy girl?My son that even refused to look at girls when the ministers daughters came to the palace to celebrate his last birthday".
The emperor cautioned that they shouldn't rule out any possibilities.
The chief came trembling and fell down to his knees halfway down to the emperor, he crawled the remaining path and cried "Your majesties , please take this servant head for failing to protect his Highness well"
The empress sat up properly and ordered him to tell them what happened . He narrated everything according to how the prime minister ordered without forgetting to mention that the prime minister saved his Highness from the vixen that came to extort him.
The empress became agitated and asked where the crown prince went when he left the office ,but he broke down in tears banging his head on the ground asking that his life be taken.
At that point, the prime minister was announced and he came in, he kowtowed before the royalties and trembled at the look the empress gave him.
"I know where he is , your majesties"
The empress forgot about her dignity and stood up abruptly running towards him and demanding him to tell her everything he knows.
Only the emperor remained coolheaded .He asked his retainer how he knew where his son was when according to the chief's report he clearly ordered not to be followed.
The cunning snake answered that he took his duties seriously hence he secretly sent his personal guard to protect him secretly without being detected when he actually ordered his guard to make sure he doesn't go to the Kim's residence to seek the girl.
The chief regretted not sending anyone to follow his highness secretly, at least he will have something to beg for his life with .
Satisfied with the answer, the emperor ordered him to lead the way but he hesitated a little.
Noticing his hesitation, the empress asked him what was wrong.
"Replying to your Majesty, l suggest you let the guards handle it ... in fact let me handle it "
The emperor asked why and he replied that the crown prince entered the bandits zone.
The empress ordered him to take her there or fall to his sword and die. Judging by her temperaments, he knew she wasn't joking hence he ordered for horses to take them on their journey and burning torches to light the way.
When they reached there , the whole place was covered in blood with bodies lying here and there.
The empress broke off from her guards and ran towards the corpses hoping against hope that her son is not lying amongst them
"My child... mother is here , ok? Soon my son, mother is calling you!!!"
Echoes answered her.
She ran towards the farthest end where she saw a familiar silhouette. Crouching down, she saw the face of her beloved son and let out a scream that startled everyone and they all practically flew towards her.
The emperor crouched down besides her and checked his pulse and sighed in relief.
The crown prince noticed that he was being held , opening his eyes he saw his mother.
The tears that ceased to flow before cascaded down freely.
"Mother?" he asked weakly and she answered
"Yes my son, mother is here"
"It hurts...a lot"
With that sentence , he fainted in exhaustion and broken heart.
"Call the doctors, you dullards ! We are returning to the palace"
With tears running down her face , she struggled to carry her son to the horse but almost stumbled. The guards opted to carry him but she clutched him tighter to her bossom not letting go.
The emperor took the little guy from her and climbed the horse, settling him on his arms he galloped towards the palace.
The rest joined and all arrived to the waiting sea of doctors scrambling to treat his highness.
After looking at him , they told the majesties that apart from V-shaped wound on his arms, his body is fine but exhausted which he will recover from after few days of solid rest.
The empress mother was not convinced.
"Check him again, my son said he was hurt ... Did you check for internal injuries?"
The doctors replied that there is no internal injuries and the royal highness will wake up soon . They also advised that only one person should be allowed to stay in the room for enough ventilation and less noise.
Obviously, the mother insisted on staying and kicked out the rest out of the room including the emperor.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Grace_sunshine
Grace_sunshine Of course it hurts , his body is OK but what about the heart ?
Tissue please.
*sniffs*
lol
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