บท 43: Rubbing the Right Way (2)

The tension between Sungho and the two people along him was heavy. As moment passed, he found the silence continuously became more onerous and bothersome. Since they had left the grand concubine's courtyard, Chun started sending him concerned gazes, which caused Sungho sigh in dismay.

"What are you worrying for?" he queried, looking on the road ahead.

"The Grand Concubine appeared irked."

"Leave her be. I'm the one who's supposed to be irritated. She's so annoying."

"What if Grand Concubine Jin made another move?" Chun speculated. She was not wrong though, Sungho felt he just added fuel to the woman's anger after their meeting. He would lie if he would state he wasn't regretting what he had done. But what mattered was, he was able to escape from her.

"... Therefore I thought about having someone on our side. Someone who knows her more than anyone—What is happening out there? Why are they gathering?" He pointed to the direction. Sungho was distracted by the crowd he saw thronging outside the female servants' quarters, which he did not notice earlier when they walked by it.

"The eunuchs are selecting maidservants who would help them prepare for the coronation that will take place outside the supreme hall next week."

'Next week,' he repeated in his mind. This meant Hyun Sik and his men along with the two foreigners had seven days to assassinate the king before the coronation came into being. 'Are they going to make a move today?'

Sungho stopped on his tracks and watched the eunuchs, wearing sea green dresses and a belt on their waists, directing at the maidservants before distinguishing and separating the ones they had chosen on one side.

"But why do they need to pick servants?" was his question.

"They chose the ones who had been serving for a long time and those who looked suited for the job since they needed to avoid making any mistakes throughout the coronation day."

As they watched the picking of the maids ongoing in front of them, a eunuch sensed their presence. He shifted his eyes to their direction, then decreased his distance by walking toward them.

"Concubine Eun, Your Highness," the eunuch greeted him as he bowed his head. "Please allow this servant to borrow Her Highness' court lady for a moment."

"... Okay." Sungho seemed doubtful but he allowed him to have Chun otherwise.

Seeing as his court lady trotted away beside him as she was following the eunuch, Sungho averted his gaze on the busy crowd and landed at the soldier standing behind him. "Daewon."

"Your Highness?" He heard the person return his call and moved to his side.

"What are you and the others have been doing?" Sungho calmly questioned the moves that Daewon and his brother were taking to execute the planned assassination. "The coronation is next week."

"I'm afraid I can't spill the information to you."

Sungho sighed to the soldier's answer before replying, "I know. Will you please tell me if you've been taking any steps, or when are you guys going to execute the plan?"

"Of course, we just started taking measures." Sungho glanced upward to the soldier whose eyes seemed preoccupied with something. "Right now," Daewon followed, then stared down at him and delivered a clean smile on his lips.

"You mean, at this moment—"

"Excuse me, passing through!" A shout interrupted him from speaking.

Swiftly turning his gaze, he was introduced with the strong smell of dirt, which resembled between the speck of rock dust and the fume of a cigar. The pungent chalky and smoky smell rushed into the nasal that reflexively made him wrinkle his nose upward.

The rattles from the big cart containing charcoal that was being pulled by two people rang through the open place; stealing almost everyone's attention by its loud thumps, yet making them deflect away by the dusty stench and the faint smell from the fuel reeking.

The heavy noises were growing closer at a quick pace, and before he knew it, it was about to run him over. However, as the cart was approaching, Sungho found himself drifting, getting pulled by the strong arms wrapped on his waist from the spot where he was standing.

In a twinkle of his eye, his body crashed on the soldier's sturdy build, his small hands conquered his chest, and his face was brought next to his.

"Yes, at this moment." Sungho felt Daewon's calm breath caressed his skin as he spoke.

Sungho froze at the spot in awe as he watched his immobile eyes, locked while they responded with his. Unblinking, Sungho was lost in his deep shaded orbs as they shared looks.

When it came to his senses, Sungho immediately pushed him using all his strength. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I pulled you away from danger?" Daewon rejoined, full of confusion in his voice.

"No need. I was about to move from my spot."

"... Sure, Your Highness."

"What's with that tone?" Sungho queried when he managed to catch his scorn.

"What tone?" Daewon responded innocently, tilting his head on one side.

Sungho crossed his arms and looked at the teasing soldier. His eyes narrowed, partly opened while he peered to view Daewon's mocking expression on his face, in the urge to blink as Sungho drew his brows together. They stood just like that, no one dared to blink nor make a move.

"Your Highness. I apologize for making you wait." Chun's call interrupted the tension forming between them. "I helped them pick the servants. It took longer than I thought. What happened while I was away?"

"Nothing... Let's return to the court." Sungho averted his gaze on Daewon, then reached out for the court lady's arm as he spoke.

"Yes, Your Highness."