He then placed it above the papers. He was about to stamp the document when a eunuch came bursting in the great hall. He bowed to the startled ministers and went in front of the King. "Your Highness...the soldiers have returned and..."
"And what?" The King asked the eunuch, all eyes were staring at the shuddering eunuch.
Trying to speak he fumbled with his words "It's...it's... come with me Your Highness" the eunuch just said as he ran out of the great hall. The King put aside the seal and followed the eunuch. "Your Highness, you need to stamp the document first" The left-wing ministers called out, but to no avail, the King ignored them and followed the eunuch. Having no other choice the ministers followed the King.
King Seo-Jung's heart raced as he followed the eunuch, he knew that his son was found, but in what condition? Hundreds of scenarios and possibilities played in his mind, but none of them was favorable.
Finally, they reached the courtyard, he saw a great gathering of soldiers, eunuchs, and court ladies. He stopped running, his legs felt like they had lead weights attached to them. He dragged his feet, trying to go where the servants gathered.
One of the court ladies noticed the King and immediately informed the others. Everyone bowed to the King, except for one person. The soldier in the middle has his back towards the King. The soldier turned around to face the king; he had a smile on his face. "Your Highness...we found the prince, we found Prince Young-Sik and he is alive"
Seo-Jung gazed at Young-Sik, who the soldier was carrying. Young-Sik's once neat hair was now rough and tangled, covered in mud and dirt, his clothes in shreds. The prince's lips were parched and cracked from lack of water.
King Seo-Jung reached out to his son, running his fingers through his hair. The prince weakly opened his eyes and whispered, "Father?" Seo-Jung felt a surge of renewed strength as he gently took his son from the soldier and held him close.
Tears streamed down the King's face, not of sorrow, but of gratitude, happiness, and relief. He thanked the heavens that his beloved son had survived against all odds.
The King's subjects erupted in joy as their prince made a miraculous return. However, not everyone shared in the celebration. Lim Do-Yun clenched his teeth, his fists shook and seethed with anger, sensing that the prince would thwart his ambitions to rule Chiongsun.
Five days have passed since Prince Young-Sik's return. Not once did he leave the residence of the former crowned prince. The King worrying about his son's condition came to visit. When he entered the room, he saw the prince just lying in bed, with his back turned to the door. He sat down by the prince "My prince, you should come out and play, your body will weaken if you continue to just lay in bed all day"
But the prince did not reply, King Seo-Jung stroked his son's head. The King's heart aches for his son, he could not fathom the scar that the ordeal left. He leaned over to his son and whispered to the prince "When you are ready, talk to me my prince and I will grant you a wish...whatever It could be"
The King stood up to exit the room but before he did, he took one more glance at his son who didn't even flinch. Outside the room, he talked to the Eunuch and the lady in waiting in charge of the prince. "How fares my son?"
The two looked at each other before the eunuch spoke "Your Highness...the prince keeps himself inside Prince Seo-Joon's room. All he does is to cry and embrace his brother's sword." The eunuch paused and glanced at the room where Young-Sik was "He thinks he was at fault for their deaths. We hear him saying they died because he could not help them"
"Has he visited the royal tombs?" The King asked
The court lady shook her head, "I'm sad to say that not even once had he visited my King"
"What happened to you, my son?" The King wondered, not wanting to force his son to get out of the crowned prince's residence, the King made his way to the great hall.
That night the King visited consort Lee, and he saw the court ladies busy moving her things into the Queen's residence. When he entered her room, consort Lee bowed gracefully to him. "Are you ready for tomorrow? For our wedding and your coronation," The King asked
"Yes, your Highness...How about our son? When will his ascension to crowned prince be? When will he move to the residence of the crowned prince?" She asked enthusiastically
"The crowned prince is already living in his residence," The King said.
Consort Lee was angered by what she heard, that she almost lost control of herself. "Forgive me, my King...I don't understand, but am I not going to be Queen? Doesn't that automatically make Man-Ju the crowned prince, he is older than Prince Young-Sik"
The King smiled "It does not matter...I chose him to be my heir and successor" he then observed consort Lee, her hand was trembling he noticed "Do we have a problem?" he asked casually
Consort Lee relaxed her hand and smiled "None, your Highness we don't have any problems"
But deep inside, Consort Lee was seething with anger "My son will be the next King, no matter what" she declared to herself.
Outside, Prince Man-Ju heard everything, his parents were talking about, he thought it did not matter, but he could not deny, that he felt a pinch in his heart with whom the King chose to be his heir.
Four months have since passed and Young-Sik's condition has not changed, he still locked himself out from the world. One day, during the first day of the month of the dog, Man-Ju came knocking into Young-Sik's room.
"Get up! Come on Young-Sik get up" Man-Ju asked his brother
"Go away" was Young-Sik's only response
Man-Ju scratched his head, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Young-Sik "What do you mean go away? You have been stuck here for a long time now. You haven't even visited our brother's grave"
"They don't want me there...I was the reason they died" he said, Man-Ju could detect the sorrow and guilt in his voice.
"What do you mean they don't want you to be there? You're not the one who killed them" he said in reply to what Young-Sik said
"Because I couldn't help them all, and that girl. She helped me survive, but when it was my turn to help her, I failed. It was like I killed them all" He shouted at Man-Ju
Fed up Man-Ju pulled his younger out of bed and held him by his shoulders. "You did not kill them; you couldn't help them even if you wanted to...you are just a little boy!"
"That's not true, I couldn't save them, I couldn't help them, that is why they died" Young-Sik shouted repeatedly, and he continued to scream hysterically.
Then Man-Ju slapped Young-Sik in his face. This made him stop screaming and instead, he cried, he buried his face in his brother's chest "Sorry Young-Sik, I just can't bear to see you like this...it feels like I lost you as well" Man-Ju said with tears streaming from his eyes.
"I miss them Man-Ju...I miss Mother, I miss sister Yoo-Na and I miss Seo-Joon. I want them back, please give them back to me" he cried and pleaded, for the return of those that he lost. "That girl, I need to save her, I need to save them all"
"We can't get them back little brother, they're gone now. But me and Father and Mother, we are here...please don't let us lose you as well" Man-Ju said to his grieving brother
"Remember what the crowned prince told us to do...we have to give it our all, we have to do our best to uphold our duties in the darkest of times, this is that time brother. Let's not make Prince Seo-Joon cry in his grave, we must continue his work"
He dried his younger brother's tears "Are you ready to come out now?" he asked Young-Sik
Sobbing, Young-Sik nodded and quietly allowed his older brother to lead him out of the gloomy room. For the first time in four months, Young-Sik steps out of the crowned prince's residence and into the outside world, the bright light blinded him for a moment. When his eyes got used to the bright sun, he looked around at the people around him, everyone was smiling, and everyone was happy that he was outside again.
Man-Ju however cut the celebration short "We can all cheer later, for now, he needs a bath" Man-Ju said while pinching his nose. The Lady in waiting approached Young-Sik and took a whiff of the air around him, gagging at the stench of a person who had never taken a bath for a long time.
After a proper bath and wearing proper clothes again, Prince Young-Sik and Prince Man-Ju visited the royal tombs. While Prince Man-Ju knelt in each tomb and lighted incense, Prince Young-Sik just stood and looked at the graves of his family.
Though he is only a child, his face shows a stern expression, however, sorrow and pain are evident in his eyes. In his mind, the same thought repeated over and over again. "No one will ever hurt my family ever again! I will kill anyone who dares to try"