The entrance of the duo produced a great sensation among the gamblers. Eun-hye struck them with a smile on her handsome face, then looked arrogantly around for the best place with lots of intriguing fun.
She saw Myung OK standing by her side, looking frightened at the host of men scrutinizing them carefully and wondered if she thought them dangerous, unruly , arrogant, etc.
"Look confident and have an unrestrained fun, little brother", she told her, "Those men are all muscles but no atom of strength, I assure you".
Myung OK tugged at her sleeves fearfully and darted her eyes around shrinking further behind her. "But they are so big and strong!", she moaned.
"Don't worry, you have me to thrash them for you if they dare act out of hand", Eun-hye boasted while she trained her eyes on the spinning table which had less people than other station.
Myung OK nearly burst into laughter at the empress promise of protection but reined herself in. "Yes hyung, I will totally seek for your protection if things get to that stage".
Eun-hye marched confidently to the table that caught her attention with Myung OK on her heels looking like a frightened cat.
At first, Eun-hye lost some money but things took a drastic change and she won back all her money and so much more. They drew attention to themselves as they were both striking and stunning. The gambling skill of the one who looked older added up to make them be in the spotlight.
Myung OK practically dragged Eun-hye away but she took a detour to the dice section, a place numbers are predicted. Soon, the cycle began again.
The house host got angry as they were losing much money than they have in the past. Other gamblers felt things were weird and got riled up too.
The timid manner of Myung OK, which is a strong contrast to Eun-hye's arrogant disposition couldn't keep the heart of the men. The cute and adorable boy they came to like as 'he' didn't gamble or speak much albeit 'his' interval cheering and clapping of hands irritated them the most. He was seen as an accomplice.
The game was rigged by the host, yet, the 'young man' somehow managed to win. The duo changed station, they lost at the same time won, but the winning streak was more dominant their loss.
Soon, Eun-hye felt she had overdone it as she gathered up the money, tied it properly on her waist then grabbed her younger brother's hand whose sweat are running down freely on her face and neck. The fright on her eyes were evident and the unconsciously tightly gripped hands affirmed that she was totally frightened.
She whispered to her. "Are you that frightened?".
Myung OK swallowed an invisible lump in her throat as she bobbed her head vigorously up and down, her eyes never leaving the hungry eyes of the pack of wolves. "Hyung, those men will beat us up once we're outside".
Myung OK unconsciously drew her back as they got closer to the entrance. "Can we not leave?", she said. The water in her eyes threatening to fall down.
"Then do we sleep here tonight. We still need to return to the palace".
A heavy weight weighed Eun-hye down, her chest got stuffy and rose to fear. She doesn't know if it's Myung OK transferring her own fear to her or the hostility she felt in the air.
Something struck her as peculiar as she saw suspicious looking men leaving before them, the gaze with which they were looked upon looked menacing. It really seems Myung OK's fear is justified. She wondered if they will make it home in one piece.
"Trust me", she told Myung OK suddenly, then pulled her hands into hers as they walked out into an ambush.
The hairs on their body rose as they simultaneously felt the danger. They convinced themselves to walk into crowded places and avoid isolated alleys, but that plan didn't materialize as they were cut off from their escape route.
"What's up guys?", Eun-hye nonchalantly asked. The arrogance in the tone masking the fear in her heart and slightly intimidating the men. The confidence in that tone is worth watching out for.
Myung OK, whom the men saw hiding behind his older brother created a leeway for them. The target changed to her as the men towered towards them. Eun-hye who had become really frightened reached out clumsily for her dagger hidden in her sleeves, thereby frightening the men who drew their swords equally.
She took a swing as one of the men reached to grab Myung OK but missed instead. In the blink of an eye, Myung OK was in their hands as hostage.
"Now , let's start the negotiation in earnest". One who seemed to be the leader gruffly said.
"What do you want?", she said as she watched the one whom she promised to protect taken captive and sorely afraid.
"Let go of all your money and we will let you go in one piece. We promise to leave your body intact".
"What you are saying is, you will take our money then beat us?". Eun-hye watched them angrily as the men fell deeper into laughter.
"You are smart". The leader said , not denying what she said.
"Big brothers, please let us go and we promise to bring more money to you". Myung OK fell into a sob as she looked at the men with teary eyes, pleas filled in the content of her notes.
"Really?", the leader said as he exchanged glances with his men. "How much will you pay for your freedom then?".
Myung OK started a hysterical cry as she sniffed her nose. "Please let us go!", she cried heartbroken.
Eun-hye couldn't bear her crying, her face was such a mess she feared her makeup will wear off and expose their identity as ladies. She untied the money pouch then tossed it on the ground with a warning to let her 'younger brother' go.
They counted the money, exchanged glances then rushed over to disarm the older boy. Everything took a span of few seconds surprising them. It was then they knew the boy had never wielded a sword before.
Both of them were heaved on the shoulders of the men like sack of rice amidst the intense struggle for survival. They were taken deeper into a dense forest then put down.
The one assuming the role of a leader smirked. "Jump into this pit. If you are able to climb out... You are free to go!". He pointed at the pit, then smiled wickedly.
"Really", Eun-hye said as she carefully went to take a look. As she drew closer, Myung OK's sense of hearing sharpened. What? What was that ominous sound?.
Soon, in confirmation of her fears, Eun-hye ran back and jumped on one of the men, holding tightly and swearing not to let go.
"Snakes! Nest of snakes!", she screamed frightfully.
Myung OK felt headache coming and knew she wouldn't hide herself forever. It's now or never.
The men laughed happily, pushed the 'boys' over ,but like octopus ; they clammed themselves on their body and sobbed helplessly.
"Big brothers! we're sorry, we will never come to your gambling den again. In fact, we will never gamble again!". Eun-hye sobbed pitifully as Myung OK nodded to everything she said, her face so pitiful men should be touched.
When it didn't work, Eun-hye shocked them.
"We're ladies! ".
The men stopped struggling with them and looked on confused. Once she gained their attention, she elaborated further.
"We are females actually. We ran away from home to have fun". At least, that much was true.
"Then, we will sell you to brothels". One said.
"We need to confirm, brothers", his yellow teeth flashed , revolting against their stomach. He smiled lecherously at Eun-hye and made to touch her chest. Suddenly, he lost control of his hands as it hung mid-air, needles fixed themselves comfortably on his veins; pain of a thousand sting crushing his system.
The men looked at the dangerous looking boy or is it girl, who few minutes ago had looked vulnerable. His captives looked dumbfounded at her as she had easily disengaged herself from them.
"Never you touch a woman's chest", she paused then smiled at them sinisterly, "... especially, if she's not your wife".
The men grabbed their swords tightly but soon, they were frozen with needles.
Eun-hye who looked as shocked as the men, broke out from her daze then clapped unconsciously.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry for not protecting you well". Myung OK kneeled down and made to bow when Eun-hye held her up.
"Little sister, why are joking at a moment like this?", she winked at her as a signal not to expose her identity. Myung OK understood then adapted quickly in changing her way of addressing her.
"Unnie", she said bashfully.
Eun-hye nodded satisfactorily then changed to her revenge mode.
"You dirty and smelly rotten eggs, you dared to throw us into the valley of death?... "She kicked one of them at his groin then slapped one aggressively.
"Watch as this big sister make you snake food".
The men could only curse as they had lost their mobility. Myung OK looked at the farthest distance as one of her men bowed.
'Those bastards!', she cursed under her breath. 'They always show up at the wrong time'.
She held Eun-hye whose foot was about to disconnect another's crotch .
"Unnie, we have to leave before more men arrive".
Eun-hye made to protest as she was having more fun but saw a mean looking man watching them.
She pointed at them fearfully. "Bandits!", she screamed then recovered her money from the waist of one and dragged Myung OK to flee.
The men who were frozen like ice status whimpered. "Please save us. Don't leave us like this". The duo didn't bother with them as they fled to safety.
Myung OK nodded at her men as signal. They know what to do.
They ran kilometers of distance before stopping for a breath.
"That's strange", Eun-hye said breathlessly.
"Those bandits didn't follow in hot pursuit", she observed.
"Maybe they found our faces cute", Myung OK said light-heartedly.
They both burst into fits of giggle but resumed their fleeing.
The marketplace was brimming with noises and activities when they arrived. Eun-hye who found it refreshing, relieved a sigh as she found the noise welcoming compared to the eerie silence of the woods.
They went to the place their female clothing are, changed into it, cleaned off their makeup, redid a normal one then walked out happily like they never experienced danger few moments ago.
They went into shopping spree with the money where they found the empress's servants searching for them... with the whole department of police force.