* JOSEON, YEAR 1849 *
Coming towards the main gate is Kim Taehyung, all bruised and bloodied, mounted on his horse with a cloth bag soaked in blood and followed by less than twenty men.
Taehyung approaches the huge gates of the great Changdeok-gung, and in less than ten seconds, the great gates of King Lee Hyuk-Jae's grand palace open, allowing the few survivors of the battle against rebels into the city of Kaesong.
Getting off his horse, Taehyung unties the bag and walks to the meeting room, where the eunuchs, ministers and the king are gathered. One of the soldiers who protects the door of the hall, soon sees Taehyung approaching and announces him:
- Commander Kim Taehyung wishes to attend the meeting, Your Majesty!
- Let him in! - The king answers, and when he finishes his sentence, the commander enters with his head bowed and the bag dripping with blood.
- Your Majesty. - Taehyung kneels doing the bow facing King Hyuk-Jae. - I apologize for interrupting your meeting, but what I have in hand is something I could not expect. - He lifts the bag and then gets up.
- Oh okay. Can you please leave us alone? We will continue the meeting tomorrow afternoon. - Hyuk-Jae gets up from the throne and waits for all the men to leave the room. - What is in that bag so important that it interrupts an important meeting of the Royal Council? - Asks the king coming down from the throne and putting his hands back.
- Sir, in my hands is the head of Gi-Seok, the leader of the Kaesong rebels. - The commander opens the bag and turns it upside down, dropping the head of a man who appears to be about forty-five years old, with rolled eyes and a mutilated face.
- Finally that wretch is in his right place. - The king looks at his head on the ground with his foot on top and spits in his eyes. - Were you able to kill all the rebels? - He asks taking his foot off the bloody head.
- Yes, Your Majesty, we have eliminated everyone, we have left only women and children alive, as you have ordered. - Taehyung responds by making another bow to the king.
- Come on Tae! Don't be so formal with me. We are brothers! - The king looks at the head and kicks it across the room and hugs Taehyung sideways.
- But you are king, and I am your commander. - The commander says looking at the blood on his clothes.
- I do not care! You are my little brother and I order you to be informal with me! Call me Eunhyuk, brat. - Hyuk-Jae turns to Taehyung and slaps his head.
- AAII !! WHY HIT HIT ME? DO YOU WANT TO DIE? - Taehyung screams rubbing his head and pointing at Hyuk-Jae, who is laughing at the younger brother's face.
- Are you threatening me, Commander Kim? - The eldest approaches Taehyung raising an eyebrow.
- I wouldn't be able to betray you, Your Majesty. - The Commander kneels and responds with his head down. - Forgive me for the way I addressed you.
- Ah shut up and get up! - Hyuk-Jae gives a loud laugh, so loud it could be heard outside the palace.
- You bastard, I thought I offended you. - Taehyung says, standing up.
- But I was offended! - replies and puts his bread on his chest. - It's a joke Tae, now go take a shower and find me in the same place as always okay? - Hyuk-Jae walks over and puts his hand on his brother's shoulder.
- I'll be there, but ... What do I do with that head? - The young commander points to the head across the room.
Hyuk-Jae snaps his fingers and one of his servants opens the door.
- Did you call me Majesty? How can I help you? - Says the servant without realizing the presence of the commander, bowing only to the king.
- Pick up that head and hang it on the city gate. - Hyuk-Jae points to the head full of flies.
- Yes Majesta- Oh Commander Kim! Forgive me! I didn't see him there. - The servant bows to Taehyung and walks to the head.
- WAIT! YOU WON'T GET IT WITH YOUR HANDS, WILL YOU? - Taehyung screams with a terrified face.
- Ahh ... Yes, I didn't know I would have to load a head, so I didn't bring the necessary for the removal. - The bent servant replies, almost touching the rotten head.
- No way. Here, take it with this. - The young commander throws the cloth bag into the servant's hands.
- Thank you sir. - The servant thanks and bows to Tae.
- No sir, please. I'm not that old. Call me Taehyung. - Young commander smiles at the servant and leaves the room next to the king. The servant bows before the two men and returns to his task.
Upon leaving the meeting room, Taehyung bows away from Hyuk-Jae and heads for his room.
Entering his room, Taehyung lets out a deep breath looking for something to dry off and to wear.
- Damn it! Where are my clothes? - He asks himself sitting on the huge bed covered with red silk sheets and with golden details.
Taehyung searches for his clothes for a few minutes, until he finds them in a secret compartment he had created before fighting in Kaesong. The young commander takes a simple suit and leaves the room and heads for the baths behind the palace.
Upon arriving at the hot springs, Tae takes off his clothes, throwing them on top of some rocks and dives into the hot water leaving a red trail of blood. Tae emerges from the water, brushing his hair away from his face with his hands, looking at his hands, Tae sees that they are soiled with blood and then a tear falls from his eye. Tae finishes washing and leaves the big thermal pool, starts to dry himself and to dress his green hanbok with pink sleeves.
Tae hands the bloodstained clothes to one of the servants and heads to the meeting place with King Lee Hyuk-Jae. The place is on top of a small hill, and at the top there was a big cherry tree. Upon arriving at the place, Tae sees his older brother sitting on a small bench drinking something and admiring the great city of Hanseong.
The king turns to Tae and waves. Tae waves with a square smile and approaches the king.
- Wow! As my little brother looks beautiful, it doesn't even seem like a few minutes ago he brought an enemy head in a bag. - Hyuk-Jae looks Tae up and down, laughing in awe.
- Oh, I'm wrong. How are you? -Tae punches his brother in the shoulder.
- THERE! - Hyuk-Jae shouted rubbing his shoulder still laughing. - Ah ... You know, right? I'm as usual. - He ends looking at the city view.
- And that's good? - Tae asks filling two glasses of soju, looking at his brother with a worried expression. - How are things going with Donghae? - Tae asks, handing him one of the glasses.
- He disappeared since the day the princess of Japan gave me the damn kiss. I love him so much, I would leave my throne for him, and he knows it. - A tear falls from the king's eyes.
- Cow. Don't worry Hyung ... We will find him. - Tae says with one of his hands on Hyuk-Jae's shoulder.
- I hope we find him soon ... I can't wait to hug him again, to get on our horse and ride all over Joseon as we used to, behold MY GOD! IT'S SO MUCH LOVE TO GET ANNOY OF VOMITING !! - Tae interrupts his brother, who was speaking with such excitement and love, so much love that his eyes shone more than the moon on a starry night.
- Look Eunhyuk, your love is beautiful, forbidden and so sweet! Where did you get this thing from horses? - Tae speaks filling another glass of soju for both. - Will I find someone who makes me feel what you feel for Donghae? Or even more? - Tae looks at herself in the reflection of the tiny glass full of drink. - Hyung, is it possible for a person to fall in love with someone who has blood on their hands?
- The blood you have on your hands is proof of your faithfulness, courage, and love as well. You are Kim Taehyung, commander of the army, prince of Joseon, but most of all, you are human too. - Hyuk-Jae faces his younger brother and strokes his hair. - By the way ... We will have a big visit in two days. - The king speaks after turning the glass of soju, letting out a sharp sigh.
- And who will come? The wretch of Japan? Look, if she comes here again, I- First calm down. Second, if she came and you tried something against her, you would be declaring war against Japan and third, it is not she who will come, but the Prince of Qing, Dong Si Cheng. - Hyuk-Jae cuts the youngest by stuffing a muffin in his mouth.
- But why will he come to Joseon? - Tae asks spitting some cake crumbs.
- Hm ... How can I say? It's like an alliance renewal. So that our countries stay together for a long time. - Answer the king.
- Ah understood. Okay then ... I have no missions now, so it will be nice to receive you.- Tae says enjoying the view.
- That's great! Now we have to go back ... It's getting dark. - Hyuk-Jae gets up and soon reaches out to help Tae to get up too.
The two go to the Palace and separate by going to their rooms.
Taehyung opens his bedroom doors and takes off his clothes, being totally naked. He walks over to his bed and throws himself at her looking at the ceiling and falling asleep there.