"I'm not doing it." Jinwoon angrily stared at Sung Hoon. "Call the whole damn wedding off!" Sung Hoon frowned. "You've been complaining since day one. Nothing is good." "Do you blame me! You and the rest of the court are making stupid demands."
Ki Ha didn't know what to do. For the first time since becoming an adult he had no idea what to do or say. He had just entered Sung Hoon's house to find Jinwoon and Sung Hoon fighting. He had never seen them fight before.
"Uhm... Excuses me, guys... What is going on?" Jinwoon and Sung Hoon ignored him. "They are not demands! It's normal." "Normal?! Normal?! Then you do it!" Jinwoon turned to walk away but Sung Hoon stopped him. "If you leave this room, the wedding is really off!"
Jinwoon scoffed before storming off. "Am I a joke to you?!" Sung Hoon yelled and ran after Jinwoon. Ki Ha was frozen on the spot. He could hear them screaming until he heard doors banging. "What... What should I do."
He didn't know if he should go up stairs to talk to them or should he just leave and come back tomorrow. "I'll go ask Elder Young." He looked at the hall before leaving the house. After searching for a while he found Young.
Ki Ha told Young everything. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure they're just nervous about everything. The wedding and coronation is in a week's time. Jinwoon doesn't know how the royals work. Don't worry about it. I'm sure they will cool off in a day or two."
Ki Ha gave Young a skeptical look but decided to listen to him. Young was much older and he must have seen things like this before. The next day he went over again but before he could enter, the door flew open and Sung Hoon stormed out.
"W... Where are you going?" Ki Ha turned and ran after Sung Hoon. "I need to get out of here. He's doing my head in." Ki Ha was really worried now. "But... What happened?" Sung Hoon stopped walking. "What didn't! Nothing and I say nothing is good anymore."
Ki Ha had no idea what Sung Hoon was talking about. "I'm going to the forest." Sung Hoon started to walk again. Ki Ha wanted to follow. "I want to be alone." Sung Hoon walked to the stables. "Ki Ha, I'm not joking leave me alone."
"Ki Ha was shocked but he walked away. He went back to Young to tell him what happened. "I told you to leave it for a few days. Don't go over. Just let them be." Ki Ha was getting more anxious. "Are you sure?" Young gave him a book. "Read. It will help."
Ki Ha looked at the title. 'Courting, Marriage and Love. The ins and out of a complex psychic conflict.' Ki Ha glared at Young. "Better be useful." After reading half the book he decided that he would never fall in love.
He stood up and left. "Thanks, Elder Young. I'll be going now." He walked out of Young's research room and began to wander around. After a while he arrived at the guest quarters. "Ki Ha nim! What are you doing here?"
He looked up to see the seven selection girls standing in front of the door. Despite his gloomy feelings, he put on a big smile and walked towards them. "My ladies. I was just having a stroll and ended up here. How are you doing?"
The girls all smiled. "We were planning to go into town. We heard about a place where you can eat and enjoy music." Da Son looked especially excited. Ki Ha couldn't help but laugh. "Do you mean The Desert Rose?" Da Son nodded.
"Have you been there before? How is it? Is it as nice as everybody says?" She couldn't stop asking questions. "If you all don't mind, can I tag along?" The girls didn't protest. 'This might help me relax.' Ki Ha asked the girls to follow him.
Ki Ha led them to the carriage area and asked attendees to ready two carriages for them. "The Desert Rose is a nice and clean place. The food is up to par with the palace food. I will let you in on a secret. The workers there are all old palace workers."
"That's why it's so famous and popular. Ordinary people can feel like their kings and queens for a few hours and the price is not expensive. You can find people of all walks of life at The Desert Rose." explained Ki Ha, while they were waiting for the carriages.
When the carriages were prepared, the group got in and were driven straight to The Desert Rose. From the outside The Desert Rose looked like a large copper building. It stood out because the rest of the buildings were white. There were a stream of people going in and out.
All the girls were used to luxury but even they were amazed with the inside of the building. The inside was huge. They were standing in the opening waiting to be seated. "There are 7 stories, each with a higher price range. This top floor is for the rich. We're, do you want to sit?"
"I want to see the entertainment." Da Son's had a silly smile on her face. "Each floor has entertainment. Down here are mostly comical acts and the top floors have classic music and dance. "Can we stay here? I'm not really into classics." Ji Ah looked at the others.
The other girls shrugged. "I'm fine with whatever." They had to wait a few minutes before a well-dressed female came. "Oh my. Lord Ki Ha! Why are you waiting? I'll bring you to your usual table." The woman became flustered. Ki Ha smiled. "No need. Me and my quest want to stay here. Do you have a place for us?"
The woman looked absolutely shocked. "Are you sure?" Ki Ha frowned. "Why?" The woman looked behind her. Ki Ha followed her and saw a group of 15 men sitting at a big table drinking and laughing. "Girls, I think it's better if we went up."
The girls were also looking at the men. They didn't know the reason but they decided to follow Ki Ha's advice. The woman told them to follow her. They had taken 4 steps when they heard Ki Ha being called.
"Ki Ha! Ki Ha. Don't act like you can't hear me! What are you doing here without the prince! Come join us and bring those fine girls along." One of the men had stood up and was yelling at them. The place became quiet because everybody was staring at the screaming man.
"Wait here." Ki Ha told the girls and hurried towards the table. "Young master Choi. I'm just showing the girls around. I'm sorry but we're going to the top floor." Choi Hun Gon was the spoiled son of minister Choi Hun Woo.
Hun Gon was supposed to become a minister but after failing the test he became a disgrace. His father Hun Woo had not disowned him but he was cut off. Everybody knew that he had no money and no real status but being the son of Hun Woo, people still had to show him respect.
He had made friends with other wealthy and trashy people. This group was notorious for creating problems wherever they went. Ki Ha wasn't in the mood to deal with Hun Gon. Sadly Hun Gon was known for being dense and thick headed.
"Why are you being a joy kill, bring the girls over." His voice had changed and Ki Ha knew that Hun Gon wanted to have his way. "If they were simple girls I would. But these girls are special guests at the palace. I don't think your father would be pleased."
Ki Ha saw Hun Gon's eyes quiver. "I'll let you go this time. But be sure to greet us before you leave." Ki Ha gave a big smile before turning around. 'Like hell. Even if they were beggars, I would bring them over. I'm not your servant!' He walked back towards the girls.
He could see the woman looking relieved. The woman brought them to a wooded lift. When they were all inside, she inserted a jade key in a hole at the bottom. "I'm taking you to the 7th floor. I will inform the guards." Ki Hi let out a deep sigh. He had hoped for a good time. "Thank you."
The girls were looking confused and worried. "That was Choi Hun Gon. He's a known troublemaker. He doesn't take no for an answer and him letting me leave now means that there will be trouble when we plan to leave."
Da Son's excitement was all gone. "Shouldn't we leave now?!" Ki Ha shook his head. "If we want him and his friends to start a brawl, yes. We just have to wait until they leave or we'll have to force him. I'm hoping for the first."
While walking out of the lift, Ki Ha felt like he was the unluckiest guy in the world.