Chapter-5- The solivagant
The meeting room was silent, only the gentle breathing of the seven princes of Gogureyeo and the King of Gogureyeo could be heard. Ji-Ho wanted to roll his eyes. Why did a beast have to prowl silently before its attack? What was the meaning of this façade of peace? Good Heavens, his 'family' was much too annoying.
"You know why we are assembled here. Today, in this sacred palace, I will announce the crown prince, and the successor to my throne. I have worked hard to reign this kingdom with as much peace and greatness I can, and I hope the successor will continue this legacy.", the King said, his voice grave, his face a portrait of seriousness.
"I am sure, whoever, the successor is, will try his best to keep the greatness of Goguereyeo, father.", the first prince, Sung-Ho said, a charming smile his face. Ji-Ho wanted to scowl, the hidden hostility in this room was getting on his nerves.
The king smiled. He gathered aa breath and straightened his back,
"The Crown Prince of Gogureyeo is….", Ji-Ho, stared at all of his brothers and half-brothers. They looked hungrier than the wolf which attacked him.
"The third prince, Jang Ji-Ho.", the King said, his voice regal and lined with authority now. No one would dare question his statement. Or so he thought. The hidden hostility in the room erupted like firework in the dark night's sky.
"No! I am the first prince, it is my birth right to be the King!", the first prince, Sung-Ho rumbled, his face a twisted mask of anger and hatred as he stared at Ji-Ho and the King.
"A weakling, like him shouldn't be the King, even the palace servants could be better Emperors than him.", the fifth prince, Dong-Hyun, known for his strength and athletic prowess, said silently.
"I agree brother, Ji-Ho never won any sparring match. He is too weak to be a king.", the seventh prince, Han-Gyeol, said, shaking his head vigorously.
"Father you have never made a mistake, but you are making a grave one now. I beg you, rethink your decision.", the fourth prince Hyun-Woo, begged, his voice a soft whisper. "He is known to be shy and a wallflower, yet now he spoke out,", Ji-Ho mused, almost wanting to laugh. He couldn't help the devious grin which spread across his face, all this slander, was great entertainment.
"He has the cheek to smile! Father, he is much to arrogant to be the King!", the sixth prince, Sang-Hoon, screeched, his voice shrill. Ji-Ho flinched. What was he? His sister Bong-Cha? Even she never screamed so dramatically. Ji-Ho felt bad for his poor ears, what had they done to hear such a painful sound?
"Enough!", the King bellowed. The second prince who had been silently looking at his lap the whole time, looked at him now.
"Do you think being a King is a sparring match? Do you think physical strength matters? Ji-Ho has shown all the qualities of a good king, and the most important one, being the wish to not be the King. By your petty fighting for the throne, you have only proven yourself to be more unfit to be the King. I will not hear another word on this. You are all dismissed.", the King said, his voice firm, leaving no room for arguments. The room became silent again, as the princes left angrily, but silently, knowing no good would come from arguing with their father.
"Ji-Ho come here, you may not leave." Ji-Ho stilled in his tracks, what was it now? He just wanted to sleep. He slowly retracted, and sat beside his father.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"You saw and heard all of that. I hope now you understand why you need protection. But I will assign a special Guard for you, you never know what your brothers may try. The Guard will protect you till you become the King. My days here are limited, you know of the illness from which I am dying, till my death, that Guard will protect you."
The mention of his father's terminal illness dampened Ji-Ho's mood more than any of the slander ever could. His father was not the best man, he had not treated Ji-Ho's mother with the respect she deserved, but he had taken care of all of his children, Ji-Ho and all his brothers and half- brothers, and his two sisters the ever dramatic Bong-Cha and the sweet Yeon-So, he had never abandoned any of them, and had always treated them fairly. As a Monarch, he was without a doubt one of the best that had ever reigned. He was not the best, Ji-Ho did not overflow with love for him, but he was not the worst either, Ji-Ho did not hate him. But one thing Ji-Ho knew for sure, was that he didn't deserve to die.
The king laughed.
"Don't be sad little one, I have lived long enough, and done my best for Gogureyeo, though I have many regrets, I know I will die in peace knowing Gogureyeo is in your hands."
A melancholic smile creased both father and son's lips.
"Father, I will do my best to fulfil all your wishes, but, I have only one wish.", Ji-Ho said remembering something.
"What is it son?"
"May I choose for myself the Guard who will protect me till your death, till I become the Emperor?"
The King was taken aback by the request. What an odd request to have!
"Do you have someone on your mind?"
"Yes"
"Is he skilled, and worthy enough to protect you?"
"Actually, it's a 'she' not a 'he'. And she is truly very skilled, and most definitely worthy enough to protect me.", Ji-Ho clarified. His father gasped in surprise.
"A woman? Are you mad? Absolutely not, how can a woman protect you?"
"She has saved me once before, she is very skilled with the Do,..", Ji-Ho lifted his shirt to show the bandages around his wound. His poor father was only getting shocked by the minute.
"She saved me from a wolf one night, when I went to the Cherry Blossom Forest. She killed it in one fluid motion, her skill is like the Goddess of War."
His father rubbed his temples.
"You sneaked out into the Forest in the night?" he asked wearily.
Caught red-handed, Ji-Ho nodded, red with embarrassment.
"And this woman saved you?"
"Yes"
"And you expect me to believe that?"
"Yes"
"I cannot, I am sorry son, that is too much to believe."
It was time to use his last resort. His last weapon. Ji-Ho looked at the King, his eyes large and full of sadness, begging for pity like a little hurt puppy. Those eyes. He knew, quite smugly, no one was immune to them. His secret weapon.
"I know it's hard to believe, but I swear by the Heavens its true. If she saved me once, she can save me again. Please father, it is my only wish."
Much to his joy, he could see his father's resolution breaking.
"Fine, I believe you, indeed this woman saved you, but, skilled enemies and wild feral wolves are different."
"Perhaps in their fighting, but not in their motives. They are the same. Hungry. Please, please, please Father, it is my only wish." Ji-Ho mustered all his energy to make his eyes look the saddest they could look. And then it happened. Ta-da! He saw his father's resolution crumble. Ji-Ho felt like a smug cat.
"Fine, she will be your Guard, but you will have another troop of specially trained, and my most trusted Guards also looking after you. But what is her name? I should at least know the name of this extraordinary woman."
Ji-Ho could not help the smile which slipped out of him when he said her name.
"Rhee Ae-Ra."
*****
Ji-Ho walked down the long corridors of the palace, heading towards his room, smug that he would meet the devilish woman again. But when he reached his door, he saw the silent figure of the second prince standing there. The second prince, Min-Jun. Ji-Ho sighed. He was tired of this already, they really could not give him a break could they?
"You will make a horrendous king."
"And you would make a catastrophic one."
"Leave the position, you do not deserve it."
"No, I will not, but you will leave your position on my bedroom door. You don't want rumours flying around, do you?" Ji-Ho winked at disgusted and horrified prince. He shoved him aside and entered his room, locking it.
He heaved a sigh of relief and faded hurt. His only blood brother hated him. All for a jewelled up chair. It was like wound which did not hurt anymore, just stinged. How could he forget that even in a palace full of people, he was alone? That he was a solivagant.