Man Ho had impressed prince Gwang Jae with his martial arts on the market square about four years ago.
Gwang Jae proposed his motive to him as just friendship, and as a lowborn child that he is, he was deeply happy. The thoughts of him being friends with the royal makes him so excited.
Man Ho thought being with the prince can be used as an opportunity to elevate his family's financial condition and situation. At first, their relationship appeared promising when the prince gave his family a thousand Yang to pay off all their debts, renovate their apartment and start up a business, maybe. He had no idea that he is going to work so hard for the money, gifts, and all other items that comes to him from the prince.
After he had received the money, Prince Gwang Jae asked him to take the exam and enter officially as a soldier in the palace. He told him that with his help, it will be very easy.
Happily, Man Ho accepted the offer again not knowing what he was in for. He took the exams and successfully, he passed excellently. The prince also had his ways to make sure Man Ho worked In his chambers, becoming his right hand man.
Later on, Man Ho realized he had been tricked with sweet mouth and riches, royalty doesn't mean humanity. What the prince needed was a puppet, someone to be a shadow of him, someone to always do all his dirty works for him, he needed a dog which is far from friendship.
But what could he do, he had to keep obeying to his master's instructions and orders. He had even agreed to kill prince Yeoning for him, but thankfully it didn't work out.
Whilst the prince was worried and sad that the Men couldn't get rid of the prince, Man Ho was happy that it didn't happen. If the prince can do all these things, killing his brother because if a title, definitely he can kill him too when the time comes. If they had successfully killed the prince, and one of his men gets caught by chance and they are being traced back to him, he is very sure that the prince will abandon him instantly. He will never try to bail him out or protect him, despite the fact that he gave the order.
Another terrible thing Man Ho had to endure is the prince irritating way of womanizing and speaking so ill of them. He always refers to women as one of the essential enjoyments of life that had to be seriously enjoyed. The prince also always mentions that, one of the main reasons he wants to become king is because he wants to have access to all pretty and attractive ladies he sees.
"Do you care for a drink?" The prince asks.
"No, your highness. I need to get going now." Man Ho says rejecting the offer politely.
"No, I insist you have a drink with me, you do a lot of work, and you need enough time to rest and enjoy." The prince says and smiles. "Who is out there?" He asks loudly facing the entrance to his room.
A court lady in her late forties enters and bows. "You called for me your highness."
"Yes I did, tell some of those girls to bring in some drinks and snacks."
"Yes, your highness." The court lady bows and walks out.
"So tell me." The prince faces his right hand man. "I haven't seen you with any woman before, why is that?"
"Nothing your majesty." Man Ho whispers. "I just haven't seen a girl that I really like."
"So you need to like a girl before you can have anything to do with her?" The prince asks again.
"I believe so, your highness." Man Ho replies shyly.
"Alright, why don't you book an appointment with any of those giseang in sosoru this night, I will pay whatever she wants." The prince whispers teasingly.
"I am sorry to say this your highness." Man Ho whispers politely. "But I am not interested in giseangs."
"Alright, anytime you get a girl you like and you are ready for marriage, tell me everything your wedding will cost, I will pay." The prince says mockingly and laughs.
"Your grace are immeasurable, your highness." Man Ho says and bows even though he wasn't happy with the statement.
"Your highness, it is I." The court lady from earlier announced from outside.
"Come in!" The prince orders.
The court lady enters with two other girls who carries a big stool of snacks and drinks each. They place the stools and bow to the prince.
"How come it is this fast?" The prince asks the court lady who he instructed a while earlier.
"They were on their way here already when you gave out the order." The court lady whispers gently.
"Oh! I see, you all must have taken to corrections now." The prince says and laughs. "You can all go now."
"Thank you, your highness." The court lady says happily and walks out of the room with the other girls immediately.
"It is so good you always put these court ladies in their place and give them the training they really deserve and need." The prince says shortly after the ladies left this room. "Look at them now, they now know what and what not to do. They don't even need to wait for my instructions anymore." He exhales deeply. "That is the kind of nation I will build as soon as I become king, a peaceful nation where everyone knows his place."
"That is very thoughtful of you, your highness." Man Ho whispers forcefully. He knows vividly that if Gwang Jae becomes the next king, the entire nation will be in a serious unrest. But what can he do, he is totally powerless and doesn't have any say in politics. Nevertheless, he is in the best position to tell the world the kind of person Prince Gwang Jae really is, but no one will ever listen to him or believe anything he says. Not even the queen, her majesty knows the true nature of her son.