~Heavenly Palace, throne room.~
The throne room was deadly quiet with no sound heard as if the atmosphere froze over.
Sang-je was seated on the throne seat. He was wearing a black robe which made him appear gloomy and cold. The expression on his face was blank as ever as he looked at the guards kneeling in front of him.
Hwanung was standing in front of him with his indifferent expression and cold aura. His eyes are lifeless as he looks down towards the ground like a child being scolded by his father.
"What the hell happened here?'' Sang-je's eyes drifted to the dead body of a guard laid in a wooden carved stretcher at the corner of the room.
The two guards order to look over dalnim exchange a fearful glance with each other. One of them tries to talk but he ends up stuttering. "Forgive me Your Majesty. We don't…. do…"
"I said what happened?" Sang-je's deep voice roared in their ears which made them almost stumble from their kneeling position.
The atmosphere in the room heated up just for a split second and it turned completely cold the next moment. Slowly the cold seeped through the room and into the guards body making them stiff.
The first guard adjusted well in his kneeling position before taking the courage to speak. "Princess Dalnim disobeyed Your Majesty's order which warranted us to use the Tadun on her. But before we know it a sword out of nowhere thrust into his chest"
Somehow the guard's voice cracked up, showing how terrified he was and it was only about time before his voice gave up and became dumb but the expression on Sang-je's face was awaiting the guard to resume talking. Whereas the faint heart guard did not have the courage to speak up anymore.
Sang-je hiss; the loud annoying sound seeped throughout the room and the guards shuddered in fear.
That isn't what he wanted to hear.
The second guard fiddled with his clothes nervously. He knew it just only a matter of time before Sang-je anger exploded and he dared not think of its consequences but the cold and unbothered eyes of Hwanung scared the shit of him. Though Hwangung remains calm but he knows what await them if they dare say a negative words against him
They were trapped between two difficult people.
"Is none of you going to talk? '' Sang voice shot up again echoing into the room.
The second guard turned his head sideways just to see Hwanung reaction. He saw the man still looking down with his cold expression. Since Hwanung isn't doing anything to help them, the guard figures out they have to help themselves, and overlooked the consequences his action might bear them.
The guard's head jerked up to look at sang-je, though his eyes stayed focused on the floor. "Your Majesty please forgive my imprudence but Lord Hwanug had come in against your order and we are unable to stop him from entering which resulted into this situation"
Sang-je's face turned stony when he heard the guard's statement and he turned toward Hwanung's direction.
"Explain yourself. What happened and why did you come here."
"I guessed it was Hyeonmu work and I came to save my sister from the cruel punishment you put her under," Hwangung said casually, shrugging his shoulders.
It was the wrong thing to do because immediately all the anger Sang-je had been trying to suppress burst out. His cheek flushed and his facial muscles became rigid as he stormed toward Hwanung. Grabbing his robe he jerked him closer to his face gritting his teeth as he said. "Someone die, yet you are unfazed about it whereas you are the cause of his death"
Hwanung scoffed before saying. "How is it that I am the one that caused that?. He died because he deserves it"
Sang-je's voice grew louder as he spouted "You could have stopped that shadow of yours." Now he was closed to screaming "But you refused to and allowed your follower to kill one of my guards and even defy my direct order"
"Why is it that you only care about your guard and authority and not your family" Hwanung snarky snapped, losing his temper. His eyes were smoking and brewing rage and the vein in his neck almost popping out.
Can't the man just take his child's side for once
Hwanug stared bloodshot at his father who stood in shock, surprise by his son actions.
The guards were completely lost in the two men's heated conversation and they were happy about it because It was their luck to be forgotten from their discussion.
"How could you be so cold-hearted to your own children, Is it a sin to be born as your child. First you banished and laid a curse on your son. You also forbid me from marrying the woman I love. Lastly you decide to harm your daughter. With all these, how can you call yourself a parent" Hwanung shouted frustrated at once, allowing the wave of his hidden pain and resentment to wash through him as a lone tears fell from his eyes.
His pain could be heard from his voice and tears. He frowned and looked away without looking at his father anymore. It felt as if a huge rock was weighing down on his heart.
He had never thought he would feel such emotion in his life as he added hoarsely "But you know what, you don't have to worry about me anymore. Since my face disgust you so much I will just go to Earth then you can have your breathing space"
Sang-je fists his hands into a ball looking at his son. He just wanted to move closer to him and wiped his tears then pulled him into his embrace to comfort him but all he could do was watch him in despair. He couldn't say anything either. His gaze was empty as he devastedly stared at Hwanung.
Hwanung words made his heart go numb with pain. He felt cold and before he could recover from the excruciating pain he heard Hwanug footsteps going toward the entrance.
Sang-je's eyes stung with tears as he dejectedly watched the retreating back of his son. He hated himself for getting into this position… he couldn't even protect his own children and hearing Hwang outburst he realized how shameful and helpless he had been.
'You can't fall apart' He told himself. You have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders as a leader and eventually your children will understand that.