His restlessness was unfailingly obvious.
The Grand Queen was not faring better, she had refused to even step out of her pavilion ever since her grandchild had been missing.
It had just been three days but it felt like he had been away for months.
She invited different 'Shamans' who could look into the future to see what had happened to the Prince and if he would be found.
They all gave her soothing promises after some fake chants and rituals; ...'his highness is alive and in good hands, he will soon return, i promise you'.
After all, who would dare to upset the Grand Queen and say that the Prince was lost forever or that he was dead?
Then they would give her things like talisman and incense to make prayers every night for her grandson's safety.
The king had been having disturbing nightmares that seemed to get more vivid for each day he got reports that his son had not returned.
In his dreams, he would see a younger version of the Prince standing alone on a deserted farmland shouting out 'Father! Father!! where are you?!'...
Suddenly, the whole scenery would change and he would see his older brother - Minister Lee - climb out from a dark pit dressed in black clothes with fiery eyes. He would then grip his son's throat until he started to cough out blood.
He as the king himself would have been tied to a tree, struggling in futility to release himself and offer help to his son.
"You killed my children and destroyed my family so your child should not be left to live either!" His older brother would raise his head and stare right into his soul from the eyes
"no, no, get away, no, begone, no, ..." he would continue chanting incessantly
"hahahaha... hahaha...hahaha...' an endless torrent of wicked laugh from the assailant with his prey already almost lifeless
"no! not my son!, no, no, get away from him!, no..." he would then wake up from the horrible dream.
This had gone on for some days and he would always wake up to the heart-breaking news that his son had not been found 'yet'.
He seemed to really love his son.