Dohyun's residence.
"...would you comply with her wishes even if you understood?"
Dohyun refrained from answering the question, what was there to understand? Even if he did, he wasn't sure if he would be able to follow the queen's wishes.
Dan Yong sat in front of him on the opposite side of the table, Byung Ho had already left the full report which was the only thing on it right now. It seemed to have caught her attention but Dohyun hastily put it away.
"Please give me the full truth", Dohyun said as he looked her in the eye. She had a calm demeanor but her eyes twitched a little as he spoke.
She then looked to the far left side to where Jaeyong was sitting, observing the two.
"It's fine, you can speak", Dohyun assured her, dismissing her skepticality of the other person.
"Well then, your highness, I will tell you nothing but the raw truth", she said, facing him once more. "Before I do, please allow me to check", she said, extending her hand out to his.
He gave her his hand as she enclosed it in both of hers, she closed her eyes and tensed for a long time before finally reopening her eyes. Her expression was grim and her voice as well.
"I wished for it to have been a mistake, for me to have been wrong about your fate. What I told you last time was true, your highness, but the graveness is much more than you think.
The bloodshed and betrayal, the bloodshed of the ones you cherish the most, the ones closest to your heart. The betrayal of those who serve you, the people you trust the most. The decisions that you are bound to make will be nothing but mocked and made a laughingstock by those around you. But what the queen fears most is your betrayal to the throne and your blood shed on the ground as the result.
Your highness, you await the gruesomest fate I have ever seen. Listening to her highness would benefit you the most. She's done everything in her capacity to prevent such horrible things but if you continue to act on your own without heeding her warnings and directions, I fear what I've seen for you will come true. I have never been wrong, not once in my life."
The gruesomest fate ever? Him betraying the throne, his blood shed?
Dohyun unconsciously recoiled his hand back, his index finger picking into the skin at his thumb.
His voice was slightly raspy by the time he spoke "By abiding her instructions, what would that change?"
The shaman replied, "Your highness, fate is decided. It is an established marvel that no one has the ability to change."
Dohyun questioned, "Then what do you want to implore? I need to be locked up and watched day and night?"
Dan Yong only looked down and did not respond, silence was only partial to 'yes'.
"You're wrong", Dohyun said, "Just because you have seen my fate doesn't mean I will allow it to control me. An established marvel that no one can change? Wrong, I will decide my fate, I will write my fate so make sure to tell her highness to worry about it no longer." As he finished, he stood up to indicate the conversation was ending.
Dan Yong's face resembled that of a disappointed teacher when her student did otherwise to what he was told, like a disappointed mother whose son only caused trouble. She rose to her feet in front of him.
"I do not have the right to tell his highness what to do nor can I force you to abide. I can only warn you now that what you think is wrong, as I have mentioned earlier, fate is predetermined and life will follow its path in that direction", she said.
Dohyun replied, "Then I will be the first to change it."
"All of your decisions will prove that to you, the outcome of everything will now depend on you."
Dan Yong had already turned her back but faced him again as he spoke those words, "Your highness, do you really believe you can change fate?" She asked, she didn't mock him but asked as if she was truly curious.
Dohyun in reality, had no idea if he could change the so-called 'fate', but he was sure he wouldn't let it get to him, if everything depended on his decisions then he'd just make the right ones, he was the person in charge of making decisions in his life, as long as he had the choice to decide for himself, then, couldn't he avoid those predetermined scenarios?
He schooled his expression saying, "I will."
With that, the shaman casted a look towards Jaeyong whose head was turned to the side as if he should have left since the beginning, after she left leaving just them two; the doors closed loudly behind her.
Dohyun had also subconsciously turned to Jaeyong who had caught him looking at him, he hurriedly turned to the side and started heading towards the door mumbling, "I should leave for now, I should have-"
"Hyung", Dohyun called, making him stop in front of the door.
"Can you stay here for now?" He asked, his voice frail as he found it hard to speak just now, the words the shaman told him were finally sinking in, his fate was to see his beloved one's die and for him to follow after? He had said things just now with a seriousness and firmness that seemed unshakable but in reality he was violently trembling inside.
He wanted to be alone but he didn't want to be alone right now.
After realizing what he said, he understood it would most-likely make the other uncomfortable, hearing such things and then being asked to stay would be a burden rather, "Nevermi-"
"Yes, your highness", Jaeyong said, turning around, "I can stay, I will stay", he said, his voice full of assurance, gentle as ever.
Dohyun's breath caught, his body felt like it was glued to the ground unable to move at his command. Eight words kept repeating in his head, "bloodshed of the ones you cherish the most" circling his mind, he pressed his hand to his forehead wishing for it to go away.
It was only seconds later he realized that Jaeyong was already in front of him, supporting him, helping him to sit down. His hands were gentle as they held his shoulders making sure he wouldn't stumble down any moment.
"H-hyung?" He wondered why he was still there.
"Drink", Jaeyong said, handing him a cup as he poured some water for him.
His hands slightly trembled as he received the cup, looking into the water he saw his reflection, it was as if he had seen a ghost, he stared into it, averting his gaze when Jaeyong spoke from his side.
"Even if others do, I will never betray you, your highness."
Dohyun's thoughts shifted to what Jaeyong had just said, "I will never betray you" sounding through his head. For some reason, those words warmed his heart, relieving him of the latter thoughts consuming his mind. He didn't know if the other really meant those words or if he was just trying to comfort him but he decided to believe what he wanted to.
Dohyun only nodded his head as he finally downed the water in one gulp. Coming back to his senses, he said he would write his own fate and he would. He was certain that he could. That somehow, he would find a way, make a way.
That night they both retired to bed early, Dohyun laid there staring at the ceiling, he wondered if Jaeyong was also still awake but couldn't tell due to the paper divider between them.
As he was about to ask Jaeyong if he was still awake, the other actually beat him to it asking, "Your highness, can I ask you something?"
Dohyun looked to the side as he thought the other had already fallen asleep, facing back up at the ceiling he said, "What does hyung wish to know?"
Jaeyong replied, "Earlier, what did the crown prince say to you?"
He was there?
Supporting his body on his left arm, he turned around and spoke to the divider, "You were there earlier hyung?"
"Yeah", Jaeyong said. To which he added, "We were provided many ways to disguise ourselves, I was just passing from a distance during that time."
"Oh", Dohyun said, "Well… he doesn't really say many pleasant things to me."
Jaeyong, "He ridicules his highness?" he said, referring to him.
Dohyun had heard that the whole day, "Again with 'your highness', he is just angry at me."
"Angry?"
"Yes", Dohyun replied, as he told him the time he had greatly agitated his brother.
"Whenever I caused trouble, he would also get punished. I never meant to cause such nuisances and it wasn't at all fair from his side. Nevertheless, it was my fault, I couldn't behave myself and Yong Chul hyung paid the price for it.
When we were younger we had a huge fight, after that it was part of his punishment to watch over me and make sure I didn't cause any more trouble. One day I got myself hurt badly, of course hyung had nothing to do with it since I snuck out from his watch.
I know he was punished severely but after that, Yong Chul hyung was never the same. I remember the time I recovered I approached him outside but something had changed in his eyes, a suppressed anger. For the first time, he smiled at me but I knew it wasn't because he was happy I recovered.
Since then, I have tried my best to avoid him. No one told me what happened while I was asleep, I can only imagine it was unbearable."
They were both children but despite that, he was the crown prince, he had to be under the pressure of pleasing others and acting like how the palace expected him to be. Instead, he couldn't even look after his own brother, what the people told him must have been mortifying and degrading.
"I wasn't able to understand his hate towards me as a child and I blamed him for things as well, but as I grew up, I realized when I was in pain or was hurting I always had people around me, the queen also used to take great care for me but Yong Chul hyung, he was always alone. He always endured by himself, he was indeed strong but he was also still a child like me. I can only let him vent and accept his anger."
Jaeyong listened to Dohyun explain how things were between them. He listened to how Dohyun couldn't understand how he was able to just accept whatever his older brother threw at him.
By the time Dohyun had finished talking it was raining outside and the sound of raindrops hitting on the roof filled the room with a pleasant atmosphere. For a while they laid there in silence, letting the harmonious noise fill their ears.
Dohyun spoke up, "Thanks hyung", his voice resolute, "for earlier and now… actually, since we met, thank you."
Jaeyong replied with the tone Dohyun used when he corrected him for using 'your highness', "Do you know you say thank you a lot? I told you before that you don't need to thank me, but since you insist, you're welcome, Dohyun-ah."
Dohyun tilted his head slightly, he somewhat wished that the divider was not there right now. He wanted to peek over at Jaeyong and see the expression on his face when he said his name. Was it the same when he first said it inside the small house back at Insam Maeul or was it like that time at the bathing area at the palace?
Somehow during that time listening to the rain and letting his thoughts run, he fell asleep, waking the next day at the break of dawn.
Minhye, Byung Ho, and Dohyun were now discussing which strategies they were going to use in tackling the problem at Jeonbuk Peak, Jaeyong listening attentively on the side, reading through the instructions and report given earlier in the morning.
Dohyun had been assigned to Jeonbuk Peak, further into the mountainous areas where people made their living off mining valuable ores like jade, silver, and gold. Many of these often traded in the larger villages as well as the Golden Capital and the royal palace.
The peak was located farther out in the northeast region which took around five days to a week to reach. It had been decided that they were to leave tomorrow morning along with two officials from the inspector general's office to advise him and six other royal guards, making it eight counting Byung Ho and Minhye. Jaeyong would also go as one of his personal guards making it more convenient for them.
Dohyun sighed, "I'm not quite sure of what to expect, these people wouldn't listen to the representatives from the general inspectors office before, even with me beside them, it might be harder than we think since they already don't trust them."
Minhye suggested, "Then what if you bring someone not from their office, someone who can also speak on the matter?"
Byung Ho added, "Well if you're going to do that then I'd advise someone with a good personality, all those officials all have snotty attitudes, no wonder the people give no value to their words."
Someone outside the inspector general's office and a good personality?
Just like that, a light seemed to have lit inside Dohyun's mind, Seung Hyun Ki!
He may not be the perfect candidate but he was from the scholars department and was undeniably smarter than most people would expect, aside from that, his optimistic personality could make a difference when addressing matters with the people.
"Byung Ho, please go and inform Seung Hyun Ki, the new assistant from the scholars office that I would like to request an audience with him", Dohyun said, a bit more hopeful.
Minhye questioned, "Seung Hyun Ki?"
Dohyun nodded his head explaining, "I've had quite a few encounters with him, if we are bringing someone aside from the officials then I think he could be of much help."
Byung Ho gave a quick nod before leaving to fetch Seung Hyun Ki.
Minhye returned to examining the papers as he would still occasionally steal a glance at Jaeyong who was seated near them, closer to Dohyun. Although the three had stopped quarreling like children, they still refrained from interacting like grown-ups and just ignored each other's existence.
Surely, Jaeyong couldn't care enough to give much attention to them as he was solely concerned with Dohyun; however, that also made Byung Ho irritated even more sometimes.
Dohyun said, "Jaeyong hyung, are you sure it is not too burdensome for the rest to secretly follow, the royal guards are also trained in defending and it could pose a problem to them if they got caught."
Jaeyong softly shook his head, "It's fine, only three will be following behind. It's a precaution for us to always be updated, if something happens then they would be able to instantly alarm the others. They will be following a day after we leave, rest assured they won't get caught that easily."
Jaeyong was confident when he spoke of matters regarding the wonhwa, he never had a sense of doubt in his tone which grabbed Minhye's attention. Even he himself, wouldn't be able to speak like that about the royal guards, sure they were all great swordsmen but to be that confident would require a certain level of trust and teamwork.
Minhye spoke, "Excuse me, Jaeyong-ssi, can I ask where you have trained? I don't think it would be in the Golden Capital though you do seem quite familiar with the places and escape routes."
Seeing that Minhye had no spiteful tone to his voice and seemed genuinely curious, Jaeyong decided to answer his question, "I can only tell his highness the answer to that question for certain reasons. But, you are correct, I was initially from the Golden Capital though that contributes nothing to my knowledge of the place. We trained far away from here yet there were times we moved throughout various places to be well versed with the land, including the royal palace."
"Oh", Minhye let out.
Dohyun on the other hand, questioned, "You were from the Golden Capital?"
Jaeyong momentarily looked to the ground, "Yes-"
The doors opened revealing Byung Ho and behind him Seung Hyun Ki who looked rather elated.
Seung Hyun Ki greeted with a bow, "I heard his highness requested an audience with me?" He cheerfully said.
Dohyun stood up, motioning his hand to the table. "Indeed, I hope you will be able to assist me."
"Assist you, your highness? In what way may I be of help?" Hyun Ki said as they sat down.
Dohyun explained the situation and how Hyun Ki might be able to help with conversing with the people.
"Your highness", Hyun Ki said with a serious face, "This is a serious matter, and yet I am only an assistant at the scholars office, I may not be able to help as much as you think."
He looked down for a while before facing back to Dohyun, the seriousness of his face replaced with an expression of determination, "But if his highness really thinks I can help then I will do my best", he said.
Dohyun smiled, admiring his will power, "Then, I'll be expecting you tomorrow."
Suddenly one of the women guarding outside spoke with a startled voice, "Your highness!"
The doors of Dohyun's room flew open as Sanghoon barged in, "Hyung!" He uttered, "What's going on with the problems concerning the villages? Can't they take care of it?" he said, referring to the officials.
"Sanghoon", Dohyun said while moving towards him, "It's nothing really, they just want to speak to us instead of our representatives."
Sanghoon, "No, because this doesn't sit right with me, don't any of you find it questionable that three villages at the same time are acting like this? Requesting for personal appearances?" He asked incredulously.
That second, all eyes in the room landed on him. No one had time to consider the strange timing given that everyone had been focused on how to handle the situation at hand.
"His highness makes a point", Seung Hyun Ki quietly said from behind suddenly deep in thought.
Why hadn't it crossed their minds yet?
Minhye added, "Would it be possible for the villages to have exchanged information and experiences… possibly leading them to lash out at the same time?"
Byung Ho, "If they really did then that would make things worse for them if the officials found out."
If they really worked together and planned striking out together then it would really be considered treason against the throne. It wouldn't affect the palace that much but there was only one way treason was dealt with, death penalty by hanging or beheading.
Sanghoon stepped forward, "Who's that?" he randomly asked, looking Jaeyong up and down.
Dohyun glanced towards him then Minhye and Byung Ho, now wasn't time to explain everything, with Sanghoon's mouth word would reach all over before the end of the day.
"Ah you mean Jaeyong hyung? He's working with Byung Ho and Minhye, I haven't had time to introduce him to you guys yet", he casually said.
'Please buy it, please buy it.'
Jaeyong bowed his head to greet Sanghoon while Byung Ho silently choked on his saliva, Minhye elbowing him to shut up.
Sanghoon switched his eyes between Jaeyong and Dohyun for a good while before saying, "Whatever, right now I don't think you and Junwoo hyung should go."
Dohyun caressed his chin taking into consideration Sanghoon's concern, "Sanghoon, could you go fetch Junwoo?"
If something was really up, the least they could do was be cautious, a careful foot can step anywhere.