"Dohyun-ah?" Jaeyong called out, catching his attention.
"Ah, what is it hyung?" Dohyun replied, falling out of his daze.
Jaeyong tilted his head and walked up to him, "We should return now, there's still quite a few hours until sunrise, you should rest."
Dohyun nodded, slightly stumbling backwards as Jaeyong approached him, "Are you alright?" He said, steadying him, holding both sides of his shoulders.
Actually I don't know at this point. Am I alright?
He was clueless, he couldn't think of any concrete reasons why he reacted in such ways to this person or to why he was drawn to him. Was it the unique personality, the safeness he felt when near him?
Schooling his expression, thoughts, and breathing, Dohyun walked back through the path they entered.
As they walked, he paid more attention to the details and establishments of the village. To the left seemed to be what had been a large building now closed down, doors nailed shut at the entrance. To their right were numerous smaller establishments that seemed to be liquor, soup, and food shops. The one at the end had smoke emitting from behind, probably one of the many shops that had persevered in their situation.
It was inexcusable, they should have the access to make formal complaints and to have their concerns listened to and put into action. Dohyun felt ashamed on behalf of the offices and departments in charge, they were most likely oblivious and ignorant of the real problem.
He would have to change a few things that he could when they got back.
From the corner of his eye, a small figure ran from the side of one of the shops, he also caught what seemed to be a small brown sack. Consequently, a crate of potatoes fell down from the shop spilling onto the ground.
Dohyun instantly turned to face Jaeyong with a serious expression, "Thievery?"
The two chased after the person running, turning corners and jumping over small stone walls, eventually ending up in a dead end. Realizing that he had nowhere to run, the person turned around and dropped to his knees as he begged, "Master! Master! It's not what you think!" His voice, fearful and brittle.
Jaeyong looked back at Dohyun who wasn't sure of what to do. After a moment he walked closer to the boy, bending his knees to meet his level. Examining the boy, he soon realized it was the same one from earlier during the day that had yelled at them in the crowd. At the same time, the boy also looked at Dohyun realizing he was the prince that he tried to insult earlier, his eyes widened in shock as he fell backwards, scooting as far as he could as he used his feat to push him away.
"F..for..giv..e m..e you.r-", the boy choked on his words trying to get them out.
Dohyun reached out to him to which the boy instinctively flinched and covered his head, Dohyun tried to steady him, dusting off the dirt that caught on his clothes as he fell. "Young boys like you shouldn't be stealing", Dohyun said, "Get up, let's take them back, I'll get you something to eat alright?"
Upon hearing those words, the boy blinked his eyes believing he heard wrong. A few seconds passed before he uttered, "I'm sorry, your- highness, I- can't take those back."
"It's alright, I'll make sure the shop owner doesn't find out. Come with me and I'll have food prepared for you instead", Dohyun assured.
"No", the boy said in a small voice, "I need them… my sister is sick." He was scared beyond death right now, but he didn't have a choice, no matter what he had to bring that sack back.
Startled by the sudden reason for his actions, Dohyun glanced once towards Jaeyong who had a calm face almost as if telling him to make a decision and he would gladly abide.
"How, how old is your sister?" Dohyun asked.
"Seven, your highness", the boy hastily answered.
Dohyun stood up, helping the boy stand up too, "What about your parents? Do they know?"
"They are long gone, your highness…"
Dohyun could already imagine the situation they were in, looking back to Jaeyong telling him with his eyes that they would have to do something about it. "For now, may I know your name?"
The boy lifted his head, "Rim Jiwoo."
"Okay Rim Jiwoo, I want to help you, first I need you to bring me to your home alright? A sick child shouldn't be left alone", Dohyun said, looking at him with concern.
Jiwoo didn't know why his highness would want to help a boy like him at all but he couldn't stop himself from bursting into tears after hearing the last part of his sentence, "I- I didn't want to leave her alone" he sobbed rubbing the tears from his face.
Seeing that he suddenly bursted into tears, Dohyun was all the more startled, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. You had no choice, you've done a good job so far okay so let's go see your sister."
The boy nodded as he wiped the rest of the tears away, he started walking back from where they entered as Dohyun followed and Jaeyong brought with him the small sack.
They walked for a while before they started to head off further from where most of the houses were positioned, to the far end of the road was a small shed in the back. Dohyun silently prayed it wasn't it but his fear was soon proved to be true.
The boy pushed open the door of the shed revealing one small lamp lit on the ground and a small girl sleeping on top of hay evenly spreaded on the ground covered by a thin blanket. Small beads of sweat glistened from her forehead, they could make out her thin figure as the light flickered.
Dohyun was almost afraid to step in, afraid to awaken the child. A heavy string pulled at his heart and weighed on his shoulders. How could children survive in this state?
Sensing his hesitation, Rim Jiwoo walked up to his sleeping sister and wiped the sweat from her head with a small rag that hung from the side. Gathering his inner strength, Dohyun also neared them and placed a hand on her head, she had a fever.
"She's going to need medicine", Dohyun quietly said, turning to Jaeyong who was now behind him. His eyes fixated on the small girl. Moments later he pulled out a small pouch from his inner robes, untied the string and turned to Jiwoo, "Do you have any clean water?"
The boy nodded his head and brought out a small clay pot with water. Jaeyong emptied the contents of the pouch into the water and carried it outside to where he started a small fire and heated up the container.
Dohyun, on the other hand, stayed inside and watched over the child, occasionally wiping away her sweat and putting a damp towel over her forehead. A short time later Jaeyong reentered the shed as he carried the clay pot from before.
"This should help with the fever for now", he said walking over to them. The boy handed him a small cup which he used to scoop the brew of herbs that he made and slowly poured it into her mouth.
Dohyun moved out of the way and stood by the door, when Jaeyong finished he moved next to him allowing the boy to watch over his sister.
Dohyun, "I can't leave them like this hyung, I can't leave them not knowing how they'll survive through the next few weeks…"
"Let's go back for now and figure out what we can at the inn, perhaps the others may have an idea."
Rim Jiwoo rushed to their front and deeply bowed to both of them, "Your highness, I will never forget your kindness."
"Jiwoo", Dohyun said, "how old are you? Do you have any sort of work here?"
"I'm fifteen your highness, I used to make enough for both of us by working in the fields but due to what happened, we all got fired because ahjussi couldn't afford to pay us anymore."
Of course, how would anyone afford to have workers when they couldn't even make a living off their hard work.
"Watch over your sister for now, soak the towel every now and then with cool water and put it over her forehead. We'll be back later", he added, "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
Jiwoo carefully thought about his answer, "Rice cakes your highness."
"Alright then", after that the two hastily returned to the inn bumping into Byung Ho who was standing out front.
"You!" Byung Ho whisper-shouted, "Where have you been off to?!"
"I'll explain later, where is Minhye?" Dohyun said dismissing his question.
Byung Ho let out a short fake laugh as he said, "Inside, he and Seung Hyun Ki were talking."
"Hyun Ki is up? Good, then let's head inside first."
Dohyun briefly explained the situation, making it clear that he can't leave them here.
Minhye questioned, "Then what do you plan on doing? Bring them along with us?"
"Yeah, bring them along and then listen to the non-stop blabbering of those two", Byung Ho retorted, referring to the older officials.
It would be too complicated to bring them to the palace or the golden capital, if only he had a place he could-
A bright light suddenly lit in Dohyun's Mind, Insam Maeul!
He looked towards Byung Ho and Minhye thinking of how it would play out. "If we brought them to Insam Maeul then they could both stay at Han residence and work for Sun Minwoo-ssi in my household… I still have things to figure out over there but it would be better than leaving them here, no relatives or guardians to care for them."
"You are surely generous, your highness, but taking responsibility for what you ask to do is much harder than you think", Seung Hyun Ki said.
"You're right", Dohyun agreed, "That's why I need your help for now."
Minhye and Byung Ho both knowingly shook their heads, "At your service", they charmed.
"I will do my best", Seung Hyun Ki added.
"Your highness will always have me", Jaeyong said faintly, bowing his head.
Jaeyong and Minhye left to fetch the children while Byung Ho stayed behind refusing to go with Jaeyong, Dohyun also stayed given that the sun would be rising in a while and the other guards had gone back to patrolling the perimeter.
"Your highness, how are you going to explain to the officials?" Seung Hyun Ki questioned from beside him.
Dohyun patted his robes, smoothing out the crinkles, "There's no need to explain, if they ask I will only need to tell them they are of my personal business."
And like that, half an incense time later, the two children were seated in the large living space of the inn. The little girl had awoken and looked much better than when they first saw her. A plate of rice cakes was provided in front of them as well as water and other dishes.
"Please have some, you must be famished", Seung Hyun Ki urged with a kind smile on his face, since he was significantly younger, the children quickly eased in his presence, he looked and acted like an older brother.
Rim Jiwoo hesitated at first but quickly handed one of the warm rice cakes to his sister nodding his head in approval, the little girl's eyes glistened with joy as she took a bite. Bite after bite swallowing before she even finished chewing.
Jiwoo had most likely asked for rice cakes, not because it was what he wanted but rather, what Ae Ran seemed to enjoy.
Dohyun smiled, "Chew slowly, you don't want to get indigestion, don't worry there's plenty for later."
The girl nodded her head as she tried to slow her pace.
"I forgot to ask earlier, what's her name?" Dohyun said looking at Jiwoo, the boy swallowed and said, "Rim Ae Ran, your highness."
At the mention of 'your highness', Ae Ran tilted her head and examined Dohyun, to have a child looking at him in such a way stirred up a feeling inside of him, her small face filled with a quivering hope.
He wanted to turn that into reality, a chance for them to grow up and experience being children rather than what awaited them by staying in that small shed of haystacks.
"Jiwoo, Ae Ran, eat well, we still have quite a journey ahead of us."
"Your highness?" A confused voice asked from behind.
"Official Yang, Official Yeon, good morning to you too, these are my guests, I hope you treat them how you would with me", Dohyun said standing up walking over to them.
The two officials bowed their heads in greeting him, "By what means are these two children your guests?" Official Yang inquired.
"They will be accompanying us for some time as we travel", Dohyun nonchalantly replied.
Official Yeon focused on the boy, "Your highness, surely you don't mean to…"
Official Yang also caught on, "Punish him for yelling at you the other day-"
"Nothing of the sort Official Yang", Dohyun interjected looking back at them, "It's alright", he said offering a smile to the two eating.
"My reasons are completely unrelated to your need of accompanying me here, they are none of your concern", he said with a smile.
The two officials only shared a look before bowing once again and heading outside.
Byung Ho spoke, "The horses are ready, we'll leave in a short while."
Dohyun made his way to his room once more and came out shortly after carrying the reports and papers they had acquired.
They made a quick stop to Lee Sun Kwan's residence before they made their way back, settling things with the village head about the children to which was almost instantly granted. They were orphans and if they could do better somewhere else then so be it. "But hopefully," said Lee Sun Kwan, "That there won't need to be any more cases like this in the near future."Jiwoo and Ae Ran both sat behind Minhye. Once they arrived where the turn was to Insam Maeul, Minhye would take them both there and settle things. It would have been nice to ask the wonhwa that was supposedly following them to do the favor but with the royal guards and officials around them, they would be exposed.
All they had to do now was get back and set things straight.
For the time being, Seung Hyun Ki and Jaeyong rode on either side of Dohyun. They were still discussing what was to be done first when they arrived. Time fled by as before they knew it evening was already soon approaching.
They had already made it to where the forest was dense and the roads were thinner, the sun was setting in the east casting a shadow over half of the forest with thin rays of sunlight seeping through the trees and bushes.
Byung Ho who was in front of him suddenly came to a halt raising his hand, the others consequently halted and tilted their heads wondering what the uncalled action was for. Byung Ho kept his gaze in front of them, squinting his eyes, Minhye approached them from behind, bringing his horse around Seung Hyung Ki, siding by Byung Ho.
"What is it?" Official Yang mumbled from behind, Jaeyong had also seemed to pick up something, instinctively inching closer and closer to Dohyun.
Dohyun also focused his gaze in front but nothing seemed to be there, nothing but a slight rustling in the bushes.
Just then, Byung Ho's eyes widened as he shouted, "Ambush! Protect his highness!" As he finished, a series of arrows came flying out from behind the trees.
Within seconds Dohyun was pushed off and pinned to the ground, he used his arms to cover his head before steadying himself. "Stay down", Jaeyong directed from above him, drawing out his sword as he scanned their surroundings.
Dohyun listened and kept down but frequently turned his head trying to get a glimpse of the attackers. The other guards had already formed a protective circle around them while Byung Ho and Minhye rushed to the front where the attackers seemed to have been positioned.
All of a sudden it was silent, after the shower of arrows nothing else came after. "Follow after them!" Byung Ho instructed, half of them mounted their horses and chased after the attackers, the other half stayed behind and maintained alert.
Dohyun quickly came to his senses, "Hyung!" he half-shouted, half-whispered. He hastily positioned himself upright catching the two officials from behind also on the ground like him.
"I'm fine", Jaeyong said, his eyes still on the road. His right hand, later picking up one of the arrows that landed near them.
No one seemed to be harmed, that was until, a small frail voice screamed, "Brother!"