The scream echoed through the air sending shivers up his back, Dohyun felt his heart drop at the sound and prayed it wasn't what he thought it was as he turned his head in the direction of the sound.
Little Rim Ae Ran, with her thin arms desperately held up her brother. At first glance one wouldn't suspect anything wrong given the lively grin on the boy's face, if it weren't for the small stream of blood dripping from his mouth and the area on his chest where he clutched his hands.
"Ji-Jiwoo!" Dohyun shouted, scrambling his way over to them. Ae Ran's face almost as pale as her brothers, she looked up to Dohyun with tears brimming in her eyes, "Yo-your highness, oppa will be okay right? You can help him right?" She rubbed her face, getting blood on it while doing so, "Oppa, oppa it's alright, his highness is here!" She said while whipping away the blood from his lips.
Byung Ho and Jaeyong made their way stopping at the sight, the arrow had pierced right through his heart.
Jiwoo tried to suppress the blood rising in his throat but failed, ending up coughing a mouthful, staining his clothes with spots of crimson red.
Dohyun's hands shook as he reached out to them, clutching the fabric ever so lightly, his mind was in a frenzy, the words of Ae Ran repeating in his head nonstop, save… save him!
Jiwoo suddenly reached out his hands and grabbed a hold of Dohyuns, "Your highness", he said between breaths, "I think I'll have to ask you to watch over Ae Ran for now… thank you for making her better", he coughed up another mouthful of blood. Still, he used whatever strength he had left to face Ae Ran.
"Rim Ae Ran, Ae Ran-na be good alright? Oppa might have to go away for a while so be good and happy until then okay?"
Ae Ran shook her head, "Oppa don't go anywhere, y-you can't leave me, if you do I'll really be all alone", she cried. Jiwoo pulled her into a hug. Ae Ran clutched him as hard as her little arms could, refusing to listen. It was only a while later she realized that his body had long gone limp.
She pulled away panicking, turning his pale face that was beginning to turn cold. In that moment, Byung Ho pulled her to him and hid her face, hiding her from seeing the lifeless form of her dead brother. She trembled and weeped in his arms, her sobs filling the air.
Dohyun was frozen where he was, unable to think or talk. Unable to accept the death of the boy he so confidently took responsibility for. The life of the boy he thought he could change by sending him to a better place, ending here on a dirt road in the middle of a forest by the arrow of who knows.
He looked at the back of the little girl who was earlier spouting out her hope that everything would be fine with him here, with 'his highness' here. Though 'his highness' couldn't do anything.
"Dohyun…", Jaeyong spoke from behind him.
The damage had been done, an innocent's life was stolen today.
That night no one ate or spoke, the two officials also kept their silence and refrained from questioning, Minhye and the rest of the guards were yet to return but all Dohyun could do was stare into the distance. Unaware of the people around him, unaware of how many times Jaeyong had offered him water and tried to ease his mind. Unaware of how Ae Ran eventually fell asleep from tiring herself out by crying. All he could do was sit there and blame himself in every way imaginable.
The next morning, at the break of dawn, Minhye and the rest returned empty handed. They dug a small grave nearing one of the cliffs with a view of the mountains below. Ae Ran added the last stone at the top of his grave and sat there for a while.
Dohyun had distanced himself after offering his prayers, later on Minhye informed him of their chase, "They attacked once then ran off, we couldn't find anything suspicious left behind, my guess is that they were thieves trying to scare us off with the arrows but after realizing who we were…"
"Oh...", Dohyun let out. Minhye decided it was best to leave him be for now, the shock had truly been too much for him, he'd never even seen a grown-up person die before him yet a child passed before his very eyes.
He looked behind him and from the distance, all the guards and others had gathered to where they had spent the night, feeling conscious, he walked out further to the side blocking the others' view of him with the thick bushes and trees. He stood there and looked out, suddenly an overwhelming feeling came over him, he had no idea what should be done next, how he was going to explain to Ae Ran and the fact that it was all his fault.
He tried to steady his breathing but it only got harder and harder to keep air in, his thumbs were bleeding from the constant picking and his vision started to spin all over.
If only I hadn't-
"Dohyun", Jaeyong called out a few meters away from him.
His mind finally stopped spinning as he focused his gaze on the person in front of him.
Jaeyong took a step forward but was quickly stopped by Dohyun.
"Don't!" Dohyun urged.
Jaeyong stopped but looked at him deeply instead, "Your highne-"
"Don't", Dohyun repeated, "Don't call me that", his hands were back at picking the skin on his thumbs as he mumbled to himself, his breathing reversing back to the later state. "Because of me… because of", his voice hitched as his eyes began to water, he couldn't lift his head anymore.
Just as he thought the other had decided to go back, a strong pair of arms embraced him as his head lay rested against that person's chest, one hand stroking the back of his hair while the other firmly attached to his back, "It's not your fault, so don't blame yourself too much for what happened" Jaeyong's gentle voice whispered above his head.
This way, Dohyun realized how much smaller he was compared to Jaeyong but even more so, how comforting his embrace was. Without saying anything, Dohyun let all his tears and frustration out, crying against him, accepting the small act of comfort given to him.
Dohyun pushed his forehead harder against his chest, "If I hadn't brought them then this accident wouldn't have happened"
"If you hadn't brought them they would have still been in that state", Jaeyong said, "And it wasn't an accident", his words hardened and his tone flickered with vexation.
"It wasn't an accident?" Dohyun uttered, lifting his head up confused.
Jaeyong finally moved away from him creating some space between them, instantly leaving a path of cold air. He looked to the side then back at him, "From the way they attacked, Yang Minhye had a point. It would be easy to rule them out as bandits or thieves but the arrows were mostly aimed towards you.
Aside from the arrows nothing else was left behind, they weren't just lucky and got away, they were making sure to attack fast and escape. If it helps, finding the culprit-"
"I understand", Dohyun nodded once. To give Jiwoo justice for his wrongful death, he will catch the people behind it and make them pay.
It eased him a bit knowing there was something he could do but that brought him back to the reality that he was targeted again, this time more aggressively than before. But instead of feeling threatened, Dohyun was flaming inside.
Three days rapidly passed, Dohyun did his best in comforting Rim Ae Ran, no matter how many times he changed his perspective, the guilt and regret he felt did not lift one bit. At one point in time Minhye departed from the rest along with Ae Ran behind him. Dohyun had already told her the night before that she would meet good people there and when he could, he would visit her one day, after all of this.
He handed Minhye enough money to provide her and Kim An a comfortable life for at least a year, it was all he had on him at the moment. Sun Minwoo would surely understand and Kim An was just a few years older than Ae Ran, hopefully they would become friends.
Having a friend could sometimes be a lot of comfort, which randomly reminded him of Jaeyong.
A great deal of events occurred in the past few days, all of them somehow classified and arranged in Dohyun's brain. The important parts of his purpose of going there, understanding the problem. The aching experiences, the desperate state of the people, Rim Jiwoo. Aside from all of that, Dohyun kept at the far end of his mind the hopeful time spent; his walk with Jaeyong and the comfort he gave him when he felt like he was going to lose it.
Lastly, was the slow burning anger and resentment inside of him.
Dohyun noticed Jaeyong disappearing shortly everytime they stopped to rest for the day or took breaks, when he came back this time Dohyun asked, "Hyung?"
Jaeyong already knew what he was wondering, "The rest of the group are not far behind, I sent them a message a few days ago, some are examining the area where we were attacked, it's possible we didn't catch everything."
So this was why he kept leaving? The wonhwa were already informed and out there, Dohyun really, really felt indebted to them.
"I'm sorry they weren't close by when it happened, we should have been more careful", Jaeyong remorsefully said, his voice laced with the same contrition Dohyun had. Though he paid no attention to himself, Dohyun couldn't stand anyone else feeling that way.
"It's not the wonhwa's fault, if ever, I hope you know- they know how grateful I am to you. You said before it isn't my fault so don't take the blame either, hyung, you've helped me so much already", Dohyun replied. He then questioned, "Hyung, how did you send a message?"
Jaeyong pulled out a slender white dagger from his inner robes, at first glance Dohyun could tell it was impeccably crafted, just from seeing the leather scabbard. He then unsheathed the dagger revealing a ritual white blade, the blade itself looked ornate and feminine almost as if it was made of glass.
Jaeyong moved over to a tree and delicately carved out an unfamiliar character Dohyun had never seen before, it was peculiar in many ways. Jaeyong, "Images are useful in times like this; the circle represents the moon, you are the moon. The number of lines under represent your current state, one for danger, two for safe. The symbols below tell us about the situation, good, bad, help, or back up."
Dohyun was stunned, and Jaeyong had been leaving behind messages…
"What about you?" He questioned.
"Me?"
"What is your sign?" Dohyun explained.
"I don't have one, we haven't included ourselves", Jaeyong shrugged.
They created this whole secret way of communicating without including themselves? Dohyun thought.
"Well, add one more line", Dohyun said pointing to the single line under the moon, "I'm safe...I'm safe with hyung right?"
Jaeyong blinked his eyes a few times before nodding his head and adding the second line, when Dohyun talked like this, it was hard not to catch your breath for a moment. That made him wonder if he actually said stuff like that to Byung Ho or Minhye.
Returning back to the group of people, they set off for the last time, their next stop would be the royal palace.
Before the gates of the royal palace.
The royal guards swiftly opened the gates allowing them to enter, everyone in the vicinity bowed welcoming Dohyun back, he paid little attention and headed straight for the main hall to meet with the king and those of the royal court.
Upon entering the hall, Byung Ho, Jaeyong, Hyun Ki and the rest waited for him outside. His name was announced as he stepped in, the walls of the building same as ever, in the center sat the king with his personal advisors beside him below. To the lower right side stood Junwoo and the crown prince, it seems they had arrived before him.
"Dohyun", Junwoo greeted, "We've been holding the discussion waiting for you."
"I told you sending someone as useless as him wouldn't be of any use", Yong Chul sneered from the side under his breath.
Dohyun ignored the comment and faced Junwoo, "We were attacked on the way back by a group of thieves which caused the delay."
"Attacked?!" Junwoo exclaimed, looking him up and down.
"I'm fine", Dohyun assured, though in reality, he wasn't fine and they weren't just a group of petty thieves.
----------
"I'm telling you that we should alert the queen about this", Minhye argued.
That night when they had come back, Dohyun with Jaeyong's help explained to Byung Ho and Minhye that it wasn't what they had thought it was.
Byung Ho urged, "It would be better to be backed up by the royal guards than just us and them."
Dohyun shook his head, "No", he uttered, "The person behind this was already being cautious, having the royal guards and palace alerted will only heighten suspicion. It's best we play dumb and let them have it their way for now."
----------
Master Seo walked up to the princes greeting, "Your highness's please inform us of your findings"
Crown Prince Yong Chul stepped forward facing the officials on the other side of the royal court then turned to the king, "Your highness, I request to have a thorough screening of the inspector general's office starting today."
The officials on the other side gasped in dismay, "For what reason does his highness the crown prince wish to have my office undergo screening?" Gung Dae Jung, Official Jung, inspector general questioned.
"Seongdu Village, during my investigation there I found the reason to their outbursts. Simple yet pathetic, pathetic on the name of your office. Forced to sell their products for less than imaginable, most of which directly end up in the Golden Capital. Since your office fails to do regular screening on the trading market then your office must be screened to see if it is functioning properly."
Their faces twitched in annoyance as they thought of things to say.
Junwoo added, "My findings are similar, I agree that the departments in charge may have overlooked important problems causing the people to react in such ways."
Official Ko, "Your highness Prince Junwoo, surely you are not making excuses for their barbaric actions?"
Junwoo replied, "You get me wrong, Official Ko, I am not making excuses, I am merely stating the cause and effect of the situation."
Official Ko continued, "That's not possible, our office conducts the strictest of procedures, nothing escapes our sight."
"Is that so", Junwoo unbelievingly asked, "Perhaps it is you who should stop making excuses and take responsibility instead" he slowly waved a bunch of scrolls for everyone to see. "These records are to be examined immediately. I will personally supervise your progress if his highness allows me", Junwoo said, looking in the king's direction.
The king sat straight with a stern but indifferent look on his face, "If everything is being properly handled by your office, Official Jung, then I reckon Prince Junwoo supervising won't be of any problem at all, would it?"
Official Jung's face was taught as he clenched his teeth, it was an embarrassment on his side as the Inspector General. He fully bowed to the king saying, "No your highness, it will not be a problem at all. I shall see to it myself to personally inspect every department."
"Very well", the king stated.
Master Seo turned to Dohyun, reminding him he was yet to speak.
"Likewise", Dohyun said holding up the records he retained from Jeonbuk Peak, "These records also need to be examined for any mishaps, and I request all items being traded in the market to be fully watched for price. Especially imports of gold, silver, and jade."
By this point, there was an ill aura that filled the court, the officials were infuriated by being accused of possible wrong doings. Right now, all they could do was make sure to prove themselves clean.
"Then it has been decided", Official Jung said, "My office will fully cooperate with his highness's decisions."
"By the way", Chief Censor, Official Hee piped up, "I heard his highness Grand Prince Dohyun had some troubles on the road, have the proper procedures been carried out?"
"We ran into a gang of thieves, nothing less, nothing more. They outran the royal guards, there is nothing we can do about it now", Dohyun stated.
"Thank goodness you were unharmed", Official Nam exclaimed, "This is why I suggested last time many guards should accompany your traveling", he said a little too concerned.
"I thank you for your concern", Dohyun said, "I have nothing left to report, your highness."
The king announced, "Well then, return to your duties. A meeting shall be held one week from now, I expect everyone to be present."
The court filled with synchronous sounds of "yes your highness" as they later left the court.
Waiting for him outside, Byung Ho and Jaeyong stood on each side of the pathway observing acute bows, Seung Hyun Ki was also fast to assume a position behind Dohyun and Junwoo as they walked back to his residence.
Once they were certain no guards or court ladies were wandering outside, the real conversation began.
"First and foremost", Junwoo stated, eyeing Dohyun, "What really happened with the attack?"
"We don't know who or why", Dohyun sighed, "Just that it was no accident and was carefully carried out", he said with a bitter tone to his voice.
"Intentional?" Junwoo noted, "Dohyun this is nothing to take lightly of, we must inform our mother at least."
"The queen cannot do anything", Dohyun argued, "She has become obsessed with visions and fate, the best option now is to work quietly and not to expose ourselves."
"No, I still think that figuring out this yourself is foolish-"
"Foolish or not, telling them will only hinder my search in finding the culprit. Junwoo, I'm not going to change my decision."
"Then I hope you sure do know what you're doing", Junwoo warned, "Seung Hyun Ki-ssi, here are the extra keys to the scholars office as well as the inspector general's office, I hope this doesn't put you in too much risk."
"No worries, your highness."
Breaking in was a serious offense, but they needed to be sure to get all the information they could. With Seung Hyun Ki's familiarity with the departments, it would be like eating cold porridge for him.