I admit now.
This new life wasn't that bad at all. At least, I had time for myself: doing pottery, exercising, and reading books. Unlike the time when I had to shift from camp to camp, battlefield after battlefield, witnessing dead bodies every seconds. Life is more serene than before. Even more calm than my entire life as a soldier.
I felt grateful for the past, even more right now as well.
Mostly, I had calm days, which was unexpected after the first meeting with Min Jun daegun. It seemed like he loved spending his time inside the quarters instead of sneaking outside. When he was outside, he enjoys the company of his staff, even treat them generously and care so much about them. Everything seems fine for me, which revoke my early bad theory about Min Jun daegun.
Actually, he wasn't that bad person at all!
***
"Uk-ssi..." the man in a red robe approached him while he was doing his rounds outside the quarters.
"Yes?" Uk replied politely. He was the Prince's personal eunuch, the one who arranged all his schedules and important details like food and clothes.
"The physician will pay a visit to The Red Ruby," said the man.
"Ah, the treatment, right? Very well then. I'll ask someone to usher..."
"There is no need for that. We have arranged the staff for the role. The most important thing right now is the security," the eunuch whispered to Uk.
"Security? What's that got to do with the physician's visit?" Uk asked innocently.
"First of all, the number of people who know about du beonjjae wangja's condition is very few. The news hasn't traveled beyond the wall of The Emerald Dragon because the royal family insists on keeping this matter a secret," the eunuch explained generously.
Uk listened attentively, in case he needed to work on something related to this in the future. Now, he knew what should or shouldn't be discussed outside the gates of The Red Ruby. All of this mattered the most for the sake of Min Jun.
"Yes. I will ensure the news remains only inside the house," Uk replied to the eunuch, firmly holding his shoulder for assurance.
"Actually, the issue is not that bad, Uk-ssi. There is a more important thing we have to concern ourselves with..." the eunuch winced a bit, giving Uk a concerned look.
"There's more?" Uk asked, frowning and staring at the eunuch full of curiosity.
"Yes. It's about du beonjjae wangja himself..."
***
Uk casually walked along the road, continuing his rounds for the day. He took his time, enjoying the view of the lake on his right. Ji Seok was right. This place felt like a healing spot.
As he walked along the dirt road, he saw a figure hastily walking in front of him. Uk frowned a bit. His steps became faster and longer.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
Hearing Uk's voice, the man started running ahead. Uk groaned as he realized what he had gotten himself into. After the eunuch's warning, he prepared himself intensively.
"Du beonjjae wangja refuses the treatment. He always goes missing on treatment day."
Those words stayed firmly in Uk's mind. That was why he insisted on pursuing the man in front of him. He was sure it was Min Jun trying to escape from the house.
"Stop right there! Daegum !"
The man ran even faster, slipping into the forest area behind the quarters in no time. Uk pursued him with determination, using his skills as a knight to speed up among the thorn bushes and big trees.
The man's escape plan seemed to falter when he suddenly slowed down. Perhaps, the forest route was too hard to conquer, and when you're unwell, you tend to lose energy fast. Uk managed to grab the man by his shoulder.
"Come on, Min Jun daegun, let's go back to your room!"
Suddenly, the man turned around and attacked Uk. He was too surprised to react in time and ended up getting a blow to his abs. Uk held himself from falling because if he did, it would take time to get up, and by then, Min Jun would have escaped.
So, he stretched his arm and grabbed the man's hand, pulling him closer to lock him in a tight embrace and force him to come home. But his movement was readable by his opponent. The man wasn't foolish enough to let it happen twice!
"Daegum, please don't resist!"
With that, Uk got a second blow to the abs, which made him feel enraged. He pushed the man away and swept his feet, making the man fall to the ground in no time.
"Sorry for hurting you, daegum... But I did warn you before..." Uk approached Min Jun carefully. He squatted down and took off the mask the man wore, only to find out...
It wasn't Min Jun but one of his stewards wearing his robe.
Uk fled from there instantly when he finally realized it was a distraction planned by Min Jun. By now, the prince must have left his room again!
What a wicked scheme!