"Bandits?" Min Jun's shock was evident upon hearing the news from the border survey team.
This morning, two men from the unit had come to The Red Ruby with the information regarding of the matter. It was important for the Red Ruby house to acknowledge it, as the house was the nearest residence to the border compared to the other houses.
"This is new... I don't think we've had reports of bandits in centuries," said Min Jun while reading the report from the scroll that was brought along by the men.
"They're after resources from nearby kingdoms," one of the men explained. "The neighborhood kingdom is in the post-war. It's a common aftermath of war that they had to tackle. Many people have lost their homes and there's a shortage of food, making it worst and tricky to handle."
"This is a significant threat to the kingdom," the other man added.
Min Jun sighed, setting down the scroll. "We can't invite them into the kingdom. That would create more problems in the future. This is an issue the neighborhood kingdom should handle, not us."
"There is another thing that we should concern, daegun jaga. We haven't identified the bandits yet. We don't know if they're just desperate people or actual criminals taking advantage of the post-war chaos," the man continued.
"Anyway, thanks for the heads-up–"
"We're not just here to inform you... We need a favor."
Min Jun's brows furrowed in confusion.
"If you're asking for military support, you've come to the wrong place."
"Not the whole battalion, daegun jaga... We need help... from Gisa Ahn," one of the men stated directly.
Min Jun's expression darkened instantly. He carefully placed his hands on the table, trying to suppress the turmoil inside.
"Why him?"
"Everyone knows Gisa Ahn is the best soldier, especially in the special forces. He infiltrated the north during the war as a spy. He's the best surveyor and intelligence agent we have," the man praised Uk.
"He used to be. But now, he's not part of the military anymore," Min Jun clarified the statement for them to understand.
"If Gisa Ahn agrees to help us with the investigation, we can solve this problem quickly. We need someone with his skills," the man explained.
Min Jun was torn. Uk's presence was crucial at The Red Ruby, but his skills could solve the bandit problem and secure the kingdom's safety. The prince was standing at a difficult crossroads.
"As much as I want to protect the safety of the kingdom, I'm concerned about me and my house's safety, too. Gisa Ahn, he works as my private bodyguard now, which makes his presence in my house as important as the kingdom's safety as well. However, he is a free man that should make his own decision. Thus, you need to ask him yourself," Min Jun finally said.
"Very well then, daegun jaga. We'll speak with Gisa Ahn," the men agreed, leaving Min Jun to ponder the situation alone.
***
When Min Jun arrived at Uk's room, he saw the man packing his travel bag. Min Jun immediately grasped the situation.
"You've agreed to help them."
"It's for the best, daegun jaga. The sooner we find out about the bandits, the faster we can take action," Uk replied, focused on packing.
Min Jun circled the room, trying to find a way to talk. "Are you using this as an excuse to get away from me?" he asked, his voice tinged with fear.
Uk didn't answer, besides, finishing his packing in hurry. He was almost out the door when Min Jun grabbed his hand tightly.
"Hyung-nim..."
Uk paused, letting out a deep sigh.
"I know you've been avoiding me since the incident. I don't want to live in regret, knowing I should have cleared things up while we still had the chance," Min Jun said, his voice choked with emotion.
Uk turned to face Min Jun, looking into his eyes. He came closer, his height towering over the prince. Seeing Min Jun's state made Uk's heart heavy, but he knew he had to suppress his feelings for the greater good. This was the only way.
"Hyung-nim, I just want–"
"Don't," Uk interrupted, gently placing his thumb on Min Jun's lips. He caressed them softly, his eyes filled with sorrow. Then he dropped his hand and immediately left the room, not looking back.
Leaving Min Jun hurt him deeply, but he knew it was necessary. He wasn't rejecting Min Jun's feelings; he simply couldn't bear to leave if they talked about it. This was for the sake of the kingdom, the house, and his love for Min Jun.
***
A week had passed since Uk left The Red Ruby, and not a day went by without Min Jun missing him. The longing grew stronger, mixing with concern for Uk's safety. Min Jun's health began to decline; he lost his appetite, often found himself in a daze, and sometimes cried unexpectedly. He spent most nights pacing in front of Uk's empty quarters, trying to feel his presence.
But the more he did this, the worse he felt.
His body eventually couldn't bear the pressure anymore, and his condition deteriorated. The entire Red Ruby was worried by his condition. They tried everything they could to make the prince felt much better.
But it seemed that all their hardworks were fruitless.
"We can't contact Uk-ssi. He was nowhere to be found," a guard informed the head eunuch. Min Jun, lying weakly in bed, heard the conversation clearly from his spot with a bummer.
"What should we do now? Should we inform someone at the Emerald Dragon?" another eunuch asked.
"No," Min Jun replied, his voice weak but firm. "Don't let anyone know about this. Uk-ssi is in the middle of an investigation. If this matter is exposed, it will disrupt his work."
"But daegun jaga..."
"I'm fine. I just... miss him... It's nothing important," Min Jun said, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A steward and a guard stood outside.
"Greetings, head eunuch..."
"What's the matter?"
The steward handed a piece of paper to the head eunuch. The old man read it carefully before passing it to Min Jun's attendant.
"Daegun jaga, a note for you," the eunuch said, handing it to Min Jun. The prince slowly rose from the bed and read the note.
I'll be back soon. Take care of yourself. And please wait for me...
A smile spread across Min Jun's face as he held the note close. Gradually, his smile turned into tears of relief. The note now gave him a purpose to stay strong and live his life to the fullest.
"Daegun jaga..."
"I'm fine! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Min Jun wipes those tears from his eyes as he looked at everyone with gratitude in his heart. He coaxed his heart, begging it to be strong, so that one day, he will welcome Uk with a smile on his face.
Come home soon, hyung-nim. I'll wait for you!