"We want to express the highest gratitude towards the generousity of you, jeonha mama..."
"My biggest palace and my biggest heart will always welcome my son and his convoy! What's a big deal to let my own son to stay at this huge palace?"
Min Jun and his small entourage bowed down to thank the king for allowing them to take a shield at the Emerald Dragon. After some discussion, they conclude that the safest place for them was at the main palace. Under the wing of the king himself.
"We won't take too much space, jeonha mama. I will reside back to my childhood room with my entourage," said Min Jun. He didn't mind staying at the small quarters. The compound was a bit secluded from the public, but there were some elements that made the room special to the prince's heart.
"I will let the court ladies to prepare the quarters for you. In a meantime, let's have a lunch together. Gisa Ahn, join us too!" Wang Ki rose from his throne.
"You dare to contest the king, hyung-nim?" Min Jun whispered at Uk. The older sighed, as he hung his head low, staring at his shoes.
"I guess I have no choice, daegum..."
"Good..." Min Jun smirked at Uk. Finally, he had a chance to have a meal with Uk. He's dying to, since even forever. But, his too obedient bodyguard always rejected the offer. Now that they were invited by Wang Ki himself, finally Uk had no choice but to agree.
***
After lunch, the convoy went straight to the quarters. It was situated at a large compound, with a good view of a small garden at the entrance of the quarters.
"Welcome to my childhood house..." Min Jun flashed a smile to his entourage. The quarters consisted a main house with at least 5 rooms in it. There was a bathing area at the back of the quarters, a small outdoor kitchen, toilets, and the most special element for the quarters.
A reading room.
"Ladies can take the room on the left side, next to the kitchen. As for us, the men, we'll reside at the right side. Daegum, your room is on..."
"Next to the reading room. I know..." Min Jun smiled at the head eunuch which later replied by the old man with a smile as well.
"Uk-ssi... You can choose any room you want," said the head eunuch.
"Thank you, head eunuch!" Min Jun softly dismissed the old man away so he could have some alone time with Uk.
"Actually, if you don't mind, we can share a room, hyung-nim..."
"Thanks for the generousity, daegum. But, I prefer to let you rest well and sleep soundly," Uk generously rejecting the offer. With a smile, he left the spot towards the room of his choice.
"Play hard to get, huh..." Min Jun smirked. He let out a huge sigh before dimissed to his room.
***
The night was getting late, but the reading room was still illuminated. Min Jun silently flipped those pages of the book that he read.
He enjoyed the silence time of reading since he was a child. This room was his world. He didn't go outside much as a child because of his illness, so the reading room was all he got to kill his boredom. As he grew older and strong enough to take care of himself, then he managed to join Miju for some outdoor activities like sword training, archery and outing.
A knock on the door disturbed his reading. He almost this close to curse at the person but when he saw the man at the door, he took it back, exchanged it with a wide grin.
"Why are you still awake, daegum?" Uk poked his head into the room. Min Jun waved faintly at him, asking the man to come inside.
Uk carefully and politely entered the reading room and closed the door behind him in silence. He walked passed an aisle along those tall and sturdy bookshelves, right towards Min Jun, who was sitting at the table.
"You should be in bed by now, daegum. Staying up is not good for your health," said Uk.
"Let me finish this book. It's been a while since I read it," Min Jun replied. Uk took a seat across the prince, looking curious like a cat.
"What kind of book did you read?"
"Oh.. it's a legendary love story!"
"You surely love the theme, daegum..." Uk sneered at him. Min Jun gave Uk an annoying look, sticking his tongue out at the man.
"Not my problem if you're not a romantic man!" Min Jun replied to Uk with his sassy attitude. The older couldn't help but laughed a bit.
"How did you know that I'm not romantic? Just because I don't read that kind of book, doesn't mean I don't know how to love a person," Uk subtly revoked Min Jun's claim.
"Hyung-nim... I kinda notice, ever since we got back from Asura's house, your tongue has loose a bit," Min Jun pointed out the change of Uk's attitude.
"I'm sorry if I made you angry, daegum..."
"No.. no... I like it! You're fun to talk to now. I didn't know you love being sarcastic," Min Jun chuckled. Uk swatted the prince with his so done face.
"I learnt that from you."
"Oho, now you put the blame on me, hyung-nim! Betrayer!"
"I have to dance to your tune. Or else, you're gonna test my patience. I can't even scold you, cursing is even far from being allowed. So, this is how I express myself when I'm angry," said Uk. He looked at Min Jun with a smile on his face.
Min Jun chuckled as he closed the book and arranged it neatly on the table.
"You're the kind of person who got influenced by your partner if you're in a relationship," Min Jun suddenly doing a relationship evaluation on Uk.
"I don't know. I've been in a relationship only once in my life. And it's for a short amount of time," Uk said.
Min Jun gradually smiled at Uk. He could see how the man slowly opened up to him, which was a good sign to their blooming relationship.
"Why did you two broke up?" Min Jun asked.
Uk let out a faint laugh. He paused a bit, eyes lingered at Min Jun. He was measuring the length of words if he wants to explain everything to the prince. Can this prince take it, how much he can, and is he gonna understand the whole situation?
"As a Knight, my devotion is only for the country and the kingdom. I put that first before anything else. To have a relationship, for me, it's too much. I'm constantly away. I have no chance to even blooming the relationship. So, I let the person married someone else," said Uk.
"How could you?! Did you really love her or not? It seems like you don't!"
"I'm doing it out of love. To be honest, I can't see any future in our relationship. It was hard, complicated and too much to handle. We can't even do anything. So, leaving was the best choice," Uk explained to Min Jun sincerely.
"If it's me, I will fight for my love, hyung-nim. There is no way I'll let the person leave!" Min Jun firmly stick with his stance, showing how much he can do for love.
"Wait until you're 30..." Uk chuckled, amused by Min Jun's innocent. For him, the prince is too young to understand how love is more than just between two people.
"You're mocking me, huh?" Min Jun gritted his teeth, leaning his head closer to Uk and gave him a deathly stare. Unexpectedly, the bodyguard patted his head softly, carressing his hair with care.
"You're too innocent, that's why..."
"I'm 20. By this time, a commoner man already bore 3 children. I'm an adult, not a kid," Min Jun protested.
"Still, you're too young to understand love..."
"Try me then! Date me and you'll find out!"