If anyone passed by him tonight, they would have thought there was no one there. The way he stood, blending with the stone wall as if he belonged to every particle of the material itself, no one could recognize him immediately.
Using that advantage, he created an opening for the group to escape from the cell room discreetly. With Uk leading, the group of twelve, including Myung Yu, slowly ducked their heads, passing by the outer wall toward the next section of the governor's house.
Everything was executed meticulously, following Sun An's smooth plan. He had spent the whole night explaining the situation to Uk, which was impressive, considering how difficult it was to devise a prison break plan in less than 24 hours.
"Stop..." Sun An raised his fist, and the group halted immediately, catching their breath from the exhausting journey. Though they had only walked a short distance, hunger and fatigue weighed heavily on them, especially after being confined in a small, dark cell for two days.
Sun An glanced back at Uk, who guarded the rear. In moments like these, Sun An knew he needed Uk's presence to help.
And Uk, ever quick and perceptive, understood.
He moved past the group, heading straight toward Sun An, positioning himself nearby before slipping behind the wall. The air filled with tension and heavy breathing as they both waited patiently for a group of guards to pass down the long aisle.
Then, they sprang into action, tackling the threat head-on. Sun An managed to snatch a sword, handing it to Uk, who took it without hesitation. He needed something to defend himself.
"Let's move..." Sun An whispered to the group. They slowly made their way along the aisle, heading for the stairs that led to the back gate.
"Yarh! Stop!"
Suddenly, the plan fell apart. A group of guards appeared from the opposite side, now standing face-to-face with them. Uk brandished the sword, ready to defend, as the guards advanced. He took a step back before...
"Run!" Uk shouted. The group immediately bolted, retracing their steps along the path where they had previously hidden, heading toward an unknown route. Sun An led from the front, with Uk protecting them from the rear.
"Shibal, this is the wrong way!" Sun An cursed.
"Just run! We'll figure out a detour!" Myung Yu urged, pushing Sun An forward. He ran blindly, following the unfamiliar path with no room for detours or alternatives.
Until they saw an opening just a few feet away.
In desperation, Myung Yu dragged Sun An into the opening, followed closely by her maids and Uk. Upon arrival, they realized they had made a mistake.
It was the main hall of the governor's house.
Now, they were surrounded by guards. Lots of them. And one familiar face.
Jun Pyo.
"Well, well, well..." Jun Pyo grinned, seeing the group trapped in his web. "I knew the kingdom's financial department wouldn't appoint a new man for the audit. It was a bizarre move, considering we already bribed your chief to keep quiet," Jun Pyo said, sitting comfortably as the governor watched from his throne, fanned by his maids, a sinister smile on his face.
"How could you do this to the people?! They've already suffered so much from the war! How can you manipulate them for your own gain?" Myung Yu's voice cracked with heartbreak.
"Gongju, don't be so noble! If I were just a plain puppet governor, what would I get? By the end of my term, when I'm on my deathbed, I'd have nothing—no money, no power. But now I have both, so why not use them while I can?" the governor responded with his grating voice.
"Jeonha took in those refugees to save them from this cruel world, so the younger generation could have a brighter future! But you took away their independence! What kind of man are you?! A cowardly bastard?"
With that outburst, a sword was pointed at Myung Yu. Uk, reacting swiftly, pushed the princess aside and shielded her from harm.
"You know the consequences if you harm the princess. Step back!" Uk growled.
"Let the woman bark all she wants. It's fine. Because soon enough, she'll see the kind of power I hold here, power even a princess like her can't stop."
The conversation halted abruptly when the main door burst open.
"The princess may be powerless, but remember, she still has a powerful brother and a kingdom to protect her!"
All eyes turned toward a group of men dressed in black, standing ready for battle.
"Orabeonim!" Myung Yu cried, her voice filled with relief. Min Jun looked at her, his eyes filled with pity, wondering how much she had endured before he arrived to save her.
His gaze then shifted to Uk. Upon seeing Uk, bruised and battered, Min Jun's anger simmered.
"We're here with an arrest warrant for the governor, sealed by Jeonha himself," Dan announced, showing the scroll to the crowd.
"We know your game, governor! Your falsified documents are in our possession. The entire financial department is under investigation for fraud, bribery, and abuse of power. We have countless witnesses ready to testify against you," Asura calmly explained.
The governor clicked his tongue, rising from his throne and stepping aside.
"Block him! He's trying to escape!" Min Jun shouted to his convoy. Some of them charged forward, but the guards were prepared, holding the group at swordpoint.
"One more step, and they die..."
Min Jun paused, frustration clear in his clenched jaw. His eyes caught sight of a man standing behind Uk, holding him hostage. The rest of the guards had also taken the group captive at swordpoint.
"It's been a while, dul beonjjae wangja. I see you've changed quite a bit..." Jun Pyo stepped forward, a silver dagger pressed against Uk's neck.
Seeing this, Min Jun's demeanor shifted. His eyes grew heavy, his lips trembling slightly.
"Hyung-nim, let him go..."
Jun Pyo chuckled, glaring at Uk before shifting his gaze back to the prince. He smiled, flashing his teeth.
"What's with the hostility, Min Jun-ah? Don't you love me anymore?"
At those words, Uk's face darkened. His mind raced with the information he had learned from Dan. That conversation they had on the way to meet Sunhwa at the coffee shop played back in his head.
He never said anything about it (liking men). We just unconsciously found out. Maybe because his first love was a man. An unexpected start to his love life...
So, this traitor, Jun Pyo...
He was Min Jun's first love?