"Everything sets?" asked Dan. He looked at the head eunuch. He was handling the necessities for the travelling.
"Everything is set, sir..."
"Good. I think we should get going," said the man, looking at Min Jun and Soo Young. Both of them were in their traveling outfit–Min Jun in his maroon robe and Soo Young in her blue black robe and a wooden box filled with medical supplies, ready to go.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Dan, Uk was ready with his black travelling robe and a pair of fur coats to tackle the cold weather of the North. Myung Yu was currently waiting for him at her residency. He already asked the princess for a permission to send off the convoy to China before taking off to the North.
"Daegum..."
Uk held Min Jun's hand so tight, his veins popped out from his palm. He stared at his royal boyfriend before the prince smiled and carressed his cheek a bit.
"I feel heavy hearted..."
"Sobangnim, don't worry... We'll see each other soon. I promise, once I recovered, I will join you at the North," said Min Jun softly. "Besides, goodbye is not forever, right?"
Uk's forehead frowned a bit. His lips rattle as he tried not to cry in front of everyone, though he felt so sad to leave Min Jun alone, knowing what will happen to him later.
"I'm not good in saying goodbye..."
"Don't worry. Your wangjanim is strong. He'll face anything for the sake of his love for you," Min Jun teased Uk, bobbing his high nose a bit before smiling dearly to him.
Uk slowly let Min Jun go. He put his palm against the prince's cheek and rubbed it softly. In his heart, if this is a goodbye, at least, he wanted to have a fragment of memory that he could treasure forever with him.
"In a meantime..." Min Jun took out something from his pocket. "Take this with you."
The prince donned a silver chain necklace, with a red ruby jade pendant, tied in a form of roots that binded the precious rock.
"Last time, I let you wear it by force, keeping you in the dark of the purpose of the necklace, causing you life in danger," Min Jun rubbed the jade softly. "But this time, I pray that this token will keep you safe while we're away from each other. I hope you can accept it, as my beloved partner," said the prince, with a subtle voice and calm face.
Uk's face lit up, realized the meaning of Min Jun's words for him. He held the pendant tight, softly giving him a nod. Min Jun smiled widely, as he pulled Uk into his embrace while shed some tears from his eyes.
"Thank you for coming into my life, wangjanim..." Uk whispered to Min Jun. The prince was too overwhelm to answer properly, so he just replied with a nod.
"Beware, Uk ssi... The necklace is not a proposal token actually. It's a chain that bound you from having fun outside. Tsk, pity for you!" Dan teased the two lovebirds. They look at the man, with Min Jun squinted his eyes and giving him a deadly stare.
"The one who should got chained is you..." Soo Young took a rope and tied Dan around jokingly, making them laugh at the man.
"Yeobo... Don't do this to me!"
"I make a right decision to ask you to follow us. I don't know what will happen if I let you stay alone here!" Soo Young yank the rope, drawing Dan closer to her with a sharp stare.
"Yeobo, you know I won't cheat on you... I love you to the moon and back..."
"Proof it."
"I'll swim the ocean for you!"
"Do it now. Swim until you reach China!" Soo Younh playfully pushed Dan towards the open sea. The two kept bickering until Dan dragged Soo Young towards the ship.
"What a wrong answer..." said Sun An. Uk shook his head, feeling amused by the couple.
The horn blasted. It's time for the ship to aboard. Min Jun hugged Uk for the last time before he slowly let him go. His eyes keep locking at his boyfriend even while walking to the ship.
"Governor Sun!" the prince yelled at Sun An. The man put his hand up.
"Take a good care of Gisa Ahn! Ask him to wait for me!" said Min Jun. Sun An frowned while looking at Uk who stood straight next to him. He replied to the prince with a nod.
"Why haven't he said that you himself?" asked Sun An. Uk let out a soft smile before patting the younger's shoulder.
"He'll cry if he does that..." Uk replied softly. He knew, Min Jun was trying to layer up his true feeling so the goodbye will be easier for both of them.
Beside, it's not for forever. So, the next time they meet, Uk will end up teasing Min Jun for crying like a baby. His boyfriend hates that the most!