Everyone gathered at the main hall of The Emerald Dragon. Wang Ki was sitting on the chair, looked composed as he could. He glared at Wangbi Ki, who still in tears, but she had been calm compared to the previous days. Behind them were Jung Bin, Jang Bin and Ming Bin, along with two granddaughters.
"When will daegum jaga arrive?" Wang Ki scoot closer to his eunuch. The man leaned closer and whispered to the king politely.
"Daegum jaga had already on his way. As for gongju, it's hard to determine. Since she's quite far from here, probably it will take some time for her to come home."
Wang Ki sighed. "I hope she won't take it to heart if we continue the ceremony without her. What matter the most right now is the burial, as well as the coronation as well. We need daegum to perform the burial ceremony as well as to announce him as the next successor," he continued before the eunuch nodded faintly.
Wang Ki glared at Wangbi Ki. He softly patted her hand before she turned her head at him.
"We should continue the ceremony once daegun jaga arrives. We can't wait for gongju jaga. Is it okay for you?" Wang Ki asked her in a polite voice.
Instead of replying to her husband, Wangbi Ki nodded silently. Her eyes keep looking around in curiousity.
"We can proceed, but where is Sejabin? She should be here at this moment," Wangbi murmured.
Wang Ki glanced at Jang Bin. He cleared his throat. "Where is manora jaga?" he asked. The concubine took a glanced at Ming Bin, who still praying next to her.
"She left a moment ago, but I don't know why she hadn't come back yet, jeonha mama..."
"Find her. Daegum is just a yard away. We have to proceed the ceremony–"
"We can continue without her. She looks unstable and tired–"
"Jang Bin, how should we proceed without the wife of the deceased?" Wang Ki asked.
"I can conduct–"
"That's a task for manora jaga. She's the wife. I know it's you who handle the whole process, but when it comes to certain part, you should keep your toes away. Don't cross the line," Wang Ki reminded Jang Bin in a stern voice so she will back off. She kept her head low as she felt ashamed by Wang Ki's words.
Wangbi Ki touched his hand a bit, trying to halt him. Wang Ki glared at his wife as he fixed his composure on the chair.
"What jeonha mama means, you should keep in mind that manora jaga has a duty that she has to fulfill for the last time as a manora jaga. You don't have to burden everything by your own. You have done a lot for the kingdom," Wangbi Mi tried to rephrase some words so Jang Bin won't take it to heart by Wang Ki's stern words before.
"I appreciate the care, jeonha mama, wangbi mama... Thank you..."
Wangbi Ki put a smile on her face. Although it's just a dull one, but at least she knew she treated the concubine well. Even if she's not the real wife, as a human, she must feel sad. And Wangbi Ki awared of that.
"I'm sorry to interrupt!"
A voice from behind woke them up. A court maid ran inside the hall with tears in her eyes.
"What happened?!" asked Wang Ki.
"It's manora jaga! She's–"
***
Dan sped up through the woods with the black horse as fast as he could. Min Jun, who followed him from behind, calmly ride his horse along with Asura. He knew, time is ticking for Dan and Soo Young. So, he refused to stop Dan anymore.
According to what Asura told him during the briefing, it seemed that Soo Young was falsely accused by the Sapphire for killing his brother. Sejabin Athea threw her into a prison while waiting for the investigation, but, that's not the case.
They didn't spare even for a minute to torture her into confessing.
Everyone knew the sentence of murdered someone; it's either a life sentence or death sentence. However, for royalty, it was different. Once you were found guilty for killing a royalty, you'll be a subject of treasonous. That means, the whole family will get swipe away, not just the accuser.
Dan didn't want that to happen. The Kim legacy will be gone if they delayed even for just a moment. He snapped the horse to run faster so he could catch the time before it's too late.
But, the speed didn't last long. From far, a sight of a guard was visible from Dan's eyes. The man stormed towards him with the same speed as he was running from something on his way.
"PROTECT DAEGUN JAGA!!!"
Dan's eyes went large as he halted his horse. The mighty black beauty shrieked before his front legs stomped onto the ground. Min Jun's convoy was just a yard away from him. This commotion caused a storm in his heart.
"Guards!! Shield up!!" Dan screamed as he turned back his horse and marched towards Min Jun and his entourage. The guards, including Asura dismount from the horse and shield around Min Jun as they wait anxiously.
The fate of the guard who relayed the message was in a good side. As soon as he arrived, he flopped down on the ground and died immediately.
A ground suddenly shaken. A group of men; with faces cover in black clothes, immerged between the trees. They ran towards the group and began the attack in such a brutal move. Obviously it was an ambush, as they outnumbered Min Jun's small convoy in no time.
Dan yielded his sword as soon as he jumped from his horse. He bravely swing it, killing two men in one move. Asura used all his skill as a special ops officer to fight and protect Min Jun. And, the prince himself didn't even back off, not even an inch.
"Quick, blow the horn!" Asura urged one of the guards. The man took a horn, made out of the bamboo and blew it hard. The slimness sound from the horn made everyone almost deaf, but the brawl didn't stop.
"Asura! Protect Dan! You must bring him to Soo Young!" said Min Jun. He was swinging right and left, fighting the bandits as he speaks.
"No! I can't do anything without you, cousin!" Dan refused to move. His wife's life was in line, but not as serious as Min Jun's.
"Daegum, you have to leave with Dan-ssi. Both of you must go, now! I'll let some of my men follow from behind. No matter how it is, you have to save Soo Young-ssi!" Asura proposed a suggestion.
Min Jun glared at Dan. The man nodded as he grabbed the Prince's hand and dragged him away from the chaos. As they were about to reach the spot where Dan left his horse, one of the bandit slowly approached them with a suggestive eyes.
"Daegum, watch out!" Min Jun turned around at once.
Then, everything went blank. He could heard his own breathing as he kneel down, with a burden that he held in his embrace. Everything looked dark and red. He was in a daze for a moment.
Dan's voice echoed in his ears as he grunted in pain while using his body to shield his beloved royal cousin. His body felt numb, only his eyes twitch at Min Jun.
"Dan!!!" the prince screamed as they flop together on the ground. A group of men suddenly came out and protect them from the attack, while Asura ushered them in urge so they could take a shelter behind a large tree.
"Dan! Dan!" Min Jun cried as he shook the body in hurry. Asura's hard breath adding more anxious feeling around them. Dan coughed a bit, blood spurred out as he chuckled while holding the pain.
"Dae...gum..."
"No! Don't die, cousin! Not now!"
"How... Can... You... Stop... Death... Anyway...?" Dan slowly sneered as he whined in pain.
"Don't talk too much then! Save some energy. We'll bring you to your wife! She's a physician, she will save you–"
"I... Can't... Save... Her..." Dan gritted his teeth. "How... Can... She... Save... Me?"
"Please Dan! Just hanging there!" tears rolling hard from Min Jun's eyes as he hugged Dan so tight. Asura was still on guard, just in case if the bandits found them.
"I... Think... It's... Too... Late..."
"No! No, don't you dare leave me like this, Dan!"
"Tell... My... Wife... I... Love... Her... And... Sorry..." Dan coughed again. This time, there was no blood but he was gasping for air so hard. His lips turn blue. And his sight almost lost its shine.
"You'll tell that yourself!" Min Jun urged Dan as he put a pressure on his wound. But, it was so severe that his action seemed useless.
"Dae...gum... Listen..." With the remaining energy, Dan mustered his courage and grabbed Min Jun by his collar. The prince cried out his eyes while looking at dying Dan.
"Take... Care... Of... My... Wife..." said Dan, slowly. "There's... Something... In... My... Bag... That... Could... Help... Her..."
"I'll check it later. I promise, I will take care of her!"
"And–" Dan pulled Min Jun even more closer. He whispered something at the prince, making his face crumpled as he sobbed hard while holding Dan.
"I... Promise..." that's the only thing that came out from his mouth.
Slowly, the grip on his collar got loosen. Dan's hand flopped down as his eyes shut, forever. Min Jun sobbed so hard, his body was shaking uncontrollably as he suppressed his sadness inside.
Dan's gone. And he's alone now. Carry a burden by himself.
"Daegum... The coast is clear..." said Asura. Min Jun lifted up his head as his sight changed. His eyes went dark and there's anger in his face.
"Arrange a crate. We have to bring Dan home," he said, as he slowly put the lifeless body down. "We have a fight that we need to win. No matter what!"
Asura nodded as he asked the guards to take care of the deceased Dan. While Min Jun, walking in determination towards the horse, snatching Dan's bag on his way, hop on it as he dashed towards the kingdom with full of revenge inside him.
For you, my cousin! I'll kill all of those bastards! For you, for Soo Young...
And for the unborn baby!