Dae Jiwoo's heart raced as he heard the footsteps approaching, knowing he had to hide his wounded bird quickly. He sat down at his table and pretended to be ocuppied in studying the ornate wooden plate before him. Moments later, his brother entered the room and made a deep, exaggerated bow - a gesture that immediately piqued Jiwoo's curiosity. Following behind the brother was a young woman with long, dark hair and ripped clothes. He knew all too well the fates of the maids and courtesans in their household. Jiwoo's eyes narrowed as he studied the scene, his gaze focused on his brother's face. Whatever scheme his brother had planned this time, Jiwoo was determined to get to the bottom of it.
-Your Highness, said Seong Yong in a serious tone, the courtesan you asked for is here
Sun-Hi made a short bow. She tightened her fists. Her act needed to be convincing
-My name is Ha Sun-Hi, Your Highness. I am here to serve you.
-I do not remember calling for you, said Dae Jiwoo, engaging in his brother's strange game.
-I was sent as a surprise
-I see
-Your Highness, cut this man's head!
Both of the brothers looked at each other shocked. They almost burst out laughing, but they managed hardly to keep a serious demeanor
-Why is that?
-I was stacked on the wall with my skirt over my head and this- this madman started to grope me and he even almost kissed my behind
-Your Highness, I was just trying to get her down! Then she threw herself at me, trapped my face between her buttocks and screamed at me that she was going to throw me to the infected! She said the tyrant prince won't allow her to be treated this way!
The prince couldn't help but chuckle to himself .It seemed the young woman had stumbled upon their secluded castle, perhaps seeking refuge or a way out of the infected-ridden lands beyond. But rather than simply helping her, his brother had decided to toy with the poor girl. The vivid description of her throwing herself at his brother, trapping his face between her thighs as she pleaded for mercy, painted a rather amusing picture. Though the prince considered putting a stop to his brother's cruel game and revealing the truth to spare the woman further humiliation, he found himself reluctant to interrupt his sibling's rare moment of genuine amusement. After all, these days it was a struggle to see his brother smile. So the prince decided he would allow the charade to continue, if only for a little while longer.
-Seems to me that you were at fault here. This is my personal guard right here and you threw yourself at him? Aren't you supposed to be here for my pleasure? Or are you so hungry for a man's touch, you throw yourself at anyone?
Sun-Hi bit her tongue in frustration. This tyrant scumbag was the first on her hit list. What kind of warrior was he anyway? He was tall, but rather slim. His face was pale and his hair was a shade of white blonde. His fingers were long and turning to a shade of blue. "Talk about royal blood after all", she said to herself.
-What were you doing on the wall anyway? Seong Yong whispered to Dae Jiwoo
-What were you doing on the wall anyway? said Dae Jiwoo to her in an assertive tone.
-I was trying to pet a bird
-A bird?
-Yes, she had her nest in the tree next to the wall
-Are you an animal lover?
-I was a veterinarian before becoming a courtesan.
-Oh really? Leave us, said Dae Jiwoo to his brother.
-Leave you? yelled Seong Yong full of anger
Dae Jiwoo drew the sword and pointed at his brother
-How dare a mere guard yell at a prince?
Trapped in his own game, Seong Yong made a short bow and left the room. It wasn't fair. He found her. He stomped his way back at the gates. This issue will be solved when he turns back from the hunt. He won't share the pray that fell into his lap at her own will.
-Do you really heal animals?
-My father was a doctor, my mother has been taking care of animals since I was young. I can practice all kinds of medicine.
Dae Jiwoo smiled cheerfully. He raised himself up and went to get the bird from its hiding spot. He placed it in his hands gently and sat back at the table. Sun-Hi looked surprised at the bird. It was a small creature with his wing wounded. The wing was bandaged rather clumsily, but it was clean and smelling of medicine.
-I put some herbs I thought might help him. He doesn't eat or drink. I think it's suffering. Can you help him?
-Bring me clean bandages, a needle and a fire. We have to clean the wound before he loses his wing!
Sun-Hi put her hair up quickly and started to work. Dae Jiwoo gazed upon her full of hope. She must have been sent by the gods in their hour of need. He swore he will protect this woman in return for her help. Who knows? She might even heal him
Seong Yong was racing his horse through the middle of the main market. He was sending fire arrows in every skull of the infected he could see. His precision was immaculate. He managed to get three of the targets with just a use of the bow.The man's heart raced with a primal surge of adrenaline as he held another arrow, the polished wood and taut bowstring familiar in his calloused hands. His long dark hair whipped around his face, framing the intense, focused expression etched upon his rugged features. Adorned in the gleaming regalia of a royal warrior, the man cut an imposing figure as he took aim, his eyes narrowing with grim determination. With a fluid, practiced motion, he released the arrow, which streaked through the air to find its mark - the rotting skull of one of the infected, the diseased flesh and bone shattering under the force of the impact. A savage satisfaction curled the man's lips as he watched his arrow find its target, the ghastly creature crumpling to the ground. He reveled in the thrill of the hunt, the visceral pleasure of dispatching these abominations with his own hands. Each kill was a victory, a testament to his skill and resolve.
The regal Queen swept into Dae Jiwoo's private chambers worrying over her son's declining health. However, the sight that greeted her was one of sheer alarm - there stood Sun-Hi, her hands stained red with fresh blood. Jiwoo had tears streaming down his face as he held something tightly against his chest. Leaping to the wrong conclusion, with a desperate, fierce motion, she grabbed Sun-Hi by her long hair, yanking the woman down to her knees. Jiwoo cried out, begging his mother to release her grip, and as the Queen's gaze finally settled on the small, wounded creature nestled in Jiwoo's trembling hands, realization dawned. The blood was not from any human injury, but rather the delicate, battered form of a little bird that Jiwoo had been trying to tend to and protect. The Queen's expression softened with relief.
Queen Pan Dae stood over the young woman, gripping her by the hair and holding her bowed to the ground. The woman, Sun-Hi, was clearly a courtesan of some kind, her tattered, dirty dress barely covering her. Queen Dae looked down at her with a mix of disdain and disappointment, her lips pursed in a tight frown. She turned her gaze to her son, Prince Jiwoo, shaking her head disapprovingly.
-Food is already scarce as it is, the queen scolded, her tone laced with frustration. I cannot believe you would take from your own family's meager supplies just to feed some pleasure woman.
She let out a heavy sigh, her brow furrowed. -You are truly your father's son after all - selfish and thoughtless, caring more for the whims of your loins than the needs of your own blood.
The Queen's abrupt leaving from Jiwoo's chambers left behind an awkward situation. Sun-Hi now found herself crumpled on the floor, her appearance a disheveled mess. Sun-Hi's hair, once arranged in a bun, now fell in wild, tangled strands around her face. As she sat there, her body wracked with quiet sobs, the weight of her mother's recent passing and the indignities she had just suffered converged, overwhelming her with a surge of grief and anguish. Prince Dae Jiwoo approached, showing sincere remorse. He then guided her to a chamber between his and his brother's, letting the woman pull herself together.