Chapter 14 - Endless Dead Ends (part 3)

The following morning, Minhye was early to arrive at Dohyun's residence holding a few papers in his hands.

"The report on last night's unfortunate event", he said while handing it to Dohyun who had just got up from bed, Jaeyong on the other side of the room, was setting the table with the food that the wonhwa had prepared seemed to perk up at the mention of last night's casualty.

Minhye had a weird expression on his face, Dohyun had a foreboding feeling that something was off.

"Where's Byung Ho?" he asked.

"We didn't have much time since the information was supposed to be kept for the people assigned to the case, I just copied by hand this morning what was on the official scroll. Since Byung Ho is closer to the chief, he's trying to get more info."

Minhye paced back and forth before finally stopping in place, he glanced towards Jaeyong and said, "This time, I think he might be right, as I was reading the report I also thought that some things were off…"

"Continue", Dohyun said while taking his usual seat at the table, motioning for Minhye to join him.

"At first I also thought that it was just a joined suicide but from how he descried it last night and what was written on the report were different… the details were left out like the bruises you mentioned. Not just that but I can't find any motive for it, right now we're waiting for the statement of Nam Myung Buk."

"Nam Myung Buk? Office of the Inspector General?" Dohyun asked.

"Yes, he's the Inspector General's left hand and has close ties with the other ministries."

Dohyun examined the papers closely as he asked, "how is he related to the people last night?"

Minhye straightened his back, "Those two people used to work in his household, from what the report said, they had both been working for him for the past eight years. That's pretty much all we have right now."

Something didn't sit right with him either but neither of them could pin down what it was exactly.

Although things turned out like this, it wasn't directly related to Dohyun and he should focus his concern on himself. Minhye tugged on the papers in Dohyun's hands catching his attention, "Hyung, perhaps it would be best to leave this matter to the officials, you're already deep enough in your own situation."

Hearing this, Dohyun couldn't deny the truth that he was already struggling to find the smallest of leads regarding his own problems, they've been investigating now for weeks on end and have yet only wound up with dead ends. He was starting to think that the whole incident wasn't that big of a deal and it was only a coincidence that the shaman had a vision a few weeks before, they were able to sense even the smallest of dangers, perhaps it was just like that.

Nevertheless, he still wanted to make sure that the investigation on the two people was to be conducted seriously. "For now, if you can secure me a copy of the final report, I just want to be sure", he said, placing the rolled up papers on the table.

"Alright", Minhye agreed, adding, "Later after field practice, the queen told me to tell you to pay her a visit, it seemed pretty urgent from her tone… by the way, when we first arrived here, what did you talk about in there?"

Dohyun looked to the side with a frown, "It was all just coincidence, groundless dreams and visions… even I can't understand why there would be a reason to put so much faith into such things." Such things that left a bad feeling in one's mind despite being so unreliable.

The explanation was still quite unclear to Minhye but he got the jist of it, people had always given importance to the words of those with the ability to see into the future, tell fortunes, or connect with nature on higher levels.

Even so, wasn't it right? Dohyun had really been put in danger, who knows what could have happened if they hadn't acted upon such sayings. As much as he wanted to say those things to Dohyun, he wouldn't bother his mind anymore.

After their short meeting, Minhye and Jaeyong returned to their usual routines of investigating while Dohyun proceeded to the training field where his other brothers were already shooting arrows at targets from across the field.

They were all lined up with their backs facing him as they aimed at their targets and simultaneously let go, allowing the slender arrows fly across and land onto the scarlet targets.

All of them made it close except for one smaller body whose arrow hit the outermost ring, after seeing him be the only one to land so badly he squatted down and threw his bow to the ground saying, "At this point I'm never going to get a chance to go hunting!" It was Yejoon in his sunny robes flinching at the sight of how badly his arrow landed.

Hajoon playfully shouldered him from the side, "That's not how you should act, if you really want to go then you have to practice until you get it, even a hundred times isn't enough. I used to be a lot worse than how I am now."

"And then again" Sanghoon said while aiming his arrow, "some people are just born with talent" he said letting go of the arrow earning a perfect shot. A smirk crawled up his face as he gave Yejoon a sympathetic look, though it was clear he was just showing off.

Yejoon forcibly stood up and aimed his arrow again, this time Dohyun was already walked behind him and helped him gain the right posture as he lowered Yejoon's shoulders and positioned the bow while saying, "Sanghoon is right, some people are just born with natural talent but that doesn't mean you can't reach their level one day."

"Hyung!" Yejoon happily yelped.

"Lower your shoulders and loosen your grip, that way you'll feel more natural holding the bow."

Yejoon complied and followed his instructions, his hands still being guided by Dohyun's.

Seconds later they released the arrow shooting a perfect score. Yejoon's eyes widened with amazement as he jumped up and shouted "Yes!" a couple times.

Dohyun smiled and said, "Now try it by yourself."

Yejoon was unsure for a moment but still followed what Dohyun had just taught him, lowering his shoulders and loosening his grip, he waited a few moments before releasing the arrow.

Not a perfect land but way closer than he had ever landed by himself, he happily exclaimed, "Hyung! Hyung! This means I can go hunting with you now right?"

Dohyun let out a laugh as he nodded his head saying, "Shoot a couple hundred more just like that and you'll definitely get to go."

Yejoon was still a child at heart and he looked up highly to his brothers, especially Dohyun. It gaveDohyun a sense of fulfillment knowing his younger brother thought it to be a great endeavor to go hunting with him.

He himself enjoyed hunting during winter when the game was all mature enough to be hunted, when they returned, they would hold a banquet with the meat and have the skin turned into winter clothes and garments. Dohyun also used to be a boy who put all his effort into perfecting his shooting skills and sword, although the sword was something to be learned till old age, experience was always key.

Junwoo tossed his sword towards him, giving him a small smile as he walked towards the stone center. Sparring!

Dohyun also smiled as he walked up to the center, they all might have contrasting personalities but there was one thing they all equally enjoyed, sparring and any type of competition in sport.

Seeing the two get into position, the others gathered around awaiting for them to begin. Their sword master and right hand of the royal guard chief, Master Guk stood at the edge of the stone square to mediate.

Sparring was always friendly between them but that didn't mean they went easy on each other, whoever won of course had the upper hand between choices and activities for the following weeks, it was an unspoken rule between them.

Junwoo unsheathed his sword revealing a glistening blade under the sun, Dohyun also unsheathed his revealing a similar sword. Each of the prince's swords were custom made by the royal blacksmiths made with the strongest metals and most meticulous craftsmanship.

Dohyun struck first, clashing with Junwoo's sword as he blocked the attack, Dohyun's strike was strong and powerful but compared to the way Junwoo handled his sword, he would have to be more than just strong and powerful.

Junwoo stepped to the side as he let out a low attack aiming for the other's lower abdomen to which Dohyun successfully blocked. Though Junwoo was rather slender and soft spoken in comparison to the rest of the princes, he was the most elegant. As if he had memorized every possible movement of the sword by studying, he moved with elegance and had the best agility. His strikes were weaker but to match his calm and almost omniscient nature was a much harder feat.

They exchanged blows and blocked attacks as they moved from every corner of the square below them. Among the brothers, they also found Junwoo the hardest to defeat, if you couldn't match his way of thinking, if you could not enter his mind, then, you could only rely on strength.

Dohyun found a similar pattern in his current strikes and jumped to the side when Junwoo's sword came at him instead of blocking the attack. Not expecting Dohyun to jump out of the way, Junwoo hesitated for a moment and in that moment of hesitation Dohyun launched a swing at him.

In the blink of an eye, the two swords clashed once again but ended in a position where both of them were vulnerable. A wise man would know there was no use continuing the fight. A draw.

Junwoo didn't want to admit it so early but it was clear between the two, he said while retrieving his sword, "You've gotten better, though jumping out of the way is still a bit…"

"Yeah, yeah it was only by chance I thought you were going to strike then", Dohyun said while picking up his scabbard.

Hajoon and Yejoon were cheering on the side while Sanghoon gave a few claps silently congratulating to Dohyun for at least drawing a tie with Junwoo.

The day continued on like so, until Dohyun and Junwoo were called to attend an urgent meeting at the main hall. The main hall where the King resided most of the day, where the scholars and officials carried out important meetings and agendas. It was uncalled for, seldomly did the other princes aside from the crown prince to attend these meetings.

Both Junwoo and Dohyun were unsure of the reason behind them being called, but for some reason, they already knew it wasn't something to take lightly.

As they arrived the royal guards opened the doors to the main hall, the walls were red and brown, the aisle in the middle carefully decorated as the king sat at his throne in the center above all of them. To his right was Master Seo and Official Hee, the Chief Censor. To his left was the inspector general, Official Jung and behind him the other thirty people from his office, among them was Official Buk, the person who the man and woman from the previous night used to work for.

The air in the room was tense as the king massaged his left temple with his hand as he was listening to Official Hee.

The Office of Censors were always at the king's side, they remonstrated with him about policies and right and wrong, often merging with the office of the inspector general.

As Dohyun and Junwoo's names were announced, many eyes turned towards them as they walked towards the space where they were to be seated, near the king, beside the scholars.

Dohyun glanced towards Master Seo who had a troubled look on his face, looking to the other side, the officials from the inspector general's office all looked annoyed but had schooled expressions.

Just then another announcement came from outside, "Crown Prince Bu Yong Chul." With that, he emerged from the doors, his face void of any expression. He had strong features which intimidated most people just from looking at him, Dohyun was sure that he had never seen him smile in his life.

He walked straight down the aisle passing by the others disregarding their very existence, Dohyun was glad to say the least that he didn't look his way.

As he took his position in front of the king, he bowed, then said, "Your highness has called for me?"

The king glanced towards Junwoo and Dohyun then looked back at him, "Yes, there are matters that need to be discussed."

He then looked to his left giving a small nod to Official Jung.

Official Jung, "There has been a report of certain villages demanding explanations and service from the king."

The room was almost instantly filled with appalled expressions, the way Official Jung stated his words was far from what anyone would dare to, people demanding the king's attention was nothing to take lightly of.