1 The Trashy Prince

"Look who is here? Isn't it our His highness, the Prince Trash!"

"He has no same. Last night after losing againt that old servant , he went out in the streets again. Really!"

"He is the shame of Hou royal family."

"Who said he is a royal. Actually he is half-noble, I heard from the merchant of Hou  that his mother was a slut. King Hou dong fall into her bewitchment and impregnated her by mistake."

"No wonder he is a slut too."

A man was being called a slut!  What could be more humiliating than this? The whole gathering burst into laughter. Though the gathering was far, but their conversation was loud enough to hear from that distance. Those people were also intentionally talking loudly so that others could hear them.

But despite being humiliated, the man against whom those words were said remain silent. There was no change of  expressions on his face.  Because it was not something new to him. People of Lan city either pitied or always made fun of him. Which didn't bother him anymore but his companion seemed very irritated.

"Who has so much courage to speak ill of my lord? Fight with me if anyone dare."

This man looked strong and skilled unlike his master. So nobody didn't dare to provoke him. They knew what will happen if their conversation was continued. Those people had no intention go that far. They just wanted to make some fun but failed to noticed this man before. So they ignored his threat as if they didn't did or hear anything and continued to do their own business. But their negligence made that man more furious.Though before he could do something dangerous his lord stopped him.

"Brother Yuzu, why bother. They aren't worthy of our time."

'But, sis…....," Yuzu was trying to object his lord but stopped  after realizing what he was about to do.He was so ashamed because of his stupidity. His responsibility was to save his lord from any kind of dangers. He should be more careful. One mistake could be life threating. "Please punish me, my lord."

"It's ok. Nobody noticed. Please, be careful next time. Ha, people can't easily change their habit. ."

"I swear I will be more careful."

"Ok, ok. That's enough."

They started walking without any sound. After walking a while they left the main street and entered a dark lane. They walked warily dawn the street. Confirming nobody followed them those two man stopped on a dilapidated hut. An old lady opened the door and invited the short one inside.

"Brother, you can go now".

Yuzu disagreed. He decided to guard them from outside.

"Then wait if you wish. But don't complain later. It will take time."

"Take your time. I will wait."

The warning wasn't completely lie. It was more than five hours. The man waiting outside had been working as a royal guard for many years before becoming a general. Standing for Five hours wouldn't be anything for him if he wasn't sleepless for more than a week.  But it was too late to regret. He had to wait another two hours until the house owner old lady went outside and grinned at him, "sir, please wait another half a hour. Your friend is still sleeping. Ai ha!"

"What! Don't tell me he has been sleeping for last seven hours while I am escorting this house without any break like a statue." Yuzu felt like crying.

He threw all his anger  on that old lady, "Lady, don't expect any pourboire this time from me. Your fate is so good that today is my birthday. Otherwise…."

It was clear that his speech couldn't make the old lady a little bit afraid. But this old lady was very cunning. She couldn't let go of her pourboire, "please have mercy, my lord. This negligible don't know what's her fault."

Seeing her fake tears, Yuzu let go of his anger. After all it was his fault for deciding to wait. There was no reason to blame others.

"Okay. Okay, don't cry."

"That means I will get pourboire this time," The old lady grinned shamelessly.

"You! Don't dare to mention it again unless you want to lose your head."

The cunning old lady didn't lose her hope yet. She was starting to cry more loudly and it almost went beyond tolerance.

Thanks to God, that time a sweet divine voice appeared like a blessing, "who made my granny cry? Brother yuzu, don't tell me it is you who bullied granny?"

"Sister, it isn't like that. I was….", he was going to explain but  blushed instead after looking back,

"Your highness!"

"Brother, It's your birthday today. Are you angry because you haven't gotten any gift?"

A heavenly goddess comes out from the wrecked hut with a playful smile.

(Note: Yuzu- a type of citrus fruits. Yuja in Korean.)

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