70 Beyond the Door (1)

How ironic. The seasonal banquet was where he first encountered the greedy king. Probably about a week and days later, he even had his first conversation with him. Yet now, Sungho was attending the grand funeral for the king at the royal cemetery region of Hwangmok.

Everyone was covered in hemp clothing when they audited. The men paired their attire with hats while the women wore their veils, all were made out of the same fabric of their clothes. Sungho was dressed the same as women, the long veil was stretched out on the back of his head.

Some wept while the others silently mourned as they watched the palace guards gently lowering the coffin—the rectangular, black lacquered wooden casket containing the king's body—into the pit dug in the ground. 

The grand funeral was held without a speech from the royal family. They remained quiet as they waited for the palace guards to finish burying the coffin. They were grieving in silence—or were they really?