To One Side (1)

His worries had eased for the limited time he calmed himself under the cherry blossom tree. Now that Sungho was returning to his court, his wariness flushed and showered him again from his head to toe, bugging his mind with the picture of him meeting the king in his room.

When they were walking near the door of his chambers, Sungho heard someone pacing nearby; its footsteps rang from the hallway while he was about to go back to his room along with his court lady accompanying him. Not long then, Sungho caught a call from a eunuch of the residence who was running as he followed him.

Chun was about to open the door for their entrance when the eunuch stopped from his tracks before them and first regained his breathing before speaking.

"Concubine Eun, I was waiting for your return," he started, then gasped for air to ready himself from continuing his purpose. "A bear– I mean a soldier has been waiting for you, Your Highness."

"A soldier?" was Sungho's confused reply but he seemingly felt he knew whom the eunuch was pertaining. "Did he state his name?"

With a nod, the eunuch responded, "Yes, Your Highness. The soldier told me his name is Eum Seok."

Sungho also bobbed his head in understanding, which his court lady followed with offering her hand to him for support. By the lead of the eunuch in front, they were escorted to the common room of the residence.

As the eunuch slid the door open on one side, Sungho saw the sole person sitting on a cushion ahead of the low table. Seok stood when he noticed them entering the room and immediately bowed to greet him. "Her Highness, Concubine Eun."

"What brought you here, Seok?" he asked the person while lifting a hand as he was signaling his court lady to wait for him outside the common room.

When Sungho finally sat on a cushion, it was then Seok lifted his gaze and went back to his seat. "General Hyun Sik ordered me to deliver you this letter." Seok placed a parchment on the table which was addressed for him, his name was neatly written.

Picking the parchment paper then proceeding to unfold to read its contents, the herculean man decided to speak, "The general was tasked to visit the Iseul along with His Majesty's selected men. He will be away for two weeks."

Sungho felt his chest tightened from the pressure and the weight he assumed from his words. He continued to open the paper and hurriedly settled his gaze on the writings.

'The King demanded me to investigate Iseul and make a report. I shall be back in two weeks thereafter, or maybe less. I am sorry if I am not present by your side when this type of matter is happening again, sister.'

Just when he was anticipating Hyun Sik to help him around regarding the upcoming visit of the king, he was out to begin a mission. Sungho convinced himself that he certainly needed to create a plan to escape before it would come into being.

'Since I am not in peace leaving my sister alone like this, I tasked General Lee and Seok to check up on you every minute while I am at the mission. Seok shall guard you at night while General Lee shall be around watching you after the daybreak.'

The writings brought a smile to Sungho's lips while he was reading the last paragraph. "He's more worried than I am..."

'Be safe, sister. Perhaps you can send me a letter as well–'

Sungho returned the paper to how it was folded when he received it and placed it back on the table. He looked at Seok and said, "I will be in your guidance from today on, Seok." He bobbed his head to the person sitting before him.

"I will do my greatest to execute my duty to serve you, Your Highness." The bear-man bent his head low.