1 CHAPTER 1
"Long live the king!"
Some warlords are seen who are greeting the king. Who doesn't know the king, the great sun of the empire, King Park Jon Soo. The royal family consist of three members including the King, the Queen and the Crown Prince.
Today the King held a banquet for his son's birthday, Park Sung Hoon. the crown prince was really excited when he heard about the event one month before. The liveliness was felt when one sees the full and beautiful decorations, many guests of honor present and the tables filled with various delicacies of foods.
However, the night was rocked by rumors that the king had an illegitimate child with a maid. The news angered the queen. One of the ladies in waiting knew who the person was and told the queen.
"How dare you! You have tarnished this royal name. Guard, bring that person to me, now!'
Not long after, the person was bought before her. If you look, she is not as beautiful as anyone. Long but unmanageable hair, whose only attraction is the beauty of the blue eyes.
Not only were the people around shocked but the crown prince was also shocked by the action that he never seen in his mother. He had never seen his mother be rude and raise her voice against someone. His mother was a very loving and gentle person. She was very appreciative and kind to all the servants in that palace.
"Look who is this!" She laughed
"A shameless woman who was ravaged the royal family. How dare you! I treated you all very well and this is what you gave me!"
The king who had just kept quiet then spoke, "My Queen! I never had any relationship with her. Do not believe people's words. " The queen looked at the king. Her face looked quite angry.
"Are your words true?" She asked the king
"Of course! I don't even know all the maids here"
"Then show me the child! Where did you hide the child?"
As soon as the queen inquired, one of the maids came from behind carrying a crying child. It was a little girl covering her face with her arms wiping away tears. Sunghoon who heard the cries then closed his ears, stressed with all the things that were happening. With that, he stepped foot fleeing the scenes.
"I don't want to see both, drive them away don't let them set foot in this place again." Said the queen
Without being given a chance to explain the situation, the two of them were driven away.
The queen sigh
After a while, the queen was able to calm herself.
"My dear, are you okay?" Asked the king from besides. She just nod and instantly looking at the spot where she left the crown prince just now.
"Where the crown prince?" The only thing left was an empty place, no one was standing there. As soon as the question was asked, all the maids looked around for him. She then looked at a man dressed in an all-white military uniform.
"Did you see him?"
"Yes, your majesty. But just now the crown prince he want to rest in the room and doesn't want any accompany." Said the man.
The queen silent for a moment.
Suddenly the king voice out, "Its okay let's just move on. Other guests of honor will also be coming shortly. You all better keep quiet and don't open your mouths about these."
"How about the crown prince, Your Majesty"
In the end they just decided to continue the ceremony and told that the celebrant was not well and was resting. Although the guest wanted to meet the prince the king and queen had to restrain them saying that the prince did not want anyone else to visit him.
...........
After a week the prince was given time to rest, the queen is now also curious about her son's condition after the incident that day.
"Lady Chu, did you feed the crown prince for this week?"
"Yes, Your Majesty but the crown prince did not answer me let alone open the door. So, Ijust put it in front of the prince's door while the other maids would pick it up at the next meal time."
The queen nod
"Please arrange the time and ask the person in charge to bring the prince this evening. I want to have tea time with my family. I allowed you to open the door only with a spare key."
"Sure, Your Majesty" and the maid gone.
Once the door was open, the pitch-dark and gloomy room greeted.
The man try to yell the crown prince name hoping that it just a play.
"Your Highness, are you there? The queen wish to see you"
Instead only a silent was heard
At that time, the man already frightened. He was praying for his life still hoping that the crown prince will show up even from the closet.
When there's still no response, the man hurriedly went to the queen to inform the crown prince absence. Hearing that, the queen was shocked. She then mobilized all the palace guards to find the crown prince.
"Lady Chu! Call every lady here!" Command the queen.
In instant all the lady and a few of guards come gathered at the main hall. Everyone was shocked and at least scared as if it that was their mistakes.
"Who among you all carries out the task of giving or taking the food from the prince's room?" at the question, three of ladies raise their hand including Lady Chu as she mentioned before about how the prince not answering her and she letting the food in front of the door.
After Lady Chu, there's other two of Lady that seems not that close.
"Tell me what you do"
First a lady in front the line start talking, "I was responsible for taking the food placed in front of the prince's door but every time I took it the food seemed untouched."
"Same with me, Your Majesty. But i also noticed a quiet atmosphere because every time i stopped by the prince's room, Your Highness would always sing or do something in the room but this week i didn't hear anything." the order lady interrupted. Hearing both answer, the queen looks towards Lady Chu.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty. I should have known about those changes. I just did my job by giving food and not sure if the prince finished the food."
The queen sat down because she did not believe that her prince had escaped from the palace. The king who heard the news arrived at the main hall with a ripple of worry.
"How can you all be overlooked! You all should take care of the prince and make sure he rests but how can he not be in the room?!" The King yell.
The queen then held the King hand, "Do you think he ran away from the first day the case happened?" but no answer from the king.
"Our prince has been on the run for the past week! he has not been in this palace for a long time. Have you never seen him? What do we need to do?"
This time the King answered, "This is all the crime of that subordinate woman. Ifhe had not lied, this would not have happened. Sunghoon must have felt cheated." Everyone there was only able to remain silent and not dare to fight his words.
The truth is, the King never behaved like a father to the crown prince. This matter is not taken into account when all think that this is royal protocol.
When there was no progress or good news from all the guards, the King immediately ordered all to disperse from the main hall. "My queen,just trust me. Let me handle everything and take our prince home." Said the King and walk out.
Seen the queen who was now panicking and not feeling happy. She then rushed into the room followed by Lady Chu.
"Lady Chu, where do you think he went?"
Lady chu jump by the random question as she did not expect it from the queen.
"Ahhh i didn't know, Your Majesty." She answered slowly.
The queen then grab her hand
"You need to help me. Call any assassin you know. I just need one person, the most trusted. Call one of them here and you, don't tell anyone!"
"May i know why, Your Majesty?" The lady ask which she later regretted her action for not thinking before speaking.
"No need to ask! You just have to do what I tell you. Go now and don't come back as long as there is no one."
............
With the command, that night Lady Chu went out to find the assassin and as what she remembered, the palace doesn't even have their own assassins' despite of being King and Queen. But she knows some of them. She always know about things outside of the palace.
She then went to the training ground knowing that the person she looking for must be there.
Walking towards the destination, she smirk as she remember on that day when she saw the maid and that person, the two of them chatting affectionately. At that moment, she noticed the look in the man's eyes. It was very odd, she can see the sparkles in his gaze. Needless to say, that alone shows one's feeling.
Once she arrived, she saw that man who is training. Without waiting, Lady Chu then went straight to the commander and asking either she can meet that guy.
"Do I get a chance to have a meet with Sir Kim Dae?"
The commander who is famous with his stern characteristic turn his eyes towards the person named Kim Dae.
