Secret of the Red Lotus Flower (빨간 연꽃의 비밀)

Chapter 39

As the bandits slowly narrowed their search, Soo-yun quickly looked around to find a way to escape the city square. However, in every direction she looked, she saw more rough-looking men accosting people in the street to get a closer look before letting them go. She didn't know how but it was obvious that the bandits knew that she and the Crown Prince were here and it was merely a matter of time before the two were discovered.

"Soo-yun, I want you to run to the palace as fast as you can and don't look back," Ha-neul said.

"What are you talking about?" Soo-yun asked in disbelief.

"The assassins are after me, not you," Ha-neul explained. "I'll distract them long enough to allow you the means to escape. If you hurry, you can make it there and back in time with help."

"Don't lie to me. You are in no condition to take on one of them, let alone a dozen," said Soo-yun. "You know very well that you'll die if you try to fight with them. We need to think of another way because now is not the time for futile sacrifices."

"Damnit, Soo-yun! I'm still your husband. I am telling you to go now!" Ha-neul imperiously commanded. Soo-yun was shocked to hear the Crown Prince's raised voice. In all of their interactions, Ha-neul had never taken that tone with her. For the first time in her life though, Soo-yun refused to back down after having someone snap at her.

"Exactly! You're my husband and I'm your wife. I'm not leaving your side, now or ever!" Soo-yun shot back.

As Soo-yun said those words, she felt their innate truthfulness. No matter what happened today, she wasn't going to ask for a divorce. She didn't know what kind of relationship they would have in the future but the two of them would discover it together.

Soo-yun turned to the proprietress who was staring at them in confusion. She didn't know what was going through the other woman's mind since they had just told her that they were siblings but she didn't have time to worry about it. Ha-neul was determined to single-handedly take on the entire bandit party while injured, so she needed to find another alternative.

"Is there any way out of the square?" Soo-yun asked. "A back exit or something?"

"No," the proprietress replied. "We never had a reason for one."

There was a crash of a chair falling over and Soo-yun spun around to see what had happened. Ha-neul had stood up to leave and accidentally knocked over the chair, but was now leaning over the table in pain instead. She could see a small, yet growing red stain on the side of the kwaeja topcoat. Soo-yun realized that, in her husband's haste, one of the stitches must have torn free.

"Stop it, Ha-neul. You'll kill yourself before those men do if you aren't careful!"

Pushing Ha-neul down into another chair, Soo-yun grabbed one of the tables and tried to pull over to create a barrier. It was too heavy for her, so she commanded the proprietress to help. While still confused, Soo-yun's urgent demeanor motivated the woman to help her move it to block half of the entrance. Soo-yun knew that it wouldn't stop the assassins for long, but prayed that it might be enough until Yeong-ja arrived with help.

Soo-yun looked up to see the scar-faced bandit staring at her from across the square in a manner that told her that he somehow recognized her. He gestured at her threateningly and started wading through the crowd, violently shoving away anyone who got in his path. Soo-yun frantically looked around for something to stack on top of the table.

Suddenly, she heard a high-pitched whistle over the noise of the city square. Soo-yun glanced up to see that all of the bandits had frozen in their tracks. One by one, they disappeared back into the crowds. Scarface was the last go and gave her one last murderous glare before turning and walking away.