화랑 - a tale of curiosity [ON HOLD]

🌸chapter nine🌸

Back at the palace, Queen Jisoo had Sun Woo held in the cells of the place whilst she clearly stated that she wanted Master Ahn Ji-Gong to stay closely by. Ji-ae was ordered to stay for awhile due to the fact she is entrusted member of the Queen's guard. She stayed by Sun Woo's cell as the Queen attended to issues which Ji-ae knew was concerning Sun Woo's welfare. When the Queen returned, she knew not to ask any questions from the look on the Queen's face, and so she took her leave from the cells below the palace, and out into the fresh air.

As she left her room, she began thinking,  racking her head for the reason; why Sun Woo was trying to kill Sam that day. She find herself in the palace gardens, and was strolling near the ponds, observing the fish that swam underneath the bridge as she tried to figure it out herself, but she came to the conclusion of nothing.

Sun Woo wanted to kill Sam for killing his friend, but who was his friend? He must have been accompanied into the capital. She thought, but that is far as she got.

Giving up on it, stretching her arms above her head as she made her way to the front of the palace. She hummed softly to herself, watching where she placed her feet on the ground to amuse herself. As she came up to the side of the palace, she saw the two carriages that were used for the parade. She continued to walk closer but she saw a figure sat in one of them. She narrowed her eyes and stretched her neck further and then saw it to be Sam. Ji-ae widened her eyes and quickly strutted over to her friend. She grabbed onto the carriage, propelling herself forward, her face close to Sam's. He looked at her bewildered and then smirked.

"Want a kiss?" Sam stated, making Ji-ae scrunch her face in disgust, before pushing away his puckered lips.

"Why are you here?" She asked, looking around the palace grounds for any sign of the roaming palace guards. "If they find you--"

"I've been here for a good hour." He simply said, rubbing his fingertips together. "I have to say. If the King was to live here, I would hope he would up the amount of guards patrolling his property."

"And would you?" Ji-ae simply asked, folding her arms over her chest as she leant further into the carriage, her feet securely placed on the edge.

"Perhaps." He said, then climbing out from the carriage, making Ji-ae huf out in annoyance. "But I'm not the King." Sam said, making Ji-ae scoff as she jumped back down, soon sending the palm of her hand around the back of his head. He stumbled forwards, quickly straightening himself before glaring at his female friend.

"Ow?" He said, rubbing the crown of his head.

"I was hoping to knock some sense into that brain of yours." She replied, taking a step forward. "Just because you can't do anything, doesn't stop you from being 'the King'."

"I know. But she does." They both fell silent, letting the gentle breeze stroke at their skin and locks of hair.

"The man that attacked the Queen's guard." Ji-ae spoke up, hoping to change the subject. Sam nodded his head, gesturing for her to continue on. "He was the one that attacked you back at the carpenter's." Sam nodded, picking a flower from the nearby flower patch, and then began pulling off the petals. "I guess he figured who really killed his friend."

"He did a while back." Sam said, twirling the stem of the flower in his hand. "I killed him." He said, dropping the naked stem to the ground.

"You didn't kill him." Ji-ae said, rolling her eyes. "Your mother ordered it, her henchman did it. You saved me that night, so stop blaming yourself and be grateful that you don't have my death on your conscience."

"So you're saying, just because you are more known to me, that  peasant's death shouldn't have to mean anything." Sam asked, shocked by what was coming out from his friend's mouth.