HWARANG Rewritten✅

34. King as a subject

Chapter 34.
King as a subject.

Seon-woo, Ji-dwi, Soo-ho, Ban-ryu, Sa-do and Ah-ro had been summoned to the palace as the Queen Dowager wanted to thank them for their services and contributions during the peace-making negotiations in South Buyeo. But obviously, that was a ruse as Queen Ji-so only wanted to speak to Seon-woo. Ah-ro was getting restless as more time passed without Seon-woo's return.

Ji-dwi made an excuse to go to the outhouse and Sa-do almost stopped him but restrained herself. The palace was Ji-dwi's home. And he surely wouldn't do anything stupid and reveal himself with other Hwarang members present, she reasoned with herself. She also reminded herself that Ji-dwi hated her now so interfering in his life was probably not her smartest idea, no matter how worried she got.

Eventually, the others were sent home without Seon-woo. He couldn't face them. He didn't have the courage to look at Ah-ro after knowing the Queen was planning to make her a Won Hwa. He had unleashed some of his anger back in Baekje while fighting against Prince Chang and he had felt better. Not completely healed and over it but better. And now he was back to square one.

Seon-woo felt miserable. He had taken on Mak-moon's name and life to protect his sister and father and to honor his best friend in some way. Now he was meant to take on Ji-dwi's name and life. And for what? To act as bait? For a petty fight between the royal family and the council? It was all too ludicrous but if he didn't then Ah-ro would die and maybe Doctor Ahn-ji Gong too.

Seon-woo was sick of being a pawn in the Queen's game. He was tired, physically and emotionally, of the way she toyed with him and her subjects like they weren't even human beings.

While he was still reeling from the Queen's orders, he was approached by a man with a limp, who identified himself as Hwi-gyeong. He said that he would make Seon-woo the real King if he wanted. After all, the people loved him best. But how can a half-Cheonin become a King? That wasn't even his real identity. He himself, didn't know who he was. Seon-woo wasn't sure what game Hwi-gyeong was playing at.

That night Seon-woo couldn't sleep. And it was that night he became aware of two facts. One was that Ji-dwi did not sleep either and the Hwarang was usually faking his slumber. The other was that Sa-do cried at night. Of course, she was quiet about it, but her soft sniffles were not lost in the otherwise silent room where she imagined the others were sound asleep.

...

The next day, Seon-woo saw Ji-dwi standing alone, overlooking the courtyard. It was their day off and normally he went home with Ah-ro but he couldn't go toady. He knew Sa-do had stayed back too and he was sure she was cooped up in the library, probably hiding from Ji-dwi.

He stepped up next to the other Hwarang, trying to appear casual rather than like his world was collapsing in on itself. Was Ji-dwi familiar to this roiling, coiling tension in his gut, wary of everything all the time?

"I am more handsome than you thought, right? For a King?" Seon-woo jolted, surprised that Ji-dwi would actually come out and say it. The King. Ji-dwi was the King. "Everyone is saying that you are the King, but I figured that you are the only one who still thinks I am the King."

But still he had said it. He had admitted it himself. But instead of feeling angry like he had expected, Seon-woo felt wary. He felt... afraid? This was a title, a tabooed secret, that could end many lives. "Did you live like this all your life?" he asked in an earnest, unguarded tone.