Till The Ryu Tree Blossoms

**** (Does That Make Sense?)

Throne Room, the Palace

THE CROWN PRINCE STOOD in the middle of the throne room, hands clasped behind his back, his shoes sinking into the soft red carpet that unfurled along the entire length of the hall. In this hour of the day, the throne room was silent and empty of debating ministers. Instead there was only him, the chief eunuch, two lady attendants and his father, who was now perusing his work from on top of the throne.

Today the monarch was dressed in robes of red and yellow, his topknot barely peeking out from the top of his crown, which was adorned in shimmering jade and gold. Sideburns trailed down his face, almost but not quite connecting with the stubble around his square chin. The faint dust of white in his mustache and chin strip beard gave the impression that this was a man that had been hardened by life in the palace, not softened by it. And it was clear too, by the dark rings under the eyes and the sharpness of the cheekbones, that this king was aging.

The Crown Prince could see it. The ministers noticed it. The people whispered about it.

And the king himself knew they knew it.

Emperor Kang dipped a brush into the pot of ink beside him and made a large circle on the Crown Prince's homework. Hoseok's heart sank. With a wave of a lofty sleeve the chief eunuch hurried up to the side of the throne, where he took the Crown Prince's homework and hurried back down. The Crown Prince bowed, receiving his assignment back with two straight arms, trying not to look at the red blot that now sat, squat and ugly, amidst his handwriting.

Emperor Kang spoke, voice deep like gravel.

"You have much to learn yet, Hoseok. A thesis does not equate to rephrasing other people's words. A thesis contains your own thoughts, your own opinions, viewpoints you gain after a careful and critical analysis of the subject matter. Instead, what you have given me is simply a retelling of someone else's facts."

Hoseok stayed silent.

"Do it again. I want an entire new thesis, a better one, submitted to me by tomorrow noon." A wave of a hand. "You are dismissed."

Pulling a report by his ministers near, the king began to peruse it, his son's presence already put out of his mind. Hoseok bowed.

"Yes Father," he said softly, even though he knew the king was no longer listening.

He turned to walk out of the hall, and that was when he heard the lady attendants whispering among themselves.

"Isn't this the second time he's submitted the same homework? And it's still unsatisfactory?"

"I know, right? It's as if he's not even trying. Look, he's not even wearing the royal bangle. Isn't he supposed to keep that with him at all times?"

Hoseok's hand traveled unconsciously to his wrist as he swallowed the sudden lump of hardness lodged in his throat.

"I'm surprised His Majesty selected him as his heir. I would have thought he'd pick fourth prince Feng, with all his remarkable combat skills. Or even sixth prince Namjoon. Now that's a man of charm."

"Quite true. But shush! I think he hears you."

Hoseok left the throne room. The walk back to his room seemed unusually long after that, and by the time he pushed open the doors of his chambers the headache was already raging full force. It drove pins and nails into his head, and with every step he took he winced. Dragging the door of his room close, he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror.

Average height. Average hair. Average person with an oval face and a sharp nose. Those who were more brutal might call his looks effeminate. It was definitely nothing like the manly cut of Feng's jaw, and he couldn't grow a beard to save his life. He'd tried. And if he couldn't win on the physical side, one might have thought he'd had an advantage on the intelligence aspect. But evidently no.

Not worthy.

He didn't even know he'd crumple his homework in his fist until he launched it at the mirror. And as he launched it at the mirror he realized the absence of weight on his wrist, and was reminded once again that he had lost his bangle, the royal bangle, a gift from the king and a mark of his inheritance.

Suddenly a fury rose up in him of which he could not explain. Striding over to his desk he angrily swiped its contents to the floor. Calligraphy pens and ink bottles clattered. Books toppled over. He slammed open drawers and dug through papers.

No sight of the bangle.

The cupboard received a similar treatment, as he shook out his robes and upended everything on the shelf. Blanket and pillow were tossed aside unceremoniously as he searched through the bed. Still nothing.

In the mirror he looked untamed, wild. But most of all he looked like a young boy, dressed in clothing too big for him, carrying a weight on his shoulders that he wasn't fit to bear. Letting out a sound close to a scream, he grabbed hold of an ink bottle and hurled. The glass of the mirror shattered with tremendous noise.

Outside there was the scurrying of footsteps, and one of the lady attendants pushed open his chamber doors.

"Your Highness, are you al - oh!" She gasped in horror, placing a hand over her mouth as her eyes widened. Hoseok watched her take in the destruction of the room.

His chest heaved. His teeth clenched. His knuckles turned to fists.

"Leave," he growled, a single menacing sound.

"Y-your Highness - "

"I said, leave!"

The frightened woman bowed hurriedly and disappeared out of sight.

Hoseok sat down heavily on his bed. The headache pounded, and he groaned.

Nothing. He had nothing. And with the only proof of his right to the throne gone, he was nothing.

The doors of his chamber opened again and he snarled, looking up, ready to snap at whichever interfering busybody -

"Your Highness! I found the bangle!"

Eunuch Jo barged in, waving the item in question. Hoseok felt a heavy load vanished off his chest. He stood up, and when Eunuch Jo came close enough, took the bangle from him with impatience. The Crown Prince slipped it on. The coldness of the metal back on his skin made him sigh in relief.

He touched the bangle lightly and the sound of it jingling seemed like the sweetest music to his ears. In the gold surface of the metal, his reflection shone.

"I found it in the laundry house," Eunuch Jo was saying, "the thief stole it and hid it in her trousers, which she sent for wash - rather silly of her, I think, but fortuitous for us! Of course there is a matter of punishment; what do you think - "

"I do not care," Hoseok cut in tersely, not even looking up. "All that matters is that the bangle has been found. Do what you will."

"Ah. I see. Of course, Your Highness. I'll see to it that she receives the punishment she deserves."

Eunuch Jo looked around, and for the first time saw the mess in the room. Wisely he kept quiet.

"I'll take my leave now, Your Highness. Would you - like a maid to come in and clean up your room?"

For a heartbeat Hoseok did not speak. Then he looked up, calmness back on his features and gratitude clear in his eyes.

"Yes. Please. Thank you."

Eunuch Jo nodded and bowed, then made his way out of the room. As he reached the doors he saw the ruined mirror and hesitated. He looked back at the Crown Prince. Hoseok was sitting on the bed now, smiling in relief as he patted the bangle on his wrist. Eunuch Jo looked back at the jagged shards of glass.

He found it extremely hard to reconcile these two images together.

Shaking his head, he closed the door behind him and went to catch himself a thief.

☯

Ryu blinked. She stared at the guards surrounding her, at this sallow-faced man in green and the expressionless constable at the back.

"What?" was the only thing that came out from her lips.

"Save your theatrics," the eunuch sneered. "We have solid proof that you stole the Crown Prince's bangle. No amount of lies will get you out of the punishment that's coming your way."

Eunuch Jo snapped his fingers. "Guards! Arrest her at once!"

Ryu paled. Half of what the eunuch said had sounded like utter nonsense, but it didn't matter - she understood full what the last sentence meant, as well as the actions of the guards that were now coming close, weapons outstretched.

"Wait - I don't - what are you saying? I haven't stolen anything!"

A guard grabbed her by the shoulder and she shook it off roughly. Immediately the tips of three spears kissed her throat. Ryu swallowed. A panic not unlike the one from the night of the fire began to writhe in her gut. Untamed beasts she could face. Rampant demons she could handle. But faced with this sudden accusation, thrown out of nowhere for no possible reason that she could imagine, had her frozen.

"I - I don't," she stammered, and had to start again. "I don't understand. I haven't taken anything. I haven't seen any bangle whatsoever, and the last time I interacted with the Crown Prince was when I was saving his life. I don't understand why you're doing this!"

"Aha! So you admit to taking advantage of our poor Crown Prince in a life-threatening situation! You wench!"

"What the hell are you saying?" Ryu exclaimed, outraged and hopelessly bewildered. The panic bloomed a little larger. "We were being hunted by freaking demons, do I look like I have the time to do anything else but save all our asses?"

The constable rapped the hilt of his sword smartly against the back of Ryu's knees and she nearly buckled.

"Silence your tongue, criminal! You shall watch your manners in the presence of the royal eunuch!"

. . . Criminal?

The guards closed in and this time no amount of squirming could get her out of their clutches. One of them grabbed her broken arm and she cried out.

There was a flash of movement and the pressure on her injury disappeared. Dressed differently from the last time Ryu had seen him, Taehyung had his whip out and now stood in front of her, protective. His hair was unkempt, his eyes blazing, and he looked like he hadn't eaten well while he was missing.

"What the hell is going on?"

Ryu felt a burst of relief echo in her chest. "Taehyung!"

The constable raised his sword and once again barked, "You shall watch your manners - " but he didn't make it further. One crack of Taehyung's whip had the constable cradling his hand in pain, as the sword hit the floor.

Eunuch Jo took several quick steps backward.

"An accomplice!" he screeched. "Get them both!"

More guards streamed out behind pillars and manhandled both Ryu and Taehyung apart. Ryu kicked and fought and clawed, but when a guard took her broken arm in a firm grip she was completely at his mercy. A slight twitch of his hand was enough to make her cry out in pain, and Taehyung by himself was no match against the dozens of spears now prodding his way. Ryu watched a sharp blade cut open his cheek and felt her heart twist.

"Taehyung! Taehyung, stop! Taehyung, stop! "

In the end it was the guards that managed to restrain him. As they dragged her away, Taehyung watching in helpless rage, Ryu strained every last one of her vocal cords and screamed out,

"Find Yoon-ki! Find Yoon-ki, Taehyung, and tell him what happened! Tell Yoon-ki!"

She was pulled around a corner and saw Taehyung no more.

☯

The jail was no nice place to be in.

Ryu shivered, clutching her knees to herself, being careful of her arm at the same time. The bandage had come slightly loose but she didn't dare fix it, for fear of worsening the damage her arm must have just gone through. Actual criminals loitered in cells beside and opposite, throwing her leering gazes and suspicious looks. One of them heckled and spit out through the bars, exposing all of his seven rotten teeth. Ryu looked away.

The cell was small and cold. Dried straw served as bedding for the floor, and there was one single water bowl. She was desperately thirsty, but there were things wriggling in the water that she was sure was not from her imagination. At least she hadn't been thrown into a shared cell.

They had refused to tell her anything beyond the fact that she was now apparently a thief, and would have to wait in jail till her sentence was decided. No amount of indignant protests and pleading could make them divulge more. Right now, Ryu's thoughts were a scrambled mess. Bangle? What bangle? What use would she have of the Crown Prince's bangle? And why were they so sure that she was the one who had taken it?

She closed her eyes, miserable. Why did she ever thought the palace was a place of glamour, of luxury and contentment? Since she had been here her days had held not a single moment of peace.

She didn't think it was possible, but in the end she dozed off into a fitful sleep. It was only when a voice, soft but firm, called her from outside of the jail bars, did she awake.

Yoon-ki was crouched outside, and with him he had a gourd bottle of water. Wordlessly he extended it through the bars.

"Yoon-ki!" she exclaimed, and nearly exploded into tears. Scooting forward she clutched the water bottle like it was her lifeline.

"I'm working on getting you out of here," he said, voice steely. "They say you stole something. That isn't true, isn't it?"

"Of course it isn't!" she burst out, "how can you think that of me - "

"I didn't. I just wanted to make sure that you were clear about that yourself. No matter what, Ryu," Yoon-ki stressed, "you cannot break and make a false confession. Do you hear me? No matter what they do to you, how they torture you, you absolutely cannot lie and said you stole it just because you want the hurt to stop. Am I clear?"

Ryu barely heard the last sentence, so fixated was she on the front part. " . . . Torture?" she whispered.

Yoon-ki gave a wan smile that couldn't hide the undercurrent of worry. "You are accused of stealing a royal heirloom, after all. The interrogation won't be light."

"But I didn't!" She hated how her voice rang with despair around the cell walls. "I didn't, I'm sure it must be some form of mistake on their part - I never took any bangle! Search me, search my room all you want - "

"They don't need to. Eunuch Jo found the bangle in the pockets of your trousers. The ones that you wore during the night of the fire. The sanitorium gave it to the laundry house for wash, and they found the bangle with it."

"My trousers?"

It took a moment, but her memory did not fail her his time. Hope and relief both lit up her eyes like fireworks lighting up the banks of the Chungsu River, as she remembered just what happened and why it did. She gripped the cell bars tightly.

"I took the bangle from the Crown Prince because it was making a hell of a noise. And the demons were all around us, so I wanted to be quiet. And yes, I did push it into the pockets of my trousers, but I had every single intention of returning it. I didn't even know it was important - I was just trying to make the jingling shut up!"

"Is there anyone that can testify to this?" Yoon-ki followed up immediately.

"Faye! She was there. Taehyung too. The sixth - and second prince. They were all there! They saw me."

The royal magistrate shook his head. "No. They saw you take the bangle. They didn't know the intentions behind it - though I'm sure Faye and Taehyung can guess. And the last thing we need is witnesses to this so-called theft."

Ryu's eyes widened and she snapped her fingers. "I told the Crown Prince! I explicitly explained to him why I was taking it, and that I would return it - I did! But . . . he was semi-conscious that time, I don't think he heard me."

"Well that's one hope at least." Yoon-ki frowned. "Though I don't see how it helps since he's the one accusing you of the theft right now. Either he forgot - or like you said, didn't hear."

"But why is he doing this? I saved his goddamn life!"

"And in his eyes you also took away the symbol of his birthright. Without the bangle he can't technically be called the Crown Prince."

"So what are you saying?" The tears were very near to falling down her cheeks. "That there's no hope for me? That I have to stay here?"

Yoon-ki's hand came up to clutch the iron bar, a finger's breadth higher than her own grip. "Ryu. Listen to me. I will do everything I can to prove your innocence. You have people out there who believe in you, so don't lose hope."

He cracked a smile. "You have no idea how hard it was to convince Taehyung not to storm this jail cell."

Ryu returned his chuckle with a weak one of her own. A stray finger from Yoon-ki brushed hers reassuringly. The storm in her gut settled a little. But her heart still shuddered in erratic beats, and she couldn't stop her imagination from unraveling in fright.

"Right now, I'll see if I can talk to the Crown Prince. I'm afraid there's really nothing you can do but sit tight. And remember - no matter what they do," Yoon-ki's voice turned urgent, "you cannot break. This is just a possibility, but I fear they might accuse you of even more sinister things."

Ryu paled even further. "What things?"

The magistrate's face turned bleak. "The king is old and in the near future there must be a ceremony to change monarchs. People in the palace are slowly, but surely, taking sides."

"What has that got to do with me?"

"It means," Yoon-ki said, "instead of a simple theft, they might accuse you of a conspiracy to take down the Crown Prince."