*/오 (5)
1607 Words
*Third Person's POV
"Hyuk-Oh nunim?!" Panic was evident in his voice as Hyuk-Oh suddenly collapse while he was assisting her.
The celebration went side ways the moment the gisaengs threw needle simultaneously at his father, the minister of Justice and Hyuk-Oh. He was able to make her duck in time just before the needle could hit her square on the head. He got scratched by one of the needles in between his forefinger and middle finger though.
He felt a sudden piercing pain creeping up from the scratch to his arm. He ignored the pain and decided to carry his sister instead. He could feel his right arm getting numb and his breathing restricted as he placed his right arm under her neck and left arm under her knees.
Song Hye had told him to keep Hyuk-Oh safe and bring her back to her residence immediately as she was clearly one of the main targets of the assassins and he had a feeling her food was tampered with as he saw she looked as though she was going to throw up. The others were being protected by the guards and escorted back to their residences.
"Get the Royal Physician." He said to the servant that walked forward to greet him.He was sweating cold and panting. He placed her unto her bed and left the servants with her.
He paced outside the door waiting for the physician. His right arm was getting paler than his normal skin tone and it was swelling. He held his arm unconsciously and took deep breaths to endure it even though he could feel as though he was being choked from the inside out.
The Physician arrived after a few hours. The physician bowed, he was a man in his 60s had white hair and a white beard, he had two uinyeo right behind him.
"Check on her. We think she might have been poisoned." The physician bowed went into the room.
Young-Il went out side the house and sat on the stairs. He closed his eyes and tried breathing in through his nose. He could no longer feel his legs, probably cause of the excursion of running. His heart was pounding on his ears.
He just sat there witnessing how the assistants went in and out, coming back with some herbal medicine. He was feeling limp, he could no longer feel his arms and legs, his breathing felt more restricted than usual.
"Young-Il, where is Hyuk-Oh?" Causing Young-Il to look up and see Jung Hwa.
"She's inside hyeong." He stood up to greet Jung Hwa. Even though his vision was getting hazy, and everything felt like he was underwater. His heart was beating erratically. "How is father? Did you catch the assassins?"
"Father's fine.He's worried about Hyuk-Oh though. Caught one of the assassins, but she killed herself while the remaining three are still being chased." Jung Hwa looked closely at Young-Il and noticed how pale he looked. "Are you..."
He was not able to finish what he was going to say as Young-Il suddenly collapsed and started convulsing on the floor. His eyes where rolling to the back of his head as he continued to convulse.
"Young-Il?!" Jung Hwa said as he knelt down to Young-Il's side not knowing what to do. He got shocked as blood started coming out of Young-Il's mouth, as he continued coughing out blood it flowed to his eyes, nose, and clothes soaking him in his own blood. Jung Hwa looked around in horror and shouted louder with panic very evident on his voice. "HELP!"
*****
*HYUK-OH'S POV*
I started feeling my fingers, weirdly I can't move them. I tried opening my eyes but they were shut tight. My breathing was shallow as though I was asleep.
"The poison is gone from her body. It will take some time for her to wake up though." A man said. Base on his voice I think he was around hi 60s. Probably the royal physician. Poison?! "Good thing Young-Il-gun brought her here immediately after she fainted."
"Sir! His highness collapsed!" A panicked voice said.
"Watch over her." I heard quick footsteps and then shushed voices talking in haste. I wanted to know what was happening but staying mentally conscious was draining me fast. I was losing my senses again, and then blacked out again.
I was awakened by something wet, a cloth lightly being patted on my forehead. I opened my eyes and squinted as I was greeted by harsh light.
"Your highness is awake, call the Royal Physician and his majesty." The person beside me stated. My eyes slowly adjusted to the light, I was in my room with the servant seating on the floor near my bed with a bowl and cloth near my head. I was seriously confused for a moment.
An old man entered with two women following him. I leaned towards my right away from him as he placed his hand on my forehead and afterwards checked my pulse.
"How are you feeling?" He asked as he pulled down my lower eyelid. I was so generally confused.
"I think, I am fine." My voice sounded hoarse. I was still confused with what was happening.
"I would recommend you to get more rest and eat only soft food for the next seven days." He said as he was done checking on me. He stood up and exited the room. I heard whispers outside my room before my father went in.
He was wearing his usual red gonryongpo with a golden five toed dragon embroided at the front and shoulders, the gakdae that was a square shaped belt that had a jade at the center that held the robe in place, and a black ikseonggwan adorned his head. He had an oval shaped face and almond eyes, that showed how tired he was. He looked young despite being in his late 40s, was around 5'10, and looked caring despite having a strict and cold demeanor.
"Hyuk-Oh." He said in a concerned tone as he sat down beside me and took my hand. "How are you feeling?"
"I am fine? Did something happen abamama?" I asked really confused. He looked sad, hurt and tired. He looked more stressed than usual.
"The ministers are asking to crown a new crown prince." He said with a sigh. I waited patiently for him to continue, even though if Jung Hwa is ready to become crown prince father refuses to crown him as he still believes Dae Hyun is alive. "After an attempted assassination at the festival they believe it is time to crown a new heir to the throne, and Young-Il's death just made them more persistent."
"What do you mean by 'Young-Il's death?" Confused and very alert. I just saw him last night. He was very much alive and healthy, even had the strength to have an arguement with Seul Gi that is. "He was just with us last night. He was very much alive."
"You were unconscious for two weeks Hyuk-Oh." My eyes widened with what he just said. TWO WEEKS?! "It seems someone placed poison on your dish that night. After the assassins threw needles towards us, Young-Il escorted you back here to keep you safe but then you collapsed. He called upon the Royal Physician to treat you. Unfortunately, he was wounded by one of the needles, a scratch to be precise, it seems the needles had lethal poison that anyone hit would potentially die within a few minutes."
I looked at the ceiling trying to let what he just said sink in. Young-Il is dead, and I have been out for two weeks.
"Pyeha, the ministers are asking for an audience." My father sighed. They must have been talking about this issue for two weeks now. No wonder he looked tired and stressed out, he can't even mourn for his son's death properly.
"Rest, Hyuk-Oh. I added more guards to watch over your residence." He said as he stood up. He sighed and walked towards the door. "I can't bare to loose another child of mine."
One of the servants went in and assisted me with eating. I still can't get over the fact that I was unconscious for two weeks. After eating, I told her to not let anyone come in until tomorrow I as just wanted to rest and be alone.
I was still thinking about Young-Il. He saved me and at what cost? His life, he might have been my father's son to one of his women but he was still my brother. I unconsciously started crying just by thinking of him.
"Chul Moo." I whispered as I whipped my tears. I heard light footsteps behind me. I turned my head and I saw him in his usual black clothes with the katana at his side. His hair was let down with some being tied to keep if from his eyes, he was around 5'8 in height had almost the same built as the soldiers, half of his face was being covered by a black cloth except his eyes that were monolids and slightly round in shape.
"Fill me in on everything that has happened ever since the festival."
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Unfamiliar words
gisaengs - female entertainers
uinyeo - court ladies that help the royal physician, sometimes called medicine ladies
gun - prince
gonryongpo- robes of the king, usually has a five toed dragon embrioded at the front, back and the shoulders
gakdae - square like belt
ikseonggwan- black cap mostly worn by the king and crown prince
abamama- father king, or how the king's children address the king
Pyeha- king/ your majesty
- Writer
