Lazy yet sharp big eyes were looking at him, the ground level lanterns in the grass hitting the right side of the stranger’s face and showing a kind of amber shade of iris. His voice sounded paused and concerned, Seo Joon thought, yet his face seemed stuck with an almost expressionless semblance. 

- It’s okay… - Even though it wasn't really.  His hip and whole left side felt like hell. Anyway, Baek Seo Joon tried his best to show an unconcerned expression to the unknown man that looked around his age. Whatever happened was an accident apparently and there was no need to make a fuss about it in his mind. - Are you okay? I’m not sure if you just fell on me or hitted me with something… - He did his best to sit up without whining and the other one did put some distance between them while still kneeling beside Seo Joon, his light eyes never averting the gaze.

- It was a bike… - The light eyed man tried to cover a tired yawn that came out of his mouth with his spare hand since the other one was on the floor, keeping him steady. Seeing the cufflink on his brownish suit and once the slight smell of buzz gently hit his nostrils, Seo Joon got a little hint on what just happened. - I lost control of it…

- A bit drunk, I assume? - He smiled. It wasn't like he hadn't done similar incautious actions in the past and since everyone was okay, so be it. There was no reason to face it otherwise… But the unknown man did not seem to take the comment as something amusing. 

- Look, I’m not looking for trouble and since I understand you’re hurt because of my reckless behavior, rest assured I’ll take full responsibility. - He looked way too young for all that polite speech and stiff body language. - You will be compensated for it, do not worry. - Quietly and with an involuntary grin on his face, Seo Joon watched the other man that now, even with all that sober and older faced, struggled a little to make his way upwards. He shook his head unintentionaly as the other one reached for his own pants’s back pocket. - Here…

- Well, it was not that nice to meet you given the circumstances... - Way faster than the stranger, Baek was on his feet. - But since it’s late and I feel pretty tired… - He ignored the actions of the other man, who seemed to be picking up money from a now visible wallet and looked up for Seo Joon with a pretty lost expression. - I’ll head home. Drive home safely, okay? - And he walked away. 

- … Wait! You! - Still only a couple feet from the light-eyed slightly drunk and stuck up man, Seo Joon turned around to look at him. The one with short hair walked closer. - Don’t make things difficult, alright? - With a not-so-welcoming expression he extended a couple bills towards Seo Joon. - Take it and...

A tired sight left the long haired man’s lips.

- I don’t need money because of an accident, but thank you. - He tried to smile, even though the attitude of the other man was starting to get a bit enerving. - I would appreciate it more if you used that money to take a cab. - Politely, Baek nodded and quickly got himself in motion again. 

- But… What?

- Goodnight, sir. - He exclaimed from afar and kept his way. 

Seo Joon certainly could spare some of his time to explain to the "kid" that not everyone in this world wish to solve things with money, maybe he could even try to explain to him that sometimes people don't even wish to solve things at all, but in his head it was way less time consuming to just walk away. He didn't like that kind of attitude, but who could ever reason with drunk people? He knew way too well that, under the influence, you can't even reason with yourself. That's why he didn't fancy drinking anymore. Too much trouble… Yet he didn't feel like judging the ones that did and being so, that would just be an event to remember. The young man that abruptly crossed his path was only that: young and for those at a young age, himself included, there's always a lot to learn. But Seo Joon was no teacher. 

Sobriety would sooner or later fulfill that role.

With a pained body, he tried to focus his attention in the way ahead of him. He had to get to the nearest pharmacy before the pain became unbearable and he wished it didn't, otherwise he would have to make a visit to the doctor the next day. But it didn't feel like a "broken bone" situation. Seo Joon had his share of broken arms at a young age and for sure, it wasn't that kind of pain…

Such a beautiful night, he thought.

Now closer to the road, the symphony of engines and brushstrokes of mile lights gave him a brief yet intense spectacle of civilization. The contrast between the art of nature and the art of men would always be overwhelmingly touching in various ways. Sometimes it looked amusing, at times amazing and most of the time it just gives you an urge to antagonize it all. Nonetheless, that was still the word that had received him since birth. There was this duality, the abominable nature of destruction that builds monuments over natural gods. That was Earth, questionable to it's bones.

He pushed his palm against the glass door of the pharmacy, a tingle making him take a look at his hand where he found a scratch crossing the skin and dried blood accompanying it. Baek felt like one of those action movie characters for a moment, the ones that enter the nearby convenience store holding a piece of fabric against a shoulder or stomach wound and hand a blood stained dollar bill to buy for a burning cellphone. He just wished he didn't look disheveled enough for the employees to believe he had been in that level of distress.

*~*~*~*~*

- … We couldn't fim him, Milord… We tried our b… - the man's words were cut by a dry kick right on his mouth, shoving his body into the ground with such a violence that the other men in the room became stiff right away.

- You manage to find the courage to face me without fulfilling your only task… - The man took slow steps towards his soldier now shaking against the patio grounds, blood running down the latest mouth at the almost same amount of tears coming out of his eyes, bright with fear. - ...Yet you can't find a prince… Ha… - He smiled, disdain at the corners of his mouth and his black shoe making its way towards the cheek of the man laying on his feet.

Not much pressure was needed to cause the squeak that came out of the bruised mouth of the soldier trembling under his master's shoe. The old and dirty leather seemed bright where the fresh blood had sprinkled.

- I wonder what Our Majesty will think of this army when I tell him you all manage to lose the heir of Korea inside it's own realm… - With one of his hands he pushed the fabric of his bright vests up, taking care not to let it hide the injured soldier under his body. - You think Our Majesty would be merciful enough to just step on your face? Hum? - The soldiers stayed silent, too scared to say anything in return. - Haven't you heard my question?! - The sound of bone breaking echoed through the air, rapidly followed by a loud and terrible scream. 

The soldier's jaw was broken in two.

- No, Milord! - The soldiers responded in unison, a couple of them with trembling mouths yet none with a trembling voice.

- There it is. - He lifed his feat, releasing the crying man under him from the unreasonable act of torture and smiled openly. - He certainly would behead most of you! But I, well I'm giving you all, incompetents, a chance to keep your heads where they belong… Urgh. - With a disgusted face, he used the soldier's vest to scrub the blood away from his shoe and without even looking at the man, he finished his speech. - Now go and find the prince. If you can't find him, do not waste your time entering this grounds, cause I'll make sure to hang one by one at the gates… - And he let the smile leave his face, allowing a dark and threatening expression to greet the group in front of him. - Take the tenant with you and make sure I don't see him for the time being…

As soon as he completed the sentence, his back turned to the soldiers and them, as fast as their feet and horses allowed, they got in formation under the subtenant command and left. 

- Milord…

- Find someone to clean the patio. - He ordered while getting straight past the eunuch standing at the corner of the stairs leading to his chambers. - The King must not hear about any of this situation until it's all solved.

- And Our Majesty the Queen, Milord?

The lord stopped halfway but didn't even bother looking back.

- Have I stuttered? 

- No, Milord. My sincere apologies… - The eunuch curved himself even more, if possible. - No word will leave these walls without your consent, rest assured.

And with that, the nobleman reached for the wooden framed door, quickly getting inside and leaving the eunuch still in his place, yet, not long after the door closed, the eunuch started talking again, his head still down and eyes glued to the carved floor.

- Mister Kim Hyeong Yoo… - The man muttered, almost like a whisper of insanity in someone's mind. - Mister Kim Hyeong Yoo… - The words became a little louder but not enough to call much of attention. Then suddenly, the eunuchs head jolted up, almost making his rounded hat fall from his head with the violence of the move and his mouth opened in a scream, together with his now spooky wide open eyes. - MISTER HYEONG YOO! 

*~*

The young man's body almost jumped from the bed at the same time his eyes opened. In front of him was his maid, a concerned look slowly abandoning her expression.

- Oh, sorry mister Hyeong Yoo… - She mumbled, clearly disconcerted with the youngster's reaction. - You wouldn't wake up, I got worried...

Confused, the lighted eyed man looked around himself for a moment and then, to the woman standing by the side of his bed. Her voice was so different from what he just heard, but soon enough he realized it was just some trick played by his dream.

- Oh, no… It's fine Miss Lee. - He closed his eyes for a moment, his left hand pressing itself against his face just to connect with reality. - Did I… - He cleared his throat once he noticed how hoarse his voice was. - ...Did I sleep too much?

- We could say so… - She answered while pulling the blinds thread. Hyeong turned his face away, hiding from the day light that started to engulf the still dark room - But we had a malfunction this morning, so you're out the hook, don't you worry.

- Malfunction? - He murmured against the pillow. - Power problems?

- Not sure, Mister Hyeong Yoo. These are your toys, but for now the whole house is in "manual mode", at least it's what the kitchen panel says…

- Got it… Thank you, Miss Lee, I'll fix it later…

- After breakfast. - She demanded, making her way to the door while the young master didn't move from his position. - Mister Hyeong…

He lifted his head to guarantee the sound of his voice would come out properly and perked from under the pillow towards where he believed Miss Lee was standing. He managed to see her furry brown sleepers and couldn't really help wondering if she had been using the same pair for the past ten years or if she kept on buying new ones of the same exact model. They always looked so damn clean...

- Sure, after breakfast… - He assured her. - I'll be down in a couple minutes.

- You have ten, Mister Hyeong Yoo. - She pointed. - Your dad will come around in twenty. And please, make sure to wash the buzz away.

 He sighed. Nothing could pass that woman.

- Yes, of course… - And the pair of sleepers disappeared from his view, the sound of the door clicking closed coming soon after. 

Hyeong Yoo let his head fall into the mattress with a thud and closed his eyes. He felt awful physically and his mind, to be honest, was a bit overwhelmed.

What a crazy dream…, he thought, but once he managed to get up and his eyes met with his belongings on the nightstand, all he could think about was the tall back covered in white linen of the stranger he met, - actually runned over - the night before.