As usual, the throne room was noisy as representatives from various factions, along with their subordinates gathered to present their reports to the King of Banyeok. With the absence of the King in the courtroom, chaos and noise were eminent. Leaders smiled and conversed with each other, each having a hidden intent of their own. Subordinates stood to the side of these leaders, quietly standing and observing. A mundane job but important, nonetheless. They couldn’t afford to miss a detail in the politically charged room.

Dr. Miya stared at the room, her hand reaching for the smoke in her pocket. However, she stopped herself and let out a small groan. The air was suffocating enough; smoking might just make it worse. At least that was what she told herself but of course, in reality, smoking wasn’t really allowed in here.

“Disgusting,” she mumbled under her breath as she watched those greasy and fake smiles. “Dead bodies are better this.”

“Woah, that is quite a statement to make, doc.” said a voice behind her. Dr. Miya didn’t even flinch at the sudden voice. Her expression remaining the same, she turned and looked at the speaker.

“I thought you wouldn’t come today.” she said.

“It’s not like I wanted to but rules mandate that I have to come. Had to wrap up the matter as fast I could. I would’ve been here even earlier if it weren’t for the troublesome fucker.”

Finally finding something she could be interested in, Miya focused her attention on Jinuk. The handsome general had an angry frown on his face, his brows furrowed.

“I doubt you’re talking about the new guys brought in. Minjoon?”

Jinuk almost rolled his eyes at the mention of that name. “Who else? I’m possibly the most amicable guy out there but I really can’t stand him. So bloodthirsty and cocky. A picture-perfect representation of a dog from Tanyu.”

Miya let out a light laugh. “That is considered treachery, you know. His highness is also from the House of Tanyu.”

At the mention of Geon-uh, Jinuk’s expression changed. “His highness is from the Kingdom of Banyeok. After becoming king, he exists as an autonomous entity.”

Miya just shook her head. “Ideals are just ideals, Jinuk. Denying reality just makes the inevitable a bigger surprise.”

Jinuk looked at her, puzzled. “I’m a military officer, Doctor. Such words aren’t going to get through my head.”

Miya laughed. “Yeah, all brawl no brains.”

Jinuk was going to respond to her when the doors behind the throne opened. The hall immediately went silent, the whispers hallowing out.

Postures immediately stiffened and the fake smiles wiped out, everyone stood orderly without even a rustle of their clothes.

Geon-uh walked in and everyone in the hall immediately bowed their heads down to him. A customary thing, nothing out of the ordinary. His blonde hair stood out from the ocean of black and brown hair, his eyes were devoid of any emotion, cold and calculated. The court ladies always thought he would’ve been so much more handsome if he let some life into those eyes.

“Greetings, your Highness” everyone chorused.

Geon-uh’s head was pounding. It felt like someone was repeatedly smashing his head against a rock. The glamor of the throne room, the decorum, the atmosphere and reverence from the people present in this only suffocated him further.

Geon-uh merely nodded to the gesture postured in front of him. With that single nod, everyone raised their head, still not making any sort of eye contact with the ruler of their country.

Geon-uh sat down on the throne, his hand placed on the extravagant armrest. He ran his fingers over the engravings. He had lost track of how many times he had done this action, but he found it comforting, giving him the energy to deal with the chaos that awaited him. The trial that waited for him every day.

Ignoring the pounding on his head, he gracefully lifted his handsome to look at the crowed before him. His face did not betray a single hint of the struggle that went through his head.

“Proceed.” Was all he said as he started the same routine again.

Again and again. A cycle without a break. Like a hamster on a wheel, Geon-uh just kept running and running.

He had no idea how long it would take before he fully lost himself.

-------------------------

The car ride between Minjoon and Yeonwoo was awkward to say the least. Not only because they didn’t like each other but also because Yeonwoo’s eyes were so puffy he could barely close it and even a bug on the ground would be able to tell that he had been bawling his eyes out.

Considering Minjoon’s personality, Yeonwoo had expected him to say a sadistic word or two about his state but much to his surprise he didn’t and the only thing that lingered between them was this awkward atmosphere. But Yeonwoo would rather deal with this atmosphere than hear a comment from Minjoon.

Yeonwoo silently watched out of the window as the scenery constantly changed. They were in a quiet region with nothing but trees around and the next second he’d find the car smack dab in the middle of street. He just couldn’t help but marvel at how big this place was. Subconsciously, he couldn’t help but think, if they have so much so much space would it hurt to take the rest of us in?

It was just another question added to his list of million questions which he would probably never get answered considering his status in the kingdom. He secretly hoped that the King would reject the General’s decision to put him in the army. Didn’t everyone think of him as an outsider anyways? Why let him into the King’s personal army?

While his thoughts ran amok, Yeonwoo suddenly felt the car come to a halt. Minjoon wordlessly looked at Yeonwoo. Cocking his head to the right, he indicated Yeonwoo to get out of the car.

Yeonwoo got out of the car and stared at the huge building in front of him. Much like the other buildings in the city, this was also built in a traditional style with wooden tiles fixed on the triangular roof. But God, was it a tall building. Yeonwoo craned his neck up as much as building. It was huge.

“Follow me.” Said Minjoon, walking ahead. He did not even bother checking whether Yeonwoo was actually following him. Snapping out of his daze, Yeonwoo slightly sped up, attempting to catch up with Minjoon.

“Where are we?”

“General Hospital.”

Oh, mouthed Yeonwoo as he walked inside. He had vague memories of what a hospital should look like, but the inside was very much different from the hospital from his memories.

It wasn’t white and pristine. Instead, it looked extremely run-down. Honestly, it only looked a little bit better from the place he used to live in.

Minjoon looked completely out of place in this almost abandoned location. His handsome, foreigner looks coupled with his arrogance made him stick out like a sore thumb.

However, like the hospital in his memory, there was reception here as well.

The lady behind the reception counter was rapidly swiping cards over a unique looking machine. Once she swiped a card across it, she lightly flicked it up in air, squinting to look at the print on it.

She finally tore her gaze away from her work and stared at the two young men who had walked in here. She almost couldn’t believe her eyes. She rubbed her eyes. There were two exquisite looking men in front of her! Not one but two! In this run-down hospital, this was almost like finding gold. She looked around her table but much to her disappointment she couldn’t find a mirror to check how she looked.

Minjoon walked over to the counter. Barely looking at the clerk’s face for even a second, he said, “I’m looking for someone called Hyuk. He was probably checked in a couple of hours ago. Gunshot wound to the leg.”

The lady blushed slightly and nodded. Yeonwoo, standing behind Minjoon, noticed this interaction between them. He felt bad for the girl and wanted to tell her to snap out of it.

Her work desk was an absolute mess, so she had to scramble around a bit to find the person they had asked for. She picked a card up and held it against the light on her table.

“Ah, yes. Hyuk. Full name, unknown, age, unknown. Brought in with a gunshot would earlier today…” she read off the card but promptly stopped for a second before saying, “…outsider.”

Minjoon merely nodded. The receptionist eyed his olive-green uniform and his name tag. However, those weren’t enough proof.

“To see an outsider, I would require your ID. Do you have it on you? Also, would need some proof for that gentleman.”

Her gaze turned to Yeonwoo. She ran a thorough scan on him as well. Seeing his shabby state, she had a vague hunch that he was also an outsider.

Minjoon presented his ID to her and upon confirming his seniority in terms of ranks, she gave him another flushed smile. However, her gaze turned frosty when she looked at Yeonwoo.

Yeonwoo wanted to almost laugh. The guy you are checking out is the one who shot your patient and I’m just another victim!

“He doesn’t have a state-ID yet. I’m sure you can let him through.”

The lady shook his head. “To visit an outsider, you need to present an ID. It’s hospital safety protocol.”

Yeonwoo almost wanted to raise his eyebrows. You call this a hospital?

Minjoon’s brow ticked. He seemed to hold some respect to those who worked in the medical industry otherwise Yeonwoo was sure he would’ve blown her head off by now.

“Let’s not be difficult now, shall we? The imperial army is the one who brought him here, I’m sure we have a say on who to take to visit this outsider.”

The lady politely shook her head again. “I apologize. I require an ID.”

Yeonwoo almost wanted to bang his head against the wall. It was admirable that she was dedicated to her work, but she had to read the room a little bit. Minjoon’s irritation was only increasing by the second.

Why doesn’t he flash a smile or something, she’d cave in in an instant, thought Yeonwoo. Unfortunately, Minjoon wasn’t well-versed in the arts of seduction.

Well, it wasn’t like Yeonwoo himself was so well-versed. But his social skills were certainly better than Minjoon’s.

Minjoon let out an exasperated sigh. He glared at Yeonwoo as if it was Yeonwoo’s fault that he didn’t have an ID. Yeonwoo desperately fought the urge to roll his eyes but merely shrugged in return.

“When is the patient going to get discharged?” asked Minjoon, changing his course of questioning.

“Considering how it was gunshot wound and that he was just brought in today, I’m afraid it would take another couple of days. It would be recommended if he gets rest for a week.”

Minjoon was definitely losing his patience. Yeonwoo wasn’t confident in his social skills at all, considering how he had lived with a small group of vagabonds his entire life. He also lived a life where survival skills were far more important than social skills. Despite that, he knew that Minjoon infinitely worse that him at talking at people. However, considering the woman’s dislike towards outsiders, he thought it wouldn’t be a smart idea to pitch in.

Yeonwoo lightly tapped his shoulder. Minjoon immediately turned and distanced himself from Yeownoo, piercing him with a fierce glare. Yeonwoo almost wanted to roll his eyes, talk about a dramatic reaction. “Why don’t you swipe her a smile or something? I’m sure she’d ease up a bit. I don’t know if you can’t tell but you’re scaring her.”

Minjoon’s face contorted. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Yeonwoo shook his head. This wouldn’t work. They had to come up with some alternative that did not involve seduction or blowing someone’s head off. Yeonwoo also thought about asking the general, Jinuk, for help but considering the showdown Minjoon and Jinuk just a while ago, it didn’t seem like a great idea either.

“Wait, can you not contact that lady?” whispered Yeownoo. He didn’t know why he was whispering now but he just found himself doing that. Besides, the receptionist had already gone back to her work, considering this matter dealt with, save for the occasional glances at Minjoon.

“What lady?”

“Uh, what was her name? The other doctor. Uh, Miya? Can’t she help us out?”

Minjoon’s eyes narrowed. “That’s Dr. Miya for you. But no, she cannot help us. She is a well reputed doctor, and her name does hold a lot of weightages but that’s only near the royal palace and in Ixora’s region. We’re quite far away from there and we’re just the military.”

Yeonwoo let out a sigh. “Okay, great. Then, what are we going to do?”

Minjoon glared at Yeonwoo. “We aren’t going to do anything. You just stay here and keep your mouth shut.”

“Wha—” before Yeonwoo could finish his sentence, he saw Minjoon walk up to the receptionist yet again and exchanged a couple of words with her.

For a second, Yeonwoo even thought that he was actually going to smile at her and take up his idea.

But of course, that was far from the case. Yeonwoo watched in horror as Minjoon pulled out his gun and placed it right at her forehead.

“Hey, you—”

“Shut up.” Minjoon hissed and then turned his attention to receptionist again. “So, how about letting us through?”

She looked terrified. Of course, she would be terrified. She was nothing but an ordinary receptionist. Her job was pretty mundane; she spent most of her time sorting through patient cards. And their hospital took on the odd cases in town and hence visitors as such were also rare. But she should’ve known the minute two good looking guys walked through the door that today was going to be far from an ordinary day.

However, she still took pride in her job. The sight of the gun was scary, and she was sure that the man in front of her was not going to hesitate to pull the trigger. But she still couldn’t bring herself to say yes.

Minjoon rolled his eyes at her refusal to answer. He knew the common people’s sentiment  towards the imperial force in general and she wasn’t the first person he had come across who wanted to show defiance in some form or another.

Without wasting a second, a loud thud was heard, and she slumped over the table.

Yeonwoo gasped, “What did you--?”

Minjoon pointed the hilt of his gun at Yeonwoo. “Just whacked her with this. She works at a hospital, I’m sure when she wakes up, she’d get patched up in no time.”

He bent over the counter where the receptionist laid, slumped down. He slightly pushed her body out of the way and picked up one of the cards. He also lifted it up in the air to read it and then looked at Yeonwoo.

“The other rat is on the fifth floor. Let’s get going.”

Without waiting for a reply from Yeonwoo, Minjoon walked towards the steps. Yeonwoo immediately followed behind.

He couldn’t wait to see Hyuk.

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