King Hye Jong looked exhausted. In fact, So knew that his first brother’s health had been deteriorating. Still, each time he saw the King, it seemed like the years had crept upon him. When he had walked an appropriate distance to the throne, he gave a deep bow.

“The 4th prince greets the King.”

“Wang So, it is good to see you. How were negotiations at the border?”

“There were a few complications due to increased violence, but the problem was resolved.”

“Will there be any lasting consequences?”

“For now there are none; it seems the Khitan are low on supplies, and the violence was mainly fights for food. We were able to give some of our shares which appeased them. If we continue to do so, in addition to enacting discipline against those who initiate violence, it should keep peace between the two kingdoms.”

“Adequate, thank you for your service.”

“Of course, Pyeha.”

“What other matters do you have to discuss?”

“Pyeha, I understand I have been away from court, but I humbly request your reprieve from further court matters for a little longer.”

“Is this regarding Hae Soo?”

So nodded wordlessly. He had expected his first brother to have heard about the news about Soo’s disappearance.

“Has there been any lead to who has done this?”

“Baek Ah and Woo Hee have been leading search parties, Jung ah has been guarding the palace and attempting to find leads here.”

“Strange how this has occurred. Have our guards been tainted by another party?”

So also had the same thought. How were all of the guards in their quarters overpowered? Not only once, but twice over? He had personally chosen his guards, and knew that they were fully capable of protecting his quarters. Thinking back to this observation earlier, they had new guards posted at his quarters...were his original guards removed prior to the ambush?

“It seems I need to have a closer look at the guards,” So said resolutely.

King Hye Jong nodded grimly.

“Perhaps I should do that as well. It would not do to have moles in the palace. You have my permission to continue the search. I hope that I will hear good news the next time we meet.”

So gave a deep bow in gratitude.

“The 4th prince is grateful for Pyeha’s grace.”

King Hye Jong smiled and gave a nod.

“Farewell 4th prince, and stay safe my brother.”

With a grateful smile, So quickly left the royal court and made his way to his quarters. Upon arriving, he scanned the faces of the guards who were posted and confirmed that he did not recognize anyone. He had personally chosen the guards who protected his quarters, but someone higher up must have changed them during his absence. After he had taken a tally of all the new guards, he made his way to the royal guard quarters, where he sought out the royal chief guard. As he walked through the entrance and past the courtyard, everyone immediately stood to attention to greet the 4th prince. The royal chief guard heard the commotion and also came out to greet the 4th prince.

“Greetings 4th prince. What brings your highness to the royal guard quarters?”

“I have an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

“Right away, your highness. Please follow me.”

So nodded silently and followed the royal chief guard, who led him into a private chamber where he worked. When he offered a seat to the 4th prince, So quickly shook his head.

“Save the formalities, royal chief guard. I have little time on my hands. I want to know why the guards at my personal quarters were changed.”

The royal chief guard looked confused.

“With all due respect, your highness, but do you not remember sending us the request?”

“I have made no such request.”

“I would not dare change the guard without your permission, your highness. I know that you personally selected them yourself when you moved into the palace with the 4th princess.”

“Indeed, but here you have changed my palace guards against my will.”

The royal chief guard was slowly sensing that the 4th prince was losing his patience.

“I received a written notice here,” he said before pulling out the parchment from among the others he had on a shelf. So accepted the parchment, already knowing that it was forged. He glanced at the writing, and saw that the writing was cleverly copied. He could almost say that it looked exactly like his handwriting. However, he knew it was not the case. Only one person had uncanningly similar writing to his own, and that person was Soo. The way this letter was written was not in his usual style and prose (nor Soo’s), and it gave a rather vague reason for changing the guard.

“When did you receive this notice?”

“Two weeks, your highness.”

“I have not been here for at least 2 weeks due to negotiations at the border. I sent no notice about a change in guards prior to my departure.”

“Are you saying this notice was forged, your highness?”

So rolled the forged notice and tucked it into his robes before nodding grimly.

“Due to this notice and the change in guards, the 4th princess was put in harm. Are you aware of this?”

So’s voice now was deeper, with thinly veiled anger. He glared at the royal chief guard.

“Y..yes your highness. A number of guards were sent to search for her along with the 13th prince and princess!”

“And did you know that I was away due to border negotiations? You must have, as you were responsible for sending guards along with our party.”

“Y...yes...your highness...”

“Then you must have known that this notice was forged, especially if it was sent following my departure, correct?”

The royal chief guard now truly knew his errors, and he dropped to the ground on his knees, head bowed.

“Please forgive me your highness! I deserved to be punished!”

So sighed and shook his head. At least now he knew this was why his quarters were so poorly protected. 

“I expect the original guards to be reinstated immediately. I will personally oversee this, and if this is not done by the next hour, I shall have a word with the King about your incompetence. Am I understood?”

The royal chief guard looked up at So and nodded quickly.

“Yes, your highness! Right away your highness!”

With one last glare, So left the royal guards and made his way back to his personal quarters. As ordered, the original guards chosen by So were reinstated, and he went around to question them all about the day their post was replaced with a different guard. They all said very similar things, such as how they were in disbelief that the 4th prince had dismissed them. They knew that So had chosen them personally for a reason, and to have been replaced with no explanation worried them. However, because they had no power over the royal chief guard’s orders during So’s absence, they obeyed.

When questioned if they had noticed anything strange that day prior to their dismissal, they all replied in the negative. Although this was disheartening to hear, So thanked them for their cooperation.

“From now on, should there be a notice to have a change in guards, you will report to me first. If I am not present, you will stay at your positions until I return. Is that understood?”

The guards all positively affirmed their 4th prince’s orders, and happily re-took their posts, vowing to be even more vigilant than they had been before.

As So entered his chambers, he pulled out the notice again to look at it more closely. As much as he stared at the content, he could not come up with any leads. Anyone could have commissioned a palace worker to write this. However, they must have had a copy of his handwriting to have done this...but who?