Inside the palace, the shamans had just finished conducting memorial rituals. Hyuk went down the royal hall to meet his subjects, but despite the raging storm, he could still clearly hear the commotion outside the palace gates. He was not troubled one bit by it, though. Instead, his eyes glinted with delight, his lips stretched to a grin.

"Your Majesty!" A minister blocked his way bowed lowly. "Please hear your people!"

"My people? Are you sure?" Hyuk glared at the old man. "Are you not mistaken? All I hear are their pleas about Young!"

"The Tang forces will arrive at the Northern borders in three days. Our victory against Goguryeo is now even more possible. Please pull Prince Young out of the battle and let him come back to pay respect."

Hyuk glared down at the minister. "The Prince does not need to know about Father's passing, to begin with."

"Your Majesty—"

"Are you trying to imply I am wrong?"

"No Your Majesty, but the late King loves both of you dearly. If something happens to the prince at this moment, the late King's soul will not be at peace."

"Young is under my royal decree to lead the war and come back with victory. I cannot forgive anyone who disobeys my order!"

"Your Majesty..." the old man tried to explain further but Hyuk just smirked at him, not tearing his gaze away while he commanded the royal guard behind him.

"Guard all the entry points from the North! The moment my poor little brother leaves the battleground without winning the war, behead him!"

"Your Majesty!!!" The minister as well as everyone who heard the new King gasped in horror.

"Now," Hyuk turned away with a grin that couldn't be wiped off of his face. "I dare all of you to let Young know about my Father's death. Let him know. And lure him to his death!"

"The young prince hasn't returned home yet. He should at least come back and pay respect to the King."

"Don't you know? There is a protest going on! Some loyal men of the former King were removed from their posts unfairly after requesting to bring Prince Young back from the war. There is even a news spreading that the reason the new King threw Prince Young to the battlefields is to get rid of him."

"That is so insane. How could he treat his brother that way? It wasn't long since the King died yet he is already overusing his power."

"Even the heavens are angry. Can't you see the sudden change in the weather? How can we sell our goods when no one almost comes out of their homes because of the nonstop rain."

"Yah... I heard from the fishermen yesterday... They said they couldn't catch a single fish in the sea. But when they came home, the bay was filled with dead fishes afloating."

"My dear heavens! What is happening to our kingdom!"

"Perhaps, the Crown Prince has done something wrong. For an heir to receive the throne and cause such a disaster, he must have done something wrong. He simply does not deserve it."

"Shush your mouths! Mind you, he is not just the crown prince anymore. He is already the new king. So watch your mouth."

Ara couldn't help but eavesdrop at the market bystanders' conversation. All activities in the capital has been limited since the news of the King's passing was sent out to the public and everyone is grieving for losing such a good leader. News of different misfortunes and disasters have been circulating the capital for days now and it seems the war in the Northern boundaries is not going to end soon. She has always felt uneasy since Young left.

And hearing rumors and hearsays as such just made her worry even more.

"My lady, are you alright?"

Ara immediately switched her attention to the rice cakes in front of her. "Oh... Yes. I'm going to buy a few pieces of these."

"Oh finally, one good customer. These folks won't survive a day without chatting about the palace matters, eh. I'm getting tired of them," the old lady smiled and packed some rice cakes. "Here you go. I gave you some for free."

"Oh, you're so kind. My mother likes these." Ara paid for it and bowed. "'I'm not sure but... I think I haven't seen you here before?"

The old lady laughed and Ara was surprised to hear her silly, contagious, child like laughter. "I've always been here. I'm everywhere, all over the place going here and there."

"Ah... I see. Maybe I wasn't just paying much attention around me."

"Because your eyes are always on the young lad."
Ara gasped in surprise but when she saw the old lady smiling knowingly at her, she blushed. Well Young and her have been the talk of town for quite a while now.

"It must be hard for you," the old lady continued. "Being away from His Highness and worrying for him. I bet it gives you sleepless nights."

"I... I couldn't help it. I have faith in him, but..." Ara answered before realizing she just confessed to a total stranger. Her eyes widened as she covered her lips. "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, dear. I know everything about this place, but I don't go around just about talking to anyone. Besides, didn't it make you feel a little better talking to an old woman like me?"

Ara nodded and smiled. "You are quite right."

"Aigoo, I guess the rain isn't going to stop anytime soon. Even the heavens are crying for Munmu."

"Halmeoni! You shouldn't be addressing the late king with His name so carelessly like that. If someone from the palace hears you..."

"You over there!"

Ara was startled when she saw some palace guards approaching them. "Who says you can do business at a time like this!"

"Halmeoni, I'll take care of this. Go! Run!" Ara let went out in the rain and blocked the way with her tiny figure. "Halmeoni, what are you waiting for. Go!"

"Aigoo... How can a feeble old woman like me run? Let them take me. I've nowhere to go anyway." The old woman walked towards her and rested her hand on her back. The contact was sudden, but Ara felt an indescribable painful sting that made her groan. 
The old lady smiled at her as she let her go. "They won't harm me. Don't worry."

Dara could just watch as the guards dragged the old lady away. She was so worried but to her surprise, she couldn't move a single inch forward as if something was blocking her way. She looked around, searching for the market people who were chatting in a corner earlier to ask for help but they all seemed to have scampered away upon seeing the guards. When she looked at the direction that the guards and the old lady took, they have already walked a great distance from her. She was finally able to move forward, thankfully, and she shouted out for help.

"Help! The halmeoni selling rice cakes got dragged by  the palace guards! Help! We need to tell her family about this!" She ran and knocked on each stall and household's door, soaking herself even more in the rain, but no one opened for her. She was about to follow them to the Investigation Bureau when she felt a searing pain on the back of her right shoulder, the same spot where she felt a stinging sensation earlier.

"Ahh!" she touched where the pain was coming from but her fingertips only got burned. She was limping down the ground when she heard footsteps coming her way.

"Lady Park?"

She looked up and saw a few men surrounding her and soon her vision went dark as h