Joseon 1619,

At Lee's Residence,

Outside the Lee's guesthouse³, two guards are posted at the door, their faces stern and concentrated. Inside the house, eight people are gathered around a long table. A small man, sitting closest to one end of the table, pulls out a large piece of paper folded in four, and unfold it on the table. 

- This is Geoncheonggung. - He points to his own residence - And there's supposed to be an empty space here, - he slides his finger to the area next to his gung -  going from my gung until the wall. But last night I walked to the land and saw something there. Some kind of building. And there were people there, too. I saw the lights. But I couldn't get closer. There are guards protecting the place.

Everybody ponders what the man had just revealed to them. Lee Youngwoon remains silent for a long while, his eyes glued on his son. Sungmin continues.

- I will try to get closer to the place tonight. I will have a look at what the building is used for, or find out who comes in and out of the place.

His father nods his head. 

- Keep an eye on it. It might be the secret place that the King holds meetings with members from the Noron faction. - Keeping silent for another while, he turns to his son again. - But be careful, Sungmin.

His son smiles and nods at him.

- Yes, abeonim. - Then, he thinks of something else, and voices out his thought - But, I might need another person to stay on the lookout. I almost got caught last night.

The mention of the word makes his father's heart skip a beat. The butterflies in his stomach are starting again. But he tries not to show any of his anxiety to anyone in the room.

- Of course. - He turns to the man sitting near the other end of the table. The man that has been keeping his eyes on his son since the moment they walked into the room. And Youngwoon is aware of that. - Kyuhyun, can you go with him?

Every eye is now onto him. Kyuhyun stumbles over his own words, and it takes a while until he can calm himself down and gives them a proper answer:

- Um... I don't think that's a good idea. It would be suspicious for a government official to be in the Palace at that time.

Sungmin nods in agreement. He contemplates for a little while, then replies.

- He's right, abeonim. I can do this by myself. - Sungmin looks at his father. The look that Youngwoon had seen when his son had convinced him to include him in the resistance force. The look that he knows he would not be able to change. He sighs, then softly says to his son.

- Okay. But be careful. - His tone is commanding. - Only look from afar, and stay in the bushes. Do not make yourself known. And do not engage in any kind of fight.

Sungmin only nods. He has heard this a thousand times before.

*************************

Joseon 1615,

Seowangmyeong,

It was the first day of the second week. It had been two days since Kyuhyun saw the boy in the martial arts training hall and helped him practise. He could not explain why he even bothered to stay there and correct every pose the boy did wrong. Nor could he explain his detachment from the groups of friends that he was so sure to stay with throughout his whole three years. Or the feeling that had risen up inside of him since that night. And he was sure it was not because of the memory when he was five years old. He had told himself that he was only a little boy back then. Any emotions he had back then would all be forgotten once he was grown up and had got to see the way of the world. 

But he could not deny that he had been walking to the training hall every night the last two nights. He did not know what he expected to see or do. He only knew that he was excited to go and hope that something would happen when he saw the other boy there again. But both times he was disappointed to see the boy not there. He would then tell himself that he would not come again the next day. But, why he kept waiting for the end of the day, he did not know. 

- Jo Kyuhyun. 

The sound of his name pulled him back to reality. He looked up to where the voice came from. It was Hankyung seonsaengnim.

- You do know this is my martial arts class, don't you? Not painting class.

Kyuhyun knew what the teacher was referring to. He had been sketching in his own notebook every step of the moves that the teacher was teaching in class. All eyes in the class were onto him now. He looked at the teacher, looking for words to say. Finally, he managed to speak out incoherent words.

- Yes, seonsaengnim. Sorry, seonsaengnim, but I thought I would remember better if I took notes.

The teacher looked at him as if he was detecting lies from the boy. When he saw that there was no malice in the boy's intentions, he nodded his head in agreement.

- That's okay. But pay attention. The next few moves are gonna be harder. And you'll still have to practise like everybody else.

- Yes, seonsaengnim. Thank you, seonsaengnim. - Kyuhyun replied, his lips slightly forming a contented smile.

*************

Kyuhyun did not see the boy again that night. Yet, for the following days, he kept drawing his sketches in martial arts and wrestling classes, patiently and hopefully. Patiently, because of all the stares and whispers he got in class while he was making his sketches. And hopefully, for something, he did not know.

He did not meet the boy again until when it was the end of the week again. The campus was slightly less crowded, so he could hear those crickets singing in the bushes. He felt the urge to walk around the campus again. Approaching the training hall, he could see the dim light flickering around, tearing the complete darkness surrounding the campus. This time, however, he did not hear any "Ah"s from the training hall. Instead, all he could hear was steady breathing from someone inside, like they were sleeping. When he stepped inside the room, he saw a small figure sitting with his back leaning towards the wall, his head stooped ahead. The figure was clearly falling asleep next to the wall in the training hall. His hand on the floor was still loosely gripping the pen. Next to it, an open notebook, with one of the sketches halfway to finish. Looking at it closely, Kyuhyun tried to stop himself from laughing out loud at the sketches in front of him. All of them were crooked, with the lines sinuous, instead of smooth curvy lines, much more like scribbles, not drawings. After looking at the boy's sketches for another while, Kyuhyun finally took out the notebook that he took with him, and began transferring every sketch that he had from his notebook to the other boy's notebook. It would take a long time. But Kyuhyun wasn't deterred. He slowly drew the sketches one by one, exactly as he had done in his notebook. When he was done, he put his notebook back inside his pocket and placed the boy's notebook where he had found it. The other boy was still sound asleep. Walking out of the training hall, Kyuhyun found himself letting out a small smile, the reason for which he did not know.

************

Kyuhyun had been used to enjoy the weekends when he could be alone and do whatever he wished to do. In Seowangmyeong, the weekends were the times when he would not be bothered by other students, most of whom would be visiting homes. Plus, on weekends, he could have a short break from all the stress and worries brought about by classes and homework. And his mission.

So, when he found himself excited for the weekend to be over and the week to begin, he had slightly questioned his sanity.

It was perhaps past midday on the first day of the week. Kyuhyun was walking across campus to Kim teacher's wrestling class when he heard it. From the literature wing of the school. A clear, somehow slightly sweet voice. The voice he had heard in the training hall that evening one week ago. But this time, not softly spoken, but loudly and strongly spelled out, like reading an announcement from a roll of paper.

- I, Lee Sungmin, did not fulfil my responsibilities in the class by not completing my homework, falling asleep in class and saying "Poetry is not important" to Jung seonsaengnim. I am truly sorry and I promise to not make the same mistake again. - Taking a deep breath, the voice started up again - I, Lee Sungmin, did not fulfil my responsibilities in the class by not completing my homework, falling asleep in class and saying "Poetry is not important" to Jung seonsaengnim. I am truly sorry and I promise to not make the same mistake again. I, Lee Sungmin, did not fulfil my responsibilities in the class by not completing my homework, falling asleep in class and saying "Poetry is not important" to Jung seonsaengnim. I am truly sorry and I promise to not make the same mistake again.

Walking into the literature wing, Kyuhyun was taken aback by what he was now seeing before his eyes. Sungmin, the boy who had snuck into his wrestling class, the boy who had practised martial arts moves all by himself in Hankyung seonsaengnim's training hall, and who had fallen asleep drawing sketches of those moves, was right before his eyes. He was kneeling on the floor, his arms raised above his head and his back against the wall. Close to where he was kneeling, there was a door to a classroom, which Kyuhyun guessed was poetry class. He subtly took one glimpse inside the room. The teacher was still lecturing students inside. Occasionally, he peeked out to check on the boy that was kneeling outside. The students did not seem to have their minds wrapped around their own lessons, either. Some of them were obviously stealing quick looks at Sungmin, out of curiosity. Some seemed to be concerned, even embarrassed for the boy. But, there were some that had mocking smirks on their faces, like both contented and thankful for the boy's punishment.

The boy's wrongdoings that had led to his punishment was obviously stated in the sentences. He had forgotten to finish his homework for the class, fallen asleep in class, and talked back to the teacher. But, Kyuhyun could not stop himself from wondering if any of it was due to the fact that the boy had had to divide his time between his official classes and learning martial arts on his own. In the training hall the night before, he was falling asleep while doing his sketches and practising martial arts, after all. 

Realising that he was now late for Kim seonsaengnim's wrestling class, Kyuhyun made a turn for the training hall, not forgetting to take one last look at the boy who was still engrossed in his punishment. Kyuhyun quickly got out of the literature wing. He had decided on one thing that he had to do, and it was not just going to Kim seonsaengnim's wrestling class.

***********************

Joseon 1619,

Gyeongbokgung,

It is after midnight again in Gyeongbokgung. The palace is as dark as ever, replacing its glamorous look in daylight. Sungmin is again in his servant clothes, standing in his bedroom. He carefully opens the window to his room and climbs out of it. This time, he does not plan to wander around the palace cluelessly. As soon as he gets out of his gung, he turns towards the supposedly empty land on his map.

The land is completely dark as if swallowed by an evil giant that is the fog. Yet, Sungmin manages to navigate himself towards the place without a light. Suddenly, he hears a series of sounds that threaten to break the dead silence surrounding the whole palace. The sounds make his heart pound in his chest as if commanding to be let out. The sounds of footsteps.

Pondering that there can only be royal guards walking around in the palace at this time, Sungmin speeds up his steps. It is the most sensible thing to do in the situation. He cannot turn back, nor can he make a turn anywhere in this empty space. He cannot all the more face the guards. But someone's voice speaks out interrogatingly, making his heart pound even harder than ever:

- Who's there?

His steps become more rapid and uneven.

- Who's there? - The voice questions authoritatively. - Stop! I said stop! - The voice commands.

Sungmin stops in his tracks. There is nothing more he can do at this point. He turns around to face the guards. He must be clearly visible to them now.

- Where are you from? What are you doing here at this time, servant? - The voice is undoubtedly aware of his authority. Behind him, another guard is walking up to where the first guard is standing. They are both wearing red uniforms, weapons in their one hand and torches in the other. They are indeed royal guards, as Sungmin suspects. They are patrolling the palace. Sungmin slightly bows his head, momentarily hiding his anxiety at the guards' presence.

- I am from Geoncheonggung, Lee Sugyeong mama's residence, nauri ⁴.

The guards scrutinise Sungmin from head to toe. After what seems like forever, the voice that has questioned him from the beginning starts up again.

- And Lee Sugyeong mama just lets you run around at this time? Alone?

Sungmin is stumbled on what he should say next. What reasons is he to give them for his presence in the middle of the night? He had not thought this through. He did not expect to be caught by patrolling guards here, and now. When he has not even finished one task for the mission.

- I...I... - he rambles on, his words still failing him.

- What is going on? - A warm and authoritative voice startles him. But not because of the voice itself, but of the suddenness of the voice. The voice, Sungmin finds, is strangely familiar.

- Jo yeonggam mama. - Sungmin suddenly hears the two guards address respectfully. Their tones have turned from authoritative to subordinate, and somewhat intimidated. Sungmin's head has been kept low before the guards all this time, so he could not see the man approaching them. However, he is sure of who it is that is now standing between him and the two guards. He has been sure since the moment he heard that warm and low voice.

- What is going on here? - Kyuhyun repeats his question.

- Yeonggam mama, we saw this servant walking around the Palace at this hour. He claimed that he is from Geoncheonggung, but we doubt it. - One of the guards is quick to explain the situation.

Kyuhyun turns to look at the man before him, even though he does not have to. He had already known who it is.

- Servant - he says - why are you here at this time?

Sungmin looks up at the tall man before him. He looks deep into the other's eyes and sees what he is trying to tell him.

- Are you running to get something for Lee Sugyeong mama? I heard he is very difficult. - Kyuhyun looks at Sungmin again, meaningfully.

- Yes. - Sungmin immediately answers - He has a craving for pumpkin soup at this hour, so I am running to the main kitchen to look for some pumpkins. - He makes something up. But it is not so much made up as it is what has happened before with him. Kyuhyun almost laughs out loud at the lame excuse the other has just thought of. He tries to stay in his character, clearing his throat while starting to speak again.

- Okay. You're excused. Go back to your business. Don't make your mama wait. 

He then turns to the guards.

- You're both excused too, guards. 

- Yes, mama.

The guards leave Sungmin and continue ahead to keep up with their schedule. When they are left alone, Kyuhyun looks around to make sure that no one else is with them. When he is certain, he signals for Sungmin to walk behind him.

- Let's go.

Sungmin begins to follow Kyuhyun's tracks, eyes still glued to the ground. After a short moment, he hears the voice starting up again.

- Pumpkin soup? - He hears the other ask, and he is sure, with amusement in his voice. So he retorts, just like what they used to do when they were still friends.

- So? - he smiles in response - It might be true. I'm dying for a pumpkin soup right now! Plus, it's specific, which is the best kind of lie ever.

Kyuhyun can only shake his head in defeat of his reasoning, although Sungmin can still see the bright smile refusing to leave Kyuhyun's face. It has been a while since he could either see that smile or speak to the other this comfortably. Kyuhyun does not say anything in response. He is taken back to a time when he is constantly tortured by Sungmin's ridiculously passionate talks about pumpkins, their sneaking around the campus in the middle of the night because Sungmin had a sudden craving for a pumpkin snack, and Sungmin's genuine disappointment if the meals provided on campus did not contain anything made from pumpkin. His smile subconsciously grows bigger, and he refuses to get out of his own thoughts until he hears the other speak again.

- So, what made you change your mind?

Kyuhyun turns to look at Sungmin confusedly.

- You said you could not get into the Palace at night. It might draw attention, remember? - Sungmin explains.

- Ah, yes. - Kyuhyun realises what Sungmin is talking about. He thinks for a little while of what he should say to the other. - But, then, I realise, someone's terrible lying might get us all in trouble. - Kyuhyun teases.

- Yah! - Sungmin defends. - I'm not that bad!

- You're truly awful, Sungmin. - Kyuhyun's final conviction solicits laughs from both of them. They immediately lower their voices, conscious of the silence surrounding them and afraid some guards might be able to hear them.

- Besides, - Kyuhyun continues. But this time, he looks deep into Sungmin's eyes, his smile slightly turning more serious. -  Did I ever tell you that... that - Kyuhyun stumbles on his own words, momentarily failing to voice his thoughts.

Sungmin looks at the other anxiously. His heart starts to thump in his chest again. He silently wishes he would not have to talk about that topic again. As if able to read what Sungmin is thinking, Kyuhyun turns away from the man and speaks out again.

- That... your drawing is still terrible as ever. You need my help.

Sungmin lets out a small laugh. He retorts.

- I do not need your help drawing. You are no better at it than I am.

- Really? Because your map looked like an one-year-old has just scribbled out boxes and circles on a piece of paper. - Kyuhyun shows an amused smile again.

- It does not! - Sungmin defends. But before Kyuhyun can say anything in response, they both realise a building is becoming visible before their eyes. Both of them look around for a large tree, then hides behind it. 

From the distance, they can make out a medium-sized building, wrapped itself in the darkness and fogginess of the night. At the gate, there are two figures, both wearing black, instead of the red of royal guards. They stand still in their places, despite the wind constantly throwing itself at them. Kyuhyun and Sungmin stand there observing for a long while, occasionally ducking behind the trunk of the tree when they hear any sound in the air. Almost another hour has passed without any inside or outside the building. From initial assessment, the building looks like a worthless abandoned building at the edge of the palace that no one even bothers to include in the official map of the palace. The only thing that adds to its mystery is its overly tight security, which exceeds that of any gung in the palace.

Kyuhyun and Sungmin are so engrossed in looking beyond the gate into the interior of the building, that they almost do not notice the three figures approaching the gate of the building. They only notice the presence of the three figures when they are almost in front of the gate. The three figures are not walking alongside each other. They are walking in order, one by one. What is the most noticeable to Kyuhyun and Sungmin is that the middle figure seems to be the tallest out of the three of them. Even from this distance, they can feel the authoritativeness, and somewhat, gracefulness, from the middle figure. The first and the last figure look like they are walking with bowed heads, since their heads seem to be stooped forwards. Kyuhyun and Sungmin are sure they must be the middle figure's escorts. 

As the three figures move closer to the gate, Kyuhyun and Sungmin are staggered at who the middle figure is. That walk. That grace. That authority. It is Choi Siwon. The King of Joseon. The most powerful man of the whole kingdom. But there is no announcement regarding the King's arrival. Nor is there the appropriate number of people on the Royal . The guards at the gate do not shout out greetings at the King. They simply bow their heads when the King enters the gate, and return to their old postures when the three figures have completely disappeared into the mysterious building.

************

- That was weird, right? - Sungmin looks at Kyuhyun again. They are walking towards his gung in silence. Neither of them can think of any explanation for what they have just observed.

- Extremely bizarre. - Kyuhyun nods his head in agreement, although his mind seems floating somewhere else.

Sungmin stops his steps. They are now in front of the window to his bedroom. Noticing the silence behind him, Kyuhyun turns around.

- What are you doing?

- I'm here. I snuck out of this window.

- You snuck out of a window? - Kyuhyun's eyes widen in surprise. And slight amusement.

- How else do you think I snuck out? - Sungmin retorts.

Kyuhyun slightly laughs in agreement. He quickly looks around. When he sees that no one is around, he signals to Sungmin to climb in.

- Alright. Get in quick.

Sungmin quickly pries open the window. As he is climbing into the room, he remembers something. He turns around to look at the man who now has his back to him and is scanning around for guards.

- Thank you.

Kyuhyun turns around.

- For coming for me. You were right. I needed your help. We're a good team, Kyuhyun.

Kyuhyun smiles at him.

- Right. Now go, Lee Sugyeong mama. - Kyuhyun says. But Sungmin does not detect any respect. Nor does he get a bow of his head. Only humour. Kyuhyun is teasing him again.

Sungmin brightly smiles at the joke. Then, with swift movements, he shuts the windows closed. The smile still remains on Kyuhyun's face, until the sound of a rooster somewhere reminds him of the nearing day. He looks at the window one last time, then turns his feet to walk to the gate of the Palace. His mind momentarily conjures up a memory more than six years ago. The first time he had got a "Thank you" from the man he is thinking about. The first time he had helped Sungmin achieve something of particular importance to him.

*****************************

Joseon 1615,

Seowangmyeong,

Kyuhyun had been waiting for the end of the Chinese martial arts since before it even began. Finally, when the last student got out of the training hall, and Kyuhyun and Hankyung seonsaengnim were left alone in the room, Kyuhyun approached the man.

- Hankyung seonsaengnim. - He called out to the man.

- Yes, Kyuhyun. - The man slightly let out a small, but bright smile. Although Kyuhyun had known the man for more than one week, he had the impression that this teacher was the kindest and sweetest man in the whole kingdom. That was probably his primary reason for standing before the teacher at this moment to ask him for a favour.

- Seonsaengnim, I know that this is nothing to do with you, and it might probably also be beyond your reach. But I don't have anyone else to ask.

- What is it, Kyuhyun? - The smile still had not left his lips.

- I have a favour to ask of you, seonsangnim. 

- Okay.

- I...I... just... - Kyuhyun stumbled - I just need you to talk to Lee seonsaengnim...about his son...

- What about him? - The smile slight grew smaller.

- I want you to ask Lee seonsaengnim's permission for his son to study martial arts and wrestling, seonsaengnim. - Kyuhyun said, not daring to look up at the teacher.

- What? Why? - The teacher asked, stunned by the strangeness of the favour and of the student's boldness. 

- You can say that he has a born talent for martial arts, and it would go to waste if he was buried in poetry and calligraphy. - Kyuhyun continued, ignoring the teacher's inquisition.

- Stop, Kyuhyun. Stop. - The teacher signalled for Kyuhyun to take a moment to breathe. - You know I can't, Kyuhyun. I'm in no position to do that. It's his son. He has every right to choose what classes he attends.

- I know he respects you, seonsaengnim. He will listen to your reason. And his son really has a gift for martial arts, I think. It will be good for you, as well, to have a student like him.

Hankyung opened his mouth to say something else, but then decided not to. He knew he would not be able to change the boy's mind. Also, he could not refute the boy's argument, for some reason. After a long while of thinking, Hankyung finally let out a sigh. Kyuhyun's eyes had not left him for a moment. The teacher looked at him in defeat. He slightly nodded his head.

- I will try my best. But I can't promise anything, Kyuhyun.

Kyuhyun only smiled in response. His most genuine smile. For the kindest man in the whole kingdom. And for the most content moment in his life. This was already more than what he could ask for.

*******************************

Notes: 

3. Korean traditional houses have something called a guest entertainment wing, sarangchae in Korean.

4. nauri: a general honorific to address a government official.