Chapter 124

"…Who is there? Crown Prince Bipaan?"

Ruhae called Bipaan with a doubtful expression. He wrapped his arm around Kyosul's shoulders as if to protect her.

Ruhae and Kyousul looked at Bipaan nervously, but Bipaan didn't move or speak in the open prison door. The old keys dangled from his fingertips.

Unexpected silence continued while Ruhae and Kyosul wondered why he stood there.

Nobody moved. Although the thick wooden door was wide open, but he didn't approach them as if he was blocked by something. Looking down at them blankly, Bipaan spoke in a heavy voice.

"I asked the emperor to let you leave the palace. Nonetheless, he ordered me to carry out your capital punishment."

"… Thank--"

"I didn't take your side to hear that."

His voice was sharp and she shut her mouth as she couldn't find the right words to express her feelings at the moment. Seeing her reaction, Bipaan bit his lip before opening his mouth again.

"Although the emperor ordered me to carry out his order, I knew his real intention was for me to deal with you as I wished without being caught by the other members of the royal family."

Kyosul and Ruhae looked up at Bipaan in astonishment at the same time. Bipaan did not meet their eyes. Although he was speaking to them, he stared into the air.

He couldn't look straight at her face to face.

He continued, "It would shake the stability of the imperial law for the emperor to announce that he would allow you to leave the palace without any punishment. There were so many royal family members there watching his decision, so the emperor who wished for the grand future of the kingdom could not approve my request. In other words, the emperor ordered your execution, but at the same time his order suggested that I should help you leave the palace."

His slow voice was cold, but they were so happy to hear the good news that they did not know what to do.

'We have survived! We can leave the palace together as we wish! We can plan our future together!'

Their hearts pounded. They tightened their grip on their hands. Forgetting him right before their eyes, they looked at each other in surprise and deep emotions.

Looking at them still inside the jail whose door was open, he threw a bag in his hands.

A small bag fell heavily in front of them.

"You will be able to lead a happy and luxurious life all your lives with the jewelry in the bag."

He was unusually talkative at the moment. Perhaps, this was the most he had ever spoken to her since he met her.

He quickly turned around after looking at the two people who still did not believe what was happening. He wanted to leave the place as soon as possible while they got carried away with his surprise gift.

"Your Majesty!"

He stopped when she called him feebly.

She approached him with light steps and touched his back.

Touching his collar cautiously, she carefully opened his mouth, "I'm so sorry, Your Majesty. I've come to the kingdom as your official wife, but I'm leaving now after sinning against you. I'm so deeply touched by your decision to let us leave…"

In the end, her voice trembled when she spoke then she sobbed uncontrollably.

Bipaan did not turn his head.

With his back against her, he was looking at the prison road ahead, which was still quite dark.

"I'm letting you and Ruhae leave the palace, but Dohwan Taehwangson Damkang will grow up by my side as the next heir and become the emperor. "

She was heartbroken to hear her son's name, but she could not take him with her. Given Bipaan's big favor, she would be asking too much if she pleaded with him to allow her to take her son. The child would have died without Bipaan's confirmation that he was Damkang's biological father.

"I hope Damkang is in great hands…"

Was it her illusion? She felt like she heard Bipaan's cynical response.

Bipaan shook his head slightly and walked out of the prison quickly

When she was watching him blankly, Ruhae approached her. He slowly raised her hands and wrapped her shoulders.

"Kyosul, Oh no, Woorum, let's hurry up! "

It was Kyosul's childhood name he had forgotten for a long time. Since Kyosul was deposed, she longer needed her official title Kyosul.

From now on, she could live as Woorum while Ruhae as Yuuljin..

When they recognize this simple fact, they were thrilled. These young lovers were simple. As they could get by only with their sincere love of each other, they were thrilled by the simple fact that they could live together in the future. Holding hands tightly, they walked out of the prison, full of hopeful dreams.

Unlike other days there were no soldiers patrolling the imperial palace tonight.

Obviously, the emperor took the measure in advance.

As a result, they quickly moved and left out of the back door of the palace, which opened easily. Hiding at the foot of Mt. Mokak, they took a break for a while, but Ruhae didn't get things done completely at the palace.

"Please wait a moment here. Let me go back to the palace quickly."

"Why are going there suddenly?" she asked in surprise.

Hugging her shoulders once again, he said, "I have to take care of some stuff there."

"Yuuljin!"

"I'll be right back."

He quickly disappeared after handing the bag of jewelry to her and hugging her once more.

Her eyes trembled nervously, but she could wait.

As she was waiting for him, she didn't find it difficult or hard to wait.

***

After all, Bipaan sent her away.

He ordered the court ladies to bring a liquor table. He was sitting alone in his residence at the East Palace. Although he didn't enjoy drinking, he didn't get drunk even if he drank a lot. He kept drinking, lots of wine bottles piled up beside him.

It was empty and silent in his room.

"Now the dust has settled finally."

He had a bitter smile, but he felt lonely.

At that moment someone urgently called outside the door.

"Brother Bipaan!"

Although he heard it suddenly in silence, Bipaan was not surprised at all. Ruhae was an unexpected visitor, but Bipaan seemed to know already that he would be coming back.

When he slowly turned his head, he found Ruhae standing in front of the open window.

Bipaan turned his head back and replied gently, "Palace guards will be patrolling after midnight, so you should hurry up."

"I received a big favor from you, brother."

Approaching Bipaan, he bowed to him. Looking down at his back lying on the floor, Bipaan turned his eyes away from him and began drinking again. .

Ruhae opened his mouth at his indifferent attitude.

"…I think I can never beat you, brother. "

"What the heck are you talking about? I can't understand it. "

"Cuc.u.mber herbs."

"… Why are you suddenly mentioning that summer flower?"

Ruhae bit his lip at that moment. Bipaan was a tough cookie.

Ruhae found his lover Woorum, along with the future he could share with her.

At this moment, however, he felt the bitter sense of defeat and got upset about Bipaan.

Ruhae said with a heavy voice, "That flower on the windowsill of the Crown Princess. You placed it there everyday, right?"

"Why are you talking about the flower all of a sudden? It looks like you aren't in a hurry to leave the palace."

"When you told me about 'that woman' in the past, wasn't she Woorum, the Crown Princess, right?"

As Bipaan was deliberately beating around the bush, Ruhae shouted at him finally.

By every standard, Bipaan was a real tough cookie.

Ruhae couldn't stand it this time.

His firmly clenched fists was trembling as he couldn't control his emotions.

However, Bipaan casually took a sip of alcohol in relaxed moods.

"Are you really okay? Doesn't it bother you at all if you send your wife to another man?"

"Even if I'm not okay, it's obvious you're going to take her. I don't understand why you're asking that."

Having replied coldly, Bipaan turned his head so Ruhae could only see his profile. His sharp jawline trembled slightly. It seemed Bipaan was worried he might say some unpleasant words.

In fact, even if Bipaan replied he was not okay, Ruhae would take her anyway. He had to.

Otherwise, there would be no place in the palace where they could stay.

"As the Crown Princess loves you with all her heart, live happily with her. "

Despite his cold voice, he fumbled words. In the end, he closed his eyes.

"Brother, you already knew Woorum before she became your wife. Haven't you loved her for a long time?"

Again, Bipaan had no answer.

Ruhae felt more miserable as he kept silent. Biting his lip, Ruhae jumped out of the window without even saying goodbye to him.

A cold night breeze blew in through the open window. The wine glass hung from his white fingers and trembled dangerously.

"I love her…"

He had light smile on his lips.

This will be the end of his relationship with Kyosul.

Darkness went away, and the dawn came. The sun was shining at his feet as he sat on the cushion with a glass of wine.