RED STAR IN THE SKY GORYEO (The Scent Of Life 2)
CHAPTER 11 THE WOUND OF LOVING

The crown prince's birthday festival is also coming up. Byeol is ready with clothes and masks to wear. When he came out of the dressing room, Byeol hit someone dressed the same as a sword dancer. The mask that the man was wearing fell off and Byeol saw an unfamiliar face.

The man was not one of the soldiers assigned to perform the dance with the princes. Byeol never saw his face. Byeol, who was wearing a mask, apologized. The man hurriedly put on his mask and passed away.

Byeol was suspicious, then followed by the man. Not far from where the festival was still in the palace forest area, some people changed clothes in the same clothes as the dancers. Byeol's eyes were wide in disbelief at what he saw. They were not soldiers tasked with carrying cloth from the direction of the roof as usual. Is sabotage really going to happen like his vision. It is true that there will be an intruder. Byeol is still in his hiding place.

"Rightly I thought," said someone from behind Byeol.

Byeol was surprised and almost shouted if the man did not keep his mouth shut. Byeol did not realize that there was Wang So standing behind him watching the same thing as him.

"Aaah, you really surprised me," whispered Byeol.

Wang So just kept quiet and looked at Byeol. He put his finger in front of his lips to give a code to be silent.

"Come, we should get ready to welcome those intruders. We tell General Park to prepare to secure the king's majesty and the crown prince. Their numbers are too many for us to attack both," Wang So asked as he pulled Byeol's hand. Wang So invited him to leave the place.

Wang So did not take off his hand grip on Byeol even though he had arrived at the venue of the festival. Wang So looks for General Park. Byeol realized that Wang So's hand was still holding her hand. Then the pull of his hand made Wang So realize what he was doing.

"Sorry," that's all Wang So said.

They finally found General Park. Wang So whispered what he saw. The general nodded his head in understanding. Then went to prepare his soldiers to welcome the intruder who would come in the guise of a sword dancer and cloth bearer who read congratulations to the crown prince.

***

Event commences. Byeol enters through the gate. In accordance with the sound of music, Byeol began to move to perform solo sword dances in the middle of the field, in front of the palace members. He could see the faces of the king and the queens, as well as the officials of the palace. He wants to give and do his best. Until the rhythm of the music plays with a fast rhythm, the princes enter the middle of the field and bring the sword dance movement along with Byeol. No one thought Byeol was a girl. Until finally the music changes rhythm a bit slowly and prepare the dancers from the direction of the wall down.

Some of them carried a cloth bearing the words happy birthday to the crown prince. However, before the rowdy soldiers descended from the direction of the high wall, the princes had already made a straight lined formation as if waiting and blocking the rowdy soldiers. They number about 20 people. The princes plus the soldiers were ready with drawn swords.

Firework shows began, as a sign for the self-styled soldiers to appear. Sure enough, they appeared in groups from the direction of the wall and ran straight towards the king and the crown prince. The palace was stormy, the officials realized something was wrong immediately ran to save themselves. General Park gives command of attacking the intruders. The princes including Byeol fought with them in the middle of the field. It is not easy to subdue them, because they seem to be trained fighters.

The king and the crown prince stood looking at what had happened. The arena became chaos, the sound of clashing swords clanking, the sound of alternating shouts. Exactly as seen by Byeol before entering the palace gate.

Byeol managed to subdue an intruder. He took off his mask and looked around. Just like in his vision. Until he finally saw a wounded intruder manage to get back up and intended to slash his sword at a prince.

The craaaakkk!

Byeol tried to protect the prince who was about to be slashed by the sword. Blood spurted from Byeol's sword-slashed back. Realizing that someone had been injured behind him, the Prince turned back, then caught Byeol who had fallen, wounded. He was the intruder who had wounded Byeol to death. The prince also removed his mask. Wang So is the figure behind the mask.

Byeol has already begun to lose consciousness. Wang So yelled out the name Byeol. Then, it felt in Wang So's hand that blood was dripping from Byeol's back. He checked Byeol's pulse. Wang So was grateful that Byeol was alive.

The fight was over, some surviving intruders were successfully rounded up. Wang So took Byeol to a safe place. The palace paramedics began moving in inspections, and rescued the victim. Lord Choi comes to the injured Byeol in Wang So's arms. They took Byeol and tried to save his life.

***

Byeol sleeps face down in bed. The doctors and nurses tried to save her life. His face was pale and unconscious. Mr. Choi fidgeted outside the room pacing to and fro for fear that something might happen to Byeol. Then, the healer left the room along with Queen Janghwa who came with the palace ladies. They pay their respects to Queen Janghwa.

"How's Byeol doing?" ask Lord Choi to the healer who just came out of the room.

"Luka Miss Choi is inside. He's lost a lot of blood. He's a strong man. Don'worry. Tonight he is still critical. We'll see how it goes, "clear healer.

"Hopefully nothing more serious happened" Queen Janghwa said

The doctor gave a message to the nurse to look after Byeol, then left. Implied anxiety on the faces of Lord Choi and Queen Janghwa.

***

Night passed, morning came. Byeol had already gone through a critical period of being guarded by palace nurse ladies. Byeol has not regained consciousness. Still sleeping face down with a pale face. Someone went into the room and sat down next to Byeol. Wang So looked at Byeol's face. His hands stretched out to touch the girl's forehead. Still feels hot. Then he held the girl's hand. It was unexpected that Byeol's hand held tightly to Wang So's hand. Byeol's eyes opened for a moment.

"Oppa," said Byeol as if seeing Kang Min Hyuk beside him.

Wang So was surprised Byeol called him Oppa. He doesn't understand what that means. Byeol's eyes closed again and fell asleep again.

"Dumb girl, why would you sacrifice yourself like this? Quickly be aware of Byeol-ssi," said Wang So Lirih while still looking at Byeol meaningfully.

***

Byeol was already starting to sit down. His face is still pale. Lord Choi was in front of him sitting looking at his daughter.

"Thank God your condition is starting to improve. We're really worried about you. As soon as you can walk, we go home,"

Byeol nodded his head.

"What about the intruders, Dad? Is it known who is behind all the events at the festival?" ask Byeol.

"The infiltrators who were caught, they were found dead in prison for drinking poison. The bodies of the soldiers who were supposed to be in charge of carrying the congratulatory cloth for the crown prince have yet to be found. They may have been executed outside the palace. It seemed like all of these events had to do with the person within the palace. We'd better not interfere" said Mr. Choi

"Can I guess who did all this?" ask Byeol

"I'm not sure, it could be Wang Yo who did it, it could be his highness Wang Gyu in-law the king himself because from the beginning he did not agree with Wang Mu's coronation as crown prince,"

"We'd better see Dad's next development, I'm sure that his highness Taejo Wang-geon won't stay silent" Byeol said.

Byeol's thoughts were glaring about the events in the palace. Wang Mu should be the next king, Byeol thought, because according to history he will be King Hyejong. Wang Gyu could be the mastermind of this incident, because he prefers Wang Eun as the successor of King Taejo, but Wang Yo can also be the mastermind because he is a person who has ambitions to rule.

***

Byeol was already starting to be able to walk out of the room. Her body feels stiff. He was standing in the middle of the courtyard. Silent, not even a single invisible lady. He moved his body to be flexible again, but what pain in his back still feels pain makes him grin in pain. Byeol started to walk around again out the pavilion fence. He saw an apple tree that was bearing fruit. His stomach was hungry, he wanted to take just one to eat.

The nearest fruit is too high to take. Byeol tried to jump but could not get. Until finally someone raised his body up in order until his hand took an apple. Byeol was surprised then turned to look at the figure who had helped him. Wang So smiled as he tried to balance his body holding the weight.

"You have to lose weight" said Wang So, painstakingly lifting Byeol.

Byeol smiled widely and then concentrated back on picking up some apples from the tree

"Your Majesty, thank you" said Byeol bowing his body as he descended to the ground.

Byeol gave an apple to his helper.

"Strong girl, are you okay?" wang So asked while receiving an apple from Byeol.

"As your majesty saw," replied Byeol smilingly and passing from the sight of Wang So.

Feeling that it was not considered that Wang So even pulled Byeol's hand, then raised the girl on horseback.

"Let's come with me, I'll show you something beautiful" Wang So took with her while riding on a horse and driving her out of town.

They climb the hill and pass through the forest. The horse they were riding on started to slow down. They came down and walked towards the top of the hill. They stopped at a cliff. Slapped before them the sight of Songak from the top of the mountain even the palace gate could be clearly seen. Byeol was amazed at the sight before him.

"That's Songak, that's the palace. Indicate it? From here you can even see the motorcade coming out of the palace" said Wang So.

They sat down and enjoyed the view. From far away, the residents in the street. Gray isthmus roof houses and ghettos dominated by leaf roofs. The average people living there are Balhae refugees, and people who are in conflict with the Khitans of the Liao Dynasty. King Taejo Wang-geon with open arms accepted them.

But still, that gap exists. The caste difference is inevitable. Not a few of the refugees became servants and manual laborers, even though he was a noble. Byeol looked at Wang So next to him. The man next to him will be the ruler of Goryeo. Wang So who would break the policy of social equality between the nobility and the slave caste.

"What does your noble mind think of seeing a ghetto in that valley?" tanya Byeol ventured.

"They are far from well-being. They are war refugees. Treasures still accumulated to the nobles and landlords. The refugees who were once nobles actually lost their treasures and became slaves in the end. The war will continue. Such a thing would still exist," Wang So replied, "Do you want me to take you to the area?" challenge Wang So

"Good idea," replied Byeol feeling challenged.

They sat side by side in silence for a moment. Byeol looked at Wang So. The man felt Byeol looking at him.

"What's wrong?" asked Wang So

Byeol smiled.

"I don't think there's any harm in my servant sacrificing life for you like that time?" terang Byeol's.

Wang So smiled and was a little surprised.

"Well, you smile. I love your smile," praised Byeol

"I wonder why you would have done it back then, by making yourself my shield?" asked Wang So

"Because ... You are a precious person to Goryeo" replied Byeol

"If the one who was attacked at that time was not me. Are you going to do the same?" asked Wang So

Byeol smiled again and his gaze turned towards the city.

"Come on," replied Byeol

Wang So's smile flashed and his gaze glared far towards the city.

"Thank you Byeol-ssi, I hope you don't suffer for anyone else anymore. This is an order" said Wang So

Byeol looked deeply at the figure beside him, remaining with a sweet smile on his face.

"If you know how much you are precious to me, too, my majesty" Byeol said in his heart.

Shortly afterwards there was the sound of a trumpet from a distance. The palace gate opens, then a long motorcade looks out of the palace. It started with the cavalrymen, two chariots, the infantrymen, and the maids. It seemed to be the convoy of the Queen Mother who wanted to go to the temple to pray in early spring.

"That's Queen Shinmyeongsunseong's motorcade?" ask Byeol.

"Yes, ' Wang So replied briefly and his eyes were still staring towards the excitement of the march coming out of the palace.

"Your noble mother?" tanya Byeol ventured.

"Yes", Wang So replied briefly, but with a sad look in his eyes

Queen Shinmyeongsunseong is the biological mother of Wang Yo, Wang So and Wang Jung. Byeol knew Wang So's relationship with her mother wasn't very good. Queen Shin loves Wang Yo more and is expected to be King Taejo's successor. More Wang So was sent out of the palace to guard the border. At noon they came down from the mountain. Wang So drove Byeol home. They promised to meet again tomorrow to visit the ghetto area.