RED STAR IN THE SKY GORYEO (The Scent Of Life 2)
CHAPTER 24 AT DUSK

The sound of the trumpet sign of the start of the hunt is already on the table. The princes had lined up in groups including Byeol. They were all wearing battle armor and wielding weapons and arrows. Before long, they moved towards the forest and dispersed. The low boisterous sound of horseback enlivening the race to the forest was acted by the sound of drums being pounded.

Byeol's group headed east. According to Wang Jung, it is better to follow the direction of the sun to make it easier to return to the camp. They also went into the thick forest. They stopped racing the horse, and began to slow down. Increasingly into the forest they decided to get off the horse and walk while picking each horse.

Until noon they had found nothing. The four of them sat down to rest on the river bank. The horses were left to forage for food. Wang So gave an idea that they just split up and regrouped to the edge of the river before dusk. They do the raffle with grass sticks. Wang So and Wang Eun went upstream while Wang Jung and Byeol went downstream. They split.

Byeol walked with Wang Jung. Soon Wang Jung felt a stomachache and asked Byeol for permission to leave for a while. Wang Jung went into the bushes far from Byeol's sight, but soon a scream was heard. Wang Jung's voice called Byeol and asked for help.

Byeol rushed towards the source of the sound. Wang Jung was lifted up with his head down and his feet tied to a rope. Seeing the arrival of Byeol, Wang Jung was smirking. Byeol swiftly shot a rope that lifted Wang Jung's leg and allowed the man to fall to the ground.

Bruugh!

"duuuhu. Byeol-ah why don't you help me get down," Wang Jung lamented as he rubbed his back..

Byeol was just a big smile.

"Come on, don't be whiny" replied Byeol.

Wang Jung untied the ties at his feet. He massaged his sore body, then walked up to Byeol. Suddenly Wang Jung's eyes rounded.

"Shut up, don't move" Wang Jung ordered to Byeol.

Byeol remained motionless and did not even look. Wang Jung pulled out a knife and threw it at something behind Byeol. Kena, a snake passed behind Byeol. The snake also died. Soon Wang Jung took the carcass of the snake and cut it into pieces, his blood everywhere. The snake meat was installed in a rope trap that had snared Wang Jung's leg earlier. Byeol was astonished by what Wang jung was doing.

"We put the bait on. The smell of blood would be favored by wild animals especially wolves or foxes. Let's just wait for them to come. They moved away and climbed into a tree while waiting for the beasts to come and eat their traps. That's right Wang Jung said. Shortly after, a wolf came sniffing the blood on the ground. Wang Jung and Byeol then put up an arrow and ready to aim.

The slaaap!

Wang Jung's arrow shot missed. The wolf ran away.

The slaaap!

Byeol's arrow hit the wolf's head. They both cheered for their success in getting a wolf. They came down from the tree and tied their game in a wood and they carried it to the designated meeting place.

***

On the riverbank, Wang So and Wang Eun were already waiting. They both made a bonfire. Wang So was catching fish in the river using an arrow. They got a deer. Seeing Wang Jung and Byeol coming with a wolf, they applauded happily. See their amazing catch. I can be sure they will be the winners.

Byeol's stomach is hungry. The sound of her stomach made them laugh together. Wang Jung took off his clothes and went into the river with Wang So looking for fish. Wang Eun and Byeol sat around the fire to prepare anything that could be used to burn their lunch fish.

"What are you thinking, Hyung?" wang Jung asked the silent Wang So.

Wang So looked at Byeol silently.

"That girl, last night, her words opened my mind," Wang So replied as she wiped the water on her face.

"Did something "special" happen last night?" search Wang Jung while smiling mischievously.

Wang So splashed water on his sister's face.

"Follow away your dirty thoughts, we're not doing as you think," said Wang So, then started chasing the big fish in the river. Wang Jung laughed out loud. She knew her brother was in love with Byeol, although Wang Jung was also attracted to the girl. Wang Jung looked at Byeol.

By dusk they rode to the camp. They race their horses faster when approaching the camp. No other group has arrived. They laugh happily. They're winners.

***

At night as promised by the king, they held a feast in the camp. The king crowned the Byeol group as the victors. Everyone seemed to not believe that Wang So's group won. They expected Wang So's group to lose. They proudly got a drink directly poured by the king. All rejoiced until his highness Taejo announced something that kept the audience quiet.

Wang So was surprised, he did not expect to be betrothed, while he had already fallen for Byeol. Politically it was in his favor, but honestly he didn't like the rules of matchmaking.

Byeol was also surprised at the king's decision, but he could understand something like this would definitely happen. He stared at Wang So who lowered his head after giving thanks for the gift given by King Taejo. Byeol looked at Wang Wook's calm face. What was on that man's mind? All the attendees expressed their gratitude for the king's grace that night.

***

Byeol sat alone in the middle of the meadow bathed in sunlight. He pondered his fate, which was not yet clear which way the winds of fate would carry. He was surprised by the sudden arrival of someone beside him. The man set Byeol's eyes with his palm from the sunlight. Byeol turned to the man.

"Well, you finally turned to me. What do you think Byeol-ah, I'm looking for you everywhere" said Wang Wook

"Hamba just felt confused about wanting to step foot in which direction. I want to reflect on my life here" replied Byeol casually

"What do you think about Wang So's match with Princess Gyeonghwa," Wang Wook asked

"What can I say is noble, whereas I am just an ordinary girl from a lowly clan" Byeol replied straightforwardly

"I know that there is something between you. Last night I saw you two by the river," Wang Wook surprised Byeol.

The girl just kept quiet.

"Among us nothing noble happened" Byeol explained.

"Thank God nothing happened. Then there's still a chance for me to fill your life. Step your foot towards me. Will you be a part of my destiny?" wang Wook said honestly.

Byeol was silent because Wang Wook's words surprised him enough.

"I'm sorry, didn't I hear your majesty wrong?

"No, you didn't hear me wrong. I want you by my side" Wang Wook explained once again.

Byeol stumbled and only the head bracelets seemed to be in disbelief. Man Se in Byeol's body remembers Kang Seo Woo who straightforwardly expressed his feelings for Man Se in the future, when he knew Kang Min Hyuk would marry Hong Sun Hwa. Kang Seo Woo also expressed his feelings for Man Se. Is it a coincidence that his life story is the same as this girl named Byeol? Incredible, thought Man Se in Byeol's body.

"What about Seonui?" ask Byeol.

"There was only a political marriage byeol-ah. We got married for political reasons. So does Wang So, I know hyung doesn't love Princess Gyeonghwa" Wang Wook replied.

Byeol increasingly did not understand what was in the minds of the men around him. In Byeol's mind, whether it's a political marriage or not one day the heart and love will color.

"Your Majesty, you better not off hurting women" Byeol said as he stood up and saluted Wang Wook. Byeol knew Seonui loved Wang Wook very much.

Byeol left and Wang Wook sat alone. The man looked at Byeol's departure with a disappointed look and returned to his tent.

***

Byeol pondered on his bed. Treasure, power makes people heartless and even tends to play tricks on one's feelings and fate, Byeol thought. His heart is still gamang, who is the man who will be his love.

***

Byeol had just come out of the tent that afternoon when Wang So suddenly pulled him and took him on a horse ride away from the camp quietly. They rode at the rate of cleaving the meadow to the edge of a beautiful mountain valley with red flowers. At the end of the valley are the ruins of a stone fortress that stretches along the eye view. Wang So took Byeol down and took him up to the fort.

"Beautiful no, I always come here whenever there's a hunt. The sunsets look so pretty. Just wait, in a moment," Wang So explained.

Wang So walked over to the stone wall. Byeol walked towards the man. Wang So turned his head and extended his hand towards Byeol. Suddenly the girl had a dejavu. Byeol recalled the male figure who reached out to him against the background of the twilight sky. Byeol was convinced that the man was Wang So.

Byeol who had been silent and stood up finally smiled and welcomed Wang So's hand. The two of them stood near the stone wall while enjoying the beautiful view of the sun. Byeol raised his hand to the sky as if he wanted to touch the sun that was about to enter the contest. Beautiful red colored saga.