The Heart of the Cruel Emperor
8. Brief Meeting

Following the entire Emperor banquet was only to detect the presence of poison. How sad. That's a hani's new job right now.

While his roommates only served to prepare morning dishes.

ah that better feel .

Like a soul that is almost detached from the body. Crumple all the hani bones. He had to run around here and there following the steps of an emperor who was quite large.

Whereas he was just a small snail who had just entered the palace .he was not yet accustomed to the activities of an emperor . Even in his dreams he did not expect to get a task as the Emperor's maid .

Really shit.

"Huuufffhh "

only now could he breathe this comfortable air within the palace. He didn't even think he would find a place this good. A large fish pond with a small bridge connecting to the gazebo in the middle of the pond. And a pavilion that looks unkempt yet still good to look at.

"What is this place? And why so isolated?" At first he just wanted to find a library to eliminate his fatigue, looking for documents concerning his father, but he found this place.

Maybe the search in the middle of the night is not good because the lighting is too dark. Be he pierced his sunyinya the night in that place remove the tiredness that he took a full day.

"It looks like this place can be my escape at night"

Now he can freely express his appearance without being seen by others. However, he still remains vigilant wearing a veil in case something happens.

***********

The Emperor's office

"Have you got any leads? "

"Yes, your honor . But not for the girl". Wrinkles adorned the face of emperor ryu.

"Then what did you get hiro?"

There is no satisfaction in the eyes of the emperor ryu, seeing the new hiro commander first nil in a search. Even just for an ordinary girl she can't.

"The results of the examination of the hitmen are more focused on the rebels. Looks like they're the surviving remnants of the rebels from the warrior chase".

"Well I can see from the note you gave me. It seems like my words they didn't allow me to surrender obey me. In vain I forgave those who ran away safely.then the girl?"

"Seeing from his arrow, it was neither from outside the kingdom nor from within. It seems he made it his own noble".

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, this is the first time the servant saw an arrow that is very smooth and also strong especially the wood used can only be obtained from the forbidden forest that is noble".

"So in conclusion, he was indeed a resident of the forest? Or are the people around the forest ?"

Emperor Ryu predicts the abode of his savior girl.

"It's still a noble endeavor. Servants have spread servant subordinates to explore the forest. Which is quite wide to be traced.with the village around him the servant will go down directly".

"Well you can go".Emperor ryu expels hiro.

"Hamba withdraws". Commander hiro soon passed. It seemed like the emperor could not be bothered for too long for now.

Perhaps, he needed a short break leaving his royal duties. Hiro understood the condition of the Emperor that day and night never left his duty to govern the kingdom so he was nicknamed the cruel Emperor by all his people because of his merciless judgment.

however, from that all the people never understood that the actions that the emperor did were solely for his own people protected from the enemy . Whether it's from the outside or the inside.

"Eunuch lee !"

The old eunuch of the emperor's bodyguard entered in a hurry to get to him.

"Yes, your highness".He bowed respectfully to his old body.

"I want out . Clean everything".

"Okay, your honor". The emperor ryu raised the workspace. Ask eunuch lee to clean up the paper rolls scattered on the spell.

It quickly disappeared like the wind. Towards a place he longed for even though its inhabitants had long gone .

...************...

Sakura Pavilion

The cold air greeted him with a stretch of blossoms surrounding him and a flowering cherry tree .

The most beautiful place for Ryu to remember. The place where he saw his mother's happy smile when he successfully completed the task of his father learning to be a man. His place of return when he failed while studying.

However, what power it had passed. When he was still not strong enough as he was today. And that regret came back when he remembered the events of that night.

The night he was seriously injured by food poisoning and at the same time the palace was attacked by rebels suddenly. He clearly remembers it. Indeed he regretted not heeding the words of his mother who told him to learn about the poison.it was fairly important for the candidate of an emperor.

He focused more on his martial training and also the education his father ruled. Order an inviolable emperor.

His steps were as light as the wind he paved his mother's pavilion enjoying a place that held so many memories of his life.

"Why did the mother not live in the main pavilion with her father and other concubines?" Little Ryu asked his mother, the empress of Sassy who preferred the backward place of the palace to live in. Empress Sassy just smiled lightly staring at little ryu.

"Mother just wants ryu calm, not gripping calm. I'd better stay here. Isn't this place very beautiful if it's not preserved?"

"what does the mother mean by the gripping main pavilion?" Little Ryu furrowed his brows not understanding.

"ryu will know for himself if he is an adult" The Empress rubbed ryu's hair with affection.

While in the distance someone approached followed by several groups who stopped their steps reluctant to advance further.

The empress did not realize it. she was more focused on rubbing Ryu's hair that was resting her head on her lap.

"Ryu" greeted a man in his imperial robe. Surprising ryu and empress.

"Father" ryu rose closer to the emperor hyun shik hugging him. While the empress bowed her body greeting the emperor.

"Your highness".

"I'm very sad. You didn't notice me coming" the hyunshik emperor looked at the sassy empress with a playful sad look.

"I'm sorry ryu dad. Ryu will learn sensitivity so that if father comes ryu realize it". The Emperor laughed at ryu's words.

The emperor assuaged his laughter as the empress declared something behind him.

" oh yes" the emperor almost forgot "Ryu, Ryeon came to see you to practice" Emperor Hyun shik stepped aside slightly showing a 7-year-old child the same as ryu.

"Honour to the empress and the prince" did not forget he bowed his body.

"Ryeon" great-granddaughter prince ryu.

"Will it?" Ryu makes sure of it and it turns out to be true it is ryeon.

"Go practice" the emperor ordered.

"But father, can mother come with me . See me practicing?" Pinta prince ryu.

"can't. Mother has business with father . Weren't you with your mother every time. While the father is not always able to meet the mother" the emperor hyunshik made ryu pout.

Ryu understands the situation of his father who does not always meet his mother because of the duty of the country that always awaits and also the existence of his concubines. Yes, because his father was a just emperor even to his wives. Although reality. Ryu is convinced that his mother is the one his father loves.

The empress could only smile amusedly at the husband and his son fighting over her.

"Ryu mom's not going anywhere. Mom will stay here. So go practice. I'll be waiting for you to come home. You have to train stronger to be like your father"

"And be strong then you can fight with father for mother. You Understand! "Add emperor hyunshik while chuckling.

The empress could only shake her head at the ridiculous hyunsik emperor's words.

-flashback off

"Dad lied, why didn't you accept it? Father took his mother away before we fought. Dad was very cheating.I am already a strong father" Emperor Ryu spoke softly while smiling obliquely by himself.

And when those eyes regained consciousness from the memories of his past. Emperor ryu clarified his vision. He was silent and did not continue his steps. Like the earth has nailed its feet to step.

What an incredible beauty. Even the candidate chosen by his ministers was nothing.the flickering eyes were closed with a tiny nose and reddish lips that seemed tempting. She was like a real goddess in her white clothes.

Oh my God, am I hallucinating? Ryu lowered his head for a moment. He wanted to confirm his sight once again. While stepping his legs back.maybe the distance is fairly far from the gate to the gazebo so that makes it a bit blurry.

But, it was not a blur but rather it was very clearly real. Now he could see her sleeping comfortably. Yeah, he seemed to be sleeping very peacefully. So that ryu steps alone he did not hear.

It was very clever if he could hear ryu steps that were as light as the wind. No one can hear it except the same person as him.

Tuk tuk tuk tak.

the sound of a horse that seemed to be getting closer. It seemed, the soldiers were patrolling. Very good at doing the job well.

Emperor ryu turned away

his face saw the tamaram torch passing through the wall around the Sakura pavilion.

He forgot something. Again he turned his eyes towards the gazebo and he had disappeared.

emperor Ryu quickly drew closer to the gazebo with a single jump poking at the small bridge.

Where's she? Wasn't he here? Ryu sharpened his eyesight looking around looking for traces of the girl just now, but nil.

He looked around the gazebo. Strange, why is there no trace of someone sleeping? Ryu furrowed his brows at the gazebo which was very dirty with dust and leaves because it was never occupied, and his eyes shone brightly again.

He took a long looking hair. Smile smirked

Apparently you want to play games with me. You're so good at getting things to go. But , not for me. A beautiful smile from behind the mask that Ryu used. He flicked his black clothes to make the leaves digazebo clean.

Real skill for him as a martial figure.

"Who Are You ???" Ryu's whisper in silence replaced where the girl had fallen asleep.