Chapter Text
When His Majesty the King finally had found his Queen-to-be, Head Court Lady Noh decided that she had to turn her attention somewhere else. After all, it was not only the King’s love life and bloodline that worried her. Also, she still had lots of use for those talismans, even more so when they seemed to work. Splendidly too.
Naturally (or predictably?), her next target was none other than the confidante and best friend of the King, also best known as Captain of the Royal Guards. Because, well, the future heir needed his or her own Unbreakable Sword too, you see.
Now, if she could only pinpoint the ever elusive Captain...
I.
Torture and Betrayal
In hindsight, His Majesty of the Kingdom of Corea, Lee Gon, should have known that something was, without a single shred of doubt , amiss with the way Head Court Lady Noh visited him that day.
Hold on , the King backtracked. Lady Noh did not just visit, she ambushed him, when he was very conveniently totally alone and defenseless too.
Yeong was, of course, there with him since morning, standing straight as ever in his perfect soldier stance, unmoving and unblinking. However, after pulling out his phone from the inner pocket of his suit, the Captain quietly stepped out of the King’s study barely a minute ago, most likely to answer a call.
It was nothing alarming in itself. As Gon took a quick glance at his watch and realized that his meeting with Prime Minister Mo should commence in just under five minutes (and the government official was never late), he just chuckled at his best friend’s predictability to be such a stickler for the bylaw. The Captain and Prime Minister had known each other for years, even back when she was still a Secretary, and she was a very easy-going person. But no, of course Jo Yeong would not let his little phone call disturb such important discussions concerning their nation.
Unbeknownst to both, though, the human shield just left his King to fend on his own, thank you very much . And it also seemed that the very narrow window of opening was going to be Gon’s shortcoming.
“I brought Your Majesty and Prime Minister Mo some delicacies,” Lady Noh had said, bringing in the tray herself.
That was Gon’s second mistake. That little detail should definitely alert him, but, alas, he was a human after all. His senses annoyingly refused to tingle.
Gon watched with rapt attention as Lady Noh placed the tray on the long table, the smell of the fried chickens covered in barbeque sauce graced his noble nose. He inhaled the heavenly scent with his eyes closed, smiling wide, once again feeling extremely proud of his accomplishment of bringing the miracle recipe over from the Republic.
" Pyeha ," Lady Noh innocently started, "Do you bring Jo daejang along during your weekend trips?"
"Of course not,” Gon replied automatically, feeling slightly offended. “I'm not that obtuse. Why would I bring Yeong on my-"
He stopped himself.
The Monarch eyed the elderly lady suspiciously. "Why are you asking?"
"Oh, nothing,” Lady Noh had said, but the King was sure that she was only feigning ignorance. “I just noticed that lately Jo daejang never takes the weekend shifts anymore. I’m just wondering…”
That was actually news to Gon as well. Before his off-world trips with Jeong Tae-eul happened on a weekly basis, Yeong was almost always there alongside him during the weekends too, often on overtime, because for the Captain, being a Royal Guard was more of a 24/7 job. But having witnessed a certain scene unfolding on the CCTV recording just the week beforehand, the King had a very good guess as to why that particular change took place.
"He’s finally able to take more rest, eh?" Lady Noh continued.
Gon took careful notice of the glints in her eyes. Of course he noticed, he had lived with the lady his whole life. He could identify that look from miles away.
Yeong is in trouble.
That was the look of Lady Noh fishing for information. And she was like an impending hurricane once she had set her mind on something.
There was no doubt in Gon’s mind now. Yeong is in massive trouble.
And probably, himself too.
"Pray tell, Pyeha , do you know where he goes every weekend?"
To finally live his fairy tale with Miss Myeong Seung-ah, of course, he automatically answered in his head. But Gon was a loyal friend, and he could also play the game. "Yeong doesn’t tell me, and I never ask. How would I know?"
The Head Court Lady squinted her eyes, scrutinizing his face a beat too long.
Gon trained his face to maintain that expression of an innocent child.
"That's unfortunate,” Lady Noh finally remarked, her voice menacingly soft. “Ah, Pyeha , I apologize terribly, but I just remembered your doctor’s recommendation. Considering His Majesty’s cholesterol levels, it’s probably best if you refrain from eating any food with high saturated fat for the time being.”
And with that, she pulled the chicken platter away from the King’s grasp.
Gon blinked. What just happened?
“Good afternoon, Pyeha ,” Prime Minister Mo disrupted the King’s thoughts with her arrival. “Also to you, Noh sanggoong mamanim .”
“Very nice to see you, Mo chongli ,” the Head Court Lady smiled. “Please sit. I just brought you some chickens, freshly deep-fried from the kitchen. And please, eat a lot,” Lady Noh rambled on, “His Majesty has to watch out for his health, so I’m afraid you have to finish them all by yourself.”
Oh, that is just cruel . Gon fumed inside his head.
First, she dangled one of his life’s greatest joys in front of him, and then she basically told him to just watch others eating his chickens? With such scent mocking his senses?
Everything in the palace was his, he thought petulantly. Everything .
Gon could not help himself not to shoot her a dirty look, no matter how un-Kingly it seemed.
But the elderly lady just pointedly ignored him.
The King debated with himself. Yeong was his oldest confidante and best friend. His only friend, even. And there’s no doubt that he’s a loyal companion, even like a brother. He’s family. But he was also the Unbreakable Sword. He’s a fighter, he’s smart, and Yeong sure could fend for himself...
Yeong would be totally fine, Gon concluded, making excuses for himself.
"Very well," the King finally said to the Head Court Lady, at the same time mentally apologizing to his best friend. "What do you need?"
~
His Majesty / 2:02 PM
Noh sanggoong is out to get you.
Be careful of your weekend endeavours.
Yeong-ie / 2:47 PM
What did you do, Pyeha ?
His Majesty / 2:50 PM
Forgive me, Yeong-ah.
She knows precisely how to break me.