Chapter 9:
Mr. Hoseok froze in place, as though time itself had bound him. His gaze remained fixed on the dark stain before him.
"How did this blood get here…?" he murmured under his breath.
Whoever it was—there was no doubt—they had been wounded.
A sharp urgency gripped his chest. I need to go outside… they couldn't have gone far.
Without wasting another moment, he rushed out into the open. But beyond the doorway, there was nothing—only the suffocating silence of the village. No movement. No sound. Just an eerie stillness that lingered in the air.
He clenched his jaw, his voice low yet resolute.
"Whoever it was… they will be caught."
As always, morning arrived—spreading its gentle light across the kingdom, just as it did every single day.
But today… something felt different. As though the dawn itself carried an unspoken warning.
"Villagers! Gather here at once—quickly!" a guard shouted, his voice cutting sharply through the still air.
One by one, the villagers rushed toward the call, their footsteps hurried and uneasy. Soon, a crowd formed at the center, filled with murmurs and restless glances.
They turned to one another, whispering, questioning—
Why were they summoned? What had happened?
But no one knew.
An invisible tension lingered among them, as every single soul stood there… completely unaware of the reason behind the call.
Just then, Mr. Hoseok stepped forward—and an immediate silence fell over the gathering.
All eyes turned to him, every gaze fixed with anticipation.
"My people…" he began, his voice steady yet heavy with meaning,
"forgive me for pulling you away from your daily duties and summoning you here so suddenly."
A brief pause followed, as if the weight of his words lingered in the air.
"But what I must say cannot wait."
He drew a slow breath before continuing,
"Last night… someone attempted to enter the royal treasury chamber."
Before he could speak further, Mr. Hoseok fell silent for a moment.
For within that chamber… there existed another room—sealed and hidden.
A place known only to Mr. Hoseok himself, the Prince, and a select few trusted guards—
no one else in the entire kingdom was aware of its existence.
He spoke again, his voice softer now—yet firm with conviction.
"I know… none among you could have done such a thing. Why would any of you bring harm upon your own people?"
His gaze moved across the crowd, searching, steady and sincere.
"I ask only this—did anyone see anything last night?"
"Anyone entering… or leaving the village?"
"Did you hear any unusual sounds? Or perhaps… from your windows, did you catch sight of a stranger?"
A brief silence followed, heavy with unease.
"If you did," he continued, his tone sharpening slightly,
"Tell me anything you remember—any mark, any detail… their face, their clothing… anything at all."
The air grew tense, as though the truth lingered somewhere among them… waiting to be spoken.
Just then, from among the villagers, a small child—resting in his mother's arms—reached out and grasped the fabric of a man's shirt.
" My baby, leave it…" the woman murmured gently, trying to pull her child's tiny hands away.
But before she could, the man bent down and carefully lifted the child into his arms.
The woman's gaze rose—and her eyes widened in shock.
"My Prince…?" she breathed.
At once, every head turned in that direction.
The stillness that had gripped the villagers shattered, replaced by a wave of astonished whispers and rising voices.
"The Prince… the Prince has come—!"
A strange yet comforting energy spread through the crowd, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their hearts.
"He's here… everything will be alright now."
Hope, fragile yet powerful, echoed through the village once more. The villagers slowly stepped aside, parting to make way for the Prince, forming a clear path through the crowd.
"My people," the Prince spoke gently, his voice carrying both authority and warmth,
"forgive us for the trouble we have caused you. You may now return to your homes."
He then turned to the woman, carefully placing the child back into her arms.
"Here… your child."
The woman lowered her gaze respectfully, holding her child close.
"My Prince… please capture that thief soon," she said with quiet urgency,
"the one who wishes harm upon us."
A murmur of agreement followed her words, as the villagers looked toward the Prince with trust—
their hopes now resting entirely in his hands.
"Do not worry," the Prince said, his voice calm yet reassuring, offering strength to those around him.
"I will find the one responsible… and soon."
With that, he stepped forward and approached Mr. Hoseok.
"Mr. Hoseok… do you suspect anyone from our village?" the Prince asked, his tone lowered, more serious now.
Mr. Hoseok met his gaze, holding it for a moment. Then, placing a steady hand upon the Prince's shoulder, he replied,
"I cannot say for certain…"
A brief silence passed between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"But then… who else could it be?" he continued quietly.
"Someone entered that chamber—driven by greed for the treasure…"
His expression darkened slightly.
"And they even attempted to open that sealed room."
The air between them grew tense, as if the mystery had only just begun to unfold.
"And whoever it was… they were wounded," Mr. Hoseok added, his voice firm with certainty.
"Near the entrance to that room, traces of blood were found. With such a clue… we can track them down."
The Prince's expression remained calm, but his voice carried quiet authority as he replied,
"Mr. Hoseok… do not cast suspicion upon anyone in this village."
He turned slightly, his gaze firm and unwavering.
"Let this matter end here."
A brief pause followed, before he continued,"And increase the guards around the treasury chamber. Ensure no one comes near it again."
The weight of his words lingered in the air, as both men understood—
this was not yet over… but for now, the truth would remain hidden in the shadows.
"And you know well… no one has ever been able to open that room," the Prince said firmly.
"No one… and that remains unchanged."
But Mr. Hoseok's gaze darkened slightly as he spoke again,
"My Prince… but what if… that person found a way?"
The words hung in the air, heavy and unsettling.
For a moment, even the Prince did not respond—