Perfect Crown in Royal Academy of Korea - Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve: Nightmare

The university entrance exam season was an unavoidable gateway even for Wan, who was the Grand Prince of a nation. It was because although the privileges the Royal Family enjoyed were diverse, scholarship and educational background did not exist among them. Rather, in those aspects, they suffered a loss compared to other people. If they received even the slightest privilege, they were treated as a royal who couldn't even study properly. Therefore, to receive magnificent learning at a magnificent school, there was no choice but to prove oneself.
 
Royal family members, including the royal relatives, usually chose one between Sungkyunkwan and the Royal Academy, and because Wan could not attend the same school as Hwan, he naturally came to attend the Royal Academy. It was because if an accident occurred while the two people were attending the same school, there was a danger that the lineage of the Royal Family would be cut off.
 
For that reason, Wan could not use airplanes or automobiles together with his family. Continually, since he was very young.
 
That day four years ago, when Wan was fifteen, was the same. That day was a day when an Children's Day event was held, and the event location was an orphanage sponsored by the Royal Family. Queen Uihyeon and Wan came to attend on behalf of the King and the Crown Prince, who had other public duties, and Queen Uihyeon, who held much interest in child welfare, concluded the campaign only after slipping far past the scheduled time.
 
Thanks to that, Wan used up his physical strength all day long that day, doing all kinds of play with the orphanage children. Court Lady Choi whispered at his side telling him not to overdo it too much, but Wan shook his head. It was because he himself was more excited than the children. Because in the palace they didn't even let him run, but here he could run and shout to his heart's content.
 
The children likewise liked such a Wan. Around the time the royal protocol vehicles lined up in front of the orphanage, there were to some extent children who grabbed the hem of Wan's clothes and burst into tears. Wan held the hands of such children and promised. Saying he would definitely come next year, and the year after that too.
 
Wan, who exchanged greetings for a long time like that, boarded the car belatedly. Wan, who checked a text message that came from his older brother, placed a call to Queen Uihyeon, who was riding in the front car.
 
"Royal Mother, shall we buy chicken and go to the palace?"
 
—Chicken?
 
"Because a text came saying my brother wants to eat it."
 
When he grumbled saying he always orders him around for this kind of thing, his mother's laughter was heard across the mobile phone.
 
—Shall we do that, then?
 
"Yes."
 
Simultaneously with his answer, thud—a grand collision sound echoed in his ears. Court Lady Choi, who was sitting in the next seat, pulled him into an embrace, and only after barely coming to his senses was he himself trembling as well. Belatedly, the thought of his Royal Mother occurred, but—
 
"Royal Mother...."
 
Court Lady Choi did not loosen the arms she pulled him into an embrace with.
 
"Let go of this!"
 
"Please stay still. Grand Prince, Your Highness."
 
"I told you to let go of this!"
 
"You must not look."
 
Even though he hadn't seen anything, Wan's instinct noticed that something had gone wrong. Only after Court Lady Choi's weeping sound, the guard team's radio communication sound, and in the end even a siren sound were heard was Wan able to push Court Lady Choi away.
 
"Grand Prince, Your Highness!"
 
Wan, who ignored Court Lady Choi's shout and got out of the car, had his entire body freeze at the sight before his eyes. He exerted effort to understand the situation, but there was nothing that was understood. His Royal Mother's vehicle, broken to the extent that its shape could not be recognized, and even a truck whose source was unknowable where it appeared from.
 
"Royal Mother...."
 
"Grand Prince, Your Highness!"
 
The moment he extended his hand toward the place where his Royal Mother was, Court Lady Choi, who followed out of the car, pulled Wan into an embrace again. Whether she was intending to let him see nothing, Court Lady Choi pressed the back of his head strongly and shouted.
 
"Guide the Grand Prince, Your Highness to the hospital right away. Quickly!"
 
"Yes!"
 
The louder the voices of the surrounding people became, the more strength drained from Wan's body.
 
Wan recognized only after a quite long time had flowed that that was fear. And only after more time passed did he realize that he does not have tears come out when he is fearful.
 
"Argh!"
 
"Why, why is it!"
 
At a time when the blueness of dawn was not yet entirely cleared, Hyun, startled by Wan's scream, ran into the guest house. Seeing his pale face and pajamas soaked in cold sweat, it was certain he had dreamed a nightmare again.
 
"Are you alright?"
 
"Give me some water...."
 
"Yes, just a moment."
 
Hyun turned on the stand light familiarly and handed over the water. Waking up at dawn because of Wan's scream was that frequently occurring an event. In the first place, that Hyun's room was not in the detached villa used by the court servants was also because of this.
 
"Did you take medicine yesterday?"
 
"Yeah."
 
"It seems the medicine's effect doesn't work now."
 
"Is it a matter of a day or two."
 
"Taking a pulse tomorrow at least...."
 
"Forget it."
 
Wan lay back down on the bed as if annoyed. Even though he knew clearly that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep again, Hyun was upset because there was nothing he could help with. If he hated receiving a pulse examination from the royal physician, it would be good if he visited the Royal Hospital at least, but Wan did not like either. Even the herbal medicine said to be good for a sound sleep had no effect, whether a tolerance had formed....
 
"Choi Hyun."
 
"Yes, Your Highness."
 
"You go and sleep quickly too. Only then will your height grow rapidly."
 
At Wan delivering a tender voice even in the midst of his exhausted state being distinct, Hyun pouted his lips. Because for a person who proved that one can grow as tall as a refrigerator's height even if one cannot sleep well to say that kind of word was a bit funny.
 
Hyun, who let out a sigh, took a place on the sofa next to the bed. When he lay down using a cushion as a pillow, Wan's stern voice was heard.
 
"Choi Hyun."
 
"I'll sleep here for today only."
 
"Are you a child? Go to your room quickly."
 
Although the sharp voice was a bit scary, Hyun held out steadfastly.
 
"I don't think I can do up to being a misfortune-absorber, but I'll try a misfortune-reflection once."
 
"Where did you learn that kind of word again?"
 
"From a drama."
 
"I told you to stop watching that sort of thing."
 
"You watch them too, Your Highness."
 
Wan, who let out a sigh as if troublesome, did not say any more words. Hyun, who laid down his mind that had been worried what if he chased him out, quietly closed his eyes. At times like this, it was good that he was a fourteen-year-old child. Because things that wouldn't have been allowed to anyone else were allowed as far as to him.
 
Hyun was a existence abandoned in front of the private residence a very long time ago. Wan, who was barely five years old, taking in Hyun who was left abandoned while wrapped in a swaddling blanket was the beginning of the relationship. Of course, the Wan of that time was living in the palace, not the private residence, but it was certain he was the master of the private residence.
 
'Tell him to live there.'
 
They said Wan, who received a report about the baby abandoned at his private residence, commanded like that. Feeling pity for a newborn baby whose face he hadn't even seen. They said the King, His Majesty and the Queen, Her Majesty who heard that news expressed concern, but they could not break Wan's stubbornness.
 
Hyun, who came to live in the private residence like that, seeing Wan's face was a quite long time passed after that. It was when Wan's age was ten and Hyun's age was five. The first word Wan, who came out on an outing with Hwan who was the Crown Prince, said upon seeing Hyun was—
 
'Brother, greet him. He is my younger brother Hyun.'
 
It was.
 
They said that word, which made not to mention the Crown Prince who was next to him but even the court servants gasp in horror, was reported to the King, His Majesty and caused an uproar. They said he was scolded thoroughly and even wrote a reflection letter, but even for a quite long time after that, Wan referred to Hyun as his younger brother.
 
Whether because of such special treatment from Wan, the court servants of the private residence likewise did not treat Hyun carelessly. Not as an abandoned child, but as a gathered child. Treating him as the Grand Prince's child, not a child without parents.
 
Even after that, Wan occasionally dropped by the private residence to see Hyun and go, and because that appearance was so tender, Court Lady Choi used to wipe away tears from time to time. Saying it was pitiful to see him imitating a father's love even while having never received a father's love.
 
Therefore, to Hyun, Wan was like a father, and like an older brother. That they had a difference of barely five years was not important. Because he merely wished for Wan to be the happiest in the world.
 
In that sense, Hyun occasionally resented Queen Uihyeon. Thinking that if she hadn't departed so tragically, Wan's long nights could be a bit comfortable. Thinking that if she hadn't passed away like that, Wan's lonely life could be a bit warm.
 
Therefore, he wasn't scared of things like bad luck. Because if Wan's night could be safe, he could endure that degree of it.
 
 
From the Annals of King Heejong
 
May 2005, the Queen's Palace passed away at the Royal Hospital.