Perfect Crown in Royal Academy of Korea - Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen: Winter Vacation

Half of the winter vacation passed. That word, in other words, meant that a period of over three weeks was passing since Heejoo stayed at the main residence. Heejoo, who was filling most of her day with advanced learning, had her body start to itch with boredom gradually. No matter how much she liked studying, to be cooped up inside the room all day long was a tedious thing.
 
Not going out of the room was a decision by her own will. It wasn't that she was checking her father's facial color. Although he appeared like an villainous employer, her father was a quite sincere CEO. Because before the dawn broke he went to work, and only after the sun fell he returned from work, which was the norm.
 
Therefore, even if she lived at the main residence, the matters of encountering her father were rare. The problem was Sung Taejoo.
 
"Hey, Sung Taejoo!"
 
"Ah, why is it again!"
 
Taejoo, who became intimidated by Heejoo's irritation, curled up his body.
 
"Why is this girl throwing a temper every time."
 
Taejoo, who murmured while sweeping over the top of the desk, looked around. He appeared to be searching for something again.
 
Taejoo, who began the preparation to study abroad in earnest, was in the middle of exerting total effort to pack a perfect luggage. The problem lay in the point that even while not being able to remember the location of all items, he wished to pack all items.
 
"That, did you not see the fountain pen I bought last year?"
 
"I didn't see it, I won't search for it for you, and even if it's visible, I won't tell you."
 
"Why are you like that as a kid."
 
"Why are you truly like that yourself? Is it your first time going to a foreign country?"
 
Heejoo, who received the question dozens of times on today alone, asked as if sick of it.
 
It was certain he had caught a disease where he would die if he didn't overact. It wasn't that he was leaving the Korean land eternally, but his shape of being filled with anxiety lest he omit even a single thing was particular.
 
If only Sung Taejoo were like that, it would rather be alright.
 
Even her father, who likely had never taken care of someone in his whole life, was anxious because he couldn't pack something. From emergency medicine to a single piece of sock. It was the same for Han Dayoung, who came to play when a day was not far apart. After sticking like a cockroach and flirting, at an unknowable timing she welled up with tears and became the female protagonist of a tragic drama.
 
"Taejoo, I'm here!"
 
Just in time, Han Dayoung's voice was heard from the 1st floor. It appeared she came again even after having come to play yesterday too. The excited Taejoo went out of the room, shouting, "I'll go down!"
 
"I should go out too."
 
Heejoo, who started up from her seat, packed her coat. She couldn't watch Sung Taejoo and Han Dayoung's desperate parting practice for two days in succession.
 
Heejoo, who left the house, placed a call straight to Jungwoo. Jungwoo, who had been listening while laughing for a long time, asked, —Do you want to come play?
 
"Right now?"
 
—Is it not that you are outside?
 
"That is so, but... may I go?"
 
—Of course.
 
Heejoo, who flatly stopped him from coming to pick her up, headed to a nearby department store. It was because Han Dayoung, who held a fruit basket every time she came to play at the house, occurred to her. But there was nothing she knew regarding Jungwoo's parents. Not at all, besides that his father was the Prime Minister.
 
Heejoo, who looked alternately at dried tea leaves and cookies, and fruit and rice cakes, chose a cookie set of a moderate size. With a feeling that wasn't luxurious, and also a feeling that wasn't too wretched.
 
Heejoo, who arrived at Bukchon, began to walk along the stone wall. The appearance of the tile-roofed houses, from which the spirit of a nobleman's family was felt, was impressive.
 
It seemed they said Han Dayoung's house was also near here; has Sung Taejoo come here too?
 
In the middle of walking while doing a worthless thought, Jungwoo, who came out in advance to meet her, was visible. His appearance draped in a coat over a hoodie was a bit unfamiliar. Is it because she had always seen only his appearance wearing the school uniform?
 
"I told you not to buy things like gifts."
 
Jungwoo, who ran up, wore a sorry expression looking at the shopping bag.
 
"It's nothing much and just snacks."
 
"You give only sweet things to me every single time."
 
Jungwoo, who took the shopping bag naturally, said while smiling.
 
"I could even do business with the snacks I received from you."
 
"Have you still not been able to eat them all?"
 
"When the amount you gave is how much, to eat them all already."
 
Jungwoo, who concluded saying he was in the middle of eating them sparingly after having teased her to his heart's content, began to walk taking the lead. Jungwoo, who stopped his steps only after climbing a quite steep hill, pointed at a grand main gate.
 
"Here it is."
 
"Wow..."
 
Although she was a Heejoo who lived in a luxurious grand mansion, before the elegant bearing of the Hanok, she could not hide her admiration. What the glory of a clan was, was faintly felt. Why people expressed a grand tile-roofed house as 'a house like a whale's back,' she also seemed to know.
 
At the same time, Wan was in the middle of taking a rest at the Onyang Temporary Palace. To himself, who had safely taken the university entrance examination and the graduation examination, there was no gift as fitting as the hot spring of Onyang. Above all, Royal Father was in the midst of an overseas tour. It was a happiness he could not enjoy if it weren't this time.
 
Because Royal Father was a person who always said, 'It is right that a royal's hot spring progress be avoided unless it is for the purpose of treatment.'
 
Consequently, as soon as Royal Father boarded the airplane, Wan requested permission from Hwan. Hwan was anxious lest Wan receive a scolding at least, but Wan did not pay mind. While putting on a demonstration saying he would remain lying on the floor of the Eastern Palace until he permitted.
 
When Hwan's permission fell, Wan packed up even to Hyun and Court Lady Choi, and the court servants of the private residence altogether, and headed to the temporary palace. He had thought whether to rest about a week like that, but Wan packed his luggage earlier than his plan and placed his body into the protocol vehicle.
 
—Please by all means proceed to the Eastern Palace and soothe the mind of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
 
It was because Court Lady Park's desperate communication arrived from the palace. Wan stared at the scenery outside the window with an anxious face. Unless it was an ordinary matter, there was no way she would say the word asking him to proceed to the Eastern Palace.
 
"Your Highness, is it not that you do not know what kind of matter it is yet."
 
Court Lady Choi, who read Wan's mind, said as if coaxing.
 
"Please do not worry too excessively."
 
Even while speaking like that, Court Lady Choi likewise had an anxious mind. Court Lady Choi, who had been Wan's nurse court lady, knew Hwan's childhood days as well. Unlike Wan, who if there were a flower that caught his mind plucked them altogether and placed them inside his room, Hwan was a boy who shed tears even at a single shedding flower.
 
That tender mind is pretty. It would have been good if he caressed it. Unfavorably, his father was a king, and the king wished to make his son into a king too. Consequently, Hwan could not live according to his born nature. While liking quiet things he lived inside the gaze, and while disliking stepping forward he stood at the very front.
 
Like that, Hwan withered away. The beginning was a simple sleep disorder. But as the days went by, the sleeping time increased to an extent it could not be controlled. Because of that, when the cases where he could not even take his royal meals became frequent, the King commanded. To make the Crown Prince be awake, even if by forcing him.
 
After that, Hwan came to sleep less and work more, but day by day he became sensitive, and on top of that day by day he became frail. Wearing a hazy eye just like a person who woke up from sleep by force.
 
Those who knew regarding Hwan's state were not many. The King who was his father, Grand Prince Leean who was his younger brother, a few court ladies who served him at a close distance, and the attending physician of the Royal Hospital were the entirety. Therefore, whenever this kind of close communication came, it was difficult to shake off the anxiety.
 
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Grand Prince Leean has entered."
 
When Wan arrived at the Eastern Palace, Court Lady Park informed with a trembling voice.
 
"Your Highness, it is Wan."
 
When there was no response of any kind from the inside, Wan, whose mind became urgent, announced his arrival personally. Nevertheless, when there was no reaction of any kind, Wan let out a small sigh.
 
"Court Lady Park, dismiss the surroundings."
 
"However, Your Highness...."
 
"There is nothing to worry about. Brother does not harm me."
 
Court Lady Park, who had no choice but to nod her head, led the palace servants and left the hallway. Only then did Wan, who changed his face that had been smiling to expressionless, open the sliding door. Whether he had been intending to let the door not be opened, a broken inkstone, a smashed folding screen, and all kinds of furniture were tumbling in front of the door.
 
"At any rate, his strength is good too."
 
Wan, who was walking while pushing the items with the tip of his foot, discovered Hwan who was curling up in a corner.
 
"Brother."
 
Wan, who lowered his voice small, shook Hwan's shoulder.
 
"Wan...."
 
Hwan, who was blinking his thinly opened eyes, showed a faint smile. Then, as if collapsing, he lost consciousness. The startled Wan laid Hwan down in a bustle and placed his fingertip against the tip of his nose. Fortunately, he was breathing.
 
Seeing the vibrating smell of alcohol, it appeared he drank alcohol since broad daylight. They said the royal physicians said alcohol is an absolute taboo, but he seemed to hold no intention to listen at all. Whether a human who was submissive to an idiotic extent in other things could not help it as far as alcohol.
 
"If you are going to do resistance, do it toward Royal Father, I say."
 
Wan, who murmured, lay down flat at Hwan's side. Because his tension was loosened, he was tired. If the fact that he requested sleep at the Eastern Palace entered into Royal Father's ear, it wouldn't end with an ordinary reflection letter, but there was no help for it. He didn't wish to leave his older brother, who was fleeing because the world was fearful, alone.