IMB/IBB 2013: And The Looking Glass Falls (1/3)
Title: And The Looking Glass Falls
Pairing/Focus: bandfic
Rating: PG
Word count: 21,850
Summary:
It's like
You're my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
*******
There is an old grave digger living on a shack beside the cemetery on the hill. No one knows his name, or how old he is, but he has been there from the start, they say; back when the town was nothing but remnants of the last war, which ends when a great fire burns everything down until nothing was left behind but ashes.
Nobody is exactly clear on what caused the fire, though there are claims from the limited journals recorded by the neighboring country that they started it after seizing the royal palace and belatedly discovering that a plague has already made its way into the very town, -which was a big city at that time- and in order to ensure that it doesn’t spread to theirs, which was just across the sea, burns everything as last drastic measure. Alas, the fire didn’t exactly help matters, as the plague had already spread far and wide, bringing down the ambitious neighboring country.
Since then, there were rumors floating about in the region; that the plague was the curse of the fallen king, and it wasn’t until a decade after that the very few remaining survivors who fled the place during the war gathered and returned, with plans to re-build back their hometown.
Upon their arrival, nobody said anything when they see what had happened to their beloved land, and certainly, nobody mentioned the hill the royal palace once stood proud on, as the palace, too, had gone, graves filling the area. Out of loyalty and respect for the late king, the people decided to leave the place be, until someone points out that there is a shack there, making it quite literally the only building stood upright after the fire.
And there they stood, watching as a man coming out of the shack. Looking out at the people, and smiling at them as he walks slowly, yet surely down the path of the hill, is the man later known as the grave digger.
*******
All I need's a little time
To get behind the sun and cast my weight
-Year 150X-
The heat of the sun is pricking his back, but Howon could care less about that now. He is late behind the schedule now, and he can totally see Lord Chancellor Kim Sunggyu fuming while restlessly tapping his fingers on the desk; mounted with papers like always. But for now he needs to get this done, the precious seeds might be withered any minute and really, all those schedule be damned. Out of the corner of his eye, the old farmer is looking out, eyes concerned. He takes the cue to smile, reassuring the man that yes, he is fine, and no, he doesn’t need help thank you very much; you should just sit and nurse that waist already.
Still, the old man stands and starts walking, and he is half-tempted to make the stubborn grandpa sit himself, but his hands are dirtied by soil and he shouldn’t leave work unfinished, so he hastily plants the seeds, careful not to step on others.
By the time he is done, the old man is by his side already, eyes burrowed.
“You really shouldn’t have, young man. It was my fault for misplacing them at the first place.”
He just smiles easy at that, and reaches to help the man back under the shade.
“It’s my pleasure to be of help, mister. Please, don’t be burdened by it; besides, it’s good to exercise one’s body, I think.”
The man smiles at that, and offers him lunch, to which he refuses politely and he makes way to leave, the old man thanking him profusely. He is happy by the simple words, and takes delight of yet another useful deed of the day when he bumps into the old man’s daughter by the gate, who happens to be a helper at the palace.
The girl, who is still shell-shocked at the sight of him, gives way and is about to bolt inside when he stopped her.
“Please, I will be grateful if you keep what happens today and speak to no one of it.”
The girl nods, heads lowered.
“Yes, yes, I will- ah. I heard of the Chancellor looking for you all over the palace before I returned. You might want to stay out more, Your High- I mean-”
“The name’s Hoya, young miss. Thank you for the reminder, it’s a great help.”
At that, the girl lifts up her head and stares, cheeks tinted with a bit of pink.
“So you’re- I mean, it’s a pleasure to be able of help, mister.”
He smiles and continues walking down the road, discreetly eyeing the surrounding to make sure he is not followed. Satisfied, he switches to a busier road leading to the center of the town, blending in with the crowd effortlessly.
Of course, Hoya, as he is affectionately called by the majority of the townspeople, continues wandering around and lends a hand here and there. Hoya, the mysterious young man armed with nothing but a smile, always wearing the same simple white shirt and brown pants, who claimed he worked for the royal family most of the week to explain his often absences and to divert suspicions when the shopkeeper said he saw him taking the path up the hill to the palace.
He doesn’t mean to be tardy with his responsibilities, no. It’s just that he loves the people; their smiles, the sincere in his eyes when they thanked him, when they called him Hoya, which is a name he gave out of the blue to the grocer the first time he ditched Sunggyu. The Chancellor’s nagging had became too much to bear and he was feeling adventurous plus maybe a bit rebellious at the same time, so he sneaked out.
And he never, not even once, regretted it.
Besides, Lee Howon deserves a vacation once in a while, he thinks.
Back at the palace, Sunggyu is on the verge of destroying the room, royal documents be damned.
*******
Aren't you something to admire
‘Cause your shine is something like a mirror
-Year 152X-
The first time a certain traveler by the name of Kim Myungsoo arrives at the place is when the town is having a celebration; it is the 10th anniversary since the town’s re-opening. There are colorful papers everywhere, and various flowers decorating the sidewalk, bringing life to the otherwise common port of a growing town. The people are all smiles when he arrives, and are more than happy to welcome him to join the festivities. He usually tries to limit his contact with the locals, for fear that he will end up staying far more than necessary, but everyone is so happy, that he cannot help but say yes.
He found himself sitting next to a quiet man on a stool outside the grocery, and he cannot help but feel his stare on him, so he smiles and introduces himself as a traveler.
Still, the man says nothing, but smiles softly, nostalgia in his clear eyes.
Later, when the festivities wind down and he checks in at the local inn, he inquires the owner about the quiet man, for he has been traveling for years but there was never a time when a man’s presence leaves quite the impression on him.
“That must be the grave digger, mister traveler.”
He must have been surprised at that, as the kind owner chuckles at him.
“He lives in the shack beside the graves by the hill, and apparently he is mute, for there is never an instance where he actually speaks to us. A shame, really, he seems like a good guy for discussions and all. I don’t know, there’s just an air about him, you see.”
The owner smiles albeit a bit sadly at that, and retires for the night.
As he lies down and stares at the ceiling, the words of the owner keeps repeating in his head, and he can never shake the look in the man’s eyes from his mind, as well as the wry smile.
The next day, he takes the opportunity to climb the hill, in order to meet the grave digger once more. He thinks of voicing this to the owner first, but cancelled it when he sees how busy everyone is in the mornings. So he walks, greeting people as he passed by, and as he gets nearer to the hill, he gets more nervous for some reason that he is half-tempted to turn back when a kid approaches him.
“Mister, where are you going?”
He calms down somehow, and smiles.
“I’m thinking of going up the hill. Is it not allowed?”
The kid shakes his little head, and he thinks it’s cute.
“You can go up, but people don’t really encourage it.”
He raises a brow at that.
“And why is that, young boy?”
The kid tugs his hand and leads him to a nearby shade, where they sit.
“They think they shouldn’t disturb the graves.”
He nods, understanding.
“But the grave digger lives there, right?”
The kid nods once.
“He takes care of all the graves.”
Obviously, he thinks.
“People only go up when there’s death in the town, for funerals.”
He almost stills at that.
“My mother said it is a sad place, but there are lots of flowers there. And the grave digger is a very kind person. He lets me pick up the flowers, but when my father found out he scolds me.”
The kid pouts at the memory.
“I want to apologize to the grave digger for picking the flowers, but I can’t find him yesterday. Should we go together, mister?”
He never thought he will be so relief at that suggestion, so he nods and smiles, taking the kids hand into his, as they walk up the path to the hill.
He understands perfectly why the people rarely come up; the hill is almost covered by graves, tombstones in various sizes welcoming them and fills the spacious area. From the hill he can see the entirety of the town, and the scenery is breathtaking. And at the end of the path is the shack, various flowers blooming at the plot in front of it.
Standing with a shovel amidst the greenery is the grave digger, who smiles as they walk closer. The kid has let go of his hand, running towards the man with a smile as brilliant as the sun, and he watches as the grave digger shakes his head softly with a kind smile when the kid apologizes, a hand patting the kid’s head softly.
Myungsoo is yet to know this, but the sight will stay with him for a long, long time.
*******
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow's a mystery
-Year 150X-
From far away the wind blows, and Sungyeol is having a hard time keeping his hat from flying away, much to his annoyance. Inwardly he can’t stop cursing Sunggyu for making him wearing it when doing official duties, something like proper and etiquette and all when he last bump into the Chancellor at the palace. He understands the point of argument but he can’t help but feel a bit pissed. Why the hell is it so important anyway? He is just a mere messenger is all!
He still begrudgingly keeping his hat on his head as he climb up the path to the palace when he bumps into a grave-faced Woohyun, who seems visibly relieved to see him.
“Do you happen to see His High- I mean, um, a man with white shirt and, uh.”
Ah, he thinks. Today is definitely not his day.
“Is His Highness sneaked out again?”
He chuckles inwardly at the thin line of the Marshall’s mouth.
“Yes, I swear His Highness loves giving the Chancellor a slip a bit too much- wait.”
Crap, he should’ve feigned ignorance at that.
“Yes…?”
Woohyun is staring openly at him now and he can feel his insides squirming.
“You’re coming with me.”
He stills at that, but make no effort to resist when the man swiftly walk past him and pulling him along down the path. Woohyun sets the record of being the youngest Lord Marshall in the history of the country and is said to be the most talented in the palace, been selected by His Highness himself, and he knows better than trying to pick a fight with such a strong person. Sure, he is taller, but that doesn’t really mean matters and he intends to stay in one piece thank you very much.
They walk in silence and Woohyun has let him go when they reach the bottom of the hill but he didn’t dare run away so he just follows the Marshal, who is quite a favorite with the townspeople.
Not as much as Hoya though.
And speaking of the devil, he can see him in the grocery shop across the road, chatting away with the owner, totally oblivious of the current situation. He steals a glance at Woohyun, who is listening intently to the old farmer who stops them and practically drags them to join his table at the open diner. Something tells him that the old man is trying to stall them from finding Hoya, judging by his somewhat deliberately slow manner and ensuring that Woohyun sits with his back on the grocery.
Of course, the ever loyal Woohyun will never think of such things; he takes each and every opinion as well as complaint seriously, which is the very reason he is made the Marshall at the first place.
For Sungyeol, that might be Woohyun’s biggest strength and weakness.
He watches as Hoya stands up, makes his way out of the grocery, and casually smiles straight at him when their eyes meet, before disappearing into the crowd once again. He can imagine Sunggyu trashing the room in frustration by now, and he is sure the Chancellor is no longer in Woohyun’s no.1 concern list; judging by the way he smiles easy and charmingly at the diner lady when he ask for more coffee.
Relaxed, he puts down his hat, and joins the conversation, the royal letter from the neighboring country tucked in the left-side breast pocket.
From far away, the wind blows.
*******
So any turns that I can't see
Like I'm a stranger on this road
-Year 152X-
The thing about travelling is, for Myungsoo especially, is that it sets up a million of questions, none of the answer, and it all comes down to luck, which can be very irritating. Sighing for the nth time, he carefully puts down his backpack and sits with his back on the ruin, shielding him from the sun.
He pulls out his map, which he bought with a cheap price from the dealer at the port, and retracing back his steps, only to found out that yes, he is at the right place, but no, this can’t be it. Frustrated, he decides to lie down instead, the sky so blue above him.
He must have fallen asleep, and so deep, that when he wakes up the sun is almost setting already. He sits abruptly and feels his head spinning, his throat parched, and he is late to register that he is not alone until a hand grabbed hold of his shoulder, steadying him before he falls face first to the ground, another holding a flask of water to his lips. He was too out of it to say or do anything that he just greedily gulps down the water till the last drop, as he closes his eyes, regaining his senses.
10 seconds later he is back to the world, to the relief of the stranger.
“I saw you lying there at noon when I passed by, and no matter how I hard I try you won’t wake up, so I just leave you be. Turns out you’re still there when I return just now, and truthfully, I thought you’re already dead or something.”
He got a chill running down his spine as the gravity of the situation sinks in.
“Luckily, you wake up soon after, young man.”
He smiles sheepishly at that, as he thought that the man is not that old himself. He opens his mouth to voice it out, only to hear nothing instead. Panicked, he tries coughing, only to wince at the pain. This doesn’t go unnoticed by the man, who frowns deeper as he tries again and again to regain his voice to no avail. He only stops abruptly with the attempt when a cool hand touches his forehead.
“You should stop hurting your throat. And you’re burning up, too; can you stand?”
He nods, even when he is not that sure himself. To his luck, he manages to stand, albeit a bit wobbly on the legs. The sun has fully sets by now, and he reaches for his backpack, only to found it in the man’s hand.
“I don’t think you’re in the position to carry this now.”
The man must has sense his discomfort, as he chuckles light-heartedly.
“No worries, if I really want to steal from you, I have fled long before now.”
Indeed, he thinks, as gratitude washes over him.
“That reminds me, we’re yet to introduce ourselves, aren’t we?”
The stranger smiles softly, and Myungsoo stills, firmly rooted, stuck.
“I am-
*******
And all the roads that lead you there are winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
-Year 150X-
The palace is bustling with energy, with maids cleaning the windows, cooks getting ready for lunch preparation, gardeners trimming the hedge of the garden, and guards taking their respective places. It’s just another day, Sunggyu thinks, as one hand holding the bundles of document and another smoothing down his overcoat, all the while throwing a smile at whomever that happens to make eye-contact on the passing.
He throws open the door and is not surprised, not one bit to see that the royal office is still empty. He puts down the documents on the table, careful not to mix any with the already existing pile, and starts sorting down the papers. His fingers moves fast and precise, eyes briefly skimming through the written documents, and 10 minutes later he has cleared everything on the table, from papers all the way to the pens.
There’s still no sign of Lee Howon coming.
Sunggyu takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, eyes closed, a hand soothing the forehead and leaning on his left side to the nearest wall, in an attempt to keep his irritation at bay. There’s a knock at the door and he is late to answer when it swings open, revealing not Howon, but Woohyun instead, to his dismay.
The Marshall, to his credit, is not surprised to see him there, but simply stares openly, a habit he picked up from his assistant, maybe, and to be honest it unnerves Sunggyu, but the Chancellor will never admit it, no way. Clearing his throat, and straightens his posture, he smiles, addressing the visitor.
“Yes, Lord Marshall, anything I can help you with today?”
He does not fail to see that Woohyun is fully-dressed today, formally, too; the black dress uniform fits his sharp features, and he completes it with the kepi, which is very rare for the Marshall, who more often than not leaves it dusted on the shelf in his office.
“His Highness is requesting for the Lord Chancellor’s presence at the Hall of Mirrors.”
That explains it, he thinks. The Marshall won’t bother if it’s anyone less than Howon. Nodding once, he reaches for the documents, and makes way to the door, where Woohyun is still standing, holding it open. He chuckles inwardly at the gesture, settling for a light smile at the man instead.
The royal office, as well as other official rooms is situated at the west side of the palace, while the king’s chamber and royal rooms, including the kitchens is at the east side. Connecting the two side of the palace is a long hallway filled with mirrors on both side, giving a clear view of the whole town below the hill with the sea as a spectacular backdrop. On a clear day, one can even see as far as the neighboring country’s land, though Sunggyu beg to differ.
The hallway was built by the previous monarch when the palace underwent some reconstruction years ago, and was said to borrow heavily from Versailles’ Galerie des Glaces, albeit not as luxurious, and aptly named Hall of Mirrors.
Sunggyu has always thought that the previous king lacks sense of humor.
Now, as he walks down the long hallway with Woohyun a couple of steps behind him, he can’t help but wonder why Howon likes the place so much. Sure, the scenery is beautiful, and it can be one of the main attractions of uniqueness of the palace, but somehow all the mirrors unnerved him, just like how the Marshall’s footsteps leave no sound behind him.
He didn’t expect any word from the man at all, for Woohyun himself to come personally and talks to him is as rare as the kepi on his head, and Sunggyu idly browsing through the first couple of pages of the document when it hits him.
It’s that time already.
As if to confirm his thoughts, he can see Sungyeol the messenger -the squire’s kepi differentiates him from the rest- standing behind Howon in the middle section of the hallway, the current monarch has his eyes staring out at the town, sitting on the makeshift throne; His Highness has always been a rare case of a monarch in the country’s history.
Later Howon make Sungyeol read aloud the royal letter from Crown Prince Lee Sungjong of the neighboring country, to the surprise of the young squire, and while Sunggyu is used to His Highness being unpredictable, he has to admit it’s amusing to watch the man stutters through the letter.
After a brief second of silence and Sungyeol stops looking like he’s going to die just by standing there behind Woohyun, Howon stands up, and faces the three of them.
“Lord Chancellor, prepare a letter as a reply to Crown Prince Lee Sungjong that we will go through with the agreement as per the tradition. Lord Marshall; starts making arrangement on the security of the palace and ensures the security of the Crown Prince and his envoy during their stay. Young messenger, I entrust you with the reply letter to the neighboring country, and make sure it reaches Lord Marshall Jang Dongwoo himself.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
With that, everyone is dismissed, and Sunggyu makes way to return to the royal office when Howon stops him, a small smile tugging on the lips.
“You ought to take some rest, Lord Chancellor. The weather is nice today, too.”
He bows at that, thanking the king for his kindness and starts to leave, not before reminding Howon to signs the documents already, to which he smiles sheepishly, and promised to get it done before tomorrow. Sunggyu knows that Howon never goes back on his words, so he smiles, satisfied.
Still, as Sunggyu walks down the long hallway to the royal office, not once looking outside, all he can think about is work and responsibility, because he is the Lord Chancellor for the king of the country.
He ignores the feeling of Howon’s stare on his back, and focus straight ahead.
*******
Maybe I will laugh, in the thoughtless days my vain hopes
After a very long time I won’t be shameful
-Year 152X-
The second time a traveler climbs up the hill is almost half a year, or maybe it’s a year or two, -the grave digger is not one to keep tab on time- since the first man did, and while the town has seen an influx of travelers, nobody really put that much interest on a hill filled with graves. The townspeople generally stay away, too, so when the grocer and his kid -who have grown considerably since then, maybe it’s been awhile indeed- knocks on his door with one, he is sure that he can’t really hide the surprise from showing on his face.
The traveler is older than the one before, -Myungsoo, he remembers- and apparently he is a doctor of sort, traveling to help people, and that explains the anxious face on the father and son pair easily.
“It’s been awhile since the townspeople saw you coming down, so, um.”
He smiles at that, and gestures for the guests to sit on the long bench in front of the shack, but the grocer and his son refuses politely, saying they can’t leave the shop unattended, and make way to leave; he simply watches as the pair slowly walks down the path, the traveler remains silently beside him.
“May I ask you something?”
He nods at that, and a good look at the traveler gives him the same nostalgic feeling like Myungsoo did before, that he can’t help but stare, as rude as it is. And maybe it’s the same to the other party; as they end up staring at each other instead, until he decides to break the silence.
“What is it, Mr. Traveler?”
The look of surprised on the man’s face is almost priceless.
“I’m sorry, but I heard about your condition from an acquaintance, that is, um, that you don’t talk, so I was wondering if it has something to do with your vocal cord, or anything else; of course, that’s not why I’m here to begin with, for the townspeople were genuinely concerned on your well-being so…”
He shakes his head, and laughs silently; clearly this traveler has met Myungsoo somewhere along the way, and he marvels at how small the world is.
“I’m sorry for the confusion, but I am fine, Mr. Traveler.”
He smiles reassuringly, and the man visibly relieved, to his delight.
“Then, if I can inquire, why didn’t you say anything before?”
He rubs the back of his neck unconsciously at that, for that is a common question since he replies to a greeting by the barber once before, but every time he still finds it hard to explain. He is not born mute, nor does he ever become mute, but somewhere along the way he just stops talking, and the prolong period of silence must have done something to his vocal cord, as it grates and hurts every time he tries to speak. He practices again from time to time, and only when he is confident enough that it is okay that he slowly begins to interact with the people.
He wished he had said something to Myungsoo back then; if he did, he won’t feel half as bad as he did now.
So he talks, voicing out the reason to the traveler, who listens intently.
He never asked who the man is; simply because he doesn’t find the need to.
Maybe, he thinks, this is enough.
*******
All in all there's something to give
All in all there's something to do
All in all there's something to live
-Year 150X-
There is something about the neighboring country that gives off a familiar yet at the same time distant feeling; perhaps it’s the busier and more crowded roads, maybe it’s the loud voices of street sellers calling out for bargain, but most of all maybe it’s the lack of sense of belonging, like everything is simply detached to him.
It is times and moments like this that strikes Sungyeol the most on how happy and lucky he is to be a citizen of his home country. Sure, the country is smaller now; the size of land under its reign had shrunk considerably due to the power struggle in the castle before the previous monarch banished most of the royal family and cut off all ties in an attempt to bring back peace to the land. Indeed the late monarch had succeeded, though it took almost a decade to bring it to the state it currently is today.
On the other hand, the neighboring country had grown with a rapid pace, thanks to the open door policy in international relation within the region, though it is still strictly economy related. It is obvious from the abundant of foreign traders at the port, and the diversity of business available; from travel services to fishmongers all within the same vicinity.
Sungyeol finds all this interesting, and perhaps Hoya thinks so too; as he is -more often than not- willing to hear him babbled about all the places he had been thanks to the official duties, and it ranges from anything to everything; the people, the policies, economy, government, and even simple stuff like what he ate or did along the stay.
He has long figured out that His Highness only lounge at the port when he caught wind that he is returning, so as to get the stories, and the exhilarating feel from the travel didn’t wear off of him yet, that he can forego his rest and wound up talking for hours on end. In a way, he thinks, all the experience may broaden the king’s vision on building up the country, and if he can lend a hand, even just a bit, he will be very happy indeed.
So Sungyeol never refuses official duties; even when he is tired as hell from walking on the previous trip, because that’s what one do when you’re a squire and official messenger for the castle, but also due to the simple fact that Hoya, no, King Lee Howon will always send him off with a smile, and well-wishes and every time that happens he can never blame Woohyun nor Sunggyu for working so hard for the monarch, not when the man is so kind towards his subjects, regardless of status.
The previous monarch may not be the best king they ever have, but if there’s one thing the people should be grateful for him, is the decision to make Lee Howon crown prince, and succeed the throne.
To parallel that to the neighboring country, the decision to make Jang Dongwoo the Lord Marshall may as well be the next best thing for the people. The Marshall is famous and loved by all, and rightfully so, as the man is kind and very intelligent for his age. It is well-known that the Marshall was the one that pitched the idea of expanding the budget in agriculture; which lead to massive land developments changed to farms and ranches instead, and effectively solves the food ration problem internally.
In a way, he thinks, that is the door that open the relation between two countries now; while his home country is small and may be not as advanced in technology, the agriculture products has always been the best in region, exported almost to every country nearby. In exchange for the knowledge, the neighboring country brings over new technology in marine and boats, increasing the variety of incomes for the people.
It’s a win-win situation, and to strengthen the relations every two years the representative of each country shall visit the other for the renewing of the relation and contracts between countries.
This year, it is Crown Prince Lee Sungjong’s turn to make the visit; and will mark his first official visit since taking over the office due to the king’s declining health. Sungyeol has never met the crown prince, but there is a quiet discontent among the people at the decision, probably because they think the crown prince is too young for the post.
How an outsider like him get to know that must be because of his lanky frame which looks, well, normal enough that nobody will suspect him to be a squire from another country, because everybody just willingly tells him stories about the castle, even stuffs like how the Lord Chancellor is yet to be selected, after the previous Chancellor passed away suddenly last year.
The struggle within the castle must be a bad one indeed, he thinks, and the old man at the inn very much agrees with the thought, judging from the way his face contorted when he voiced it out during their talk last night. And if the drunken stupor of the old men at the bar to be taken as the voice of the people, then, the Marshall could sweep the throne right under the royal family’s feet and most of the citizens would not even bat an eyelash, as the man has proven his credibility throughout his time of service.
This is why he cannot help but think that the Marshall, who smiles so wide and has a weird laugh when Sungyeol introduces himself to be the messenger from the next country instead of some lost traveler, is intriguing indeed. Not only he treats Sungyeol as if he is one of them; making him join the practice, showing him around with no care of anything, hell he even openly admit that there is a pressure in the castle for him to seize the throne.
But there’s something about the look in his eyes when he spoke of the king and the crown prince, for it reminds him so much of a certain Nam Woohyun back home; that Sungyeol knows Lord Marshall Jang Dongwoo is undoubtedly loyal, and fiercely so.
He returns back with the reply letter from Crown Prince Lee Sungjong to see Hoya at his usual place by the port, the face lit up with a grin when he spots his face in the crowd, and Dongwoo’s parting words resounds in his mind.
For out of the corner of his right eye he can see Woohyun, albeit with casual clothes instead of the usual dress uniform, hidden under the shade but still clear for him to see, eyes greeting him slightly before back to the newspaper, though Sungyeol knows better.
Since those words, Sungyeol had heard them before, from their very own Lord Marshall himself, long before this trip.
“I have only but one king, bar none.”
*******
But all these days, they feel like they're the same
Just different faces, different names
-Year 152X-
For someone who is almost constantly on a long-distance travel, Kim Myungsoo is a rarity in which he travels way too lightly for one such trip -just a simple backpack on the shoulder- and that kind of making him a stand out among other fellow travelers.
Some adds that his looks also attributes as much, though he begs to differ.
He is also quite known as mysterious, promptly because he rarely talks about himself. He does not shun people, no; he is more than happy to share his experiences and stories of places, just, when people asks more about himself, about Kim Myungsoo, he will simply smiles, and says the same words.
“I am but a traveler, a wanderer on Earth.”
They will then drop the question altogether, not pursuing any further, to his relief.
He hardly remembers anything about his hometown; he has travel way too far to trace his way back, and childhood memories are a blur in his head, except that he is an orphan -or a runaway, he always has the trouble of recalling those things- and the concept of family is so foreign to him it’s almost refreshing, in a twisted sort of way.
Maybe that’s the reason he was so attached to the traveler, a man almost 10 years his senior who showed up one day at his caretaker’s -or is it his uncle’s- antique shop to buy a case, for the man is kind, ridiculously so, and never ran out of stories to tell whenever he drops by the man’s small cottage by the skirts of the town he lived in.
The man told him about a country, its neighboring country, the castle and the king, the soldiers and the people, and everything sounds so magical to Myungsoo, as if it’s something out of a fairytale.
Surely he is not a kid, and the people at the town are generally untrustworthy towards strangers, but there is something in the way his eyes shines so bright every time he speaks that make Myungsoo believes him, word by word.
He still does, that he bets his own life and future on it.
Later when he lies down and stares above, be it the starry sky or empty ceiling of some inn, he will always, always hugs his backpack tight, for it is the only constant in his life, the reassurance he never knew he needed to keep on going.
The backpack is quite seasoned, a hand-me-down from the traveler back at his hometown, and it is filled with clothes and little trinkets; a worn-out journal from the said traveler, two journals of his own, a couple of pens, some stash of food for emergency, a tumbler full with water, and more.
Still, there is hardly anything personal with him; no pictures, no mementos, nothing that can identify him with the name Kim Myungsoo, sans the journal. Even so, he doubts anybody will find it interesting anyway, with the way he describes things so monotonously; a habit he picked up when he keeps on referencing the old journal during his early days of traveling.
If anything, the old journal has more life in it, and it gives him head ache every time he attempts something similar for his own, so he gives up on it a long time ago, and records mostly facts; the place, the history, the weather, the people, economy, source of income, government, anything worthy of mention.
He avoids detailing specifically on certain subjects, to avoid attachment in general, and to fulfill his purpose of being an observer, but as he go through the journal again, he will see the mention of the grave digger back at the small growing port town, and he will let his mind wander again.
As always, he will keep the thought to himself, perhaps, as he starts detailing on the place he almost died -for the lack of a better word-; the barren land of ruins, which used to be the center of a big and powerful country before the power struggle in the castle and plague sweeps its demise.
His throat is still a bit hurt, and he still lost his voice, but when he regains it he will definitely ask more on this, for the man who is also his savior had smile softly, albeit with a different gleam in the eyes when he inquires on the place -using notes as method of communication- and he is sure there is more to this.
Maybe, just maybe, he is a step closer to find that which he had been looking for.
Myungsoo will not give up now, never, not after all these years.
Not after thousand miles of walking, no.
Not until he-
part two
Pairing/Focus: bandfic
Rating: PG
Word count: 21,850
Summary:
It's like
You're my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
*******
There is an old grave digger living on a shack beside the cemetery on the hill. No one knows his name, or how old he is, but he has been there from the start, they say; back when the town was nothing but remnants of the last war, which ends when a great fire burns everything down until nothing was left behind but ashes.
Nobody is exactly clear on what caused the fire, though there are claims from the limited journals recorded by the neighboring country that they started it after seizing the royal palace and belatedly discovering that a plague has already made its way into the very town, -which was a big city at that time- and in order to ensure that it doesn’t spread to theirs, which was just across the sea, burns everything as last drastic measure. Alas, the fire didn’t exactly help matters, as the plague had already spread far and wide, bringing down the ambitious neighboring country.
Since then, there were rumors floating about in the region; that the plague was the curse of the fallen king, and it wasn’t until a decade after that the very few remaining survivors who fled the place during the war gathered and returned, with plans to re-build back their hometown.
Upon their arrival, nobody said anything when they see what had happened to their beloved land, and certainly, nobody mentioned the hill the royal palace once stood proud on, as the palace, too, had gone, graves filling the area. Out of loyalty and respect for the late king, the people decided to leave the place be, until someone points out that there is a shack there, making it quite literally the only building stood upright after the fire.
And there they stood, watching as a man coming out of the shack. Looking out at the people, and smiling at them as he walks slowly, yet surely down the path of the hill, is the man later known as the grave digger.
*******
All I need's a little time
To get behind the sun and cast my weight
-Year 150X-
The heat of the sun is pricking his back, but Howon could care less about that now. He is late behind the schedule now, and he can totally see Lord Chancellor Kim Sunggyu fuming while restlessly tapping his fingers on the desk; mounted with papers like always. But for now he needs to get this done, the precious seeds might be withered any minute and really, all those schedule be damned. Out of the corner of his eye, the old farmer is looking out, eyes concerned. He takes the cue to smile, reassuring the man that yes, he is fine, and no, he doesn’t need help thank you very much; you should just sit and nurse that waist already.
Still, the old man stands and starts walking, and he is half-tempted to make the stubborn grandpa sit himself, but his hands are dirtied by soil and he shouldn’t leave work unfinished, so he hastily plants the seeds, careful not to step on others.
By the time he is done, the old man is by his side already, eyes burrowed.
“You really shouldn’t have, young man. It was my fault for misplacing them at the first place.”
He just smiles easy at that, and reaches to help the man back under the shade.
“It’s my pleasure to be of help, mister. Please, don’t be burdened by it; besides, it’s good to exercise one’s body, I think.”
The man smiles at that, and offers him lunch, to which he refuses politely and he makes way to leave, the old man thanking him profusely. He is happy by the simple words, and takes delight of yet another useful deed of the day when he bumps into the old man’s daughter by the gate, who happens to be a helper at the palace.
The girl, who is still shell-shocked at the sight of him, gives way and is about to bolt inside when he stopped her.
“Please, I will be grateful if you keep what happens today and speak to no one of it.”
The girl nods, heads lowered.
“Yes, yes, I will- ah. I heard of the Chancellor looking for you all over the palace before I returned. You might want to stay out more, Your High- I mean-”
“The name’s Hoya, young miss. Thank you for the reminder, it’s a great help.”
At that, the girl lifts up her head and stares, cheeks tinted with a bit of pink.
“So you’re- I mean, it’s a pleasure to be able of help, mister.”
He smiles and continues walking down the road, discreetly eyeing the surrounding to make sure he is not followed. Satisfied, he switches to a busier road leading to the center of the town, blending in with the crowd effortlessly.
Of course, Hoya, as he is affectionately called by the majority of the townspeople, continues wandering around and lends a hand here and there. Hoya, the mysterious young man armed with nothing but a smile, always wearing the same simple white shirt and brown pants, who claimed he worked for the royal family most of the week to explain his often absences and to divert suspicions when the shopkeeper said he saw him taking the path up the hill to the palace.
He doesn’t mean to be tardy with his responsibilities, no. It’s just that he loves the people; their smiles, the sincere in his eyes when they thanked him, when they called him Hoya, which is a name he gave out of the blue to the grocer the first time he ditched Sunggyu. The Chancellor’s nagging had became too much to bear and he was feeling adventurous plus maybe a bit rebellious at the same time, so he sneaked out.
And he never, not even once, regretted it.
Besides, Lee Howon deserves a vacation once in a while, he thinks.
Back at the palace, Sunggyu is on the verge of destroying the room, royal documents be damned.
*******
Aren't you something to admire
‘Cause your shine is something like a mirror
-Year 152X-
The first time a certain traveler by the name of Kim Myungsoo arrives at the place is when the town is having a celebration; it is the 10th anniversary since the town’s re-opening. There are colorful papers everywhere, and various flowers decorating the sidewalk, bringing life to the otherwise common port of a growing town. The people are all smiles when he arrives, and are more than happy to welcome him to join the festivities. He usually tries to limit his contact with the locals, for fear that he will end up staying far more than necessary, but everyone is so happy, that he cannot help but say yes.
He found himself sitting next to a quiet man on a stool outside the grocery, and he cannot help but feel his stare on him, so he smiles and introduces himself as a traveler.
Still, the man says nothing, but smiles softly, nostalgia in his clear eyes.
Later, when the festivities wind down and he checks in at the local inn, he inquires the owner about the quiet man, for he has been traveling for years but there was never a time when a man’s presence leaves quite the impression on him.
“That must be the grave digger, mister traveler.”
He must have been surprised at that, as the kind owner chuckles at him.
“He lives in the shack beside the graves by the hill, and apparently he is mute, for there is never an instance where he actually speaks to us. A shame, really, he seems like a good guy for discussions and all. I don’t know, there’s just an air about him, you see.”
The owner smiles albeit a bit sadly at that, and retires for the night.
As he lies down and stares at the ceiling, the words of the owner keeps repeating in his head, and he can never shake the look in the man’s eyes from his mind, as well as the wry smile.
The next day, he takes the opportunity to climb the hill, in order to meet the grave digger once more. He thinks of voicing this to the owner first, but cancelled it when he sees how busy everyone is in the mornings. So he walks, greeting people as he passed by, and as he gets nearer to the hill, he gets more nervous for some reason that he is half-tempted to turn back when a kid approaches him.
“Mister, where are you going?”
He calms down somehow, and smiles.
“I’m thinking of going up the hill. Is it not allowed?”
The kid shakes his little head, and he thinks it’s cute.
“You can go up, but people don’t really encourage it.”
He raises a brow at that.
“And why is that, young boy?”
The kid tugs his hand and leads him to a nearby shade, where they sit.
“They think they shouldn’t disturb the graves.”
He nods, understanding.
“But the grave digger lives there, right?”
The kid nods once.
“He takes care of all the graves.”
Obviously, he thinks.
“People only go up when there’s death in the town, for funerals.”
He almost stills at that.
“My mother said it is a sad place, but there are lots of flowers there. And the grave digger is a very kind person. He lets me pick up the flowers, but when my father found out he scolds me.”
The kid pouts at the memory.
“I want to apologize to the grave digger for picking the flowers, but I can’t find him yesterday. Should we go together, mister?”
He never thought he will be so relief at that suggestion, so he nods and smiles, taking the kids hand into his, as they walk up the path to the hill.
He understands perfectly why the people rarely come up; the hill is almost covered by graves, tombstones in various sizes welcoming them and fills the spacious area. From the hill he can see the entirety of the town, and the scenery is breathtaking. And at the end of the path is the shack, various flowers blooming at the plot in front of it.
Standing with a shovel amidst the greenery is the grave digger, who smiles as they walk closer. The kid has let go of his hand, running towards the man with a smile as brilliant as the sun, and he watches as the grave digger shakes his head softly with a kind smile when the kid apologizes, a hand patting the kid’s head softly.
Myungsoo is yet to know this, but the sight will stay with him for a long, long time.
*******
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow's a mystery
-Year 150X-
From far away the wind blows, and Sungyeol is having a hard time keeping his hat from flying away, much to his annoyance. Inwardly he can’t stop cursing Sunggyu for making him wearing it when doing official duties, something like proper and etiquette and all when he last bump into the Chancellor at the palace. He understands the point of argument but he can’t help but feel a bit pissed. Why the hell is it so important anyway? He is just a mere messenger is all!
He still begrudgingly keeping his hat on his head as he climb up the path to the palace when he bumps into a grave-faced Woohyun, who seems visibly relieved to see him.
“Do you happen to see His High- I mean, um, a man with white shirt and, uh.”
Ah, he thinks. Today is definitely not his day.
“Is His Highness sneaked out again?”
He chuckles inwardly at the thin line of the Marshall’s mouth.
“Yes, I swear His Highness loves giving the Chancellor a slip a bit too much- wait.”
Crap, he should’ve feigned ignorance at that.
“Yes…?”
Woohyun is staring openly at him now and he can feel his insides squirming.
“You’re coming with me.”
He stills at that, but make no effort to resist when the man swiftly walk past him and pulling him along down the path. Woohyun sets the record of being the youngest Lord Marshall in the history of the country and is said to be the most talented in the palace, been selected by His Highness himself, and he knows better than trying to pick a fight with such a strong person. Sure, he is taller, but that doesn’t really mean matters and he intends to stay in one piece thank you very much.
They walk in silence and Woohyun has let him go when they reach the bottom of the hill but he didn’t dare run away so he just follows the Marshal, who is quite a favorite with the townspeople.
Not as much as Hoya though.
And speaking of the devil, he can see him in the grocery shop across the road, chatting away with the owner, totally oblivious of the current situation. He steals a glance at Woohyun, who is listening intently to the old farmer who stops them and practically drags them to join his table at the open diner. Something tells him that the old man is trying to stall them from finding Hoya, judging by his somewhat deliberately slow manner and ensuring that Woohyun sits with his back on the grocery.
Of course, the ever loyal Woohyun will never think of such things; he takes each and every opinion as well as complaint seriously, which is the very reason he is made the Marshall at the first place.
For Sungyeol, that might be Woohyun’s biggest strength and weakness.
He watches as Hoya stands up, makes his way out of the grocery, and casually smiles straight at him when their eyes meet, before disappearing into the crowd once again. He can imagine Sunggyu trashing the room in frustration by now, and he is sure the Chancellor is no longer in Woohyun’s no.1 concern list; judging by the way he smiles easy and charmingly at the diner lady when he ask for more coffee.
Relaxed, he puts down his hat, and joins the conversation, the royal letter from the neighboring country tucked in the left-side breast pocket.
From far away, the wind blows.
*******
So any turns that I can't see
Like I'm a stranger on this road
-Year 152X-
The thing about travelling is, for Myungsoo especially, is that it sets up a million of questions, none of the answer, and it all comes down to luck, which can be very irritating. Sighing for the nth time, he carefully puts down his backpack and sits with his back on the ruin, shielding him from the sun.
He pulls out his map, which he bought with a cheap price from the dealer at the port, and retracing back his steps, only to found out that yes, he is at the right place, but no, this can’t be it. Frustrated, he decides to lie down instead, the sky so blue above him.
He must have fallen asleep, and so deep, that when he wakes up the sun is almost setting already. He sits abruptly and feels his head spinning, his throat parched, and he is late to register that he is not alone until a hand grabbed hold of his shoulder, steadying him before he falls face first to the ground, another holding a flask of water to his lips. He was too out of it to say or do anything that he just greedily gulps down the water till the last drop, as he closes his eyes, regaining his senses.
10 seconds later he is back to the world, to the relief of the stranger.
“I saw you lying there at noon when I passed by, and no matter how I hard I try you won’t wake up, so I just leave you be. Turns out you’re still there when I return just now, and truthfully, I thought you’re already dead or something.”
He got a chill running down his spine as the gravity of the situation sinks in.
“Luckily, you wake up soon after, young man.”
He smiles sheepishly at that, as he thought that the man is not that old himself. He opens his mouth to voice it out, only to hear nothing instead. Panicked, he tries coughing, only to wince at the pain. This doesn’t go unnoticed by the man, who frowns deeper as he tries again and again to regain his voice to no avail. He only stops abruptly with the attempt when a cool hand touches his forehead.
“You should stop hurting your throat. And you’re burning up, too; can you stand?”
He nods, even when he is not that sure himself. To his luck, he manages to stand, albeit a bit wobbly on the legs. The sun has fully sets by now, and he reaches for his backpack, only to found it in the man’s hand.
“I don’t think you’re in the position to carry this now.”
The man must has sense his discomfort, as he chuckles light-heartedly.
“No worries, if I really want to steal from you, I have fled long before now.”
Indeed, he thinks, as gratitude washes over him.
“That reminds me, we’re yet to introduce ourselves, aren’t we?”
The stranger smiles softly, and Myungsoo stills, firmly rooted, stuck.
“I am-
*******
And all the roads that lead you there are winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
-Year 150X-
The palace is bustling with energy, with maids cleaning the windows, cooks getting ready for lunch preparation, gardeners trimming the hedge of the garden, and guards taking their respective places. It’s just another day, Sunggyu thinks, as one hand holding the bundles of document and another smoothing down his overcoat, all the while throwing a smile at whomever that happens to make eye-contact on the passing.
He throws open the door and is not surprised, not one bit to see that the royal office is still empty. He puts down the documents on the table, careful not to mix any with the already existing pile, and starts sorting down the papers. His fingers moves fast and precise, eyes briefly skimming through the written documents, and 10 minutes later he has cleared everything on the table, from papers all the way to the pens.
There’s still no sign of Lee Howon coming.
Sunggyu takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, eyes closed, a hand soothing the forehead and leaning on his left side to the nearest wall, in an attempt to keep his irritation at bay. There’s a knock at the door and he is late to answer when it swings open, revealing not Howon, but Woohyun instead, to his dismay.
The Marshall, to his credit, is not surprised to see him there, but simply stares openly, a habit he picked up from his assistant, maybe, and to be honest it unnerves Sunggyu, but the Chancellor will never admit it, no way. Clearing his throat, and straightens his posture, he smiles, addressing the visitor.
“Yes, Lord Marshall, anything I can help you with today?”
He does not fail to see that Woohyun is fully-dressed today, formally, too; the black dress uniform fits his sharp features, and he completes it with the kepi, which is very rare for the Marshall, who more often than not leaves it dusted on the shelf in his office.
“His Highness is requesting for the Lord Chancellor’s presence at the Hall of Mirrors.”
That explains it, he thinks. The Marshall won’t bother if it’s anyone less than Howon. Nodding once, he reaches for the documents, and makes way to the door, where Woohyun is still standing, holding it open. He chuckles inwardly at the gesture, settling for a light smile at the man instead.
The royal office, as well as other official rooms is situated at the west side of the palace, while the king’s chamber and royal rooms, including the kitchens is at the east side. Connecting the two side of the palace is a long hallway filled with mirrors on both side, giving a clear view of the whole town below the hill with the sea as a spectacular backdrop. On a clear day, one can even see as far as the neighboring country’s land, though Sunggyu beg to differ.
The hallway was built by the previous monarch when the palace underwent some reconstruction years ago, and was said to borrow heavily from Versailles’ Galerie des Glaces, albeit not as luxurious, and aptly named Hall of Mirrors.
Sunggyu has always thought that the previous king lacks sense of humor.
Now, as he walks down the long hallway with Woohyun a couple of steps behind him, he can’t help but wonder why Howon likes the place so much. Sure, the scenery is beautiful, and it can be one of the main attractions of uniqueness of the palace, but somehow all the mirrors unnerved him, just like how the Marshall’s footsteps leave no sound behind him.
He didn’t expect any word from the man at all, for Woohyun himself to come personally and talks to him is as rare as the kepi on his head, and Sunggyu idly browsing through the first couple of pages of the document when it hits him.
It’s that time already.
As if to confirm his thoughts, he can see Sungyeol the messenger -the squire’s kepi differentiates him from the rest- standing behind Howon in the middle section of the hallway, the current monarch has his eyes staring out at the town, sitting on the makeshift throne; His Highness has always been a rare case of a monarch in the country’s history.
Later Howon make Sungyeol read aloud the royal letter from Crown Prince Lee Sungjong of the neighboring country, to the surprise of the young squire, and while Sunggyu is used to His Highness being unpredictable, he has to admit it’s amusing to watch the man stutters through the letter.
After a brief second of silence and Sungyeol stops looking like he’s going to die just by standing there behind Woohyun, Howon stands up, and faces the three of them.
“Lord Chancellor, prepare a letter as a reply to Crown Prince Lee Sungjong that we will go through with the agreement as per the tradition. Lord Marshall; starts making arrangement on the security of the palace and ensures the security of the Crown Prince and his envoy during their stay. Young messenger, I entrust you with the reply letter to the neighboring country, and make sure it reaches Lord Marshall Jang Dongwoo himself.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
With that, everyone is dismissed, and Sunggyu makes way to return to the royal office when Howon stops him, a small smile tugging on the lips.
“You ought to take some rest, Lord Chancellor. The weather is nice today, too.”
He bows at that, thanking the king for his kindness and starts to leave, not before reminding Howon to signs the documents already, to which he smiles sheepishly, and promised to get it done before tomorrow. Sunggyu knows that Howon never goes back on his words, so he smiles, satisfied.
Still, as Sunggyu walks down the long hallway to the royal office, not once looking outside, all he can think about is work and responsibility, because he is the Lord Chancellor for the king of the country.
He ignores the feeling of Howon’s stare on his back, and focus straight ahead.
*******
Maybe I will laugh, in the thoughtless days my vain hopes
After a very long time I won’t be shameful
-Year 152X-
The second time a traveler climbs up the hill is almost half a year, or maybe it’s a year or two, -the grave digger is not one to keep tab on time- since the first man did, and while the town has seen an influx of travelers, nobody really put that much interest on a hill filled with graves. The townspeople generally stay away, too, so when the grocer and his kid -who have grown considerably since then, maybe it’s been awhile indeed- knocks on his door with one, he is sure that he can’t really hide the surprise from showing on his face.
The traveler is older than the one before, -Myungsoo, he remembers- and apparently he is a doctor of sort, traveling to help people, and that explains the anxious face on the father and son pair easily.
“It’s been awhile since the townspeople saw you coming down, so, um.”
He smiles at that, and gestures for the guests to sit on the long bench in front of the shack, but the grocer and his son refuses politely, saying they can’t leave the shop unattended, and make way to leave; he simply watches as the pair slowly walks down the path, the traveler remains silently beside him.
“May I ask you something?”
He nods at that, and a good look at the traveler gives him the same nostalgic feeling like Myungsoo did before, that he can’t help but stare, as rude as it is. And maybe it’s the same to the other party; as they end up staring at each other instead, until he decides to break the silence.
“What is it, Mr. Traveler?”
The look of surprised on the man’s face is almost priceless.
“I’m sorry, but I heard about your condition from an acquaintance, that is, um, that you don’t talk, so I was wondering if it has something to do with your vocal cord, or anything else; of course, that’s not why I’m here to begin with, for the townspeople were genuinely concerned on your well-being so…”
He shakes his head, and laughs silently; clearly this traveler has met Myungsoo somewhere along the way, and he marvels at how small the world is.
“I’m sorry for the confusion, but I am fine, Mr. Traveler.”
He smiles reassuringly, and the man visibly relieved, to his delight.
“Then, if I can inquire, why didn’t you say anything before?”
He rubs the back of his neck unconsciously at that, for that is a common question since he replies to a greeting by the barber once before, but every time he still finds it hard to explain. He is not born mute, nor does he ever become mute, but somewhere along the way he just stops talking, and the prolong period of silence must have done something to his vocal cord, as it grates and hurts every time he tries to speak. He practices again from time to time, and only when he is confident enough that it is okay that he slowly begins to interact with the people.
He wished he had said something to Myungsoo back then; if he did, he won’t feel half as bad as he did now.
So he talks, voicing out the reason to the traveler, who listens intently.
He never asked who the man is; simply because he doesn’t find the need to.
Maybe, he thinks, this is enough.
*******
All in all there's something to give
All in all there's something to do
All in all there's something to live
-Year 150X-
There is something about the neighboring country that gives off a familiar yet at the same time distant feeling; perhaps it’s the busier and more crowded roads, maybe it’s the loud voices of street sellers calling out for bargain, but most of all maybe it’s the lack of sense of belonging, like everything is simply detached to him.
It is times and moments like this that strikes Sungyeol the most on how happy and lucky he is to be a citizen of his home country. Sure, the country is smaller now; the size of land under its reign had shrunk considerably due to the power struggle in the castle before the previous monarch banished most of the royal family and cut off all ties in an attempt to bring back peace to the land. Indeed the late monarch had succeeded, though it took almost a decade to bring it to the state it currently is today.
On the other hand, the neighboring country had grown with a rapid pace, thanks to the open door policy in international relation within the region, though it is still strictly economy related. It is obvious from the abundant of foreign traders at the port, and the diversity of business available; from travel services to fishmongers all within the same vicinity.
Sungyeol finds all this interesting, and perhaps Hoya thinks so too; as he is -more often than not- willing to hear him babbled about all the places he had been thanks to the official duties, and it ranges from anything to everything; the people, the policies, economy, government, and even simple stuff like what he ate or did along the stay.
He has long figured out that His Highness only lounge at the port when he caught wind that he is returning, so as to get the stories, and the exhilarating feel from the travel didn’t wear off of him yet, that he can forego his rest and wound up talking for hours on end. In a way, he thinks, all the experience may broaden the king’s vision on building up the country, and if he can lend a hand, even just a bit, he will be very happy indeed.
So Sungyeol never refuses official duties; even when he is tired as hell from walking on the previous trip, because that’s what one do when you’re a squire and official messenger for the castle, but also due to the simple fact that Hoya, no, King Lee Howon will always send him off with a smile, and well-wishes and every time that happens he can never blame Woohyun nor Sunggyu for working so hard for the monarch, not when the man is so kind towards his subjects, regardless of status.
The previous monarch may not be the best king they ever have, but if there’s one thing the people should be grateful for him, is the decision to make Lee Howon crown prince, and succeed the throne.
To parallel that to the neighboring country, the decision to make Jang Dongwoo the Lord Marshall may as well be the next best thing for the people. The Marshall is famous and loved by all, and rightfully so, as the man is kind and very intelligent for his age. It is well-known that the Marshall was the one that pitched the idea of expanding the budget in agriculture; which lead to massive land developments changed to farms and ranches instead, and effectively solves the food ration problem internally.
In a way, he thinks, that is the door that open the relation between two countries now; while his home country is small and may be not as advanced in technology, the agriculture products has always been the best in region, exported almost to every country nearby. In exchange for the knowledge, the neighboring country brings over new technology in marine and boats, increasing the variety of incomes for the people.
It’s a win-win situation, and to strengthen the relations every two years the representative of each country shall visit the other for the renewing of the relation and contracts between countries.
This year, it is Crown Prince Lee Sungjong’s turn to make the visit; and will mark his first official visit since taking over the office due to the king’s declining health. Sungyeol has never met the crown prince, but there is a quiet discontent among the people at the decision, probably because they think the crown prince is too young for the post.
How an outsider like him get to know that must be because of his lanky frame which looks, well, normal enough that nobody will suspect him to be a squire from another country, because everybody just willingly tells him stories about the castle, even stuffs like how the Lord Chancellor is yet to be selected, after the previous Chancellor passed away suddenly last year.
The struggle within the castle must be a bad one indeed, he thinks, and the old man at the inn very much agrees with the thought, judging from the way his face contorted when he voiced it out during their talk last night. And if the drunken stupor of the old men at the bar to be taken as the voice of the people, then, the Marshall could sweep the throne right under the royal family’s feet and most of the citizens would not even bat an eyelash, as the man has proven his credibility throughout his time of service.
This is why he cannot help but think that the Marshall, who smiles so wide and has a weird laugh when Sungyeol introduces himself to be the messenger from the next country instead of some lost traveler, is intriguing indeed. Not only he treats Sungyeol as if he is one of them; making him join the practice, showing him around with no care of anything, hell he even openly admit that there is a pressure in the castle for him to seize the throne.
But there’s something about the look in his eyes when he spoke of the king and the crown prince, for it reminds him so much of a certain Nam Woohyun back home; that Sungyeol knows Lord Marshall Jang Dongwoo is undoubtedly loyal, and fiercely so.
He returns back with the reply letter from Crown Prince Lee Sungjong to see Hoya at his usual place by the port, the face lit up with a grin when he spots his face in the crowd, and Dongwoo’s parting words resounds in his mind.
For out of the corner of his right eye he can see Woohyun, albeit with casual clothes instead of the usual dress uniform, hidden under the shade but still clear for him to see, eyes greeting him slightly before back to the newspaper, though Sungyeol knows better.
Since those words, Sungyeol had heard them before, from their very own Lord Marshall himself, long before this trip.
“I have only but one king, bar none.”
*******
But all these days, they feel like they're the same
Just different faces, different names
-Year 152X-
For someone who is almost constantly on a long-distance travel, Kim Myungsoo is a rarity in which he travels way too lightly for one such trip -just a simple backpack on the shoulder- and that kind of making him a stand out among other fellow travelers.
Some adds that his looks also attributes as much, though he begs to differ.
He is also quite known as mysterious, promptly because he rarely talks about himself. He does not shun people, no; he is more than happy to share his experiences and stories of places, just, when people asks more about himself, about Kim Myungsoo, he will simply smiles, and says the same words.
“I am but a traveler, a wanderer on Earth.”
They will then drop the question altogether, not pursuing any further, to his relief.
He hardly remembers anything about his hometown; he has travel way too far to trace his way back, and childhood memories are a blur in his head, except that he is an orphan -or a runaway, he always has the trouble of recalling those things- and the concept of family is so foreign to him it’s almost refreshing, in a twisted sort of way.
Maybe that’s the reason he was so attached to the traveler, a man almost 10 years his senior who showed up one day at his caretaker’s -or is it his uncle’s- antique shop to buy a case, for the man is kind, ridiculously so, and never ran out of stories to tell whenever he drops by the man’s small cottage by the skirts of the town he lived in.
The man told him about a country, its neighboring country, the castle and the king, the soldiers and the people, and everything sounds so magical to Myungsoo, as if it’s something out of a fairytale.
Surely he is not a kid, and the people at the town are generally untrustworthy towards strangers, but there is something in the way his eyes shines so bright every time he speaks that make Myungsoo believes him, word by word.
He still does, that he bets his own life and future on it.
Later when he lies down and stares above, be it the starry sky or empty ceiling of some inn, he will always, always hugs his backpack tight, for it is the only constant in his life, the reassurance he never knew he needed to keep on going.
The backpack is quite seasoned, a hand-me-down from the traveler back at his hometown, and it is filled with clothes and little trinkets; a worn-out journal from the said traveler, two journals of his own, a couple of pens, some stash of food for emergency, a tumbler full with water, and more.
Still, there is hardly anything personal with him; no pictures, no mementos, nothing that can identify him with the name Kim Myungsoo, sans the journal. Even so, he doubts anybody will find it interesting anyway, with the way he describes things so monotonously; a habit he picked up when he keeps on referencing the old journal during his early days of traveling.
If anything, the old journal has more life in it, and it gives him head ache every time he attempts something similar for his own, so he gives up on it a long time ago, and records mostly facts; the place, the history, the weather, the people, economy, source of income, government, anything worthy of mention.
He avoids detailing specifically on certain subjects, to avoid attachment in general, and to fulfill his purpose of being an observer, but as he go through the journal again, he will see the mention of the grave digger back at the small growing port town, and he will let his mind wander again.
As always, he will keep the thought to himself, perhaps, as he starts detailing on the place he almost died -for the lack of a better word-; the barren land of ruins, which used to be the center of a big and powerful country before the power struggle in the castle and plague sweeps its demise.
His throat is still a bit hurt, and he still lost his voice, but when he regains it he will definitely ask more on this, for the man who is also his savior had smile softly, albeit with a different gleam in the eyes when he inquires on the place -using notes as method of communication- and he is sure there is more to this.
Maybe, just maybe, he is a step closer to find that which he had been looking for.
Myungsoo will not give up now, never, not after all these years.
Not after thousand miles of walking, no.
Not until he-
part two