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[Get ready. We're going to the palace.
These are the first words his father has said to Seon-ho since the coup d'etat thrown by Lord Geum -- rather, his majesty Geum -- a few days back. As coups go, Seon-ho had expected this one to be like those in the stories -- full of blood, violence, and the sort of righteousness that possesses all usurpers. Not to say that it wasn't filled with exactly all three of this things, because it absolutely was, but it was also relatively less troublesome than Seon-ho had expected it to be.
Not that Seon-ho had been accorded the honor of invading the palace, no, that honor was given to the others -- true-born sons of his father's closest friends, warriors that had already proved their mettle in battles past, and idiots who couldn't tell the difference between a blade and a hilt. His father may have been one of Lord Geum's closest aides, but Seon-ho himself was placed to the side and away. Back-up. There to clear the way for escape if Lord Geum's plans fell through. But they hadn't. All those plans had fallen to place as easily as if the gods had willed it -- and Seon-ho had watched as Lord Geum ascended his throne. His father had immediately left to arrange Lord Geum's new council of ministers, so Seon-ho was left to entertain himself until his father remembered he existed.
Which was now, apparently. The servants set aside a change of clothes for Seon-ho to slip into, and he notices with some bitterness that it's a fine suit of armor and not the minister's clothing he had hoped it to be. (It's not like he expects a first or second-rank position in return for spilling all that blood. But maybe an ninth or eighth-rank? Something a bastard would never be able to achieve under the laws of the previous king's reign.) But no, it's a suit of armor. Appropriate for the job he's now assigned to -- the job of... protecting the prince.
Seon-ho had been surprised to hear that Prince Haein had survived the coup. He had assumed, like the others, that the prince would be put to death, but perhaps struck from sudden filial fondness -- or for some other strange reason -- King Geum merely ordered for the prince to be unharmed. (He's more valuable alive to us than dead, Nam Jeon had retorted when Seon-ho had raised the question.)
Seon-ho dons the armor and follows his father obediently to the palace, past the throne room and off to a more secluded area -- the quarters set aside for past and present princes. His father pauses for a moment, turning to Seon-ho with narrowed eyes.
You know your duty. Do it well, and do not embarrass me. Or else is implied, as always. Seon-ho remains silent, smiling in reply, before turning on his heel and leaving his father staring after him on the threshold.]
Introduce me.
[There are two court maids and one eunuch waiting outside the room -- and all three of them look as if they'd rather be elsewhere, but the eunuch bows low and clears his throat. Your highness, he starts, looking hesitant. Your highness, you have a guest.
Seon-ho's eyes narrow, but you know... can't fault a eunuch for not knowing who he is, even if it digs into his side like an obstinate burr. God!! he has to do all the work around here!!!! anyway, he'll just raise his voice from beyond the prince's door so he can be safely heard,]
Your highness, Inspector Nam Seon-ho is here to pay his respects to you in person.
[THERE!! that's how it's done!!! okay now let him in nerd]
These are the first words his father has said to Seon-ho since the coup d'etat thrown by Lord Geum -- rather, his majesty Geum -- a few days back. As coups go, Seon-ho had expected this one to be like those in the stories -- full of blood, violence, and the sort of righteousness that possesses all usurpers. Not to say that it wasn't filled with exactly all three of this things, because it absolutely was, but it was also relatively less troublesome than Seon-ho had expected it to be.
Not that Seon-ho had been accorded the honor of invading the palace, no, that honor was given to the others -- true-born sons of his father's closest friends, warriors that had already proved their mettle in battles past, and idiots who couldn't tell the difference between a blade and a hilt. His father may have been one of Lord Geum's closest aides, but Seon-ho himself was placed to the side and away. Back-up. There to clear the way for escape if Lord Geum's plans fell through. But they hadn't. All those plans had fallen to place as easily as if the gods had willed it -- and Seon-ho had watched as Lord Geum ascended his throne. His father had immediately left to arrange Lord Geum's new council of ministers, so Seon-ho was left to entertain himself until his father remembered he existed.
Which was now, apparently. The servants set aside a change of clothes for Seon-ho to slip into, and he notices with some bitterness that it's a fine suit of armor and not the minister's clothing he had hoped it to be. (It's not like he expects a first or second-rank position in return for spilling all that blood. But maybe an ninth or eighth-rank? Something a bastard would never be able to achieve under the laws of the previous king's reign.) But no, it's a suit of armor. Appropriate for the job he's now assigned to -- the job of... protecting the prince.
Seon-ho had been surprised to hear that Prince Haein had survived the coup. He had assumed, like the others, that the prince would be put to death, but perhaps struck from sudden filial fondness -- or for some other strange reason -- King Geum merely ordered for the prince to be unharmed. (He's more valuable alive to us than dead, Nam Jeon had retorted when Seon-ho had raised the question.)
Seon-ho dons the armor and follows his father obediently to the palace, past the throne room and off to a more secluded area -- the quarters set aside for past and present princes. His father pauses for a moment, turning to Seon-ho with narrowed eyes.
You know your duty. Do it well, and do not embarrass me. Or else is implied, as always. Seon-ho remains silent, smiling in reply, before turning on his heel and leaving his father staring after him on the threshold.]
Introduce me.
[There are two court maids and one eunuch waiting outside the room -- and all three of them look as if they'd rather be elsewhere, but the eunuch bows low and clears his throat. Your highness, he starts, looking hesitant. Your highness, you have a guest.
Seon-ho's eyes narrow, but you know... can't fault a eunuch for not knowing who he is, even if it digs into his side like an obstinate burr. God!! he has to do all the work around here!!!! anyway, he'll just raise his voice from beyond the prince's door so he can be safely heard,]
Your highness, Inspector Nam Seon-ho is here to pay his respects to you in person.
[THERE!! that's how it's done!!! okay now let him in nerd]
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