The Court Maiden's Prince

This story, characters, events, customs, and places are purely fictional and in no way accurately represent the history and customs of any country past or present.
People present to watch the exhibition all gasped at the prince's bold claim "Did he say twenty?" asked one of them "How arrogant" said another "Teach that brat a lesson" said one of the left-wing ministers to Do-Yun
"Teach him a lesson? I intend to castrate that boy!" He gestured to his bodyguard to call in his private security and fight the prince.
The prince plays and twirls his sword around while waiting for his opponents. Twenty swordsmen came rushing and positioning themselves around the prince. While the prince's opponents unsheathed their swords, Young-Sik masterfully, sheathed his
Minister Gi can't help but taunt the prince. He leaned towards Minister Lim. "Is the prince surrendering? Maybe he remembered that no one can fight twenty skilled opponents alone and win. If he asks your forgiveness now, my Lord, he won't be harmed," he said to Minister Lim while laughing.
The prince assessed his opponents, and took a modified horse stance, with his right leg slightly extended backward. His left hand which carried the sheathed sword, was positioned in line with his hips, and his right hand rested just above the hilt, ready for a quick draw attack.
"Your Highness?" The Queen called for the King's attention "Are we not going to start the exhibition?"
"My Queen, the odds are too unfair for the prince, twenty?" The King said as he was about to cancel the match when the Queen stopped him
"My King, you can't stop the exhibition, it was the prince that called for this, He will lose his honor and integrity" The Queen reminded the king, but deep inside like Minister Lim, she was infuriated with Young-Sik, she was wishing ill of the youngest prince. She wanted him to get hurt or even worse.
The prince glanced at his father and gave a respectful nod and a smile. Their King though a great distance from his son, saw the look on his face and it looked like the prince was saying "It's okay father, I can handle them". The prince looked back at the opponents up front. The King raised his hand and the moment he put his hand down he shouted "Begin"
The prince dashed at the three men in front, the prince transitioned his quick draw into a right horizontal strike. He slashes the three men's abdomens, downing three enemies instantly. The prince pivoted to his right, charging at the next two opponents. When he reached the first, he struck diagonally upward from the right and continuously slashed downward from the left at the second man. The crowd held their breath at the prince's lightning speed. "Five foes in ten seconds" they all cheered. Do-Yun and the other left-wing ministers, could not believe their eyes, they were watching the prince move as if like a blur and decimating his opponents easily and hastily.
To avoid losing momentum, the prince pivots to his right and charges directly at the five men attacking him. The prince ducked to avoid the forward thrust of the nearest opponent, as he stood back up, he struck upward at the same enemy. He then proceeds to perform an overhead strike at the next opponent. The prince then inverted his sword, and with its pommel, jabbed at the third opponent's chin, knocking him out cold. From a roundhouse kick that knocked the fourth opponent, Young-Sik proceeded to punch the fifth in his chest, the man heaved a little before falling and passing out. From twenty, only ten remain standing.
Young-Sik glanced at Minister Do-Yun, obviously mocking him. He rushed the remaining ten head-on. He attacked the first with a horizontal left slash to the chest, The second one he attacked with another diagonal strike from the right. To avoid the third man's attack, Young-Sik swept the man with his right leg and as the man was falling, he proceeded to strike him with an axe kick directly at his face.
Like a flash of light, Youn-Sik attacked the last seven and attacked them in rapid succession. With his sword in his right hand, the prince slashes the nearest with a horizontal strike from the right, capitalizing on the momentum of the attack, the prince pivots to his left and unleashes a savage left backhand punch on the next opponent' face.
The prince pivoted to his left again and dashed at the next three opponents. He struck them with a right horizontal slash and another slash strike from the left. For the last two of his opponents, he again dashed to the nineteenth and struck him beneath the chin with a powerful uppercut, for the twentieth he charged straight. The man fell backward as he tripped and before he could stand up again, he was stopped by the tip of Prince Young-Sik's sword pointed right between the man's eyes.
"The prince...he killed all of them" One spectator gasped
Another then pointed out "No...there is no blood, not even on his blade"
"Look!" A third spectator shouted "He used the dull side of his sword"
The prince returned his sword to its sheath, and everyone present cheered. Amongst the crowd, two hooded figures watched. "I don't want to be on his bad side" Jin-Ri commented
Yeng raised her hood a bit and smiled "I don't know... he looks kinda cute"
"The cute ones are always the psychotic weirdos, waiting in the dark to cut you. Common let's go, we need to set things up" Jin-Ri said, she then walked away
Jin-Ri stopped for a moment and took one more look at the prince "Be seeing you in the palace...my Prince" She pulled her hood down and followed Yeng to another part of the palace grounds.
While the King cheered on, The Queen and Minister Lim, gritted their teeth, their hearts seething with anger. The crowned prince struggled with conflicting feelings of admiration and jealousy towards his brother, who had recently captured and basked in the unwavering adoration of the public.
Yeng brought Jin-Ri to the servant's building, and the two waited for one of the workers to approach them. The two are greeted by a Mt Yangge villager who works at the Bureau of Registries. He pulled out something from his sleeves and gave it to Jin-Ri. "This is your identification plaque, it will verify your identity, keep it with you at all times," the man informed Jin-Ri, before leaving.
"Is this where I will start?" Jin-Rin asked
"Yes, but not today, tomorrow is when the new batch of court ladies enter the palace, you will report with them," Yeng said, the two then exited the palace quietly.
In the royal courtyard, the two Princes, kneel in front of the great stairs. The King descended the stairs, swelling with pride for his two sons. "Rise, my sons," The King said. The princes stood up and faced the spectators. The King addressed all that were present. "People of Chiongsun, I give you the crowned Prince Man-Ju and Prince Young-Sik."
The crowd roared in delight at what they heard. Young-Sik and Man-Ju raised their hands in glee, Man-Ju approached Young-Sik and the two shared a brother's embrace. The crowd's adulations for the two princes grew louder, even the King couldn't hide his smile at the love his sons share.
Later that day, at the Queen's residence, After the celebrations came to an end, the Queen erupted in fury and threw a fit, exclaiming "GAAAAH!"
"Calm yourself self Your Majesty" Minister Do-Yun, told the Queen "We don't want anyone to hear you are furious at Prince Young-Sik's successful demonstration"
The Queen turned to the Minister, she couldn't believe how collected the minister was, despite the turn of events "Why would I not be furious? That little brat deliberately showed us off!"
"The Queen is right, why wouldn't we be angry? Instead of humiliating the prince so he would lose face to the King and the people...we helped him gain more favor!" Minister Gi, said expressing his sentiments that their plan backfired.
"You are right Minister Lim; we should calm ourselves so we can think of a better way to discredit the prince." The Queen said, immediately agreeing with Minister Lim when she heard that the man she least respects have the same way of thinking she does.
Minister Gi was about to point out the Queen's sudden change in attitude, but Minister Lim started to speak "Are we entirely sure, that your son is someone you can influence?" he asked the Queen
"I am entirely confident, that he will listen to me" The Queen confidently answered, laying Minister Lim's doubts to rest.
"We can't wait anymore; we have to put the crowned prince into power as soon as possible" Minister Gi
"I appreciate the initiative Lord Gi, and I agree, it might take years for the King to transfer his throne to the prince if we act now we can be in power in a matter of days" Minister Lim, said, explaining why the timetable of their plans must be put into action as soon as possible.
The Queen is doubtful of the plan knowing, they will put their entire plan on her shoulders. Feigning ignorance she asked, "How are we going to put the prince on the throne?"
"You know how..." was the simple answer given by Minister Lim
"NO! I can't...I'll be beheaded, my son...my son will be dethroned and executed as a traitor" she said with her voice trembling in fear. The Queen knows the fate that awaits traitors and their families and that is a fate she refuses to have.
"You fear the monarchy's retribution?" Minister Gi asked, with a voice that openly mocks the Queen and he did so with a grin.
Minister Lim, with a menacing expression, addressed the Queen "Do not fear something, that will not come to pass, instead fear me! If you do not do as I say, You and your son will have a fate worse than that of a traitor!"
Though the Queen, Eri leaned back, she showed fear from what she heard. Her body trembled, and her mind was consumed by which choice to do. She knew whatever decision she made, she and her son may end up dead. She made the only logical choice that she could at that moment "Yes my Lord"
Minister Lim pulled something from his sleeves, a vial containing a peculiar liquid "This is a poison called cyanide. It's from the country northwest of here"
"Ho...how will I give it to the King?" Queen Eri, nervously asked, as she slowly reached for the small vial
"Place it in the King's favorite food, after the Chief Eunuch has finished testing for poison." Minister Lim, instructed the Queen.
"Won't they find out that he was poisoned?" Queen Eri asked, hesitantly, trying to figure out an excuse not to go through with the minister's plans
"This is a new poison, that only a few know about, by the time they learned that King was poisoned, the new King would have ruled for a long time." Minister Lim, firmly said, anticipating these questions would be asked by the queen.
The Queen, stuttered her words asking when she should execute the plans "W...When shall...I use this?"
"Use your judgment... but remember the King must die soon!" Minister Lim, looked at the Queen "If not... It's you and your son that will die!" he said, threatening the Queen to execute his plans, if she did not want to suffer his wrath.
That night, the King passed the royal gardens on his way to his mansion. There he heard laughing; out of curiosity, he entered the garden with his entourage closely behind. There he saw his two sons, hiding from prying eyes while having drinks in a gazebo.
"Is this the proper act for a royal prince?" The King asked, his voice startled the two brothers, so much that they almost tipped over in their chairs. They quickly gathered themselves, faced the King, and bowed to him.
The King walked around the gazebo, examining the numerous empty liquor bottles. The brothers bowed their heads in shame and avoided the scrutinizing eyes of the King. "I know how it was to be young and wanting to have a good time" The King started "But you must remember, you are part of the royal family and as such, you have to protect your honor and integrity" The King picked up a small white bowl filled with liquor and drank it in one fell swoop. "People will look to the both of you, you must be always at your best. There is a time for letting loose, and it is when you are rested in your houses"
"Yes, my King," the two brothers said in unison.
"It is all right to lay around and drink, as long as you have fulfilled your tasks and duties for the day" The King turned around, his hands behind his back, and was about to leave, but he stopped and looked back at his sons "The three us should have a drink in the King's mansion. I'll wait for the two of you this time tomorrow.
The brothers looked at each other and then looked at their father who was smiling at them. They both answered, "Yes father".
Nodding his head, the King smiled as he started his way back to his mansion. Once the King was out of sight, the two princes chuckled as they thought they were going to get seriously scolded.
"You said this was a good idea," Man-Ju said while giving Young-Sik a small punch on the shoulder.
"No," Young-Sik said, as he returned the favor to Man-Ju, "I said this is probably a good idea, as long as we don't get caught"
"We got caught, by the last person who should have caught us" Man-Ju replied.
"Yeah, well I'm going out," Young-Sik said, changing the topic and wanting a change of scenery.
"Are you insane?" If Father finds out that you went out again, he is going to kill you, and then he's going to kill me.
With a sly grin, Young-Sik, approached his brother tapped him on the shoulder, and said "Then pray that I don't get caught" He then proceeded to walk to the western side of the royal palace, where the security is less compared to the other areas.
"You are not leaving me here to clean up this mess" Man-Ju shouted at his brother
Young-Sik shouts back with a smile on his face "I saw Eunuch Ahn...I'll tell him to clean up there" After saying those words to his brother, Young-Sik ran towards the western wall of the royal palace grounds.
Man-Ju pouted as he surveyed the mess that the two of them made. He shook his head and walked away "No way, I'm cleaning that"
At the King's residence, Queen Eri nervously waits for the Lady in waiting to finish testing the King's dinner for poison. She watched as the Lady in waiting dipped a silver spoon at each dish being served to King Seo-Jung. The Queen quickly took the tray with the King's food from the court ladies serving it. "I'll serve the King his supper," the Queen said
"But Your Majesty" the Lady in waiting was about to protest but was immediately silenced by the Queen.
"I will serve the King his supper!" The Queen said in a calm and stern voice. Her eyes narrowed while staring at the servants.
The servants have no choice but to relent to the Queen, they all bowed and walked backward "Ye, Your Majesty" they all said.
Queen Eri scoffed, once the servants were out of sight. "Persistent pests," she said. She placed the tray down on a table. She kept looking around her to make sure no one could see her.
Minister Lim's words echoed in her head while, with her hands trembling, she took something out of her sleeves. "Just mix it with his food and my son and I will be free" she kept repeating to herself. She was about to pull the stopper from the bottle when she heard someone call out to her
"Your Majesty...what are you doing there? Where are the servants, why are you carrying the food tray?" the King asked, wondering why the servants left the queen alone to serve his food.
Queen Eri, discreetly placed the bottle back in her sleeves, picked up the food tray, and answered the King "Jeohna...I just wished to be the one to serve you your meal... It is a Queen's duty after all to serve the King's needs"
"Let's just eat out here" The King suggested
The Queen protested, she wanted to be alone with the King inside his quarters, where she could slip the poison in his food. Not outside, where she could not even attempt to take the poison out, in fear of being seen by someone. "But Your Highness
The King took the tray from the Queen and placed it back on the table. He pulled out a chair and sat on it "When did it become inappropriate not to eat here" he said as he took a spoonful of rice and a bite from the boiled pork. "Sit by my side my Queen and let us share this scrumptious meal," King Seo-Jung said to the Queen, inviting her to have dinner with him.
Queen Eri, forced a smile and sat beside the King. She took the pair of silver chopsticks and started with the vegetable stew. The King smiled at his Queen as they shared the meal, unaware of the evil intention his beloved wife was planning for him.
As the busy streets of the capital surround him, Young-Sik disguises himself as a commoner while navigating the area near the palace. It was already dark, yet people still walked the market way, amusing the prince of life outside the palace.
Strolling innocently around, he did not expect to meet someone who would recognize him. "I see you're still up to your old tricks Your Highness" a maiden's voice called out to him from behind.
He turns around only to be surprised by Lady Ji-Hye, the daughter of Minister Lim "Young Lady Lim, fancy meeting you here. I was very sure that you would be somewhere classier" Young-Sik quipped. He looked at the young lady. She was beautiful with fair skin; her hair was long black and smooth. She has a heart-shaped face, with small black eyes, and her button nose accentuates her slightly wide red lips.
"Well, I need to practice my people skills, since I am going to be your wife soon," She said arrogantly
Young-Sik wrinkled his face "People skills?" he said to himself "The only people that can tolerate you are the ones you pay" he quietly thought.
Lim Ji-Hye, though beautiful has an ugly reputation. She is known to be selfish, ambitious, and uncaring of people she considers below her status. She lingers around people of noble birth or people of high status to elevate herself.
"Are you so joyful that the news has rendered you speechless my prince?" She asked with a flirtatious voice
"Uhm...say what? Uh no...I was counting the servants that you have with you. Ten, you need ten servants to walk the market?" Young-Sik replied, obviously not listening to what she was saying.
Ji-Hye looked back at the servant girls following her "Ten is not too much, after all when I become your wife, the number of servants following me will surely double" She looked at the tattered clothes "What are you wearing? Don't worry after our wedding I'll make sure that all of your garments are up to my standards. You will be the best-dressed prince anywhere" Ji-Hye winked at the prince and left along with her entourage
The moment Lady Ji-Hye and her entourage disappeared from view; Young-Sik felt a cold shiver travel down his spine. He shuddered at the thought "Aish...like I'm going to marry someone as snobbish as her" he looked at the hair on his arm stand on its end as he made his way.