Chapter 5: The King and the Crow

King Bonhye appeared. I hurriedly pulled away from the second prince.

“I greet His Majesty,” the second prince said first.

I stumbled to follow, “I greet His Majesty.”

“Hm.”

King Bonhye glanced at us, occupying the chamber, with faint disapproval and let out a snort.

He passed between us, heading deeper inside. Not that we were that close to be split apart.

“I inquire after His Majesty’s health. Is Your Majesty ever robust?”

The second prince took the lead again. I just bowed my head, mimicking him.

I felt a gaze pierce the crown of my head.

Seems he’s glaring.

“I’m well,” King Bonhye replied curtly.

I raised my head.

“Are both princes in good health?”

Face-to-face, King Bonhye wasn’t exactly intimidating.

His stooped back wasn’t just from middle age.

Some warriors in Hyeolyunseong, a decade older, still stormed battlefields with straight backs and sturdy limbs.

Sure, you can’t compare field-hardened fighters to a king who spends most days in court…

Still, King Bonhye seemed far too frail to bear a kingdom on his shoulders.

“By Your Majesty’s grace, I am at ease,” the second prince answered first, while I gawked.

Before I could speak, King Bonhye glanced at me. “Grand Prince Ikwon must be at ease too.”

Huh?

Why just me?

“It seems you were conversing while awaiting me.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty,” the second prince replied.

“Such brotherly bond is heartwarming. A fine sight. What topic did you, Kyeong and Hwi, discuss?”

Why’s this guy so curious about me and him?

I answered promptly, “I owe my brother a debt.”

The second prince cut in quick, “But we settled it through talk, so please don’t concern yourself.”

Not exactly wrong.

“Yes, thanks to my brother’s generosity, it’s all sorted out just fiiiine.”

“A result to Grand Prince Ikwon’s satisfaction,” King Bonhye drawled, hinting at more to say.

“Curious indeed.”

Was the first prince some greedy bastard?

A wastrel ought to be greedy, right?

“As it’s between you brothers, how could I, your father, ignore it? If Je-an suffered loss covering for Ikwon, I’ll ease his burden. Je-an, speak plainly.”

Unexpected words. I was surprised; the second prince, more so. Well, I wasn’t that surprised.

“It was but a trifling matter,” he said.

Even if the first prince was a damn fool, a mere inspector beating a royal wouldn’t look good.

It’s not just one royal getting thrashed—it’s a royal.

I hadn’t planned to make a fuss, but King Bonhye’s interest changed my mind.

A chance to show off my flexible mindset.

My heart shifts like this sometimes. Proof it’s so soft and pliable.

Or not.

“Since my brother seeks to shield my folly, may I speak?”

King Bonhye looked at me, his expression growing bored.

“Do so.”

“I dueled my brother’s guard-inspector and lost badly, but I was so impressed I requested another match.”

I said it in one breath.

King Bonhye, still half-interested, drawled, “You lost?”

“Yes.”

I glanced at the second prince; he looked uneasy.

“To be so inspired despite defeat, that prowess must be unimaginable. Je-an keeps fine talent close.”

“Your praise is too kind. How could my inspector match my brother? It was mere chance.”

“No doubt Ikwon held back, mindful of his princely status. With Generalissimo So as Ikwon’s mentor, who wouldn’t know his keen eye?”

Generalissimo So? Not like I know any Sos.

I’ll ask Eunuch Han back at Hyeonnyeongdang.

Anyway, King Bonhye seemed keen on the second prince’s lackey.

I’d heard he doted on his new queen, so this was unexpected. Separate from favoring the second prince?

Not my goal, so I didn’t care.

That King Bonhye doesn’t unconditionally favor the second prince, and him siding with me, are different matters.

“What answer did you give?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but the second prince jumped in, “I was pondering my response.”

Oh, can’t stand hearing it from me, huh?

But King Bonhye’s next words were another surprise.

“What’s to ponder?”

Our eyes met. I thought I saw his brow twitch, but… his dislike for his eldest isn’t a secret, so I let it pass.

“A vassal’s toil shouldn’t outweigh brotherly bonds.”

I grinned.

“If timing and place are the issue, I’ll arrange it.”

Now the second prince has no choice but to produce that inspector who thrashed me.

Of course, King Bonhye’s offer wasn’t out of kindness to me.

“I’m honored,” the second prince replied.

Back at Hyeonnyeongdang, I collapsed onto my bed. Thinking so much made me hungry.

“The first prince is on bad terms with King Bonhye. And with the second prince—well, it’s the worst. But… King Bonhye and the second prince aren’t that close either? Both keep their distance, yet no crown prince is named? An empty heir seat can’t strengthen the king’s authority.”

What am I even saying? I don’t get it myself.

“Is King Bonhye checking one of them?”

Eunuch Han, watching me mutter at the ceiling, looked uneasy. Probably thinks I’m delusional.

Does he think I’m crazy?

The title Bonhyeon comes after the king’s death, so Han likely has no clue what I’m on about.

“What a mess.”

If I could just smash everything, I wouldn’t need to think…

Then I turned to Han.

“Get me some food.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Royal snacks, huh? Sounds promising.

After sending Han out, I opened the window by my bed. A gentle breeze made me drowsy.

Perfect for a nap.

“Caw!”

A sharp cry jolted me. Irritation flared at the interruption.

“A crow?”

Looking up, I saw a black bird’s shadow beyond the window frame. By its cry and shape, definitely a crow.

“Caw, caw…”

It slowly descended, approaching me. What the…

Why’s it coming here? The prince didn’t keep crows, did he?

I sat up, perched on the windowsill, and grabbed the crow.

“Cawww!”

Catching a crow’s no big deal. Back in the day, bird-catching was a hobby of mine.

Not for fun, mind you—when you’re starving, you grab what you can.

The crow shrieked, thrashing. Even with its wings pinned, it had some fight.

“Pretty strong.”

Not a pet, then?

Who’d keep a crow?

In a palace, no less.

“Should I eat it?”

Looks lively enough for a hearty meal.

“Cawwwww!”

It screeched loud enough to shake the pavilion. My ears felt like they’d bleed.

“Are you mad?”

Huh?

I doubted my ears. Aside from that damn ringing, they’re fine, but I must’ve misheard.

I glanced around—nobody.

“Han, you there?”

No answer from beyond the door. Han wouldn’t say that anyway.

Then…

“No way. That’s impossible.”

A crow talking? Ridiculous. Must be another kind of tinnitus.

Feeling uneasy, I quietly let the crow go.

“How dare… you say you’ll eat this lord!”

I heard right.

The crow spoke.

“What, what?”

The crow spoke.

The crow… spoke?

It’s talking?

Flapping black wings, that beak yapping—it’s definitely a birdbrain.

“Am I crazy…”

A dream?

Did I die in Seopyeong, come back via the Founder King’s ghost, and it’s all a dream?

I slapped my face hard.

The smack rang out crisp. It hurt, but I didn’t wake.

“Not a dream.”

“How dare you act so brazen! Now I see you’re the mad one.”

The crow lunged, pecking my hand.

A pathetic attack, so I let it be.

“Your reckless, foolish acts are well-known, but I didn’t know you were mad. Why hide it so long?”

“Mad?”

“Your pitiful deeds aren’t few, so what’s one more mad outburst? You nearly got yourself killed!”

The crow spread its wings, flew up, and charged at my face.

“Hey, you birdbrain…!”

“Such impudent words. Madness might explain it, but it’s grating. Fix your speech now.”

Its flapping nearly got feathers in my mouth. To talk, I need to handle those wings.

I grabbed the crow with both hands.

“Caw!”

Good thing this body’s weak, or my old grip might’ve split it in two.

Clueless, it kept thrashing.

“How dare you touch this lord’s sacred body! How will you handle my wrath!”

Birdbrain wrath or bullshit, who cares?

It tried to escape, but prey rarely gets away from a hunter’s grip.

“Stay still. You’ll get hurt.”

“Let go! This lord won’t spare you!”

I held it upside down.

“Maybe I’ll chew you up.”

“Caw!”

A scream-like cry burst out. A few shakes, and it quieted.

“What are you?”

I got off the window frame.

“How dare…!”

“Just talk, or you’re moving sashimi. Not like this is a mountain or battlefield, but I don’t plan to eat a talking birdbrain.”

“You, you savage…”

“Yeah, I know.”

Watching the bird, something came to mind.

“You know what? Soon, raising hunting falcons will be a noble trend.”

Not sure I remember right, but in a few years, falconry will sweep the kingdom’s nobles.

“Maybe I’ll feed you to one.”

“Caw!”

Do birds have expressions?

If it were human, it’d be pale with fear.

“You! How did you change so suddenly? Even as a notorious prince, you weren’t this brazen yesterday…!”

“How do you know me? Were we close?”

“This lord isn’t someone you can claim closeness with!”

I had some guesses about its identity. A talking bird makes sense?

I died and came back, so nothing shocks me, but a normal person would’ve fainted.

Something came to mind.

The Mokryeo Kingdom’s royal legend. In it, a spirit bird helped the Founder King build the nation.

I don’t fully believe legends, but who knows?

If ghosts are real, why not legends?