Ha Noon's
CHAPTER 4: Someone Who Can Be Trusted
The two strongly swinging wooden swords screeched at each other. Ha Gungi with all his might swung his sword, and Ha Gilyu with a hiccup avoided swinging that sword with her agile body. Didn't want to
always dodging, Ha Gilyu prepared his horses for a counterattack. However, Ha Gungi easily dodged that counterattack. Not staying silent, Ha Gilyu straightened his sword down, and swung it up, making a sudden attack, but even though it missed Ha Gungi's prediction a little, he could still withstand the attack using his sword. The two of them pitted against each other with strength by maintaining the position of their swords until they both retreated a few steps. Not wanting to make any gaps, the two came back forward and swung the swords at each other.
Ha Noon ran a little along the hallway after finishing her study class. Because the night before she officially gained operational rights as a princess, she had to start learning things about the kingdom from politics to the economy, even the military. She loved watching her brother practice swords. Since long ago, he was very interested in martial arts. However, the royal rules made it difficult for him to learn martial arts. Therefore, her brother allowed her to watch him train so that Ha Noon could learn his movements despite not practicing directly.
“Mr Princess, don't run like that.” exclaimed Mom Suri who followed her from behind with Ha's personal servant
Other noon.
“You don't have to run with me!” However, Ha Noon instead sped up his pace.
“Mr Princess!”
Ha Noon paid no heed to Mom Suri, he kept running until he finally stopped stepping with his eyes wide open as he found someone taking his place, it was the Queen. The queen turned around with a subtle smile on her face and did not feel astonished to see her daughter standing there with a disjointed breath. Behind her, Mom Suri had just arrived with her chest up and down with her other personal servants. “Your class is over?”
Ha Noon smiled faintly, he bowed his body as a salute, and stepped calmly towards his mother. “What are you doing here?”
“What mother can't be here?”
Ha Noon sitting next to Queen, “No, just..”.
“Mother is just tired of lying in the cascadesall day.”
Ha Noon just nodded. Her eyes focusedly watched every move her brother made when attacking, dodging, and resisting attacks. Even though it was a wooden sword, his brother fought as if his life was at stake.
The queen glanced at her daughter who was very serious, then smiled, “Is it as fun as it was seeing your sister practicing
sword?”
“Hmm?” Ha Noon dissolved in every degree of movement her brother made, making her a little surprised when the Queen suddenly spoke to him. Normally, only Mom Suri and some of her personal servants accompanying her noticed the Big Brother, but now there was her mother who also brought some of her personal servants, as well, and Ha Noon was already used to ignoring other things just to pay attention to her brother. Ha Noon's
nods stiffly, “Iya, because sister is very great.”
“It looks like our Princess is more interested in becoming a knight than a princess.” seduces Sang
Queen.
However, unbeknownst to the Queen, she had actually managed to knock on the hidden door that was in Ha Noon's heart, the only people who can open the door are her brother and Mom Suri. Ha Noon felt awkward at the temptation himself, but he only smiled as if the temptation were just some rudimentary words. “Noon just thinks being a princess is so hard because it has to learn so many things. The history of the establishment of the kingdom, the law and the political system that runs, all forms of administration, economic science, and noble ethics. Noon had never studied martial arts, and Noon thought it was easy. Noon knew it wasn't easy, but since Noon never really learned it, Noon thought it was easy. Noon just curious.”
The queen nodded subtly understanding every word her daughter put out, paying attention to her son who was
practicing, “Being Crown Prince is not easy either. Aside from having to use his entire mind to learn many things, he also had to slam his body to learn martial arts. Noon, have you ever thought of becoming a Queen?”
Ha Noon frowned, he looked at his mother in surprise.
“Because even if you really wanted it,” The Queen turned her head back and looked at Ha Noon right in her pupils, “That would never happen. Noon, you know very well what the royal system is. Until the end, your status will be nothing more than a princess. Your choice is only two, survive being a princess to the end, or get out of the royal family.”
For some reason, her mother's words made her chest feel heavy even though she had never been in the first place
she has a desire to be a queen. He knew that it was impossible. One day, her brother will ascend the throne and propose a noble girl, elevating her dignitary as a Queen. Although it had yet to be established, Ha Noon knew clearly who the lucky noble was.
His eyes looked straight at his practicing brother, and his pupils turned to his uncle who was his brother's opponent. He was doubtful whether he would be able to survive to the end with just the status of a princess, or someday he would fall in love with an ordinary man who had no rank whatsoever, he said, and decided to leave the royal family? He and Ha Gilyu were the nephews of the man, and it was clear that their uncle had a longer life and more experience. But just because the man chose to step out of the royal family in favor of a woman from a peasant family, he had to lower his pride in honor of his two nephews.
Ha Noon wondered if when she actually chose to cut ties with the family
kingdom, will she have an unfamiliar relationship with her brother? They are so close now, having such great happiness that it will never be consumed by age. However, early happiness is not a reference to future predictions.
“Noon,” The soft voice again stole Ha Noon's attention, he turned his head back and stared fixedly at his mother. “Mother just wants, in the future, whatever your decision, you won't regret it.”
Ha Noon blinked his eyes a few times, then nodded stiffly, “Noon understood, Mother.”
The Queen smiled gently, her hands raised to stroke the butt of her daughter's head, “Mother go, enjoy your lesson.”
Ha Noon knew that her mother was just teasing, she chuckled softly while nodding, noticing her mother's elegant steps away. Ha Noon refocused on her brother's sword training which never bored her.
Not knowing how much time had passed, Ha Gilyu and Ha Gungi had already ended their fight. Ha Gungi smiled proudly looking at his nephew who was getting better in the sword, “Is it fair that a future King has better swordsmanship than a general?”
Ha Gilyu laughed amusedly at the praise that accompanied the sarcasm, “Of course this is fair, protecting lives is very difficult.”
Ha Gungi could not help but laugh amusedly at Ha Gilyu's sarcasm, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty knows why the previous King never once thought of giving the throne to me?”
Ha Gilyu widened her eyes. After all, Ha Gungi and Raja are now sisters of the same couple. However, questioning the decisions of past ministers and kings and bringing back the topic when he was no longer even part of the royal family, is a sensitive matter to talk about. However, that did not mean Ha Gilyu felt it was an insult. He was not someone who was very obsessed with the throne, but he was very loyal to the kingdom and was willing to do anything to protect his people, even though it meant that he had to become King. Ha Gilyu smiled wryly, “Of course I know. Even though father never said it, it is an open secret among the nobility.”
Ha Gungi nodded heavily, “Your Majesty only has a younger sister with a distant age, so His Majesty the King cannot transfer the inheritance of the throne. However, the ministers and the legislative section will probably bring the matter to trial. You know that His Majesty the King always thinks
his people, and internal quarrels would only destroy the entire skeleton. Your Majesty, it doesn't matter if you want to strive to protect yourself, but as a candidate for King, you should be able to win the ministers and the legislative section.”
Ha Gilyu looked at Ha Gungi and absorbed every word carefully, then nodded stiffly, “I understand, thank you, Uncle.”
“Sister! Uncle!”
The two simultaneously turned their heads to Ha Noon's enthusiastic cries, noticing the little girl running small with her high heels on the grass approaching them.
Ha Gilyu raises her hand to gently wipe Ha Noon's head, “You're done with your class?”
Ha Noon nodded, “It was very tiring. Won't you give me a gift to finish my first class?”
Ha Gilyu raised her eyebrows, “Didn't I give you a present yesterday?”
“It's different..” whine Ha Noon.
Ha Gungi chuckles little to see Ha Noon's behavior that will be very spoiled when with her brother. “Alright, Princess. Guess what I brought for you?”
Ha Noon switched on Ha Gungi with raised eyebrows, “Uncle, uncle will give me something?”
Ha Noon's eyes sparkled, and he almost jumped up to hug his uncle before being thwarted by his brother who pulled his body back, and grabbed him. “Uncle! Don't spoil her, she will be a whiny princess in the future!”
Ha Noon wriggled irritably in his brother's arms, “I'm not crybaby! Release him! Sister is so annoying!”
“Hmm? Is that how you looked at me after I gave you a gift?”
“Why do you always carry around that gift? Didn't you give it to me? How could sister do that to her sister!?”
“Wah... view this child.” Ha Gilyu tightened her grip, making it even harder for Ha Noon to break away.
“It's okay, Your Majesty. I have not given anything to the Princess as her birthday present. I wanted to give it away on the night of the party, but I realized it was not a good idea.”
Hearing this, Ha Gilyu loosened her embrace, she stared blankly with many marks
ask in his mind to Ha Gungi, “What do you want uncle to give?”
Ha Gungi smiled wryly, “I think you already have some ideas. I'll get the prize first.”
Ha Gilyu stared blankly at Ha Gungi's steps taking out a teak box, taking him with both hands approaching Ha Noon. Ha Noon was so foolish as to think about what idea was inside the box. Ha Gungi placed the box on the ground, and Ha Noon enthusiastically knelt on the grass, waiting for the box to be opened. Ha Gilyu looked at the box and stared at Ha Noon's enthusiastic face. Although she was feeling restless, she did not want to destroy Ha Noon's happiness. Ha Gilyu watched Mom Suri and a group of Ha Noon's personal servants and her own personal servants standing nearby. Ha Gilyu made a few steps to cover the box from the sight of the personal servants with her body.
Ha Noon did not understand why Ha Gilyu did that, he looked up to notice Ha Gilyu at a glance and his attention was again focused on the box.
“Mr Princess, you ready?”
Ha Noon nodded with pleasure.
Ha Gungi put his hand to open the box slowly, and a sizable sword with silver engraving fell asleep inside the box. At the top of the sword algae, there is a silver metal carving that forms two eagle wings. Ha Noon's smile instantly faded, his pupils stiffly staring at Ha Gungi, “This.?”.
“This is a gift from Me to the Princess.”
“Your Highness,” Ha Gungi looks up to stare at Ha Gilyu, “Isn't that arrow belongs to the Princess?”
Ha Gilyu's eyelids are getting wide open, “Uncle... uncle know?”
“I see you in that place, when I want to forge this sword.”
Ha Gilyu blinked her eyes stiffly, “Uncle..”.
“Mr Princess. This is our secret,” Ha Gungi close back that box, “No one will know, as long as we keep this secret.”
Ha Noon stared at his uncle right at his pupil for a while, then both ends of his lips lifted. “I understand, Uncle. We'll keep this a secret. Right, ‘kan, Sis?”
Ha Gilyu looked at Ha Noon who was smiling widely, then nodded stiffly, “We will keep this secret.”
Ha Noon pulled the box into his arms, “I'll keep this thing well. Thank you, Uncle.”
Ha Gungi nodded gently. Despite the weight, Ha Noon forced his body to lift the box, then walked carefully. Ha Gungi and Ha Gilyu noticed Ha Noon's carefree footsteps, but the two had no intention of helping because they knew that Ha Noon would not like it, she was a stubborn princess. If he really needed help, he would say it.
Ha Gilyu turned to Ha Gungi with a gloomy look, “Why did Uncle do this?”
Ha Gungi standing, “I think because we have the same reason. Until the end, the Princess will remain the Princess. In fact perhaps, the well-being he had today would be lost one day. I know very well your anxiety towards the Princess, I also feel the same.”
Ha Gilyu sighed steadfastly, then smiled thinly, “Thank you, Uncle.”
Ha Gungi placed his hand on Ha Gilyu's shoulder, and nodded. “Today's workouts are over, until we meet another time, Your Grace.”
Ha Gilyu nodded. Ha Gungi packed his things and left the training ground. In fact, this place was only one of the vast courtyards that existed in the palace. However, Ha Gilyu and Ha Gungi agreed to meet here as a private training ground because the training ground was always full of people
soldiers who are training. Although they would succumb to just one command issued by Ha Gilyu, but Ha Gilyu did not want to take their place, so he chose another place to practice the sword.
***
Little steps that attempted to calm down echoed in the open corridor. Two boys in their casual clothes sneaked closer to a large door that was closed not too tightly. One of the boys approached his right pupil to peek through the gap of the door, followed by the boy following behind. The eyes of the two boys twinkled listening to the clashing sound of two iron swords attacking each other. The glint of the sword reflected by the sunlight made the two sigh in admiration.
“What do you guys do?”
The two boys immediately turned their heads with their hearts on the verge of exploding, widening both their eyes at the girl with a silver crown on top of her. The two breathed a sigh of relief seeing that the girl was just Ha Noon.
“Let go of me!” The two boys realized that Ha Noon was not alone, they saw another boy who had been dragged by Ha Noon since then.
Ha Noon stared at the boy sharply, “Gim Gon, aren't you banned from this place? And you two!” Ha Noon looked at the two boys. The three of them are brothers from the Gim family, their father is a loyal King's private soldier, their mother died while giving birth to a child
the youngest, so the King suggested for them to stay in the palace. The three of them were Ha Noon's playmates because they were almost the same age. Ha Noon stared angrily at Gim Jun and Gim Gam. “You really like to act.”
Gim Jun, the eldest, smiled knotingly at Ha Noon, “Mr Princess, isn't there a class at the moment? What is the Princess doing here?”
Ha Noon immediately hesitated to hear Gim Jun's attack.
“True, surely you escaped your class, ‘kan?” exclaimed Gim Gon who did not accept himself was dragged like a sack of rice.
“Gim Gon!” Gim Jun stared firmly at his youngest sister, “Show your manners!”
Gim Gon knitted his brows, “I'm sorry.”
“What is it?”
The four boys instantly stopped their voices hearing the voices of the adults from inside the training room.
“What's up?”
“I heard something outside.”
“Are those boys again?”
“I'll really hit them this time.”
The boys outside the door stared at each other with their eyes almost out. Even if Ha Noon was not part of these three brats, everyone knew that he had class today. If he gets caught running away, he'll be punished. Ha Noon turned around and took his steps to escape, and the three brothers also followed Ha Noon. They had been punished, but their curiosity about the sword practice made them stubborn.
They ran with all their might until they stopped in a deserted corridor. Bending down their bodies, the four boys attempted to catch their choked breaths.
Gim Gon looked at Ha Noon curiously, “Mr Princess, did you really run away from your class?”
Gym Jun gives a sharp look at Gim Gon, “Gim Gon.”
“Sorry.”
“That class is so boring, I can't take it anymore.” complains Ha Noon.
“Not new a week?”
“That week feels like a year. I hate studying politics and history. Hah... can't they teach me martial arts too?”
The brothers stared at each other. “Why not practice alone?” gam Advice.
“I've done it.”
“You've done it?” Unknowingly, Gim Gon raised his voice.
Ha Noon nodded innocently, “Uncle and Brother helped me.”
Gim Gam raised his eyebrows, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, and General Ha helped you? Does Your Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen know?”
Ha Noon shook his head, “Of course not. If they find out, I won't be given permission to touch the weapon again.”
“But, what kind of martial arts did you learn?” tanya Gim Gon was curious.
Ha Noon stared one by one the brothers Gym, and smiled obliquely, “You want to know a secret? Secrets that even His Majesty the King and Queen do not know.”
The siblings gulped down a mouthful of curious saliva.
Ha Noon brought the three boys into his room. Like a hide-and-seek game, the three try not to make the slightest sound. Ha Noon crawled down under the bed, dragging two large wooden boxes out. The brothers just watched him patiently. After Ha Noon
cleaning up her dust-stamped dress, she began to open the box made
of teak wood. Gim brothers are increasingly curious, why should they sneak around for the sake of these two boxes?
“Woooaaah..” Gim Gon who first reacted when he saw the contents of the box, made his two brothers tense. Their faces were stiff with vibrating eyelashes.
Ha Noon's smile faded slightly seeing the unwanted reaction. “My brother and uncle gave me this. No need to worry.”
Gim Gam looked at Ha Noon, “Wait, His Highness the Crown Prince and General Ha gave this? Not only does it teach you martial arts, but it also gives you weapons?”
“You... sure Your Majesty The King and Queen won't know?” Gim Gon swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
“If we all never talk about this, then no one will know.” Ha Noon asserted.
“Then you should never have told us this, Mr. Princess.” addressed Gim Jun with a calm intonation, making Ha Noon's gaze fully focused on him. “The less you know, the better. The Princess should know who should the Princess trust and who does not.”
“But we've been friends a long time.”
“Mr Princess, no one can guarantee a relationship can build trust.”
Ha Noon's head slowly came down, he looked down at the two open wooden boxes, and the light reflected by the smooth iron that was filling the two weapons. He thought about it, was his decision wrong? She was not close to many people, all of them were simply because she was a princess and was required to be able to socialize with anyone even the soldiers. The only truly sincere relationship he feels is with his brother, his uncle, Mom Suri, and even he is not too close to his own mother because her mother rarely shows herself as a result of her illness. Gim Jun, Gim Gam, and Gim Gon, were other strangers who always accompanied him to play, always helped him, always there when he wanted to complain, they were already like any other family to him, he said, he can be open with them. But is he wrong? Is trusting them a mistake?
