The Eunuch Who Guards the Crown Prince's Bed novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: The Second Cup

"Hands where I can see them," said the tallest of the four.

"She's dead," Seok-woo said. "I found her like this."

"With the vial in your hand."

"It was on the floor..."

"Take him."

They came in a rush, and Seok-woo did not have the knife, and he had nowhere to go.

"Stop."

The voice came from the passage behind them, quiet and clear, and the four green sleeves froze.

Hyeon stood at the door with Bae at his shoulder, in a plain grey house robe, his hair half tied.

He was out of breath.

He had run.

"Your Highness," said the tall man, bowing hastily. "This eunuch was found over the tea mistress's body with poison in his..."

"This eunuch is my night attendant. I sent him down for my tea."

The Crown Prince stepped past the four men and knelt beside the dead woman.

"She has brewed for me since I was fourteen."

He closed her eyes with two fingers.

His hand was steady.

Seok-woo saw the muscle in his jaw jump, once.

"Give me the stopper, Seok-woo."

Seok-woo handed it up.

Hyeon turned the little cap in the light, then held it out at arm's length so that all four of them could see.

"The Councillor's men carry these," he said. "I have seen this wax. It comes from his own apothecary."

"Your Highness, this is slander..."

"I haven't accused anyone."

His voice stayed gentle.

"I will write to the Dowager and the Office of Inspection and let them examine it."

"Now, all of you will go back to your master and tell him that the Eastern Palace will look into its own dead."

They hesitated.

"Go."

They went.

Bae closed the door behind them, sank onto an upturned bucket, and put his face in his hands.

Hyeon looked at Seok-woo.

"You didn't do this," he said.

"No."

"I know you didn't."

"How?"

"Because you would have drunk it first."

He started to rise, and stopped.

"The poisoner is still in the palace. Whoever filled that cup walked out of this room minutes ago."

Seok-woo saw him then, through the small barred window above the brazier.

A shadow crossed the plum garden in the early light, quick and low, with something wrapped in its hand.

It was a man in a kitchen boy's apron, running for the north wall.

Seok-woo went out through the window.

He had forgotten he had a body that could move.

He landed in the plum garden in a crouch and ran.

The frozen grass crackled under his feet and the cold air sawed at his lungs.

The man ran faster than any kitchen boy had a right to.

At the wall he jumped and caught the top with both hands.

Seok-woo caught his ankle.

They went down together in a heap of limbs and snow, and a knife flashed, and something hot opened across Seok-woo's ribs.

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