# Side Story 10
(If Ludin were king)
Kadilen heaved a deep sigh looking at the chaotic appearance of the palace. He was already missing the calm air of the temple and the leaves swaying with the wind. Several years had passed since he left this place, and since then, he had never ventured this far from the temple. He, who had been secluded in the mountains focusing solely on training, had mounted a horse to celebrate the new king’s accession to the throne.
To be precise, it was closer to vigilance than celebration.
“There are many faces we haven’t seen in a long time.”
Wimu, who had been walking silently beside him, spoke up. It was indeed a remarkable event. The sole heir who had received Zendal’s immense affection during his lifetime. As soon as the news spread that he had seized royal authority, corrupt officials who had been hiding everywhere emerged as if they had been waiting. The king’s coronation ceremony continued for as long as three days, and even today, on the tail end, the area around the castle gate was crowded with people carrying expensive gifts.
“Foolish ones.”
“Perhaps this king will be different. At least when he was close to me, he was an excellent person.”
“Right, you said you were friends?”
“Yes.”
Kadilen recalled the vague image of Ludin that had once flashed by. It was on a battlefield even more chaotic than this, but the small smile shown while swinging his sword had a charm that instantly captivated one’s gaze even from atop a fast-running horse. Had he not been Zendal’s son, and furthermore, the heir who monopolized his father’s love, he might have had a gentler heart. But Kadilen had people left to protect, and the new king, who had inherited everything from Zendal, was someone who could take away that peace at any time. There was nothing to gain by lowering his guard.
“We’ll know once we meet. A person’s true heart is revealed in their eyes.”
In a calm but cold tone, Kadilen honed the blade deeply concealed within him.
* * *
“Kadilen… is it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
However, Ludin’s eyes, when viewed head-on, had a light quite different from what Kadilen had expected. Feeling the sharp tension slowly release, Kadilen, unlike before, scrutinized the king’s complexion with somewhat cautious signs. A man with a much more refined impression than he remembered sat on the throne with a neat posture. His eyes, which revealed wisdom and intelligence, curved innocently whenever he showed a faint smile. Despite wearing modest attire unlike Zendal, Kadilen’s heart was moved by his appearance that sparkled as if receiving light. He bowed his head respectfully.
“I have come to see you belatedly.”
“Yes, a bit late.”
Ludin muttered. Seeing Kadilen narrowing his eyes at the unexpected response, Ludin slightly reddened.
“It’s nothing. Is your accommodation uncomfortable?”
“I am staying comfortably, thanks to you.”
“Not as much as the temple, I suppose.”
Kadilen’s head lifted again. Ludin, looking down at him with a slightly playful tone, detached his waist slightly from the splendid throne to approach Kadilen closer. With the changed angle of his body, thin fabric and light brown hair flowed down. Kadilen, who had momentarily forgotten courtesy and was staring at the pale white face of the king, heard the small whisper created as his lips parted.
“You must miss many things. Right?”
“No. The quarters provided are more than comfortable…”
“Tonight, come to my office.”
Ludin cut off his words abruptly and commanded in a low voice. While Kadilen, with a perplexed expression, was contemplating a polite refusal, Ludin returned to his proper face as if nothing had happened. With all playfulness and smiles gone from his face, he lightly gestured to the court attendant and spoke without even glancing at Kadilen.
“Next.”
Thus, Kadilen quietly left the king’s side with an incomprehensible feeling. After a few steps, as he turned to look at Ludin again, he saw the next in line, a noble couple, hurriedly walking to the throne with a large box. Ludin was staring at Kadilen over them.
* * *
“When Ludin was your friend, what kind of person was he?”
Kadilen, with a somewhat dazed expression, asked Wimu. To the question of his master, who had been particularly silent for a long time after visiting the king, Wimu answered carefully but honestly.
“He was intelligent. He cared for the lowly places, and was also talented in martial arts, so no one doubted he would become a good king in the future.”
“…Not that kind of thing.”
“Then what aspect are you asking about?”
Kadilen, uncharacteristically ambiguous, mumbled his words.
“Was he like that then too? I mean…”
Wimu tilted his head at his prolonged contemplation. His master was someone who was rarely vague. Clearer than anyone else, like a target for arrows, that was Kadilen. Yet such a person seemed to be hesitating as if unable to make up his mind about something. With a surprised and somewhat worried face at this unfamiliar appearance, Wimu silently waited for his master’s words to continue. But Kadilen quietly turned his head without saying anything definite.
“Nevermind. I’ll be going.”
Without even subduing his confused feelings, time flowed until it became dark night. Kadilen carefully advanced into the darkness to keep his appointment with Ludin, or more precisely, to follow his command. Wimu, who was left behind, saw him off with a puzzled expression. Thinking that it was unimaginable to see Kadilen flustered, he decided to ask about the reason when he returned, and quietly closed the door.
* * *
When Kadilen arrived at the king’s office, the court attendant was standing in front of the door waiting for him. After confirming Kadilen’s face, he nodded quietly. Next, Kadilen entered through the large door, composing himself, and instinctively reacted to the blade that struck instantly.
Clang-
In a place where only dim lamps provided faint light, their swords clashed several times. Kadilen, who defended himself without even blinking at the sudden attack, drove his opponent back with full force without even confirming their face. Attempting to assassinate the king on his coronation day—what kind of madman would do such a thing? A brief thought flashed by, but he couldn’t easily subdue his formidable opponent due to their fierce counterattack. Only after the sound created by fluttering clothes and swords cutting through empty space echoed through the room several more times could Kadilen finally restrain him completely.
Having completely deflected his staggering opponent’s sword, Kadilen roughly pushed him against the wall. A small groan escaped from his opponent’s mouth, perhaps from the pain of his back hitting hard. Kadilen glared at him coldly. Soon, the face of the unknown opponent was slightly revealed in the foggy moonlight coming through the window.
Deep silence. And then…
“…I’m sorry.”
He released Ludin’s shoulder with a surprised face. The heavy breaths of the two filled the quiet space after their intense movements. Ludin smirked while regulating his breathing. Like someone who had been waiting for something.
“As expected. You’re good.”
“…”
“Sorry. You must have been surprised.”
Kadilen thought that his wildly beating heart was indeed due to the great surprise. It was most surprising that he, who rarely became perplexed or lost his composure, could experience such a large emotional fluctuation. Ludin, who had been observing Kadilen standing silently, dusted off his clothes and gulped down water from the table. Watching his small Adam’s apple bobbing, Kadilen recalled the pale white face reflected in the faint moonlight. The light sweat beading on it, the chest heaving with rough breaths, and the red lips that had smiled slightly.
“I just wanted to try it once. I had been looking forward to it a lot even before meeting you.”
“To what…may I ask.”
“This.”
Ludin slightly nodded towards the sword he was holding. Kadilen gazed blankly at his flushed face.
“And I also wanted to talk about the temple.”
“…”
“To get straight to the point, I won’t touch it.”
Kadilen’s expression changed at the unexpected topic. Ludin finished the remaining water and slowly approached him again. Sweat-soaked hair and thin nightclothes clung to his body. Whenever the moonlight seeping through the window frame and the vague lamp illumination brushed against Ludin’s body, Kadilen awkwardly lowered his gaze to the floor.
“That’s what you were worried about, right? That I might break your peace anytime, just like my father.”
“…It’s true that I was concerned.”
“I won’t. Not just that, I will never touch anything that makes you happy.”
“…”
Towards Kadilen, who still couldn’t easily fix his gaze, Ludin slowly extended his hand. His fingers brushed against Kadilen’s silver hair and touched his cool cheek.
“But there’s a condition.”
“…”
“Let me visit your temple.”
Kadilen’s dark eyes gently traced the king’s entire body. During that brief time staring at his secretive appearance, Kadilen thought that perhaps everything about himself might change from now on. Because a curiosity and desire he had never felt before rose like the sea towards this person who held the highest place in the country.
