CHAPTER 5
847 Words
He glances at the ground far below.
"Ah, yes. Excellent advice. Perhaps a tad late, though."
She starts to pull him up.
"On three, I'll heave. You better be ready to grab that ledge, Your Highness."
He nods, eyes wide.
"Right. Grab ledge, don't plummet to my doom. Simple enough."
With a mighty heave, Yuna pulls Bimboryeo back onto the ledge.
He clings to the wall, panting.
"Well, that was invigorating! Nothing like a brush with death to get the blood pumping, eh?"
She rolls her eyes.
"Your Highness, with all due respect, save the quips for when we're not dangling off a building."
Shouts from inside grow louder as guards approach the window.
He grins at Yuna.
"Race you to the ground, Captain? Last one there buys the victory drinks!"
She nods, a hint of a smile on her lips.
"You're on, Your Highness. But don't blame me when you're nursing both a bruised ego and an empty coinpurse."
The two make their way along the ledge, descending with surprising agility.
He calls up to Yuna as he takes the lead.
"I hope you brought enough coins, Captain! I have quite the expensive taste in beverages."
She quickens her pace.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Your Highness. I wasn't named the fastest climber in my unit for nothing!"
They reach the ground, narrowly avoiding a patrol of guards.
He touches the ground a split second before Yuna.
"Ha! Victory is mine, along with a fine bottle of Chongsan's finest rice wine!"
She shakes her head, smiling despite herself.
"I should have known better than to challenge royalty. You probably had servants racing you up and down palace walls as a child."
The sound of alarms begins to echo through the streets.
He grabs Yuna's arm, pulling her into a shadowy alley.
"As much as I'd love to regale you with tales of my misspent youth, I believe it's time we made ourselves scarce, comrade."
She raises an eyebrow at the term.
"'Comrade'? My, my, Your Highness. Are you going native on me?"
He winks at her.
"When in Rome, dear Captain. Now, shall we abscond with our ill-gotten gains and return to the loving embrace of Chongsan?"
They weave through back alleys, avoiding patrols with practiced ease.
She glances at Bimboryeo as they run.
"I have to ask, Your Highness. Is this... normal for you? Daring escapes, secret missions?"
He considers for a moment.
"Let's just say I've always had a flair for the dramatic. It drives my brother Yeon Galmu absolutely mad."
She chuckles softly.
"I can only imagine. The stoic warrior and the mischievous prince. You must make quite the pair."
His expression softens.
"We have our moments. Perhaps one day you'll meet him, Captain. I think you two would get along splendidly."
As dawn breaks, they finally reach the outskirts of Chongsan territory.
She lets out a long breath.
"Home sweet home. Or at least, safer ground."
He stretches dramatically.
"Indeed! Now, about that victory drink..."
She exhales sharply.
"That was too close, Your Highness. We need to move, now!"
He steadies himself on the ledge.
"Ah, but where's the fun without a little danger, Captain? Now, shall we give our pursuers a proper farewell?"
Bimboryeo produces a small, ornate cylinder from his sleeve.
She eyes the object warily.
"What in the name of the ancestors is that?"
He winks at her.
"A little parting gift from our Gojhang friends. Cover your ears, my dear Captain."
Bimboryeo tosses the cylinder through the open window. A blinding flash and deafening bang erupt moments later.
She blinks rapidly.
"Your Highness, you're full of surprises today."
He starts shimmying along the ledge.
"I do try to keep things interesting. Now, shall we make our daring escape?"
The pair navigate the treacherous ledge, eventually finding their way to safety.
She slumps against a wall, catching her breath.
"We actually made it. I can't believe we pulled that off."
He straightens his disheveled clothes.
"Never doubt a prince of Chongsan, my dear Captain. Now, let's not keep my father waiting. I'm sure he's eager to hear of our little adventure."
Later, in the royal palace, King Taejo awaits their arrival in the throne room.
He sits regally on his throne.
"Bimboryeo, Captain Yuna, I trust your mission was... fruitful?"
Bimboryeo presents a stack of documents.
"Father, we bring you the secrets of Gojhang's eastern campaign. Though I must say, their security could use some work."
King Taejo leans forward.
"Oh? And I suppose you two had no trouble at all acquiring these documents?"
Captain Yuna steps forward.
"Your Majesty, I can assure you that Prince Bimboryeo's... unconventional methods were instrumental in our success."
Bimboryeo winks at Yuna.
"Unconventional? I prefer to think of them as creatively diplomatic."
He pinches the bridge of his nose.
"I shudder to think what that means. Very well, enlighten me on these 'creatively diplomatic' methods of yours."
He gestures dramatically.
"Well, Father, it involved a daring infiltration, a touch of chaos, and a rather exhilarating escape along a very narrow ledge."
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