by Daju Lee
"How about you, Louie? Will you stay with us?"
"Are you asking me? If so, of course I will." Louie unexpectedly answered in a lively manner and led the way. In a good mood, he walked with long steps across the forest with his long legs.
They passed the palm trees to find a green field, full of roses. Intoxicated with bright colours and fragrances, Louie stood in the middle of the field with his arms wide open.
"Ah, such an enchanting fragrance!" Inhaling deeply, he blinked his eyes.
It was then, that he noticed a castle in the distance. At a glimpse, it was an enormous and grandiose castle. As if possessed by something, Louie began running, without even looking back, with his long coat trailing behind him in the wind.
"Isn't Louie strange?" Almost worrying about him, Jinho asked Juna next to him.
"I can't believe we found a lovely place like this!" Juna gave him an irrelevant answer, caught in the aroma of the roses.
It seemed that Louie had already reached the castle town across the field. At the end of the field stood a thin fortress wall that could be easily climbed over. The castle town was big and the buildings were neatly organized. It was incredible that the townspeople were not suspicious of seeing Jinho and the others. Rather, when their eyes met each other, they smiled and nodded their heads, as if they were welcoming them to their town silently.
All the townsfolk were busy working. The women were bending down, tirelessly doing the laundry around a big well, and the men in the fruit farm were hurrying to harvest. Even the children were working diligently.
The road through the town led to the extravagant castle and they naturally followed it to reach the castle gates. Unexpectedly, there was no gatekeeper in front of it and the thick castle gate, adorned with antique pieces, was wide open.
As they carefully walked inside, a smile could be seen on Juna. A tidily formed garden was laid out in front of her. The trees, tended to by skilful gardeners and the rare flowering plants were arranged by colour. The breathtakingly aromatic smell made their mouth drop. As they passed through the vine tunnel with plump, appetizing green grapes, they discovered a pond with a fountain. On the huge pond floated a luxurious pleasure boat, with the willow trees around the banks, gently swaying in the breeze.
They moved their eyes to see an old man in a suit, greeting them courteously.
"Welcome. I was waiting for you." He pointed at the castle, stroking his silver beard. "Please come inside. Your honourable friend arrived earlier and is waiting for you." The old man requested they call him 'butler Eun' and added that he is ready to assist them with anything.
The castle was almost like a palace. The high ceiling was shining golden with splendid floral patterns and the pillars supporting the ceiling were made of marble statues that one would think they were each a work of art.
"Fascinating!" Juna could not help but be amazed.
Butler Eun guided them to the sitting room on the first floor, which was covered with a red carpet.
"Where is the lord of the castle?" As Daham politely asked, breaking the silence.
Butler Eun bowed and answered promptly:
"It's 'Duke', we don't have a 'Lord' in this castle. If anyone, you are the 'Lord', who has visited us."
The butler's reply, calling Daham 'Lord', was unexpected.
"Then, where is the prison on this island? We have someone to find here."
"Really? But, I am afraid we don't have a prison here, my Lord." He showed his pity in reaction to Jinho's question.
"What do you mean, there's no prison?"
"It won't be too late to have this conversation after you take a rest from the fatigue of your journey."
He left the group, allowing them to sit on a sofa and opened the door opposite to the sitting room.
"What do think of his clothing?"
Before anyone had a chance to answer, Louie appeared from the door, now dressed flamboyantly. He came in, clad ridiculously in a white shirt and pink racy tie. He made a gesture to butler Eun.
"I am getting hungry, prepare our dinner." Louie requested, as if he himself had become the Duke of the castle.
The group was then taken to a dining room with a long table and tall silver candlesticks. The butler helped everyone to sit on the chairs and then left them.
A kind-hearted, chubby cook came out to greet them.
"My Lords, you went through a lot of trouble to come here. We will do our best to serve you well." As he gestured, his servants took out wonderfully prepared dishes in turn.
"Wow!" Smiling with satisfaction, Juna sipped the soup that was first to be served. Since she had been in the Mari, and even possibly in her lifetime, she has never had such delicious food. In the smooth soup, spicy ingredients melted in mouth. The more food came out, the bigger their amazement became.
"This is really the best!" Raising his thumb, Hyun showed his gratitude to the cook. The formal dinner ended with the dessert; appetizingly mature figs and chocolate.
"How was the food?" The butler suddenly appeared and asked carefully.
"It was great. We loved it," Jinho felt content and somewhat regretful at the same time. "But I am afraid that we are causing you inconvenience."
"Don't even say that. Serving visiting Lords is our first priority on this island and we feel good about it." Eun answered humbly.
"I for one surely deserve this service. You think it's easy to meet a noble person like me? People should consider it an honour." Putting on airs, Louie flippantly asked for other things. "Shouldn't you hold a grand feast to greet us?"
The butler Eun accepted it naturally and answered respectfully.
"Absolutely, in fact we were already preparing for it. Especially as Duke Louie has made an appearance, we are more than pleased. His graceful figure and the noble character make us sincerely want to look up to him as the Duke of the castle."
"Does it? Indeed, you have a good insight. As I quite like this place too, I might just stay and become the Duke." Louie laughed broadly.
Listening to their absurd conversation, Jinho broke in losing his temper.
"Louie, we don't have time for a feast, we need to find people!"
Stiffened slightly by his words, Eun stood up and whispered to Jinho:
"Everything here belongs to those who take advantage of it and those who ask for it. If you don't pursue, you cannot own nor can you have it. It depends on you, Lord, whether you take it or not. It is not late to choose after having enjoyed the feast."
Making a meaningful smile, the butler guided the way for Louie.
The banquet took place at the lobby. It was a broad, classically decorated room and the people were dressed in colourful party dress. They welcomed Louie with applause, who came in, opening the curtain. Louie was not shy and returned the greeting by going on one knee and theatrically swinging his arm.
Juna, coming in after Louie, was trying to calm her pounding heart. Eun had handed over a pearl-covered dress to her, saying that it was specially ordered. Getting it, she could not resist shrieking with delight. It was a dress, she had been dreaming of. A small crown hairpin made her look even more marvellous.
"How do I look?"
Juna asked Hyun, his face rosy. Wearing a bow tie, Hyun looked like a gentleman from a noble family.
"You look very beautiful." Excited, his voice changed pitch slightly.
Only Jinho, in a neat suit and a smartly dressed Daham felt awkward, following after them. As they all entered the venue, lively music came out from the banquet hall. To the music, Louie hurried to the centre and started to dance shamelessly as if he were the guest of honour. People delightfully laughed at his dancing. His long arms and legs, allowed him to continuously manage a gangly, awkward dance.
People led Juna and Hyun to the centre. Shy at first, they soon indulged in dancing. Jinho and Daham sat down a chair whose backing was luxuriously decorated and watched over the partygoers. They looked cheerful without a single worry. Even the servants doing errands w
ere in a delightful mood, diligently carrying food.
"Are you not enjoying it, my Lord?"
Trimming his white beard, Eun approached him and asked. Jinho did not miss the chance and answered.
"I was pondering on what you've said. That everything belongs to those who ask for it. If so, is it also possible that we ask you to find the jail?"
Embarrassed slightly for a moment, he soon regained his composure and politely replied.
"Of course. Here, you can get anything you ask for. As long as it exists in this country."
The butler recommended to them champagne that a servant was carrying, passing by. As Jinho and Daham refused it, he moistened his lips with it and continued speaking at full length.
"I am not sure why you are trying to search for a jail but there is no jail on our island. I am afraid I can't help. However, it has been said that there was once a jail before and we have a key to a jail as a relic to prove that fact."
"A key to a jail?" As Jinho asked back, Eun bowed and said:
"I can give it to you if you want. It is a precious relic but we are rather happy to hand it to you if you command." His doubts about Eun servile nature were slightly resolved. It was hard to ask for it since it was a relic but he thanked Eun for it. Eun beamed with pleasure. "It will be ready soon. In the meanwhile, please help yourself at the banquet."
What the butler said did not seem to be lies. In addition, the kindness he was showing did not seem like it was done for any reward. Another thing that made him seem genuine was that the group did not have any valuable possessions. They only had the old Mari and it was very unlikely that this wealthy country coveted it.
If so, is there really no jail in this island as butler Eun said? Daham tilted his head in thought.
The party had become a greater spectacle. Everyone was happy, holding each other's hands, dancing, and faster music was playing. The dancing reached its climax and the music ended soon after. Catching their breath, Juna and Hyun sat down on a chair and the other people flocked around them. Being the centre of attention, smiles did not disappear from their faces. Before the excitement calmed, Eun cleared his throat and came out into the centre of the room.
"Now, it's time to introduce the 'Show of the Night Emperors'. It so happens that we can watch it together with the new Lords, which makes me so much more than happy."
Wearing a smile happily, he continued:
"The Night Emperors are our everlasting stars and light. The 'Show of the Night Emperors' that offers us the energy of life, begins..."
Ending his introduction, he stretched his arm towards the stage where the marbles were placed. Holding their breath, the audience waited for the curtain to be drawn back and for the show to start. At last, the stage curtain was pulled down and clowns with masks appeared. The clowns were varied, dressed as different classes of society. There were some were dressed like nobility, in high-class costumes and some were in robes like a shepherd, bringing sheep to the stage. The members of the performance were all wearing weird masks and only the one with a crown had a mask depicting somebody crying whilst all the others were smiling.
The stage music played quietly. The clowns moved naturally to the music. At first the man with the crown came to the front of the stage area, demonstrating a superior attitude. Then the various classes of people in masks came to the king and began to ingratiate themselves with him. The rude and tough king was not satisfied and was harsh on them.
Lastly, a clown came out and tried to entertain the king with many techniques. While juggling he attempted various acrobatic manoeuvres. Amazed by his movements, the spectators showered him with applause.
As the king in the play showed interest and asked another request, this time three clowns stood up each other's shoulders and started juggling. As one standing on the bottom threw a ball towards the other clowns, the ball in turn reached the top. Seeing the perfect combinations of their juggling up and down, even Jinho let out a cheer.
The music added the feeling of tension that made hearts beat faster. As the speed of juggling accelerated, shouts of 'bravo' and other encouragement came out from the audience.
Only the king in the play was lying down and watching it indifferently. Then, accidentally, the clown on the bottom could not catch the ball, losing his focus and dropping it. The bounced ball hit an eye of the sheep that the shepherd brought and the sheep started to jump, startled. It rushed towards the king right away and the king fell backward, failing to avoid it.
The scene made the spectators laugh heartily. More agitated by the people's laugh, it butted the king's head. The crown fell down by the impact and the king wrapped his head in his hands.
The servants tried to catch the enraged sheep, but it ran everywhere, stepping on the king, who had fallen. As the clowns tried to catch the sheep, the king fell down and was hit by it. The king, who started the play in a fancy costume, ended the performance looking a little ragged.
During the curtain call, all the clowns came out, throwing the balls towards the spectators and disappeared behind the curtain. As the comedy the 'Show of the Night Emperors' ended, the people invited ready to leave, all satisfied with the performance.
It was the next morning that Eun brought to Jinho an antique box. "Lord Jinho, did you sleep well last night?"
Still giving a polite morning salutation, he bowed until Jinho got out of the bed. Jinho had slept like a log, on the cosy bed and in the warm night air. Having exchanged opinions with Daham last night, his mind was light as well.
However, seeing Eun, he still felt uneasy. He was unsure that he could fully trust in him and pledged to search for the jail without help from Eun. It felt like they were being rude by rejecting his kindness.
"Here is the key of the jail, as we discussed."
Eun carefully opened the box and took out a rusty bronze key. Not having been used for a long time, it left blue rust on the butler's white gloves.
"Ah, thank you."
Jinho, in his unease, showed his gratitude and hastened to put the key back into the box, feeling somehow sorry.
"Then I will wish you have a good day." Leaving and looking back, he said in a friendly manner: "Oh yes, if you'd like to know more about the jail, feel free to ask whenever. I'll sincerely help you as much as I can." Greeting again with a nod, he left Jinho's room.
Juna had been playing tennis with Louie since early that morning. In a white skirt, and moving lightly, she looked quite lively. Watching it from the terrace, Jinho asked Daham and Hyun standing by him.
"Are you sure that the sailor Dora is locked here?"
"I surely saw that he was floating in the direction of this island. Based on the fact that the Mari led us to here, it must be correct."
Daham calmly continued: "But what Eun said didn't seem like a lie. He is not a bad person. I guess the Mari just stopped by here to take a rest."
Hyun shook his head and said:
"It's not impossible although very unlikely. I wish I hadn't become weak so that I can feel Dora's presence more easily."
Not fully recovering his Strong power yet, Daham spoke slowly, feeling regretful. "Hyun, come down here. Let's walk around the gardens."
After the tennis, Juna came up and called Hyun. Hesitating for a while, Hyun followed after him as Jinho nodded his head.
"Daham, have a look at the island first. If there really isn't a jail, we should leave the island. We don't have time to waste."
Nodding his head, Daham agreed with Jinho. "You are right. Even a single day can't be wasted."
The map was quite well detailed. The whole island in the map looked like a long sweet potato, and the towns were developed in all directions with the castle in its centre. The blueprints to the castle even indicated a secret door and passage. Handing over the blueprints, Eun told them that it is an emergency door in preparation for war.
"How about taking a look here first?" Jinho asked Daham, pointing at the secret door.
The door was placed in the
corner of the kitchen where the cooks were working busily. As they pushed a cutlery drawer aside, a tiny door was discovered. They opened and entered it to find a dome shaped passage piled up with bricks. It was so narrow that only one person could enter at a time and shortly afterwards, connected to a manhole in the garden. To their disappointment, that was it for the secret door.
There was no such thing like a jail in the blueprint and nor was there any more secret passages added after the blueprints were made. Even though they thoroughly searched from the basement to the ground and even the tower, they could not find anything.
Coming out of the castle, Jinho called upon the Strong powers. Gaining confidence in his ability, Jinho imagined it step by step. The 'cloak's busy routines' were easily remembered, and were enjoyable to imagine. He imagined a black silk cloak was put on his shoulders. Wearing it made Jinho able to move his body quickly. It took its toll on his mind, busily moving around alone, but it saved a lot of time, as opposed to exploring on foot.
Wearing the cloak, he was able to see the entire island. Fortunately, after several tours of the island, the jail could not be found, just as the butler had alluded. It was of no help to ask the townspeople. Jinho and Daham eventually came to admit that there is no prison in this place. It means that neither his father nor Dora were here.
Coming back to the castle, Jinho found himself feeling a little relieved. He had hoped that Eun had not lied. Now it was time to go back to the Mari. He felt a little worried to try and persuade Louie to return, as he was so comfortable on the island. Daham did not look quite content in leaving the island, but obediently accepted Jinho's decision.
