Chapter 2: ...but I will some day...
"A name that women would like?"
"I don't have a name..."
"Is there a name that you have in mind?"
"...Hyeok?"
The boy continued giving him a questioning look as Kim Shin remained dazed while staring at the boy. Young Lee Hyuk started waving his hand in front of the man.
"Hello...? Ajusshi? You still there?"
Shin blinked as he snapped himself out of his daze.
"Oh?" he gasped before turning back towards the kid. "I'm sorry, I just..."
The boy started to scowl horridly at him. "What a rude ajusshi. Was finding out my name that shocking to you?"
Shin immediately shook his head at the boy. "Ah no... I'm just surprised. That name... your name sounded like a name fit for a king!"
This time, it was Hyuk's turn to be taken aback by Shin's words. And to Shin's amusement, he could also see a slight redness forming on the boy's cheeks.
"A-a king? What're you talking about, Ajusshi?"
"I'm not kidding you. Did you know that in the olden days of this country, there were a number of prominent clans that tend to become the ruling family in the old kingdom? Lee was one of the names of such royal clan, Kim... as well," Shin gave the boy a wistful look. "Wang... too."
Wang Yeo...
"Then what's your name, Ajusshi?"
He smiled. "Shin. Kim Shin."
The boy's eyes started to light up.
"Ajusshi, you had a cool name too!"
"...You had a cool name."
Shin let out another smile as his mind recalled a memory of a certain grim reaper.
"I suppose it was—Anyway, your name was a lot better than what those other kids have been calling you before. What's that about?"
The kid just shrugged. "I caught them bullying a classmate a few days ago. I got really angry I walked up to them and told them they're going to face a horrid fate if they don't stop and repent. If you do bad things and die later, there's surely a big punishment coming for you in the afterlife." The kid glanced back to him before shrugging. "Those brats couldn't let go of that and started to bother me instead after that."
Shin snorted in amusement. Why did THAT sound so familiar?
"You must've really hate bullies a lot, don't you?" he asked as the kid nodded his head.
"Yeah... my big bro likes to bully me a lot at home. So I didn't like it if I see other people do it to others," said the boy grumpily.
"Did you say the same thing to your big brother as well?"
The boy gave him an incredulous look. "You crazy? My big bro's much bigger than I am!" Little Lee Hyuk glanced away. "Besides... compared to big bro, those kids were much worse. My big bro? He's just a big ass meany. Those kids? They're bloody awful!"
Again, Shin resisted the urge to frown at the words Hyuk used. "Such language! How old are you actually? Kids your age shouldn't be using such crude words..."
Little Hyuk just shrugged. "I'm 5 this year. And besides, if adults didn't like me using such language they shouldn't be using them carelessly in front of kids like me."
Shin just chuckled. "Fair enough. What did your brother did to you that annoy you so much?"
The kid just rolled his eyes at him. "Big Bro always ignored me when I needed his help the most. But when I didn't want him around the bigass tree wouldn't leave me alone!"
That made him laugh even more. But at the mention of little Hyuk being ignored by the big brother made him think about the past again. And with that, a pang of old guilt started to tug onto his heart again.
"How about this? Would you like to have me by your side as your loyal servant? So next time your big bro started bullying you again you can count on me to defend you."
"Eh?" The boy's face started to become very red. "Really? Why?"
"Because you're my king."
As the boy continued to stare at him in confusion, Shin silently sent a prayer to the heavens above.
Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to meet my king again.
And perhaps, later on, he'll be able to see his little sister again...
And then...
Perhaps his one and only bride as well.