This story is inspired by The Fool's Journey in The Major Arcana. In reference to the meaning of Tarot cards, the information was extracted from learntarotdotcom
Disclaimer: I own nothing
The Fool, a card of beginnings. The Fool stands for each of us as we begin our journey of life. He is a fool because only a simple soul has the innocent faith to undertake such a journey with all its hazards and pain. He is ready to embrace whatever comes his way, but he is also oblivious to the cliff edge he is about to cross.
The Fool is unaware of the hardships he will face.
15-year-old bride, Hae Soo didn't know what to expect from a marriage, especially from the political one of her. Dressing on the red hanbok, climbing inside the flowery carriage, the Hae girl was taken to SongAk for the wedding after a tearful goodbye with her dearest cousin, Myung Hee.
Being an orphan, Hae Soo knew her fate wasn't lied in her hand, but being decided by her "uncles". They said a marriage with the royal family would strengthen Hae clan's political status on court. Then because of the tight bond between the Hae and the Hwangbo, Hae Soo would become 8th prince Wang Wook's wife.
She never met him, 8th prince. Yet through rumors, and 13th prince Baek Ah's words, prince Wang Wook was a well educated, caring and considerate person. The nicest one among 25 princes of King Taejo. He appeared good husband material.
Hae Soo blinked, staring into the dark brown eyes of her new husband when he lifted the red veil up. There was gentleness and sincerity in his eyes and the crooked smile on his lips.
"Nice to meet you, my Lady" The prince knelt down at her eyes level then clasped her hands into his "From now on, my house will be yours"
Soo's heart didn't beat faster or feeling butterfly in her stomach. But it was just their first meeting, she shouldn't have much expectation. His warm welcome was more than enough.
Relationship must be built over time.
She knew 8th prince expected nothing from her. She was too young, too innocent, oblivious to the politics, the royal family and even married life. All the prince desired was the support of her clan. However, Hae Soo wanted to show him her effort.
In exchange for the title of 8th prince's wife, the shelter and comfort Prince Wook provided her, Hae Soo tried her best to take royal etiquette lessons from Princess Yeon Hwa - her sister in law. Yet the Hae girl failed miserably. Brought up by Myung Hee, she had lived a carefree, spontaneous life for 15 years. All the rules and manners strained her tolerance to the limit.
SongAk was simply not suitable for her.
Hae Soo might not want to disappoint Wook, yet she didn't want to lose herself for an arranged marriage, either. So the girl ensconced herself in her own quater, barely showed up in public, only made presence when being needed, rarely talked to anyone but Chaerung, her handmaiden. She developed her hobbies of planting herbs and making cosmetics. She could have her own simple insouciant life there, faraway from spying eyes of people.
As long as, 8th prince was not embarrassed by her, it was fine for them.
"There's rumor that 8th prince's wife was on her sick bed" 13th prince lifted a cup of wine up to his lips while smirking at his drinking buddy "Who knows that she has sneaked out to drink with his younger brother like this?"
Hae Soo smiled wryly as she gazed up at his face "If you don't like my company, I can return back to my sick bed" She was about to stand up when Baek Ah's hand came to pull her down.
"No, no. I didn't mean it like that" He exclaimed urgently then poured another cup for Soo. "What I meant is why do you have to hide yourself? To outsiders, I can understand, but even to people in 8th hyung's household?" 13th prince noticed Soo pulled the hood lower to hide her face once he mentioned her husband. "I almost choked up this afternoon when Yeon Hwa nuin said you became mute."
"Why bother to talk when no one wants to listen to you" Soo shrugged nonchalantly. She indeed became mute in front of Yeon Hwa. Whenever opening her mouth, she would say something wrong to the princess. It would be better to not say anything at all.
Seldom could people hear Lady Hae Soo's voice. She only spent her words on people she cared for. In SongAk, there were Baek Ah, Chaerung and sometimes 8th prince. She appeared a good listener for her husband.
As long as 8th prince wasn't bothered by her, it was fine for them.
Months turned to years. 3 years since their first meeting, Hae Soo hadn't figured out what was the relationship between her and 8th prince yet. Normatively, they were husband and wife. They treated each other with kindness and respect. 8th prince was still caring and considerate as always. Meanwhile, Hae Soo tried to see him more on the husband side. But something was still missing between them, something she couldn't pinpoint.
"It's love, my Lady" Chaerung innocently commented which made Soo look up from Baek Ah's latest letter for her. "Are you in love with our prince?"
Soo stayed silent like many times when she wanted to ignore the maid. But this time she stayed silent because she didn't have the answer for Chaerung's question. She pulled papers and pen out to write a reply for 13th prince. At the end of the letter, Hae Soo added: How to know if you are in love with someone?
Baek Ah was the only prince got permission from the king to travel across the country. He saw many lives, befriended with a lot of people, experienced plenty things. He must have the answer for her question.
Her handmaiden was the letter deliverer.
Several days later, Chaerung didn't have to deliver a response from 13th prince for her Lady. But the younger prince came to 8th prince's manor himself. And there wasn't only 13th prince but other princes as well.
That was the first time Hae Soo paid attention to what was happening in the palace. Because the event was too big to not notice.
The crown prince had been poisoned to death.
Not a single soul in SongAk didn't talk about it.
Hae Soo's question was pushed in the back of her head as her husband was stressful with all the debates on court and among the princes. Prince Wook never discussed politics with her since he had Princess Yeon Hwa to do that work. However, he would come to her in order to have his heavy heart soothed. That was the first time, he slept on the same bed with Soo with his head on her laps. How much stress he must bear, Hae Soo wondered.
That was also the first time, she had chance to watch her husband closely and attentively. 8th prince was indeed handsome. That might explain why many women in SongAk were jealous of her for being his wife. But was she in love with her husband? Hae Soo spent the whole night thinking about it. The answer didn't come to her.
The next day, Chaerung told her Lady about the hottest topic circulating in SongAk at that moment: The king had quietly summoned 4th prince Wang So back from Shinju. People had seen the prince riding his horse to the palace.
It seemed the news startled all the princes, including her 8th prince and his sister Yeon Hwa, because they had left the manor very early in the morning.
Hae Soo wanted to ask who was this 4th prince, but the question couldn't escape her throat.
Unexpectedly, Baek Ah's letter reached her that day, saying he would like to meet her at their usual meeting point.
2 years ago, the two had come to realization that a tavern was too revealed for their meeting as she had to wear hood all the time. While a relationship between a brother and his sister in law (purely friendly or not) was a taboo at that time, they were obliged to find a new place to meet up. The younger prince had discovered a cave near the bathing lake of Damiwon, so they chose it as their meeting point.
Hae Soo took her cloak then sneaked out that evening. It wasn't her first time, yet she was extremely careful.
Drawing in a deep breath, Hae Soo took her steps in the cave. 13th prince was nowhere in sight so she patiently waited.
Baek Ah nim was never late. Soo noted the time as anxiety rose inside her. Her eyes stared at the other end of the cave leading to the palace, where the prince should emerge. She'd never once treaded over that side for two years and tonight it seemed there was a force pulling her toward it. Soo shook her head, silently said no to herself.
However, after 2 hours of waiting, she found herself at the cave's end, entrance to Damiwon's royal bath lake. She had gone over the border, but it was too late now.
Non aware of the slippery steppingstone, Hae Soo missed her first step at the lake edge and ungracefully fell in the water. She struggled for a while before being able to stand back on her feet. Catching her breaths and opening her eyes, startlingly, she met another pair of eyes full of shock at her presence in this bathing lake.
Soo noticed his eyes first before having full sight of his visage where the left face had a long deep scar. Then before she could realize it, the nake man before her reached out, strangled the girl by his bare hand.
Soo's mind rang danger alarm, wishing her best friend Baek Ah to come and rescue her. The hand on her neck tightened. She didn't wish for Baek Ah anymore but anyone, anyone could come and save her.
"Help" Soo managed to whisper the word faintly as a tear rolled down on her cheek.
And the hold strangling her loosened.
The man leaned down closer to her face, hissing his warning "If anyone knows about this encounter, I will hunt you down to the end of the world"
His hand slowly left her neck. Before Hae Soo recovered from the frightening shock, the man had left without a trace or clue of his identity.