You know the feeling when there is an idea which you couldn't get off your head. But you don't have enough time or motivation to make it become something more than just a mere idea/fantasy.
Anyway, this will not be a complete fanfic but just a scrabble developed from my mere humble fantasy and inspired by the fanfic "Let me in the walls (you've built around)" by ladyfriday. Seriously, I've waited for her updates for weeks and I'm still waiting (Please update your fic, ladyfriday). Back to the main point, this will be a scrabble and not a full story. There will be less descriptions, less conversations, less digging into character's emotions. I'll just tell the story in general (sometimes go in detail, if I feel like it). In a whole, I just want to relieve my bottled stress after watching MLSHR...
So if you're reading this then thank you for reading!
The story will be diverged from the scene Wang Soo helped Hae Soo running away from her arranged marriage then stopped by Jimong, royal guards and Hae clan.
Jimong announced that, the king had accepted Hae clan's proposal of marrying a Hae clan's daughter into royal family to strengthen their bond. Since the last unmarried Hae daughter was Hae Soo, she must come back to prepare for her marriage. Anyone going against the king would have the death penalty, even they were princes.
Hae Soo decided to follow them back despite Wang So's opposition.
Start of divergence
Hae Soo went with the Hae clan's people to the guesthouse of the palace, isolated enough from the princes and close enough to the king. She was escorted to a small room with guards standing outsides. After a moment of bewilderment, the door burst opened and came in Court ladies leading by Court Lady Oh. The old lady scanned Hae Soo whose face was full of scares, from head to toes then turned to one of Hae people :
"How old is she?" She asked with a frown
"She is 16 already, just of age"
Court Lady Oh with her straight face, told other court ladies: "Help young Lady with her bath. And be careful! There mustn't be a scar on her body, in case she becomes the king's woman"
The court ladies walked in and helped Hae Soo in spite of the girl's objection when the head court lady of Damiwon walked out with Hae people.
"She is the little orphan that Myung Hee had been taking care of?' The lady asked but it was more a statement than a question.
"Indeed she is" One of Hae people answered. Now they were all sitting in the living room of the guesthouse.
"Does she want to get married to any specific prince?" Court lady Oh questioned but Hae people stayed silent while looking down at the ground. She frowned "You force her into a marriage?" The others started whispering, which confirmed the answer. Her frown went deeper "You all know that even without a marriage, the king will keep a strong bond with Hae clan. He will never abandon the Hae"
More whisperings.
"We know" One of them raised his voice "But the king is getting older" The court lady widened eyes in disbelief. She immediately understood what the conversation was driving at. "We are showing our loyalty to him by supporting any prince whom he wants to put on the throne"
"It will be the crown prince who inherits the throne"
"You live in the palace but you don't understand the politics. The crown prince may be the king one day but he won't sit there for long. The king must prepare a "second crown prince". And we'll support that prince."
"Don't think that I don't know a thing. The Hae is a powerful clan. Your move might raise suspicions among other clans and the princes. It's too dangerous when you want to involve in the game of thrones"
"We never want to involve in such game. If we had ever wanted, the Hae and the Hwangbo could have put 8th prince on the crown prince seat long time ago. Hwangbo's greed has no end. Though it's immoral to say this after Myung Hee's death but we're glad to untie the bond with Hwangbo clan"
Court Lady Oh sighed deeply when the Hae people acclaimed "We just want to be loyal to the present king. Support whoever he wants"
The court lady thought of the poor girl who soon would be sacrificed for the wants of the king. Myung Hee had been lucky enough to decide her own marriage. But this child would not be. Which life would be waiting her ahead? She didn't dare to think about.
Jimong was quick witted. He understood the intentions of the Hae. But they didn't understand the king at all. At this moment, the king just want to reinforce the position of the "first" crown prince. He didn't have time to think of the "second" crown prince. And any wrong move might put both of his crown princes in a disadvantage position. Hae Soo may be a wasted sacrifice and he couldn't let it happen. Therefore, he let the rumors spread: The king will marry the Hae daughter.
And then the princes went crazy, tried to stopped their 60 year-old father from marrying the 16 year-old girl, just like how they supposed to do when Hae Soo must really get married to the king (plead the queens, demand Jimong to change the king's mind...)
When none of their pleads was granted, 8th prince came to the guesthouse, asked to see Hae Soo but being stopped by the Hae's guards. Meanwhile, 4th prince knew the only man could convince the king was no one but Jimong. So he waited outside the King's chamber when Jimong walked in, asking for the king's decree regarding the Hae's proposal.
"I'll marry the Hae daughter then?" The king asked once seeing Jimong hesitantly walk in
"Please forgive me, your Majesty. I just want to distract people's attentions" Jimong shyly explained
"I see. But I cannot give a marriage with the Hae to any prince right now. It's either drawing attention or giving a wrong message." The king left out a deep sigh.
"It's all because of the Hae clan and their eagerness of showing loyalty..." Jimong said with reproaching voice
"Well, it's not totally them to be blamed. When 8th prince's wife died, it's natural for a clan to proposed another marriage. Actually, this is the time drawing the least attention. It must be the heaven's will"
"It's more about your will, your Majesty"
King Taejo closed his eyes "Is my will the heaven's will? Then I need a reason"
"Actually the heaven has already prepared a reason for you" Jimong smiled brightly
Before Jimong left to prepare the king's decree, the king called him back to ask a final question
"Who is she?"
"Lady Hae Soo, your Majesty" Jimong's answer received a nod from the king.
4th prince ran to the guesthouse with the piece of information that the king wouldn't marry Hae Soo. All the Hae were surprised but they still refused to release Hae Soo with the reason of lacking the king's official decree.
Then the sound of breaking ceramics could be heard from the small guarded room, followed by loud shrieks of the maids. The princes pushed off the guards, kicked the door open, only to see Hae Soo clutching her bloody cut-open wrist
"Now I can't be the king's woman anymore because of this scar" She said with breathless voice before collapsing.
8th prince with his quick move caught her just in time when the 4th prince watched the scene in disbelief. The Hae were in chaos, asking people to summon Court Lady Oh.
Hae Soo didn't die but fell in a deep slumber when she had the visions of the deaths of the kings of Goryeo, remembered Gwangjong as a bloody monarch. His face was blurred when she suddenly woke up from the vision. The first person she saw once opening her eyes was the old court lady.
"I haven't died?" She asked quietly when feeling the throbbing pain on her wrist
"No. You haven't." The Lady answered. "And as your wish, you won't marry the king"
"Fortunately" her lips curled up a weak smile.
"Fortunately?" Court lady Oh stopped washing the cloth in her hand "Haven't you thought about the consequences of your action?"
"I am not dead, aren't I?"
"No, you aren't. But many people may die." She gave Soo a stern look. "Do you know which punishment your whole clan may be given, when you go against the king's will? As a noble lady, your body, your life, your fate don't belong to own yours. Didn't Myung Hee teach you this or she spoiled you too much?"
"Who are you?" Hae Soo asked in confusion
"It's not important who I am. But you need to reflect on your impulsive action. Cutting your wrist is not only about killing yourself but also dragging a lot of innocent children in your clan under the blade of death."
Court Lady Oh said those words then left, leaving Hae Soo behind with deep dilemma. She just wanted to live in this era but never thought about her responsibilities. Hae Soo's responsibilities. And then came back the visions. Suddenly, she realized that she had chance to relive in this era must be for some reasons. It was not simple for her to relive and find her own happiness in this world, was it?
The other princes were all gathered in the guesthouse, looking forward to seeing Hae Soo again, when the Hae finally received an official decree from the king.
Jimong read out loud the king's will:
Following Hae clan's proposal, the king had accepted to marry Lady Hae Soo to the royal family. However because of misunderstanding, Lady Hae Soo went against the king's decision and ran away with 4th prince Wang So. This action is unforgivable but the king is well known for his generous kind heart, he acknowledged Lady Hae Soo's deep feelings for 4th prince Wang So and grants the marriage for 2 of them. Notwithstanding, their wedding will be suspended as a punishment for their impulsive actions. Lady Hae Soo, fiancée of 4th prince, will live in the palace to learn royal manners. Other people of Hae clan should come back home and only come to SongAk when the king give a call.
All the prince were in the state of shock, frozen dead in their spot until everything clicked on: Hae Soo was 4th prince's fiancée.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!