Note: With regards to the timeline, I've chosen to follow the manga to an extent. This follows chapter 130 of the manga, right after princess Tao's mansion burns to the ground. I'll be deviating from the main plot from here on out. Thank you!

I own nothing in this story except the plot and the OCs.

Chapter I : The Hunt Begins


"The stars are shining brightly tonight," Yona murmured.

Hak glanced sideways at her. The two were standing outside of the cave they had taken refuge in. Behind them, Hak could hear the sounds of their companions talking loudly. Algira was particularly boisterous as he played with his kittens.

"I've never asked you this, but what are you planning to do?" Hak asked. Yona glanced at him. "About Princess Tao's request. She wants you to relay her message on to Soo-Won." His jaw clenched. Even now, he couldn't say Soo-Won's name without feeling both betrayed and enraged.

Yona glanced up at the skies again. Princess Tao's men had brought her and her friends into Xing at the former's request. The princess planned on making Xing a vassal state of Kouka; however, princess Tao's sister, princess Kouren, wouldn't hear of it.

"I can't say whether or not her decision is the right one," Yona murmured. "Princess Tao is willing to surrender the pride of her nation so her people can live—if Soo-Won chose to invade Xing. Princess Kouren wants to fight for their kingdom, even though it might mean death to many of their people."

"I'm not asking about them," Hak said. "I'm asking about you."

Yona clenched her fists. She had once told Lili that she wanted to understand Soo-Won, to know what his motives were. There was a part of her that refused to believe that the sweet and kind boy of her childhood was gone for good, that it had all been a lie. She wanted to understand him, yes…

But could she forgive him?

"I…do not think Soo-Won is a bad king," she said slowly. She thought of what he had done for Kouka so far—he had made the country strong, united the five tribes, even managed to make Sei a vassal nation. "I think he will listen to princess Tao's request."

Hak studied her. The sight of her under the starlight made his heart clench, but the sadness in her eyes also made him angry. Would that sadness never go away? I don't know your reasons, Soo-Won, he thought. But as long as Yona can never smile from her heart, I can never forgive you.


The koi fish swam lazily in the pond at his feet. Soo-Won studied them intently. For a moment, he envied how carefree a life they must lead. A simple life, one without problems, without betrayals, without pain.

"There you are!" Soo-Won glanced behind him. Lili was standing a few feet away from him, her hands on her hips, her two guards Ayura and Tetora by her side.

"Ah, Lady Lili, you shouldn't address the King so informally!" Tetora said, visibly distressed.

"It's all right," Soo-Won reassured as he smiled at them. "Is there anything I can do for you, Lady Lili?"

His face really is like tofu, Lili thought. Ayura gently nudged her foot as though she could read her mistress's mind.

"Ayura, Tetora," Lili said. Both her friends bowed, before taking their leave.

Please don't do anything rash, Lady Lili! they both thought.

Soo-Won raised his brows questioningly as Lili approached. To his surprise, she sat on the edge of the pond, watching the koi fish swim lazily under the waters. "I heard that your fiancée will be coming today," Lili said quietly, staring at the fish.

"Ah." Soo-Won sat down beside her. "Yes, she is. The captain of her guard sent word yesterday."

"What's she like?" Lili asked, glancing up at him. "Is she pretty? Is she kind? Is she stubborn?"

Soo-Won shook his head. "I honestly don't know."

Lili made a face at him. "She's going to be your wife!" she huffed. "Aren't men supposed to find out what kind of woman they're going to be marrying?"

Soo-Won raised his hands, as though to shield himself from her indignation. "I…"

Lili made a dismissive noise. "At the very least, do you think you might love her?" In all honesty, Lili was driven to ask for Yona's sake. She knew her friend loved Soo-Won, felt that she still did.

Soo-Won suddenly looked embarrassed. "I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I've…never had any experience with romance at all."

Lili frowned at him. There was a look in his eyes that made her think he was lying. "So, you've never loved anyone before? Isn't there anyone you like?"

"Well…I like people," Soo-Won said, almost sheepishly.

Lili threw up her hands in exasperation. "You're hopeless!" she declared as she stood. She marched off, but stopped in her tracks. She glanced behind her. Soo-Won had stood and was looking at her with a clueless expression on his pillowy tofu-like face. She wanted to ask him outright, but he had warned her about saying her name within the palace walls. Ah, well, she was An Lili—when had she ever listened?

"Didn't you love Yona?"

Soo-Won's eyes widened with unconcealed shock. What was that look Lili saw in his eyes? Regret? Pain? Both? Or was she imagining it? There was no sound between them but the rushing of the wind and the rippling of water, and she wished he would say something. Maybe she had gone too far?

Soo-Won opened his mouth, but before he could say something, a loud voice boomed from behind them.

"Your highness!"

Lili and Soo-Won jumped, and turned towards the edge of the pond. Lili's eyes widened in surprise, and her face visibly reddened. A man stood glaring at them both. He had short dark hair, and a scar on his right cheek. He made no effort to hide his displeasure at the king, whom he had been trying to find for the past hour.

He's…hot! Lili thought.

"Ah, General Joo-doh," Soo-Won said, grinning at him.

"Your highness! I've been looking for you for an hour now!" Joo-doh snapped. Catching sight of Lili, he composed himself. "Lady Lili," he greeted, but turned his glare back to Soo-Won.

He called me Lady Lili, Lili thought. "General Joo-doh," she said demurely, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I trust you're doing well?"

Soo-Won blinked at her, once again looking like a bewildered owl. He glanced from her to Joo-doh, and suddenly remembered the kind of men she preferred. That's why she's so modest all of a sudden, he thought.

"I'm well, thank you," Joo-doh said gruffly, barely able to conceal his impatience. He turned back to Soo-Won, who was still staring at Lili with a dumbstruck expression.

"General Joo-doh—" Soo-Won began.

"Don't General Joo-doh me!" the general snapped, and a large sweat-drop formed on Soo-Won's forehead. "I've been looking for you for an hour now! The captain of princess Takiko's guard has sent word—they're nearing the city gates."


Soo-Won stood on the steps of the palace, his green eyes sweeping the crowd before him, composed mostly of his officials and soldiers. On either side of him stood the generals of the five tribes of Kouka, as well as elder Mundok. He wore robes of gold, and upon his head gleamed the crown of Kouka. They had gathered at the palace courtyard to welcome the princess from Shinra—his future bride.

His mind, however, was elsewhere.

He thought back to the question Lili had unexpectedly thrown at him. Don't you love Yona?

Soo-Won closed his eyes as the gates of the palace opened. No, he thought. When this crown was placed upon my head, I vowed I will no longer doubt myself. There are greater things to worry about than such matters. He opened his eyes and glanced up at the sky. "You are a cruel person, uncle Il," he said quietly.

He turned his gaze towards the palace gates as the emissaries from Shinra entered. Seven soldiers on mounted horses were the first to arrive. Six of them bore the banners of the crest of the Sairou clan, Shinra's current ruling family—a purple chrysanthemum within a circle.

Soo-Won studied the seven approaching soldiers closely. He was surprised to find that they were all women in armor. The woman in the middle, whose horse approached first, caught his eye. She wore no armor, and bore no banner. Instead, she wore purple robes bound by a red sash, with riding boots. On her back was strapped a guandao. Though she looked to be younger than him, her expression was stern.

He turned his attention to the other soldiers who followed the first seven. He estimated it was a company of around eighty soldiers. Considering how he'd heard that the Emperor of Shinra doted on his younger sister, he had expected more. But then again, he had heard the Shinra soldiers were highly skilled. He would have to see for himself. His eyes moved beyond the company of soldiers, expecting to see the princess's palanquin, but to his surprise, there was none.

"Where is the princess?" General Kyo-ga murmured beside him.

Ignoring him, Soo-Won addressed the company of soldiers before him. "I bid you welcome to the Kingdom of Kouka," he said, taking a step forward. "Allow me to extend to you the warm hand of friendship and hospitality, and may our two kingdoms prosper under the eyes of the gods."

"And we accept your welcome." Soo-Won turned his eyes to the woman at the head of the first seven soldiers. She dismounted her horse and bowed low to him. Soo-Won studied her closely. Half of her dark hair was pulled back by a ribbon, the other half fell down to her back. Her eyes were a dark shade of brown with an expression he could not read.

"I am Shuhei Mariko, the captain of Princess Takiko's personal guard," she announced.

"And where, may I ask," Soo-Won interjected, "is the princess?"

Shuhei Mariko smiled. "The princess will only appear once she knows what kind of person the King of Kouka is."

The officials of Kouka began muttering among themselves. They didn't bother to hide their indignation at the slight to their king. Beside him, Soo-won could feel the generals tense. "Was it not the Shinra Empire that sought this alliance?" he asked pleasantly.

"Indeed!" Mariko said, her smile widening. "The Emperor is most eager for this alliance. However, the princess has a mind of her own regarding such matters."

Soo-won narrowed his eyes at her. "I suppose that is a matter to be discussed in private," he said.


"You're saying the princess wants to see what kind of person the king is?" General Geun-tae said, exasperated. A vein visibly twitched in his right temple as he glared at Shuhei Mariko across the table. She calmly sipped her tea, and smiled at him.

"Kouka has quite delicious tea," she said.

Soo-Won stared at her, and she glanced towards him. She smiled. "Even though she has already accepted the proposal, she still wishes to know what sort of person she will be marrying."

"Don't you think she would know what sort of person he was, if she were actually here?" Geun-tae said impatiently.

"Oh, she will know," Mariko said. "I am the princess's confidante, and the Emperor's right hand, after all. What I see, I will report to my princess. And yes, General Geun-tae, I give very detailed reports."

"You Shinra women are impossible," Geun-tae said, sighing.

"Now, now, General Geun-tae," Soo-won said, smiling at him. "I am certain the princess of Shinra has her personal reasons. I, too, wish to know what sort of person she is, after all." He turned back to Mariko. "I am certain Shuhei Mariko can tell me about the princess, yes?"

"I can," Mariko mused. "But I think you will find out better when you meet her, your majesty."

"Tell me, where is the princess at this moment?" General Joo-doh said. "The Emperor sent word that she and her guard have left, and yet here you are with no princess. Did you leave her somewhere else?"

"She is in Kouka, actually," Mariko said. The generals stared at her. "We arrived at the seaport of capital Saika a week prior. The princess wished to see more of the country she would be allying Shinra with. She left the guard three days ago. Where she is, I am not so certain."

"Some captain of the guard you are!" Elder Mundok snapped. "You're saying you left your princess to explore a foreign land on her own? Do you know how dangerous that is?"

Mariko's gaze sharpened. "The princess is quite proficient with her bonded weapon. I pity the bandits that try to accost her."

"Just because one is skilled with a weapon does not mean one can't be killed!" General Kyo-ga said. "If you had indeed arrived at Capital Saika, as leader of the Fire Tribe, I heard nothing of it. Besides, some areas in Saika are festering with bandits. The princess will be in danger."

"It seems," Soo-won said, "that the princess wants me to come and find her, isn't that right, Shuhei Mariko?"

Mariko's smile was almost amused. "You do seem to understand our princess somewhat, King Soo-won."

The generals stared at one another. "That is a bit unorthodox," General Joon-gi murmured, just loud enough for Mariko to hear.

"It's preposterous," Geun-tae huffed. "The king has better things to do than look for a rebellious princess."

Mariko glared at him, and he glared right back. "It's all right, General Geun-tae," Soo-won said amicably. "Kye-sook can take care of any official business while I am away. Unlike my previous journey, this will not take long. I can find the princess in three days."

Everyone stared at him, an expression of disbelief and amazement on their faces. Even Shuhei Mariko looked taken-aback. "Three days?" she said, raising her brows. "The lands of the Fire Tribe are quite vast, your majesty."

"Oh, I am aware," Soo-won said cheerfully. "Your princess shouldn't be too difficult to find. Shall we make it two days?"

Mariko stared at him. There was an almost calculating look on her face. "All right, then, three days," she said, smiling. "If you can."

"You should address the king with more respect," Kyo-ga spoke up.

Mariko bowed her head. "If you can, your majesty," she amended.

"General Joo-doh," Soo-won said, turning to the sky general. "Make the necessary preparations. We will leave as soon as dawn comes."

"As you wish," Joo-doh said stiffly. As much as he wanted to shoot down the King's plan, he knew it was useless. Besides, his master was always right when it came to certain things.

General Geun-tae let out an exasperated breath as he sat leaned back in his seat. "This princess seems to be more trouble than she's worth," he muttered, and Mariko glared at him.

"On the contraire, General Geun-tae," Soo-won said. "I think she might be an interesting person."

"May I ask, your highness," Mariko said, not bothering to hide the skepticism in her voice. "What makes you think you can find her in three days?"

Soo-won smiled at her, and she stiffened. It was a different smile from earlier—it reminded her of a falcon about to swoop in on its prey. "With all due respect," he said quietly. "I consider myself a very good hunter."


"Once again, thank you for your time in coming here," Princess Tao said. She smiled at Yona and her group before turning to Vold. "Vold, please ensure that they return safely to Kouka kingdom at all costs." She turned back to Yona. "I sincerely apologize for having dragged you into Xing's problems."

"Please don't trouble yourself too much about it, princess Tao," Yona said politely.

Princess Tao smiled sadly. "I am a rather foolish princess," she said. Algira looked as though he was about to protest, but she cut him off. "I should not have involved you in any of this. Rest assured, I do not think my sister will do you any harm."

"I do not think you're a foolish princess," Yona said. Something in the tone of her voice made Hak and the other dragons stare at her. "I think it's admirable that you set aside pride for the love of your people, princess Tao."

She paused, and then smiled. "This is why I will accept your request."

"But, Yona," Kija and the others said.

Yona raised a hand and they fell silent "On your behalf, princess Tao, I will go to Hiryuu castle and convey your message to King Soo-won."


Thank you for taking your time to read this chapter! And ah, yes, I do find the idea of Lili and Joo-doh rather cute—he does seem to fit her criteria in men, after all. But as to whether or not they end up in this story remains to be seen ; )

Also, thank you for reviewing this story! Please do review again!