Chapter 36:

The sky is bright yellowish orange with streaks of light clouds scattered everywhere. The sun is about to set in an hour or two and Ha Jin is hurrying around the palace ground looking for So. His brothers had all turned up in the Damiwon to prepare for the Spiritual Cleansing Festival. Only the 4th prince is missing so Lady Oh sends Hae Soo to find him.

Thinking where So disappeared again, Ha Jin tries the Donji lake where she immediately sees his boat tied by the tree and is gently being rocked by the little movement of the water. So is lying with his eyes close, his arms a pillow to his head, his crossed legs sticking by the side of the boat.

Ha Jin takes a peek by the many tangerine tree-shrubs surrounding the place and finds her way to the stone steps leading to the boat.

"Wangjanim… wangjanim…." Ha Jin calls upon So.

So pretends to be asleep not wanting to go to the ritual tonight.

When So didn't answer, Ha Jin holds her chima up and crosses the stone steps letting herself in the boat. With her uncanny tactlessness, the boat tips from side to side causing her to sway and fall. So opens his eyes and catches her, preventing her head from hitting the seat of the boat. Half of her body lays above him, her head by the crook of his elbow and her hands splayed above his chest, holding on tight.

"Omo! Is this one of those cues you're sending to tell me that you want me to embrace you?" So plays it coolly yet his heart betrays him by racing in its cage.

"Ya!" Ha Jin feigns annoyance but her cheeks are flushed and a few butterflies are fluttering in her stomach.

She tries to stand-up and So turns to his side, facing her. He puts his arms around her, pulling her close to him, "Jam-si dong-an ka-man-hi iss-eo-ra (Stay still for a while.)"

Ha Jin freezes, feeling So's breathe upon her left ear, making the hair at the back of her neck stand. She closes her eyes and wills herself to relax.

With both of their eyes close, So confesses, "Soo-ya, nan mu-seo-wo. (I'm scared.) I don't think I can stand in front of those people baring my face. They're not you. I don't trust them and they spite me."

The desperation and fear in So's voice is loud and clear, it's hurting Ha Jin as much as him. Ha Jin sits up, touching So's mask with the tips of her fingers "So wangjanim, I found a way to free you from their torments. Will you trust me once more."

So opens his eyes, the sudden lost of Hae Soo's warmth in his arms is adding up to his anxiety. He lifts his gaze at Hae Soo and though he had constantly ask her to trust him, now he's face with the same question,

"If it's you I can put myself in your hands. I-je-bu-teo nan neo-ui geo-si-da, (From now on, I am yours.)"

Up in the sky tower, Ha Jin sits So in front of the table beside the balcony, spreading her ceramic containers with different shades of powder, argan oil, aloe vera gel, emulsifying wax and lotion. Her brushes and sponge neatly arrange side by side. She stands in front of So while So looks up to her, the balance of power tipping to Ha Jin's side with So committing his self to her hands again. Only Hae Soo could have as much power like this over him.

Slowly and with confident hands, Ha Jin reaches to the thin string of the mask, untying it from the back of his head. Though this isn't the first time Hae Soo had seen his bare face, there is still apprehension in him as he lets Hae Soo unmask him.

She brushes the hair out of his left eye and let her fingers run the length of his scar once more, "It was just a single hand span that made you like this, just a single hand span and you've been having a long and dark life since then. Isn't it unfair?"

So looks at Hae Soo with trembling eyes, voicing his insecurity, "Why are you not afraid to look at this ugly face of mine?"

Ha Jin's hand stills mid-air. She sighs putting it down and sitting in front of So to level with him, "Does the sun stops being radiant just because a speck of cloud covers it at times? So-ya…"

Cupping So's face, "…my dazzling beautiful sun. The sun does not stop shining just because the rain clouds cover it. It is the same with you, you are beautiful and good inside. Your scar might have forced you to hide your true self but it's about time you come out and let them appreciate your light. Besides, it's just a thin scar, I've encountered far worse and deeper scar than this, one that doesn't show."

So swallows, he has those kinds too and not just scars, his is still a wound, fresh and painful. He pounders if Hae Soo would also be understanding and accepting once she finds out how dark and awful he is, a plaything to his adoptive mother.

Hae Soo stands up once more, pinning So's hair beside his head so she could start with her chore. "Kuereom, si-jak kanda (Let's begin.)

Taking a powder and mixing it with the other materials in a different ceramics, Ha Jin expertly remembers how to make a bb cream for cover up. She folds her sleeves, revealing her smooth white wrists, testing the different shade on the skin of her hand until she gets the right consistency and color.

So only watches her, absorbed with what she's doing. He notices the red bracelet his 8th brother had given Hae Soo. It's still in her wrist.

Turning to So with a brush on her hand, Ha Jin dips it to the primer and descends over So about to trace his scar with a primer. So captures his left wrist and holds it for her to see, "Why are you wearing this bracelet? It's ugly."

Hae Soo tenses, taken aback by the sudden brazen comment of So. She looks at him with confusion and chuckles, finding his comment rude but charming, "Ya! How can you be so shameless? It's a gift to me, a sign of promise."

"A promise of what?" So knew with whom it came from and he hates it.

"….That… that…" Ha Jin stammers, unable to tell So that her cousin is planning to betrothed her to his 8th brother. So knows but they never talked about it. Ha Jin had been putting it aside, trusting the 8th prince' promise that he would find a way to free her, unaware that Wook no longer has intention to do so.

"Ya!" So squints his eyes, accusing, "Do you like my 8th brother?"

"Mwo?!" Ha Jin feels insulted. For all the things she had done for him, So still hasn't seen her heart yet.

This is why we should have done a DTR already. Heol?!

Sometimes So is so dense, she'd like to hit him once, "I do not covet a married man!"

"Why not?" So naively ask, seeing nothing wrong with the mores of their time, "A man can have many wives, princes especially. We need heirs to continue our lineage."

"Do I look like a breeding cattle to you?" Ha Jin is now annoyed, forgetting that her 21st century monogamous take on relationship doesn't go well with this time.

"Ani…" So takes a moment to figure out Hae Soo's complicated mind, "I'm only saying, men who are married are still allowed to take on another wife if they…"

"Not my man!" Ha Jin cuts So's sentence, "Not the man I choose to love. Not the man I promise to spend my life with. My man is only mine and I am only his. There's only two of us in our relationship and I will not have any otherwise."

Putting her foot down, Ha Jin makes it clear to So what she wants, making sure So understands it. So will remember to keep her words from now on.

"Arada. (Alright.) No other wife then." A playful grin appears on So's lips, happy to know that Hae Soo doesn't look at any other man. He gazes at her eyes earnestly, looking forward to be trap in a world she is describing. "U-ri dul-man. (Only the two of us.)"

Slyly, he tangles his fingers on her bracelet and tries to take it off.

Ha Jin pulls her hand away, "Ya!"

"Wae?!" So doesn't appreciate being thwarted in taking off her bracelet.

"If you hate it so bad, then you can get me another one to replace it." Ha Jin holds her wrist away from So.

The two suddenly stops with their playful tagging, feeling a déjà vu. Somehow the conversation is so familiar, they both think they already had it before.

So drops the matter for now as Ha Jin shakes her head.

"Ka-man-hi isseo, (Stay still)" Ha Jin instructs once more, "I won't be able to finish this on time if you keep distracting me."

So tries pouting, copying what he had seen Eun had been doing with Soon Deok and fails. He couldn't get his lips to turn out, feeling awkward. He ended up pursing his lips instead and closing his eyes. Sighing as he lets Hae Soo work on him. Though the mood had turned light with their playful banter, So is still nervous as Hae Soo touches his face, carefully covering his thin scar.

Half an hour later, Ha Jin asks her to open his eyes. Showing him her work of art in front of the mirror. His eyes go round as he sees his self scar less for the first since he was four. He couldn't believe it. The scar that had been the root of all his misfortune is all covered up and gone. His eyes smolders, holding his tears.

Somewhere, far away, a drum is hit signaling the start of the festival. Ha Jin automatically stands-up, looking at the direction of the drums. She's about to take a step going to the stairs when So grabs her arm, "Soo-ya."

"Waeyo, Ppal-li hae-ya dwae-yo (Why? We should hurry!)" Ha Jin smiles at him assuringly and pulls him with her. "Kaja! (Let's go!)"

The courtyard of Hoegyong Hall falls into silence once more as the Haengsu gisaeng(s) perform a mugo (drum dance). Large drums were situated in the four corners of the stage, symbolizing the four wind direction. 12 dancers came in and divided themselves into four groups, three on each drums. Raising their sticks, they arc their back and gracefully hit the drum in a rhythm the same as a heart beat.

With his black hood drawn in his head, So quietly walks behind Hae Soo whose intensely focus at the performance in front of her. Ha Jin had always been fascinated with dancing but the gods had never blessed her with such skill. Her tactlessness and klutziness is instinctively natural to her that it took her months before she mastered the correct form of bowing that Lady Oh had been teaching them.

Tentatively, So stands behind her, interlacing his hand with hers. The abrupt intruding touch makes Ha Jin jump and So stills her by putting his hand on her waist. Recognizing the 4th prince, Ha Jin's heart rate surges up automatically. The lack of space between So's chest and her back brings a flush of heat on her cheeks and makes her shiver. She tries to step away but So's hold on her only tightens,

"Wang…janim…" Even at a whisper Ha Jin's voice breaks.

So leans at her ears, smelling that lemony scent she calls shampoo. He tells her in a low voice that only she could hear, "Shhhh… Soo-ya, do you want to see the lantern festival in the plaza with me?"

Ha Jin's only answer is a gulp and a nod, not trusting her voice to speak. She wasn't able to say goodbye to Soon Deok and Woo Hee as So possessively pulls her away with a smug smile on his face.

Up in the table of So's siblings, several eyes are watching So and Hae Soo. The dim light at the courtyard might have helped cloaked So's black coat but the blue and creamy white hanbok of Hae Soo is harder to hide.

Yeonhwa's left eyebrow twitches as she watches the play of affection by So, remembering her brother's confident words:

"My woman is not yet ready to get married anyway."

Yeonhwa simmers with hate. All this time, she was thinking, she's the only one who shows affection to her 4th brother, waiting for him to notice her but he never turned his gaze upon her, not even once, not even when she had transparently expressed her affection for him when he was still living at Myung Hee's household. She turns to her 8th brother beside her, cursing him for being so weak,

"I guess it's my turn then?"

Over at the side of Jung and Baek-Ah, Jung holds his heavy heart, feeling as if the air was suck out of his lungs and he couldn't breathe. With their plan to propose tonight squashed by the unexpected decision from the king, his heart breaks once more, desperate to be with Hae Soo. He too, was watching his 4th brother puts his hands so possessively on the woman who once promise him her heart. He had never laid his hands on her like that and though Hae Soo looks flustered, she surrenders easily to his 4th brother, giving a nod just for him.

Baek-Ah pats his back, offering a glass of wine to his 14th brother. He sighs with him, understanding the pain in his eyes but there is nothing they could do about it. Their 4th brother's heart is as earnest as Jung's. It's hard to explain to Jung that it's no one's fault but the stars who deemed their twisted fates.

The festival commences outside the palace's main gate. Ha Jin and So are greeted by fan fairs of different performing troupes, merchants selling different kinds of things from street foods to those lanterns, the bare trees of cherry blossom alive with different colorful moon lanterns, children running with their parents, couples holding hands, each of them lost in their own world.

Word about the 4th prince, having a beautiful face underneath the mask he wears spreads around town fast and the once spiteful rumors are replaced with flushed giggling from ladies and inspires envy among men.

It's the first time Ha Jin sets foot in the plaza after the hangings happened. She doesn't know what she was expecting to see but the plaza looks as festive as the inside of the palace. Glad that there's no trace of the garrison or anything that would remind her of the punishment once conferred in this place.

She closes her eyes and breathes, taking in the festivity around her. So's hand finds his way with hers breaking her reverie. She opens her eyes and a playful gleam can be seen in it. Yanking So with her, she runs to the nearest stall, determined to have a normal night.

They pass by a stall of dwikkoji and Ha Jin touches one that catches her eye. It's a simple pin with two pointy ends and a sole white flower that looks like a Mokran, as its main piece. Small green leaves and red round beads surround one side of it with a little purple butterfly attached to it. Ha Jin isn't really looking however So takes it's as a cue for him to buy it, remembering what Baek-Ah and Mu had told him about signals and cues from ladies. Feeling proud, he raises his hand to address the merchant but Ha Jin puts down the dwikkoji and moves to the next stall of sweets, leaving him behind. Confusion floats on So's face, wondering if Hae Soo wants the dwikkoji or not. Sighing, he buys it anyway, not wanting to make a mistake. He takes it and keeps it inside his sleeves.

He follows Hae Soo to the next stall where Ha Jin is eyeing a steaming Hotteok (1), pancake that is a little crispy outside and filled with sweet fillings and hot air, perfect street food during fall and winter.

"So…ya" Ha Jin was going to address So as wangjanim but they are at the middle of a street full of people who doesn't know that she's walking with the 4th prince.

She grimaces and So understood. It's not the first time she drops honorifics with him. So had always envy Baek-Ah and Hae Soo's easy friendship and would like to be at the receiving end of such affection too.

"Can you buy me this?" Ha Jin bites her lower lips, embarrassed to be asking So. She doesn't have any money with her. Somehow, she never got around into carrying any coins with her.

"Did you even have to ask?" So pats her head and hands a coin to the merchant, taking one of those warm hotteok, wrapped in a paper and gives it to Hae Soo, "Ju-sim-hae, ddeu-geo-wo (Careful, it's hot.)

Smiling with the innocence of a kid, Ha Jin thanks the 4th prince and takes the hotteok, bringing it to her mouth and biting luxuriously.

"Ah!" Ha Jin gasped, the hot air and sweet filling coming out of the hotteok after her first bite, burning her lips a little, "No-mu ddeu-geo-wo (It's too hot.)"

So instantly steps in front of her, cupping her face, worried. He examines the burnt in her lips and finding nothing wrong, "Eiii I just told you to be careful,"

His thumb grazes the side of her lips, wiping the sweet filling beside it. He casually brings his thumb to his mouth and licks the filling he had just wipe from her. Ha Jin's mouth hangs open, unable to believe what So just did. So touches her chin, closing her mouth, "It's rude to stare Hae Soo Ssi."

He emphasizes the "Ms." on his address on her, reminding her of her manners. He moves to the next stall, smiling smugly.

Ha Jin blinks once, twice. Shaking her head. She touches the side of her lips and looks at the Hotteok in her hands, watching it as if it's the most dangerous thing she held. She fans herself, suddenly feeling too hot.

"Kaja…" So turns back to her, inviting her to follow him.

The stall So stops next sells refreshments and Ha Jin had just finished her Hotteok. So hands her a cold Sikhye, traditional sweet rice beverage. She drinks half of it and offers the other half to So, insisting on sharing. It was a simple gesture but to So whose starve of affection, it makes all the difference. He gladly takes it, happy to be hogging all of Hae Soo's attention for once.

Ha Jin watches a performing troupe next, swaying with a lively beat of a nearby drums being played. So gazes at her, observing her instead. He memorizes the myriads of expression playing on her face, beautiful and perfect in his eyes as always. How could he ever deserve her, this little girl who managed to change his fate with the mere touch of her hand, freeing him from the dark pit that is his world since he was four. His light, who calls him her sun.

He leaves her side for a moment, looking for one of those moon lanterns she so loved.

Engrossed with what she's watching, Ha Jin didn't even notice when So left her side. When he returns, he surrounds her with his arms from behind, showing her a moon lantern. White not orange, signifying the purity of his intentions. He doesn't need an orange one to express his feelings. He wants white, a beginning with her.

"Shall we hang a lantern together?" So smiles, asking her to come away with him.

He takes her hand and leads her not in the middle of the plaza where everyone hangs their lantern but on a secluded spot, at the border of the palace and town. A lane beside the river, where donji lake empties it's waters to. The whole path is walled with cypress trees on both sides, filling the air with that needle pine scent dew. Fireflies surround the place, lending a dreamy glow to it. With the full moon as their only guiding light, So leads her to one of the trees overlooking the river.

"Wah..." Ha Jin wanders around in delight, filling her eyes with the beauty of the place.

She leans her back to one of the tree trunk, holding her white lantern in front of her. So stops in front of her, watching her as always.

"Have you heard about the story of how the lantern festival came to be?" Ha Jin asks drunk from the beautiful site.

"The king who lost his love?" So recalls the story and a sudden unexplained nostalgia springs within him, "I lived in the north my whole life, of course I'm familiar to it. Do you know that there's a longer story behind it? The one about the daughter of the moon?"

"There's more to it?" Ha Jin minutely sways, suddenly lightheaded. "I only know the story after the daughter of the moon died."

So reaches out to steady her, "Gwaenchanha?"

Ha Jin shakes her dizziness, feeling her consciousness being pulled somewhere but she wills herself to stay in the present, determined to have this moment only for the two of them, "Ne, gwaenchanhseubnida. Must have been a long day."

She nervously chuckles, turning everywhere, looking for something and diverting So's attention, "How do we hang our lantern, the branches are too high?"

So had anticipated that, courtesy of the advice from Mu, Baek-Ah and Ji Mong. They told him about this secluded place and that he should bring Hae Soo here, guaranteeing Hae Soo would love it.

He walks on the other side of the tree Hae Soo was leaning a while ago and takes the meter stick he had placed there. "Shall we?"

Ha Jin happily grabs the stick from him and hooks her lantern at the end of it, "I'll do it!"

So steps back and watch her miss the branch several times, holding his self from chuckling. Ha Jin tries once more, becoming aware how ridiculous she looks to So.

Why can't I be one of those graceful ladies whom every men glances to?

In her annoyance, she pouts adorably, looking murderously at the branches who refuses to cooperate. So couldn't help but laugh this time. He steps beside her, reaching to steady her hands. With So's help, she finally lodges their lantern in the branch.

Standing side by side, the two closes their eyes and brings their palms together, making a wish. So finishes first and opens his eyes to watch Hae Soo some more.

Ha Jin opens hers too and meets So's gaze, "What did you wish for?"

"Peace in the royal court." So answers casually.

Ha Jin's face falls flat with a disappointment, sighing and talking more to her self, "Kuere, what was I expecting? A good ruler should pray for peace in his kingdom."

She starts walking away and So blocks her path. Holding upon her waist, stopping her. With one step, the space between their bodies is suddenly bridged. So's arm encircles at her lower back possessively. She looks up in his eyes and was met with his smoldering gaze full of desire, "Soo-ya…"

Ha Jin swallows, the intensity of So's stare is making her weak in the knees.

"Do you remember? I said before that you were mine. Whether it was before or now, the moment you held my mad self at the courtyard. I've made up my mind, I will make you mine."

Listening to So's confession, butterflies erupt in Ha Jin's stomach while her heart pounds hard in her chest.

"From here on out, I will never let you go. My Soo-ya…"

So descends further, stopping an inch from her lips. In spite of his confident confession, he hesitates to close the gap, reading Hae Soo's eyes.

As a response, Ha Jin's eyes flutter to a close, her arms naturally coming-up to hold around his neck, keeping him from moving. Having had too much of push and pull from So already, she's intending to see through the end of this intimacy this time, with no rain or other people to interrupt them.

She stills, savoring the drumming anticipation on their chest. So closes his eyes, getting lost in the moment with her.

The air around them thickens and the glow of the fireflies seem to sparkle brighter. Ha Jin pushes herself up and closes the gap on her own, connecting their lips in a light touch.

For a second, time stops. The span of centuries that kept them apart, no longer matters. Their hearts remembering the beat. Their souls recognizing each other.

So tugs at her, pressing to feel her lips. The two of them breathes together, tasting the sweet sikhye on each other's lips. Ha Jin flattens her feet on the ground as So arcs her body to him, their closeness no longer enough. He sucks at her lower lips, asking to be let in and when Ha Jin permits entry, her tongue meets his in a dance the two of them had known for so long. His lips worships hers, exploring the supple softness of her mouth.

Ha Jin breaks their kiss first, coming up for an air. A playful smile forms on So's lips as he meets Hae Soo's flustered gaze, enjoying the blush that he brought on her cheeks. He lets her breathe. One, two, three seconds before pulling her again and capturing her lips for another one.

Ji Mong stands beside the throne, letting his gaze pass the palace grounds. He too, once, sat on a throne very much like King Taejo's. Tonight, he remembers a different feast, a different festival, the one they held for the god of harvest. It was the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, an equinox.

Their first harvest is overflowing and it can be seen with the bountiful tables serve not only for the royalties but for the whole town who came to the palace to celebrate. Troupes perform, gisaengs sings, his children toasts, and the town bathes from the bright light their moon deity had graced upon them.

Like tonight, he had granted a blessed union to cap the feast. The crown prince had kneeled in front of him, drawing the attention of everyone in the whole courtyard. He had been with them for more than a year now, fully healed and well taken cared off. If he is any other guest, the king would have thought that he is overstaying in their hospitality but since he is a crown prince of a kingdom far greater than his, he had looked the other way.

In the beginning, he was nervous to let the crown prince stay, watching from afar how the daughter of the moon nursed him back to health and had slowly fallen to a close relationship with him. Their frequent solo riding to the forest or their comings and goings to the moon lake never escaped his notice. He had weighed what would it do to their kingdom if they break his daughter's engagement to the other prince. His advisers and ministers had advised him, they would benefit better if they get allied with the crown prince's kingdom rather than other prince' and so he had turned a blind eye to what the two have been doing. There was no hesitation in him when the crown prince asked for his daughter's hand, masking his greed for the crown prince' kingdom. He grants a blessing to their union, even promising to take care of his daughter's engagement to the other prince all on his own. He remembers the looks on his daughter's eyes for him that night, full of adoration and love, grateful for allowing her out of his betrothal and into a union with the person she loves.

Will he ever see that in Ha Jin's eyes in this lifetime? He misses his daughter very much.

The two had danced in the courtyard with the whole town looking upon them with approval and congratulations. Pretty soon, they disappeared somewhere on their own the way the 4th prince and Ha Jin did tonight. Ji Mong observed the two as they went off towards the direction of the main gate, probably going to the town plaza to attend the lantern festival. He sighs, wanting to hit So just once so he could understand what's running in his head.

How could you give away your chance to marry my little queen?

Cursing, Ji Mong was against So's plan from the beginning but he went through with it, overruled by the seja and the 4th prince. He knows he's missing something. The crown prince had always been secretive even in their original lifetime but the 4th prince in this timeline has just too much secret behind his mask. If he wants to succeed in this lifetime, he would need to know what the 4th prince is hiding so he could come-up with a plan.

It's a long shot however he had centuries to wait. He can wait a few more months or a year. After all, his greatest sin was not that he had cut short the fated love between the lovers but that he had taken an innocent life who hasn't seen the light of a day.

Ji Mong closes his eyes, refusing to see the past anymore. He wills himself to the present, leaving the memory behind.

The beat of their hearts surrounds them as the forest seemed to grow silent. She can't hear anything, can't sense anything other than him standing in front of her drinking his fill of her nakedness. The undulated gaze in his eyes is making her shiver. He descends upon his goddess of moon, favoring a light kiss on her lips and tipping her chin up so he could have access to her bare neck. His hands, settles upon the curve of her waist, drawing patterns and memorizing the slick feel of her skin against his palm. She can feel a teasing smile on his lips against her skin as his lips dip lower into her clavicle, sucking at the nook of her collarbone. She gulps. His hand and lips are awakening a delicious heat down her abdomen, making her writhe. The cold water does nothing to satiate the fervor that seems to radiate from both of them.

He stops for a bit, catching her unfocused eyes. He likes this expression on her face, the heavy lidded one that mirrors his. His hand settles at the small of her back, supporting. He bends her back a little, exposing her already naked chest to his eyes. His fingers graze the side of her breast, racing with his own mouth to take each of her supple breasts. She breathes heavily, her own hands holding upon the nape of his neck, tangling with his hair. He continues with the exquisite torture of flicking her nipple with his tongue while his other hand rubs her taut nipple before coming back up to capture her lips. He reaches in her arms, tightening it in his neck, pulling her body against his naked chest. The skin to skin contact almost made them both cry out loud, bringing impatience in his already starved touch.

Without breaking their kiss, he reaches to put his arm underneath her knees and the other at the lower part of her shoulders, carrying her out of the water. She gasps as she feels the water sliding away from her body and her back hitting their discarded clothes in the ground. Without the cover of the water to hide her, she suddenly becomes flustered. Her hands scampering to cover her nakedness while her legs closed together of their own accord.

He feels the abrupt tense in her and momentarily pulls back to look her in the eye. Her head resting upon the nook of his lower arm as he props himself to his elbow, lying on his side facing her. She couldn't meet his eyes this time. Her cheeks down to her chest are covered with a pink blush, that only serves to draw him to her strained body.

Understanding the hesitation in her, he cups her face and sinks his lips to her ear, whispering words 'beautiful' and 'goddess' and 'mine' and 'eternity'. He sighs her name, a prayer in his lips, letting it run feather light kisses upon her smooth jawline before meeting her lips once more, beckoning her to relax on his arms. As her tongue dances with his again, his hand starts wandering down in her body, taking her hand that is covering her chest and holds it with his other.

Soon, his hand glides past her chest, down to her stomach, to her abdomen. His mouth leaves hers and follows the trail of his hand, leaving a burning sensation that tingles all over her. She shuts her eyes close, her lips slightly parted, her hands laying tenses on each side, crumpling the clothes where she lie. It feels as if her body has lost its bones and are now all jelly and soft, answering to every machination of his hand.

Ever reverent, his lips worship her skin, memorizing every part of her, making sure every shape and curve is kissed. Gently, he parts her legs with his hand, positioning himself in between. His mouth traces where his hand had just left, laying an open mouth hot kisses upon her inner thighs. His warm breathe tickling her. She moans as his hand reaches the core of her heat, touching her where no hands had ever gone before. He throbs at the feel of her. His paji suddenly too restraining. He longs a release and unconsciously rubs his hardness at her calf. Her hands reach to grip his shoulder, digging her nails at his skin. His fingers plays with her wetness, exploring the mound and discovering that even with only a little twist, different expression appears on her shy face. Her heavy breathing mingling with the tensed air around them. He tries to slip one finger on her slick opening and a sound between pain and surprise escapes her throat, uncomfortable for the first time. He goes back-up hurriedly, meeting her lips again. He's worried that he might have hurt her however the feel of her tight walls in his finger had made him impatient and ready to have her. A word of apology appears on his lips and he asks her if he could feel the inside of her, this time with all of him. The raw undulated question silences her apprehensiveness and she could only swallow under his clouded dark unfocused stare.

He lays with his elbows braced against the ground on both side of her face, trapping her underneath him but hovering above, not touching. He reaches to one of her hand and brings it to the strings of his paji, pleading her to touch him. Her inexperience hand shakes so bad, ineptly untying his strings, taking painfully too long. When she finally frees him with the last cloth that is keeping them apart, he automatically lowers himself at her, rubbing at her entrance. She tenses, her hand at his waist, keeping him from going in. He captures her lips to distract her, letting his mouth nuzzle along her jawline to her ear, whispering sweet nothings, willing her to flutter her eyes close. He takes her hands from his waist, pinning it above her head. As she responds to his kisses once more, he enters her in one swift motion, stretching her and filling her in.

Her eyes open wide, her hands struggling against his hold, her body writhing underneath him uncomfortable and sore. She didn't know it was going to be this painful. Tears sprung in her eyes, rushing to her cheeks and she panics, pushing at him.

He stills and commands her to stop moving. In as much as it's painful for her, the tensing of her heated walls around his fullness is causing him great pleasure. He breathes, reigning his self for her sake. He asks her to look at him, apologizing over and over. He dries her tears with his mouth, punctuating every word with a kiss. Truthfully, he tells her he wouldn't be able to halt. Not now that he could feel the insides of her, not now that he had already tasted her, not now that he has become one with her. If she could let him know what would make this less painful for her, he promises to do anything other than to stop.

He releases her hands and off it went to encircle automatically on his broad shoulders, holding on to him. She whimpers against his mouth, willing herself to relax. With him still buried inside her, she focuses on his caresses and allows him to move a miniscule, slowly this time, letting her adjust. She tries to find a position or a rhythm that would make her reach a sort of pleasure but there is none. She discovers that keeping still is the next best thing and watching his expressions take pleasure on her body makes the pain ebb a little.

He moans her name repeatedly, a mantra that builds-up inside him. Soon, he couldn't be content with the slow pace anymore, needing to go faster and deeper. He warns her, asking for more. She wipes the stubborn beads of sweat that had formed in his forehead, sliding down his chin and off to her breast, mingling with her own. She rises up to meet his lips, the position allowing him another diminutive space to enter her deeper making him gasps.

His entire world narrows down on her, his senses hyper alert. He tenses once more, throbbing inside her. With a last deep thrust, her name leaves her mouth, releasing inside her. She watches him come undone, mesmerized on how vulnerable he looks at this very moment where she holds his sanity for him. She could almost feel pleasure from the happiness she reads on his face.

He withdraws from her, spent and breathing laboriously. On her chest he lies, nuzzling at her bosoms. He sighs contentedly in the arms of his goddess. Their first night together as 'husband and wife' spent under the sky full of stars.

Ha Jin awakes just around dawn, her body feeling tired and sore. She expected to be lying on discarded pile of clothes on the ground, the water of the lake lapping on her feet and the prince lying on top of her, keeping her warm. Though she's inside her quarters with solid walls protecting her from the autumn breeze, she feels colder with the lost of arms around her. She had been dreaming fragments of that intimacy for the last few weeks but it is only tonight that she saw the fullness of it. Touching her lips, she remembers the kiss she shared with So a while ago, it feels the same with the lips that had just consummated her body.

No, not mine but that girl who looks like me.

What did he called her again? ...His 'goddess'… something about the moon deity?

Even in the privacy of her room, she blushes, her cheeks aflamed, embarrassed to be thinking of So while still reeling from her dream. She shuts her eyes and curls to herself. Her blanket pulled over her head. If she's honest enough, it feels as if it was So who was touching her.

Tranquility settles in town and the palace the next day with all of them sporting a tired and sleepy look from the merriment last night.

A eunuch was sent at the sky tower to seek the 4th prince and let him know that he is being invited by the queen to have lunch in her quarters. He paces nervously outside of his mother's chamber, his first time to be invited. He came eagerly, not caring what his mother's motive is.

When he entered, his two brothers are already seated in front of their mother.

"ah wa-geo-na, anjeuseyo (You finally came, have a seat.)" Queen Yoo pats the mat beside her.

So looks around lost, reverting to his 4 year old self, the last time he had a decent meal with his family. He follows his mother's words, taking a sit beside her. He timidly nods at his brothers and Queen Yoo fuses around him, arranging the mat he's sitting on, brushing a stray hair out of his face and smiling sweetly at him. It feels like a dream to So and he's straining from the effort of maintaining neutral expression on his face.

"Shall we eat?" Queen Yoo announces.

Yo picks-up his silver chopstick while Jung looks from his 3rd brother to his mother, wondering what they are up to. He had repeatedly asked for his 4th brother to be invited to their family meals before, not once did they ever agree. Now, his 4th brother is suddenly summoned and is going to eat with them. He shakes his head imperceptibly and goes along, rearranging his facial expression to show his usual smile.

"It's nice to see your bare face for once." Queen Yoo compliments her 3rd son, "I'm proud that you finally have your father's trust. You don't know how long I've waited for this day. I'm so happy for all of my sons."

The inclusion of So's self under his mother's words 'my sons' makes his heart leap for hope. Tentatively, So spoons rice from his ceramic bowl and turns to his side to politely swallow his food.

Queen Yoo takes the best part of pork belly and puts it in So's bowl, "I remember you like meat very much when you were young."

The rice So is eating catches in his throat, surprised by his mother's gesture, hesitantly he admits "Cheo-neun yeo-jan-hi go-gi-reul mae-u johahabnida (I still like it.)"

"Johada. (Good.) We'll have lots of meat during our meals from now on." Queen Yoo assures So.

Jung who is currently drinking, coughs, spattering water. He immediately apologizes. The confusion is starting to show in his eyes and Yo only looked at him. He drinks some more and finishes his glass of water.

So quietly eats the meat his mother had given him and finishes his meal submissively. All the time, his heart is pounding hard. He doesn't remember the taste of the food he had just eaten.

Over at the tea, Queen Yoo asks, "How was your meal? Did you like the food my gungnyeo(s) had prepared?"

"Yie eomeo..nim." So isn't sure if he's allowed to call the queen a mother now but it slips out of his mouth naturally.

"Next time, if there is anything you want, it is best to let me know so I could tell my gungnyeo(s) about it." Queen Yoo suggests never losing that sweet smile on her face. "Ah Jung-ah, why don't you fetch your brother to the door, we might be imposing too much at his time already."

So doesn't want to leave yet but his time with his family is enough for now. He obeys, hoping he would be invited to their meal once again.

Jung nods, "Yie eomonim."

The two bows their head in greetings to Yo and Queen Yoo and Jung walks So out.

Jung is glad to finally leave. It was the longest uncomfortable meal of his life, having to smile beside his 4th brother when his heart was unknowingly broken by him just last night. If he was given a few months or at least several weeks to deal with his pain, then it would have been a lot easier to pretend but his mother and brother threw him blindly at the sham family meal without warning and all he could do is drink water and swallow everything.

Dutifully fetching his brother to the door, Jung remembers not to bang the door on his 4th brother's face the moment he stepped outside. He politely bows and closes the door afterwards.

So lightly walks back to the sky tower, feeling his life finally taking a good turn.

Returning to his mother's chamber, Jung couldn't help but fall at his knees, pleading at his mother, uncomprehending of what just happened, "Eomeonim waehabnikka? Why would you want him back now? U-rin nae hyung-i pil-yo eops-eub-ni-da! (We don't need him!)"

The jealousy is eating at Jung, he couldn't help but spout hurtful words.

Queen Yoo sighs, cupping his youngest son's face and drying his tears with sleeves. "Shhhh… it's alright my son… eomeoni is getting you what you want. You just have to trust me. Alright?"

They might not have been able to ask for Hae Soo's hand last night but that doesn't mean they can't try again, not when her plan is already put into motion. She like everyone else heard So's sentence loud and clear

My woman isn't ready to be married yet.

Her son's word is incomprehensible to her but she'll prove him it's his first stupid mistake and it would cost him greatly. It isn't the girl's choice but her parents' and her clan's.

The princes decide to gather at the 8th prince household the next day, getting their afternoon tea at the pavilion. Though they usually hang out on their 8th brother's household, today the atmosphere feels awkward with everyone partnered together talking on their own corner. Jung comes in with Baek-Ah, having drunk too much last night together. They both sport a hang-over and prefer to sit at the balustrade. Wook and Won sit by the table, discussing Eun's betrothal to the general's daughter. Not one of them saw that coming. Eun is missing, still throwing tantrums and imploring his grandfather to put a stop on his marriage.

Yo walks with Yeonhwa, his arrogant smirk in place, "Our 4th brother have a lot of tricks up his sleeves. At the rate of him gaining approval from our father, we might just find him sitting at the throne next instead of the seja."

"Our 4th brother is tough, a survivor. I think having him adopted to a different powerful clan only serve him better. Does your mother ever acknowledge she made a mistake?" Yeonhwa taunts Yo.

Yo grabs Yeonhwa by the waist, holding her covetously. Irk by her brazen insult. He warns her at a stern voice, "My mother does not make a mistake."

Backing her into a wall, he returns the insult at her, "I hear our father is marrying you to a distant rich family."

He laughs, the guttural sound making Yeonhwa's eyebrow twitch with mortification.

"Not even a royal blood? Just a rich one? Wah… is that your only value?" Leaning further into her ear, "You know, you're always welcome to kneel in front of me and beg me to take you in instead of being sent away in an unknown land like a captured tributary."

Yeonhwa doesn't like the feel of her brother's breathe on her neck but she keeps herself still, knowing Yo is only provoking her. She will not give him the pleasure of seeing her flustered even when his mouth touches her neck, "If I'm going to kneel and beg, I'd rather do it with our brother who has a shot at the throne."

She pushes him away but Yo only catches her wrists and pins it at the wall, aggravated. He proceeds with plundering her lips, sucking and biting. In between the assault he asks arrogantly, "And who would that be my little sister? The seja is only as good as his title but my clan could literally flatten them to the ground."

"Meom-chu-hab-ni-da (Stop!)" Yeonhwa struggles to free herself and it would only serve to excite Yo, "Meom-chu-ra jebal (Stop, please stop!)"

"What's that little sister? A please? Did you just beg?" Yo releases her and laughs loud, having gotten what he wanted to hear.

Slap!

Yeonhwa's backhand connects with Yo's cheek, hard and angry. She breathes heavily on the verge of tears.

Yo grabs her wrist once more, pulling her to him like a raged doll. Anger coursing at the strength of his hold, "When some senses finally returned in that ridiculously stupid head of yours, you're welcome to come running back to me and plead."

Shoving her away, Yo walks away without a second glance.

Yeonhwa refuses to cry, cursing that she came from a clan that is weak. Though they had gained the treasury of the palace, her 8th brother refuses to use their power for their clan's benefit. She promises to rectify that soon and make everyone pay for underestimating them. She stands up and dusts her hanbok, putting herself in order once again. She follows after Yo, pretending as if nothing happened.

Arriving at the pavilion late, are So, Mu and Ji Mong, coming to hang out with the other princes too. They stand at the other part of the balustrade, opposite Baek-Ah and Jung. Baek-Ah nods at them, smiling. So looks around, searching for Hae Soo. He only came so he could see her but it seems she hasn't appeared yet.

Shortly, Hae Soo arrives with a trail of servants behind her to facilitate serving tea. She renders a bow and a polite smile, standing by the entrance of the pavilion to look after the servants. She catches So's gaze and nods courteously, mastering all the formality she had learned from Lady Oh to maintain her poise and not gravitate towards her sun. It's the first time he sees him with a bare face under a bright surrounding and although it was her hand that freed him from his mask, she couldn't help but be mesmerized. If he looks dangerously beautiful last night, under the bright sun, he's radiant and humanely warm much like the So in her flashes of memory. Ha Jin stills, her eyes instinctively blinking, something important about him being unmask dances at the side of her consciousness but she can't quite capture it.

So abandons pretending having a conversation with the seja and the astronomer and crosses the whole space in a few strides, naturally drifting to stand beside her, shadowing her every move. Ha Jin wants to tell him to leave since everyone is watching them but So couldn't care less.

Baek-ah side steps in front of Jung, whose currently lying at the balustrade, blocking his eyes from seeing. Baek-Ah knows it's pointless but he tries nonetheless, it's the only thing he can do for his 14th brother. Jung averts his eyes wondering why did he ever come.

"Hae Soo-ya," Wook addresses her, "Let the servants serve the tea. I-ri wa-seo, anj-eu-se-yo (Come here and sit.)

"Ah yie," Ha Jin looks at So, uncomfortable with his presence beside her. She shuffles on her feet obeying.

Wook gives her his seat and positions her in between his sister, Yeonhwa and him.

So nonchalantly follows and takes a sit beside Yeonhwa.

"Orabeonim," Yeonhwa turns to So, putting a Dasik in a tea plate and giving it to him, "You were amazing at your sword dance last night."

"Every girl in town was sweep off their feet." Won enviously and good-humoredly comments. "I hear they're all clamoring to meet you."

"He gets the best pick now." Yo adds, playing the dutiful brother. He leans in to suggest in a small voice that everyone can still hear, "Shall I introduce you to some nice girls?"

"Eh?" So is not used to the attention his siblings are giving him.

Yeonhwa softly touches So's arm, "Don't listen to them. You deserve a girl who had seen past the mask you're wearing."

"Yes. We all wonder who that is." Mu answers with a calm knowing look.

"I assume it's a girl who isn't betrothed to anyone." Wook casually answers.

Ha Jin chooses to drink tea at that time. Jung definitely doesn't know why he's there. Baek-Ah is going crazy at their bi-polar atmosphere. One moment they're joking around, the next moment it's too tensed. His siblings should be banned from sitting together after this. It's not healthy for anyone's sanity.

"Wangjanim," A servant dares to break at the heavy atmosphere, hurrying at the opening of the pavilion, "Joesonghabnida, the servant you have sent at the north finally arrived."

As if on cue, a man supporting a girl appears, walking towards the pavilion. Wook, Yeonhwa Baek-Ah and Ha Jin stand from their seat, anxious.

Wook recognizes the girl as the servant he had sent with Myung Hee and the man as the messenger he had sent after them.

"Do-dae-che mu-seun il-ib-ni-kka? (What in the world happened?)" Wook approaches his servants who fell to the floor as soon as they stepped in the pavilion.

"Sungohabnida wangjanim, please punish us." The man apologizes with deep bow, trembling from fear.

The lady servant cries on her knees, begging and ready to pass out. Her head is heavily bandaged, her right upper arm that is sure to be also bandaged underneath her hanbok, is bleeding bright red.

"Mu-seun il-ib-ni-kka?!" Wook repeats once more, a dangerous anger sipping in his tone.

Everyone is alarmed now, standing on their feet.

"We… we… were on our way home… when our group… were… were attacked by bandits." The girl explains in between sobbing.

Their group had managed to reach the Hae household in the north after a week and half journey. Myung Hee parents' welcomed them happily; glad to see their daughter after a long time. They stayed there for two weeks with Myung Hee trying to find the right time to explain to her parents that she has betrothed Hae Soo to her own husband. Hae Hyeonhui and Lady Se Won express their disagreement with a resounding no to Myung Hee's request. They already made a mistake of marrying Myung Hee to the Hwangbos because Myung Hee wished for it but they are not earning the ire of the Chungju Yu clan and Kang clan once again by giving another of their daughter to the Hwangbos. They never benefitted from the union anyway. They will not succumbed to their daughter's wish once more.

Coming forward for her next request, Myung Hee ask for Hae Soo to be registered in their household instead but they opposed with it too. Not because they don't want to but because Hae Soo's registry is missing. The local government office handling it told them it was forwarded to a different district. Apparently someone registered Hae Soo to their own clan and the Haes don't know who it is yet.

Misunderstanding her parents, Myung Hee tells them she's putting Hae Soo under her own household instead. She's a Hae and an heir. She'll transfer her rights to Hae Soo. It was her original intention from the beginning. She only came to inform them out of respect.

Wook is afraid to ask his next question, "What happened to your mistress?"

Myung Hee wanted to arrive at least on the day of the festival itself so she had asked her group to take the shortest route at the mountain. Her servant argued against it telling her it's too dangerous however Myung Hee wouldn't listen. They were near the foot of the mountain of Songak when they were met with group of men in black clad clothes, their faces hidden underneath hood and black pieces of fabric. Myung Hee's group turned their horses away from them. The men rained arrows on Myung Hee's company, sinking one of it at the lady servant's upper arm. Against Myung Hee's wishes they leave the servant behind to survive. They were cornered at the cliff and the servants offered everything they have however the black clad men are not bandits. They only made it look like they were.

"I… I… they found my mistress' body… at the foot … of the mountain…" the girl weeps unable to finish her sentence.

The color on everyone's faces drain as the news hit them hard. Wook maintains his composure, closing his eyes. Yeonhwa steps back, swaying. Ha Jin is stuck still, a statue not breathing. Baek-Ah holds at the back of the chair, bending over the pain at his chest. Jung automatically pats Baek-Ah's back worried.

Remembering the arrow she's clutching at her hand, wrapped in a simple white fabric, the girl hands it to the 8th prince, hoping it would help with the investigation. Wook goes through the motion of opening the fabric, finding the black thin arrow inside.

So and Jung sees the arrow and recognize it together. It looked like the poisoned arrow that sliced at Jung's cheek.

"Don't touch it!"

But Wook couldn't hear anything or feel anything. His wife is dead and it's his fault for sending her away.

So and Jung races to slap the arrow away. Wook clutches the tip of it, enclosing his hand at the sharp end, wounding his skin.

Nothing.

So and Jung stop, seeing the blood drawn. They both look at each other, wondering why nothing happened.

Slowly, as if approaching a scared cub, So pries the arrow from his brother's firm grip, apologizing for his lost. He raises the arrow to the light and examines it. His eyes quivering upon discovering that the arrow is infinitesimally more grey than the black arrows of the Kang's private army.

Jung takes it from So next, scrutinizing every part of it, turning it over and under. It definitely looks like the arrows the Khitans used on him, still unaware that it's the Kang's who had sent the arrow to him.

He looks at the lady servant and asks, "It's not poisoned?"

"Eh?" The servant did not understand the question, "Yie wangjanim, it's not."

"If it is, she'd be dead by now." So unconsciously voices the confusion in his head. He doesn't know if he should be relieved but he's unquestionably sure the arrows are not theirs.

Footnote

1 According to history, Hotteok came to Korea by 19th century through the Chinese merchants so I think there's no Hotteok during Goryeo but for the sake of the date let's say there is.