A/N: Thank you a fun reading

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Chapter 2:

"Do you know this place, Soo-yah? This is where the mother's come to pray for their children." I remained silent. "You might wonder, why am I here? When I am childless?" she kept going on, "I do have a child to take care. I hope that she lives her life happily" I started crying. Today was a horrible day for me. I wanted to give up, run away live peacefully, but something was holding me back. Maybe I was curious to see my happy ending; even before coming here, I messed up my plan so much. I was lost, but Myung Hee was hoping for me to succeed, unknowingly encouraging me towards my quest. I swore no matter what comes forth, and I will never change my path towards my happy ending. I might have missed my chance with the evil Prince, but that doesn't mean that I lost. I can have my happy ending without anyone.

Myung Hee came and hugged me. "I love you, Soo-yah, I will protect you till the end of my life' I started crying loudly, knowing that she did protect Hae Soo till her last breath in the story and I know that her time is drawing near and she will keep her promise no matter what.

On the way, I know I have to go to the Damiwon Pool. I didn't want to go before meeting Myung Hee as she messed up big time and needs time to fall back and attack again. I am determined to go; if it is entangled more, I will have time to undo now rather than later when my hands are future. I started walking towards the secret tunnel. When I entered the secret tunnel, I can see the court ladies were there. It might not be idle for me to go into the pool right, but suddenly it was silently. I slid into the pool to search for my mother's pendant, and I couldn't see anything, thanks to the oils and soap added in the bath for 4th Prince. I closed her eyes and started searching, using my hands at the bottom of the pool. When I found the pendant, I broke the water. Now, I was standing and staring at the half-naked 4th prince; he was so hot, I was tempted to run my hands on him. Then I saw his face, and he was so handsome even with the scar. I whispered, "So handsome," deviating from the plotline, but that broke his trance. He covered his face asked her in a cold and angry voice, "Did you see it?". I realized my mistake and started apologizing. "If you want to live, forget it" he got off the pool on how he dropped his hairpin-like story plot. I picked it up and escaped towards the secret tunnels to home. I changed my robes and went back to sleep thinking about of half-naked Prince.

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Just like Hae Soo, Wang So had a bad day.

The previous day when I came back to SongAk, I killed my horse to vent off my bottled-up anger against the Kang clan and their insult. Later that day, I was asked to help my dear brother, Crown Prince, to find his assassins. It was revealed that there was going be an assassination attempt on Crown Prince on a ritual day. If I joined hands to help him, I could stay back in SongAk. Eventually, I agreed. The next day I was invited for tea at 8th Prince's residence. On the way, I rescued that little girl only from being yelled at by her. Ungrateful girl. Not that I expected her to thank me, but unlike other people, she didn't get scared and walk away in fear; she stood up to me. I saw her again in the tea room from the conversation, and I realized that girl was different from noblewomen and she was Lady Hae's cousin. When 8th Prince offered me a place to stay during my "visit," I accepted, but my elder brother was insulting, I couldn't stop myself take a jab at him.

Suddenly we were disturbed by the cry, and we rushed out to see what was going on. I found that the 10th Prince was lying on the ground holding his head in pain beside him that fiery little girl was unconscious. 13th, 8th, and Yeon Hwa hurried to help them, and my heart stung a little to see her in the arms of another man. I wondered why it stung while others were treating, teasing, and scolding 10th Prince for his foolish actions. I walked away and started preparing for my stay at 8th Prince house. After moving my things on my own and getting settled. I went back to the palace to see my mother but that her court lady said she was asleep. I pushed her away only to find her laughing and spending time with my siblings. She never bothered to ask me how I was doing but, in turn, asked me when I was going back. I told her that I was kept as a hostage, but she asked why they would keep their son hostage. It hurts to find out that your mother doesn't acknowledge you as her son. I wanted to give her my present, a hairpin that I got for her when Shinju but my little brother beat me to it. He gifted her with a beautiful and expensive hairpin. I can her gushing over it. I realized that she would accept mine to save myself from another pain.

I walked away from her palace because the astronomer asked me to take a bath in Damiwon as part of the ritual and join the Crown prince for dinner later that night. I came here to take my clothes. I know that palace doesn't have any dress for me as they took measurements only yesterday. On my way back to the palace, I bumped into someone thinking that person I walked away as I was getting late but stopped when someone was swearing at me. I turned to see who dared to swear at me, Royal Prince. It was that little girl again. She was walking towards me furiously and yelling at me, I know I am incompetent in handling women, but that girl wasn't like other women. I cannot agree I am incompetent in handling anyone, not just women. I turned to walk away, but I felt her touch me. No one touched me, everyone thought I was a curse, stayed away, and ran away, but here she was touching me, asking me to apologize. I smirked and teased her about her background though I knew who she was. She dropped her hand, but I don't know why I was missing her warmth in touch. She spoke about the class difference, and I realized that she was right and I was wrong. She is indeed different. I bent down to tease and apologize to her, but we were disturbed by Lady Hae. Lady Hae greeted me first as I am of a higher title than her. By the time I greeted her, that little girl had run beside her sister and was holding her sister's hands were tight.

I bid goodnight when Lady Hae asked her sister to accompany her. It was dark the Damiwon was quiet; I dismissed the court ladies, removed my mask, and was getting ready to relax in the bath suddenly there was a figure breaking out of the water. I was startled; I found that figure was staring at my body before setting her graze on my face. She whispered that I was handsome that I immediately covered my scar with my hand when I became aware of my maskless face. It was that little girl once again. I was angry that she saw my bare face and my scar. I was afraid that she would reject me. I wanted to know whether she has seen it. She started to apologize; then I realized that she had seen it. I asked her to forget it if she wants to live before changing out of my wet robes.

I went to see my brother, Crown Prince, to discuss plans for tomorrow's ritual. We made plans to switch our positions as our height is almost the same, and we will wear the mask. I can save myself from any deadliest attack.

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On the day of ritual

As punishment for hurting an imperial palace, the 8th Prince asked her not to attend the palace's ritual. She gladly accepted it. She cannot put up with other royals right now. I wanted to hit my notes for research because according to the plotline, Hae Soo never attacked the 10th Prince, so she went to the palace to attend the ritual to see the ambush attack on Crown Prince later revealed to be 4th Prince, who promised to catch the attackers pursued them with a wounded arm.

I need time to research my notes while reading and writing down my next plan of action. There was a knock on my door; I found Chae Rhung dressed beautifully in her robes asked me to accompany him to the village festival. Later in the plot, the 4th Prince and Hae Soo sneak out of the palace dressing as commoners to see the lantern festival. It was a sweet moment between them. I dressed in a commoner's robes, but I wore pants this time instead of a skirt. I don't want to trip again.

Chae Rhung and I had a fun time; I wondered why this nice little had to betray Hae Soo later. Though Che Rhung wrote a letter, I never understood why Hae Soo forgive her. Even in Chae Rhung's shoes, I can never betray my friend for a guy no matter how I loved him. As we were eating, I saw the 4th Prince running towards the forest to catch the attacker. The last time he failed to catch the attack looked very deflated. To help him, I abandoned Che Rhung ran behind him to the forest. Only find to 3rd Prince killing other killers cruelly, I knew if I am caught, I will meet the same fate. I ran to the other side of the forest to find the 4th prince standing in front attacker in attack stance. Before I could realize what was going on, I was held captive by the attacker. She hears the 4th prince asking the attacking to kill her if he wants and adds whether he should do it for him. She scoffed at his poor attempt of distraction and bargain. The attacker tried to hurt me before they both could see anything. I threw the attacker on the ground and sat on him. I removed the ribbon that was holding my hair in a ponytail. I tried to tie his hands, but he was resisting. I saw 4th Prince was gaping at me; I stared at him and asked, "Are you going to stand there do nothing?" that broke his stance and helped me round up the attacker and knock him unconscious.

When I stood up, suddenly the sword was pointing at my neck, and it was hurting here. "Who are you, and why are you here? Were you behind the attack?" before she could reply, there was a knife that flew between them that distracted and pushed them apart. I turned to see, 8th Prince standing with royal guards. Suddenly, she was grabbed by the 4th Prince and pointing his sword at the 8th Prince. The 8th prince asked the 4th Prince to let me go, but 4th replied, "no, I won't," and his hold on me got tighter. Instead of feeling scared, I was feeling safe in my arms despite his death threats. I felt safe, or is it because I am horny.

'You caught assassin, let her go. She is innocent." 8th Prince asked 4th Prince

"I don't know whether I could trust her."

8th Prince lowered his sword asked him till other royal guards reach them. I shoved by 4th Prince into the 8th Prince's arms. Yuck.

"Are you alright?" 8th Prince asked me.I automatically narrated the story

"Yes, I got lost during village festival, but I saw people dressed like him getting killed.' I pointed at the unconscious assassin on the forest floor. That got both princes' attention. They followed me where I saw the mass murder, but there were no dead bodies in sight. As usual, the 4th Prince started to suspect me, but the clever 8th Prince found traces of blood and deduced that person behind the assassins had killed the attacker. They were glad that the 4th Prince caught one alive. 4th Prince went palace to conduct an investigation; I could feel the 8th Prince was itching to go as well. I felt my legs give out, and I saw a mass murder; I caught an assassin and escaped death so close twice. 8th Prince suddenly lifted me, and he said he would drop at me home before going to the palace.

When we reached the 8th Prince's residence, I went to my room, changed into my night robes, and taking care of the wound on my neck. That jerk, did he realize if it scars that I cannot marry him. Idiot.

I couldn't sleep because I still have adrenaline residues in my body; I went for a walk and saw the 4th Prince staggering towards his room. Before he could fall, I caught him and took him inside his room. This jerk was running around with a bleeding wound, and he lost blood, and now he is feverish. I treated his wound and tucked him into bed.

I touched his face and whispered: "if you can't take care of yourself, how will you take care of me?" I went back to my room covertly; on my way back, I saw Yeon Hwa walking to his room to treat his wound; when I read this part of the story, I felt disgusted, but this time I snickered that I was ahead of her. I went back to sleep, thinking that he was safe.

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I switched masks and robes with Crown Prince. I know that he was feeling bad to put me in danger. No matter what the astronomer and I said, Crown Prince couldn't stop feeling bad for me. It was happy to see that someone care about me. At the time ritual, everything was going as per plan, but I was ambushed by attackers who thought they were attacking Crown Prince during my solo performance. Initially, I was fighting alone before my brothers joined my side. I was attacked, and a sword grazed my arm intensely, and they fled when they found that they were outnumbered. They ran away, followed by the 3rd Prince, who promised that he would catch them.

Before I could go, my father removed my mask; I thought he would relax seeing it was me, but he was still for Crown Prince. I cannot say his actions didn't hurt me, but it was expected. I chased the assassins. I was able to find one assassin; I confronted him when he was about to surrender. We were distracted by another person's presence, that girl. She was pale like she saw a ghost. The assassin caught her before I could save her. I was trying to distract her, telling me that girl wasn't of great importance to him, but he attacked her. Suddenly he was thrown on the ground, and that girl who sat on him removed her ribbon to tie his hands, but he was resisting. I stood there thinking, what in the world happened now? She asked me to quite gaping and helped her. After I helped her, I couldn't put my finger on it, and I found her mysterious. I pointed my sword at her asked whether she was part of the assassin. Before She could answer me, my sword was inflicting a wound on her neck. I didn't care, and I will not let this girl jeopardize my family even though she looks beautiful. Our staring contest was distracted by a knife that flew in between us. I thought it was another assassin before he could hurt me; I pulled her to my side only to then realize the attacker was my brother, 8th Prince. I released that once he said guards would be here soon. When the 8th Prince questioning her, she told him how she got lost and found a man killing other assassins.

We followed into the forest only to find that place was empty, I was growing suspicious of the girl, but her answers are not easing my suspicions. 8th Prince found traces of blood and deduced that it might be the guy who ordered the assassin would have killed others. I announced that I am going to the palace to investigate the assassin. I left them alone despite my strong urges not to do so.

The astronomer and Crown prince already started the investigation, but the assassin never opened his mouth. They stopped for the day, and I retired to the 8th Prince household. I was getting dizzy. I guess I lost a lot of blood, the wound must deep, but I was about to lose my balance. A small figure held me and guided me to my room, and treated and dressed my wound. That person tucked me into the futon; it was that girl she was whispering to take care of myself so that I could take care of in return. She left, and for the first time, I had someone who cares for me and needs me despite my reputation, and I slowly drifted to sleep with a smile on my face

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A/N: Thank you for reading. Please leave your thoughts in the reviews. Critics are welcome