A/N: Major plot change ahead. Have a fun reading

-AG

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Chapter 4:

After being 'rescued' by the 8th Prince, the day was awkward. Later that night, I was invited to have dinner with Myung Hee and the 8th Prince. I ignored him while eating my dinner and catching up with my sister. I can feel his graze on me, but I never turned to face him. I want peace to relax my mind. I started walking towards the prayer tower stone. I know that the 4th prince will be there re-building it. I asked, "What are you doing?".

He replied, "I am re-building it, wanted to do it before I moved to the palace."

I knew this was coming, but I couldn't stop myself asking him, 'You are going to stay in the palace?"

He replied, "Yes."

I stared at him, "When you there, stop terrorizing people, eat and sleep well. don't climb hills because I won't be around to serve your food when you do that" she didn't expect him to stare back at her. "Why are you staring like that?" I asked him, for which he replied, "I am still wondering why aren't you afraid of me? "I didn't reply, but my thoughts were lost when I stared at the Sky. "Woah, so many stars," I exclaimed. I knew he was staring at me, not at the stars.

The next day, I got a wonderful surprise from Lady Hae; she presented me with a variety of medicinal herbs. This gesture happens in the novel as well. Hae Soo is good with herbs; she makes soaps, cosmetics and treats disease with tea and herbs. It's a good thing as it comes in handy in the future; surprisingly, I share Hae Soo's memories, I can perform too. I had practice and still practicing by writing books and recipes. When the plotline ends, I can sell to earn money for myself.

As expected from everyone, I prepared soap for Queen Yoo, Queen HwangBo, The King, 8th Prince, 13th Prince, and 4th Prince. I made it according to everyone's favorites. When she gifts soaps to the 8th Prince household, I received a return gift from Myung Hee and the 8th Prince. From Myung Hee, I got a beautiful hairband, and from 8th Prince, I got paper. I don't need to open it; I know what it is. He asked me to send a reply. As if we were exchange love letters, emails, or texts. I won't reply. In the original plot, Hae Soo wrote his name back and sent it to him. I find it cheesy and gross. I would never do that. I need to stop running into him.

One thing that's common between Hae Soo and me, we are not eloquent literary, meaning we suck at Arts. I always think people who love poems are exceptional; their preceptive of thinking about situations are extraordinary. I am not opening or taking the poem anywhere to decipher it. If it is anything like the plot, I would have to write a reply and get cold shoulders from 13th Prince. Nope, not going to do it.

My visit to the palace was fantastic; I was hoping to bump into certain someone. When we visited the Queen HwangBo, to everyone's surprise, Queen Yoo was also present. I knew that she would be here. That's why I got a gift for her as well. We greeted the Queen, both of them were happy. Queen Yoo treated me better because I saved her youngest son's life and insulted Myung Hee for being childless. I had to hold my tongue not to retort. Also, the King would be here soon. My present to the King impressed him; I have never seen a real-life King in my life. King Taejo was a great guy with many achievements, but he had the majestic charm.

Queen Yoo gloated about my savior attitude, which made him gift me a Persian rug.

I escaped from the nerve-wracking situation, even in the 21st-century meeting a royalty that, too, the King is not easy or relaxing. When she was relaxing, the 4th Prince found me. When he cleared his throat, it startled me. I gave him an annoyed look.

"what are you doing here?" he was so handsome and cleaned up pretty well. It was not his usual rugged look.

"Steal the palace, want to help me?" he gave me an odd look. In my time, I am famous for a comeback, retort, and sarcastic replies. The habit that I am trying to quit because it is unsuitable for this era. Some ingrained habits are harder to quit. I sighed. "I came here with the 8th prince and Myung Hee to see Queen HwangBo" he nodded in understanding. In the novel, Hae Soo asks about well-being; I did the same not because of Hae Soo because I genuinely care about him. Initially, I liked him as the male protagonist, but I started accepting him as my partner. It was easy to fall in love with him. Maybe, that's why when he claimed that I belong to him made my heart beat faster and his 'my person' comment. I am a hormonal teenage girl. A small sign of affection and authority is what it takes for us to like each other. Unlike the 8th Prince, I am not repulsed by his affection. To know that both, 4th Prince and I are the same, being abandoned by family, left alone to survive and face the world, and no one to care about us (except Myung Hee) attracts me towards him. We both fought against the world by ourselves. Now, we need to fight beside each other and lean on each other.

Our conversation was interrupted by Queen Yoo, who invited Hae Soo for tea, but Hae Soo never accepted the offer. I am going to consider the offer. She never acknowledged her middle son standing there, started insulting him, and advised me not to mingle with him. I just smiled at her. I didn't brush off her as Hae Soo did.

After she departed, the 4th prince was angry and about to leave. I caught his arms, when he stared at my hands, I dropped them. "Wait, I have something to give you." I took out a bar of soap with mint fragrance and gave it to him. He likes mint; I like it only when I have a cold. He had a weird look on his face; I sighed and explained, "It's a bathing aid; use it when you bath" his eyebrows rose. i got annoyed. "Give it back if you don't like it" I tried to take it from him, but he moved it. I lost balance and fell into his chest suddenly, and his arms surrounded me to hold me in place. It was embarrassing; I pushed him, took a step back, and ran away.

In the original plot, Hae Soo gifts only the 8th Prince alone; I wanted to do the same for the 4th Prince.

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The night before I moved into the palace was beautiful; I spend some time with that girl, unlike the housemaids who were happy to get rid of me; she was concerned about the well-being asking me to take care of myself. It feels good to know that someone cares for you, and it makes me want to protect myself. I was assigned a place in the palace with other unmarried princes. They were all disturbed by my presence; somethings don't change, so I went and stayed in the astronomer tower. It's also the place where I can see the stars clearly at night that reminds me of that girl.

I started partaking in royal duties as a Prince, much to everyone's dismay except for Crown Prince. A couple of days later, I saw that girl on the palace grounds. I thought I was dreaming, but there she was dressed beautifully in red and white hanbok, standing alone. I asked her what she was doing, and she gave me a sarcastic reply before explaining her purpose of the palace visit. I have never seen her behave this casually with other princes, only with me. I don't know why. She started asking about my well-being?. I, initially, thought it was a façade or a prank to mock my feelings, my character, but I could see that she was concerned. I hope her affections towards me is true; nothing will break me more than her hateful words about my actions or appearance. We were interrupted by our dear mother, who never acknowledged my presence, insulted me and warned her not to associate with me while I was standing right there. I thought she might heed to her words after all mother knows the best about their children. I didn't want her to reject me or ignore me, so I turned to walk away. That girl touched me again; when I looked at her hands touching me, she dropped them, I missed the feeling of her hands on me. Though it might sound weird, it's been so long since I had human contact or hugged someone sincerely. Why would they touch a cursed prince?. She said she had something for me. She gave me a small pouch; I opened it to see it was a bar of something smelled like mint. I thought she had prepared something for me to eat, but she told me it was a bathing aid. She made me a bathing aid?. She thought my puzzled look as rejection went to take it away from my hands, she lost balance and fell into my arms, I had to hold her to keep from falling and tumbling both of us. She started blushing, pushed me, and ran away. But I stood there grinning like a fool with a bar of bathing aid in my hand, looking at her receding figure.

The next day, I saw something unusual in the courtyard that my elder sibling was bullying Yeon Hwa. It was unusual because Yeon Hwa will be the one to bully others, not the other way around. Then she confided that she was upset because their father planned to search and fix marriage for her. I wished her congratulations; she told me that she was disinterested and asked if I can protect her. That cunning girl, I replied that I want a girl who protects me and loves all of me, including my scar. On hearing this, my elder brother scoffed at me while I parted.

A few days later, Queen Hwangbo asked me to send some herbs to Lady Hae, so I went to the 8th Prince residence. She wanted me to deliver to her personally as she doesn't trust anyone with her reputation of being framed to poison one of the King's concubines. I can understand it. If things go wrong, we both will be blamed. Usually, I won't take up this task, but this was just an excuse to see that girl.

When I reached the residence, I found out that Lady Hae went for a walk with her husband, so I searched for that girl. I found her standing and shaking. When I went near, she was crying, I got worried. As soon as she saw me, she threw herself in my arms, doubled in crying. At my hindsight, I could see the 8th Prince carrying his wife on his back. Lady Hae's hands were at her sides and not moving. I understood what was going on. That girl's knees gave out; I caught her before she fell. She was crying so badly. I pulled her in a tight embrace and rubbing her back, which I had seen other people do when someone was crying. I didn't say anything; I was holding her.

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I remember this day very clearly, The day that causes a rift between Yeon Hwa and Hae Soo. In the novel, they were discussing love and power during their shared class. Hae Soo is not a bright tool that said things that pushed Yeon Hwa to fight for the 4th prince and her power. Today I am going to change that.

Yeon Hwa asked the teacher, "So one can either love or power but never both?"

Instead of telling Yeon Hwa it was possible to have both; I ganged up with her against the teacher. "Though I want only one, is it completely impossible to attain both?" I asked the teacher. That perked Yeon Hwa's interests, "What do you want then? Love or Power?"

I replied, "Of course, love, do you need to ask." She murmured, "foolish girl." I said, "I might be foolish, but I have my reasons; I was an orphan, and the only person that cares about me is Lady Hae; I would want to have a husband who loves my future family and me." She murmured something inappropriate, "Well, Princess, you were lucky to have loving parents and brothers, so you would want to have something you don't have." Bullseye. She got angry and asked, 'You mean to say that I don't have power". I nodded. "Yes, if you had the power, you wouldn't have been kicked out of the palace and asking your brother to marry my sister so that your family could retain their status in the palace" She got flared up. "You ungrateful bi.." I continued, "Also, if you had power, you would have everything except love," she spoke, "I suppose love gives everything and power as well." I lied. "No, it doesn't. Choosing love is accepting someone for who they are, not for what they are and what they can do?" she asked 'do you mean you won't love a guy of higher status than you' I replied, "I didn't say that, I said that I don't care whether the guy I love is rich or poor, handsome or not. I will love him for who he is, how he treats and treasure me while I do the same for him," She scoffed "when you put it like that, I rather have power and everything other than love," she said with distaste. I wish I could pat myself now. Yeon Hwa will pursue power, not the 4th Prince.

As the day goes by, I saw Myung Hee's health deteriorating every day, the day she asked me to make-up for her. I knew it was today. I tried hard to stop crying in front of her. I somehow managed to do it. I accompanied them on her walk as she was finding it difficult to walk on her own. I stopped when he carried her, and after minutes she dies. I couldn't stop crying for her.

When I came into Hae Soo's body, I was so scared; she knew that I was unwell and scared of something. She never questioned me but hugged and comforted me, telling me everything is alright and she will protect me, no matter what. She made sure I eat, sleep and dress appropriately. Though I know her through the novel, and it's been only two years since I met her, I couldn't bear the pain of losing her. She was really like a sister and mother to me. This relationship is the only thing that makes me jealous of Hae Soo. I saw the 4th Prince was standing next to me; without thinking, I threw my arms around him and started crying, and he just held me tightly in his arms.

The next day, we were all dressed in white, standing in front of the funeral pyre. I saw Hae Clan leaders. I know that I have to talk with them right now. She is going to mourn for her sister. Later that afternoon, I confronted Hae Clan leaders in a private room, "I know what you are trying to do"

The clan leaders got nervous and started fidgeting. I said that "I have a better plan that you have which will help all of us in the long run" that caught their interest; I continued, "Instead of forming an alliance with the King, do it with 4th Prince." They were shocked. "What, Why?". I replied, "Simple, I don't want to marry an old guy who might not give me a child to secure our clan position in the palace, but if I marry 4th Prince who is reconciled with his father, very close to Crown Prince. With the rumors that going around the King might abdicate his throne to Crown Prince." They were silent. "Now, you will be thinking about marrying me to the Crown Prince, which I would say is not a good move as there is an opposition for him to take up thrown using his unknown sickness as the reason. We don't want that do we?" they look surprised that I guessed their plan of action. "Also 4th prince and 3rd Prince are siblings, Next one is 3rd prince, we all know his mother would never agree with me as his bride, and with his showing strong opposition against Crown Prince who knows when he might get thrown out so our safe option" they were all thinking. Good, time for the final push. "I am suggestion someone who would bring honor to our clan not just during this King's reign also the next one whoever it may be. Who knows it might be 4th Prince with his reputation, it is possible". One of the clan members asked, 'What will you do if we don't agree?". I gave them my evil face. "Oh, you will regret it in big time. I don't have to stay with the clan to know about the dirty secrets. All the information I shared with you right now, others that I didn't share, were parting gift from Lady Hae Myung Hee. She knew that you would all try to sabotage my life. Think wisely before you act; else, you will regret it. I am giving you a chance to protect our clan in the long run."

After saying my final words, I went to the deck near the lake; I found 13th prince drinking alone. I need some drink after everything has happened so far. We both started drinking, sharing stories about Myung Hee, laughing, teasing and everything went blank.

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Thank you for reading. share your thoughts in the review section

-AG