Chapter 18

A crisp sunlight plays on the prince's face as he gradually comes to consciousness. He smells a lemony citrus scent that floats around his nostril enticing him to open his eyes. He can feel his body still sore and weak as he groggily sits up and look around. He is in an unfamiliar room, sufficiently ventilated and well kept with vases of cup-shaped white flowers that seemed to have been recently placed there.

He stands, holding on to his bandage stomach. He slowly makes his way to the door opening it to a courtyard blindingly lit with the summer sun. He shields his eyes with his hand and walks past the foyer to see his quarters surrounded with small shrubs of the same flower inside his room. It must be where the lemony citrus scent is coming from.

Walking not far, heading his way is the daughter of the moon and the other prince, taking a stroll in the courtyard. She notices him first and was surprise to see him finally awake. Leaving the side of the other prince, she quickens her step to approach him. The prince turns to see her smiling as bright as the sun. He tries to place where he had seen her but with the blinding sun, hot weather and with his body not fully recovered, he feels dizzy and sways. She catches him as he falls to his knees, sending both of them in the ground. She kneels with him unconscious in her arms, worried. The other prince watches with jealousy dancing in his gaze.

"Hae Soo, Hae Soo." Wook shakes Hae Soo to wake, sleeping with her head bowed in the table inside Wook's study chambers.

Ha Jin opens her eyes and raises her head with her consciousness still sluggish. She blinks her eyes several times looking at the 8th prince.

"Did I made you wait long? I'm sorry, there were some palace matters that I had to take care of." Wook apologizes for being late in their first day of study session.

Ha Jin suddenly stands-up, her consciousness finally catching-up with her. She apologizes profusely for being caught sleeping again.

Na jin-jja mi-cheo-seo! (I've really gone crazy this time!)

"Gwaen-chanh-a, anj-eu-se-yo. (It's alright, please sit down.)" Wook smiles and turns to get the ink and paper on his table.

Ha Jin automatically rushes beside Wook and helps him to take the ink and paper and transfer it to the table where she was sleeping a while ago. They take their sit beside each other and start their lesson.

"So tell me, how well do you not remember your lessons?" Wook asks as he arranges the books in front of them.

"Hmmm…." Ha Jin thinks about it for a minute, "I recognize a few of the characters but when they are put together in a sentence, I can't read them anymore."

She decides to be honest, seeing as she badly needs to learn and she had already humiliated her self in front of everyone in there dinner anyway, might as well come clean now.

"I see." Wook opens the cheongjamun in the first page and takes a brush and a paper to hand it Hae Soo. "Then do you remember how to write?"

"The basics? I know the strokes starts from left to write and then up going down." Ha Jin answers hiding her embarrassment with a wide smile.

"Alright then, let's start with you copying characters and strokes first and then maybe when you get used to it, you can come up with your own style of handwriting. Is that alright?" Wook asks as he writes something in the paper.

"Kuer-reom-yo! (Of course!)" Ha Jin answers, looking at what the 8th prince is doing.

Thinking about what characters to teach Hae Soo first, Wook writes:

He shows it to Hae Soo and Ha Jin takes a look at it, recognizing the character .

"This means sun right?" Ha Jin asks.

Wooks nods, "Maj-a-yo, (That's correct.)"

Wook hands the brush to Hae Soo. He puts his left hand over the back of Hae Soo's sits and leans closer to her, taking her dominant hand with his right hand and together they write the character in the paper.

"Kue-geot-eun cheo I-reum-i ye-yo (That is my name.) It means…" Wook tells Hae Soo as they write his name.

"…the sun rising in the morning." Ha Jin finishes Wook's sentence, eager to show him she's not as illiterate as Yeonhwa makes her out to be.

It's not that Ha Jin understand the characters that Wook had made her write. She only remembers the meaning of the 8th prince name because her 8th grade teacher had made them memorized their names and the corresponding meanings behind it. Like the way she remembers the 4th prince name, she also remembers the meaning behind the 8th prince name because it's close to the meaning of the 4th prince name.

Wook smiles pleased that Hae Soo knows the meaning behind his name. Ha Jin looks up and returns the smile. The action flusters Wook, suddenly becoming aware of how close he is to Hae Soo. He takes his right hand smoothly from Hae Soo's as Hae Soo starts rewriting the character again.

"Kue-reom, this is what we're going to do. I'll teach you 20 characters a day and you will practice writing it and memorizing the meaning of the characters." Wook tells Hae Soo, his left hand still at Hae Soo's chair not pulling away just yet.

"20!" Ha Jin exclaims.

Kue-re, I was able to memorize the periodic table of elements with their atomic number, electron configurations and recurring chemical properties, I'm sure I'll get a hang of this too after a while.

"Wae? silh-eo? Him-deul-da? (Why? You don't like it? Is't hard?)" Wook asks worried.

"A-ni-yo! Kkuk hal su iss-eo-yo! (I can definitely do it.) Ha Jin answers, raising her fist in front of her. "What's the other 19 characters then?"

Wook laughs at Hae Soo's enthusiasm. He takes the paper and the brush from her and starts writing a few characters on top for Hae Soo to copy.

"Ah, by the way. If you fail, you won't get dinner for that night." Wook plays a joke on Hae Soo.

"Ehhhh, cheong-mal?" Ha Jin answers coming closer to Wook.

Wook stills, holding his ground. His heart races as unaware Hae Soo enters his personal space.

"I guess I'll grow thin for the next few weeks then." Ha Jin nods thoughtfully, taking the 8th prince's joke seriously.

"I'm only playing around. Don't take it seriously." Wook answers, daring to move an inch closer to Hae Soo.


Three hours after, Wook walks Hae Soo in the courtyard to take some air, more for his own good. Hae Soo is a diligent student eager to learn. There is no qualm that she would be able to catch-up with them in a few months.

Wook is more exhausted for having his heart jump every time Hae Soo unconsciously enters his personal space. They have never been in an enclose area together for such a long time, Wook felt like everything outside his study chambers stopped and only the two of them matters. He never wanted to leave that room again content in the illusion that Hae Soo is his in those four walls.

Not far from them, in front of the daechung, they see Myung Hee reprimanding a few servants. The two of them walk towards her to ask what's going on.

"Mu-seun il-e-yo (What's the matter) Myung Hee-ya?" Wook asks, back to being serious.

Myung Hee and the servants bow to give greetings to the 8th prince. Hae Soo stands beside Myung Hee holding her arm smiling.

"Eops-eub-ni-da hwangjanim, the servants are too enthusiastic with delivering the food to the 4th prince that they couldn't decide who should go." Myung Hee covers for the servants who she caught arguing because no one wants to bring the 4th prince his dinner.

The servants bow their head, afraid that not only did the lady of the household caught them, now the 8th prince also got involve too.

"Whose bringing my 4th brother his dinner then?" Wook asks, annoyance dripping in his words.

He couldn't fault his servants for being afraid of his 4th brother but it embarrasses him that his 4th brother is being neglected even in his own home.

"Che-ga, hal kke-yo (I'll do it.)" Yeonhwa answers, turning from the corner of the daechung.

She was taking a stroll from the far side of the courtyard when she sees the commotion and had decided to approach. Hae Soo, Myung Hee and the servants bow to Yeonhwa as she nears. The servants fidget nervously, scared that they might be severely punished.

"A-ni-yo, Hae Soo-ga hal su iss-eo-yo (Hae Soo can do it.)" Myung Hee innocently volunteers Hae Soo who is standing beside her. "I'm sure a princess has more important things to do."

Na-ya? Wae? (But why me?) I'm also a lady of this house?

Ha Jin looks at her cousin, confused but she'd rather do the household chore than let Yeonhwa do it.

"Gwaen-chanh-a, it's my brother anyway. I don't mind taking care of him." Yeonhwa answers with her left eyebrow twitching up, a habit that makes her look intimidating.

Ha Jin walks to the servant and takes the basket of dinner from them and smile widely at everyone, "Che-ga hal-kke-yo, go-cheong ha-ji ma-se-yo, (I'll do it so please don't worry.)"

She smiles sweetly at Yeonhwa as she bows to leave her greetings to them not waiting for anyone's reply. Yeonhwa stands irritated but maintains her composure nonetheless. She turns to the servant instead intending to punish them for neglecting the 4th prince. Wook takes Myung Hee away, not wanting her to be stressed with Yeonhwa.


When Ha Jin volunteered to bring the 4th prince his dinner, she was expecting to just go to his quarters, knock on his room and hand him his dinner. She didn't anticipated that she would be hiking in a hillside, at the back of their compound.

Thirty steps up the stairs and Ha Jin is already catching her breathe. Although she likes running at the Han River on present times, it had been a few months since the last time she had actually run as an exercise. Besides, she likes running on level grounds but not taking the stairs. Twenty more steps and she finally reached the top. She's ready to curse at So for making her hike in a long chima , thick coat and a heavy basket when she spot him sitting on a flat stone looking faraway with his back to her. Ha Jin observes So for a moment, something about his back seems familiar to her. She'd seen it somewhere, pretty recently but not here. Somewhere she can't remember.

Disturbed by footsteps and clanging of plates, So turns his back to see Hae Soo bend over the heavy basket and catching her breathe. He watches her for a second and turns back to the scenery in front waiting for her to come to him of her own accord.

Having been sighted by the 4th prince, Ha Jin trudges begrudgingly beside So, putting the basket beside him.

"Hwangjanim, I brought you your dinner. Mas-itt-ke meog-eo-seub-ni-da (Please eat well.)" Ha Jin tells So, back into addressing him in cheondemal.

So side glances at Hae Soo but doesn't say anything.

Kue-re, I'm only disturbing him.

Since So had always carried out a conversation with her just fine these past few days, Ha Jin is not use to him not saying anything when she addresses him. She misunderstands his silence now as his dismissal of her. Ha Jin turns to leave annoyed at So.

"Ka-ji ma (stay) (1)." So tells Hae Soo without glancing at her.

Ha Jin lets out an irritated sigh, turning back at So. "Why do you that?"

"Do what?" So answers still looking far ahead.

"This! You talk to me just fine when it's only the two of us but you ignore me in front of other people." Ha Jin gives So a piece of her mind.

A smirk appears at So's face, amused at Hae Soo's temperament, "Your temper doesn't match your bearing."

So doesn't need to look at Hae Soo to remind him of how fragile she is in his embrace. He had it committed in his mind how well Hae Soo's petite body fits his arms nor will he ever forget how a simple touch from her warms him to the core.

Ha Jin looks down on herself, thinking about the way she looks at the moment. Chae Ryung did her hair this morning and she had even graze her cheeks with a little oil in a cotton to make her skin less dry. She believes nothing is wrong with her appearance.

"And your talking habits when it's just the two of us doesn't match your talking habits when there are other people around. Why?" Ha Jin asks again, using So's sentence structure.

So glances at Hae Soo this time. He is ignoring her in front of other people because he doesn't want her to be used against him. Yo was able to find her as his weakness when he wasn't even aware that he cares for her, what more now that he had chosen to be by her side. Though he couldn't even dare to dream of coming close to her even if he wants to because he just lost his place in the palace. He can only talk to her like this.

"It's for your own sake." So answers cautious with his words.

Ha Jin takes a minute to look at So not understanding what he means, "Kue-reom, I should go. Let me know when you no longer want to confuse me."

Ha Jin leaves without glancing back. Her own words confuse her too.

Why should I care if he talks to me in front of other people or not?

Eii dwaess-eo (Forget about it!) Ha Jin.

"Hae Soo-ya, do you want to run away?" So asks stopping Ha Jin from leaving.

"To where?" Hae Soo asks stilling in her feet.

"Anywhere you want to go." So answers looking far away again.

Ha Jin thinks about it for a second and comes back to the flat stone where So is. She hesitantly sits beside him, gauging his mood.

"Where would you want to go, if you can leave?" Ha Jin sits with her knees drawn to her body, hugging it.

So thinks about it for a minute. All he ever wanted is to come back to the palace to be with his family. He never thought of going anywhere other than that.

He looks at Hae Soo now, he'll go anywhere with her if she wants to.

"I've tried leaving but I'm still here anyway." Ha Jin shares something true about herself. "I guess I'm stuck here for the next 50 years."

"50 years?" So asks baffled with Hae Soo's words. He remembers their dinner where Hae Soo and Ji Mong exchange a harmless conversation about the moon.

Ha Jin stops breathing, catching her self making a mistake. She laughs nervously to hide it. "I mean the majority of lifespans for people nowadays is more or less 60-70 years. I'm 16 now so I guess I only have 50 years then."

At least that is true in the present day. Do they live longer here?

So nods thoughtfully, considering Hae Soo's words. Her explanation does makes sense to him so he lets it go for now.

A soft breeze blows around them making Ha Jin shake. She arranges her coat around her, directing So's attention to it recalling how her coat had cover him the other night. He moves a little closer beside her. He doesn't know if Hae Soo would accept his coat but he contents himself with just being near her.

"Yeo-gi-seo mwo hago iss-eot-ni? (what were you doing here anyway?)" Ha Jin ask looking at where So was looking awhile ago. "Oh! Is that the palace?"

So nods, watching Hae Soo.

"Why weren't you living in the palace like your unmarried brothers?" Ha Jin asks curious, unaware of So's family predicament.

So can only look at Hae Soo, unable to give her answer.

"Eii Jam-kkan-man-yo! (wait a second!) Are you married back in your home?" Ha Jin exclaims, suddenly nervous of what answer the 4th prince would tell her.

"Mwo?! Ya!" So answers, flustered by Hae Soo. "How can you ask that?!"

"So are you married or not?" Ha Jin asks again, glancing at So, unconsciously moving in at So's personal bubble.

So moves back, his heart racing as Hae Soo enters his personal space.

"Eiii dwaess-eo (nevermind), if you don't want to answer you don't have to." Ha Jin returns in her space, looking at the palace again. "I was only joking anyway."

Ha Jin smiles widely hiding her nervousness. She breathes in and releases a sigh, calming herself. When she thinks about it she doesn't know anything about the 4th prince apart from what she had read in the textbook.

"Kyeol-hon ha-ji anh-ass-eo (I'm not married.)" So quietly answers after a while, sounding Hae Soo's mind. He usually is a good judge of people's intention behind their words but with Hae Soo, everything seems to be confusing.

"Kue-re? Cheo do (So am I)." Ha Jin laughs, carefree this time. It seems she's the only one who understands her joke because the 4th prince looks at her like she had lost her mind.

"Do you want to live in the palace, be a queen or a princess?" So inquires, serious now.

"Cheo-yo? (Me?)" Ha Jin looks back at So "Wae-yo? Are you going to make me a queen?"

"Is that what you want?" So asks, assessing how far he should go to stay by her side.

Ha Jin thinks about it for a second. In the present day, she had worked tirelessly to provide for her family and pay her student loans that she doesn't even get to spend some time with them.

I would have been contented with having my own house, a car that I can ride going to my work and extra money to take a vacation with my family.

"A-ni-yo, I'm happy as long as my family live comfortably. I've realized I'd like to have more time with them instead of working to death. At the end of the day, it's still nice to come home to a house with someone waiting for you, isn't it?" Ha Jin explains missing the family she had taken for granted.

So nods thoughtfully, sharing the same sentiment with Hae Soo "Kue-re. It would be nice to come home to a family who longs for you."

"Then you should go home to your family in the palace. I'm sure they misses you too." Ha Jin answers smiling, she rest her cheeks in her knees looking at So.

So doesn't answer. He goes back to looking at the palace, yearning for the family he used to have. He will have to get back his position in the palace if he wants to stay with Hae Soo.


The next day, So was asked to enter the palace. He stands in front of his father with Mu and Ji Mong at their usual place. The three of them wait nervously for the king's decision.

This throne room had been too busy receiving requests from people, vouching for the 4th prince to stay. Mu was the first to request to have his 4th brother stay, using his familial affinity with So as an excuse and the fact that So had exchanged place with him during the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual to save his life. Ji Mong came to say that the 4th prince star had always been aligned to protect the king and the crown prince. It is his rightful place to be in the palace with his brothers.

His 3rd son Yo also came calling. Though he was confused as to what reason does he vouch for his younger brother, he stands by his words that it was he who owns the temple and that his younger brother only acted accordingly to protect him and their mother because they were afraid that she would be wrongfully accused.

Even the 8th prince came and did his best effort to convince him that his 4th brother is being turned to a scapegoat by who ever is behind the assassination, careful to not out rightly accuse the queen.

But what made King Taejo wavered and decide to make his 4th son stay is his royal concubine's request. Even Lady Oh had dared to ask.

Lady Oh had come in the other night for his usual ceremonial tea. She was a little late and he was busy reading royal requests and studying the financial status of a new building being constructed at the palace that would serve as living quarters for royal envoys from China.

Meticulously pouring tea beside him, Lady Oh sits kneeling in front of him afterwards. She had diligently served him tea for the last two decades, heading the court ladies in his palace like she was attending to her own household.

They once promised each other their hearts when he was only a mere lieutenant and she a humble daughter of a commoner but fate had other plans for both of them.To rise to the position of general, Taejo was obliged to marry the daughter of one of the generals, now the late mother of the crown prince. He had send Oh So-Yeon a letter then but the gossips were faster to reach her ears. She was heartbroken by the time the letter reached her and she had decided to give herself to the palace, serving as a gungyeo.

When king Taejo's first wife died and he had managed to usurp the throne, the first thing he did was to promote Lady Oh to the position of Sanggun, preparing her to become his wife but his royal officials and generals wouldn't approve. They had advised him to take a wife from a powerful aristocratic family to maintain and strengthen the throne. When he wouldn't oblige they had threatened to withdraw their support and get rid of Lady Oh. With his hands tied, he puts Lady Oh aside and marries Lady Yoo of Chungju Yu Clan. Lady Oh had since then remained at his side but they were always careful to hide whatever they have.

When both of them slipped 18 years ago and Lady Oh became pregnant, Queen Yoo was quick to get rid of their unborn child. King Taejo could only look the other way, powerless to protect Lady Oh and their unborn child.

"I heard your 4th son had finally returned home." Lady Oh starts.

King Taejo looks up from the papers that he is reading.

"Isn't that a cause for joy? You've never wanted to send him away before, why send him away again?"

"It seems my 4th son is still confused where his loyalty should lie." King Taejo answers.

Lady Oh holds herself from giving away a sarcastic smile, "It is only natural that the boy should be confuse. You and the queen threw him 20 years ago, he didn't grew up having you or his mother's love. He only had the seja's and my nephew's friendship. It is only normal for the boy to seek the mother who had given birth to him but if you give him another chance and you let him know that you care for him more than his mother does, I'm sure he'd readily lay his life on your feet. You are his father after all and all he ever wanted is to be acknowledge by the family who threw him away."

King Taejo looks at his 4th son now, the prince who had managed to inspire sympathy and win devotion from the people around him without even knowing it. If he learns to wield such power then now one will be able to get on his way. Not to mention that So is as good as Mu in the battlefields according to his trusted general Park Soon Kyung.

His 4th son would be a dangerous contender for the king's position but with him wielding his power to back his 1st brother, Mu is sure to ascend the throne easily.

"If I let you stay in the palace, what would you be to the seja?" King Taejo asks

Ji Mong and Mu exchange hopeful glances.

So kneels down, surprised but not daring to hope, "I will not be a son nor a brother to anyone but a shield and a sword to the seja, laying my life at his disposal to protect him at all times."

"And your family in Shinju?" King Taejo asks, giving away nothing.

"Ka-juk? Mu-suen ka-juk-i? (Family? What family?) Sung-go-hab-ni-da pyeha (Forgive my transgression your highness) but not even once was I ever treated as a son by the Lady Consort." So answers not bothering to hide his hatred. "You would know better pyeha."

It takes a few tensed minutes before King Taejo say a word again, "Ji Mong-ah, did you say that the 4th prince' star had risen in Songak?"

"His highness' star and the seja's stars are in perfect alignment. If the 4th prince stay in Songak, it is a sign of great fortune in Goryeo." Ji Mong answers cautiously hiding his hope.

King Taejo observes his 4th son some more. He gauges how much work would be done to prepare him and the seja to take the throne.

"Keu-reom Ji Mong-ah, let the Kangs at Shinju and everyone of my subjects in Goryeo know that the 4th prince will be staying in Songak from now on." King Taejo acquiesce to finally let his 4th son come home.

It takes a few heartbeats before it syncs to the three that So is finally free to stay.

"Pyeha-ui ja-bi-e kam-sa deu-rib-ni-da (Thank you for your benevolence your highness.)" So bows his head to the ground, touching it with his forehead.

Mu repeats the same thing as he kneels beside his 4th brother.

"Both of you rise then." King Taejo turns to address his advisor, "Ji Mong-ah, have a living quarters prepare for the 4th prince."

"Yie pyeha!" Ji Mong answers, unsealing his smile.

The two princes rise and bow again to leave their greetings to the king.

As both of them leaves, King Taejo calls at So,

"And So-ya, welcome home, my son." King Taejo tells So. Following Lady Oh's advice, he dangles just enough carrot at So to secure his loyalty to him.

So and Mu turn to look at their father, surprise but grateful nonetheless.


Inside the sky tower, Ji Mong and Mu pour bowls of Makgeolli in the mood to celebrate. So stands in his usual place in the balcony feeling better. He's thinking of looking for his boat now, maybe take Hae Soo in it but then it's too cold and the girl has a history of drowning every time she's near the water. He guesses it's not a good idea at the moment. Maybe in spring when the trees around the lake are in full bloom and that lemony citrusy smell surrounds the whole place. He now has all the time in the world anyway, his boat can wait. He turns to leave, dying to see the girl but Ji Mong and Mu have other plans in mind.


In the morning, the princes, princesses, the two queens and the government council gathers at Hoegyong Hall as King Taejo presides over handing official government jobs (2) to his sons.

Mu, as a seja is assigned the office of Jungseo Munha-Seong (Secratariat-Chancellery), which deliberated important matters of state. Yo is assigned the Sangseo-seong (Executive Department), heading Yukbu (six ministies) while So is given the office of Security Council that Yo used to head.

The Yukbu (six ministries) that functions as administrative bodies are composed of Park Ryeom Sik, cousin to Queen Yoo; Wang Gyu, the grandfather of the 10th prince; Park Sul Hui, grandfather of the 9th prince; 8th prince Wang Wook; 13th prince Wang Baek-Ah; and 14th prince Wang Jung.

Jung steps out of the line and bows in front of King Taejo asking to be assigned under his 4th brother So at the military division. King Taejo acquiesced, seeing nothing wrong with his 14th son's request.

Even though Yo and So were assigned to head the Executive and Military department, they will not hold office until they complete their studies. They will only be part of the governing council as trainees with not much power yet. The same with the other princes. The vacated position of Jung will temporarily be given to the 9th and 10th prince with both of them earning each a .5 percent vote in the ministry since one from their clan is already holding an office.

The voting would be as follow:

Na Ju Oh Clan: Mu: 1 vote

Chungju Yu Clan: Yo, So, Jung: 3 votes

Hwangju Hwangbo clan: Wook: 1 vote

Pyeongsan Yu clan: Park Sul Hui, Won: 1.5 vote

Wang: Wang Gyu and Eun: 1.5 vote

Gyeongju Kim clan: Baek-Ah: 1 vote

Queen Yoo stands proud, her clan having been given 3 votes to the matters of the council. Unbeknownst to her, So's loyalty now lies with Mu, earning Mu's clan 2 votes and an equal power with the Chungjju Yu clan.

To quell the queen dowager and her clan's ambitious move to take the throne from the seja for now, King Taejo assigns administrative and financial work to Yo and the Yukbu for the building of luxurious living quarters for envoys and tributaries from China. He distributes the power of palace treasury equally to Yo and his six ministers, putting in place a check and balance among the seven holders of power.


With the bright sun finally showing itself after days of over cast sky, So turns his face to the sky closing his eyes, feeling the sun warms his face. He stands in the courtyard not far from the Hoegyong Hall, blissful for once.

Jung sees him and decides to approach So with Baek-Ah and Eun trailing behind him.

"Hyungnim, I just wanted to say I'm glad you'll finally stay in the palace with us again." Jung starts, genuinely happy to have his 4th brother back.

Jung never had a chance to properly meet his brother So even though they were full brothers. When Jung was born that was a year after So was sent to Shinju. He doesn't have any recollection or fond memories with his full brother. He knows nothing about him other than what everyone hears about his life in Shinju and how he is when he visits, withdrawn and forbidding most of the time. When Jung was a kid, he always wonder why their mother never invited So to their family meal. He would ask about it to their mother and older brother, Yo but they would only grow quiet every time he brings it up.

Jung wants to make an effort to get to know So now after he saved his Hae Soo at the cliff, unaware of his 4th brother's actions or bourgeoning feeling towards her. He finds So's action towards Hae Soo a little bit strange but he is grateful nonetheless.

So nods at Jung, acknowledging his presence and his other two brothers.

"Keu-reom, am I allowed to train with you in sword and hand to hand combat then?" Jung asks, trying to swallow his nervousness with his 4th brother's intimidating demeanor.

So stops walking at Jung's questions. He tries to assess what his 14th brother wants from him, wary that he might just be here because their mother had sent him.

"When can I start? I'm actually good at hand to hand combat, right Baek-Ah hyungnim?" Jung pulls Baek-Ah to his side.

"Kue-reom-yo!" Baek-Ah automatically answers, smiling widely. "He always volunteers to take my place during sparring."

So observes his brothers, he had always wanted to be close to them, especially to Jung, "I'll see what our father plans for us then."

"Yie kamsahabnida hyungnim!" Jung answers in a lightning speed afraid that his 4th brother might change his mind.

Eun takes this opportunity to approach So and ask, "So hyungnim, do you want to have my quarters here in the palace then? It's big and has a good view of Mt. Songak at the west. You'll definitely like it."

So doesn't know where Eun is going with his offer but he listens anyway as the four of them continues to walk. Baek-Ah and Jung look at their 10th brother waiting for the condition.

"Since you're moving here inside the palace, can I take your quarters at our 8th brother's household? Only for a few years." Eun asks innocently.

"Yaisshh Jin-jja! Choe-seong-hab-ni-da hyunnim, please don't mind our 10th brother. He's just not right in the head at the moment." Baek-Ah chokes Eun as Jung considers Eun's suggestion.

"Ah yie, since you're going to start living in the palace, you can have my quarters too. I won't mind. What do you say?" Jung smiles widely daring to ask something from his brother too.

"And?" Eun asks, pushing Baek-Ah away.

"You know, we can exchange quarters. I'd stay in your quarters in our 8th brother's household and you can have mine." Jung answers, "We're full brothers anyway, I'm sure you'd want to reside in the quarters for our clan. I've grown up there so you can have it now if you want to."

So stops walking again, taken aback by his two brothers offer, "Why do you both want to have my quarters at our 8th brother's household? You can just ask him to give you another quarters if you want to live there."

"I did. I've asked him several times but he says it would only be a burden to Myung Hee Ssi to have many visitors in their household so I'm thinking, since your vacating your place maybe I can have it." Eun tries again.

"That's what he told me too." Jung adds.

So gives his brothers a small smile not wanting to offend them, "Mi-an-ha-da Eun-ah, Jung-ah. I don't think it is my position to decide who would take my quarters in our 8th brother's household. I'm just a mere visitor there."

Jung and Eun nod thoughtfully understanding their 4th brother's point.

"But if our 8th brother lets me have your quarters, the offer about my quarters here in the palace would always be in the table." Eun smiles happy to be able to have a conversation with his 4th brother once.

"Mine too! Kuende that means I'll be seeing more of you in our clan's quarters then. That would be great! You'd be able to have your meals with us, mother and Yo too. I think it would be our first time to have a meal as a family. I'm going to look forward to it." Jung excitedly tells So, unaware of the conflict between his mother and brother.

So only nods to not disappoint his 14th brother, concluding that Jung is the only uncorrupted part of his family and he'd like it if it stays that way.

The four of them walk leaving the palace, going to their 8th brother's household.


At the balcony on the second floor of Damiwon, Lady Oh stands overlooking the first floor. She watches her gungyeo(s) put the place in order, It would be Lunar New Year in three weeks time, everything should be cleaned and arranged. From the door on the left, Ji Mong enters bowing in greetings to a few of the gungyeo(s) he passes by. They return his bow and direct him to the second floor balcony. He looks up as he takes the stairs seeing his aunt watching him with a worried crease forming in her forehead. He gives her a smile, trying to convey that he is not here to gift her with worry this time. He bows to her in greetings as he reaches her place. Lady Oh acknowledges his presence and goes back to overlooking at the first floor. Ji Mong stands beside her.

"I heard your precious 4th prince is finally accepted back in the palace, what is it you want this time?" Lady Oh starts, her left hand automatically massages her stomach as her right hand rest on the balustrade.

"Kue-nyang, I wanted to say thank you." Ji Mong answers, putting his arms around Lady Oh, surprising her.

Ji Mong seldom shows affection but he gives his aunt a hug now to show his gratefulness.

"What are you? 10 years old?" Lady Oh shrugs Ji Mong's affection, hiding her happiness with annoyance.

Unfazed, Ji Mong holds on to his aunt, resting his cheek at the side of Lady Oh's right shoulder. "I know I always worry you but thank you for trusting me. Please believe that I'm only doing this for the good of all of us."

"Ji Mong-ah, the palace politics is not something any of us should play." Lady Oh warns, "We are only transient holders of places inside the palace. Do you really have to go deep into it? I'm afraid I might not be always here to pull you back."

Lady Oh worries for her nephew. It was she who had brought him inside the palace so she believes it was her who damned him into this life.

Ji Mong releases his aunt and stands beside her, all serious now, "A-ra-yo (I know)."

I've been playing this game for a thousand years now. I'd like to take a rest too and this is the only way.

Ji Mong turns to look at his aunt, hiding his worry with a smile, "Have you seen a doctor already? Or shall I bring one instead?"

Lady Oh can only look at her nephew who seems to not understand her warning, "I've already seen a doctor and he says I'm doing alright."

"Joh-da (That's good then!) Please take care of your health. You're not getting any younger. I'd like it if we both could live comfortably from now on." Ji Mong tells Lady Oh as he takes his aunt's hand into his.

He was thinking of making Lady Oh leave the palace to save her from her fated end but if he saves her, he's afraid that his little queen won't have a fall back when Hae Soo gets trapped inside the palace. Yes, the girl seemed to be changing the course of this lifetime but it wouldn't hurt to be extra careful. He plans for this lifetime to be the last so nothing should go awry, even if that means sacrificing his own blood. His own aunt's death is a necessity to save his little queen.

Well then, there's one more person I need to live just long enough until the seja takes the throne.

Lady Myung Hee.

But her death was caused by an illness. How can I make her live?


Piece by piece and stone after stone, So puts back the prayer towers he destroyed the other day. He was hoping to see Hae Soo when he came home to his 8th brother's household tonight but the girl is having dinner with her cousin and his 8th brother. He contents himself instead with rebuilding these stone towers that the girl seemed to care about.

He wonders if he should knock in her quarters later, having a renewed confidence to seek her now that he has his place in the palace. He can finally dream of being beside her but he lets her be for now. It is not proper to knock on a lady's quarter in the middle of the night anyway.

After rebuilding one tower, So is ready to abandon the tedious boring work. He throws one stone in his annoyance just in time for Ha Jin to see it. She was just turning the corner of So's quarters having one of her nightly walks,

Eiii what's wrong with him this time?

Ha Jin saunters to So about to tell him off again, "Ya! I-ge mu-seun jit-ib-ni-kka (What do you think you're doing?)"

So turns surprised to hear Hae Soo but happy just the same, "I'm not destroying it, I'm rebuilding it.

"Ah jin-jja?" Hae Soo asks, embarrassed for trying to nag at So again, "We're you praying about something?"

So smirks, he doesn't believe in this prayer towers but he was wishing Hae Soo would somehow turn up a while ago and she did. Maybe it's not so bad to hope.

"Do you always just ask anything that comes to your mind?" So asks distracting Hae Soo from asking further about his heart's wants.

So abandons the tedious work and stands towering at Hae Soo, both of his hands resting behind his back.

"Kuen-nyang nan gung-guem-haess-eo (I was just curious)." Hae Soo answers in a small voice.

"You know you should keep your head low and stop being too curious about a lot of things. You're curiosity always gets you into trouble." So leans in too Hae Soo, being playful.

Ha Jin naturally steps back making face at So. A smile breaks at So's face, liking this new atmosphere around them, light and playful.

"Ah jam-kkan-man-yo (Oh hold on!)" Ha Jin turns to leave as she remembers something.

"Oh? Ya! oe-di-ka? (Where are you going?)" So calls to a leaving Hae Soo, confused.

"Jam-si-man ki-da-ryeo ju-se-yo, che-ga dol-a-ul-ke-yo (Just wait for a bit, I'll come back) Ha Jin calls back as she runs.

She returns to her quarters and quickly goes through the box of Hae Soo's dwikkoji. She looks for that butterfly dwikkoji that the 4th prince left in the damiwon. She sees it at the last row and takes it. In her haste, she puts down the box at the edge of her vanity table causing it to fall to the floor. The box' layers untangles and scatters to the floor revealing a hidden compartment that contains a letter. Ha Jin kneels down and arranges the box and dwikkoji. Shetakes the letter inside the compartment and unfolds it, finding a hair neatly tied by a white thin ribbon inside it. Under the dim light of her lantern, she tries to examine the color of the hair but she can't clearly distinguish it. Though it's apparent it is not Hae Soo's hair. She opens the letter (3) and tries to read the hanja:

床前明月光 (In front of my bed is a bright moonlight)
疑是地上霜 (I supposed it is a frost in the ground)
舉頭望明月 (I raise my head to view the bright moon)
低頭思(故鄉) 情人 (Then lowers my head thinking of my [hometown] lover)

A few minutes into it and she gives-up. She can only recognize a few of the characters such as 月, meaning moon. She folds the letter again and puts it back to the box. She'll decipher it tomorrow with the 8th prince' help.

She comes back at the prayer towers clutching the dwikkoji in her hands, hidden behind her back. She sees the 4th prince sitting at the elevated foyer of the hanok waiting composedly for her.

So watches as Hae Soo reluctantly approaches him. The act of Hae Soo seeking him of her own accord makes So's heart flutter. He feels well cared for when she does this for him. It seemed that he had unconsciously looked forward to seeing her walk towards him, a reminder of comfort that only her presence can bring.

For a minute, So wavers, not wanting to leave his 8th brother's household in the morning. It's ironic how to be able to stay beside Hae Soo, he would need to leave her here and take his place in the royal family. Gaining power in the palace is the only way to have her so he contents himself with watching her for now.

Chewing her lower lip, Ha Jin stands in front of the 4th prince hesitant to give him the dwikkoji, "You left this at the Damiwon the first time we met. I'm sorry it took me a while to give this back."

Ha Jin bows her head in an embarrassment as she raises both of her hands to give the dwikojji. So looks at the hairpin, recognizing it as the one he bought for his mother when he first arrived two months ago.

"Isn't this the same dwikojji you were wearing at the dinner the last time?" So takes the dwikojji to his hands examining it closely.

"Yie, choe-song-hab-ni-da. Chae Ryung thought it was mine and had put it in my hair. It was my fault for not looking at the mirror." Ha Jin explains, back into using choendemal with So.

So thinks about it for a second. Seeing it at Hae Soo's hair that time is one of the reasons that had convinced him to choose his birth mother over the seja. It was a wrong decision that had caused him to lose his position in the palace but that wrong decision had led him in Hae Soo's arms the next night so So doesn't mind that Hae Soo has it.

"Do you like these kind of things?" So asks, taking the dwikojji.

Ha Jin considers it for a minute. She had been told plenty of times that Hae Soo collects these kinds of hairpins so she nods as answer to the 4th prince question.

"Kue-re? I'll get you another one next time then." So tells her, committing it to his brain.

"A-nim-ni-da, pil-yo eops-eo (you don't have to)." Ha Jin raises both of her hands and makes a shaking gesture out of it.

She repositions her self beside the 4th prince, leaning at the elevated foyer.

"Is it a gift for someone?" Ha Jin asks looking at the 4th prince.

So nods pertaining to his mother. He suddenly turned serious not offering any further information.

Kue-reom-yo! (Of course it is!) What was I thinking anyway?

Ha Jin misunderstands So thinking that it's a gift for someone precious to him, a special girl in particular. In her annoyance Ha Jin keeps herself quite for a long time, not wanting to know more about that special girl.

She looks up the sky changing the topic, "You know when I look at the sky, I almost always forget where I am. I guess, the sky is the same everywhere else don't you think so?"

"I'm going to start living in the palace tomorrow." So tells Hae Soo.

Kue-re he's going to ascend that throne one day.

"Yie, I heard about it. Everyone seems to be happy that you're going to start living there from now on. Why?" Ha Jin asks curious, "I mean isn't the palace always been your home?"

"I was adopted to another family when I was a kid." So answers not really wanting to talk about it but if Hae Soo was able to accept his vulnerabilities the other night, he doesn't see why he can't talk to her about it.

"I see. And?" Ha Jin leads So to open more about it.

"I hated everything about that other family." So answers quietly.

Ha Jin wants to glance at So but it would be rude to do so. She senses that the topic is too sensitive and that the 4th prince isn't keen on sharing it, she drops her line of questioning instead and gives him an unsolicited advice.

"Kue-reom, when you enter the palace, I hope you'll learn to smile more. I guess part of why people had always been afraid of you is because you always glare at them. Don't always draw your sword and try listening first before you act. I can't tell you who trust nor can I tell you to open yourself to other people but please know that there are people who worries for you even if you are not aware of it. So it's alright to accept their help every once in a while." Ha Jin smiles at So.

So couldn't care less if other people don't pay attention to him. As long as Hae Soo cares for him then the rest of the kingdom can go to hell.

"Do you care for me then?" So asks a direct question, wanting to hear a clear answer.

"Kue-reom-yo!" Ha Jin readily answers caught of guard, then stops.

When Ha Jin thinks about it, she doesn't know when her curiosity turned into concern but somehow she always end up being the one who sees the real So and that makes her more understanding of him.

"Then that's all I ever need." So smiles a genuine smile.


1. Ka-ji ma literally means don't go.

2. The government during Goryeo is a consultation-based leadership where the King holds the ultimate power in the court but he is kept in check by his council of ministers composed by the head of aristocratic clans. The description of division of government and their power is not quite accurate but is loosely based on their actual work. Sorry, I just needed to have a system of how power works inside the palace for later plot reference. :)

3 It's a famous Chinese Poem in Tang dynasty entitled: Quiet Night by Li Bai


Editor's note:

Thank you for all your wonderful reviews. It's amazing and scary, at the same time, how a lot of you were actually taking down notes of the the plot points I have planted in every chapters. That's great! It keeps me on my toes and helps me to track my own plot points. :) You guys are awesome!

To the guest reader: fuyu. I wanted to send you a PM but since your account is a guest, I wouldn't be able to. Let me answer your question here anyway, I'm sorry I wouldn't be able to post my story to other sites since I don't think I can manage 2 accounts at the same time. I'm such a noob with online formatting tools. T_T Maybe after I finish this story, I'll post it there.

So I realized it's only been 2 months inside Goryeo and it actually took me 18 chapters to finish the first arc. lol. I guess we'll do a time jump later too.

And questions about the plot points will be answered all in good time. :) I'm sure Ji Mong has a plan. Fate has a plan. So has a plan. Even So's family in Shinju has a plan. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Please bear with me :)