Chapter 21

Underneath a leafless tree, with snow covering its branches Chae Ryung and Won stand together quietly having a conversation. With his 8th brother's command that no one is allowed in his household for the last two weeks and with the snow that keeps falling and covering the whole town in ankle deep, it wasn't easy for Won to meet Chae Ryung.

Tonight his 3rd brother and 8th brother had a meeting about court matters and Yo had tagged him along. He was going home when he saw Chae Ryung passing by going to the maid's quarter and had stopped her.

"What happened to your cheek?" Won touches Chae Ryung face with the tips of his fingers.

"I was playing with my sister when she accidentally cut it with her toy." Chae Ryung automatically lies.

Won smirks, "Your sister is fifteen, how can you both be playing with a toy? If you're going to lie at least based it in truths that way, you won't be caught easily."

Chae Ryung bites her lips, embarrassed.

"What happened to your face? Is Hae Soo treating you badly?" Won asks again, putting his hand down.

"Animnida hwangjanim, animnida. My sister accidentally cut my cheek with paper when I was trying to teach her how to write." Chae Ryung vehemently refutes Won's words.

"Try a better lie again." Won reprimands Chae Ryung, "How can you be teaching your sister when you're not even allowed to walk outside my 8th brother's household without permission."

"But I was allowed to go home during Seollal." Chae Ryung answers, "My lady had requested to Lady Myung Hee and the 8th prince that I be allowed to go home to my family."

"Jinjja? My 8th brother allowed you?" Won asks glancing at Chae Ryung.

"Yie hwangjanim," Chae Ryung looks away, fidgeting under the 9th prince' gaze.

"I guess my 8th brother is really fond of that girl. He grants her anything she asks for." Won concludes. "Ah, you should put an ointment to your wound so it won't scar."

"Ah yie, my lady had already gave me an ointment for it, please don't worry about it anymore." Chae Ryung smiles, thinking she got lucky to be serving such a nice household.

"Does the seja ever come here to visit the girl too? I heard he had arranged a class for Hae Soo and my 4th brother?" Won asks.

"Animnida, the only times that the seja had visited are when my lady was sick and then when Lady Myung Hee had thrown a dinner for Lady Hae Soo." Chae Ryung recalls those times when they were informed that the seja will be coming so everything should be in their proper places.

"Kue-re? It seems my 1st brother are pulling some strings for Hae Soo too. I wonder why? Does your lady ever said anything about it?" Won has too many question for Chae Ryung whom he haven't seen for a while.

The cold breeze blows around them and Chae Ryung shivers under her thin coat.

"Eops-seub-ni-da. (Nothing.) Even my lady is puzzled as to why the seja is nice to her." Chae Ryung hugs herself, cold.

Won notices it and raises his hands to re-arrange Chae Ryng's coat around her, "Kue-reom, inform me if something amusing comes up? Go back to your quarters now."

"Yie hwangjanim, kamsahabnida." Chae Ryung bows greeting the 9th prince goodbye.

Won walks away.


When So showed up in the pavilion where his class is usually held, Mu is waiting for him instead of his tutor. He tells his 4th brother that his classes will no longer be held in this pavilion due to the cold weather and directs him to his study chambers instead. So looks at his brother strangely. The seja's library is not open to anyone and is only accessible to the crown prince himself. Besides, classes for all the princes are always held in the pavilion whether the sun is showing or the snow is falling. He wonders what change now.

So follows his brother to his study chambers anyway. As Mu opens the double doors to his library, So observes how secluded the whole spot is, quiet and away from the whole busy life of the palace. Spacious and well lit, a space in the front was reserved for a long table for reading and writing and the rest of the space is swallowed up by neatly arranged rows of shelves for books. At the end of it, right by the window is another lone cozy chair conducive for long hours of reading. The room is maintained in a cool temperature, enough to be enjoyed even without a coat during winters.

"What do you say? I have the best study chambers, don't I?" Mu asks observing his 4th brother.

So nods still confused. He walks inside looking around.

"You'll be having your class here from now on." Mu closes the door behind him.

"Kamsahabnida hyungnim keunde waeyo? (Thank you your highness but may I ask why)?" So glances back to his brother.

"Well we can't possibly have the girl freeze to her death in that pavilion, wouldn't we? I heard she has a frail health so let's not leave her out in the cold." Mu smiles feigning innocence.

"Yeo-ja ga? Mu-seun yeo-ja ga? (Girl, what girl?)" So asks inclining his head, he wonders if his brother pertains to Hae Soo. The seja did commanded him to share classes with her but it's been two weeks since Mu had given that command and the girl had never showed up, not even once. "Hae Soo?"

"Yie, be nice to her or I will hang you at the courtyard. Al-gess-se-yo? (Do you understand?)"Mu warns his 4th brother thinking that he still refuses to be nice to her, unaware that the two had already formed a bond.

"Yie, al-gess-seub-ni-da." So calmly answer then turns his back so his brother wouldn't see the smile forming at the side of his lips.

"Ah! if you're going to try and impress the girl, bring her at the shelves in the center, it's where the the biographies and books about administrative rulings are." Mu widely smiles, "Don't bring her at the second to the last shelves, the books there are only for men like us."

So glances back to his brother, his expression a little disturb.

"Let's not get into details, just look over by yourself. I'm sure you're familiar with some of it." Mu jokes. "And that cozy chair at the back, I know its conducive for something other than reading your book but please, I feel at home in that chair. I'd like to keep it that way. alright?"

Feeling mortified by each joke that his brother tells him, So turns his back shaking his head.


At the palace gate, Ji Mong stands waiting for the arrival of his little queen. He was instructed by the crown prince to have Hae Soo fetched at the gate and deliver her at his study chambers.

Soon Myung Hee and Hae Soo arrive through a horse with Hae Soo riding as a passenger at Myung Hee's back. They had a long argument before Myung Hee relented and have Hae Soo ride the horse with her. Ha Jin didn't want to take the palanquin to the palace and the 8th prince had already left for his morning duties so Hae Soo has no ride. She would have walked going to the palace since it's only a few kilometers from their home but it snowed heavily last night so the whole town is covered with ankle-deep snow. Myung Hee decided to take her in her horse instead of trusting her to a servant.

Reaching the palace gates, Ji Mong bows to greet the two ladies in a horse. Ha Jin sees him and tightens her hold on Myung Hee's waist, scared.

"Wae? Chu-weo? (Are you cold?)" Myung Hee asks, noticing Hae Soo's hold.

Ha Jin nods at Myung Hee's back hiding behind her.

"Oh wass-eo. (You've finally arrived.) Chal-hess-ni? (Did you have a good journey?)" Ji Mong greets the two ladies, bowing to them.

"Yie, the trip wasn't that far." Myung Hee smiles at the astronomer.

Wook arrives at the main gate too coming from his morning meeting. He and Myung Hee had agreed to meet here to fetched Hae Soo in her class. They both had a long discussion the day Wook came home and told Myung Hee that the crown prince is expecting Hae Soo to join classes with his 4th brother. Knowing that his wife hates to have Hae Soo in the palace, Wook went back to the crown prince and bargain with him, he couldn't exactly tell him why his wife doesn't want Hae Soo to enter the palace but he tried his best to convince him.

So now Hae Soo has classes with the 4th prince but only for a few days each week. Three at most. She is not allowed to wander around the palace before or after classes and the 8th prince will take her home as soon as her classes are over. They have the same schedule anyway and she would still be keeping her classes under the 8th prince.

Helping both of the ladies, Wook takes Hae Soo down first and then Myung Hee. Ha Jin shadows behind Myung Hee the moment she gets to the ground, looping her arms with her, holding on tight.

"See, you should have taken the palanquin instead, now you're cold." Myung Hee touches Hae Soo's face affectionately.

"Chal chi-naess-eo Agassi?" Ji Mong addresses Hae Soo, smiling warmly at her.

Ha Jin steps back a little behind Myung Hee, "Yie, chal chi-nae-yo."

She answers not looking at Ji Mong, scared to even make an eye contact.

"I was sent by the crown prince to fetch the lady to her class, shall we walk? I'll guide you there." Ji Mong turns to Lady Myung Hee and Wook, graciously leading the way.

They start walking with Ji Mong and Wook leading together while Hae Soo holds on to Myung Hee at the back.

"Gwaen-chanh-a Ji Mong-ah I know the way to the pavilion. It's not far from my class." Wook answers politely.

"Ah but their classes will not be held in the pavilion anymore." Ji Mong turns right walking towards the crown prince's quarters.

Wook looks back to Myung Hee and Hae Soo, "Sorry? Where would there class be held then?"

"At the crown prince's study chambers." Ji Mong answers looking at Wook.

"Mweo?! But all the classes had always been held at the pavilion?" Wook asks confused.

"The seja is only thinking about the girls' frail health, do you want her to freeze to death in this snow?" Ji Mong asks directing Wook to look around. "Shall we leave her out in this cold?"

Wook thinks about it for a second, the seja has a point but Hae Soo and his 4th brother spending some time together in an enclosed space isn't a better alternative. Inside an enclose space with Hae Soo is a different world, one where his senses are heightened and every little movement from Hae Soo sends his heart racing on his chest. He would know. He had spent countless of hours watching her in his study chambers. No, he had never touched her indecently. No, he had never kissed her but everything about that enclosed space makes their bond intimate. He wouldn't want Hae Soo to share that same experience with anyone, let alone with his 4th brother.

"Of course not but Hae Soo is sick right now, isn't it?" Wook looks back at Hae Soo noticing her shaking and holding at Myung Hee. He walks back to them and puts Hae Soo's hood in her head, "Maybe we should send you home today."

"Huh? I'm fine. I'm just a little bit cold." Ha Jin lies. She doesn't want to be sent back home, although she also doesn't want to be anywhere near the astronomer. She tries a smile assuring the 8th prince and her cousin.

"Are you sure? You can tell us. I can take you back to our home anytime." With Myung Hee's free arm, she pulls Hae Soo closer to her. "You're shaking right now."

"Na cheong-mal gwaen-chanh-a-yo (I'm really fine)." Ha Jin lets go of Myung Hee's hand and hugs her from the side. "Just get me into my class and I can handle it from there. Please don't send me back."

It is true. Ha Jin thinks she's going to be alright when she reaches her class. So would be there and the astronomer would leave.

Ji Mong watches her little queen being affectionate to Myung Hee. He too misses his little queens' affection but right now she doesn't know him yet so he contents his self with observing her.

I guess I made the right choice to save Lady Myung Hee? As long as my little queen is protected and walking towards her prince everything is going to be all right.

Ji Mong turns his back from the scene, taking in the sun and the air around him. He feels better knowing that everything is going well these days.

"Ah Wang Wook Yeodeolp Hwangja, might I remind you it is a command from the seja to get the lady in their class. We wouldn't want to go against a royal decree, do we?" Ji Mong calls out as he starts walking again, pushing the three to walk on their feet.

"See, you can't take me home just yet. I'll be fine. I promise." Ha Jin reassures her cousin and the 8th prince. Although she wouldn't take another step forward without Myung Hee doing the same thing. She loops her arms at her again, smiling brightly, hiding her fears.

Wooks face darkens at Ji Mong's not so subtle reminder of the seja's royal command. He can't do anything for now but he'll think of a way to get Hae Soo out of it somehow.


At the door of the seja's study chambers, Ji Mong announces there presence. Mu calls out to have them come in so Ji Mong proceeds to open the door and find Mu and So sitting at the long table discussing something. The two looks up as the four enters, bowing to give their greetings.

"Ah the whole family is here. How have you been my ladies?" Mu asks standing together with So, welcoming the four.

"I'm afraid the ladies of my household are not taking the cold weather nicely these days. I hope you wouldn't keep our Hae Soo here for too long." Wook politely answers greeting the seja. He hopes that by using Hae Soo's health as an excuse, he could get her out fast.

"Ah jin-jja-reo? Then its a good thing that we have moved their classes here in my chambers. I'm sure she'll be comfortable here." Mu answers graciously unaware of Wook's inner turmoil.

"Yie kamsahabnida wangsejanim, you didn't have to this for me. I'm afraid I'm becoming more of a burden not only to my cousin but to everyone these days." Ha Jin answers looking at the ground, embarrassed.

"Nonsense, I've always liked having your company. Please enjoy your class with my 4th brother." Mu meets the four on the other side of the table, leaving his 4th brother standing quietly beside their chair. "Ah Wook-ah don't you have a class on the other pavilion? Run along now, we don't want you late in your class and Myung Hee Ssi, since you are here already, why don't our Ji Mong have you escorted for your weekly check-up with the royal doctor. Shall we?"

"Ah yie wangsejanim." Myung Hee thanks the seja for his concern. She turns to Hae Soo, handing her her bag that contains a small notebook, a brush and tightly closed ink. "Remember your manners and don't go wandering around after. Alright? The 8th prince will pick you up so stay here and wait for him."

"Ne unnie, go-cheong-ha-ji ma-se-yo. I'm not a second grader?" Ha Jin hugs her cousin one last time.

Myung Hee didn't understand Hae Soo's joke but she returns the hug anyway, worried for her.

Wook walks to his 4th brother and politely say, "hyungnim please take care of our Hae Soo, you know how fragile she can be."

So nods looking from Hae Soo to Wook. "Kue-reo-hab-ni-da."

"Kamsahabnida hyungnim." Wook smiles not trusting his 4th brother one bit.

Mu expertly leads everyone out of the room leaving the two together alone.

After the four leave, Ha Jin can now freely breathe without the threat of the presence of the astronomer. She counts one to ten watching the door, when no one came knocking again she turns around, looking at the whole place. She walks to the table and puts down her things. So waits for her to acknowledge him but to his dismay she passes him by without noticing him at all. Ha Jin goes straight to the shelves, inspecting the books. She had always loved the sight of books.

Like everyone else in the present times, she had been dependent on gadgets and electronics, using her phablet to store ebooks and list her schedule but when she has extra money, she always buy books especially the ones with original publication. It doesn't matter if it's second hand. The older the book, the better.

Her hand ghosts in the rows of neatly arranged books, feeling at home at the middles of these shelves. Seeing these stacks of book made her realize how much she had taken for granted the accessibility of books in the present times. No matter how many books she fills her phablet, it can never be compared to the feel of a real book in her hands. She takes a random book in the shelf and smells it's paper, feeling better by the second. She brings it closer to her eyes, inspecting the title in front. She then opens it and browses the pages. It's a book about the merits of Confucianism in governance. Of course she doesn't understand the text fully since she is still learning hanja but she understands a few phrases and sentences every now and then.

So who was observing her the moment the door closed can no longer wait on the table. He wanted her to come to him but seeing as she's busy getting lost in the shelves, he abandons the waiting and comes to her instead.

"Ya!" So calls at Hae Soo, annoyed at her for not acknowledging him.

Hae Soo turns smiling brightly at him. So instantly forgets his annoyance fumbling for his words.

"Oh! You look better these days!" Ha Jin compliments So, taking a moment to really look at So. It wasn't her first time to see him after he entered the palace but it is her first time to look at him with a better light in the room.

So looks regal at his weaved silk gold and black jeogori. His hair neatly tied in a bun behind his head and his mask, his wearing a different mask, one with gold etchings in it. He looks like a prince going in a masquerade ball.

"You really look like a prince now." Ha Jin comments stepping closer, entering at So's space bubble.

So steps back flustered at Hae Soo's sudden proximity. When Hae Soo didn't move back, he decides to play with her wanting to evoke some response from her. He steps to his position a minute ago and leans down on Hae Soo.

"I am a prince. I was born one." So tells Hae Soo, the side of his lips twitching into a smile.

With So back in his position again and leaning at Hae Soo's space bubble, Ha Jin becomes aware of their proximity. They had shared a lot of embraces and touches in the past months but those were done as a necessity for one's comfort.

This one, feels different.

So had meant his action to be playful but the moment he stepped in Hae Soo's bubble the atmosphere changed. There is just something about the girl that draws him in. Though they weren't touching, the air around them becomes charged.

So looks at Hae Soo intensely, holding her in place with his gaze. Ha Jin stops breathing, it's her turn to get flustered.

In her haste to step back, she trips in her feet. Falling backwards, her right hand instinctively reaches to the shelves at her side. So seeing her about to fall, circles his right arm on her waist catching her while his left arm reaches to her right hand on the shelf, protecting them from the books that are falling. For a moment they stayed frozen like that, So holding Hae Soo in his arms arching her body to his. They gaze at each other, the tense atmosphere never waivering. So leans closer drawn to touch her lips with his. Ha Jin shuts her eyes, her right hand still on the shelf, holding a book. In her nervouse state, she releases the book.

Thump!

It fell on the 4th prince head with a thud, breaking the atmosphere. So releases Hae Soo reaching at the back of his head where the book fell.

"Ya! jin-jja?" So ask, holding his head.

"Choe-song-hae-yo, jin-jja. Choe-song-hae-yo." Ha Jin profusely apologizes feeling bad and amused at the same time.

So watches Hae Soo, whose trying to hold her laugh.

"Ut-ji-ma. Ut-ji-ma ra-go! (Don't laugh. Don't you dare laugh.)" So tells Hae Soo annoyed. "Ut-ji-ma! (Don't laugh!)

At the 4th prince words, Ha Jin can no longer hold her laugh inside, finding the situation ridiculous. She laughs freely until her stomach hurts. So follows afterwards, enjoying the light atmosphere between them. He had never laugh before and he feels good for a change.

A servant announces the arrival of their tutor on the door and opens it to let him in. He finds the two in the middle of disarrayed books on the floor.


Three hours after, Eun barges in at the seja's study chambers an announced. He had hurriedly run after his class from the pavilion upon finding out that Hae Soo is inside the palace. He went at the pavilion first where So's class is usually held but no one is there, he turned looking for his 8th brother who is walking quickly past the pavilion with Jung and Baek-ah behind him. He changed direction and follows his 8th brother instead. Wook tries to shrugged his three brothers but they wouldn't leave him be. Won and Yo follow after him too, curious about what's going on. Yeonhwa goes the other way, already aware that the commotion is all about Hae Soo.

Eun finds Hae Soo at the wall kneeling with her hands holding books above her head. Hae Soo and So are being punished for the good three hours of their lesson because of the mess they've created. On a normal day, So wouldn't be caught arranging books let alone kneeling beside a wall but since the actual chore involves spending time with Hae Soo, he gladly accepts it provided that no one would know except Hae Soo and their tutor. Besides, compared to the kind of punishment he had gotten from the Shinju household, this chore is a child's play.

So stands up fast the moment the door opens, leaving Hae Soo kneeling on her own. He playfully puts his books on top of what Hae Soo is holding, soliciting an angry hiss from Hae Soo.

So smirks leaning down to whisper on Hae Soo's ear, "I'm a prince remember."

Out loud, he asks their tutor, "Seonsengnim, isn't the three hours up already? Shouldn't the girl rise?"

Their tutor is not on the mood to play games with the 4th prince, seeing as he was late because the astronomer conveniently forgot to tell him that the venue for his class had changed. He already had a hard time rewriting his lesson plan to include a girl who can't even read and write hanja fluently. On top of that, the girl seemed to be a troublemaker. His head is aching at the moment but he wouldn't be caught talking back with the 4th prince in front of the other prince as a sign of respect. He might be their teacher and So might have agreed to do the punishment but he's still afraid to incur his wrath.

"I was half an hour late so the girl still has more or less 15 minutes in her punishment." The tutor answers not bothering to look at the two at the wall.

"Ah kue-re-yo?" So asks, then turns back to Hae Soo speaking to her in low voice that only the two of them can hear, "Mian-hae Hae Soo-ya. Shall I sit beside you instead?"

Ha Jin smiles politely holding up a pretense and in a low voice too, answers, "kkeo-jyeo. (Get lost.)"

She's annoyed at him because he gets to stand up anytime he wants. He didn't have to do the punishment but Ha Jin feels cheated because it was So's fault that she suddenly held to those books and had everything fall to them.

"Oh! Can't she just do her punishment on your next class? It's time for her to go home." Eun asks the tutor,

The rest of the prince arrive and see Hae Soo doing her punishment. Ha Jin had her face turned red due to embarrassment.

"Ah quite the troublemaker you are Hae Soo-ya, you should join our class. You're going to liven up our lives in no time." Won comments upon seeing Hae Soo on the floor.

Yo stands in the door observing Wook and So. Both of his brothers look calm but a slight worry crosses Wook's face the moment he lays eyes on Hae Soo on the floor. And So, his 4th brother, he seems different around the girl but when So caught his eyes looking at him, his guarded self is back. They had never exchange words since that night Yo went mad on their mother's arms, having killed the monks. They had avoided each other, not knowing how to interact after the incident. That night, it wasn't just So's heart that was bare but even Yo's desperate want to be acknowledge by their mother was also exposed. Now they both understand each other but refuse to acknowledge it in the open.

"Leave the girl alone, unless you want to replace her kneeling down at the floor." The tutor tells the new comers.

"Na-ya, hae deu-ril-kke-yo. (I'll do it for her.)" Jung and Baek-Ah volunteer, still feeling guilty for letting Hae Soo drown a few weeks ago.

"Might I remind all of you that no one is allowed inside the study chambers of the seja. You're all breaking the rules by being here. Shall I let the seja know?" The tutor asks, throwing all the princes out of the room.


Wook, Jung, Baek-Ah and Eun stand outside the study chambers waiting for So and Hae Soo's class to be over. Yo and Won said their goodbye, telling their brothers that they have somewhere that they need to be.

When they left, So takes his books back and kneels beside Hae Soo again, rendering his punishment. Their tutor quietly watches the two of them, waiting for their time to be up.

A few minutes after, he dismisses them both and leaves first. Ha Jin puts down her arms, stretching her neck and back, tired. So stands up and offers him her hand. Ha Jin looks at it for a second and slaps it away. She stands up on her own, hissing at him. So finds this irritated Hae Soo charming.

"Shall I take you home?" So asks, shadowing beside Hae Soo.

"Animnida hwangjanim, I can't let a prince take me home isn't it?" Ha Jin answers full of sarcasm.

"Ya! I already apologize for it. I even kneeled beside you." So argues.

"Yie, Yie, Gue-re-hab-ni-da (Right, right, of course you did.)" Ha Jin answers while putting her things on her bag.

"Please don't be angry anymore." So smiles, something that Hae Soo doesn't see a lot especially in front of other people and the tone he used, he doesn't talk to anyone like that.

"Hwangjanim, you look better with a smile on your face. I hope you always smile." Ha Jin returns the smile, no longer annoyed.

"Shall I smile for you often? but if I do, you need to promise me that you'll stop being angry at me." So offers a deal.

"That's a tall order hwangjanim." Ha Jin answers, taking her bag with her. "What if you do something that I don't like, you'll just smile at me and everything is fine?"

"Keu-reom-yo! (Of course!) I don't smile for anyone but I'll smile for you." So smiles again, feigning innocence.

"You can keep your smile and scowl your whole life." Ha Jin answers walking away, refusing to be tricked by So.

"Araseo, araseo. I'll only smile for you then." So relents walking beside Hae Soo. He opens the door and let Hae Soo out first.

Out in the courtyard, they see the other princes waiting for them. So reverts back to his normal self, quiet and reserved. The four bows to their 4th brother while Hae Soo gives them her greetings.

"Hae Soo-ya! We'll walk you home or we can take you by the horse. Your choice." Eun asks smiling widely at Hae Soo.

Eun had been convincing his 8th brother to let him walk her home but Baek-Ah and Jung wouldn't just stand back and watch. All of them want to walk Hae Soo home, missing her. Wook feels like his coming down with a migraine because of his 10th brother's nonstop requests. He relents to let all of them walking her home just so Eun would stop.

"I'll take you in my horse then." Eun answers his own question, pulling Hae Soo by the wrist.

"Eun-ah! Stop touching the lady carelessly." Wook massages his head, breathing in trying to compose his self.

It's only been a few days since the 8th prince had started talking to Hae Soo again, she doesn't want to anger him so she takes her hand from Eun and tells everyone she'd prefer walking. That way she'll be able to keep all their company.

"Kue-reom, let's walk then." Baek-Ah takes Hae Soo's right side while Eun takes her left.

Jung usually takes Hae Soo's left side but he's reluctant to approach her at the moment, afraid that she might remember something from the Seollal dinner.

"Ah hyungnim," Eun is not done with his request, "Let's have dinner in your household. You too So hyungnim, you should come with us."

Eun invites everyone in his 8th brother's household without hearing Wook's answer. Wook is nearing his tipping point but concedes to Eun's request again hopping that it would be the last for the day.

"I'm afraid my wife and our servants need to be informed earlier so they could prepare for our dinner." Wook answers politely.

"Then Eun-ah will go by his horse then." So answers for everyone, finding Eun the best choice. If he leaves, all of them will be at peace. So looks at his 8th brother noticing the headache he's coming down with.

"Ehhhhh, cheo-yo? wae-yo?" Eun asks throwing a tantrum.

"Eun-ah, do our 8th brother a favor and go to his household and inform the lady of the house and their servants. Wasn't it you who requested the dinner, run along and do your part." So commands his 10th brother, knowing that among all of them, he holds the highest power. No once can disobey him.

"Araseo. I'll go by my horse then." Eun walks away feeling down but he turns back and calls at Hae Soo smiling, "I'll see you in your household Hae Soo-ya."

Ha Jin waves at Eun to boost his morale. The five of them starts walking with Jung taking Hae Soo's left side.

"How have you been?" Jung asks, gauging Hae Soo.

"Great! Except I got punished on my first day of class." Ha Jin answers no trace of anything. That night, she was dizzy at the sight of the moon and drunk by the alcohol, she didn't notice that Jung was the one who had let her fall in the pool.

Wook and So follows behind the three, watching them.

"Kamsahabnida hyungnim, our 10th brother can be a handful sometimes." Wook thanks So for sending Eun away.

"Keu-reom jeo-nyeok sik-sa reul juel-ki-se-yo, (Enjoy your dinner then.)" So tells his 8th brother about to walk away.

"Hyungnim? An un-da-go? Wae-yo? (Why aren't you coming?) You should come with us." Wook smiles coaxing his brother.

So wanted to come but ever since the incident in the market he's being more careful. He wouldn't want to lead his adopted family to the people he cares about so he'd rather not be seen with any of his real family until he finds out what his adopted mother wants from him.

"Aniyo, I have some important matters to attend to. Chal kayo! (Please take care!)" So walks away after looking at Hae Soo. He doesn't want to bother the three who are walking ahead, he walks away without telling them.

Wook is left feeling guilty for thinking ill towards his 4th brother a while ago. He wanted to make amends for his baseless worry about Hae Soo and him by inviting his 4th brother to have dinner with them. He commits to his mind to invite his brother more to his household from now on.


Out in the courtyard in front of the Hoegyong Hall, Queen Shinjeong and Yeonhwa strolls around, with Yeonhwa having been in her class just moments ago.

"Ah Myung Hee visited me a while ago. She told me she had brought Hae Soo to her class and went to the royal doctor's office to get her check-up as a command from the seja." Queen Shinjeong tells her daughter.

"It seems the seja had became fond of the ladies from my 8th brother's household. He even arranged the 4th prince class so Hae Soo can join him." Yeonhwa answers irritated. She doesn't like the idea of Hae Soo sharing a class with the 4th prince.

"That's good then, at least we have the favor of the seja when he ascends the throne." Queen Shinjeong sees the seja's fondness for the ladies of his son's household as an opportunity to gain power in court when Mu finally owns the throne.

"Eomeonim shouldn't we be wary of the seja's clan?" Yeonhwa ask in a low voice, stopping mid walk.

"Why should we? As long as we don't fall out of his grace, we'll do just fine?" Queen Shinjeong answers not worrying a bit.

"Are we always going to be like this? At the mercy of another clan? Shouldn't we take a step into being independent of them and take the power for once?" Yeonhwa asks exasperated.

"Yeonhwa-ya!" Queen Shinjeong reprimands Yeonhwa, "You shouldn't be talking so carelessly about the royal family."

"Is my 8th brother not deserving of that seat? Eomeonim, you saw how we were easily framed by the other clan when somebody needed to take the blame for Lady Oh's miscarriage." Yeonhwa answers pleading.

"That was a long time ago. You should forget about it." Queen Shinjeong looks at his daughter, knowing full well what she is talking about but she can't risk her children's freedom and happiness for an empty goal of ascending to the throne. Yes, the Hae Clan had afforded them protection and wealth and she is grateful for it but it is nowhere near the power of the Chungju Yu clan or the Kangs of Shinju. She'd rather stay under the grace of the king or the seja rather than risked it.

"Eomonim." Yeonhwa pleads.

"Yeonhwa-ya! your brother's political marriage is enough for our family." Queen Shinjeong raises her voice.

Yeonhwa couldn't do anything other than raise her concern. She let the matter drop for now, waiting for the right opportunity.

Queen Yoo happens to be strolling in the same courtyard and crosses path with the two. Yeonhwa and Queen Shinjeong give their greetings first.

"Yeonhwa-ya, don't just visit your mother when you come to the palace, please visit me too. I do get lonely sometimes, having the company of only my two sons. It would be great to have a daughter sometimes." Queen Yoo smiles ever polite.

"I'm afraid I don't have some stories to share at the moment your highness but if something interesting comes up, I'll be sure to visit you." Yeonhwa returns the polite smile hating every second of it.

"Kue-reo hae-ra, (yes do that.) Queen Yoo answers letting Queen Shinjeong and Yeonhwa rise, "I'll go first then."

"Yie your highness." Yeonhwa answers, her polite smile never wavering.


Inside the Hoegyong Hall, King Taejo sits on his throne reading tons of royal requests on scrolls. He had called for the seja and his astronomer-adviser to ask them of the rumor he have heard off.

"Mu-ya, I heard you've re-arranged your 4th brother's class to include a noble girl?' King Taejo ask not bothering to look up from the papers he's reading.

Mu and Ji Mong exchange glances, "Yie pyeha,"

A minute after when Mu didn't offer any explanation other than his simple 'yes', King Taejo looks up from his papers and raises his eyebrows asking silently what is Mu up to.

"I heard the girl is quite smart, only she drowned and lost her memories but is eager to relearn her studies. I thought of putting her into the 4th prince class, so they could help each other out." Mu continues with his word, ever still under his father's gaze. He knew that one wrong fidget makes a lot of difference to his father so he remembers to always carry his self with an ease composure when dealing with the king.

"This is the same girl, your 4th brother and 8th brother had fought over the cliff?" King Taejo asks.

"Animnida pyeha, I mean yes she is the girl who fell in the cliff but my 4th brother and 8th brother never fought because of her. They were fighting against the assassins not with themselves." Mu answers confidently.

"Did she lost her memory after she fell of the cliff? Are you feeling guilty because of it?" King Taejo ask going back to his papers.

Mu considers lying for a second. Technically Hae Soo no longer remembers anything by the time she fell in the cliff but the girl was put in danger because of the assassins that were sent to him. He does feel guilty towards her but at the same time, the girl had managed to capture his 4th brother's attention, making him care about someone. Something that Mu had never seen his brother do ever since he was sent way. Somehow he feels, Hae Soo is the key to unlock his brother's closely guarded self.

"Yie pyeha I feel guilty for having put the girl through a terrible ordeal but no she no longer has her memories by the time she fell in the cliff. I heard she drowned a month before that." Mu decides to be honest. Lying will only jeopardize all of them.

King Taejo turns to his astronomer/adviser, "And I trust that you've looked into her stars?"

"Kue-re-hab-ni-da pyeha (Of course your highness.) I wouldn't want to compromise the future of the princes." Ji Mong answers his well-rehearsed line like the seja. "The girl's star is closely link with all the princes. She seems to be there light. The one who holds all of them together."

Under her name, they will go far. For her heart, they will wage war. To posses her, they will tear this kingdom apart. Yes I have seen the stars of my little queen but she is our light, mine and the 4th prince, the rest can dwell in the darkness.

"It is always the darkest under the light of the lantern, then her bright light would mean long shadows underneath her. Does her presence mean a double blade on my sons?" King Taejo asks, baiting Ji Mong in his words.

Ji Mong calmly smiles, "She is of a moon, a compliment to the sun. Her light would never eclipse that of a king."

King Taejo thinks about it for a second. He nods satisfied for know. "How is she fairing with our 4th prince then?"

"Better than expected." Mu lies this time. He doesn't know how the first day of his brother's class went. He'll talk to his servants the moment he gets dismissed from here.

"What clan is she from again?" King Taejo asks deliberating.

"Hae Clan pyeha, wardens of the north east. She is the cousin of the 8th prince's wife." Ji Mong answers this time.

"The aristocratic family in the northeast. Who sits in their minister seat here in the palace?" King Taejo inquires, going through his head the list of his ministers.

"Queen Shinjeong your highness. The Hae Clan had given their seat to the Hwangbo Clan in exchange for letting them on their own in the northeast." Mu answers.

Ji Mong suddenly lost the color in his face, realizing that the 8th prince is currently holding the most power next to Mu.

Damn it! How did I missed that? So the Hwangbo Clan holds two votes in the ministry now.

Well, it doesn't matter since the 8th prince will never sit in that throne.

But Ji Mong isn't so sure anymore. Something about the Hwangbo clan gaining more power than they originally have in this lifetime is bothering him.

Is this going to be the effect of having Myung Hee live? Shall I get rid of her then?

No, it's too early yet to tell the outcome of this lifetime. My little queen needs protection and Myung Hee can afford her that.

My descendants, those fools. How could they give away our sit in the palace?!


After dinner, Baek-Ah, Jung, Eun and Hae Soo hang out at the foyer of Daechung. It's starting to snow again so they enter the Daechung and closes the door behind them. Myung Hee had advised Wook to go to bed early noticing that he is coming down with a migraine. Before Wook leaves, he tells his brothers they're not allowed to sleep in his compound tonight so they should all go but Eun being his normal self wouldn't leave. The snow started falling and Wook doesn't have a choice but to let his brothers stay. He tells them to let Hae Soo sleep early instead and that the moment he hears that they drag Hae Soo out of the compound, they will never be able to set foot in his household again. All three princes answers a resounding yes to all of Wook's demand. Wook looks at his brother's sternly before leaving.

Although Baek-Ah wanted to hang-out with Myung Hee, he tells her to rest for tonight seeing as she's pale from the cold. He had sought Myung Hee the moment he stepped in his 8th brother's compound apologizing profusely. Myung Hee relents only with one condition that Baek-Ah would never leave Hae Soo's side again and will protect her from now on. Eager to please Myung Hee, Baek-Ah would have succumbed to anything she asks. Besides he's fond of Hae Soo anyway, it isn't so hard to fulfill this promise. Myung Hee's face lights and every worry in Baek-Ah's mind disappear.

Hae Soo stands beside the window holding a cup of tea. Jung walks to where Hae Soo is taking his own cup from the table. Baek-Ah approaches Hae Soo from the back and puts his arms around her, hugging her.

"No-mu po-go ship-eoss-eo! (I really missed you.)" Baek-Ah rests his cheek on Hae Soo's head. "I'm sorry for not coming to you fast when you fell in the water.

"Gwaen-chanh-a, I really didn't drown. It just took me a while to surface because my body really liked the warm water." Ha Jin smiles, joking about the incident at the Damiwon. She doesn't want to think about it anymore, seeing no way out of it. She had thought many times if she should tell anyone that Hae Soo did not drown accidentally but how would she explain it. The astronomer is a trusted advisor of the king, whereas she's no one.

What was Hae Soo's relationship to the astronomer anyway? It seemed like when I met him two months ago, everyone thinks its Hae Soo's first time to meet him.

If he drowned Hae Soo, does it mean he knows I'm not Hae Soo?

Eun puts down his cup of tea and walks to Hae Soo with his hands stretched in front of him, intending to give Hae Soo a hug also, "Hae Soo-ya, na-do po-go ship-da. (I miss you too.)"

Breaking their embrace, Baek-Ah raises his hand and pushes Eun's forehead, not letting him anywhere near Hae Soo. Eun slaps Baek-Ah's hand away and tries again reaching to Hae Soo like a kid. They squabble for a few seconds with Hae Soo and Jung laughing at both of them.

"Why were you punished on your first day of class a while ago?" Jung asks Hae Soo, tentatively opening a conversation.

"Hmmmmm…?" Ha Jin looks up from laughing, "Kue-nyang, I just have the worst luck."

A tinge of pink colors Ha Jin's cheeks as she remembers why she and the 4th prince ended up disheveling the books on the seja's library.

"Wae? Did my 4th brother bothered you?" Eun asks in between being armed choke by Baek-Ah. He turns to his 13th brother and say "Ya! I'm higher than you, show some respect."

"I'm older than you!" Baek-Ah answers, letting go of Eun.

"Ah kue-re? kue-reom, it's a moot point then." Eun smiles, not really caring who has more power between him and Baek-Ah. Technically Eun is higher than Baek-Ah. He out ranks him in the palace but because of their close relationship, Eun usually looks up to Baek-Ah since he is older than him.

Eun inserts himself in between Jung and Hae Soo, sitting in the window. Baek-Ah returns to Hae Soo's side joining the conversation.

"Ani. I was just clumsy. I tripped with my own foot and held to the shelf causing the stacks of books to fall." Ha Jin answers.

"Alright, I thought my 4th brother bothered you." Eun laughs, "So hyungnim can be quite scary at times but when you get used to his presence, he isn't so bad."

Like Jung and So's relationship, Eun have never formally met So as a brother. Eun was born the same year as Jung, a year after So left the palace. He just know that their brothers because his court ladies and his grandfather had told him so. They never directly interacted before since So had always looked intimidating to Eun but ever since So came back a few months ago, Eun had slowly eased up with him, liking him after he saved Hae Soo from the cliff.

"Keunde, are you and our 4th brother close? You addressed him informally at the Seollal dinner." Baek-Ah asks as he pulls two chairs from the table. One for Hae Soo, with its back to the wall and one for him, facing Hae Soo.

Jung follows after, positioning his chair with its back to his chest so he could rest his chin on top of it, forming an arc with Baek-Ah, around Hae Soo.

Are we close now? I did slip a few times, addressing So hwangja in banmal. He never reprimanded me for it but he still refuses to talk to me in public.

Ha Jin scratches her head, confused of So's actions. "We talk to each other just fine? He doesn't seem scary to me but I understand how he can easily be misunderstood."

"You talked to each other?!" All the three princes exclaimed in unison, surprise to hear that Hae Soo and their 4th brother converses.

"On-je pu-theo (since when?)"

"Oe-tteoh-ke? (How?)"

"Eo-di-e? (Where?)"

Hae Soo was bombarded with questions one after another. She looks at all three princes, confused.

"Is there something wrong if I talked to the 4th prince? He seems alright to me." Ha Jin asks, baffled.

Shouldn't I be telling them that? Will So hwangja hate it if I tell anyone that we talk?

Ha Jin recalls the reason why the 4th prince doesn't talk to her.

He says it's for my own good?

Ah, chal mol-la! (I don't know!)

Ha Jin shakes her head seeing nothing wrong with telling the princes that she and the 4th prince talks a lot before.

"Kue-nyang, u-ri nuen kkam-jjak nol-la-neun-de (we were just surprised) we've never seen you both talk before." Baek-Ah explains side glancing at Jung.

"He used to live here, so we see each other every now and then." Ha Jin answers.

"Kue-reom-yo, they live here together so it's only natural that they talk to each other." Eun looks up thoughtfully not really minding if Hae Soo and his 4th brother talks. At least So isn't being mean to Hae Soo. He used to worry that his 4th brother might scare Hae Soo away.

"Since when were you talking to each other? Is it after he saved you in the cliff?" Jung who was feeling sleepy a while ago is now awake with curiosity.

When Ha Jin thinks about it, So was the first person whom she had talked to the moment she had opened her eyes in this period. It wasn't really a pleasant conversation, more like the 4th prince had threatened her, mistaking her for a spy. She thought he had looked familiar back then, he still does and she still can't point out what makes him familiar, only she's more at ease with him even when everyone is telling her to be afraid of him.

Is it because I kept seeing him in Hae Soo's future?

And in that future, So had always been warm and loving towards Hae Soo, so Ha Jin never saw So as dark or scary. Intimidating at times but always caring towards the girl that isn't coming back anymore.

Ha Jin stops, realizing something.

Is Hae Soo dead? She's not in my body at the present times?

The color on Ha Jin's face drains, panicking upon learning that there's a possibility that Hae Soo might be dead. Is dead.

"Hae Soo-ya, what's wrong?" Baek-Ah asks noticing the change in Hae Soo. He reaches out to touch Hae Soo in the arms but Ha Jin suddenly stands backing away from the princes.

"Hae Soo-ya?" The three princes stand from where they were sitting and move with Hae Soo.

"Kue-nyang, I should probably go to sleep. I'm tired." Ha Jin tries to excuse her self, avoiding the three. She manages to get to the door in a few strides and opens it. A strong cold air welcomes Ha Jin outside as she darts away, leaving Baek-Ah, Jung and Eun scrambling after her.

She reaches Hae Soo's quarter and closes the door behind her, falling to the floor gasping for air. In her refusal to think about Hae Soo drowning, it took her awhile to realize that Hae Soo might simple be dead.

"Hae Soo? Hae Soo-ya?" Baek-Ah knocks on Hae Soo's door worried while Eun and Jung waits behind him.

Ha Jin doesn't answer feeling guiltier by the second. She lies on the floor dazed, wondering if there was a way that she could have saved Hae Soo but it's just not possible. For all she knows, Hae Soo could have been dead by the time her soul reached her body and it might be the reason why she had easily awoken in her body to begin with. She tries to recall now what happened to her that night but all she can remember is the super moon being too big in the sky and she praying for an alternative world to wake-up to.

And that was what's missing on Jung's plan when he pushed Ha Jin to the pool of Damiwon in the hopes of getting his Hae Soo back.

One. That night, there is no phenomenal moon to draw power from. It was just an ordinary full moon.

Two. Only the daughter of the moon can draw power from her own father. When Ha Jin fell in the pool, she wasn't thinking of anything other than to get out of the water. She didn't pray. She didn't make a wish. She was simply drowning and her first course of action is to break into the surface of the water.

Ha Jin, too, missed these facts because she had never heard of the story of the daughter of the moon. Like the rest of the population in town, Ha Jin is only familiar with the story behind the lantern festival in their plaza because the 8th prince had told her about it but that story is limited to after the daughter of the moon died not her life or how the curse of her guardian started.

Unmindful of the insistent knocks on the other side of the door, Ha Jin stares at the ceiling of Hae Soo's room, conscious of every nerve in her body, the clothes she's wearing, the room she's into, the floor she's lying in, the walls that enclosed her. Every bit of it not hers. She turns to her side, curling to herself, crying guiltily for taking over someone else's life. Now she's trapped, she can't reveal anything about Hae Soo without giving her self away. No one would mourn for Hae Soo, no one even knows she disappeared and the person responsible for it will never be punished. Ha Jin instantly became an accomplice against her will.

Soon the knocks had stopped and everything became silent. Ha Jin sobs continuously in the floor until her eyes grow heavy and she falls asleep, exhausted physically and mentally. That night she gets a dreamless sleep, her subconscious quiet for once. Her mind finally had enough and is now giving her a bit of time to recuperate.

She wakes up just after midnight with her body aching all over from sleeping at the floor. The moment she opens her eyes, the respite from a few hours of sleep is suddenly lifted and the thoughts of Hae Soo assaults her consciousness, suffocating her. She stands, walking to her tea table where Chae Ryung always leave some water. She fills a glass and drinks it in one gulp, hoping she'd feel better but to no avail. She takes a lantern instead and decides to leave her room.

As she opens her door, Jung falls to the floor, waking. He was sleeping, leaning at her door moments ago. He was worried about his Hae Soo so he had decided to stay in her doors watching over her even through this cold weather. He sits up fully awake. Ha Jin was surprised to see the 14th prince outside her door.

"Jung hwangjanim? What are you doing outside my doors?" Ha Jin asks concern etched on her face. She goes to the floor, levelling with Jung.

Jung catches Hae Soo's arm as he stands pulling her up with him, "Kue-nyang, I was really worried when you run away a while ago. Sorry did I wake you up?"

"Aniyo, I was going to walk around, get some air." Ha Jin explains standing in front of Jung.

More than ever, Ha Jin now has more reasons to feel bad towards Jung. She did not only break them up, she is also burying up the fact that Hae Soo is no longer in this lifetime. On top of that, she now owns her life to him, for pulling her out of the water when she was trapped inside Hae Soo's memory unaware that Jung was the one who had put her there.

She wanders now if she would ever stop feeling guilty towards him for the rest of their lives. She steps closer at Jung and without a hint; she suddenly puts her arms around him, embracing him.

The movement catches Jung off guard, keeping him frozen for a few seconds. When he regains his composure, he puts his arms around Hae Soo too, enveloping her. "I-je-ya gi-eok na-ni? Je-bal mal-hae jwo (Have you finally remembered? Please tell me you did.)"

Ha Jin tightens her hold at Jung, "Mian-hae-yo, kyeol-kho gi-eok-ha-ji mot-hal geot-i-da (I will never remember) but please know that I am grateful that you are always beside me."

That wasn't what Jung wanted to hear but he'd been dying to feel her arms around him and now that he's inside it, Jung thinks he can forgive anything. Her touch is good enough to make him forget the long wait he had readied himself for.

Jung leans further, planting a soft longing kiss in her hair. His hand goes up to the back of her head while the other goes around just below her shoulder, pulling her even more tightly to his chest, "Nan jeol-dae neol tteo-na-ji anh-eul geo-si-da. (I will never leave you.)"

The kiss doesn't escape Ha Jin's notice bringing a fresh batch of tears in her eyes and a burden in her heart. She shivers in spite of the warmth that Jung's embrace offers.


Editor's note:

Sorry I've never seen the Chinese drama so I wouldn't know how their 4th prince is. Though I did saw Time to Love (the movie version) at a cable channel a few weeks ago. Heol! I didn't like it at all. Their 4th prince there is really ruthless and possessive. I was actually relieved when Ruoxi...

And yes, I do have a hard time juggling all those characters. Ahahahaha. Sometimes I feel bad for Won and Yo and Eun. That's why I'm still on the fence to introduce three more characters. General Park, Park Soon Deok and Woo Hee need to join the storyline in the coming chapters. Now I understand why there were so many deaths in the original drama. It's just hard to keep up with every character if everyone is alive. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Maybe I should have started with a one shot first. Lol.