Chapter 22

The snow falls lightly on the ground and a few servants scurries from one quarter to another getting their chores done. Covered under a few inch of snow, the palace looks like a dreamy landscape from the top view of sky tower where So is watching it. He and Ji Mong just had their dinner and So is quietly standing in the balcony holding his hand out, catching a snow flake. He never particularly like the snow or the cold, it had always brings out the worst of loneliness in him but the little side of his mouth quirks into a smile now, recalling how Hae Soo and him shared the first snow fall of this season. The memory instantly warms his chest.

Ji Mong pours a tea into their cups as Mu arrives at the landing of the stairs, holding a bottle of another ihwaju (pear blossomed wine). So turns from the balcony to give greetings to his first brother while Ji Mong stands in his seat and bows. Mu pushes the tea set aside and opens his ihwaju. Ji Mong takes it and pours them three glasses.

"So-ya, how was your first day of class with the girl? I heard you made a mess of my library?" Mu asks, taking a glass and sits at the table.

So takes his own glass and drinks it in a gulp, "Choe-song-hae-yo hyungnim, we stacked the books neatly afterwards."

A laugh escapes Mu, "Did you really followed my advice and showed her around the books of government administration?"

So looks at his brother strangely again, he thinks his brother is being weird these days, "Animnida, she was the one who went straight at the middle of your bookshelves. I think she likes the sight of your books."

"Kue-re? Well then it's a good call that I had you both secluded in my library." Mu laughs carefree, teasing So these days is fast becoming their hobby.

"What were you doing in the shelves that all the books fell?" Ji Mong asks curious. "You didn't…?"

"Ya! The chair at the back of my room is off limits alright?!" Mu is quick to remind So of his one rule inside his library.

So looks from Ji Mong to Mu, mortified of whatever there insinuating. He takes his glass and walks to the balcony, leaving the two, annoyed.

"Ya!" Ji Mong shouts walking after So, his fatherly self coming out, becoming protective of his little queen. He backs track, remembering his manners, "I mean hwangjanim, don't you think the girl is too young?"

"What are you talking about?! Kkeo-jjeo! (Get lost!)" So turns his back to Ji Mong.

Mu laughs at his seat, pouring another glass for his self, "Ji Mong-ah, the girl is off marrying age. Let them be."

"And that's why our 4th prince here, should be careful of the lady. He shouldn't be touching her so carelessly without marriage in mind."

"But I've never touched that girl! She tripped in her feet and held in the shelf and had the books fell in her." So lies smoothly, he can still feel the arc of her body against his.

"And you just let her fall?" Ji Mong asked worried.

"You didn't bother to catch her?" Mu follows-up, "You should have done something."

"I caught the books falling unto her." So answers, thrifty with his words.

"Ah kue-re? so you do care about her?" The change in Mu from worrying to teasing is too fast, it's making So dizzy.

Ji Mong leans in the balustrade, peeking at the 4th prince, "You do like her, right?"

So refuses to answer and walks away, leaving for his room at the other side of the sky tower.

"Because if you do, we can just have you both married." Ji Mong calls behind So.

"Ya! Oe-di-ka?! Have a drink with us for once!" Mu shouts after So.

So continues walking away without answering.

Mu looks back at Ji Mong, "Why did you have to bring up the marriage? You're scaring my brother away."

Ji Mong laughs, "wangsejanim, your brother isn't easily scared of anything."

"That's true." Mu laughs with Ji Mong

Those two. I bought them time. I guess we can afford to wait a few more years?

Ji Mong turns to the sight of the palace ground, enjoying the snowfall.


The last week of winter came fast and Ha Jin had thrown herself into studying, memorizing and reciting all the hanjas she had learned so far. She would have loved to stay in her room and mourn for the lost girl but any hint of her being sick again would mean another burden for Myung Hee and another check up with the doctor. By now, Ha Jin is so sick of being sick. She had never been this fragile before in the present times and she's starting to resent this frail body so she moves as much as she can. Going around their household. Even at night and in spite of the snow. She carries with her her book, not leaving even a minute to think of anything. When she doesn't memorize, she recalls the things she'd learned in college. Reciting the formula for the tea she drinks, the food she eats, the mixture of make-up in Hae Soo's vanity table. She would have started with her project of making soaps and shampoos but the water is still freezing, it would be uncomfortable working with water for the time being.

She looks forward to having classes with So every other day in the palace, the only time she's allowed to leave their compound. Their tutor, an old man whose strict and sharp, teaches with precise deduction of Confucian mind. If she had a teacher like that in the present times in her senior year, history might have become more interesting to her then.

They started with philosophy and social governance. Getting her educated with Classic Filial Piety and Analects. So is halfway through those books already but he doesn't mind going through it again. It isn't an easy read nor can easily be understood, he thinks he remembers it better by associating it with what Hae Soo does that day when they discussed it.

Today, So stands at the last shelf at the back of the library, browsing a book. With no meeting at the palace this week, he came early enjoying the quite and seclusion of the seja's study chambers. He was about to sit at the chair when the door opened and in came Hae Soo on her white coat and light blue hanbok, brushing her hood out of her head, letting it fall to her shoulders.

Walking to the end of the shelf, So watches Hae Soo in between stacks of books. He likes her in a white coat, a reminder of that night she had embraced the desperate man he is. Her white coat, the snow and a full moon, all associated with Hae Soo's warm acceptance. So had come to like the winter now, he could live with winter if he has Hae Soo by her side.

Ha Jin puts down her things at the table, taking her place on the chair. She feels a little tired today, having no sleep this past few weeks. She puts her arms at the table and rests her head in it, taking a few minutes of nap before their tutor arrives.

So walks to her, watching her carefully. At a closed ranged, behind her back, So leans. Hae Soo's orange ribbon is a dark contrast against her white coat, drawing So's attention to her hair. He notices her abruptly cut hair and raises his hand to touch it.

"Eh kkam-jjak-ya!" Ha Jin sits up, surprised of someone touching her. She turns to the direction of the hand and sees So, standing behind him, "How long have you been here?"

So ignores her question and asks one of his, "Why is your hair abruptly cut underneath?"

Ha Jin reaches to the back of her head and accidentally touches So's hand as she takes her hair out of his hand, "Giok-i anha-yo, chal meo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da. (I don't know. I don't remember.)"

So withdraws his hand as his face darkens a bit, "Did you give it to someone?"

The gifting of a hair with a poem to a lover is a well-known custom at that time. Almost everyone practices it.

"I wish I know but even Chae Ryung couldn't give me an answer when I asked her about it." Ha Jin shrugs, "Waeyo?"

"Na-han-te geo-jit-mal-eul ha-neun geon a-ni-ji? (You're not lying to me, are you?)" So asks, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Ha Jin shrugs, "I don't see a reason why I should lie. I really don't know."

So sits beside her, his mood changed from playful to irritated.

"In the future, if you lie to me, I would really get angry." So warns, his anger showing a bit.

At the 4th prince's caution, Ha Jin glances at So, instinctively recognizing the warning, making her feel nervous.

So didn't speak for the next three hours of their class, not even saying goodbye when their class ended. Ha Jin wanted to come after him but he disappeared at the end of the corridor fast. She comes to the courtyard instead where Wook is patiently waiting for her. She bows as a greeting.

"Did you had a good day?" Wook asks, returning the greeting.

Ha Jin nods feigning a small smile, anxiously thinking about So. They start walking, trudging into an ankle deep snow. A comfortable silence, falling in between them.

Soon, Wook walks ahead of Hae Soo, savoring the tranquility with his 10th brother nowhere in sight. Ha Jin falls behind, busying herself with reciting what she learned in class today so she wouldn't have to think about So.

The five virtues of constituents of humanity are benevolence, righteousness, propriety, knowledge and fidelity.

How do I write it hanja again?

Wook glances back at Hae Soo and sees her stopping and busily writing in the air. It seems she didn't get whatever she is writing the first time so she erases it and tries again. She tries over and over until she gets it correctly, only then did she start walking again, carefully stepping on the footprints he had unconsciously left.

Amused, Wook chuckles to himself and thought of playing a joke on Hae Soo. He starts walking again, creating a path for Hae Soo to step into. At the beginning, the distance between his strides is normal then he walks in bigger strides until his last few strides became to far from each other.

Ha Jin, who is unconsciously following on Wook's literal footsteps, still busy reciting the sayings on Classics of Filial Piety, didn't notice that the footsteps she's following had became too far apart. Carefully raising her chima so it won't soak in the snow, Ha Jin finally falters on the footstep that seemed more than a meter apart. Wook catches her arm before she falls.

"Gwaen-chanh-a?" Wook asks smiling at her.

Ha Jin looks up seeing the amused smile on the 8th prince's face. She glances back to the path she had walked and finally gets the joke.

"Mian-hae-yo, you were too busy reciting your studies, I couldn't resist." Wook answers still holding on to Hae Soo's arm.

Ha Jin pouts, annoyed. She huffs, letting go of her chima. Wook finds her angry stunt cute.

"Mianhae, jinjja mianhae. Please don't be angry anymore." Wook apologizes profusely but couldn't resist chuckling.

"A-ra-seo-yo," Ha Jin answers, remembering it's the 8th prince she's dealing with. He doesn't normally play a joke on her and it's her first time seeing him laughing so lightly so she lets go of her annoyance and returns the smile.

They start walking again, this time side by side.

"How do you find your classics?" Wook asks, his hand naturally sliding from Hae Soo's arm to her hand holding it to support her.

"No-mu him-deul-eo-yo! (it's too hard!)" Ha Jin laughs at the absurdity of having to memorize Chinese classics when back in present times, breezing through it is enough to let her pass her subject.

Wook chuckles again, "You wanted to study, right?"

Yes but I'd prefer doing science rather than classics.

Ha Jin nods chuckling with the 8th prince.

"Oe-neu geot-i deo jeoh-eu-se-yo? si-na no-rae? (So which one do you prefer, poetry or song?)" Wook glances back at Hae Soo, curious to know.

"No-rae. (Song)" Ha Jin answers automatically.

"Ah kue-re? You didn't seem to be the type who listens to commoners' songs." Wook's hand is still conveniently holding her's and it seems Hae Soo hasn't notice it yet.

Ah that kind of song! Right noble ladies should prefer poetry.

"Aniyo, I prefer poetry. Poetry it is." Ha Jin chews on her lower lip, making a mistake.

Wook nods, thinking of looking for poetry that would suit Hae Soo.


With jealousy towards an unknown boy who received Hae Soo's hair, So walks with an angry stride going back to the sky tower. When he asked Hae Soo a while ago, she seemed genuinely unaware that her hair was cut off and was given to someone but that doesn't stop him from holding a grudge against whoever that boy is. He wonders if there is a way to know it because if there is, he'll take it back in whatever way he can, hating the idea that someone out there is holding a part of Hae Soo and keeping it close.

Down a corridor, in between walls of two quarters, the man waits for So to pass, grabbing him the moment he steps a foot passed where he is standing.

With years of training and constant threat on his life, So reflexively pulls the arm that had touched his shoulder and with his free hand takes the knife from his belt and pushed to the wall whoever it is that made a mistake to pounce at him.

"I see, I guess my subordinate didn't stand a chance, did he?" The man smiles his canine teeth too prominent.

He pulls at So's knife hand closer, baring his neck to him, daring the 4th prince to take a slice at his carotid that seems to be pulsing with too much blood. So returns the cruel smile, not hesitating to cut. He draws a trickle of blood, mocking. He would have love nothing but to cut that pulsing vein of his.

The man laughs maniacally distracting So for a second and that's all it took for the man to pull at So's knife hand and maneuvers around him, twisting So's arm and pushing him to the wall. Now the man holds the knife at So's neck, with his chest scratching at the wall.

"But still, not good enough." The man taunts So whispering in his ear.

"Cheo-han-te mu-eos-eul won-ha-jyo, Guen sun-ah? (What do you want from me?)" So asks calmer than most people should be.

"And our 4th prince speaks?" The man that So calls Guen Sun, releases his hold at So "Is the life inside this palace, turned out to be the life you've always dreamed of?"

So doesn't answer, turning to look at Guen Sun. He holds his twisted arm, massaging it. He leans to the wall, wary of the man. He knows if he walks away now, he would find that knife embedded at his back.

Guen Sun steps closer at So, raising the knife to slowly trace the tips of it at the side of his face. So doesn't react. This kind of situation had been normal since he was a kid. He had learned not to flinch even when the man draws blood below his neck, beside his clavicle. A spot not easily seen, if his jeogori is neatly in place.

"Go see your mother while I'm asking nicely or I will drag you out of this candy palace of yours. Al-gess-ni? (Do you understand?)" Guen Sun warns, every bit of his word a threat. He steps back, walking away not waiting for So's answer.

So stays rooted at his spot long after Guen Sun was gone. He knew the walls of this palace wouldn't be able to protect him if his family in Shinju decides to act but he wishes he had more time to come up with a plan to get rid of their hold in him.


Come Spring, the plants around the courtyard of the 8th prince' household come alive with various colors of flowers everywhere. The snow had completely thawed and in its place, are the lush green leaves of plants that had seemed to spring alive under the sunny blue sky.

Ha Jin drags Myung Hee at the pavilion, where she had set-up her different ingredients and tools to make soap. She sits Myung Hee at one of the low chairs intending to teach her. Soon Myung Hee finds that she likes the hobby but just couldn't get the consistency to harden the thing. She gives up feeling frustrated. She leaves Hae Soo to it and decides to sit at the balustrade instead, watching her.


The princes in the palace get a reprieve too, having their week empty of meetings and royal responsibilities. They gather at the open space oval underneath the mountain of Mt. Songak, to the west of the palace.

Horses were brought in the field and hundreds of soldiers were stationed around the 300 by 160 yard of land, creating an oval parameter. The eight princes enter wearing the same simple garment for outdoor playing. They were divided into two groups. The first consists of: Mu, So, Baek-Ah and Eun, all wearing red. The next groups consist of: Yo, Wook, Won and Jung, all wearing white.

They gather to play Gyeokju (Korean Polo), a traditional sport in which players mount on a horseback and try to score a goal against the opponent by getting the Mogu (wooden ball) into a gumun (ball gate) that the other team is defending.

Sitting on a large chair, leading the soldiers is King Taejo with his advisor, Ji Mong. Both of them eager to watch the princes play strategy against one another. The queens, consorts and princesses also gather on two different sides, anticipating and cheering for each team. Even the court ladies and eunuch raises their head to watch.

The princes line-up in the middle, atop their horses, each facing their opponent. Jung defends the goal post for Yo's team while Baek-Ah defends their's.

"Hyungnim, don't try so hard, eoh?! You might not be able to draw for the next few days." Jung calls out to Baek-Ah from the other team.

Mu chuckles at his 14th brother's statement, "Baek-Ah-ya, for every goal that you let the other team pass your defense, is a week of grueling training under your 4th brother. Al-gess-se-yo?"

"Eiii Hyungnim! I'm too attached to my bed in the morning." Baek-Ah answers, feeling the pressure on his shoulders. He definitely doesn't want to join Jung on his run up Mt. Songak. Although So, had eased up with Jung this past few days, their training is still not something Baek-Ah dreams of.

The eight princes bow at each other, with Baek-Ah and Jung taking their place at each goal post. At the sound of a wooden whistle, the referee tossed the mogu in the air and Mu catches it. Yo's team let the seja take the first ball as a sign of respect to him. He passes it to Eun who passes it to So, the moment it touched his stick, afraid to be bullied. So passes it to Mu again and Jung lets him score, to his dismay. Everyone in the crowd cheers regardless of what team they came for.

"Eiiii, you're letting me score easily." Mu looks at the other team, annoyed.

Everyone chuckles. This had been a standard on all their games since they were kids, letting the seja score the first round.

"Go-cheong ha-ji ma-se-yo hyungnim, we won't be taking the next round lightly." Yo smirks, making an eye contact with his team.

True to his words, Yo catches the mogu the moment the whistle's sound and directs his horse to their goal post. Wook shadows him, covering his back while Won races his horse ahead, trying to distract Baek-Ah.

Urging his horse to go faster, So holds his reign tighter, leaning towards the ground, holding his dominant hand about to swipe the mogu from Yo but he is a second too late. Yo throws it to Won. Eun tries to steal it mid air but his reach isn't that high. Won catches the mogu and fakes trying to get it in the goal but passes it to Wook instead who had positioned himself at the blind side of Baek-Ah and throws the mogu inside the gumun, scoring a goal. The crowd in the left erupts to cheers as the score becomes 1:1.

"Kue-re, let's stop with the warm-up!" Mu announces smiling, sportly. "And yes Baek-Ah, I will let this go but the next goal is really going to be a week worth of training."

"Yie hyungnim, kamsahabnida!" Baek-Ah wipes the beads of sweat on his forehead, nervous.

The princes laugh at Baek-Ah's anxious state. Even the side of So's lips curves into a smile. They reset their positions and start another round. This time everyone is serious, done with warming-up.

"Ah, the youth is short and beautiful, isn't it Ji Mong-ah?" King Taejo comments, watching his sons happily.

The game isn't just a simple sport where the princes show their athletic skills, it is also a test of the princes' martial prowess and strategic planning and King Taejo proudly thinks, his sons are doing good. Even Eun and Baek-Ah whose not so keen with their martial arts class are good at riding their horses.

"Gue-re-hab-ni-da pyeha." Ji Mong answers enjoying the game.

"We should hold more of these competitions now that the number among the princes are even." King Taejo truly smiles, a fit he does not easily do.

The next round proves to be more exciting now that each team is taking the game seriously. Of course So and Mu proves to be formidable at offense but Wook and Yo are good at strategy, playing not by strength but with their wits. Eun and Won play the forward of each team, galloping their horses ahead to the goal post and waiting for fast breaks.

By the end of the two hour game, the score is 3:2 in favor of Yo's team. Yo and Mu begrudgingly shake hands smiling sportly. They would have gone longer but both teams had already incurred casualties. Baek-Ah had his left hand hit by Eun's stick while Wook takes a fast flying mogu in his chest. They both are all right but everyone is tired and out of breathe.

"Shall we have another one next week again hyungnim?" Yo taunts smirking at the losing team.

"Hae, kap-si-da! (Let's do it!)" Mu readily agrees eager to win a game.

The princes get off their horses, shaking hands with the other team.

"Kue-reom, nae-il a-chim-e man-na-yo Baek-Ah hyungnim (I'll see you tomorrow then.)" Jung calls at Baek-Ah as he sling his arm at his 13th brother's shoulders.

"Eishhhh! Kkeo-jjeo! (Get lost!)" Baek-Ah pushes Jung away, irritated. "Mu Hyungnim, I'm injured, can't I do the punishment for three days only? Je-bal-yo."

"Kue-re, you get the first week off then." Mu answers, clapping at Baek-Ah's back.

"Hyungnim!" Baek-Ah pleads.

Jung and Eun trails behind Baek-Ah teasing and laughing.

Curling the end of his lips into a smile, So watches his younger brothers entertained.

They have lunch and refreshment in the pavilion with the king and the two queens after, celebrating the opening of spring.


The turn of the spring also sees the coming home of King Taejo's most trusted general Park Soo Kyung with his lieutenant and own daughter Park Soon Deok. They arrived at the gate still in battle garments, having been in their father-daughter past time activity of hunting before coming back to the palace. A black bear hide is sling at Park Soon Deok's shoulders, the price of their hunt while her father chews on a lemongrass eyeing those bear hide with envy. They both alight their horse as they enter the palace.

"Soon Deok-i, won't you let your father have that hide? Aigoo, abeoji-ga no-mu chu-weo-seo. (I'm really cold.)" Gen Park Soo Kyung eyes his daughter's precious bear.

Soon Deok glances at her father, with her facial features all snobbish, "I'm giving it to someone special."

"Abeoji-neun, neo-e-ge teuk-byeol-ha-ji anh-ni? (Am I not special to you?)" General Park tries to trick his daughter into giving him the hide to no avail. Soon Deok only looked at him with contempt. "Aigoo, a-ra-seo, ka! Take a bath in your quarters before you go and meet the king."

"Kuende abeoji, aren't you going to take a bath yourself? You're covered in grass and mud." Soon Deok ask, a clear disdain showing on her face.

"Wae, wae, wae!" Gen Park answers indignantly, "Will I get a new wife prospect if I show up better groomed, eoh? I'm a general, learned in the field of war. I am well respected even without a bath."

"Kuere! Dwaesso (Nevermind), you're the one who smells bad anyway." Soon Deok hands her reign to a servant, walking away.

"Aigoo, this kid, aren't you even concerned about your father? Ya! kat-i ka-yo! (Let's go together!)" Generel Parks follows his daughter who doesn't even give a glance at him.

From an outsiders' point of view, the general easily looks like a fool for his daughter but on the battlefields, he is ruthless and unforgiving. Having taken care of Goryeo borders since King Taejo came into reign, he seldom graces the palace with his appearance but he comes home now to take his daughter out of the field and have her educated as a noble lady, seeing as his daughter is of marrying age already. He plans to send her under Lady Oh's tutelage to straighten her out.


Baek-Ah and Jung follows their 8th brother to his household, intending to visit Myung Hee and Hae Soo. Both of them, fetches Myung Hee from anbang (living quarters for the lady of the household), hanging around her as they wait for Hae Soo's class with Wook to finish. They walk towards the pavilion where Hae Soo had been the whole day. Myung Hee tells them of Hae Soo's new hobby and how she turns those dried medicinal herbs to what she calls soap.

"Binu?! (Soaps?!) What's that?" The two princes ask Myung Hee.

"Kuel-sse-yo, na do meo-reu-gess-eo (I don't know) She says its bath essentials, something you used as an aid for taking a bath. It primary cleans and keeps your skin fragrant." Myung Hee giggles. She feels absurd talking about such thing that all of them never heard off before.

Baek-Ah and Jung's eyebrows furrow in a straight line, sharing the same sentiment with Myung Hee. They wander if Hae Soo is brewing another troublesome interest but Myung Hee assures them, the soaps are genuinely fragrant and it all look pretty to her when Hae Soo let her try one of it.

"Ah Myung Hee Ssi, Baek-Ah hyungnim told me an interesting legend handed down to your family for generations." Jung opens up, "Is it real?"

"Eo-tteon jeon-seol-i-yo? (What legend?) You mean the myth about the daughter of the moon?" Myung Hee asks looking at Baek-Ah.

Baek-Ah smiles, careful to look adorable, "Mianhaeyo, I did let it slip. You never said it's a secret."

Though she laughs, Myung Hee would like nothing but to hit Baek-Ah, embarrassed that such story about their clan goes around, "Yie, it's a story handed down to our family for centuries. If its true? Chal mo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da (I don't know) but our Hae Soo really likes that story since she was a kid."

"Does she even remember the story? I mean after her drowning and she lost her memories, did anyone told her about it?" Jung asks, watching Myung Hee. He never told Baek-Ah about his musings of Hae Soo and the daughter of the moon even after he over heard Ji Mong and Lady Oh talking about it.

Myung Hee thinks about it for a second, "The story never comes up when we talk so I actually don't know. Waeyo?"

"Kuenyang," Jung shrugs, "So what's the daughter of the moon like?"

Even though Myung Hee thinks it's rude to laugh, she does anyway finding the question absurd, "Chal mo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da hwangjanim, cheo-song-hab-ni-da. What I know is that every ancestral shrine of our clan is surrounded with that flower she so liked."

"Mu-seun kkoch-i-yo? (Flower? What flower?)" Baek-Ah thinks about how the Hae shrine looks like in this household, "I've never seen any flower around your shrine in front of the prayer stone towers?"

"Ah that's because you've never seen our shrine in the summer." Myung Hee answers, "Those shrubs only bloom during that season."

"Jin-jja?" Baek-Ah and Jung asks together.

It is true, Baek-Ah had never hanged at the shrine before, finding no reason to come near it. He and Myung Hee are always at the pavilion, having their tea in the afternoon. He only started hanging around the shrine when he and Hae Soo became close. Hae Soo likes sitting at those shrine's steps, watching the sky.

Jung commits in his brain to come to the shrine during summer to see the flowers, "Does Hae Soo like the same flowers?"

"Kue-reom-yo! Those same flowers surround our house in the north. It is sacred to our clan and is associated with the moon deity that our ancestors' worship." Myung Hee recalls the time when she and Hae Soo used to play around those shrubs in their courtyard.

"It has that distinct lemony citrus scent with a hint of spice that Hae Soo enjoys so much. She plucks its flowers and puts it in a bowl of water inside our room so it would smell like that for days."

"Is there a chance for me to find it anywhere at this time of the year?" Jung asks as they round about the corner of Wook's study chamber nearing the pavilion.

"I don't think so but I'm sure you're familiar with the flower. Maybe you just didn't pay attention to it before. Its flower has a pendulous egg shaped petals and has a crimson to pinkish red center for seed pod. " Myung Hee answers.

"Kue-re-yo?" Jung tries to recall if he ever saw that same flower that Myung Hee is describing. He had a feeling he had seen it before.

The three of them passes Wook's study chamber and can finally see the pavilion. Inside it is Wook standing in front of a working Hae Soo, watching her.

Coming home in the late afternoon, Wook finds Hae Soo in the pavilion still making those things she calls soap. Upon entering the pavilion, Wook's nose is assaulted with different kinds of smell, each fragrant, from those medicinal herbs he had bought for Hae Soo. He takes a deep breathe, taking in a good feeling that warms him to the core.

Ha Jin sits in the middle busily molding her hardened ingredients. Her sleeves clipped to her shoulders, revealing her milky smooth arms. Around her are finished products of differently shaped thick soaps, some are flowered shape, some are clover shaped, and some are simple circles decorated with pressed flowers.

"Ah hwangjanim! Annyeong haseyo." Ha Jin looks-up noticing the 8th prince standing a few meters from her. She too stands-up and greets the prince.

Wook takes a towel from a nearby servant, worried that the weather is still too cold for Hae Soo to be working on with water and having her arms bare. "I think it's time for you to wrap-up here, the sun is dipping low in the sky. Soon, it would be too cold."

Ha Jin smiles, "Is it time for our class? Choe-seon-hae-yo, I am just glad to be working with these materials again that I completely forgot about the time."

"Gwaen-chanh-a. How about we skip our class today? I'm sure you'd like a break too." Wook smiles, glad to see that Hae Soo is enjoying his gift.

"Wah?! Cheongmal?" Ha Jin is excited to be let off her class even just for today.

Wook nods, "But let's have you out of the water for the time being. You can just work on these tomorrow. Il-ri wa-yo (Come here.)"

Ha Jin obeys, happily skipping like a kid. She approaches Wook who holds out a towel for her but instead of taking the towel, Ha Jin holds out her bare arms innocently in front of Wook, "Ah! Touch my arms hwangjanim."

"Hmmmmm…?" Wook swallows, looking at Hae Soo's bare arm.

"Hae-po-se-yo. (Go on.)" Ha Jin shakes her arms in front of Wook, urging him.

Wook touches Hae Soo's arms with the towel instead, drying it. He'd love nothing but to know what would it feel like to touch those milky white skin of hers but he restrains his self.

"Aniya." Ha Jin throws a tantrum, shaking the towel away. She pulls at Wook's hand and unceremoniously puts it in her arm. "I-reoh-ke man-jyeo bo-myeon (Touch it like this.)"

Wook had no choice but to run his fingers in the insides of Hae Soo's arm, feeling his hand silkily gliding over it.

"I-geo pwayo, bu-deu-reob-ji anh-a-yo? (See? It's soft, isn't it?)" Ha Jin triumphantly smiles, "It's because of the oils and essences of those medicinal herbs. Depending on the main ingredient you put in it, you'll get a different effect for each. The last one I've just worked with it is lavender, it revitalizes your skin, keeping it soft and fragrant too! Do you want to smell it?"

Ha Jin raises both of her wrist in front of the 8th prince's face, it's smell wafting around him. Wook smiles, swallowing the blush that is threatening to show on his face, "It does smell great."

Good thing Hae Soo decides to take the towel after that and pats her own arms dry, Wook wouldn't know what to do if Hae Soo keeps invading his personal space so carelessly.

Wook takes the clip that is holding Hae Soo's sleeves on her shoulders, releasing it "Let's have you ready for dinner alright. No more making bath essentials for today, you might catch a flu."

Wook lightly admonishes Hae Soo, calming his self. He steps back, clasping his hand at his back. He tells Chae Ryung to take Hae Soo away, careful to give a wide berth between them.

Ha Jin bows, giving her greetings. She exits the pavilion and sees Jung, Baek-Ah and Myung Hee standing rooted in the ground, having seen her and the 8th prince' interaction from the beginning. She raises her hand and waves to them. Wook follows a few steps after, seeing the three too.

"Myung Hee-ya, maybe you should reconsider sending Hae Soo under Oh Sanggun's wing. I'm sure she'll learn a lot from being the Sanggun's apprentice." Baek-Ah quietly tells Myung Hee, nervous of how Jung would perceive Hae Soo's and Wook's closeness.

Although Baek-Ah doesn't agree with their 8th brother's overly fondness for Hae Soo, he wouldn't be caught telling Jung about it, not wanting any tension to arise between his two brothers.

"Kue-reul-kka-yo? (Should I do so?)" Myung Hee worries more for Hae Soo's safety in the palace rather than the growing fondness of her husband towards her cousin. Admittedly, she does at some point feel hurt that the 8th prince never looked at her the way he does for Hae Soo but the 8th prince had also never neglected her nor disrespected her in anyway, if anything he was more dedicated to her these last few months so she could never begrudged him.

Jung automatically walks to meet Hae Soo half way, they have been closer these days ever since that night he held a crying Hae Soo in his arms. She never told him why she was crying but he was just happy to be holding Hae Soo so he didn't bother to ask her more when she refused to answer.

Ha Jin had eased up around Jung, no longer running away from him. Feeling guilty everyday, she had reverted back to being affectionate towards him, compensating for the lie.

"Eoh! I don't see Eun hwangja today, where is he?" Ha Jin asks Jung after bowing in greetings.

"Since we don't have a class today, his mother had called him for tea this afternoon." Jung answers walking with Hae Soo. He can smell that hint of lavender in her.

"Na do! Su-eob i eopso. (Me too! I also don't have a class.) The 8th prince had let me off the hook for today." Ha Jin answers.

They both reach Myung Hee and Baek-Ah and waits for the 8th prince to catch-up with them.

Ha Jin skips beside Myung Hee and takes out her gift for her, a thick flower shaped soap with real tea leaves hardened inside it, "Unnie, try this green tea soap I made for you. It smells a little bitter and dry but its full of anti oxidants that will keep your skin looking young."

Taking the soap that Hae Soo gives her, Myung Hee brings it closer to her nose to smell, "Eoh! It smells good."

Ha Jin smiles, "Lather it generously in your skin a few times after you pour your self water while taking a bath. Your skin would feel silky smooth after. Oh! and if there's a particular herb you like, just let me know and I'll see what I can do to turn it into one of this."

Baek-Ah holds his hand out next, waiting for his own but Hae Soo only look at his empty hands. "Am I not getting any?"

"Why would I give you one?" Ha Jin chuckles.

"Ya! we're supposed to be close, aren't you giving me any?" Baek-Ah exhales sarcastically feigning irritation.

"Ahhhh, kue-re? I'll think about it." Ha Jin plays a joke on Baek-Ah.

"Ya! jin-jja? Wah! I didn't know you could be this brazen." Baek-Ah exclaims.

Ha Jin laughs loud, "Araseo, araseo, I'll make one for you tomorrow."


It's been a turns of full moon since he had woken up in this palace and that girl that everyone addresses as the daughter of the moon had been nursing him slowly back to his health. She didn't have to take care of him, seeing as she's a princess of this kingdom but she insisted anyway, telling him that since she's the one who found him she feels a little bit possessive of him, playing a joke on him. He likes her laugh nonetheless and enjoys the attention she showers him.

Little by little he begins to get to know her. She brings him those cup-shaped white flowers every so often, changing them in their vases before they completely wither. It keeps his room in a perpetual lemony citrus scent that he had come to associate with comfort and her. She tells him, those flower only bloom during summer so he should enjoy it now before autumn comes and takes it away. Those same flowers grew in the lake where she had first found him and promises to bring him their next time once he regains his health.

There was one time, after he woke up that the girl didn't show up for a few days. He kept looking for her but the court ladies only told him that the daughter of the moon had some familial obligation to fulfill and that if he could just be patient, she'll be with him after their visitors leave.

The daughter of the moon got reprimanded for having been caught sleeping at the floor of his room, the night she was supposed to have dinner with her betrothed. It had irked the other prince and so, he had amiably asked the king if he could spend a few days with her without her being burdened of having to take care of that stranger, she found in the lake. The king seeing the other prince's request as only fair, had commanded that her adopted daughter be barred from visiting the sick man and had her sent into the other part of their palace, far from the stranger.

For a few days, she strolls the courtyard with the other prince, playing a gracious host to him. He teaches her archery that she so fails miserably. On some afternoons they ride their horses passed the forest but always, she changes course every time they near around her father's lake. She doesn't like sharing that place to anyone.

One morning, as the other prince's convoys about to leave, the other prince takes her aside, giving her a gift. She opens the silk box and sees a thin red bracelet with a jade adorning it's middle. He takes it from the box and ties it around her wrist, apologizing for taking up a lot of her time and he hopes that by having this around her wrist, she'll remember her father's promise that she is his. He didn't mean it to come out as being possessive but it is every bit a warning. He caps their conversation with a careful touch on the side of her pale face. Trying a smile, he wishes to leave a good feeling between them. He hopes she understand, he isn't a bad person but he had come to like their engagement and he would be hurt if someone takes away what was promised to him. He then bows to leave his greetings and mounts his own horse.

With the other prince gone and she's free to come back to her quarters, she resumes playing nurse to him again. Tonight, she sits beside his bed and gives him a spoon of medicine. He smirks at the absurdity of having to be spoon-fed his medicine when he can completely do the chore on his own but he likes it that she does these things for him so he lets her. As she puts down her hand holding the spoon, he captures it and pulls it to him, taking a good look at the red bracelet she's wearing. She tries to take her hand back and tells him that if he has this kind of strength already, maybe he should start eating on his own. She tries to take away her hand again but he wouldn't let go. He thumbs through her bracelet, gazing at her. He asks unabashedly why she keeps wearing that ugly bracelet of hers, emphasizing on the word "ugly". She laughs finding his comment rude and ridiculous. She tells him if he finds it so ugly, he should get her another one and replace it instead.

Its his turn to laugh this time. He points out that she had just given her permission to take it off if he could get her another one, so he tells her she will be holding her to that promise and that when the time comes he expects her to take it off for him. She laughs louder, finding the conversation preposterous but she relents to him anyway. He always manages to make her do things with that intense gaze of him.

She stands up abruptly, startling him. He is quick to apologize, thinking that she's leaving because he's being rude but she shakes her head and tells him, they should stroll outside while the night is young. He reminds her, it's new moon outside and it's dark. She assures him, they could take a lantern and he can hold her hand if he's afraid. He laughs, refuting her words. He only worries that a lady shouldn't be seen with a man at this time of the night but he takes up her words and interlace his hand with hers, with no intention of letting it go.

Ha Jin awakes with someone softly shaking her shoulders. She's at the seja's study chambers, sleeping with her head bowed on the table. She came in early today, skipping down the corridor, happy as the bright sun shining down on her. She was excited to come to class but even more excited to go home, wanting to spend more time doing her soaps.

When she arrived, no one is around yet. Wook had asked her if she was sure that she has a class today since all the princes' class were canceled in favor of their weeklong time off. Hae Soo doesn't remember being told by their tutor that they are being given a break so she came in as usual.

So stands beside her, with his back leaning against the desk. He came in a few minutes ago, opening the door and catching a scent of fresh tangerine with just a little vanilla in the air. He approaches a sleeping Hae Soo, wondering if the smell is coming from her. From the few times that they both held each other, he had always caught a hint of citrusy sweet scent in her, clean and refreshing but not too strong resembling that fresh dew in the morning. Something he likes to breathe in but today her scent is more pronounced like it's coming off naturally in her pores.

"Ah Hwangjanim, wass-eo-yo? (you've arrived?) How long have you been here? Was I asleep for too long?" Ha Jin asks, repeatedly blinking her sleepiness away.

That flower again.

So sits besides Hae Soo, taking his hand from her shoulders "I've just arrived."

So has a hunch that their classes, too, are on a break but it seemed nobody informed both of them. He'll remember to ask his first brother and the astronomer later, finding their joke getting out of hand.

Ha Jin reflexively raises her hands to stretch, inclining her head left and right, exhaling as the sleeves of her jeogori falls in her shoulders. So watches her amuse, swallowing at the unconscious show of her bare milky arms. He reaches to her hands and puts it down, distracted from the sight of too much skin from her.

"Ya!" So starts, "Don't be so careless with stretching your arms, it shows a lot of skin."

So admonishes Hae Soo, making a hissing sound.

"Wae-yo? I was just stretching, what's wrong about it?" Ha Jin asks innocently.

"There's nothing wrong with stretching but you're showing too much skin." using only the tips of his two fingers, So pulls at Hae Soo's sleeves, "It is not proper for ladies to have their arms bare."

So wonders if his fingers would smell exactly like her after touching her sleeves.

Ah kue-re! This is Goryeo. Stupid Ha Jin.

Ha Jin apologizes for not remembering her manners.

"Maybe you should do apprenticeship under Lady Oh, you'll learn a lot from her." So suggests, remembering their Seollal dinner where Lady Oh asked Myung Hee and his 8th brother to have Hae Soo train under her.

"Kue-reo-se, Lady Oh seems intimidating." Ha Jin answers embarrassed.

"Eoh? You don't seem like someone who gets scared easily." So observes.

Ha Jin brushes her hair out of her shoulders, disturbing the air around them, unaware that her scent waifs towards So's direction. She folds her arms in front of her and rests in it, "I do get scared. I just don't show it."

So naturally leans in, drawn to breathe her scent. He always feel better after spending time with Hae Soo so he extends that comfortable feeling to her now, giving a promise, "When things go dark and you find yourself in trouble, you can call upon me and I'll get you out anytime."

"Is that a promise?" Ha Jin asks, closing her eyes for a few seconds, the memory of her dream a while ago dances at the corners of her mind, remembering the flower, the scent and a boy who had interlaced his hands with the girl who looked like her.

Ever since that flower appeared in her dreams, she started remembering a few parts of it, mainly scenes where the flower appeared. She suspect it has something to do with the smell of the flower, it's fragrance is like a memory indicator, a trigger. She has a feeling that if she ever find that flower and smell it for real, she'll finally be able to remember not just particular scenes in her dreams but all of it, including the faces of the people that the girl interacts with.

"Ju-sim-ha-se-yo hwangjanim, (Careful your highness), I might take you on it."

So smiles gamely, "Hae-po-se-yo. (Go ahead and try). I would like it if you do."

Ha Jin opens her eyes and returns the smile, deciding that she likes this promise of the 4th prince.

Shall I gift him?

"Hwangjanim, What kind of fragrance do you enjoy?" Ha Jin wonders what kind of soap should she make for him.

"Na? (Me?)" So thinks about it for a few minutes. He's not used to being asked what his preferences are but Hae Soo always asks him about the things he like. She seemed to be genuinely curious and he doesn't mind it a bit.

Hae Soo nods, watching the 4th prince.

So rests his elbow at the table, having his head lean attentively in it. He thinks about it carefully. He definitely like Hae Soo's scent but before she came into his life, there's always that one scent that he had come to associate with comfort and when he recalls it now it's close to Hae Soo's scent, "Lemony citrus scent?"

Raising her head, Ha Jin sits-up, her drowsiness all gone.

"Lemony citrus scent? Lemon as in the fruit? Or a flower that gives off a lemony citrus scent?"

She waits for the 4th prince' explanation as her brows furrow together. Her hand automatically grasp at her chest feeling her heart starting to race.

"A flower that gives off a lemony citrus scent." So answers. "Those flowers bloom near a lake where I escape to, whenever the palace life up north gets unbearable."


Editor's note:

So there's two new characters with a "soo" in their names. Heol! Why did the original writer have to name a lot of her characters with "Soo"? Let me address, General Park Soo Kyung as "General Park" only and for his daughter, I'll call her just "Soon Deok".