Chapter 26:

After the welcoming rites at the courtyard of the Damiwon, Lady Oh dismisses all the princes, taking the three new ladies inside. Explaining the rules of her little kingdom, the three will not only be learning courtly manners but they would also be expected to learn sewing and embroidery; basic medicine knowledge and acupuncture; mastering the ritual of tea serving; and learning a little bit of administration and lietrature so as not to appear air headed during formal functions in the royal court.

"Kuereom," Lady Oh turns to the three ladies trailing behind her. Observing them from head to foot, "We will start your apprenticeship with a physical exam."

Physical exam? Are they going to measure how fit we are? I should have done a few exercises before coming here.

Ha Jin completely misunderstood Lady Oh, believing the physical exam they have to go through is just a fitness test.

"A lady eligible to become a wife for a princes or a king must not only be pure in mind but must also have an innocent body, untouched, even by a scar." Lady Oh signals for her gungnyeo to open a room for the three ladies, "You will enter in this room one by one and have your bodies examined thoroughly. Lady Hae Soo, will you set example and go first."

Ehhhhh! Are they going to examine us if we are still a virgin?

"Cheo-yo? Jam-kkan-man-yo, wae cheoyo? (Me? Hold-on, why me?)" Ha Jin looks around, turning crimson red. Hae Soo is definitely a a virgin but she still couldn't bring her self to go through it, embarrassed.

A gungnyeo ushers Hae Soo in the room against her will and the other apprentices could only watch her as she is led away. The other two look at each other, chewing their lips.

Noticing this, Lady Oh walks to the two and raises her hand to touch Soon Deok's chin, making her release her bitten lower lip, "I notice that the three of you shares the same mannerism of chewing your lips, you will stop doing that from now on."

Shuffling in their feet, the two answers with a quite yes, bowing their head, struggling not to bite their lips.


Under the shade of a cypress tree on a different forest this time, General Park alights his horse and ties it to a tree, having been informed that their lunch is ready inside the tent. He walks further inside the trees, spotting the two brothers walking together and having a conversation. The younger one is laughing carefree over some anecdote he was telling his older brother while So is pursing his lips, listening attentively and enjoying his brother's story.

General Park stops for a moment, watching them. It seems the two had warmed up towards each other. They were always seen hanging out together. He narrows his eyes, observing the difference with the 14th prince's appearance. He smiles, welcoming the change between the two brothers.


Arriving at the Hae Houshold the next day, Lady Shinjuwon comes out of her palanquin with Guen Sun helping her, his subordinates automatically surrounds them, following from behind.

Guen Sun announces who they are and asks to see the mistress of the household.

The few servants who were preparing the afternoon tea in the main servants quarter had seen them arrive and were flustered to see a palaquin for a royal member visiting unannounced. Chae Ryung was immediately sent to Myung Hee's quarters to inform the lady of the household.

As Chae Ryung runs to the anbang, Lady Shinjuwon observes her, "Guen Sun-i, why does that girl look familiar?"

Guen Sun watches a receding Chae Ryung away, recognizing her as the girl who had mistakenly run into Lady Shinjuwon on Seollal day. On a normal circumstance, no one would notice Chae Ryung walking on the streets but since she was careless enough to collide into Lady Shinjuwon, an action unheard off, Guen Sun had taken care to look into Chae Ryung just to make sure she isn't a spy of any nature.

"It's the girl who had bumped into you in the snow your highness." Guen Sun explains.

Pursing her lips, Lady Shinjuwon squints, "She's a servant of this household?"

"Yie your highness." Guen Sun answers as another servant approach them, giving greetings and leading them into the pavilion.

"And I thought she was just a mere peasant. Chae-miss-eo (interesting)." Lady Shinjuwon's lips forms a smirk, keeping an eye out for Chae Ryung.

Since no one is at home other than Myung Hee, she receives the lady consort in the daechung instead of the pavilion. The mere act of standing makes her dizzy that she can't walk further than the adjacent quarters. Yeonhwa and Wook are in class at the palace and won't be home in a few hours.

Chae Ryung was sent to fetch the consort and by the time she steps into the pavilion, Chae Ryung accidentally makes an eye contact with the consort, recognizing her eyes as the lady she had knocked into. Terrified, she keeps her head bowed, clasping her chest. She stares in the ground and leads them away, hoping the consort doesn't remember.

After Lady Shinjuwon was seated and had been served her tea, Myung Hee finally arrives looking paler and supported by a servant. She walks slowly, ever polite, keeping her manners in spite of being ill, she holds the surprise out of her voice.

"Lady Shinjuwon, what a pleasure to have you in our home," Myung Hee doesn't know why the consort is visiting. They have never met before, not even when they were both living in the north. The consort is known to not leave her palace at all, stirring rumors that lady is not well after her son died but now that she's in front of Myung Hee she can't help but observe her, finding her eyes captivating and unsettling at the same time. "What can I help you with?"

"Forgive me, for visiting unannounced, I am living near the town port this past few months and I only wanted to get acquainted with my neighbors." Lady Shinjuwon returns the greeting. Bowing, she disturbs the air around them sending her scent that quickly sets in on Myung Hee's nose

Catching the scent of nauseating musk, Myung Hee feels more light-headed. She steps back a little, offering the consort a seat, "Gwaenchanhseubnida, please forgive my appearance, I'm a little sick these past few days."

Myung Hee lets her servant pull a seat for her, taking care not to breathe too much around the consort, she brings the tea under her nose, preferring to inhale its scent rather than breathe around the lady. She hopes the meeting would be over fast, worried that she doesn't know how long she can keep herself from not vomiting.

Looking over Chae Ryung, Lady Shinjuwon asks, "Is she a servant in your home?"

Myung Hee traces Lady Shinjuwon's line of sight and finds Chae Ryung at the end of it,"Ah yie, she is part of my household. May I ask why? Did my servant offended you in anyway?"

Chae Ryung tries not to fidget, nervous of getting recognized by the consort.

A thin pretty smile spreads on Lady Shinjuwon's face, feigning innocence, "Animnida, I only thought I've met her somewhere but on a closer look, I was wrong."

"Ah kuereyo?" Myung Hee turns to address Chae Ryung, feeling something is amiss. She asked her to get some more tea, dismissing her. Trusting that she has a sense not to come back, seeing as the consort is taking interest in her at the moment.


After the physical exam for the apprentices, which all of them passed, each one of them were given their brown and green hanbok, their uniform while staying inside the Damiwon. They will not be treated differently from any gungnyeo(s).

Every morning they will rise early at the break of dawn preparing meals and plucking tea-leaves. By late morning, they would be having their courtly etiquette class. Their afternoons will be spent learning alternately among sewing and embroidery, basic medicine and acupuncture or administration and literature.

The three were ushered to Lady Oh's office next. Inside, they stood in front of the table while Lady Oh sits behind, assessing her new apprentices and explaining their routine. Ha Jin and Soon Deok swallow, not really looking forward to sewing and embroidery class. The other girl stood quietly, listening attentively, sporting a blank look. The three of them haven't had the time to meet each other, busy with completing whatever question or task is thrown their way. They have a feeling their first day is going to be long.

"Since only Lady Woo Hee observed the proper ritual of coming down from your palaquin, the two of you," Lady Oh looks pointedly at Ha Jin and Soon Deok, "will have to be punished so you'll remember to observe your manners next time."

Ehhhh? There was a proper way to get out of the palaquin?

Ha Jin and Soon Deok look at each other, feeling the groan about to come out of their throat. They both chew their lips and Lady Oh suddenly hit the top of her table with a stick, making that whipping sound, "What did I tell you about biting your lips, a proper lady does not bite their lip. It sends an improper signal to men."

Ha Jin and Woo Hee jump, surprised of the sudden quiet but commanding voice from Lady Oh. Soon Deok, whose use to her father's commands, lowers her gaze in the ground, keeping still.

"Hae Soo Ssi, Park Soon Deok Ssi, take your place in the wall and kneel." Touching the thick books in her table, "Take this with you and raise it above your head"

"Yie Oh Sanggun," The two answers together. They take the books, three for each of them and kneel by the wall, holding it above their head.

"You are not to stand there until I tell you so. Do I make myself clear?" Lady Oh stands from her seat inspecting the posture of the two, arranging their shoulders and straightening their arms. When she was satisfied, she walks to her door, addressing Woo Hee along the way, "Stand by the door attentively and make sure your friends do not cheat their punishment. If I so much as see a slight difference in their straight arms, I will have you kneel beside them too."

"Yie Oh Sanggun," The girl named, Woo Hee, answers bowing to Lady Oh. She follows behind the Sanggun, taking her post at the door. Lady Oh leaves, attending to other business around the Damiwon.

Soon Deok glances at Woo Hee in the door and whispers at Hae Soo, "So wangjanim-ui yeo-ja-ye-yo (Hey, Prince So's woman)."

"Mwo ra-go-yo? (What did you say?)" Ha Jin glance back at Soon Deok, whispering too, "Cheo-yo? So wangjanim-ui yeo-ja-ye-yo?! (Me? I'm Prince So' woman?)"

Soon Deok nods, confused by Hae Soo's reaction, "Aren't you his woman?"

"Mu-seun mal-sseum ha-si-neun keo-ye-yo? (What are you talking About?)" Ha Jin laughs nervously, hoping she's not blushing.

"Weren't you the girl who was talking to So wangjanim before he left?" Soon Deok asks, coming closer to Ha Jin while still holding the books above her head, her eyes big and expressive.

"Ah matda! (Oh right!) You're the girl beside the general. Ne, We did talk in the courtyard but he's not the only one with whom I said goodbye to." Ha Jin's defenses are up in front of a stranger whom she hadn't even introduced herself yet.

Soon Deok pulls back, realizing that she might have over-stepped her boundaries again, "Joe-song-hab-ni-da, I didn't mean to be too straightforward. I tend to be careless with my words because I grew up in the company of soldiers in my father's camp. Ah, Cheo neun Park Soon Deok-ib-ni-da, pan-gap-seub-ni-da. (Nice to meet you.)"

Ha Jin considers Soon Deok for a moment, she seemed harmless to her. Soon Deok reminds her of Eun-of how he stitch his sentences in one paragraph, jumping from one idea to the next without a breathing, "Aniyo, gwaenchanseubnikka, (It's fine.) Cheo-neun Hae Soo-ibnida. Pan-gap-seub-ni-da (It's nice to meet you too.)."

Ha Jin automatically says Hae Soo's name, getting used to being called Hae Soo these days, "Joesonghabnida, I would have bowed but you see…" Ha Jin points in her hands with her eyes.

"Arayo," Soon Deok laughs and Hae Soo follows after, finding that they like each other a lot. "Cheo-neun, yeol-il-geop sal-ib-ni-da. (I'm 17 years old.)"

"Oh! Cheo-neun seu-muel... (20...)" Ha Jin was about to say her real age when she caught herself, "yeol-yeo-seot sal-ib-ni-da! (I'm 16 years old!)" Ha Jin answers keeping the formality in her words.

"Shall we lower our speech? I don't mind." Soon Deok asks.

"Kue-reol-kka? (Shall we?)" Ha Jin readily answers using banmal.

"Eh kkam-jjak-ya! (Oh that's fast!)" Soon Deok lowers her speech in banmal too and they both laugh again, a little louder this time, drawing Woo Hee's attention to them. Woo Hee only looks at them, pretending she didn't hear.

"Kuereom, jil-mun ha-na hae-do doel-kka-yo? (Can I ask you a question then?)" Soon Deok glances back at Hae Soo,

"This isn't about So wangjanim again is it?"

Soon Deok chuckles, "Na no-mu gung-gum-hae, (I'm really curious) What's your relationship to So wangjanim? There aren't many people who talk to him, let alone smile at him like that. I'm sure everyone in that courtyard were watching you both, mianhaeyo."

"Ah kuereyo? (really?)" Ha Jin stalls time, not knowing how to answer Soon Deok's question.

Are we close now? Will So wangjanim mind if I say we're friends? We are, right? Friends?

Ha Jin turns the word in her head. She's also not sure what they are. They seem to be always finding comfort in each other, sharing embraces every now and then.

But Baek-Ah also hugs me all the time. It's not so different with Baek-Ah's? Even Jung gives Hae Soo a hug, I mean he gives me a hug.

But Hae Soo and Jung has-had a relationship.

Eiiii, why is this so hard?

Even though Ha Jin shares touches with other princes, she does at some point recognizes that the touch she exchanges with So is different. It is longing at times, desperate at others but always, familiar and warm and if she is honest enough, charged. She wonders if she's the only one who thinks that way.

Recalling the few glimpses of Hae Soo's future with an unmasked So, Ha Jin somehow feels a little jealous of the girl whom So is looking with so much tenderness.

But Hae Soo isn't coming back anymore, right? She isn't coming back.

Ha Jin automatically feels guilty again. The thoughts about Hae Soo are always connected with Jung.

But I saw Hae Soo with So wangjanim together, does that mean, she would have ended-up with So wangjanim anyway?

"Oh! I see what they say about you." Soon Deok breaks into Ha Jin's reverie, pulling her into present.

"Pardon? What do they say about me?" Ha Jin stops her momentary reflection, listening to Soon Deok.

"That ever since you lost your memories, you tend to always space out at the middle of a conversation." Soon Deok blinks, explaining the rumors he had heard of Hae Soo, forgetting her question for a moment.

Ha Jin didn't know she does that a lot, "Joesonghaeyo, I didn't know I was doing it."

"Gwaenchanha, so are the two of you…" Soon Deok leans over at Hae Soo again, making Hae Soo move back, "In a relationship? Are you getting married? Is that why you're completing your apprenticeship just now?"

Ha Jin chuckles and in the words of a 21st century girl she answers, "It's complicated" then adds, "I think?" She muses about it some more, convincing her self that So and her are really just friends.

"Eiii, what does that mean?" Soon Deok pulls back, pouting and disappointed.

"Jamkkan, do you know the other girl with us?" Ha Jin deflects Soon Deok's questions by redirecting her to other matters. "She looks familiar"

Soon Deok shrugs, answering in a much lower voice, "I heard she's a gisaeng."

"Ya!" the other trainee whose standing in the door, calls their attention quietly. She signals for them to go back to their positions as the sanggun is returning.

Lady Oh stops in front of the door looking from Woo Hee to Hae Soo and Soon Deok. Woo Hee keeps her eyes on the ground while Hae Soo and Soon Deok pretends to be doing their choir quietly, both looking on the other side of the wall.


The princes and Yeonhwa were all sitting bored to death in the pavilion, listening in their lesson. Although it is only Jung who is missing in their group, the pavilion feels a little emptier. Eun keeps looking at the space, Jung left behind.

A servant from Wook's household arrives and asks permission to talk to the 8th prince informing him that third rank lady consort had came to visit unannounced in their household. Wook's face falls at the news his servant delivers. He excuses Yeonhwa from their class and fetches their mother from her quarters. Earlier after the welcoming rites at the Damiwon, Queen Shinjeong had made plans with her children to go back with them today in their home, to visit Myung Hee.

When they arrived, the servants tell them they missed the consort by a few minutes. They go and look for Myung Hee instead and find her in her quarters, throwing-up in her bathroom again.

Myung Hee couldn't get the smell of the consort's musk out of her nose, heaving and vomiting the few bites of rice cake she had ate and the cup of ginger tea she had drunk.

Wook carries Myung Hee into her bed, taking care not jostle her too much. Her pale and sickly appearance is making Wook anxious. He sits in her bed, brushing the few strands of her hair out of her forehead,

"Myung Hee-ya gwaenchanha?" Queen Shinjeong asks, all worried.

"Yie eomonim," Myung Hee tries to sit-up but Wook softly pulls back her shoulder, letting her lie again. She closes her eyes, reining her whirling sight.

Yeonhwa stands beside the bed, observing Myung Hee. The doctor didn't find anything wrong with her but she looks sicker everyday, "Myung Hee Ssi, let's have you checked again by the royal doctor, maybe he just missed something."

Wook looks up to his sister, "I shall bring the doctor tomorrow then."

Queen Shinjeong inclines her head, thinking to herself.

"Yie, ha-sib-si-yo orabeonim. (Yes please do that.)" Yeonhwa comes closer to Myung Hee squeezing her hand and assuring her, "kuende Myung Hee Ssi, what did the lady consort wants?"

Opening her eyes, Myung Hee looks up to the three, "She said she wanted to say her greetings to her neighbors. That her household at the port is too big and empty she has no one to talk to."

Yeonhwa and Queen Shinjeong exchange glances, while Wook stills on his seat, the strangeness of it is turning the wheels on their head. The lady consort is never known to be friendly to anyone.

"Doesn't a few of her clan's relatives live with her in that household?" Yeonhwa points out the obvious.

Myung Hee shrugs closing her eyes again, "She said it would be nice to get acquainted with our household since we both came from the north and she wanted to meet Hae Soo, too. How is Hae Soo doing in the damiwon?"

"She's doing alright. I'll visit her tomorrow to see how her first day went." Wook assures Myung Hee, relieving her with some burden while he, Yeonhwa and their mother figure out what the lady consort wants, "Myung Hee-ya I will have to step out in a bit, please take some rest. I'll bring you your dinner in a while."

Myung Hee agrees without opening her eyes. The three exit her quarters proceeding at Wook's study chambers to have a talk in private.

"Why does the lady consort suddenly became interested in my household?" Wook inclines his head making a tsssss sound.

"Our clan betrayed them not long ago." Queen Shinjeong adds remembering how she got her position as a second queen: (1)

A few years back, a year before she had given birth to Yeonhwa, a civil war was about to erupt in the north and the Kang Clan sponsored the military forces of Hwangbo Clan so they could both stop the civil war. It made Lady Shinjeong the second queen while Lady Shinjuwon became the third rank consort. It didn't sit well with the Kangs and so they severed ties with the Hwangbo Clans and Lady Shinjuwon refused to reside inside the palace after the wedding night.

"Maybe she's not interested with our household but with Myung Hee's, the Hae Clan." Yeonhwa answers, "The Hae clans are the sole wardens of the northeast at the moment, aren't they?"

"But we hold the power of my wife's clan." Wook confidently answers.

"Aniyo, not until you and Myung Hee gets an heir, her parents will not let Myung Hee have the control of the northeast. Her brother is well and alive and has a family of his own up north. They either get a grandchild from you or everything will pass to her brother." Queen Shinjeong explains,

Yeonhwa glances back to her brother, annoyance evident on her face, "Do you believe me now? Are you going to stop playing around from now on?"

"Yeonwha-ya! Lower your voice. Have you no respect for your brother" Queen Shinjeong reprimands her daughter

"Eomonim, do you know what my brother is busy doing these days" Yeonhwa starts, her tone as malicious as her eyes.

Wook rests his back on his chair, exuding a relax composure but inside, his anger is peaking at a boil, warning his sister, "Yeonhwa-ya."

Queen Shinjeong looks at her son, focusing on him, "What's your sister talking about?"

"Chal mo-reu-gess-eub-ni-da eomonim, (I have no idea.)" Wook uses an overly polite tone, not breaking his gaze with his sister.

Yeonhwa smirks, her natural presumptuousness coming out of her, "Jang-nan-i? (are you kidding me?) it seems my brother here…"

"Kuman hae Yeonhwa-ya, kueman hae-ra-go! (Stop it, I'm telling you to stop now!)" Wook commands, cutting Yeonhwa's sentence but with the threat looming in their family's position, Yeonhwa doesn't let herself be stopped, matching his brother's anger.

"…is harbouring quite an overly fondness for his wife's cousin."

Wook would like nothing but to strangle his sister who is sitting in front of him.

In spite of the surprise, Queen Shinjeong retains her head to think, "Is this true Wook-ah?"

Raising the tip of her one eyebrow, Yeonhwa dares his brother to lie. Wook purses his lips, not answering, imagining a hundred ways on how to kill his sister.

"Wook-ah, I understand that your marriage with Lady Myung Hee is of political nature and that there is nothing wrong if you are drawn to the girl. She's quite charming everyone knows that but think about it some more, the girl has nothing to her name but title, it will be more advantageous for us if we marry her to another clan and bring that clan into our fold." Queen Shinjeong explains not really agreeing or rejecting, just pointing out a few points in her son's head.

Yeonhwa triumphantly smiles, annoying her brother more. Wook lowers his gaze, shutting his mouth.

"Do you want the girl?" Queen Shinjeong asks, considering Wook's emotional state for once.

Wook would like to answer a resounding yes to his mother's question but as a respect to his wife and to Hae Soo and to keep the peace in his family, he holds his feelings back.

"Give me an heir and secure your wife's inheritance in the north and I'll let you have Hae Soo." Queen Shinjeong puts forth a deal in the table, surprising her two children.

Wook looks-up from the table, thinking. He closes his eyes and breathes, disappointed, seeing the trap in his mother's deal. For a second, the pain in Wook's chest shows in his face but he quickly puts back his mask of politeness. He stands, excusing his self, "It' getting late eomonim, forgive me but I have to bring dinner to my sick wife."

He walks away, not waiting for an answer.

After the door closed behind Wook, Yeonhwa looks at his mother. How she is right now is the product of how their mother had brought her up but sometimes it still surprises her how cruel their mother can be. Knowing the kind of person her brother is, Wook is not one to disobey when a command is made.

Their mother's deal is like a double edge sword to his brother, one that would cut on both sides no matter how careful her brother handles it. Wook having a baby with Myung Hee would add a bind in him, he wouldn't be able to pursue Hae Soo after that.

"Eomonim, isn't it too harsh even for my brother?" Though Yeonhwa hungers for the throne and would have sacrifice everything to get it and in spite of a lot of arguments her greed for throne brings to them, siblings, she does care for her brother and still occasionally feels sorry for him. "Why would you dangle a prize in front of my him, if he had to cut his head to get it?"

"Your brother never learned a thing in spite of all the lessons I have tried to teach him all this year." Queen Shinjeong recalls the time when he had to set up a thief in their house to take away a few of her son's softness. It seems at the age of ten, Wook is too timid and prefers the company of his books rather than learning archery and martial arts the way all his brothers were doing.

The thieves were supposed to only scare Wook and push him to act but Wook succeeded more than that, he was able to kill the three thieves with his own hands but it scarred his innocence and took away a little part of his soul. He was never the same after that. Though he is still a quiet boy, polite and gentle as always, his arrows and sword doesn't hesitate to kill in any situation.

"I'll let him marry Hae Soo if he can swallows his moral sense." Queen Shinjeong tells her daughter matter of factly, knowing her son could never do so.


Come night, the three apprentices eat dinner with the lowest ranking gungnyeo(s). Even at dinner, every gungnyeo is lined in neat order, kneeling in their mat, still observing proper decorum. A single small low table is positioned in front of them and on top of it is a given set of food consist of nine side dishes, mostly fermented vegetables and a single serving of rice. A healthy meal designed to keep the ladies in a slim form.

Soon Deok's face falls flat at the sight of the meager set of dinner in front of her. She is not new in starving at the forest in the middle of training but her father had never put her in a diet like these. At least every after training, her father feeds her well with rice.

Looking around, she asks Hae Soo beside her, "Do we get another serving?"

"Mol-la-yo. (I don't know) I think you better eat or Lady Oh might take away your dinner too." Ha Jin answers in between putting food in her mouth. After living in Myung Hee's household for months, she too is not used to be put on a diet.

Woo Hee sits next to Hae Soo, quietly eating her food. They still haven't gotten the chance to ask for her name but they are thankful to her for not mouthing them to Lady Oh a while ago.

After dinner, they were shown a large room at the back of Damiwon, where the three of them will be staying. They will be sharing the room and will be sleeping in the floor with just their futon.

The single quarters that Hae Soo and Soon Deok had enjoyed in their own household will not be provided to them until they reach a certain level where they will be taught how to conduct and manage a household.

The ladies enter their room and Soon Deok unceremoniously flops in the ground, dropping her manners as soon as the door to their room closes.

"Hae Soo-ya, I think this is worst than my father's camp." Soon Deok whines on the ground, "Nan a-jik pae-go-pa. (I'm still hungry.)"

Ha Jin laughs finding that she likes Soon Deok more and more.

Woo Hee proceeds to the folded futons on the side of the wall, takes one and spreads it in her own corner.

Soon Deok and Ha Jin exchanges glances, they can finally meet the other girl. The two stand up and approaches her.

"I-reum i mwo-ye-yo? (What's your name?) Cheo-neun Hae Soo-ib-ni-da." Ha Jin starts, bowing in greetings.

The girl turns looking at Hae Soo and Soon Deok. "Cheo-yo? Woo Hee, Woo Hee-ib-ni-da."

Woo Hee gives her greetings, observing the proper posture and angle of the hands.

"You don't have to be so formal with us. Cheo neun Park Soon Deok-ib-ni-da." Soon Deok introduces herself in a posture and tone more like a soldier instead of a debuting lady.

"Yie pan-gap-seub-ni-da." Woo Hee still observes her manner in spite of Soon Deok's request.

Ha Jin takes a peak at Woo Hee's bowed head, curious, "Have we met? You seem familiar?"

Woo Hee rises to look at Hae Soo, trying to remember if she have ever met Hae Soo before but as far as she knows, she had never crossed paths with her, "I don't think so Hae Soo Ssi. I grew-up in the kingdom of Balhae, passed the borders of the late Silla, it has only been a few months since I came to the capital."

"Ah you came from the fallen kingdom of Balhae, is that how you became a gisaeng? I heard the people from the fallen kingdoms either became a slave of aristocratic families or enters the house of gisaeng." Soon Deok muses, her mouth running a foul again.

Ha Jin elbows Soon Deok, an action Woo Hee noticed. She stays quiet, not answering.

Catching up with her mistake, Soon Deok apologizes, "Joesonghaeyo, this stupid mouth of mine always gets me in trouble."

Woo Hee only gives a polite smile, turning back to spreading her futon in the floor.

Ha Jin suddenly remembers the exodus of people she had seen on their way back from the temple in Mt. Songak, "Ah matda! (Oh, Right!) I know where I saw you!"

Woo Hee stills, afraid that if she turns now, they might see the nervousness in her face. Her presence in the Damiwon is due to a sponsor who had given her a task to perform something in the royal palace. No one must know why she is there.

"You were that girl, who tore Baek-Ah's drawings in the forest. Mat-ji? (Right?)" Ha Jin laughs remembering the ridiculous scene, "That really irritated Baek-Ah."

"You crossed the 13th prince? Wah I didn't know our Woo Hee here is such a brave girl." Soon Deok walks to the other side of Woo Hee, now Woo hee is in between her and Hae Soo, "But Baek-Ah wangjanim is usually nice, why would you make him angry?"

Woo Hee remembers the first time she arrived in the capital of Songak, she was dressed like everyone else, a simple hanbok for a peasant, blending with the rest of her people. It is the only way for her to survive. The Khitans who had taken over their lands are hunting down every last one of royal blood to make sure that no king or queen will rise from their kingdom again. She was saved by the Chung Ju Yu clan and had been living in that household for several months until she was secretly sent in the capital to do an order for minister Wang Ryeom Sik.

"He's a prince?!" Woo Hee turns pale, glancing to Hae Soo,

"Euh?! you know Baek-Ah?" Ha Jin asks Soon Deok,

The three of them exchange look, each with different question in their mind. Soon Deok suddenly chuckles, finding their situation funny, "I guess we have a lot of question for each other. Shall we all sit and talk?"

Ha Jin sits crosslegged with her back resting in the wall. Soon Deok comes to her side and sits hugging her bended legs in front of her. Woo Hee kneels and sits on her lower legs, maintaining the grace of a noble lady even inside their room.

Upon seeing Woo Hee, Ha Jin and Soon Deok couldn't help but bite their lips, embarrassed that the two of them seems to fall short compared to Woo Hee's manners. They swallow, rearranging the way they sit.

"Aniyo! Please stop," Woo Hee exclaims, blushing that she seem to be embarrassing her roommates, "Please continue with what you're doing. You don't have to mind me. Forgive me, it was a forced of habit on my part."

The two stops and goes back to their original position, sighing a relief.

"Kuereom, how do you know Baek-Ah? Soon Deok-ah," Ha Jin turns to Soon Deok beside her.

"I used to go to class with all of them before my mother died and my father brought me up in the camp." Soon Deok answers,

Woo Hee asks the next question, "If he's a prince, then why do you address him so casually? Do you address everyone like that." anxious to confirm if the person she had offended is of royal blood.

"Baek-Ah?" Ha Jin nods, "Yes, he's a prince. 13th son of King Taejo. We're good friends and he prefers that I call him that way."

"Are you also close to the 10th prince?" Soon Deok fishes, wanting to ask a few things about Eun.

"Eun? Ne. The four of us usually hangs-out together; me, Eun, Baek-Ah and Jung wangjanim," Ha Jin doesn't forget the title on Jung's name, signifying a little distance to the latter. This wasn't lost to Woo Hee but escapes Soon Deok.

"How is the 13th prince then, is he nice?" Woo Hee inquires further.

"Baek-Ah? He has a really nasty temper and quick to anger." Ha Jin holds her laugh, playing a joke on Woo Hee.

The color on Woo Hee's face drains, "Will he punish me for offending him then?"

"Huh? That's not how he was when we were kids? Did he turned mad too?" Soon Deok muses, recalling how Baek-Ah was when they were kids.

Ha Jin puts her hands on her mouth, unable to hold her laughter anymore, she laughs upon seeing the confused look on Soon Deok's face and the scared pale white complexion of Woo Hee, "Aniyo, aniyo, aniyo, mianhaeyo, I was just joking."

"Hehhh?" Woo Hee inclines her head confused.

"Gocheong haji maseyo, Baek-Ah is a really nice person. He won't punish you for it." Ha Jin continues laughing, imagining what would it be like if Baek-Ah is as scary as the 3rd prince, "Besides, I don't think he remembers you anyway. He easily forgets those kinds of things."

Ha Jin assures Woo Hee.


"Ya!" Baek-Ah calls to a passing Woo Hee.

It's the next day and Eun and Baek-Ah is at the Damiwon, visiting Hae Soo. The two prince had just entered from the door and is looking around when they saw the new apprentice walking alone.

Woo Hee is going to their etiquette class at the courtyard of the Damiwon, when she saw the two come in. In her nervous state, remembering that she had offended the 13th prince, she immediately bows her head, making herself small and is about to turn to any corner as long as she escapes the prince but Baek-Ah saw her and calls to her. She had no choice but to approach the two.

"I-reum-i mwo-ye-yo? (What's your name?)" Baek-Ah asks, inclining his head to take a better look at the face of the trainee.

Woo Hee purses her lips, bowing her head further, avoiding the gaze of the 13th prince, "Cheo-yo? Bok-Soon" in her nervousness, Woo Hee lies, "Bok Soon-ib-ni-da"

"Kuereom Bok Soon-i, have you seen Hae Soo?" Eun asks, his hands folded in his chest, pretending toughness.

"She's in the courtyard wangjanim, attending our etiquette class" Woo Hee gives her greetings and tries to walk away, leaving the other way around.

"Jamkkan! (Hold on!)" Baek-Ah stops her.

Woo Hee is half way through the door when she hears the call. She would like nothing to do but to reach that door in front of her but her proper decorum requires her to stop.

A second ranking gungnyeo comes down from the second floor and sees Woo Hee still inside, late for their class, "Woo Hee Ssi, aren't you suppose to be in the courtyard already? Run along now."

Hearing her real name called, Woo Hee is caught in her lie. Without turning back to the second ranking gungnyeo, she answers, "Yie, da-nyeo-ul-ke-yo, shil-lye-hab-ni-da (Yes, I'm leaving, please excuse my presence)."

Baek-Ah and Eun were left scratching their head, confused.

"Ehhhh? Her name is Woo Hee not Bok Soon?" Eun asks, watching Woo Hee recedes at the back of the Damiwon,

"I-sang-hae (That's strange), why would she lie about her name?" Baek-Ah narrows his eyes, trying to figure out why the girl looks familiar.

The second ranking gungnyeo reaches the two princes at the landing of the stairs, "Wangjanim, what can I help you with today. Will you be having your tea at the outdoor pool or on the balcony?

"Ah gwaenchanhayo, we're here to see Hae Soo, can we see her after her class?" Baek-Ah answers for both of them.

"Joesonghabnida wangjanim kuende, our apprentices are not allowed visitor during their class." Bowing, the gungnyeo explains.

"Ah kuere? then what time will their class end?" Eun uncrosses his arms in his chest, dropping his bullying stance.

The gungnyeo winces, not wanting to disappoint, "Well into the night? Maybe you should come back by the end of the week, when all of them are allowed to go home?"

"Eiiiii, end of the week? Isn't that too much?" Eun exclaims.

The gungnyeo could only smile apologetically.


On their third night, Wook comes to the Damiwon and requests to see Hae Soo, using his familial affinity as an excuse. He wanted to visit Hae Soo yesterday but that double edged deal his mother had offered him, had started to cut the moment it was place in the table. Of course he knows what the right course is, he's not stupid. He understands that his mother didn't meant for him to get Hae Soo in the end but still, he couldn't help but think about the "what ifs" and the "consequences", weighing it against his compass of morality.

He stands at the door separating the outer and inner pool, his back to the stairs, facing the outer garden, watching the undisturbed surface of the pool.

"Wangjanim!" Hae Soo calls from the inner pool, excited to hear she has a visitor.

Wook turns to the direction of his name being called. Seeing Hae Soo smile instantly lights his burdened heart.

"Wen-il-i u-syeoss-eo-yo? (What brings you here?)"

Hae Soo walks toward him and Wook meets her half way, "Will you take a short walk with me outside?"

"Kueroemyo!"

The two of them walk through the door, passed the main gate, going to a pavilion outside the damiwon. Wook is a little quieter today, more than his usual quiet self. He walks close to Hae Soo, their sleeves touching each other. He is lost inside his musings, glancing at Hae Soo, memorizing her face, her outline under the light of a moon. The uneven paths they walk through, makes them lean on their inner sides, causing them to brush each other's finger every now and then. They come to a pavilion passed a small bridge with a small pond underneath it. Ha Jin puts the lantern down beside her as she and Wook lean in the balustrade.

"How's Myung Hee unnie, wangjanim? Is she better these days?" Ha Jin asks, sensing that Wook seemed to be burden by something.

"Hmmm?" Wook had the royal doctor checked on Myung Hee again yesterday, "He says she's fine, just a little under the weather but it will pass in a few days."

"I see." Hae Soo nods.

Silence.

A long stretch of silence settles upon them afterwards, one that is making Hae Soo uncomfortable. She's used to silence between them before but this silence around them now is awkward, like how they were when she first opened her eyes in this time.

For lack of nothing to do, Ha Jin helps herself up to sit in the balustrade, careful to put her klutzy foot in one of the holes in the design. Wook offers his hand automatically by Ha Jin only continues to climb on her own.

Silence. Again.

Unable to stand it anymore Ha Jin asks, "Is there something wrong wangjanim?"

Wook could only meet Hae Soo's eyes, holding back his heart, he remembers the sigh of relief he was able to release when he wrote the words of the poem, finally having been able to express his feelings. He misses the feel of being free, of crossing the line and being on the other side of the wall.

"Eii wangjanim, come on you can tell me anything." Ha Jin touches her shoulder with Wook's, cheering him up, "Remember my shoulders? it's small but it can take a lot."

Wook recalls Hae Soo's promise underneath the tree after she had woken-up from her second drowning. This attempt on Hae Soo's part finally brings a small smile on his lips.

Noticing the smile, Ha Jin chuckles, "That's better!"

Wook momentarily puts the deal his mother is offering at the back of his head, deciding to bravely take a step towards Hae Soo, thinking he still has time for as long as his wife isn't carrying an heir. He can be with Hae Soo like this, just a little closer, just a little taste of that place beyond the line.

Stepping nearer Hae Soo, Wook rests his head on her shoulder the way she had offered.

"Have you read my letter?" Wook asks, getting more confident after he was able to rest his head on her shoulders freely.

"Kuereomyo!" Ha Jin answers.

"And?" Wook tenses beside Hae Soo.

"Si-neun a-ju a-reum-da-wo-yo (It's a very beautiful poem.)" Ha Jin continues, remembering the words.

"Kuere?" Wook swallows, lifting his head from Hae Soo's shoulder "Were you able to understand it?"

"Ne. The poet was expressing his emotion by comparing it to a beautiful scenery. Isn't it?" Ha Jin's deduction is quite close.

Wook inclines his head, watching Hae Soo - who is looking at the scenery passed the pavilion, deliberating if she really misinterpreted the poem or she just refuses to see beyond it.

He stops leaning in the balustrade and comes in front of Hae Soo. Stepping closer, he tentatively puts his hand at the side of her face.

Ha Jin was surprised by the sudden closeness of the 8th prince, tensing at his touch. She was going to move back but Wook closes his free hand on her left arm and with his other hand sliding down her bare neck, resting in her clavicle, he keeps her rooted in her seat.

"Read... further... Hae... Soo-ya..."

Every word of Wook is a move an inch closer to her, commanding her attention to him, his eyes searching permission in hers.

For a second, Ha Jin is lost for words, a little dazed from the abrupt surge in the beating of her heart. Wook is excessively close, touching her too intimately, flustering her.

"Wangjanim," With her free hand, Ha Jin touches Wook's hand on her clavicle and looks away, uncomfortable with the situation.

Wook stops, holding the craving inside him. Understanding the hesitance in Hae Soo, he releases her and steps back.

Startled that she was suddenly released from her leaning posture, Ha Jin's foot slips from where it was lodged, sending her face-first falling. She flails her hand, trying to find balance on her side. Wook moves to catch her in his arms, the situation turning comical, it amuses Wook.

The tension lifts in the air.

"Gwaenchanha? Ju-sim-hae (Are you alright? Please be careful)" Wook asks, still holding Hae Soo.

Ha Jin takes herself out of the 8th prince's arms and stands on her own, her face a crimson red from embarrassment, "Shil-lye-hab-ni-da, (please excuse my clumsiness,)"

She chews her lower lip, bowing her head.

Wook tries to hold back the laughter, seeing Hae Soo fidgeting and blushing only warms her more to his heart. He reaches out and brushes her hair out of her shoulder, "Will you read my poem again and answer me back soon?"

"Huh?" Ha Jin looks-up, the embarrassment still evident on her face, "Ne, wangjanim. I will definitely do so."

"Shall we walk back?" Wook breathes deep, letting his self be happy just this time.

For the next two weeks, Wook would find an excuse to see Hae Soo every night, taking her for a walk outside the damiwon. They would frequent the pavilion they had hanged out tonight. Although Wook never brought-up the poem again, he draws her to him little by little; finding all sorts of reason to be in the damiwon, a word of encouragement when he passes her in the corridors, a smile he only gives her, small gesture of intimacy- a touch at the small of her back, brushing of her hair on her shoulder, an offer of hand when they walk,- all of it throwing Hae Soo into confusion.

Since Ha Jin had never experienced how to be courted properly by a man from this time, she doesn't know if Wook is just being his caring normal self or is he crossing the line. Ha Jin is starting to get used to it.


The company of Gen Park arrives at their camp in Anju after a week of travel. Jung was given Soon Deok's room and was quickly oriented to how the camp works. Their days consist of hard training in the morning and learning strategy by the afternoon. Come nights, Jung hangs around his older brother, pestering him with questions about the girl he likes or telling him stories of how he and the rest of their brothers grew-up in the palace. So has no stories to tell and often times it is only Jung who keeps talking. Sometimes, Gen Park joins them and regales Jung with stories of how So and Soon Deok used to be when they were younger. He makes it look like So had a normal childhood in his camp, which it is, compared to how So is treated in the Kang's household.

Towards the end of the there first week in camp, Gen Park calls for So while Jung is practicing his sword dance at the waterfalls. The two stand in between a tree, several rocks up high, watching the 14th prince.

"We will have to approach each warden family of the north, if we want our backs watched as we start the diplomacy with the Khitans." Gen Park, stand with his posture at attention, even at an old age, his presence is still as commanding as ever.

"I'm not going to set even a single foot in Shinju, if that is what you mean." So goes straight to the point, not wasting a breath.

"We'll start with the neutral clan then, the Haes. Kuende wangjanim, I will have to warn you…" Gen Park knows that So would never ask for help from his adoptive family, "... you will need to make a deal with the Kangs at some point. Shouldn't we do it while your adoptive mother and her right hand is in the capital?"

"A forest full of snakes doesn't become less dangerous just because the most vicious one is a sleep." So answers.

"Araseo but please think about it some more, if you're father is handling you the military command, then controlling the north will be your first priority. Besides, if you don't want that throne, then your best shot to survive the succession is the control of these lands." Gen. Park stretches his arm in front of them, emphasizing his point. "I believe your birth mother is well aware of it, isn't that why your 14th brother is here?"

"Jung? Aniyo, the queen dowager doesn't want his 4th son here. Jung is here for a different reason." So automatically defends his brother. "He's not aiming for the thrones, he only wants to gain enough power to have the freedom to choose who to marry."

"Ah kuereyo?" A laugh plays on the general's throat, "I never knew the treacherous queen could bring-up such a fine naive boy."

So glances back at the general beside him, catching the sarcasm in his tone, "What's wrong with what my brother wants?"

"Eop-seub-ni-da wangjanim, kuen-yang chae-mi-iss-eo-yo (Nothing, I just find your brother interesting) ul-la kal kka-yo? (shall we go down?)" The general asks, leading So to the falls. "Kuende wangjanim, it seems your brother is looking up to you these days, he's starting to mirror you?"

"Huh?" So looks confused, following the general.

"Watch him," Both of them stop to look at Jung who is in the middle of completing a spin, his two hands holding the sword beside his face, just below his eyes, slashing in time with his whirl. He's not yet as accurate as So is but a few more years of training and he can match his brother just fine, "He's starting to resemble you. From the way he carries his self to the way he holds his sword, even the way he ties his hair in a high ponytail is the same. He looks like you, only less…"

Gen. Park glances at So, observing him from head to foot, "... less scowling and more smiles. Sunnier than you... I guess."

His every word punctuated with a look of comparison to Jung

"Mwo?" So looks at his self from chest down to feet, touching his ponytail. He started wearing his hair that way, after Hae Soo complimented him that he really looks like a prince these days, "What's wrong with the way I look? Jung doesn't look like me."

The general just laughs, continuing with his walk. Though he makes a joke about it, Gen Park thinks Jung is how So would have grown up, if the queen dowager wasn't cruel enough to give away her son. How different would that be.


Inside Queen Shinjeong quarters, her two children sit quietly side by side in front of her rectangle shape table while she sits at the head of it. The royal doctor was called in to explain Myung Hee's condition. The three looks tense, waiting for the doctor's report.


By late afternoon, the princes gather at the damiwon, to hold their usual afternoon tea. Both Baek-Ah and Eun found the loophole in Lady Oh's no-visitation rule. Although any of them is not allowed to directly talk to the apprentices, they found that if they hold a tea ceremony at the damiwon, the apprentices were sent to serve tea as part of their training. Eun is just too happy to oblige.

Towards the end of the second week of apprenticeship, Eun holds a tea-get-together-gathering at the damiwon, even sending the seja an invitation to join them.

Since it's spring and it's just a simple gathering, the gungnyeo(s) had set-up the table out in the garden, under the shade of a tree. With the spring breeze blowing gently around them, the atmosphere looks relaxing and serene, the complete opposite of the turbulence brewing inside Wook, who had just arrived. He wanted to go straight home and see his wife but Yeonhwa wouldn't let him be, dragging him to the damiwon, as soon as their audience with their mother ends.

Wook sits in his corner, still and quiet. Beside him is Baek-Ah watching him closely, pondering what's wrong with him this time. Eun sits next to Baek-Ah, leaning his chin on his two hands, resting at the table. Yo sits at the usual head. Opposite Eun is Won, sitting next to Yo. Yeonhwa is in between Won and Ji Mong, and at the opposite head of the table is the seja.

A second ranking gungnyeo appears with the apprentices in tow. She stands near the table, supervising them. Woo Hee pretends to have a stomach ache, avoiding a run in with the 13th prince so only Soon Deok and Ha Jin came out today.

"Hae Soo-ya!" Eun shouts in his excitement, he stands to meet Hae Soo halfway but Baek-Ah holds him back, reprimanding him.

The eyes of the second ranking gungnyeo narrow, watching the two sternly. Hae Soo and Soon Deok will be told off if they return such familiarity with the princes, so the two maintains their distance and lower their gazes.

Ha Jin starts off with serving the seja while Soon Deok serves the third prince on the opposite side.

"How's your apprenticeship so far Hae Soo-ya?" Mu addresses Hae Soo with a smile, missing his 4th brother.

"I'm learning well wangsejanim kamsahabnida," Hae Soo demonstrates her better manners.

"I've just received a letter from the general saying, they've arrived at Anju a few days ago and is settling down already. I'm sending a reply in a few days, do you want to sent a letter too?" Mu opens another way for Hae Soo to send a letter to So.

"Eh? Hal su iss-eo-yo? (I can?)" Ha Jin stops pouring tea abruptly, considering the seja's offer, "keurom, I'll keep it in mind wangsejanim, kamsahabnida.

The offer brings a new smile on Ha Jin's face as she moves next to Wook, who looks tense beside her. He didn't bother to look up or even acknowledge her. He just stared at the cup that Hae Soo is filling. Ha Jin shrugs as she moves in between Baek-Ah and Eun.

"Hae Soo-ya," Eun addresses Hae Soo in a happy tone but keeps his voice a little lower, "My mother invites you to a tea in our clan's quarter. Please come."

Soon Deok who was serving tea in between Yeonhwa and Ji Mong falters a bit, listening to Eun inviting Hae Soo.

"Agassi gwaenchanhayo?" Ji Mong asks, noticing Soon Deok's pale complexion.

"Yie, please don't mind me." Soon Deok answers, continuing with pouring tea.

Ha Jin purses her lips, holding herself from addressing the 10th prince with familiarity like she used to, "wangjanim, thank you for extending your grace but I am not allowed to leave the grounds of damiwon, joesaonghabnida."

"Why are you suddenly so formal with us?" Eun asks looking at Hae Soo strangely.

"Eii Eun-ah, leave Hae Soo alone for now, she's not allowed to talk to us." Baek-Ah excuses Hae Soo, although he too misses Hae Soo, he wouldn't want to put her in trouble with Lady Oh, letting her stand behind them.

"My mother commands it by the way." Eun stops Hae Soo from leaving, smiling at her innocently, catching everyone's attention. He flaunts his mother's authority as if it's a simple request, "You promised to see her, remember? When you met her the night of the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual."

Ha jin recalls that night she was supposed to go back to her own time. She did met Lady Sukmok that day but the conversation of visiting her happened between the consort and her son, she only stood there listening.

"Eh? I did not?" In her startled state, Ha Jin forgets her manners, reverting to her usual conversation with Eun.

"Hae Soo Ssi!" The second ranking gungnyeo admonishes.

Ha Jin jumps in her feet, nervous that she would be scolded again. She quickly apologizes to Eun though she looks like she's about to strangle Eun for making her forget her manners.

"Eun wangjanim, please leave Hae Soo-ssi be. She needs to come home tonight." Yeonhwa butts in the conversation, ever polite and all smiles. She looks happier today, "She'll be busy taking care of her cousin the whole weekend."

The worry in Ha Jin's face becomes evident at the mention of her cousin. When she left her this weekend, she doesn't look any better, still vomiting and pale, "Did something happened to Myung Hee unnie?"

"(Mal-hae pa) Tell us," Baek-Ah joins the conversation, an urgency in his voice. He just came from visiting Myung Hee yesterday. She's been confined in her bed for two weeks now.

"Gocheong haji maseyo, she's fine." Yeonhwa looks at her 8th brother from across the table, a triumphant smile on her face "She's pregnant."

"Mal-do andwae! (That's impossible!)" Ha Jin and Ji Mong exclaim together, drawing everyone's attention to both of them.

How can that be?

Ji Mong meets Ha Jin's eyes, questions floating on their faces. Both of them aware of the history that Myung Hee and Wook never had a kid.

What's happening!?


Footnote:

1 There is a rewrite in chapter 3 in the backstory of Queen Yoo and how So got a scar. It can be found in my page: chapter 3, on archiveofourown . org. Sorry some of the chapters here are no longer editable, so I couldn't update it.


Editor's note:

Treacherous treacherous queens. Why do we only have treacherous queens in this story? Heol! Now that all are characters are in place, I guess it's time to say goodbye to a few of them. Mianhaeyo.

For the guest readers that I can't reach through PM, let me answer your questions here :)

So and Baek-Ah's bromance: At the beginning, there was an attempt in Ji Mong and Mu to bring Baek-Ah to their side that's why Baek-Ah kept appearing during Ji Mong and Mu's teasing session with So but somehow I couldn't find the right time for Beak-Ah to bond with So and So isn't warming towards Baek-Ah because he's jealous of Hae Soo and Baek-Ah's physical affection. In the kdrama, Jung and Baek-Ah were the ones who were really close but by ep 5, suddenly Baek-Ah and So appeared to have become close during a drinking session that happened off screen. I did wrote a drinking session around chapter 11 but it kept being cut and move to the next chapter until it no longer fits the story and it ended in outtakes instead. I think, the natural trajectory for Baek-Ah's character is to be a Jung-Soo shipper at the moment since he is still close to Jung but I'm mostly (mostly) observing canon relationships so I'm sure our 4th prince can find a way or Ha Jin will.

Ages: honestly I couldn't catch how old the princes were in the kdrama. They only say that Wook and So was born on the same year. Eun is the youngest but he holds the 10th position. Only Ha Jin's age shows-up so I retained hers. I made So's age one year younger than Go Ha Jin because I needed Ha Jin to practice a certain authority over So at certain times. That's why if you've noticed Ha Jin sometimes calls So 'that kid'. Ha Jin doesn't really exercise her present age in our story, she only does it to So because to So she is a jinggu-yeonin-noona-eomeoni (friend-lover-older sister-mother).

Only Ji Mong's age had a drastic change in here. He's way younger in our story compared to his kdrama character because according to the kdrama, Ji Mong is childhood friends with Mu, so it should follow that he's around Mu's age.

Karma buses, haha the trope! But they only run over half of the OTPs and good people most of the time? Don't worry there's plenty of poisons and knives and arrows in Goryeo.

As much as we want our reunion, absence makes the heart grow fonder. General Park promised a month to the 4th prince. It's been two weeks. :)