Chapter 45:

Pale lips, white face, hair neatly bundled in a chignon behind her head, Lady Oh ushers her two new apprentices at the second floor corridor of the Damiwon. She had been back only for a few days, still sick and weak all over but her grace as the mistress of this mini court never diminished at all.

The two new apprentices are of noble birth. The first one being the daughter of the seja, *Kyeong Hwa Gongju while the other is Lady Haeryang 1[1], daughter of Daesagan (Chief Censor) from the Saganwon (Office of censors) [2]. Kyeong Hwa Gongju had just turned nine while the latter is 15 yrs. old. The two were led in a room for their embroidery class and another 3rd ranking gungnyeo welcomes them.

Following Lady Oh is Woo Hee, who was also called back to the palace and has settled at the Damiwon again, accompanying the Sanggun. Her own trainees reside on a gyobang outside the palace. The place where she used to live.

Not far from them, a secluded tearoom has its doors open. Yeonhwa, Yo and Won are having their afternoon tea ceremony.

A little walking at the hall and Lady Oh stops, holding at the wooden balustrade, her other hand pressing into her stomach as she bends over a little, her stomach cramping.

"Oh Sanggun, what's wrong?" Woo Hee comes behind Lady Oh's back, supporting her arm.

"Cheo gwaenchanhseubnida. (I'm alright.)" Lady Oh assures Woo Hee.

"We should sit."

As Woo Hee leads Lady Oh to an empty tea table, Eun comes through the door with Soon Deok beside her, "Where is she? Hasn't she come yet?"

Eun looks around, taking a peek at the hall in the first floor. He opens doors, one by one and found it all empty.

Lady Oh takes a sit slowly, watching Soon Deok and Eun over the banister, "Who is our prince looking for?"

"Oh Sanggun!" Soon Deok's face lights up. It's her first time seeing their Sanggun since she left after Soon Deok's graduation rites. She forgets her manners and quickly run up the stairs. Like a child getting excited over a present wrap for her.

"Ttwi-eo-da-ni-ji ma-se-yo, Soon Deok Ssi. (Stop running around.) It's unbecoming of a married lady." Lady Oh softly reprimands Soon Deok, a smile appearing on her face, happy to see her former apprentice.

"Joesonghabnida, Oh Sanggun." Soon Deok gives her greetings the proper way this time. She then drops formality and gives Woo Hee a big hug, "Where have you been? I was so worried about you and Hae Soo. Ah, matda! Have you heard Hae Soo is here."

Woo Hee pulls away, her face draining of smile, "Ha Ji… I mean Hae Soo is here? Where? Since when?"

Eun comes to the balcony also, paying his respects to the Sanggun and addressing Woo Hee after, "Yie, she attended our assembly a while ago."

"She what?" Lady Oh asks, as stunned as everyone else. She didn't come at the assembly today since she's not well. Though she heard that there was a commotion this morning.

The door from the first floor opens once more and in came Jung and Baek-Ah both looking for Hae Soo, too. They come up at the balcony, seeing Yo's group not far. They get the greetings out of the way and join at Lady Oh's table.

Jung, Baek-Ah and Woo Hee stand awkward around each other. The two princes weren't aware Woo Hee is also back to the palace. Baek-Ah stares at Woo Hee and Woo Hee looks everywhere but him.

"Isn't she here?" Jung asks, "I thought she'd be here. She didn't come at the sky tower either."

Soon Deok explains to Woo Hee and Lady Oh how Hae Soo turn up at the assembly, beside Lady Shinjuwon's right hand man and was declared the newly appointed representative of Kang's Chancellery seat.

Lady Oh winces, her stomach getting another round of stress, "Where is she now?"

"The king had asked to talk to her alone after the assembly but it's been hours and the eunuch said our father retired to his chamber already." Jung adds, starting to be worried.

"Doesn't she stay here?" Though Baek-Ah's question is address to anyone, Jung and Woo Hee knows, it's for Woo Hee.

"No, I…" Woo Hee doesn't know how to answer the question without revealing to the people around them that she and Hae Soo had been hiding together, "I haven't seen her since I came back."

Jung nods, understanding that Woo Hee had last seen Hae Soo when she left Jeonjo.

Baek-Ah wants to ask more but decides to let it go for now since a lot of people are around.

Eun makes an intake sound by his mouth, "Hok-si Kang jib-e sal-go iss-na-yo? (Does she live at the Kang household?) Had they been hiding her all this time?

"That can't be right?" Soon Deok answers, thinking, "So wangjanim would have known if Hae Soo is living in his own household."

No sooner, Mu and Gen. Park walk through the door, too. Here to have their afternoon tea and discuss the fiasco at the assembly this morning. They pass through greetings and opted for another empty room on the opposite corridor where Yo and his group are having tea.

"I guess we'll have a full tea house again." Lady Oh can't help but comment.


In a deserted path going to the Damiwon, at the back of some study chamber, Guen Sun quietly waits for So, knowing he would pass this way. He leans by a pillar, relaxed, playing with a dagger on his hand.

Soon enough he spots So alone, coming his way.

So sees him also, wary of his presence. They haven't crosses paths for the last two years since So is busy with his ambassador duties at Later Jin. Though So is summoned in their household plenty of times, he never accepted the invitation.

Guen Sun takes his self out of the pillar and come to So's side, matching his casual stride, as if they are only taking a walk under a nice weather in the park. They turn by the corner, somewhere secluded, where no one comes around.

"When did you found Hae Soo?" So ask the moment they got out of the open space.

Guen Sun doesn't answer.

"They told me you were in the north."

After Ji Mong told So that he knows where to find Hae Soo, the first thing So did is to see Guen Sun at the Kang Household by the port but the servants said he was ask to go home in the north. He was worried that if any of his brothers had found Hae Soo then that means Lady Shinjuwon could have easily found her too.

"They lied." Guen Sun casually shrugs.

So inhales deeply, holding his anger at bay, "Why did you bring her here?"

Guen Sun lightly chuckles, "Didn't you miss the girl? I was under the impression that I'm doing you a favor."

"I don't want her here." So's holds his wrist tightly at his back, his other hand closing into a fist.

"Wae? Did she hurt you that bad?" Guen Sun advances on So, too near on his face, "We can always remedy that."

So only silently stills, his face devoid of any emotion.

"Shall I get rid of her, make her really disappear this time?" A nasty smirk paints on Guen Suns' mouth, "Like what I did with her servant?"

So loses it and grabs Guen Sun by the collar, pushing him to the wall, "You will not lay even a single finger on her or I swear…"

"That's better. At least we know the girl still had a good hold on you." Guen Sun freely laughs, succeeding at provoking So, "Your greatest strength is still your greatest weakness. What a ridiculous irony."

Guen Sun flicks So's hold on him and pushes him, maneuvering them both so So ends up on the wall instead of him. But So is familiar with this move already. He had a lot of practice doing this, he won't be over power this time. Guen Sun might tower over him. He might be his mentor but So had grown and he will not be intimidated by him again. They end up freeing each other's collar, pushed back from each other.

"What are you planning to do with her." So stands so still, reaching the peak of his anger and his passed the playful banter.

Guen Sun dusts his jeogori coolly, "It's just a reminder. You're mother is fast losing patience. You don't talk to her. You don't answer her summons. She's starting to think you're going back on your end of the deal."

Ascending as the Sang Janggun (supreme general) in military rankings, So has the whole army at his command and since he serve as an ambassador to Later Jin, he had also gained supporters from both the Khitans and China. If he wants to seize the throne, he could easily have it even without the support of his adoptive clan. Lady Shinjuwon is afraid that they no longer have a hold at So. Hence, she had commanded for Hae Soo to be brought under her wings. A collateral just in case So acts against her.

"Haven't I been doing what she wants for the last two years?" So's mask of calm expression, conceals his face.

Yes, they had been poisoning the king but he plans on giving the throne to the seja after the king dies. He'll keep his word of getting rid of the king just because the king betrayed him but what happens to the throne after is none of his business anymore. He's tired of constantly being tested by his father and used by his adoptive mother. He wants to live free, disappear the way Hae Soo did. "The astronomer had been lighting that gifts of her every night and the king is getting weaker every day."

"That is true. The king is dying." Guen Sun shrugs, "But it doesn't guarantee that you'll be seizing the throne for yourself."

So tenses underneath his calm demeanor and Guen Sun is learned enough to catch it, "So we brought back Lady Hae Soo. Luckily she's a Kang now. Thanks to your father, who I'm pretty sure is regretting his mistake of handing the lady to your mother."

He smirks, a cruel one, "Yie wangjanim, the lady belongs to your mother, you're not thinking of double crossing her, are you? Your mother would kill the girl if you do, kuende…"

Guen Sun pauses for an emphasis, "Death is a fast ticket to freedom, isn't it? Maybe your mother will sold her as a slave or shipped her as a tribute to China. Who knows, there are many ways to torture her."

So is imagining hundreds of ways to kill the man in front of him.

"Kuereom…" Guen Sun advances at So and stops beside him. Side by side, Guen Sun puts his hand on So's shoulder, patting it several times, "Eyes on the price, my prince or she could just become another collateral damage."

He walks away without looking back, knowing full well the 4th prince understood his warning.


On the other side of the palace, a deserted corridor not far from the Hoegyong Hall, Ha Jin drags herself by the wall, her vision is swimming in haze and her head is dizzy, unaware that the incense she lit up from the hall a while ago is poisonous. Inhaled in a small dosage, the incense isn't supposed to show it's poisonous effect yet. It is designed to build up in a human's immune system and attack it from the inside.

Since Hae Soo's body is sickly, a little dosage of it coupled with the effects of her flash of memory, Ha Jin comes down with a heavy migraine that feels as if its splitting her head. She stops at a red pillar, the color hurting her eyes. She holds upon it, sinking in her knees.

Not far, Wook was passing by, going to his office on the other side of the hall when he sees Hae Soo at the corridor and hesitates. He wanted to approach her but doesn't know what to say. He watches for a while until he sees her fall into her knees, looking pale and nauseous. Tentatively, checks if anyone is near and when no one turns up in the corridor, he slowly approaches Hae Soo, "Hae Soo Ssi?"

Ha Jin is busy shaking her dizziness. When she looks up, her sight, doubling. She couldn't recognize the person in front of her.

"Are you alright?" Wook asks, sensing that Hae Soo is ill. He comes to the floor, touching Hae Soo's cheek by the back of his hand.

Ha Jin squeezes her eyes, close and open, but she still couldn't see clearly in front of her. No sooner she sways and fall headfirst. Wook catches her, shaking her to wake, "Hae Soo Ssi? Hae Soo Ssi? What's wrong?"

When it is apparent that Hae Soo had lost consciousness, Wook stands up and carries her on his arms.


An old Gingko Tree beside the temple of their palace had shred its golden leaves and covers the ground in 6 meter radius, creating an illusion of yellow carpet from the windows of the throne hall. Not far is a 10 tiered stone pagoda. A meter and half wide by the square-octagonal base, decreasing by a foot until the 5 th tier. The 6 th tier up is petal cornered and massively smaller than the first 5 tier.

The crown prince sits under the Gingko tree, his back resting by the rough trunk. He watches the daughter of the moon circle the pagoda one, twice, 5 times, holding her hands together in a prayer. He calls at her and she turns, waving at him.

She walks toward him and he offers his hand for her to sit. She comes to the ground, her back to his side, her head thrown back to his left shoulder. He asks what was she was praying for at the pagoda and she says it's a secret. The crown prince argues that its torturing him not to know. She turns to look at him, her eyes crinkling into a smile. She asks how is he doing.

He takes his back from the trunk, her spine suddenly cold from the lost of his warmth to her side. He lays his head in her lap, bringing a surprise 'oh' on her mouth. He lays comfortably and answers he feel much better now that he is on her lap. He folds his hands together on his stomach, closing his eyes. He can tell, she's watching him. He tells her, she's free to touch him if she wants too, he'll just pretend to be asleep so he wouldn't know. A pinkish blush spreads at her cheeks, its warmth spreading down to her neck.

A few more leaves fall around them and the crown prince's breathe evens out, sleepily. She moves her hand, enticed to touch him. She tentatively starts with his hair, the one covering a part of his face. She softly brushes it to the side, careful that only the tip of her fingers touches his skin. It tickles him, sending a delicious goosebumps on his spine. He tries not to move, lest she take away her touch.

She traces his eyebrows, his eyes, his nose. It felt forever before she reaches his lips. Suddenly, he captures her hand, opening his eyes, impatient to feel her hands on him. He brings her hand to his lips, laying a kiss at the inside of her wrist.

The daughter of the moon stills, the warmth from his lips transferring into her wrist. He puts her hand down and slowly comes up. While his one arm supports his weight, his other hand touches her chin, drawing her down to him. He touches her lips with his, daintily, chastely.

She closes her eyes, letting him move his lips to her chin, nuzzling down her neck, her goerum (ribbon that keeps the jeogori overlay with each other) coming undone.

Ha Jin opens her eyes. The dim light of her room is a lot less dazzlingly brilliant than the golden carpet of leaves surrounding her in her dream. She sighs fluttering her eyes close once more, the dream a welcome change from those nights, when sleeping was like falling into a vacuum, devoid of anything, even rest.

The comforting smell of Mokran surrounds her, lulling her back to sleep. She turns to her side, the wooden railings and even the feel of the comforter beneath her feels so familiar, Ha Jin opens her eyes wide, shock. She sits up quickly, the towel in her forehead falling to her bed. She looks around, accustomed with the whole room. Chae Ryung used to do her hair on that vanity table on her right. The hanging tapestry and even the candleholders by the corners are the same. The white ceramic bowl lying on top of the tea table definitely contains floating Mokrans.

I'm in my room?

Even though she hasn't been in her cousin's household for the last two years, Ha Jin is sure she's inside her room right now.

What am I doing here?

A knock on the door forces Ha Jin to quickly lie down again, pretending to be asleep. Wook comes in with a tray of porridge and medicine, checking on Hae Soo. He puts it at the bedside table and pulls a chair to sit. He sees the towel discarded beside Hae Soo and takes it, folding it into a rectangle and reaches to her forehead to put it. Ha Jin suddenly opens her eyes.

Wook withdraws his hand automatically, surprised.

"Wook wangjanim." Ha Jin sits up slowly, only now does she feel the fatigue in her muscles. The aching in her joints. "What am I doing here?"

Wook inclines his back to the chair, giving her space, "You lost consciousness at the corridor a while ago. Joesonghaeyo, I don't know where you're staying so I brought you back here."

Ha Jin couldn't help but observe him. The last time she saw him was at the courtyard, when she and her mother was being tortured. He looks older and more mature now. The softness in his face was lost as he weigh less but there is that gentleness and warmness on him once more. The one she had forgotten, he used to have before Myung Hee died.

"I brought you dinner and some medicine." Wook smiles, welcoming without being forceful. " And had a physician checked on you. I hope you don't mind. I was only worried."

Ha Jin only looks at the tray of food and doesn't say anything. She had grown accustomed into not saying many things so Wook misunderstands her silence, thinking he's being imposing on her again.

"Kuereom, I'll take my leave." Wook stands-up and politely says his goodbye, "Please eat and then rest. I'll have a palanquin ready if you want to leave. I don't want you to think I'm holding you against your will."

That surprised Ha Jin. Wook looks far removed from the person who had her and her parents back against a wall two years ago.

"Kamsahabnida." She utters in a small voice, "Kurigo, sa-gwa deu-ril-kka-yo. (I want to apologize.)"

Wook stops. Confused.

Blindsided and kept in the dark, Ha Jin never learned it was Wook and Yo who had set-up her family. She only know Wook tried to save her by offering marriage. It wasn't the best way to save them and the way he did it was forceful. Nonetheless she thinks Wook and Yeonhwa are one of the casualties of the king's unfair punishment.

"I heard you were demoted to anjalsa (inspector general) and your sister was sent to China for being associated with my family. Please forgive my mother. She was under duress and wasn't thinking clearly. She didn't mean to have both of your names associated with us."

Wook turns back to Hae Soo and finds her hanging her head low in an apology, "Were fine. It's not your fault."

He hesitates whether he should leave or comfort her. Of course she wouldn't know he had a hand on her parents' death. No one was interested to know the truth, only which side to blame and which side to take to be safe. That's how their royal court operates. He can't fault the girl for being naive. She was raised that way.

The latter wins and Wook cautiously takes to the chair that he vacated, "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything after your mother's confession. My hands were bound."

Ha Jin nods, "It's fine now."

"Do you feel better?" Wook changes topics, "May I offer you anything? The physician said you are exhausted but taking a rest would easily remedy that."

"Kamsahabnida." Ha Jin raises her head, her eyes automatically wandering around her room.

"I've just come back and I haven't really decided what to do… with your room or your unnie's so I left it this way. It feels disrespectful to have it changed without your consent." Wook explains when he notices the question in Hae Soo's eyes. "If you tell me where you live, I can send your belongings to your new household."

Ha Jin stares at Wook for a second, nostalgia in her eyes, "Gwaenchanhseubnida. I…"

She couldn't say she doesn't have a new home. She was brought here at the capital a few days ago and had been living in the Kang household by the port. The household is spacious and extravagant but it feels more like a prison to her rather than home.

Sensing the discomfort, Wook says, "Do you want to stay? I mean for a night… if you aren't feeling well. It's still your room, your home."

Ha Jin is inclined to accept if only to spend one less night in the Kang household.

"It's settled then." Wook decides for her, guessing she's not so keen to go home. "So… what have you been doing for the last two years? I heard you also left."

Run away to be précised but Wook doesn't say that.

"Hmmm…" Ha Jin couldn't think of anything safe to say, except, "I've been making soaps."

It's half-truth. She was producing scented aromatic oils.

"Oh! Your hobby? The one I gave you." Wook once gifted her herbal leaves freshly delivered from the temple run by his household at Mt. Songak. "I had the servants plucked some of the Mokrans in our shrine and had it put in the bowl at your table. I remember you love those flowers."

"They bloomed?" Ha Jin had never seen any of the tree-shrubs flowered while living in their household.

Wook nods, "Yie, they bloomed. You can see it tomorrow. You should rest for tonight."

And the two falls into a relax conversation. Something they haven't had for so long, Ha Jin couldn't remember the last time they did.


The next day, Wook and Ha Jin came to the palace separately with Wook riding his horse and Ha Jin bound inside a palanquin that she discarded by the main gate. She walks the length of the main gate to the courtyard of the Hoegyong Hall. By the time she reaches the 50 steps of the hall, she looks at with resentment. She has no problems walking on a flat pavement but going up a stairs requires effort in her knees.

Wook follows her behind, a descent far enough space that no one could suspect they came from the same household that morning.

Jung and Baek-Ah are rounding up the corner at the tops of the stairs when they see Hae Soo below. So had also arrived, stopping far from Ha Jin. Like the two at the top of the stairs, he watches Hae Soo, wondering why she isn't coming-up.

Ha Jin isn't aware she's being watched. She's busy with the stairs, willing it to become a flat surface.

Why can't we just hold the assembly in a different hall? Somewhere where there are no stairs.

Jung and Baek-Ah finally realizes what's wrong when Ha Jin touches her legs and then holds her chima an inch up so she wouldn't step on it.

"Ha Jin-ah!" Jung had gotten so used to calling Hae Soo: Ha Jin, that he unconsciously calls her by it even when she is no longer pretending to be someone else. Baek-Ah who is free to approach her again, follows Jung down, hurrying to help Hae Soo.

Ha Jin looks up, seeing the two coming down. As she takes a step to the first tier, a hand comes to her right, offering help,

"May I escort you to the stairs?" Wook asks, smiling at her.

Ha Jin glances at Wook, remembering how he had been sincere and gentle to her last night, "I can manage. Thank you."

"Alright." Wook answers but doesn't leave. He stays near her and only takes a step when she does. Ready to be a pillar if she miss a step.

Jung and Baek-Ah halt at the middle of coming down, surprised to see Wook and Hae Soo getting along just fine. The two look like how they were before Myung Hee died, comfortable and friendly.

It's a long while before Ha Jin and Wook reaches Jung and Baek-Ah at the middle of the stairs. Wook is the first one to greet his brothers, "Jung-ah. Baek-ah-ya."

Like what they had all gone through for the last two years, never happened.

"Yie, hyungnim." The two greets him back awkwardly.

"Ha Ji… I mean Hae Soo-ya." Jung addresses Hae Soo, "Where have you been? Are you alright?"

Baek-Ah elbows Jung as their 4th brother nears, too, "So hyungnim."

So stops beside Hae Soo and Wook's left, near enough for the two to glance at him.

Ha Jin freezes, her heart spiking up. She and So haven't crossed paths since she came back. She had seen him briefly at the assembly yesterday and he quickly disappeared afterwards. She doesn't know what to do. She knew they would have to face each other at some point but the coldness he's exhibiting towards her right now is a fleeting respite. At least, it steals her a few more chances to think things through and save her from having to talk to him at once. Yet it pains her nonetheless, to be treated like a stranger when all she ever dreamed of is his arms around her.

"So hyungnim." Wook greets him, too.

So holds his hands at his back, displaying no emotion at all. He inclines his head infinitesimally towards Wook, the only acknowledgment he gives. He continues climbing the stair as if Hae Soo isn't there.

Except for Jung, the three follow So with their eyes, watching him reach the top steps where Mu and Gen. Park are at the door, having seen what had just transpired. They look apologetic to Hae Soo.

"Here." Jung comes beside Hae Soo, offering his arm, "hold in my arm."

Ha Jin doesn't think she could go inside the hall and breathe the same air with So. It would be too aching to keep up with the pretense.

Had it always been this hard?

She takes to Jung's arm, her knees trembling and it has nothing to do with her illness.


Ha Jin stands awkwardly with the ministers to the right of the king, behind the seja. Her beautiful pastel hanbok, stands out from the blue sea uniform of the ministers beside her.

Aside from Yeonhwa occupying the space beside Wook, she is the only girl whose holding office at the royal court. Guen Sun had oriented her as to how the assembly works, including the voting system she now holds in her hand. Since it's her first day, Ha Jin is still attentive, following the reports. It feels like it's her first day back in college and political science isn't exactly her thing.

The assembly starts with Jung reporting about the status of managing the pirates down south ending with So and Gen. Park reporting about Khitans and the Later Jin.

"Gaozu has died and his nephew Yonghe, is leading now. Negotiations over territorial dispute had failed and the Khitans are preparing to go to war. Conflicts over succession of the throne in Later Jin will cause them to lose against the Khitans."

King Taejo takes in the information and processes it carefully, "Then it means the Khitan will start to dominate the lands outside our border."

He turns to look at his 4th son and commands, "I want you to visit the Khitans this time. You and the general have done well with maintaining diplomacy with them. I want you to continue with it."

"Silhseubnida. (I don't want to.)" So quietly disagrees.

Everyone civilly turns their head on him. It wasn't the first time So defies the king but still, everyone looks scandalized every time he does so. Gen. Park struggles not to fidget in front of the king, itching for his hands to hit So in the head. He's not making their lives easier.

"Silheo? (You don't want to?)" King Taejo repeats, his annoyance shaking his composure. He is feeling better today but thanks to his 4th son, his chest is palpitating again.

"I've only just come back and I haven't done anything wrong. Why should I be sent away again?" So answers composedly. "I've always been sent away even when I have done nothing wrong. On whose sin am I paying for this time?"

"It is not a punishment but a training in diplomacy. You should be thankful that I let you build this connections." King Taejo lectures.

"I was sent away as a punishment and not as a training. Whatever connections I made and support I've gathered, I did it myself. I haven't received any help since you abandoned me when I was four." So doesn't waver, frank and forth coming.

King Taejo rules his breathing. He too won't be shaken. "A king should be able to engage with different kinds of people and not just be good in fighting at war."

"I am not a king nor will I become one." So says it in a monotone voice, as plain as his expression. "I will not be commanded to go some place I don't want to go. I, too, shall live the way I want now."

So comes too strong and yet it only pleases the king though he doesn't show it. In his eyes, his 4th son had always been obedient but only up to a point where it doesn't concern the girl. So he took out Hae Soo. He had wanted her out of his reach so he could grow on his own and finds his strength apart from the girl and his adoptive mother, where his power use to come from.

So had succeeded in finding his own supporters and amassing loyalty from the soldiers at his command. King Taejo can't be more proud than what his 4th son had accomplished. Hence he throws him another test. He turns to Hae Soo,

"Hae Soo, Agassi."

Everyone tenses.

Yo automatically steps aside while Mu hesitantly step to his right, creating a space for Hae Soo to be seen.

"Yie, pyeha?" Ha Jin hangs her head low. She's already stressed because of the tense air around her, why does she have to be called.

"Do you agree with the 4th prince that he shouldn't be sent away?" King Taejo asks.

This feels like an instant oral exam in one of her classes, only this time, it's not grades Ha Jin is earning. It's lives at stake.

Ha Jin is forced to look at So, who doesn't pay her any mind. She struggles not to bite her lower lip as her knees tremble together. "It's his job as an ambassador to be sent away."

Mianhaeyo…

She hated to give the correct answer.

The king is disappointed. He wasn't looking for the correct answer. He wanted Hae Soo to choose his son's side. There is no mistaking So is his most powerful son but if Hae Soo doesn't side with him, So will not make a conscious effort to seize the throne for himself.

It's the same thought that flows on Lady Shinjuwon's mind that's why she brought Hae Soo back to the palace. It was to keep So in line, to guide him where his sight should be set but the girl is proving to be as wild card as Lady Sewon is, no one could understand what's going on inside her mind.

Yet Ha Jin's mind is simple. She, like So, doesn't want the throne or anything to do with it. Why they keep dragging her back here is beyond her comprehension.

"Pyeha, if I may speak," Mu interjects before things get out of hand. He wasn't expecting Hae Soo would easily decide to sent So away, contemplating if Hae Soo was ever oriented as to how powerful her simple words are. "My 4th brother had been good at his job of being an ambassador but as a seja it truly is my stately duty to extend this diplomacy to other lands. Let me perform my responsibility for once or I will be inclined to think that my 4th brother has ambitions to take the throne before me."

Mu means his last sentence to be playful to alleviate the tense mood.

"Kuereom the seja will come with me then, Pyeha." Gen. Park quickly agrees, "It is time for him to learn the ropes of this mediation."

King Taejo withholds his judgement first, waiting for Hae Soo to change her mind. He wonders if Hae Soo isn't good at processing subtle convincing or had she already chosen the next king to not be his 4th son.

When Hae Soo doesn't say anything further, King Taejo gives his approval, resignedly, "Guereohara. (Do it then.)"

Everyone remains silent, sensing if the trouble had finally passed so they could all breathe again.

So nails his attention to Hae Soo, walking towards her. He takes the space between Yo and Mu, exactly in front of Hae Soo. Though Hae Soo is focusing her gaze to the ground, she can feel So staring at her and she's afraid to look up. So turns his back on her and casually resume his place. If he is hurt, he wouldn't let anyone see it.


After the assembly, Jung, Baek-Ah and Eun are inseparable to Hae Soo. They wait for her at the steps of the hall and leave altogether for the Damiwon,

"Has your assembly always been than tense?" Ha Jin asks as soon as they were away from court.

The three smiles smugly, finding Hae Soo's question hilarious.

"You'll get used to it." Baek-Ah assures her as he takes his place to her right. It's nice to finally talk to his friend without tiptoeing in eggshells.

No wonder, everyone is crazy in the palace.

Ha Jin is still in the process of calming her heart, inhaling deeply, as if compensating for the breaths she couldn't take a while ago.

"Kuende, Hae Soo-ya," Eun scratches his head, "Weren't you being too harsh to So hyungnim?"

Jung elbows Eun, his 10th brother always the insensitive one.

"Wae?! He already took 70 lashes and as if it wasn't en-"

Jung forcibly covers Eun's mouth, when he wouldn't take a cue to shut-up.

"I didn't know what to say." Ha Jin mumbles, "So I said the correct answer. Wasn't that the answer the king is looking for?"

Baek-Ah purses his lips, pondering how to explain it to Hae Soo, "Why are you here, Hae Soo-ya?"

Eun bites at Jung's hand, coercing him to let go. "Ya! That's a mean thing to say. Hae Soo-ya, don't listen to my stupid brother. We're happy that you're back."

"I don't want to come back." Ha Jin struggles to maintain a neutral expression on her face.

"Then don't." Jung interjects. He's not angry or insulting or happy. He's just supporting whatever she wants, "Run away again."

Eun looks at the three as if they lost their minds, "Am I the only one who's happy that everyone is back in the palace again?"

Ha Jin suddenly stops, causing her to be left behind by a few steps. The three turn to look at her, seeing her angry, "If I have a choice then I wouldn't be here."

"Mianhaeyo Hae Soo-ya…" Eun starts apologizing in behalf of his brothers but Baek-Ah pulls him back and approaches Hae Soo instead.

"We know, it isn't your choice to be here but you're here anyway. So I need you to choose to survive. You can't afford to be tactless with your actions-"

"I know! Don't you think I know that?!" Ha Jin loses her composure, "I know the consequences of my action is no longer confined to me! I know my actions affect other people lives! I know my actions would lead for someone to live or die! I KNOW!"

"Then stop being a puppet! Take control of your choices. You used to do that. Why change now?" Baek-Ah argues back.

"Because I made so many wrong choices before… I could have married Jung, then maybe my household would have had a better support in the court. I could have married your 8th brother, then my parents would have been saved. I could have stayed away from your 4th brother then maybe he wouldn't have threatened the king with a war and my parents wouldn't be back against the wall, choosing him." Ha Jin feels so tired, "I could have made better choices."

Baek-Ah understood how traumatized Hae Soo is but it wouldn't change the past now. He takes a hold of Hae Soo on both arms, being gentle with her, "Hae Soo-ya, listen to me well. You didn't pick the wrong choices. There simply are no right or wrong choices in that court. Your parents were innocent but they had to die because that court, that same court you are running right now, isn't looking for correct or incorrect answers. They were all looking out for their own welfares. That's how that court is being run."

"But that's selfish." Ha Jin voices what's been nagging at her, "They are leaders of this kingdom. They should be looking after the welfare of the people and not just theirs."

"In an ideal world, that would be true." Baek-Ah patiently explains, treating Hae Soo like a kid, which she is in terms of running the court, "But unfortunately we live in the real world, where right and wrong doesn't matter. So, again, you could give up that power handed to you and be played like a puppet or you can make your own choices and maybe change something in the process. I'm not saying you save the world. It's not doable by one person. Just live your life, take control of your actions and be responsible for it. You hate our court? Then change it. Everyone is fighting to control that court. You may not become a king but you can side with the prince, you think would do the job best."

"Do you want to become a king, Baek-Ah-ya?" Ha Jin asks sincerely.

"Kkeo-jjeo! (Get Lost!)" Baek-Ah releases Hae Soo, chuckling, his annoyance evaporating at Hae Soo's inconceivable question, "I'd rather see the fields of our kingdom than be confined in that suffocating hall. When are we coming back to the south?"


A feast of 15 side dishes, and five main courses are being laid at a table by the shade at the archery range. Gungnyeos wait by the table and guards are maintaining a distance with the 8th prince, who's doing a practice target shooting. Arrows typical of the north are arranged in a small table, side by side with a wooden long crossbow.

So far Wook had shot three arrows, all outside the center yellow circle.

Yo arrives a little later, examining the arrows by the table and picking-up the long crossbow. He positions himself beside Wook, drawing an arrow and releases it, hitting the middle yellow circle, a bull's eye.

"You were the best among us before, what happened to you?" Yo smirks, putting his bow down. He holds his hand out and a servant automatically puts another arrow at it.

"Out of practice." Wook shrugs, looking at the arrow his 3rd brother had just fired at the target, "Did you know? One interesting fact I learned while I was inspecting our military warehouses around the kingdom, is that these arrows we are holding are exclusive only to the north? The aristocratic families down south use arrows that are dark brown in color rather than the dark greys we use."

"Ne, ours are dark grey because the tree used as a material for are arrows could only grow in our cold forest at the north." Yo casually answers as he draws another one into his crossbow and aim it in front of him. He releases another arrow and it, too, lodge at the middle yellow circle. Well into the target.

A servant hands an arrow to Wook, "And that my family, yours and the Haes are the only ones who use these arrows? The Kangs use a darker shade of grey, almost black."

Yo nods, "Ne, I heard the Kang's arrows were soak into poison for days, hence the color is of darker hue. If the wound doesn't kill you, the poison will and only the Kang's have the antidote. Smart and treacherous, isn't it?"

"Smart? Yes." Wook draws his own bow, leveling the arrow straight to the target. He inhales, finding the center of his balance within his core. Locking his eyes to the target, he releases the arrows.

Swoosh…

It dislodges Yo's arrow at the center, "Treacherous, maybe. Strategic, yes."

He puts his crossbow down, turning to face Yo, "I actually like the Kangs, straight forward and unbending. The lady consort has a lot of tricks up her sleeves but she's not different with you, hyungnim."

He bows politely at Yo and hands his cross bow at a servant, "Kuereom, I shall take my leave first. Please enjoy your practice."

Yo watches his 8th brother walk away, feeling something amiss with him.


Jung, Baek-Ah, Eun and Ha Jin arrive at the Damiwon, where Soon Deok is waiting. Woo Hee is at the back garden, practicing with her trainee gisaengs.

Soon Deok gives Hae Soo a hug as soon as she sees her enter at the door, "Mwo ya! Why didn't you tell me you were going to run away?! We were so worried about you. You could have written me a letter."

Looking hurt, Soon Deok breaks their embrace, "And as if it's not enough, you disappeared again yesterday. Where did you go?"

"I was ill. So I went home." Ha Jin comforts Soon Deok.

They proceed to the main stairs, up the second floor, where a gungnyeo leads them to an open empty room for lunch.

Woo Hee comes in running when she finds out Ha Jin is at the Damiwon, "Ya! Neo, oe-di iss-eoss-eo? (Where have you been?) Do you know how worried I was when you disappeared?"

Soon Deok and Eun misunderstands Woo Hee's words, thinking it's Woo Hee's first time to see Hae Soo for the last two years.

"Oh! Woo Hee-ya, you're here too? Since when?" Ha Jin is surprise to see Woo Hee.

"A few of our trainee gisaengs are drafted to perform for the harvest festival." Woo Hee answers. Holding Hae Soo on both arms, she turns Ha Jin left and right examining her.

"Our?" Soon Deok repeats, "Were the two of you together for the last two years?"

"Ah, matda! (Oh, right!) The two of you disappeared at the same time." Eun points out the obvious.

A gungnyeo interrupts their conversation and in came Lady Oh, looking a lot less better than yesterday.

Ha Jin takes this chance to change topic and quickly approaches Lady Oh, excited to see her mentor, "Oh Sanggun!"

Lady Oh returns her embrace, patting her back comfortably and separates after, "Look at this, my delinquent students are all back. Have I betrayed my kingdom on my past life that I am stuck with the lot of you."

They all laugh good-naturedly.

Trailing behind Lady Oh, are her new apprentices and they come out behind her as she introduced Kyeong Hwa and Haeryang to Hae Soo.

"This is Lady Hae Soo of House Ha… Kang." Lady Oh momentarily hesitates, confused as to what house does Hae Soo should be introduced.

"She's her worst student." Baek-Ah chimes in, keeping the light mood, "She didn't even finish her apprenticeship and she makes us worry all the time."

"We're surprise to even see her come this far." Eun adds.

"Wah!" Ha Jin blushes embarrassingly, looking at Eun and Baek-Ah with a stern warning.

"But she's good at brewing medicine." Lady Oh saves Hae Soo.

"And making aromatic oils." Jung speaks for the first time.

As the greeting comes to an end, Lady Oh sends her apprentices away and sits beside Hae Soo, gathering for lunch. The gungnyeo(s) arranged their plates and served luxurious dishes upon the table.

When they finish their lunch, Woo Hee goes at the back garden to manage her trainees again. Baek-Ah follows her discreetly even when Woo Hee forbids him to.

Eun informs Soon Deok that the king assigned the general to the north once more. They leave for the general's house to see if he needs anything.

Ha Jin hangs around Lady Oh for a while, volunteering to help around the Damiwon. She follows her to her tea class, teaching the apprentices how to prepare and store tea.

Since Lady Oh is feeling a little bit dizzy, she lets Hae Soo take over and she stands by the side, observing with Jung. With nothing to do the whole afternoon, Jung had decided to hang around Hae Soo.

They are at a little storage room where Hae Soo used to do the inventories. The room where Jung and So secretly seek her when they want to steal a few minutes with her.

Hae Soo and the two apprentices are huddled at a long wooden table with Ha Jin standing opposite the two apprentices. In their middle, are different boxes containing tea leaves that were delivered this morning. She diligently explains the process of oxidation to the two. She gets carried away and started using chemistry terms that sounds foreign to her students. When she notices it, she awkwardly smiles and covers her mistake by volunteering to brew tea for them instead.


"Woo Hee-ya, could you stop for a second." Baek-Ah catches-up with Woo Hee at the deserted corridor going to the back of the Damiwon.

"Kuemanhaeyo wangjanim. (Please stop.)" Woo Hee quickly walks away, worried, "People might see us."

"Nan sang-gwan eops-eo (I don't care.)" Baek-Ah pulls at her wrist.

"Nan sin-gyeong-sseo. (But I do!)" Woo Hee had grown fond of Baek-Ah even when she keeps saying he irritates her. She knew something is changing in their friendship for the last few months but she turned a blind eye on it because she doesn't know how to deal with it.

Baek-Ah had only been nice to her, even a gentleman when everyone else is treating her like a gisaeng should be. It never bothered him that she is of low class or that she works on a gyobang. He treats her with respect, like a lady should be.

"Wangjanim, your status can't afford to be associated with me. This has to stop." Woo Hee exasperatedly explains, pulling her hand away.

Baek-Ah follows her once more, "What status? My princely birth is an empty as yours."

And that's where Baek-Ah is wrong. Woo Hee is the sejabin (crown princess) of the Hubaekje if their kingdom did not fall. Her very own grandfather died in the hands of Gen. Wang Geon, himself. King Taejo exiled her father and had all of royal blood hunted and killed for fear that if one royal blood lives, that person might become a spark that would ignite the people of Hubaekje to get their kingdom back. She survived because her father had sent her to the north before their kingdom fell. The Chungju Yu clan who were former allies with her family had taken her in and had been using her hatred towards the king to help them assassinate the king.

"You don't know me." Woo Hee's composure is cracking and she's afraid, she had started to like Baek-Ah more than her hatred for the king.

"I know you enough." Baek-Ah wouldn't be persuaded.

Woo Hee suddenly turns, anger boiling within her yet Baek-Ah doesn't see that. He only sees her black flowing hair and how it dances with he wind. The pink flash in her cheeks that looks pretty to him. And her eyes. Her eyes that are clouded with tears that refuses to fall.

"Look at me!" Woo Hee shouts.

"I am looking." Baek-Ah mesmerizingly answers.

"But you're not seeing." Woo Hee raises the sleeves of her jeogori, showing cuts on both of her wrist. Some are new. Some are old enough and had turned to scar. Along with the cuts that she got from practicing the sword dance, the other wounds are freshly made, cut with a precision of a blade.

Baek-Ah turns her wrist to better look at the wounds, "What happened? Did you get this from practicing the sword dance? See! I told you to wear those gears to protect your wrists."

"Neo paboya?! (Are you stupid?!)" Woo Hee pulls at her hand unbelieving.

Baek-Ah pulls her back to him, this time enveloping her in an embrace, "Ara, Woo hee-ya, ara. (I know, Woo Hee. I know)"

"Mwo?!" Woo Hee tries to pull away but Baek-Ah stills her.

"I know they are not from practicing your sword dance." Baek-Ah holds her tightly, stroking her head and patting her back gently, "You must have been hurt so bad in the past that cutting yourself is your only escape. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

The dam of tears finally falls on Woo Hee cheeks, soaking Baek-Ah's jeogori. He lets her cry, holding her together. "I'm here now and I will never let you be hurt again. Won't you trust me this time?"

It's been so long since Woo Hee felt someone care for, she had forgotten how comforting to feel two strong arms around her. She unconsciously moves closer to Baek-Ah, taking every warmth she can get. She rests her head on his chest, her hands holding upon his jeogori. Baek-Ah welcomes her openly, brushing her hair to the back of her ear and planting a polite kiss to her hair.

"Everything will be alright." Baek-Ah promises, "I'll make things right."

At the end of the corridor, Yo was accidentally passing by going to the Damiwon. He was seeking Woo Hee discreetly to see how their practice is going, when he hears Woo Hee's voice, loud and angry. He stopped to see what's going on and finds Woo Hee and his 13th brother having an argument. He watched long enough to spy them falling into an embrace.

He smirks, "If she was going to seduce one of my brothers, she could have chosen someone of use to me. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk."


When the tea class ended Lady Oh, Jung and Hae Soo sit themselves at the balcony on the 2nd floor overlooking the floor below. The sun is dipping low and royalties are flocking at the Damiwon to have their ceremonial afternoon tea or have them selves groom.

"Had the Damiwon always been this busy?" Ha Jin asks, remembering how her apprenticeship went by some years ago.

Back then, there were days when the Damiwon are filled with members of the royal court, relaxing or having tea by the balcony or bathing at the outdoor pool. The king had so many wives and children that Ha Jin had to write their names in a paper and carry it around for days before she had them memorize. The history books didn't list them all.

"Hae Soo-ya," Lady Oh notices Hae Soo's jaggedly cut hair "What happened to your hair?"

"I-geo? (This?)" Ha Jin looks at the tips of her hair, "I had it cut."

"With what? A dagger?" Lady Oh reaches out to touch her hair. "It's uneven."

Ha Jin shrugs, "It doesn't matter."

"It does matter," Lady Oh remembers how she first come across Hae Soo, clumsy and graceless. The only lady she met who mostly doesn't care about how she looks even when she has the talent with mixing make-up and grooming other people. "Our hair is our crowning glory—"

"And we should be taking care of it." Ha Jin finishes the sentence for Lady Oh. "Yie, Sanggun. I was in a hurry when I did it so it's uneven."

"Shall I cut it for you?" Lady Oh insists.

Ha Jin doesn't really care if her hair is even or not. After they run away, she cut it hastily, thinking a little burden would be lifted from her chest. She did feel much better afterwards and she didn't pay attention to her hair again.

"That would be nice." Ha Jin agrees if only to not add to Lady Oh's worries.

She turns to the door in time to see Mu, So and Ji Mong enter. The three automatically looks up at the balcony where they usually sit. Ha Jin turns her head back to their table as discreetly as possible as if she didn't see the three coming. Her heart rate rises up once more and her throat is suddenly dry. She sees a gungnyeo passing and asks for water.

The three head up to the balcony with Mu and Ji Mong stopping at Lady Oh's table to greet them, "Hae Soo-ya."

"Yie, wangsejanim," Ha Jin stands up and gives her greeting awkwardly.

"How have you been? We've been looking for you since yesterday." Mu smiles at her, letting her rise.

"I was ill so I went home early." Ha Jin states her lie smoothly.

"May we join you?" Mu holds upon the back of the chair about to pull it to sit.

So leaves for the empty room to their right before any of the three answers.

"I guess we're not joining you." Mu takes back his words, watching his 4th brother walk away, "Joesonghaeyo."

Lady Oh nods, letting Ji Mong and Mu leave, "Anibnida, kaseyo. (Please be on your way.)"

Everyone doesn't know what to make out of Hae Soo and So's uncalled behaviour towards each other.

No sooner, Kyeong Hwa gongju and Lady Haeryang appears with a tray of tea to serve to the seja's group. Lady Oh stops her apprentices, "Why are there two of you serving tea to the seja? There's only three of them. Lady Haeryang can go back."

"Yie?" Haeryang looks disappointed. She wanted to meet the 4th prince that everyone is talking about. Serving tea was her excuse. She sighs, handing back the tray to Kyeong Hwa Gongju.

Kyeong Hwa offers a smile to her friend, feeling bad for her. It was really Haeryang's turn to serve tea today. She only came up to see her father because she misses him already.

Haeryang nods, remembering to pay respect to Lady Oh, Hae Soo and Jung before leaving the balcony. Kyeong Hwa proceeds to the open room where her father is sitting.

"Abeonim." Kyeong Hwa greets her father first and puts down the tray at the table, performing a deep bow for the 4th prince and the astronomer.

So and Ji Mong acknowledge her.

"Are you sure you're allowed to serve tea to your father?" Mu smiles, "You might get into trouble with Lady Oh. She's very strict with her apprentices."

"Yie abeonim, Lady Oh had allowed me to do so." Kyeong Hwa assures her father as she takes the teapot and raise it carefully to the height Ha Jin had demonstrated before. She pours it carefully to a warm cup. "Earlier, Lady Hae Soo took over our tea class while the Sanggun and the 14th prince watch. She thought us how to prolong the life of the tea by…"

Kyeong Hwa stops for a second, struggling to remember the word, "Oxidation? It's my first time hearing the words she said, it's hard to remember."

Mu and Ji Mong look amused while So only quietly sits, pretending he's not interested.

"Ah, Lady Hae Soo is a wide reader and a quick learner so she knows a lot of vocabulary. Don't fret Kyeong Hwa gongju, you'll learn all of it in no time." Ji Mong covers for Ha Jin as usual.

"I'll study hard like Lady Hae Soo so abeonim, wouldn't be disappointed." Kyeong Hwa's smile is endearingly pure. Mu hopes it always stays that way.

Kyeong Hwa finishes to pour three cups and offer each of the ceramic cups to the three.

Ha Jin who sits facing the open room, couldn't help but glance every once in a while to So.

Mu and Ji Mong gladly accepts it and takes a drink while So only holds the cup, regarding at it for a long time. When he looks up, he catches Hae Soo glancing at him. He holds her gaze, wondering why she was looking her way.

Ha Jin unconsciously watches whether he would take the tea or not.

So unwelcomingly remembers her answer at the court awhile ago, angered that she seemed to not care about how he feels. She knew he never wants to leave her side. Why she always distanced herself from him is beyond his understanding. Hence, without breaking their gaze So takes a drink of the tea in spite of his promise that he would never drink tea offered by anyone but Hae Soo.

Ha Jin looks away. She doesn't have the right to feel disappointed but she's disappointed nonetheless. She reaches for the glass of water in front of her at the same time that Jung does,

"It's a fine ceramic to go to waste."

"Eh?" Ha Jin looks confused. "I want a drink."

Pertaining to the water in front of her.

"Shall we go someplace then?" Jung offers, taking the glass from Hae Soo.

"Shall we?" Ha Jin is itching to get her hands to something that will quench the bitter taste in her tongue.

A little later, Guen Sun shows up at the Damiwon too, looking for the mistress of their household. He sees Hae Soo by the balcony and come up to her, "Agassi."

"Yie?" Ha Jin tenses, she wasn't expecting to see the right hand man.

"I came to fetch you home today." Guen Sun waits attentively beside here, a mask of politeness in place, "It seemed you got lost last night and weren't able to come home on your own. Joesonghabnida, I should have waited for you at the hall yesterday."

Everyone's ears perked up. They all assumed Hae Soo must be living at the Kang household by the port and that when she disappeared yesterday, it's because she went home early. Now all of them are wondering where Hae Soo had been last night.

"Ah, can I stay a little bit more?" Ha Jin is looking for an excuse to not come home, "The sun hasn't set yet. I know the way home. I'll come home later on my own."

"I was told you are not good with directions and you can't walk far with that condition of your legs. Let me escort you home." And Guen Sun leaves out the stern warning on his voice.

Ha Jin bites her lower lips, uncomfortable.

"I will take her home myself." Jung volunteers, pulling up his height, commanding as the brigadier general that he is.

Yet Guen Sun isn't intimidated, only losing his patience fast.

"Guen Sun-ah." So calls from the open room where is he watching. He leaves his space and approaches the table.

Mu instructs his daughter to stay in the room while he and Ji Mong follows the 4th prince.

"Yie, wangjanim?" Guen Sun turns to greet the 4th prince and the seja, "I was told to not let our mistress out of my sight. Will you be coming home with her tonight? I'll leave her to your care if you will."

Of course So wouldn't step in that nauseating household if he can.

"The king had asked Lady Hae Soo to assist me at the Damiwon. I'm afraid she needs to stay here for a while." Lady Oh meddles, too.

Guen Sun looks at So meaningfully, the question he posted still hanging in the air. He never listens to anyone. He was instructed by Lady Shinjuwon to not let Hae Soo out of his sight unless the 4th prince take responsibility for her, which So is struggling not to do.

"Lady Hae Soo may stay at the quarters of the Kangs inside the palace." Mu suggests but it's more of a command. "The household at the port is too far for her to travel everyday."

Guen Sun isn't pleased, "I shall let Lady Shinjuwon know then. Though I must say that she would appreciate it better if her daughter is kept to the household where her servants can take care of her."

He turns to Hae Soo, "Chuk-ha-hab-ni-da, Agassi (Congratulastions, my lady). You've done well on your first day at court. Your mother would be amused to hear you wanted to send our 4th prince away. Next time, please remember you and our 4th prince belongs to the same household. Kuereom…"

It's warning for Hae Soo.

Guen Sun says his goodbye to everyone and they all stand awkwardly watching Hae Soo and So afterwards. They don't know what's going on with the two. The court is already unbearable without the added tension of Hae Soo and So tiptoeing around each other.


"Nae dalya! (My daughter!)" Gen. Park's arms are stretched wide, about to give Soon Deok a hug when Soon Deok's hand come in contact with his forehead, keeping him at arm's length.

"I'm been married for two years. You're embarrassing me." Soon Deok plays it smoothly.

They are at the pavilion in Gen's Park home. The table is set for dinner and the general had been waiting for his daughter to come home. Eun is trailing behind Soon Deok. He pushes her to the side playfully and receives the hug that was intended for Soon Deok.

"Abeonim!" Eun greets, smiling widely.

Gen. Park awkwardly pats Eun, still not used to how touchy his son in law is. As they separate, Soon Deok sits herself at the table and the two follows.

"You're leaving again." A statement, not a question. Soon Deok pretends she's not anxious in anyway.

In truth, she likes being married to Eun but she would prefer living at her father's camp, busy with managing soldiers rather than being the mistress of their house. There's not much to do in their home and often times they leave for her mother's hometown to keep the 10th prince away from the court. Everyone knows it's only a matter of time before the king dies and depending who would sit on that throne next, their family may be branded a traitor or an ally.

"With the seja this time." Gen. Park answers, careful with his words, "Our 4th prince is keen to stay in the palace, seeing as the mistress of their household had finally came home. Maybe you and our 10th prince should go to your mother's hometown. Your grandmother misses you already."

"But there will be a festival for the harvest moon in weeks time. We can't miss that." Eun nonchalantly says, busy with eating his food.

"I don't think any of the prince are required to stay." Gen. Park takes a bite of his chicken, salty for his liking. "The seja isn't even around for that occasion. You and Soon Deok should take a vacation too."

"Andwaeyo." Eun disagrees, "Why don't you and my brother stay for the harvest moon. The festival will be held for my brothers who all came home. We should all be present."

Gen. Park would also want to stay but as the king decreed, "I'm afraid your father had commanded for us to leave the next day. Hopefully we would be back by the harvest moon festival."

Though the general already knows they won't be, "Why don't you and my daughter stay here at my house while I'm gone? It's hers as much as yours."

"Should we?" Eun asks Soon Deok, finding nothing wrong with staying at the general's house.

Soon Deaok readily agrees, "We should! Shall we invite Hae Soo over? She's all alone in the Kang household."

"Ne, let's invite her over. Kuende, what is wrong with those two? They seemed like they're pretending the other doesn't exist." Eun jumps from one topic to another. Gen. Park and Soon Deok couldn't be more grateful with his obliviousness. "Had they stopped seeing each other too? I thought that when Hae Soo returns, So hyungnim's brooding mood would improve. I guess her presence irritates him more."

The two doesn't have an answer for that.


At the corridor outside the outer door of the king's bedchamber, Ha Jin and Lady Oh run to Ji Mong, about to enter. He's here for his nightly visit of reporting and lighting the incense.

"What is Lady Hae Soo doing here?" Ji Mong greets his aunt, anxious to see Hae Soo trailing behind Lady Oh.

Even with the dim light coming from the lanterns, Ji Mong could see his aunt is struggling to keep herself upright. Beads of sweat had formed in her forehead, her body too thin for her hanbok. Whether he gives her antidote for the poison she doesn't know she's inhaling, it won't make any difference. His aunt is dying from her illness and he couldn't do anything to save her.

Maybe it's for the best. At least she's dying of natural cause instead of being hanged.

"She'll be accompanying me every night from now on." Lady Oh explains, "I need to teach someone the king's tea ceremony or I'm afraid the knowledge might just perish with me."

"Imo, please don't say that. You'll soon recover." Ji Mong promises Lady Oh.

Lady Oh only nods, resigned. She and Hae Soo enter through the door and Ji Mong is inclined to hold Hae Soo back but let's her pass through. It would look suspicious if he always meddles.

He follows behind them, wondering if he could halt lighting the poisonous incense already. The king is dying anyway and they only need to wait.


Inside, King Taejo sits at his bed, looking ready to fall asleep anytime. The gossamer silk is roled up at the ceiling and King Taejo notices Hae Soo the moment they enter, "You've brought a new audience tonight, my lady."

"I asked Lady Hae Soo to assist me so I could pass to her your tea ceremony." Lady Oh kneels by the center and Ha Jin follows through.

"Kuerehabnida, I think we all agree she would make a fine lady for our next king." King Taejo's eyes crinkles to a smile, something Ha Jin had never seen. He looks relax, like a father at home rather than the king that presides over a royal court.

"Ji Mong-ah," King Taejo addresses Ji Mong who is standing by the door, "you can light the incense now and leave the three of us."

"Pyeha, you said, you sleep more peacefully when Lady Oh is around. She had come to accompany you tonight. Perhaps we ought to skip the incense." Ji Mong's excuse sounds flimsy even to himself.

King Taejo smiles, "Waehabnida? Because I'm dying? Light the incense Ji Mong-ah."

He wouldn't be dissuaded.

Ji Mong walks to the incense holder beside the bed and lights the incense against his will. Hae Soo and Lady Oh would be here every night from now on, he'll have to change the incense he's lighting. Otherwise, Hae Soo and Lady Oh will share the poison too.

"You can leave." King Taejo commands.

Lady Oh proceeds with the ceremony with a bow. Ha Jin follows, their hands gathered on their right hip, right hand over left. They kneel by the floor, their legs folded underneath them, sitting their weight at it. They put down the wooden tables (trays) in front of them. The one in front of Ha Jin is a half moon shaped table (heaven tray), containing two medium size bowls that stores hot and cold water separately. A wooden gourd and three pieces small white cloth, folded neatly is used to clean the ceramic cups. It is covered with a blue silk cloth.

The other wooden table (earth tray), in front of Lady Oh, contains the teapot, three cups, a bowl and a metal cup holder. It is covered with red silk cloth.

Lady Oh begins with taking off the silk cloth covering the wooden tables.

"Will you tell me a story tonight, Oh Soo Yeon Ssi." King Taejo requests.

"What story do you want to hear, pyeha?" Lady Oh grounds the tea leaves on it's white ceramic dish.

"Hae Soo Ssi, you are from the north, are you not?" King Taejo talks to Hae Soo, who is absorbed with watching Lady Oh's graceful preparation.

"Yie pyeha," Ha Jin looks up a bit to answer the king.

"Are you familiar with the Legend of the Daughter of the Moon?" King Taejo begins to be wistful, falling into the smell of the incense.

Lady Oh stills, remembering she and Ji Mong once talked about that legend and how it is connected to the Haes.

"I'm afraid, I only remember the legend of the little moons in our Lantern Festival, pyeha, not the whole legend."

The smell of the incense is starting to fill the air, reaching the two ladies too.

"Ah the little moons. The story of the king who had a great kingdom but lost the love of his life before they marry." King Taejo sighs, "Maybe all the great kings are fated to lose the love of their life."

He focuses at Lady Oh.

"Anibnida," Lady Oh disagrees, "Some of them are not fated to lose the love of their life. Some of them choose to lose the love of their life."

King Taejo sadly smiles, "Mat-seub-ni-da. (That is true.) A king should be able to throw away anyone for the sake of the nation."

And throw away, he did. Lady Oh wanted to ask if he's happy with the choices he made but she is long passed asking. She had come to accept things as they are, serving the man she loved for the past 20 years. She contemplates, if she asks him to come to their hometown and meander around the hedges of the tea bushes by the side of the mountains, will he come this time?

"And I worry that my sons, who are fated to become kings wouldn't be able to do so. Years of teaching them that, only resulted to a softhearted son while the other, rebellious." King Taejo inhales the incense around him, waiting for it to take away his mind. "But that is a story for another time. Oh Soo-Yeon Ssi, will you tells us the story of the daughter of the moon. I'd like to hear it. Lady Hae Soo here, might remember her memories if she hears the story."

Lady Oh glances at Ha Jin, who is absorbed with what she's doing, "It started with a queen, the most beautiful lady in their land. Even the moon fell in love with her. They say the two had met at a lake at a middle of the forest and had a child. Sadly for the queen, she died giving birth to her daughter and her brother, who was the king then, had taken in the girl as his own daughter. Everyone in the kingdom calls her the daughter of the moon."

Ha Jin listens at the background, the scent of incense settling upon her nose. Suddenly the floor she's sitting changes. Instead of smooth wooden floor, it is now a bed of grass that scratches in her chima. Somewhere she hears the hoot of an owl and feel the breeze from an open space.

She shakes her head, it appears as if she had fallen asleep for a second and entered a dream. She focuses at the ladle she's holding, the bowl starting to feel too hot for her fingers.

"Everyone in the north says she is an ancestry to the Haes. Did you know that Hae Soo Ssi?" The king asks.

"Yie?" Ha Jin doesn't follow.

"The Haes are one of the oldest family in our kingdom. Your bloodline traces back to the first royalty ruling the lands up north. Long before there was the three kingdom (Goguryeo, Baekje. Silla). Around the period of the lost Gojoseon." King Taejo explains.

It's Ha Jin's first time hearing the whole story and her heart is starting to race, feeling as if the story rings familiar in her memories.

"She wasn't as beautiful as her mother but she is loved by many and sought after by every kingdom around them." Lady Oh finishes pouring the first tea to a cup and offers it to the king. "When she reached the marrying age, her adoptive father had her engaged to a prince, known for his intellect and his skills in archery. As an obedient daughter, she didn't argue nor disagree. She believed in the king's good intention and trusts her father. One night, as she hangs around in her mother's lake, she accidental run into a man, bloodied and dying at the other side of the water. It was spring then, the most beautiful night, when the moon is full and the tree branches luxuriously sway in the breeze, the petals of their flower raining everywhere, creating a snow of white petals on the green bed of grass."

As Lady Oh tells the story, Ha Jin sees it play in her mind. The girl who looks like her, playing in the water and finding the man at the other side of the lake.

Ha Jin feels lightheaded. Her head is playing the memories from the dreams she had of the girl who looks like her. It was only last night when she started having that dream again. As to how and why her dreams disappear and come back, she hasn't reached any answer yet.

She knew the story by heart and now the girl who looks like her finally has a name. She was called the daughter of the moon and it was her, her original lifetime.

"It was a beautiful spring night. The beginning of a tragedy that led to a curse that spans an eternity." Ha Jin continues the sentence, clasping at her constricting chest.

No, it isn't real. Is it?

It was just a dream, a form of escape that my mind had created.

Maybe it's Hae Soo's memory. She loved that story. It can't be real.

Ha Jin couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. She abruptly stands-up, swaying, "Sunggohabnida pyeha…"

"Hae Soo Ssi, what's wrong?" Lady Oh anxiously asks.

"May I leave first… I'm suddenly feeling unwell." Ha Jin apologizes, holding upon her chest, staggering to leave.

She limps her way out of the king's chambers, reaching the main gate at the courtyard and leaning into it before collapsing to the ground.

From the darkness, a shadow of a man quickly approaches her until the lantern by the pillar cast it's light to a familiar old face that Ha Jin remembers from her dreams, "Abeonim…"

Ji Mong freezes. He looks at the pale face of Hae Soo, who's eyes are still cloudy, "Hae Soo Ssi, gwaenchanhayo?"

As he grabs Hae Soo by both arms, a searing pain stabs at Ha Jin's stomach, just below her ribcage. She doubles over, falling into Ji Mong's arm. Water surrounds her and Ha Jin panics. She always gets glimpses of memories whenever the astronomer touches her. This time it's a memory from their original lifetime, the one when he stabbed her at the middle of the moon lake.

Ha Jin pushes the astronomer away, frightened of him, "Don't touch me!"

It seems she always tell him that and the astronomer always forgets.

Ji Mong's brain is trying to catch-up with Ha Jin's strange behavior.

"She was your daughter… How… how could you… do that to her?" Ha Jin hyperventilates, confused of what she's seeing. One minute she's in the middle of the lake and the next she's back at the palace, by the wall outside the gate of the king's chamber.

"Do you remember?" Realization dawns on Ji Mong, Never in all of his lifetime did he encounter her adoptive daughter remembering their original lifetime. Not the daughter of the moon, not her lover and certainly not the other prince. Only him. Always him.

"Nae dalya, mianhada. (Forgive me, my child.)" Ji Mong utters, nostalgic. He tries to reach out again but Ha Jin steps back, holding by the wall, still in pain.

"Don't. Please don't call me your daughter. I am not her." Ha Jin walks the other way and Ji Mong wanted to support her but she wouldn't welcome it.

He stops beside her, feeling a stabbing on his chest. How long had he been longing for his daughter to recognize him and when she finally remembers, she doesn't want anything to do with him. His face falls into a sadness that shows the ageless of his soul.

"Araseo, kuende, I need you to drink a tea for me. Jebal." Ji Mong couldn't let her go yet.

"Waeyo?" A dread in Ha Jin's eye.

"I won't hurt you, please. I'll serve you a tea and then I will leave." Ji Mong promises. Ha Jin might have consumed only a little of the poison and it might not affect her right now but he refuses to be careless with her.

"I'll take a tea in the Damiwon." Ha Jin declines.

"I'll make you one in the Damiwon if that would make you more comfortable." Ji Mong insists.

"I'm terrified of you. Can't you see?" Ha Jin pleads, faltering in her steps.

"You have every right to be." Ji Mong argues and he struggles not to help her so as not to frighten her more.

"You… killed… your own daughter… How could I trust you?"

Ji Mong closes his eyes. To hear his own adoptive daughter accuse him is as painful as being stabbed, "I didn't mean to hurt her. I was- I don't have an excuse and I've been trying to makeup for it in every lifetime I live."

"And Hae Soo?" Ha Jin brings up another reason why she couldn't trust him.

"Hae Soo was in love with the 14th prince. They were going to end up to together and I couldn't allow it." Ji Mong fidgets, "Ha Jin-ah, I know it's hard to believe but I am only looking after you. All the things I did are for you and your crown prince to be happy. Can you not see that?"

Ha Jin stills, her crown prince's face isn't clear in her head yet but she suspects it's the same boy her heart longs for.

"Ne, Ha Jin-ah. It's for you and So wangjanim. You were always fated to be together."

For some reason, Ha Jin is afraid to confirm that. She loves So, she really do but now she's confused. She wanted her feelings to be hers. She wanted to love him because she loves him and not because they were fated to be together or that it was a continuation of what they had in the original lifetime. She doesn't want to add to the list of the things that isn't hers. She's already pretending to be Hae Soo. To reclaim her memories of the daughter of the moon is another burden to carry. She feels like a fake, an empty vessel being filled with someone else's memory, living in someone else's life.

"Have you always remembered?" Ha Jin is fast losing her mind.

"All of it. I'm cursed to remember all of it." Ji Mong reminds her of what happened in the lake.

"How can you stand it?" She's surprised the man in front of her is still sane.

"I meet my daughter. I meet you in every lifetime and I get the chance to correct my mistakes. That's enough for me." Ji Mong wistfully smiles.

"But I an not the daughter of the moon." Ha Jin insists.

"Arayo." Ji Mong assures her.

"Nor am I Hae Soo."

"Ne, ara. I know you're Go Ha Jin and not Hae Soo."

"Kureom, ajeossi," Ha Jin hesitantly reaches to Ji Mong's arm. "Can you help me get back to my time then?"

Ji Mong stills. He thought he was going somewhere with Ha Jin, finally being able to talk to her freely but of course, the girl would want to come back to her present times, "Why? You have nothing to come back to. Is your life in the present time any better? They all betrayed you there."

"Ajeossi…"

"Stay here, Ha Jin-ah. We'll take care of you. Your crown prince is here." Ji Mong tries to convince her.

Ha Jin withdraws her hand, as if burned, "I want to go home."

"This is your home." Ji Mong repeats, "Yours and the 4th prince. Why do you keep running away?"

"This isn't my home!" Ha Jin is starting to be frustrated. She's being consumed with different emotions, overwhelmed with so many information, "This is Hae Soo's. Please, help me."

"The daughter of the moon, Hae Soo and you are one and the same. Why do you keep differentiating? It's you. All of them are you." Ji Mong explains.

"Wasn't Hae Soo the unnamed girl the princes fought over in the history? Am I going to disappear too?" Ha Jin has one too many questions.

"Hae Soo didn't disappear." Ji Mong is careful with his words, not wanting to reveal that Hae Soo left So of her own accord, "She chose not to take any title because she feels it's too troublesome to do so."

"Did she married So?" Ha Jin asks.

"Do you want to know the future?" Ji Mong posts a question in return.

"If I do, will I be able to change it?"

"You've already change a lot of things by merely existing here, Ha Jin-ah." Ji Mong is honest this time. He'll tell her anything that will make her stay, "You can choose to be a bystander or you could choose to change things. Whatever choice you make, I hope you keep the 4th prince in mind. Never mind me. He loves you, Ha Jin-ah. You belong together. Please come home to him already."

Home. She remembers the first time she had ask So to come home. She had ask him to come home to her, not to this palace, not to his family but to her. Her. Home. She is his home and it's time to for her to come home to him, too.


That night and the rest of the days, Ha Jin stays in the Damiwon, instead of the Kang's quarters inside the palace. She occupies the same room as Woo Hee, the same room the three of them used to share when they were new apprentices.

Ha Jin lies awake in her cot, tracing the wooden beam in the ceiling.

"Ha Jin-ah." Woo Hee is doing the same thing, only she's facing the wall beside her. She's thinking of what's happening between her and Baek-Ah. Sleep evading her as well. "Or is it Hae Soo again?"

"I like Ha Jin better but I'm back in the palace so I guess, I need to use Hae Soo." Ha Jin busies her mind on the beam, avoiding the many things running in her head.

Woo Hee turns to face her, "You're awake."

"I'm afraid to go to sleep." Ha Jin quietly answers.

"Waeyo, mu-seun il iss-eoss-eo? (Why, did something happened?)" Woo Hee momentarily forgets what she's thinking.

"Kuenyang, I'm afraid my dreams would no longer offer respite." Ha Jin is scared to revisit her dreams and find that a lot of those people in her dreams are actually existing around her. That they are all repeating the same thing, the same mistakes. That they may be leading to the same end. The astronomer said, she has a choice. That she could choose but it certainly doesn't feel that way. "Why are you awake?"

Woo Hee hesitates, "Baek-Ah wangjanim…"

"Likes you a lot." Ha Jin absentmindedly answers. She drops what she's thinking for a second and focuses on Woo Hee.

She had seen it coming when they were still in Jeonjo. It wasn't just Jung and Baek-Ah who were observing. She too, did her own observation from afar. She saw how persistent and caring Baek-Ah was with Woo Hee, like how Baek-Ah was with Myung Hee, when her cousin was still alive. Only this time, Baek-Ah is more playful, relax even.

"How did you know?" Woo Hee's eyes go wide. Thankful for the darkness that is hiding her blush.

Ha Jin turns to Woo Hee, "Baek-Ah is a nice guy. The kindest out of all of them, I guess."

"But—"

"He's a prince?" Ha Jin finishes the sentence for her, "It doesn't matter. He's clan or him isn't after the throne. Thank the heavens for that. Baek-Ah is contented with only a title to his name. He's freer that way."

"I'm scared." Woo Hee leaves out the fact that it's because she's hiding her real identity from all of them. She had been honest to Hae Soo about where she come from but she never told her how she winded up as a trainee gisaeng at the gyobang here at the capital.

"Don't be." Ha Jin assures her, "Baek-Ah is worth the risk."

"Is he?" Woo Hee mumbles to herself.

Ha Jin nods even when Woo Hee can't see it in the dark, "Yes, he's worth it."


The seja leaves with the general the next day and the assembly is suspended since the king couldn't preside over it. The whole palace prepares for the coming feast instead, with everyone in the mood to celebrate.

Baek-Ah comes to Woo Hee's practice everyday, playing the gayageum as always. There were awes and blushing from the training gisaengs at the beginning, unable to believe that the minister for trade and commerce was really a prince. They watch their head mistress in envy, hoping they too would find favor on another royalty.

Often times, Woo Hee would be practicing long after she dismisses her trainees and Baek-Ah would accompany her in spite of her telling him that he could also leave.

"Aniya, aniya, aniya! Why do you keep turning your sword out, it should draw towards you. Wind it in." Baek-Ah is fast losing his patience. They've been practicing this same dance even before they left Jeonjo and Woo Hee keeps repeating the same mistake.

"I guess, I'm tired." Woo Hee puts down her short sword. Her train of thought interrupted by Baek-Ah. She was brought back by the 3rd prince to give her a chance to assassinate the king herself and she had been waiting for a longtime. She's not getting the steps wrong, she just keep imagining her sword pointing to the king.

"I shall rest." Woo Hee walks out without saying a word and Baek-Ah was left looking disgruntled.

As she turns the corner of the main quarters of the Damiwon, a hand grabs her arm and drags her to a corner.

"My 13th brother ha?" Yo smirks, getting up close to Woo Hee's face, "Get your head straight. You're here to do my bidding and not to flirt with my brother."

He pulls her closer and Woo Hee looks away uncomfortable with the lack of space in between them, "Though if you could manage to manipulate my brother to my side, I'd let you keep him when I sit on the throne."

"You're 13th brother is harmless. Whether he sides with you or not won't make any difference." Woo Hee tries to protect Baek-Ah from Yo, pretending he's of no use.

"Aniyo, his loyalty matters." Yo disagrees, seeing through the pretense of Woo Hee, "So if you can't change his side, I might as well get rid of him."

"Do as you please." Woo Hee keeps to her pretense, hoping her nervousness isn't showing.


Ji Mong is standing in between shelves of books in front of So's room. He'd been pacing the length of the bookshelf the whole afternoon, lost with the thought that Ha Jin finally remembers their original lifetime, pondering how this changes things.

So sits by the table, a scroll on his hand, reading some of the reports coming in from the soldiers around the kingdom.

"The seja had left with the general, taking half of the royal soldiers with them. Your forces might have been reduced a little but it's enough to protect you when the king dies." Ji Mong comes out of the shelves, "It's the perfect time to do away with the king while your brother is gone."

It saves me the effort of getting rid of him.

"We only need to convince the king to confer the crown to you." Ji Mong comes to stand in front of the table.

"It is my father I want to get rid of not my first brother" So doesn't look up from the scrolls.

"Mwo?!" Ji Mong has hastened to poison the king for So to have the throne, "Are you saying you won't take the throne?"

"I'm not going to betray my brother." So answers.

Ji Mong holds upon his nape, his blood pressure rising. He couldn't believe what he's hearing. "I thought we agreed that you're taking the throne for yourself, why are you going back on your words?!"

"I said I'm going to get rid of the king. I never said that I would kill my brother." So tells matter of factly.

"Augh…" Ji Mong holds at the back of the chair, losing his patience, "Why are you making this hard?! You're brother isn't fated to last in the throne anyway. He will be murdered by one of your brothers eventually. Spare him the painful death."

"Then what would you have me do? Murder him myself?" So sounds reasonable when he puts it that way but Ji Mong is passed being reasonable.

"Is this about Hae Soo? Why is your adoptive mother keeping Hae Soo? What does she want? Tell me so we could find a solution for it!" Ji Mong is getting angry.

"They are holding Hae Soo to force me to take the throne."

"So take throne! Why are you making it complicated?!" Ji Mong shouts.

"Hae Soo doesn't want the throne. She's happy away from the palace." So puts down the scroll, his chest tightening as he says Hae Soo's name. He feels betrayed for being left behind, "She left me and run away."

A contradiction at it's finest. So would always be fated to sit at the throne and Hae Soo would always choose to run away from it. So will be forced to take the throne to have Hae Soo and that same throne will cause him to lose her, too.

Ji Mong bangs his head at the balustrade. He keeps encountering the same problem in every lifetime, rendering everything in a moot point.

This is will never be easy, isn't it?


Late into the night, Ha Jin visits her prayer tower by the side of Doenji lake, the nearest prayer tower to her at the moment. She hasn't found out about her parent's burial site so she opted to light a candle here and offer a prayer. She sits with her legs folded underneath her. Her navy blue chima spread around her. Her creamy white jeogori stands warmly under the dim light of her lantern. She puts her hands together, closing her eyes in a silent prayer.

So is on his way to his boat when he notices, a lighted lantern under the tree where his boat is usually tied. A few steps more and he finally see the owner of the lantern behind the tree-shrubs of Gyul (Tangerine) empty of its sweet fruits. He stops not far from her, watching her quietly, memorizing her features and comparing it to the last time he saw her before she disappeared. Dressed in the finest silks but empty of jewelry, Ha Jin looks like her old self once more. Only this time, she's thinner, her mahogany hair short and lackluster.

So touches the inside of his sleeves, still carrying the dwikkoji he bought her years ago but never had the chance to give. It became his trinket for good luck and had developed a habit of touching it whenever he misses her.

Ha Jin finishes her prayer and opens her eyes. She stands slowly and bows for the last time before carrying her lantern and turning to leave. As she looks ahead, a soft breeze causes a stir in the shadows that catches her eyes, noticing So standing near.

"Wangsejanim." Ha Jin addresses So the way the daughter of the moon addresses her crown prince.

The tangerine tree shrubs around them disappear, replaced by coniferous trees beside the glassy moon lake. Somewhere Mokrans are in full bloom filling the air with its lemony citrus scent. Ha Jin momentarily sways,

Must be an illusion I'm seeing.

She shakes her head, squeezing her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" So asks in a very cold tone, effectively breaking the dream Ha Jin has fallen into.

"I…" Ha Jin swallows.

Naya. (It's me.) Na-reul gi-eok-ha-ji mot-ha-gess-na-yo? (Do you not remember?)

"This is my place, leave." So remains unmoving, "Or should I be the one to leave this time? You wanted to send me away, right?"

So isn't on his right mind. He's not being reasonable, only aiming to hurt Hae Soo with his words.

Ha Jin lowers her eyes, badly disappointed. She tightens her hold at her lantern, anchoring herself to it. She braves her path in front of her, the only way to leave the place. Biting her lower lip, she holds the trembling inside, avoiding So as she passes by.

Like an unmoving statue, there's no change to So. He didn't reach out to her hand or even acknowledge that she is near. It pains her that she could finally remember his promise at their moon lake but she had hurt him enough for him to hate her.

"Neo hwa-nass-eo. (You're angry.)" Ha Jin stops a few feet from So, turning back to look at him.

Is't too late if I come back?

"Na hwa-nass-eo? (I'm angry?)" So exhales, a sound of disbelief coming out from his throat. "Ani, na-neun hwa-na-ji anh-neun-de. (No, I'm not angry.) I am beyond angry, Soo-ya."

He loses his composure and shouts, "How?! How could you leave?!"

Something that he doesn't do, "No words. Nothing. You were gone when I woke up and no one can find you. Can you imagine my panic? That I'm stuck in that bed and I couldn't do anything?!"

So grates his teeth together, shaking from anger, "Two years! I don't know where you are. What happened to you? Are you still alive? Have I done something wrong? Was I not enough? I was losing my mind, day and night! You could have at least TOLD ME ANYTHING!"

Ha Jin had never seen So angry like this. He's not touching her but she can feel its force rolling all over So, creating a ripple in the space between them.

"After every thing I did for you…"

"I've never asked for any of it." Ha Jin answers in a small voice. It was an insensitive remark and she doesn't intend to hurt So but she had to say it. She didn't asked for those sacrifices made for her and she would like to avoid it in the future.

Her answer feels like a slap of cold water to So. Ha Jin could literally see the anger draining from his face only to be replaced with pain that twists on his heart.

So suddenly feels like he forgot how to breathe. He had to part his lips to intake a breath that his lung refuses to let in. Every word he had been forming in his mind dies on his throat. He bites hard at the inside of his mouth, his eyes glazing with tears. All the fight leaving him.

"So wangjanim…"

His pain is tearing at Ha Jin but she wouldn't take her words back.

"Kuere." It seemed like So had run a mile without stopping, he couldn't catch his breathe no matter how hard he tries. A single tear falls, and a dam of emotion follows through, "You never… asked… for it… but it's… the only way… I know… how to love you…"

His sentence breaks as his heart breaks. It's a struggle to keep the words coming.

"Mianhaeyo." Ha Jin reaches out and So steps back, defeated.

Panic rises inside Ha Jin. How many times had she imagined their reunion for the past two years? Each one of it, ending with her on his arms again. Not like this. Definitely not like this.

In the next few second, So will turn away and she would lose her chance with him. She needs to decide whether she wants to come back or would she finally let him go.

5 seconds…

Ha Jin steps forward, bridging the chasm in between them.

I don't want another 5 seconds.

She closes her arms around him, finally coming home to the familiar arms she had longed for, "Mianhaeyo, So-ya. Mianhae."

So stills, surprised and confused. Why is Hae Soo's embrace so painfully satisfying? His own arms moving on its own accord, wrapping itself around her little back as he rest his head beside her hair. He closes his eyes, letting himself be lost in the moment. Just a moment. He'd been yearning for her for the last two years, is it so wrong to want her like this.

"I left because I didn't want to continue being a burden to you or to any one anymore." Ha Jin tightens her hold on So, terrified of losing him. "Chal mot-haess-eo-yo. U-ri ta-si si-jak-hal su iss-na-yo? (I was wrong. Can we start over?)"

That comforting lime with a hint of vanilla scent engulfs So, the smell of his home. How long had he been aching for it?

Contemplating if he is dreaming or Hae Soo is really here, he catches her words 'please' and 'forgive'. He could never say no to that. He draws her even closer. The sob in Hae Soo's chest mixing with his yearning, "Soo-ya, you're cruel."

Ha Jin closes her eyes, "Mianhaeyo. Nan neol jeol-dae tta-na-ji anh-eul keo-ye-yo. (Forgive me, I will never leave again.)"

And as the crescent moon is their witness, in a lake different than their moon lake, Ha Jin promises a different future for them, determined to have the future they never had.


The boat sits calmly at the middle of the lake, stirring occasionally to the movement of its occupants. So lies to his side, his arm spread in front of him, a pillow to Hae Soo's head. His free arm is draped possessively on Hae Soo's waist.

Ha Jin is lying on her back when she felt So drawing her closer to him, she turns to face him, snuggling at the crook of his arm, "What's the matter, wangjanim?"

So's hand leaves her waist only to brush her hair to the back of her ear and trace her cheeks, "I'm afraid to fall sleep."

Mirroring Ha Jin's words the other night.

"Waeyo?" Ha Jin opens her eyes to look at So, worry creasing her forehead.

"The last time I fell asleep with you in my arms, I woke-up alone." So cups her cheek, his thumb grazing at what skin it can touch.

"We're at a boat, at the middle of the lake." Ha Jin playfully points out, "I can't possible leave without waking you up. Can I?"

So smiles, his somber mood, alleviated with Hae Soo's playful excuse, "Shall I build you a house at the middle of this lake, so you could never leave again?"

Ha Jin chuckles at the absurdity of So's proposition, "Joh-a-hab-ni-da (I'd love that) But how about instead of staying here, we leave the palace and run away?"

So could read the sudden seriousness on Hae Soo's tone. There's fear on her eyes that resembles his. It will take a few seconds before he could answer, "Soo-ya, I'll come with you, anywhere, always…"

"But?" Ha Jin senses a condition.

The threat of his adoptive mother hangs above them.

So had been thinking a lot lately. He kept forcing himself to take the path to the throne to free him and Hae Soo but just like what the general said to him once. The palace is just another cage to imprison their selves into. They won't really be free. Running away and leaving everything behind is a better choice. Though how far they could run away, So doesn't know. Hae Soo had succeeded in disappearing for a year, maybe with all his connections and money he had amassed as an ambassador, they'd be able to leave far enough, cross the Khitan's border or the later Jin. Somewhere the consort wouldn't be able to touch them.

"Nothing." So answers Hae Soo, assuring her. "Can you give me a few days. I'll iron out a few things, then we'll leave together."

Ha Jin finally smiles, "Are we eloping then?"

"Eloping?" So wouldn't be able to marry her legally since that would need Lady Shinjuwon's permission. "Mianhada, Soo-ya."

More than Hae Soo's disappointment So feels bad that they wouldn't be bound together under a legal ceremony. He was looking forward to calling her his wife, of holding her hand in front of the court, of showing her around like every man proud of the lady he married, "I want nothing in this world but be married to you."

"Aniyo, I like the idea of eloping. It's very…" Ha Jin chuckles. She isn't disappointed. If anything, she likes the idea of disappearing with him. She should have taken him the first time. "Romantic? Rebellious?"

"Romantic? Rebellious?" So finds it absurd but feels relief that Hae Soo isn't disappointed.

He abruptly sits up, pulling Hae Soo with him.

Confusion floats on Hae Soo's eyes as they sit together, face to face.

Inserting his hand to the insides of his sleeves, So takes the dwikkoji from the inside pocket and shows it to Hae Soo,

"I've been meaning to give this to you since you pick it up from the lantern festival, some years ago but I never got the chance. I was always waiting for the right timing, for the perfect moment. I realized right timings and perfect moments are hard to recognize even when it's staring at you in the face already. Often times, it passes us by without us knowing and we only appreciate it after we attached a meaning to a moment. Hence, I'd like to stop waiting for the perfect timing and just make things happen. Like now."

Tenderly, he slides the dwikkoji at the first layer of her hair, "Soo-ya, I may not be able to marry you right now, maybe not even in the future but I will always belong to you and you to me. My beloved moon that shines brightly at my darkest night. My person. My Soo-ya."

Ha Jin looks at So with eyes full of a thousand year promise. How she was able to survive without him for the last two years is unfathomable to her. She reaches at his hand on her cheek, planting a kiss below his palm, "I am home."

Like a delicate flower that needs to be handled with care, So cups Hae Soo's cheek, laying a chaste kiss on the dwikkoji he had put on her head. A promise sealed with a kiss and witnessed by the crescent moon, in a lake they call their own.

His hand slides down to her nape, the other at the small of her back. Gently, he lays her down to the floor of the boat once more. The two of them welcomingly trap themselves inside their own world.

Using his elbow as a support, So lets himself hovers above Hae Soo, intending to be playful but only falling to the sudden tension springing in the air, "Can I… be rebellious now?"

With So re-arranging their positions, Ha Jin suddenly finds herself beneath him, his weight, nearly pressing against her. She swallows, a blush of crimson spreading in her cheeks. It's warmth, extending to her neck. She lays without movement, the air full of spark that makes her dig her fingers to the floor of the boat.

Ha Jin in takes a breathe in her mouth, opening it slightly, "Re-re…bel…lious?"

So takes it as invitation to descend on her lips, almost touching, "I want you, Soo-ya."

Ha Jin stops breathing. If she so much as infinitesimally raises her chin, their lips would touch, "You can take someone else's tea then."

Ha Jin pushes So away, racking their boat.

"Mwo?" So is disoriented, finding himself at the floor of the boat while Hae Soo sits up, annoyed.

"Rebellious ha?" Even under a dim light, So could see the annoyance in Hae Soo's face. Her left eyebrow up high. The spark in the air gone, "Is that why you drank someone else's tea, right in front of me?! Wah! You've got guts!"

"Ani… what tea?" And then it dawns on So, he took the tea served by the seja's daughter to spite Hae Soo the other day. "I was angry and it doesn't count. It was served by a child. Mu hyungnim's daughter. Are you jealous of her?"

Ha Jin crosses her arms against her chest, "Jealous? No, I'm not. But I'm angry. I bet it's not the only tea you've taken for the last two years."

Sitting up, So panics now, thinking about his ceremonial teas for the past two years. He only drinks the tea served by a eunuch or a male companion. The tea served by Kyeong Hwa is the only tea he touched, "It was made by you. Kyeonhwa Gongju said so."

Ha Jin thinks about it for a second. She did brew the tea that day, "Don't get smart with me."

"Mianhada, Soo-ya." So tries to salvage the situation, "I swear. I never drunk any tea served by a lady for the last two years."

Ha Jin sits tight lip, simmering from annoyance. She would let So touch her hand but that would be the farthest he would get with her tonight.


Dressed in a simple teal green chima, creamy white flowing jeogori held by a matching teal green belt, Ha Jin looks the part of a simple noble girl reminiscent of Myung Hee, stripped of the luxury of the Kang household. Her hair flows smoothly by her shoulders with its first layer forming a flower at the back of her head. So's dwikkoji in place. Tied in her belt is an octagon norigae (a traditional accessory hanging on a lady's jeogori or chima.) that contains the scent of Mokran.

She walks by a secluded pathway, on her way to the queen's inner courtyard. As she turns at the end corner, opening to the garden, she runs into two of Woo Hee's trainee gisaengs.

"Oh! Go Ha Jin Ssi?" The first trainee exclaims.

"What are you doing here?" The second trainee asks, looking at Ha Jin from head to foot.

"Why are you dressed like a noble girl?" The first trainee asks, looking at Ha Jin oddly. They, like the servants who gossip at their gyobang, don't take kindly to Ha Jin, "Wah! The guts of this girl."

Ha Jin pays them no heed, walking the other way and avoiding them.

The second trainee grabs her arm, stopping her, "Where do you think you're going? Did you know that you could go to prison for pretending to be a noble girl?"

Ha Jin takes her arm off the girl.

"You're rude!" The second trainee grabs her once more, "Shall we report you?"

Someone clears a throat behind the trainees and when they turn to see where the cough came from, they were surprise to see a lady dress in a very expensive hanbok, wearing a dwikkoji with the sigil of house Hwangbo. Behind her are four gungnyeo(s) in line, all heads bowed down.

"Yeonhwa gongju." Ha Jin greets her poitely. They haven't formally talked since the two of them were back in the palace. Though they see each other in passing all the time.

"What is this all about?" Yeonhwa lets her eyes pass from Hae Soo to the trainee gisaengs, who hasten to give their greetings when Ha Jin addressed her.

"Sunggohabnida, agissi mama (title of a princess born out of the king and a queen), we found our servant pretending to be a noble girl." The first trainee answers, eager to find grace with the princess.

Yeonhwa looks at Hae Soo for a long time, contemplating whether she's going to pity her or be annoyed with her. Ha Jin certainly looks the part of a noble girl, why she let this lowly trainees pick on her is beyond Yeonhwa's comprehension, "I suggest you let the lady go before you get yourself into trouble."

"Yie?" The two trainees are surprised.

"I don't know whose servant are you talking about but Lady Hae Soo is the daughter of a Kang Household and is charge of the Chancellery seat. You would do well not to anger her or you might find yourself behind the bars." Yeonhwa warns them.

The second trainee quickly lets go of Ha Jin's arm, as if burned by a scorching ember.

"Apologize to her." Yeonhwa's left eyebrow goes up out of habit. She looks every bit intimidating.

The two trainees look at each other and bows their head in a hasten apology, still surprise to learn that Ha Jin is of noble birth.

"Properly." Yeonhwa commands.

Begrudgingly, the two trainees bends their body in 90 degree apology, their hand folded upon their hip, polite and humble.

"Ka. (Leave.)" Passed caring, Ha Jin tells them to leave.

The two quickly go the other way, nervous to stay a second longer in the presence of the two royalties.

"Kamsahabnida." Ha Jin thanks Yeonhwa awkwardly. She doesn't know why Yeonhwa is suddenly on her side.

"Ani. Don't thank me." Yeonhwa shrugs, "I did it because I hate seeing people who doesn't know their place.

Of course you do.

Ha Jin sighs inwardly. She extends her arm to the path in from of them, polite as ever, "Kuereom kaseyo. (Please be in your way.)"

Yeonhwa passes Hae Soo and abruptly stops, addressing her with their backs on each other, "I don't know why you let other people step on you so easily. I like you better before even when you always talked back at me. At least you always say what's on your mind and you fight for what you want. Now, you're just, I don't know… existing, I guess. For someone who holds one of the highest seat in the court, you're too naive for your own good. You won't survive long if you keep at that."

Giving a fair warning to Hae Soo, Yeonhwa goes her own way.


The festival is held at Queen Yoo's courtyard, a smaller and more intimate feast. Present at the gatherings are ministers and the children of the king, all positioned on two long tables, parallel at each other, beside the stage at the center of the courtyard. Elevated at the steps, is the throne of King Taejo with Lady Oh standing beside him, in charge of serving him for tonight. The king isn't look well but he came to attend the festival in honor of his children who came home at his decree.

Down by the stage, sitting on a long table with his siblings, Yo and Won are in a good mood, talking together and watching the performance in front of them. Three gisaengs are performing a fan dance at the moment and a few flowers had been thrown at the stage, courtesy of the ministers who had been mesmerized by their beauty.

Yo keeps looking at the guarded walls surrounding them, observing the soldiers who are standing in guard.

"I don't see our 8th brother anywhere." Won notices, a glass of wine in hand.

"He's somewhere." Yo answers nonchalantly, "Is our favorite girl in place?"

Won nods, "They'll be performing in a while."

Yo smirks, savoring the glass of wine in his hand.

On the other side of the princes' table, Baek-Ah traces So's eyesight, finding Hae Soo at the end of it, he whispers, "I heard you guys are talking again."

So doesn't answer but he looks less brooding to Baek-Ah tonight.

Hae Soo glances at So for a bit, catching his gaze. She stands from her table, going towards the exit of the courtyard. So puts downs his glass of wine, trailing behind Hae Soo.

Baek-ah is left smiling mischievously to himself. He was going to tease his brother but is suddenly reminded that a lot of people are around them, including Jung, who is sitting on his other side. Teasing So, will not be a good idea.


Ha Jin takes to the garden at the path leading to another quarters inside the mini palace of the queen. At a corner, where shadows shroud the pillars and pathways, two men are discreetly talking to each other. It's the 8th prince and another person on a black cover all soldier uniform.

Ha Jin doubles back, keeping to the pillar of a corridor, hoping it would hide her well. Ever since she started recognizing people from her dreams, the people who existed with the daughter of the moon, Ha Jin is careful not to run across her adoptive father or the other prince, still on the fence on how to deal with them.

Wook, like So, doesn't show any sign that they remember anything from their past lives. Chances are, only she and her adoptive father remember something.

"Mwo hae? (What are you doing?)" So asks, reaching the corridor Hae Soo had slipped into.

"Kamjjakya!" Ha Jin is surprised to see So, "Kuenyang, I was going to look for Soon Deok. It doesn't look like she and Eun wangjanim came tonight."

She comes out of the pillar, prudently peeking at the corner where she last saw Wook talking to someone and to her relief, the prince is no longer there.

"Baek-Ah says Soon Deok told him that Eun is sick tonight so they couldn't come." So looks around and finds no one. He advances to Hae Soo's space, tentatively laying his hand on her waist, "Shall we skip the festival tonight?"

"Mwo ya?! Where do you think you're putting your hand?" Ha Jin pushes So's hand away.

"Are you still angry?" So catches her hand instead and brings it to his lips, laying a kiss on her knuckles, "Mianhada. Please don't be angry anymore."

The sincerity in So's eyes produces a thin blush of line above Hae Soo's cheeks, "Araseo."

"We're skipping?" So's face light up, intertwining his hand with Hae Soo's, "Shall we go to the general's house?"

"I need to check on Woo Hee first." Hae Soo turns a little serious, "She doesn't seem alright a while ago."

"She'll be fine. I hear Baek-Ah is always with her these days." So insists, not letting Hae Soo out of his sight. He pulls at her hand, leading the way out of the queen's mini palace.


Back into the courtyard where the feast is being held, a new group of gisaeng enters. Dressed in a deep wine purple hanbok that turns black depending on the amount of light it gets, Woo Hee's group takes their position at the center stage forming a circle. The gayageum players starts playing and Woo Hee's group move in time with the strings.

Baek-Ah joins the spectators by the side of the stage, eager to watch the dance he had been practicing with Woo Hee.

Yo and Won put down their glasses of wine by the table, looking all anticipating. Yo glances at the wall, directly in front of the steps were their father is sitting at the throne. The soldiers manning the walls had changed. Instead of a full line of soldiers standing on guard, there are only 2 guards now, dressed in all black cover all, each holding a bow.

By the throne, King Taejo feels his focus dropping, he's tired and all his muscles are aching. If not for his adviser and his queens forcing him to attend this feast, he wouldn't be here.

Lady Oh, who looks as ill as him, tends to his food, checking on him every now and then.

As the soothing gayageum's strings swell it's sound, Woo Hee focuses on the task at hand. Unlike what she was expecting this morning, she isn't nervous at all. Only relieved that her tasked is finally coming to an end. She takes a look around one last time, thankful that Hae Soo and Soon Deok are missing at the courtyard. At least, her only friends will not witness her betrayal. She turns into a sharp twirl with the other gisaengs, taking the position at the outside of the formation.

Baek-Ah counts in his head, he had played his gayageum in tune with the steps countless of times. He, along with the gisaengs had memorized every movement, including the mistakes Woo Hee always make. He recognizes it now, after the twirl, Woo Hee would be isolated at the right, then she would step back, point their swords to the side, raise their bended knee high and twirl once more.

Woo Hee always make the mistake at this point yet she looks more focused tonight, as if making a mistake is not something she'll end up doing. Her eyes are ablaze with fervor, concentrating on something Baek-ah knew only existed in her mind. Yet something feels amiss to him. Something about Woo Hee's gaze that now falls at the king instead of an imagined target in her mind.

Baek-Ah stills, wanting his hunches to be wrong.

After the twirl, Woo Hee should be drawing her sword in, its sharp point facing the south. She should be joining the circle, ending up in the back and not aiming to go front. Baek-Ah unconsciously moves, running to the stage. He finally realizes where Woo Hee's sword is always pointed to. By the time he reaches her, a lot of things happen at the same time.

Baek-ah takes the blow of the sword to his stomach, effectively impending on Woo Hee. Yo cues at the soldier by the wall and a single arrow is released. The king falls forward and Lady Oh quickly stoops over to support him. Unaware, she catches the arrow meant to assassinate the king. It lodges at her back, puncturing her lungs. Blood splays at King Taejo's clothes, suddenly awakened by the shock. His eyes bulge as he catches Lady Oh on his arm, falling unconscious.

Chaos ensues and the royal soldiers automatically surround the king and Lady Oh. All looking over where the arrow came. The ministers and their families scatter away. The princes on guard. The princesses and the queen are escorted to leave.

Jung takes a sword from the nearest soldier and runs to the wall, where the assassin was standing only a few minutes ago.

Baek-Ah tumbles to a terrified Woo Hee, asking her to leave before it's too late.


Footnotes:

1 Lady Haeryangwon is the 30th wife of King Taejo from the Seon Clan from South Jeolla province. For the purpose of the story let's just say she's another daughter of a noble clan.

2 Office of censor is one of the three offices in the government that remonstrate with the king if there was wrong or improper action or policy. In charge with impeaching corrupt officials.

* Kyeong Hwa gonju is So's second wife at the kdrama.


Preview:

Let's say goodbye to a few characters, including a prince and then time jump.

Editor's note:

So I went back to my other chapters. I realized,

Chapter 1 - 12 | 8-12 pages

Chapter 13 - 19 | 15 pages

Chapter 20 - 39 | 20 pages

Chapter 40+ | 40-50 pages.

Lol it's like crunch time, like I have to finish this story already ^^ I'm sorry about that. I kind a feel pressured to finish at chapter 50. I think the number of pages is the reason why I was able to update weekly before and now I could only update once in two or three weeks. Mianhaeyo. Have to get my head straight. We'll hopefully arrived at the ending soon.

Thanks for staying.

Gōngxǐ fācái! or Happy Valentines XD

Oh and I got a beta though I haven't incorporated her work on the last chapter or this chapter. I'm so sorry, I'll be updating chapters as we go along. My sched is getting swamped with work so I couldn't update all the time but she's amazing and she deserves a proper introduction. Let me do that when I start updating chapters with her proofread work.^^