Chapter 46:

A sound of soft laughter is heard as So leads Hae Soo out of the queen's mini palace. There hands are intertwined and Ha Jin is busy telling So some anecdote about how Lady Oh looked scandalized as she evens out her hair the other day.

So is quick on his steps, alert with his surroundings while listening to Hae Soo's story. He, Mu, Ji Mong and Gen. Park knew there is some trouble brewing in the palace but isn't aware on when and how the pin would come lose and fall. It was not just Hae Soo, who saw Wook with a stranger a while ago, So saw it too. He had noticed something was amiss today so he never lets Hae Soo out of his sight. When he asked her to skip the festival tonight, he was playing it casually but is actually keeping her out of trouble.

As they cross the last gate, royal soldiers in groups hurriedly run towards the courtyard where the feast was happening. So pulls Hae Soo into the shadows pressing her to the wall to conceal their presence.

Ha Jin automatically holds upon So's shoulder, her back to the wall, "What's going on?"

"Soo-ya, do you trust me?" So rest his hands on her waist.

Question of confusion floats on Ha Jin's eyes, "Waeyo?"

"Let's run away tonight." It's not a suggestion. Not open for a discussion. The palace will fall into chaos and So doesn't want them to be caught up in it.

"Mwo? Mu-seun so-ri-ya? (What are you talking about?) Run away? Tonight?" Ha Jin tries to take a peak behind So to see what's happening but So stills her in place.

"The owner of the throne will change soon. This is our only chance to disappear." There is an urgent insistence in So's voice that makes Ha Jin anxious.

"Run away tonight?" Ha Jin repeats.

A few shouting can be heard and soldiers keep running everywhere.

"Ne, ji-guem (Yes, now.)" So persists, "Kat-i-ka-yo. (Let's go together.)"

The decision seems too sudden for Ha Jin and So's serious firmness is making her fret, her mind searches for history facts about what happened tonight. And of course there's nothing in history about this night. She only knows Mu is next in line in the throne and he's not around. If the palace falls, someone who isn't fated to be king will seat on the throne. Who that person is, Ha Jin doesn't know. She's starting to be afraid, this is a big of a change. Something that even in a thousand year present, will be felt.

Can I be that selfish?

Yes she wanted to run away. She could disappear anytime and it will not change the history so much but if she disappears with So, who is in charge of defending the palace and is fated to become a king at some point, it's too big of a leap into the unknown.

"Ne, kat-i ka-yo- (Let's go together-)"

So suddenly presses her to the wall, kissing her with so much delight before she even finishes her sentence. There is excitement in So's eyes that makes him look so alive, it would be too painful to say no to him. Hence, Ha Jin reluctantly agrees.

"I'll make you happy everyday." So promises in between kissing, "You'll never regret coming with me."

He pulls her to an embrace and spins her around as if he just proposed and heard the sweetest yes from the girl he loved the most, "Saranghanda, Soo-ya."

Ha Jin couldn't help but chuckle with him. His excitement is too infectious; she could pretend the future doesn't matter.

So puts her down, laying a kiss on her lips one more time before taking her hand and together they carefully maneuver around the soldiers scattered everywhere.

As they cross to another courtyard of another clan's quarters, someone calls at Ha Jin.

"Hae Soo-ya!" Woo Hee is supporting a wounded Baek-Ah by her shoulder, "To-wa-ju-se-yo. (Please help us.)"

So didn't want to stop but Hae Soo did at the sound of her name. Ha Jin turns around finding Baek-Ah close to passing out.

"Hyung…nim." Baek-Ah calls weakly.

Ha Jin looks at So, they can't just leave Woo Hee and Baek-Ah behind. She squeezes So's hand, "Let's help them first."

She unconsciously let go of So's hand, the action leaving So with a foreboding coldness in his once warm palm. Ha Jin runs back to Woo Hee and Baek-Ah in time to catch Baek-Ah fall, "What happened?"

So is forced to follow after Hae Soo and takes Baek-Ah's other shoulder to support him.

"Hyungnim, you need…. to go to the…. courtyard and… protect our father." Baek-Ah clasps at So's collar, "Someone tried… to assassinate… the king."

"Mwo?!" Ha Jin exclaims.

"Lady Oh was attending to the king when she unknowingly caught the arrow meant for the king. She was hit at the back and fell to the king's arm." Woo Hee explains, as if she wasn't there to assassinate the king.

Baek-Ah shuts his mouth, protecting Woo Hee as much as he can, "Hyungnim, ka. (Go.)"

So wouldn't move from his place. He isn't planning to go back to the feast. He wants to leave now. He looks at Hae Soo, hoping she would say no to Baek-Ah.

Baek-Ah winces, his jeogori soaking in blood.

"Ka. (Go.)" Ha Jin reluctantly lets So go, "Do your sworn oath."

"Silheo. (I don't want to.)" So argues, "I refuse to."

Ha Jin gives a brave, re-assuring smile, knowing that if So leaves, they would lose their chance to run away but Baek-Ah needs help and the king needs saving, "Ka, gi-da-ri-go iss-eul-ke-yo (Go, I'll be here waiting.)"

Mianhaeyo So-ya.

"We need to bring Baek-Ah to a safe place and stop the bleeding." Ha Jin pushes So away and takes his place supporting Baek-Ah, "Hang in there, Baek-Ah-ya."

Baek-Ah falls unconscious.

"Bring him to the Damiwon." So has no choice but to at least send them to a safe place, "He won't reach the top of the sky towers or the general's household at this case."

"Araseo, we'll take care of him. Ka, (Go,)" Woo Hee readily answers, in a state of panic. She's not injured anywhere but she is as pale as Baek-Ah, who is fast losing blood.

Woo Hee takes the lead and starts walking away. Ha Jin comes with her. So could only watch them leave, their chance of running away, vanishing right in front of his eyes.

Ha Jin abruptly turns her head, "So wangjanim…"

"Ne?"

"Protect the king and then come back..." Ha Jin tries to smile, So needs her promise now more than ever, "to me."

So nods, "Please wait for me."


Daybreak kisses the glorious ground of King Taejo's living quarters. The inner gate is closed and the whole place is silent. Save for a few soldiers who are stationed in front of the doors, everywhere is deserted. The palace is enveloped in a tense atmosphere and no one dares to breathe. Lest a single pin drops and everything will go up in disarray.

Inside the king's chamber, Lady Oh lies on the king's bed while King Taejo half sit, half lies beside her, holding her hand. Her sanggun uniform exchanged for a plain sokgot. The royal physician had attended to her arrow wound and had it stitch and bandaged. He was forthcoming with the king, warning him to prepare for the worst. The wound is too deep and she had bled profusely internally. He apologizes that he couldn't do anything for her anymore

Last night when King Taejo carried Lady Oh in his chamber, it was only a surge of adrenaline, a borrowed energy, a will to survive. Now he sits at the floor, his head lying at Lady Oh's unmoving hand. It was unbecoming of a king to look so defeated and Ji Mong who is standing at the aisle, couldn't help but feel sympathetic though he's not allowed to show it.

"So this is how our lives have come to?" King Taejo utters, his focus only on Lady Oh, who looks to be in pain even while sleeping, "Such a short and fleeting moment. I thought I was the one who left first but now I know, I will be the one who will be left behind."

"Pyeha…" Ji Mong couldn't think of anything to say.

"What have I been living for all this time?" King Taejo's voice is gruff, feeling all the energy draining out of him.

"You've founded a great empire." Ji Mong answers.

"Great empire? Will it last for a thousand years, Ji Mong-ah?" King Taejo traces patterns at the back oh Lady Oh's hand.

Ji Mong wouldn't answer.

"I suppose you are here to make sure that before I die, I passed the crown to the right heir." King Taejo is not angry, just stating a mere fact, "Tell me, Ji Mong-ah, who should I give the throne to? Who gave the orders to have me poisoned to death? Is it the same son who fired the arrow on me last night?"

Ji Mong tenses.

"Yie, Ji Mong-ah, I know you've been poisoning me with that incense you light every night." There's no change in King Taejo's facial expression. He had lived for his empire for so long, have made a lot of sacrifices along the way and at the door of death, with the lady he had loved the most, he'd want to welcome death but only if he is holding Lady Oh's hand through it.

"I knew it from the beginning and I have let you light it. Why? I have become weary of this life. A life lead only for my people, is't so selfish of me to want to leave this life with her holding my hand?" King Taejo squeezes Lady Oh's hand, "Now tell me, who among my sons had dared to end my misery?"

"The arrow who have pierced my aunt did not came from the same person who had me light the incense every night. That I'm sure of." Ji Mong chooses to be honest.

"If it was, will you still be pledging your loyalty to that person?" King Taejo wants to know.

Loyalty is a fleeting thing.

Ji Mong thinks to his self, "The prince I am serving would be a great king in the future. The only one of your sons who would be able to hold that throne for 40 years."

"That's longer than I have reigned." King Taejo comments.

"Longer than most kings who would own that throne one day." Ji Mong assures the king.

King Taejo wistfully keeps his face into a neutral one. Through the consciousness he feels is escaping him, he commands, "Will you bring my seal?"

"Yie pyeha." Ji Mong answers, about to turn for the door when Lady Oh feebly mumbles in her sleep, something about her baby girl.

King Taejo momentarily holds upon his consciousness, moving closer to Lady Oh to listen. She weakly opens her eyes, in pain, having hard time breathing. She isn't fully awake nor is she there. She closes her eyes once again, a movement in her hand that seem to want to give back an assuring squeeze to King Taejo's hand.

It is hard for Ji Mong to watch his aunt waste away like this. She is his only biological family left and he'd like to hold her hand as she leaves this world but Ji Mong decides, it would be better that it is the king who is beside her on her death bed not him.


Outside, at the inner corridor going to the king's chamber, Jung and So meet each other, both coming on different direction, each on their chain armory with their swords safely tucked on their belts.

"So Hyungnim," Jung's eyes show the tiredness from having no sleep since last night, "Joesonghabnida, I plowed the nearby forest on our palace but the assassins are nowhere to be found. My men had brought the body of one of the assassins I was able to kill last night to the garrison. They'll be examining the body for further investigation."

"Chal haessda. (You've done well.)" So commends his 14th brother. He, too, hasn't seen his bed since last night, busy with commanding the royal guards, sealing the palace and the king's chamber against any intrusion from anyone, "I have sent the best of my men to escort the seja and the general back to the palace. They must arrive before the king breathes his last."

As the general of the royal guard, the two are now in charge of protecting the king and at times like this, when the owner of the throne is about to change, they must make sure that the will of the king be executed without any mistake or any delay.

"Hyungnim," Jung watches his 4th brother's face, trying to examine what's been going on inside the neutral façade of his, "The next owner of the throne is our first brother, right?"

So nods.

"You're not interested of taking it from him?" Jung discreetly holds upon the hilt of his sword. So is a prime candidate as the next owner of the throne. Everyone is aware of that. For whatever reason, So never tried to take the throne for the last two years, no one knows but if he makes his move now, Jung will be forced to defend the will of the king, in spite of him knowing, he could never outmatched his 4th brother's skill in a sword fight.

"Ani, gwan-sim eops-da. (No, I'm not interested.)" There is no change in So's neutral face, "I'd rather disappear with Hae Soo."

Though Jung had decided to let Hae Soo go years ago, it still painful for him to hear these kinds of things, "I see. Are you marrying her after Mu, hyungnim, ascends the throne?"

Mu is not the problem but Lady Shinjuwon, "He promised to give his blessings to our marriage."

"I'm glad." Jung chews on the insides of his mouth, as if tasting the bitter blood in it.

As they round the outer door of the chamber, they hear a commotion in the corridor. The two queens came to visit the king and are not allowed to enter.

"Ya, inom! How dare you not let your queen come in?!" Queen Yoo threatens the two soldiers whose wooden rods form a big x in front of them.

"Eomeonim," Jung hurries to the side of Queen Yoo.

"These imbecile guards won't let us in." Queen Shinjeong complains.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to enter the king's chamber," So passes the two guards and stands behind the rods crossed in front of the queen.

"Are you trying to hide the king's condition?" Queen Yoo looks at So with anger, though there is true concern in her voice, "An arrow has been shot to the king last night. We must know how he is doing. Is he well?

"For what purpose?" So wouldn't be move, "The king will be giving his commands soon. All royal members are commanded to return to their quarters or we will be forced to arrest anyone who steps in his chamber."

Queen Yoo smirks, reminiscent of Yo's, "You dare to command your mother to leave. You are of royal blood, too, how do we know you are not encouraging the king to change his will?"

"I am under the impression that my only mother is the one sitting at the palace in the north." So hardens his heart even when he was glad to hear Queen Yoo address herself as his mother. "I am the commander general of the royal militia. I am duty bound to stay beside the king and protect him. Jung-ah, why don't you escort your mother and the other queen out. I shall wait for you here before reporting to the king."

"Yie hyungnim," Jung turns to his mother and Queen Shinjeong, apologizing, "If we could follow the protocol first, we'd let you know anything that comes up."

"Jung-ah, my son." Queen Yoo touches Jung's cheek, "We'll leave because it's you but remember to have dinner with us later, alright?"

So focus his eyes somewhere.

It's been a while since Jung went to a family dinner. Though he misses his family so much, he'd rather not be part of their scheming plans anymore, "Yie eomeonim. Il-tan kaseyo, (Yes, mother. Please leave, for now.)"

Queen Yoo and Queen Shinjeong look at So as if he's a dirt before turning their back and leaving.


In the room, which Hae Soo and Woo Hee shares, Baek-Ah lies unconscious on Woo Hee's sleeping cot. He's complexion is still paper white due to the loss of blood he endured last night. Woo Hee had refused to call for a physician, hence, Hae Soo and her had to clean and stitch Baek-Ah's wound on their own.

Though Ha Jin kept asking Woo Hee how Baek-Ah got a sword wound, Woo Hee doesn't answer. Woo Hee is racked with guilt and worry that her free flowing tears are her only answer. Her eyes are red and sore, her hands keep shaking as she gives Baek-Ah a half bath so as not to infect his wounds and lower his fever temperature.

A knock is heard from the door and the two automatically exchange gaze. Except for So, no one knows they are hiding Baek-Ah in their room.

"Hae Soo Ssi? Hae Soo Ssi?" A servant calls for Ha Jin.

Ha Jin stands up and opens the door discreetly small, so as not to give too much view for the outsider standing in front of the door, "Yie?"

A eunuch looks out of place behind the door, "Joesonghabnida Hae Soo Ssi, you are being called at the king chambers, if you could please follow me."

Ha Jin nods at Woo Hee and exits their room, "Why am I being asked at the king's chamber?"

"Your sanggun couldn't perform her duties at the moment so the king's adviser had asked for you to perform the tea ceremony in her place." The eunuch explains, looking all-anxious.

Stepping into the garden connecting their living quarters and the main quarters of the Damiwon, four royal soldiers surround Ha Jin on each side, "We'll escort you Lady Hae Soo."

Ha Jin is ushered in the king's chamber, finding So and Jung kneeling by one knee, in attention, in front of their father's bed. Ji Mong is casually standing by the side of the bed, his hands hidden at his back.

"Ah, the lady is here." King Taejo acknowledges Hae Soo and a eunuch gives her a space at the other side of the bed, with a table and provisions for brewing tea.

Her forehead creases with worry as she sees Lady Oh, lying at the king's bed. The king on her side, sitting at the bed, facing Lady Oh and his sons who are reporting.

So and Jung hold themselves from glancing at Hae Soo.

King Taejo had called for Hae Soo since her brewed tea is the only tea close to how Lady Oh brews her own, hoping the scent of it would make Lady Oh feel better or at least comfortable in his chambers.

"Your quarters had been sealed in your orders and not even the queens are allowed to enter." So continues with his report.

"My sons," King Taejo addresses the two. If they were surprised of their father's sudden familial address to them, the two doesn't show, "Will you forgive your father and grant him a dying wish?"

"Abeonim," Jung reacts, "Please do not speak that way. You have an abundant reign ahead of you."

King Taejo smiles, a wistful one as he absentmindedly strokes Lady Oh's hand in between his, "The time of lies and flattery are behind me, my child. Though I appreciate your concern, let's us be straight forward for I feel the end is near."

"Abeonim…" So also insists.

"I was a son of a humble soldier from the northern part of our kingdom, the former Goguryeo." King Taejo reminisce, "I wasn't born into an aristocratic family like all of my children. I remember having to be hungry and fought for every grain of rice that falls in our table back then. When I was old enough to enter the military, my father entered my name to serve if only to have one less mouth to feed. My platoon leader discovered my talents in sword fighting and strategic planning and I climb the ladder in no time. The three kingdoms back then, were in the brink of falling apart and I seize the chance to take upon a revolutionary cause and set up a new monarchy that unified the three kingdoms. It wasn't an easy cause and it came with a steep price. For wanting a kingdom that I can reign, politics come into play and I had to make sacrifices. Was it worth it?"

King Taejo comes back to present to focus on his two son, "There are choices I made that I wish I've done differently but it is behind me now. I could only look into that light at the end of tunnel, hoping I'll be holding the hand of this lady as we both go to the other side together."

So and Jung had never seen this side of their father and they have never heard he had ever loved someone. He had wives but they are all strategic into unifying his kingdom.

"Yes, I have loved this lady, who had chosen to served me all her life and yet the only thing I can do for her is to hold her hand on her death bed." King Taejo lowers his gaze at Lady Oh and squeezes her hand gently once more, "I thought I was the one who threw her away but now I know, she's the first one to leave. I once promised her the world and when I had it, I wouldn't even look her way. How capricious of me. But you need to understand, everything I did is for this kingdom to last long."

King Taejo tried to defend his choices in the face of his sons who are not questioning him.

"My choices weren't perfect but it's for the greater good of our people and if I am ask to do things over, I will still choose the same choices I made. That's how a king should be. The people, the kingdom, they will always come first. Forgive me if I was a king first before a father to all of you."

Yet a king never asks for forgiveness. Jung and So knew this. They were raised to recognize that their father is infallible, that all his judgments are correct.

"As a father and a king, I will require one last action from both of you."

"Please give your command, pyeha." So states attentively.

"I came this far for I have always listened to the heaven's will by reading the stars. From that same stars, the seja was deemed to inherit the throne but will not last long." King Taejo seem to hunch his back a little, tired from the days' events, "The seja had always been weak at heart so I command both of you to stay by his side and protect him at all cost. When his stars had deemed and the sun had set on his sky, then you, my fourth, son can have the throne to yourself."

"Yie?" So and Jung both look up, surprised that the king is passing the throne not only to Mu but to So also.

So glances at Hae Soo, their plans of running away seem to be fading in the distance.

Their exchange of gaze did not go unnoticed by the king, "Yie, So-ya. I've always known you will become a king one day and you will be reigning my throne longer than I did. Longer than most kings would. I've sent you far away because your star had always eclipsed your first brother and now, we can no longer deny you your destiny."

"Anibnida, pyeha." So quickly denies it, out of respect and confusion. "I do not covet the throne."

"An irony. Of all my sons who had been eyeing the throne, the one who is destined to reign it the longest is the prince who had never lived inside the palace nor does want anything to do with it."

Jung couldn't help but stare openly at his 4th brother.

And that's when a flash of memory suddenly pulls at Ha Jin.

She's standing at the corridor beside the throng at the Hoegyong Hall, the assembly in full attendance of people Ha Jin had never met. Behind the king, shrouded with gossamer see through silk is a queen regent Ha Jin isn't familiar with. At the aisle where the princes used to populate, there are only three princes who are standing in their places; Wook, Baek-Ah and Jung.

The ministry of personnel announces, "And our king shall be called Gwangjong, ruler of great benevolence."

Everyone falls to their knees and shouts in unison, "Manse, manse, man manse. May our king reign for long."

The king called Gwangjong, glances at Hae Soo, in her place behind the paper rice door. He smiles at her, the warmth never reaching his eyes.

"So wangjanim?" Ha Jin comes back to present, muttering in inaudible voice. She accidentally lets the wooden gourd falls into the teacups, creating a twinkling sound among the heaven tray.

Everyone in the room glances at Hae Soo, who braces her hand at the floor as she sways, light headed.

Jung and So automatically makes a move to help her but the eunuch beside her came to her support first and they were forced to hold their attentive position in front of the king.

The eunuch asks, "Gwaenchanhseubnida, Agassi?"

"Yi..e… yie." Ha Jin stammers through her words, shaking the dizziness out her head.

Ha Jin trembles as the eunuch helps her to an upright position. A sudden guilt and sadness creeps up at her, tightening at her chest, sucking the air out of her lungs. She braves her fear and looks up, meeting the gaze of the man who's eyes are warmer than the king she had just saw in her flash of memory.

Am I foolish to want you only for myself?


As night falls to the palace, So make his rounds with some of his soldiers at the perimeter of the king's quarter when he run across his 3rd brother in one of secluded gardens. Yo is busily feeding the fishes in the pond, his back to So.

For his third brother to be nonchalantly standing alone in the garden, doing something ordinary seems too suspicious to So. He sends his soldiers the other way and approaches Yo.

"Hyungnim." So greets Yo, coming to stand beside him.

"Ah my little brother." Yo glances at So, acknowledging him. He throws another batch of flakes in the pond and the fishes scuttles to swim where the flakes have fallen.

"Why are you here?" So asks, his stance guarded.

"Am I not allowed to feed the fishes in the pond?" They watch as the fishes fight and jump among each other to get a taste of the small flake, "Do you remember, when we were kids, you used to fight Jung over this? You always snatch it from Jung and empty its content without sharing. It always made Jung cry and run to our mother."

So has no recollection of the said memory.

"Jung makes you angry whenever he hoards the attention of our mother all to himself so you snatches things from him whenever you get the chance." Yo recalls, a wistful smile settling in his mouth, "I remember seeing the jealous look in your eyes as our mother holds Jung in her lap, touch his nose and make him laugh."

This one So remembers, "I hated Jung that moment."

"And then our father picked you up in his arms and carried you to his courtyard to play with him." The wistfulness on Yo's face disappear, replaced with a variety of emotions ranging from resignation, to fear, then anger and then nothing, "Jung is our mother's favorite child and you were our father's favorite."

He smirks, hiding the hurt, "What does that make me then?"

It had been years ago, when So witnessed how scared his older brother was of being thrown away by their mother. He, himself, once cared about what their mother thinks about. In fact, if he's honest enough, he still does. He only learned to focus all his attention to Hae Soo that's why he seemed not to care but deep inside him, he was still yearning for that day when the queen would look his way and call him his son once more.

"I was thankful that you were the one sent away to live with the Kangs in Shinju. I know you had it rough back there but here is no different."

So would like to correct his brother. It wasn't rough. It was hell and he was still reaping the consequences of being the adopted son until now.

"I thought when you were sent away that I would somehow earned our father's love or that our mother would pay more attention to me now that she only had two sons left but as it is, I had to fight all our brothers for the attention of the king so I could get our mother's love too."

The fishes disperse once the flakes are gone.

"I understand that jealousy in your eyes as our mother held Jung. Even I yearned for every little attention I could get from our mother." Yo turns to face So, "Our mother wanted that throne so bad, the responsibility of delivering that throne to her falls heavily on my shoulder. I suppose you won't easily give-up the defense of the palace or that by some miracle you'll change our father's decree and make me the heir but if we have to face each other on the battlegrounds, I hope you remember that I am only doing this for our family."

So doesn't know how to react towards his brother. On one hand, he understands that Yo is only acting up on their mother's whim. On the other, what his brother is professing is still treason.

Yo reaches to So's shoulder, patting it affectionately. He smiles at So like an older brother should. So couldn't remember the last time Yo did that, "So-ya, if I ever fail, take care of Jung and our mother. Jung might be childish a lot of times, we might have spoilt him too much but he regards you highly and holds you close to his heart. Protect him."

He walks away and then stops, remembering something, "Don't trust anyone in the palace, we're all after the same thing."

Yo leaves a warning that he hopes So would take hid.


Later that night, Ha Jin loiters at the corridor of the throne hall, the part where she stood at her flash of memory. She lets her fingers glide down the rice paper door, opening it and walking towards the aisle. She stands in front of the throne, gazing at it with foreboding fear.

"Gwangjong. You will be Gwanjong, the 4th king of Goryeo." Ha Jin whispers to herself,

A ruthless ruler who consolidated the power of the royal family and freeing the throne of aristocratic control. They say you ruled with an iron fist. You killed anyone who go against your will. But isn't every king like that?

Under your rule, Goryeo prospered for 40 years. The war slaves were freed. The education became a right to every man rather than a privilege to some noble house. The government positions were opened even to the lowliest for as long as they passed your standard exam. Am I robbing Goryeo of their own great king if I ask you to run away with me?

Out of nowhere, arms surround Ha Jin from the back, enveloping her in a unexpected embrace.

"Why are you gazing at the throne? Did you change your mind and suddenly want to stay?" So asks, parting Hae Soo's her to the left shoulder and descending his head upon Hae Soo's other shoulder to rest.

Ha Jin jumps in her feet and then relaxes when she realizes it is So's arm around her, "Kuenyang…"

She stays quiet, counting in her head backwards to calm her racing heart.

Will your touch always bring this fluttery in my chest?

She couldn't bring herself to believe that this same man will become the ruthless great king of Goryeo. So isn't exactly kind like Wook or nice like Baek-Ah. Everyone is afraid of him, they still are and she's aware of it yet somewhere down the years that she knew him, she had also seen his child like self, the side of him no one realizes he has. She's been rooting for that side of him, content to know that there is some good behind the dark appearance he usually projects to the outside world.

"The king had just made you the next owner of the throne after Mu sejanim, will you still run away with me?" Ha Jin asks.

"Always," A resounding yes in a heartbeat is So's answer. While it's Hae Soo, who is the one who had told him to go and defend the king, it's not So who keeps wavering but her, especially now that she knows who So would be in the future. "Our destiny is what we chooses it to be, Soo-ya and I'll choose whatever will make you stay by my side."

"And yet, we're not leaving anytime soon, right?" Ha Jin heard the king's command a while ago and she's not blaming So, just stating a fact, preparing herself. Even she, herself, is undecided.

So tightens his arms around her small waist, his arms almost overlapping with each other. He could easily hide Hae Soo's petite form with his, "Tell me and I will desert my post anytime. Jung can protect the seja as much as I can."

Except that, So knows his 14th brother is still not decided if he's going to side with their mother, the queen, or the seja, who is only a half brother to him. Though Jung had always supported Mu, he also never went against their mother's wishes directly.

Can it be not my decision for once?

Ha Jin is scared that there is so much responsibility in her little shoulders, longing for those days in the present day when everything was simple and all she cares about is the results of the test in her labs.

She releases a sigh, turning to cuddle closer on So's chest, her voice muffled on his jeogori, "Am I selfish? I want you for myself only."

Her unexpected words bring a smile on So's lips, "I am yours, always."

"Always." Ha Jin repeats more to her self rather than to So's benefit.

The promise of always seems different than the promise of eternity, the original crown prince once told the daughter of the moon. While always almost has the same weight of eternity, always feels more ever present, like a progression rather than a never ending loop and Ha Jin decides she likes always better than eternity.

Ha Jin feels So nods at the top of her head, "Yes, always."

"Wangjanim," Ha Jin leaves the comfort of So's arm abruptly, searching his eyes, "I know it's your duty to protect the king and I've even asked you to do so but … please if you can hold your self back, please don't hurt your brothers."

Ha Jin remembers the aisle from her flash of memory. Only three princes are left, where the others are, she doesn't know yet. It wasn't written in history but she hopes So is not the one responsible for it.

"My brothers?" So controls his expression, "What about me then? Do you not worry about me?"

"You'll be fine." Ha Jin touches his cheek, re-assuring, "You promised to come back to me. I know you will."


Lanterns throw a warm light at Wook's study chambers as he sit behind his mahogany table, mulling over their plans for tomorrow. His hand is absentmindedly playing at his chin. The cuffs of his sleeves had fallen by the crook of his arm, revealing a chain armor underneath his coat.

Yeonhwa walks in, checking upon her brother. She stands by the table, directly in front of Wook, "Have you decided which side will you be tomorrow?"

Wook looks up at Yeonhwa and watch her for a long time. Nodding, he quietly answers, "The winning side?"


The smell of bright sunshine and dewy morning mix in the air as a younger Wang Geon traverses several hedges of tea shrubs in a tea field just below the mountain where he and his family used to live. He had came home a few months ago to bury his mother who was last of his kin. His brothers had left and his father had died while he was serving the military in the south.

Lady Oh ambles lazily at one of the hedges, her weaved basket full of wild flowers from a nearby forest. She looks up at the sky, her hand partly covering her eyes from direct sunlight. It's a beautiful morning and she couldn't be more happier.

"Oh Soo Yeon Ssi." Wang Geon calls upon seeing her.

She turns around, beautiful as the sunlight outlines her form in that warm, hazy light. She waves at her beckoning him to walk towards her.

Wang Geon hurries to his feet, his chest thrumming with enthusiasm. He feels like flying, light as that miniscule dust that dances in the air around them. But as he comes closer and closer to her, the hedges of tea bushes seem to become longer and longer that he feels her getting farther instead of him getting nearer.

"Oh Soo Yeon Ssi." He calls again, anxiety creeping at his back.

"Oh Soo Yeon Ssi!" He calls with reluctant panic now.

"Oh Soo Yeon Ssi!"

King Taejo wakes up beside Lady Oh, his weak arms trying to support his weight as he sits up then falls back to her cold side. He raises his head, feeling an unfamiliar panic he haven't felt for so long. He closes his eyes, slinging his arms on her waist,

"So this is how you leave me? Not even a word?"

He snuggles closer to her neck, tears escaping his closed eyes.


Yeonhwa escorts her mother and Queen Yoo, the three of them insisting to enter the king's sleeping quarters. So and Jung are nowhere to be found and only the soldiers and the gungnyeo(s) are left outside the outer door.

"You shall open the door for us or you will find yourselves behind the prison garrison." Yeonhwa commands, her dagger eyes boring into the soldiers.

"Sunggohabnida gongju mama, we are ordered to keep everyone out. If you insist on coming in, then we will held you inside the king's chamber for as long as the Sang janggun (supreme general) deems so." The soldier held his ground, more afraid of So rather than the princess and the queens in front of them.

"Very well, step aside." Queen Yoo parts the crossed wooden rods in front of them and saunters to King Taejo's sleeping chambers.

The gungnyeo(s) automatically slide the doors wide open for the three with a 3rd ranking gungnyeo announcing their presence by the main door.

With confidence, Queen Yoo enters the king's sleeping chambers only to abruptly stop in the middle, stunned to see a lady on the King's bed. In all their marriage life, King Taejo had many wives but none of them are ever allowed to share his bed inside his own sleeping quarters.

More than shocked, Queen Yoo is hurt to recognize the lady on the king's bed, "What is this wench doing on the king's chamber?"

She quickly walked towards the bed, intending to drag Lady Oh out of the bed. The king and the sanggun are undisturbed by all the shouting of the queen and it only makes Queen Yoo more mad. She takes a hold of Lady Oh's arm and finds it oddly stiff and cold. She tries the king's arm over Lady Oh's waist next and it's the same,

"Pyeha… Pyeha…"

She calls but there's not even a single rise or fall on Lady Oh nor is there one at the king's chest. Queen Shinjeong and Yeonhwa only observe the strange scene in front of them, wondering if they should approach.

Several minutes pass and more shaking from Queen Yoo but still no response. She drops to the ground, shocked. Her tears the only indication that something is wrong. Queen Shinjeong and Yeonhwa finally took to her side, touching Lady Oh and the king and finding them cold.

"Don't touch him." Queen Yoo screams, falling a little senseless over shock. She slaps Queen Shinjeong's hand away, weeping over the king's body.

Queen Shinjeong takes a hold of a mad Queen Yoo, "Jeong-sin cha-ryeo! (Get a hold of yourself!) We must think of our sons! The king has left us and therefore the throne is for our sons taking!"

Crash!

They hear a crushing sound of ceramic cups and wooden tray tumbling to the ground. Ha Jin is bringing a breakfast to the king's chamber when she hears the commotion and enters the king's chamber. Behind her is Ji Mong, who also heard all of it. Everyone in the room is in different stages of shock.

Ji Mong immediately secured the whole room, royal guards come standing at the door, blocking any exit or window of the king's chamber.


At the massive courtyard outside the inner gate of the king's quarters, Yo and Wook mount their horses. Black for Yo. Brown for Wook. Both of them wearing their chain armor carrying swords on their belts. Wook has his own bow and arrows hanging at his back. Behind them, are their lieutenants and hundreds of private soldier under their command. Half of the soldiers are in purple sigil. The other half is in yellow.

Two of their soldiers inconspicuously man the gate, letting in the two princes, who are leading their men into the deserted inner courtyard. As they slowly reach the middle of the courtyard, hundreds of soldiers come out of the inner walls. All in silver chain armor, carrying the sigil of the king. They stand in organized rows, blocking the path of Wook and Yo's forces. Archers position themselves at the tiled roof and top walls.

From the outer corridor of the king's quarter, So and Jung come out together, mirroring Wook and Yo's preparedness. Their soldiers part for them as they head over to Wook and Yo, who dismount their horses. The four face each other, both challenging in their stance.

"Hyungnim," So greets without bowing his head, "I'm afraid, we will have to ask you to leave. The king forbade for any princes to set foot on his chambers until he gives his last decree."

He notices it's only Yo and Wook on the frontline. Won isn't around. He squints his eyes in observation, weighing where his 9th brother could be.

Yo smirks, "Aren't you a prince, too, my younger brother?"

As if their conversation in the secluded garden yesterday, did not happen.

"Joesonghabnida hyungnim. We are only doing what our father had commanded. Please return to your quarters." Jung's voice is steady and commanding in spite of him shaking inside.

He is no stranger to war. He had fought a lot of times in the south. He earned his position as brigadier general by pure skills and not by title. Still, he's facing his brothers in the field. He couldn't be more terrified. Harm is the last thing he would want to befall on all of them.

"How do we know you are not working to change our father's last decree?" Wook calmly asks.

"We came to make sure our father's last decree is protected." Yo saunters forward.

So automatically holds his sheathed sword in front of him, "Not another step or I'll be force to unsheathe my sword, hyungnim."

Yo draws his sword from it's scabbard, advancing a step. He issues a challenge at So, "Go ahead. Prove me that you are worth our father's attention."

Arrows rain down from the roof, lodging at the ground and forming a perfect dividing line in between Yo's forces and So's forces. A warning shot issued.

Yo turns in a 360, slashing skillfully at the tails of the arrows. So throws his swords' sheathe to the ground, standing so still ready to defend. He holds his sword pointing down, a little drawn out from his body, his right foot a half step ahead than his left.

Yo grips his sword up, his elbows tucked out. He steps with his right foot, bringing down his sword over So, who automatically defends himself by raising his sword horizontally above his head. As their sword make contact and the first clash sound of sword rings at an otherwise silent courtyard, all hell breaks loose. Soldiers under Yo's command runs forward, clashing with the soldiers who had formed a barricade in front of the king's quarter.

Jung freezes on his feet, confused as to why his brothers are fighting to death. He didn't want to take sides. His status as a brigadier general and a prince, afford him defense on the chaos ensuing around him. Soldiers naturally give him a wide berth. Only a prince with the same status as him could dare to go against him. So pushes him out of the way as he and Yo exchanges parry.

"Hyung?" Jung falls to his butt. The fear of having his brother get hurt renders him useless and unable to move from his position.

Wook pays him no mind, fighting with other soldiers around them. He too, wouldn't fight their brothers if he could help it.

With both swords crossed at each other, Yo shouts at Wook, "Wook-ah, secure the king's chamber now."

The momentary lapse at Yo's focus enables So to push him out of the way and he runs to stop Wook, encountering other soldiers obstructing his way.

Jung finally gets his head straight, scrambling to his feet and finding his way in front of Wook. He draws his sword to defend and not to strike.

"Get out of the way Jung-ah!" Wook warns him, "I don't want to hurt you."

"I can't hyung, joesonghaeyo." Jung doesn't forget to be polite, "Please stand back."

He leaves Wook with no choice but to strike.


Inside the king's chamber, Queen Yoo madly wails beside the king, her heart breaking like every wife who loses a husband she had loved all her life.

Yeonhwa and her mother sit quietly by the table. They were affected by the sudden passing of the king but not as much as Queen Yoo. Their heads are straight, focused at the sound of chaos coming from the outside. They knew the plan to invade the king's chamber and get his decree is commencing but it seemed the king had already given his last decree sometime yesterday and they all missed it except for the adviser who is always beside him.

Ha Jin and Ji Mong stand silently at the aisle. Queen Yoo wouldn't let them near the king. Though Ha Jin is quiet, the tears flow freely on her cheeks, lamenting the loss of mentor who is like a mother to her.


Somehow, Wook was able to get Jung out of his tail, reaching the steps of the king's quarter. He slashes at some soldiers who block his way. Their forces are thinning and Yo is still busy with So.

It's not that So couldn't match Yo but he chooses to be careful with him, treating him still as his older brother. If he could capture him alive and well, he'll do so, "Hyungnim, kueman haseyo. (Lets stop this here.) We both know my force is overwhelming yours."

"No-mu si-kku-reo! (You're too noisy!)" Yo puts more force on his slash.

Behind him, soldiers wearing the sigil of the seja arrive, adding to the force, So and Jung are commanding.

"Wook-ah! Hasten now!" Yo screams at Wook.

Wook turns to look at the main gate in time to see the seja's and the general's horses cross the gate.

At the outer corridor leading to the insides of the king's chamber, the occupants, Queen Shinjeong, Yeonhwa, Ji Mong and Hae Soo spill out at the door, all sporting a lamenting expression on their faces.

Wook and Yeonhwa exchange glances with Yeonhwa discreetly signaling for Wook to use his bow and eliminate the seja before the adviser announces the next owner of the throne.

Wook nods, taking his bow at his back and loading it with the same grey arrows typical of the north. He draws it out, it's rough string touching his cheek. He trains it at the seja who is out in the open, mounted on his horse.

"The king has died." Ji Mong announces in a steady sad voice.

Everyone fighting freezes at their stance. Mu's face falls into grief, momentarily loosing focus of what's happening.

Seeing as the only witness to the king's last decree is Ji Mong, Jung, So and Hae Soo, Ji Mong decides to skip over Mu as planned and announces So as the next king, "The king had made-"

"Manse, manse, man manse!" Ha Jin cuts into Ji Mong's lie and declares fealty towards Mu.

Jung falls to his knees and declares his fealty to the seja too, following Hae Soo's lead. Both of them had no idea that they had just foiled Ji Mong's scheming of putting So in the throne.

So pushes Yo back and comes to his knees, his soldiers and the private soldiers Yo and Wook are commanding also fell to their knees declaring, "Manse, manse, man manse."

Yeonhwa curls her hands into a fist.

Swoosh.

An arrow flies into the air and everyone hear it as it struck someone squarely below the ribcage. Yo clutches the arrow that hit him straight to the heart. He feels himself bleeding from the inside, doubling over the pain.

"Aahhhhhh…" A blood curling sound comes out of Yeonhwa as she watches Yo fall to the ground, her chance of becoming a queen withering with Yo. She looks at her 8th brother with so much hatred, unable to believe; he could betray her like this.

"For my wife." Wook mumbles to himself. He never gave up the investigation on Myung Hee's death and as he goes around the kingdom, carrying out his duty, he had met a lot of people, learned things about the households in the north and found out about the arrows that killed his wife.

"Manse, manse, man manse." Out loud, Wook kneels at the step, clutching at his bow. He declares his fealty to Mu.

Jung's eyes open wide with shock. His 3rd brother is within his grasp but he couldn't come to him since the new king hasn't given an order for them to rise.

Behind Mu, Won comes out relaxed. He and Wook had talked about jumping ship and letting Yo take the fall if his overconfident plan fans out, which in this case fails so Wook eliminates him and make himself and Won look the hero of the day.

Mu approaches a dying Yo in the ground. His eyes full of sorrow, "Mianhada Yo. Wook had always been my person. He had sent Won to aid me come back."

He gives his command for everyone to rise from their knees. So and Jung automatically run beside Yo.

"Hyungnim!" Jung takes Yo in his arm, panicking at the sight of too much blood on the floor. Yo seem to no longer respond, shaking in coldness.

So puts his hand at Yo's wound in an effort to stop the bleeding but he knew it's too late. Yo's body is going into shock, his lips turning blue, his face becoming paper white.

Yo grabs at So, struggling not to choke on his blood. He looks at So in the eye, "Remember… what I made you promise."

In a few more seconds, Yo will stop shaking and the pain would seize, his life ebbing away.

"Hyung!" Jung's wail fills the courtyard with pain.


Queen Yoo is not yet done grieving the king's lifeless body when she hears the news of his 2nd son dying. His body was brought to the Chungju Yu clan's quarter but is not allowed to be grieved nor be buried at the royal's tomb since he is declared a traitor to the state. On a normal circumstances, Yo's body should have been thrown out of the palace, left to rot on it's own but Jung and So kneeled and beg, pleading for Mu to exercise a little mercy since he is their brother.

Against the general and the adviser's warning not to be lenient with traitors, Mu grants Jung, custody of Yo's body provided that the Chungju Yu clan will no longer hold position in the court. The queen will be stripped off of her authority and will be banished to live in her hometown. Jung, who took the side of the former king, will be allowed to retain his position as Brigadier General. He will be the only Chungju Yu clan who is allowed to set foot in the palace.


Late into the night, Ha Jin crosses from her old room that she shares with Woo Hee to a larger private quarters that she used to occupy when she was an apprentice since Baek-Ah is still in their room recuperating.

As she walks alone in the corridors of Damiwon, Guen Sun comes out of the shadows, "Kkamjjakya!"

"Did I frighten you, agassi?" The light from the lantern only reaches half of Guen Sun's face and he looks deadly serious and angry.

Ha Jin automatically steps back, instinct warning her of danger. Guen Sun suddenly reaches to her neck, chocking her and backing her against the wall, "You're not good at taking subtle cues, aren't you? Should I have been straightforward from the beginning?"

Guen Sun's hold is not tight enough to block Hae Soo's windpipe, still, it's locked and unmovable as Ha Jin struggles, "Did you think we put you in that position so you could do whatever you want?"

He advances a step, getting too close on Hae Soo's face, blocking the light from the lantern, "Hae Soo Ssi, we put you there so the 4th prince could focus on getting the throne but it seems you're only a distraction."

Ha Jin doesn't understand.

"You have seen the decree of the king before he died, didn't you?" Guen Sun asks.

"Yi…yie…" Ha Jin gasps.

"You could have done with it and declared our 4th prince a king when you had the chance! Why would you declare fealty to the seja?! Do you belong to their house?!" Guen Sun holds her a little farther to the ground making her tiptoe.

Ha Jin tries to push his hand off her neck, turning redder by the second, "It is... what the… late king wants…"

"—I don't care what he wants!" Guen Sun angrily shake her, "You are a Kang and to our household, you are obliged to serve, you stupid girl. Who shall we make pay for the mistake you just made? Shall we call for your 4th prince? I bet he'd gladly take your punishment for you."

Fear clouds Ha Jin's eyes. Everyone warned her to be afraid of their household but she never once pay attention to it since it never concerned her before. Even when Guen Sun brought her here, he only followed her around, like a waiting servant. He never laid a finger on her. They told her to attend the assembly and that's what she had been doing. If she made a mistake or if she had done something that displeases her adoptive mother, she wouldn't know. This is the first time Guen Sun made clear to her what she was meant to do at the court.

"Please…" Ha Jin pleads, "I… didn't know… what you… want from me..."

Guen Sun inclines his head to the side, "Fair enough."

His grip loosens a little, adequate for Ha Jin to stand in the ground in flat feet. Guen Sun holds her at an arms length.

Footsteps quicken at Guen Sun's back and from the shadows, a gleaming sword had it's sharp blade horizontal to Guen Sun's neck.

Geun Sun doesn't even flinch only side glancing at the person holding the sword. Stepping into the dim light, Guen Sun recognizes the 8th prince, "Ah Wook wangjanim."

"Good. You know me." Stable and confident, Wook doesn't take his eyes off Guen Sun.

He was leaving the Damiwon after seeking Woo Hee and passes by the corridor where he saw the two. He never really like Lady Shinjuwon's right hand man and he always make a wide berth from the guy but anger flares at him when he sees the way Guen Sun handles Hae Soo.

"I don't know what Hae Soo had done to offend you but that is in no way to hold a lady." A quiet warning to Guen Sun. Wook presses his sword hand to Guen Sun's neck drawing a tiny trickle of blood, "Get your hand of off her."

Guen Sun is not in anyway threatened but he releases Hae Soo before things get out of hand. Ha Jin automatically massages her neck, wheezing for some air. Her eyes close to tears. Wook pulls her to his side while maintaining the sword on Guen Sun's neck.

"You are a Kang now and not of the Haes. You would do well to hid my warning Hae Soo Agassi or I would be force to take you back to the north where your mother is waiting for you. I'm sure you would love to stay there." Guen Sun pays no mind to the slight wound on his neck or to the 8th prince, his eyes still boring to a scared Hae Soo.

"Kaseyo." Wook commands.

Guen Sun bows his head slightly in polite mocking before leaving with a smirk on his face.

The two watch him turn at the far end corridor and disappear before Wook lowers his guard and his sword and turns to Hae Soo, "Gwaenchanhayo?"

His hand still clutching her wrist, feeling her shaking behind him, catching her breathing to calm down.

Ha Jin absentmindedly nods and then stills, remembering who Wook is in their original lifetime. She naturally draws space in between them. Her wrist in his hand stranded in the air. She clasps at her chest, lowering her eyes.

Ani Ha Jin, it's fine. He's different in this lifetime right? He's not necessarily that other prince from the daughter of the moon's past.

"Hae Soo Ssi?" Wook repeats her name.

He's different . He is different.

Ha Jin tries to convince herself.

It's not as if the daughter of the moon or her prince are of no fault too. He was betrayed first?

It would take a few minutes before Ha Jin calms herself and Wook only watch her, not letting go of her hand. By the time Ha Jin comes back to present, Wook is already standing close to her, inspecting her neck from what little light the lantern is offering. He's holding the tip of her chin, his other hand on her upper arm, stilling her in place.

Ha Jin fidgets uncomfortably, "Kamsahabnida."

Wook realizes how close he is to Hae Soo that he naturally steps back, putting his hands behind his back, affording Hae Soo some space, "Appwaseo? (Does it hurt)?"

"Ahm… it will be fine." Ha Jin touches her neck.

"We should put a cold compress in it before it becomes sore. It would be tender for a few days." Wook worriedly advises. His anger towards the man who tactlessly handled Hae Soo is not wavering. "I'll walk you to your quarters."

He waits for Hae Soo to lead the way, wanting to ask a lot of question but he lets her breathe first. Silence falls upon them, a stark contrast from the chaos the palace was into just this afternoon. Everything seemed to have settled down, resting before another day comes and the palace see a change of owner to its throne.

They walk together with Wook carrying the lantern for her.

"Does my 4th brother know that Guen Sun hurts you?" A little anger drips on Wook's otherwise calm voice. He suspects his brother is physically abused at the Kang household but he was hoping So isn't letting any of his clan lay a hand on Hae Soo.

"Anibnida." Ha Jin hurries to defend So, "I mean, that ajeossi never raised a hand on me before."

"Why did he hurt you now?" Wook asks, observing Hae Soo for every detail that would reveal whether she's lying or not.

"Mor-eu-gess-seub-ni-da. (I don't know.)" Ha Jin lies, "He said I did something wrong but he never got to the part of what it is because you came already. Thank you again."

Wook remembers Guen Sun's clear warning a while ago and catches the lie at Hae Soo's words. Hae Soo had only attended the assembly for a week before it got suspended and the whole palace was thrown to chaos. Hae Soo had been quiet in the assembly, only answering when addressed to and always, she answers the correct answer whether it's for the good of her new household or someone else's benefit. He suspects Hae Soo had angered the lady consort for always doing the right thing instead of protecting the interest of their clan.

"You should be careful of your new household." Wook warns, "Let's just say, your adoptive mother is known to not extend a good hand without counting something in return. How did you end up being a Kang by the way?"

"Chal mor-eu-gess-seub-ni-da, jeongmal. (I really don't know.)" This time Ha Jin isn't lying and Wook knows it. Ha Jin always forgets to ask So about it. With so many things happening to her lately, she can't remember which priority should come first. "I'll remember to ask So wangjanim later when I see him."

"Haeya dwaeyo (Yes, you should.)" Wook agrees, "Have you met Lady Shinjuwon?"

"Not yet." Ha Jin answers.

"I think my 4th brother would agree that it would be best that you don't. Everyone is afraid of her and for a good reason." The two continues their walk, turning to the end of the corridor to see the pathway leading to the main door that is already close.

"What is Lady Shinjuwon like? Everyone says that about her." Chae Ryung's words come to Ha Jin's mind, "Ah matda, did any letters from Chae Ryung came for me in my unnie's household? It's been a while. I was hoping Chae Ryung would finally write to me."

Wook can't help but smile, amused to hear Hae Soo jumping from one topic to another the way she used to. It seems Hae Soo is fine already, "Lady Shinjuwon is beautiful, very beautiful if I may say so but like my 4th brother, she has that air of aloofness and something... dark."

Wook waits a beat, letting it sink in to Hae Soo, "Some of us are attracted to darkness."

He abruptly stops, facing Hae Soo. Holding her gaze, he tells her, "I know because I am too. I hope in the future when you finally get tired of that darkness, you'll take my hand and maybe we could seek the light together."

Wook had always been eloquent and he knows it's one of his strengths. He could lie so thoroughly that it would be hard not to fall for his words.

He's different from the other prince right?

Ha Jin is starting to doubt her instinct to run away from Wook. He had always been gentle and kind to her. He might have forced her hand once but he was sincere when he apologized.

Wook takes a step back on his own, releasing Hae Soo's gaze, putting his gentle façade and working on earning her trust once more. He had learned well from his past mistakes and he doesn't intend on repeating it again.

"Kuereom chal jumuseyo. (Goodnight then.)" He takes his leave but stops to answer Hae Soo's last question, "And no, there are no letters that have arrive yet. I'll make sure to hand it to you if I we ever received one."

"Ah yie, kamsahabnida wangjanim." Ha Jin scuffles to her feet, gruffly thrown off from the sudden changes to Wook. "Chal jumuseyo."

She turns to enter the door, parting ways with Wook. Wook watches her enter the Damiwon before leaving the inner gate.


Baek-Ah wakes up on Woo Hee's cot, weakly looking around and finding himself in an unfamiliar place. He had never seen the inside of Woo Hee and Hae Soo's room. He slowly sits up, holding upon her bandaged stomach.

Woo Hee is just coming back from the main quarters, when she opens the door and sees Baek-Ah looking all pale but otherwise fine, "Wangjanim, don't get up yet."

She rushes into his side.

"Mul-eul jom juseyo (Please give me some water.) I'm thirsty." Baek-Ah utters in a crusty voice, his throat parch.

Woo Hee hastens to get water from the corner of their room and helps Baek-Ah to drink. After two glasses, she puts Baek-Ah back to lying down.

"What happened?" Baek-Ah asks, trying to remember. The last thing he recalls is the arrow striking Lady Oh at the back, "How is Oh Sanggun? And the king?"

Woo Hee doesn't know how she would explain it to Baek-Ah, "You've been asleep for two days."

She couldn't bring herself to say that their sanggun is gone or that his father and his 3rd brother are dead.

"And?" Baek-Ah prompts.

"Maybe its best that you should sleep some more. Forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you." Woo Hee's voice shakes.

"Arayo. I am only grateful that you are not hurt." Baek-Ah smiles and it only brings Woo Hee into tears.

Baek-Ah tries to reach at Woo Hee's cheek to wipe her tears but he couldn't extend his arm that far without being in pain. Woo Hee lies to the floor instead.

"Hush… Woo Hee-ya, everything is going to be alright." Baek-Ah opens his arms and lets Woo Hee snuggle closer to him. He couldn't turn to his side because of his wound so he contends with stroking Woo Hee's cheek with his left hand, while his right arm become a pillow to her. He pulls her closer, laying a kiss at the top of her head.


"How could you do that!" A flying saucer hits the wall to the side of the door as Wook enter his study chambers and Yeonhwa is sitting by the chair in front of his mahogany table, "I thought we are on the same side!"

Wook doesn't even flinch and only looks at his sister with a tempered annoyance, "I thought we are choosing the side of our family? I chose our family, didn't I?"

"He was going to make me his queen!" Yeonhwa stills, holding herself from letting a scroll fly in the air, "How could you declare fealty to another clan?"

"Two years ago you forced me to choose our family and now I just made you chose ours. We're even." Wook turns for the door, not in the mood to have an argument with his sister, "Besides, he killed my wife."


Since Lady Oh had just passed away and the Damiwon had lost it's queen, Ha Jin and Woo Hee are temporarily put in charged by Mu as the whole palace goes into transition. The apprentices were sent home and only the gungnyeo(s) are present in their quarters. All retired for the night.

Dousing the lights from the lanterns, Ha Jin notices someone lying by the edge of the outer pool. Jung has nowhere to go for the night. Baek-Ah is out of commission to speak to. He doesn't know where Eun is and his older brothers, So and Mu are busy with the general and the astronomer in the main palace, putting things in order. Hence, he ended up here, alone and curled to himself, his back to the door of the inner pool.

Ha Jin walks towards him, bending over to check upon him, "Jung wangjanim?"

Jung doesn't answer, only holding himself together.

Ha Jin sighs, feeling sorry for the 14th prince. Since she couldn't kneel for too long, she opted to sit casually behind Jung's head. Lost for words, she remains in silence accompanying Jung. Somehow her hand ends up in Jung's hair, touching him tenderly. At her touch, Jung lets his guard down and releases the sobs he's holding in. Lamenting for the loss of his older brother that they are not allowed to grieve. He turns to Hae Soo and innocently lays his head on her lap.

If Ha Jin is surprise or uncomfortable, she doesn't show. Jung needed someone to hold him tonight and so Ha Jin lets him be as he snuggles closer, the back of his head pressing on her stomach. She continues with stoking his hair while Jung closes his eyes, his arms crossed against himself, holding himself together.

A little later, So comes in the Damiwon. It was a long day and all he wants is to fall on Hae Soo's arms and find comfort. Instead he finds, the inner court of the Damiwon all-dark while the outer garden is dimmed, his 14th brother's head already lying on Hae Soo's lap. Their back to him. He watches them for a while, feeling the familiar jealousy creeping upon his chest, remembering how their mother used to put Jung on her lap and how he wishes he would disappear.

More than him, Jung was close to Yo. Jung did not only lose a brother today he also lost his whole clan, who will be banished from the palace as soon as the sun rises in the sky tomorrow.

So reigns his jealousy, his promised to Yo floating in his mind. He convinces himself that Hae Soo and Jung had always been friends and his 14th brother needed someone to stay with him but so does he. Hence, he approaches them.

"So wangjanim?" Ha Jin looks up surprised. Her hand freezes over Jung, gauging So's mood.

Jung reaches for her hand on his cheek, an instinct to hold upon something he had first. He's too fragile to care whatever his brother thinks. He was here first. She was his first. He'd be damned to be giving at the moment.

So only sits beside Hae Soo, his need for her too great to be bothered to leave. He closes every inch of space on their side, seeking whatever warmth he could get. He lays his head on her tiny shoulder, unburdening the sorrow he too feels for the lost of his older brother. He takes her free hand and intertwines it with his, holding to her for his sanity.

Just this once, just this moment, just this time when all of them are grieving, So could manage to share Hae Soo's affection with Jung.

Then tomorrow will be another day.


In the next few days, Mu is crowned as the new king. He is named as Hyejong and So is declared the new seja as decreed by the late king and against his will. Wook is promoted to Yo's office and his position is given to Won.

Wook appoints Woo Hee as the new sanggun, earning Baek-ah's gratitude and grounding Woo Hee inside the palace, at his call whenever he wants to.

At the general's advice, Soon Deok and Eun come back to the palace. Their status safe since they have always supported Mu as the seja. Eun was given the sole position for the office of the ministry of Rite while Baek-Ah moves to the office of Ministry of Work, the one used to be occupied by Mu and then by Won.


Two years into King Hyejong's reign…

The streets leading to the palace are alive with people celebrating the coming home of their seja, who had been in the borders of their northern kingdom for the last one year, playing two side of war between the Khitans and the Later Jin, with the latter being defeated for good and becoming a province of the former. Goryeo had extended a hand with the Khitans and declared a truce for the time being, promising peace for the next few years.

Mounted on his black horse, So with General Park by his right side and Jung to his left, leads their soldiers into a festive streets lined with people throwing different kinds of flower on their path, mostly wild ones that can be freely picked from the forest. Since it's summer, the forest is alive with Mokrans, Daisies and Daffodils.

A few kids, no older than ten years old, run beside the walking horses of the two princes, with a little girl traversing between Jung and So's horse and holds out a wild Mokran to So. So abruptly stops his horse and smiles at the little girl, receiving the Mokran she's holding.

Years ago, this kind of thing will never happen to So, when he was still hiding his scar with a mask. Whether he dresses as a prince or an armored general, no one would dare to speak blessing with him. He only got curses and dagger eye stares.

These days, he's content to see that even on his dirty armor soldier clothes, a little girl freely approaches him and blesses him with a flower. The girl adorably breaks into a wide smile with missing teeth as So accepts the Mokran. She runs back to her little band of friends after.

"Little kids, I wish my daughter would hurry and give me a grandchild." General Park side glances at So, his mouth twitching to a smile too, "I might end up dead on the next war without even seeing my grand child."

Jung laughs, "Did my brother even know how to consummate their marital bed?"

Gen. Park's face turns dark. At the early years of his daughter's marriage, it was bothersome and embarrassing to even consider his daughter sharing a bed with her husband but four years into marriage and not a word of whether the two even consummated their relationship is getting worrisome. He was always away, fighting a war and he doesn't have a wife to look after the marriage of his daughter. He thought at least, the 10th prince mother's would look after them.

Lady Sukmok does look after them, in fact she's way too amused of Soon Deok that she is apologetic. Her son might be the problem. Eun never looked at Soon Deok like a lady. They were close as friends. They like each other's company but Eun never went beyond the polite line.

"My daughter would kill me if I ever bring the 10th prince with us on a gyobang. I'd like to know if he even likes a girl." Gen. Park looks so serious it makes Jung and So crack up.

"He likes a girl." Jung assures the general, thinking about Hae Soo, "Maybe he's still hang up with his first love. Some of us never moved on from it."

"Are you also still hang-up with your first love that you also never experienced a lady's touch?" Gen. Park teases Jung, "At matda, you always hold a company for the same gisaeng."

On another town where their military garrison is staying, there is a small gyobang with pretty gisaengs that the soldiers frequent. Though the three of them visits the gyobang, Gen. Park and So only ever drink together. It was always Jung who disappears with the same gisaeng.

"Come to think of it, the lady looked familiar, doesn't she?" Gen. Park thinks about the petite gisaeng, with a very long mahogany hair, trying to place her face, "Well, she is pretty, even So wangjanim kept looking at her."

"Na-ya? Onje kue-nyeo-reul pwass-ji? (Me, when did I ever looked her way?)" So looks scandalized. He did a double take on her once the first time he met her. She resembles Hae Soo at first glance.

"Tsss… Shall I tell Hae Soo?" Jung covers his tracks with a joke. So is still unaware that he and Hae Soo had a past.

"Ya! Juk-eul-rae?! (Do you want to die?!) Or shall I send you down south? Keep company with your pirates?" So threatens Jung.

Jung laughs loud with Gen. Park, "This is getting tiresome, I'll race you to the palace. I can't wait to see Hae Soo."

Jung hits his horse hard and gallops away fast. Gen. Park and So follows through, leaving their soldiers on foot to continue with the parade.


At the steps of the Hoegyong Hall, King Hyejong awaits with his assembly, with all the princes and princesses on their positions, the town people by the courtyard. Ha Jin still occupies the same position as before therefore she stands with the ministers, her pastel hanbok always standing out among the sea of red uniforms of the ministers.

King Hyejong sits at his throne, overlooking the whole courtyard, looking all pale in spite of the bright sun that graced them this morning. For the last two years, his health had greatly deteriorated and all of them blaming it on the stress of rebuilding their monarch after the late king passed away. He doesn't look any better than how the late king looked during his dying weeks. Ji Mong knew someone is poisoning the king but he couldn't trace it at all. So and him made sure that someone tests the king's food before serving it and so far the same tester doesn't exhibit any symptoms like the king's. It's also not in the incense or any perfume that the king uses since they also keep an eye on it and everything that goes in his room is thoroughly checked.

"Ah finally they are here." Wook announces, seeing the hurl of wind that comes behind the three who are racing their horses madly.

The three slows down their horse to a walk as they cross the main gate of the courtyard and they were welcomed with thunderous applause, cheering and drums. Alighting their horse, the three walk on foot until they reach the lowest steps and the king welcomes them home.

King Hyejong stands from his throne, a smile on his face in spite of his dizziness, "Ah did our seja brought me a flower?"

Everyone automatically looks at the Mokran So had received from a little girl a while ago.

"Igeo? (This?)" So quickly hides it at his back, "Sunggohabnida pyeha, a little girl had generously gave me a flower at the parade. We brought you gifts at a carriage following us. It seemed it haven't arrived yet."

"Ah kuerehabnikka? I was merely being playful." King Hyejong good-naturedly jokes. The throne had saddled him with so much responsibility; he misses exchanging playful banters with his brothers, "You may go back to your places then."

Jung comes back to his place beside Baek-Ah, exchanging high fives with Eun and Baek-Ah. So walks to Mu's former position, the one beside the king, in front of Hae Soo. He takes out the Mokran at his back and offers it to Hae Soo without a word.

Ha Jin is standing at her usual place, hiding her enthusiasm at seeing So. It's been a year since the last time they saw each other and they've only exchange letters. Their plan of eloping never materialize since So was weigh down with responsibilities of being a seja and Ha Jin had been watched over by Guen Sun closely.

She blushes as So shows his affection in front of everyone. Biting her lower lip, she meets So's eyes and shyly smile, receiving the Mokran.

"Aigoo," King Hyejong can't help but tease, "You openly rejected your king when I asked for the flower and here you are giving it to another girl. Are you trying to insult the heavens?"

"Sunggohabnida pyeha." The two automatically apologize.

So turns to face the king, "I didn't realize you were serious about the flower."

"Anibnida. I was only teasing." Mu couldn't wipe the ridiculous smile on his face. The whole court is amused, "Shall we have a wedding for the two of you? I keep giving you my blessing but the two of you only make us wait."

Of course the two would want nothing but to marry but So couldn't say Lady Shinjuwon won't let him.

"Ahem… gi..saeng…" Jung jokingly coughs a few unintelligible syllables that only the general understood.

So glares at Jung and Jung avoids his eyes, still continuing with his pretend coughing.


After the assembly Ha Jin and So walk along the courtyard, crossing from the quarters of the king going to the Damiwon. With the sun so high and the middle of the summer, the two keep to the shade of nearby corridors.

Soon they reached the Damiwon and Ha Jin leads them to an empty grooming room. Ha Jin no longer works at the Damiwon but So doesn't like it when other gungnyeo(s) touches him hence, Hae Soo voluntarily takes care of his grooming whenever he comes to the Damiwon. Aside from serving drinks at Hae Soo's request, Woo Hee and her gungnyeo(s) had learned to leave the two alone.

A gungnyeo discreetly knocks at the door and brings in a cold water and fresh juice and puts it by the corner table. As soon as she leaves, Ha Jin fusses over So starting with wiping a few sweat that had formed at the sides of his forehead, "How was your mission in the north?"

So helps Hae Soo with the armor on his arms first before facing Hae Soo and raising his arms sideways, letting her reach around his back to unfasten his belt. It charms him that Hae Soo could just ask him to turn or she could just walk around him to have an easy access at his back but she chooses to reach behind him as if giving him an embrace.

"Kkut. (It's done.)" So watches her, working on his armor, "I'm staying from now on."

After unfastening the belt, Ha Jin works on untying the crisscrossed string holding the upper armor. She pushes it upward, relieving So of his full armor and discarding it to the ground.

Now on his thin hanbok, So pulls Hae Soo by the waist "Soo-ya, nan jinjja manh-i gue-ri-weo-yo. (I really missed you this time.)"

Ha Jin slings her arm on So's shoulder while her other hand holds upon his upper arm comfortably, "Na, do. (Me, too.) I'm glad you'll be staying here from now on. Let's get you out of this dirty and dump cloths before you catch a flu."

"Eh? A flu?" It sounds ridiculous to So. After spending a year in a war zone, it feels wonderful to have someone worry about his health. He pulls at Hae Soo about to kiss her when another knock comes to the door. Ha Jin turns for the door but So stops her, stilling her inside his arms, "They can wait."

He leans once more, descending to have a taste of his tea when the knock comes insistent once more.

"Hae Soo-ya!" Soon Deok calls.

Ha Jin chuckles, "I should answer that."

She steps out of So's embrace, leaving him disgruntled and disappointed.

"Deul-a-u-se-yo. (Come in.)" Ha Jin opens the door and let Soon Deok come in. Eun follows through as usual.

"Eoh! Wangsejanim!" Soon Deok greets So.

"Hyungnim!" Eun exclaims

So crosses his arms against his chest and leans by the chair, "Na-ga! (Get out!)"

"Ay wae! We've just come in." Eun pouts adorably, "Are you at the middle of something?"

"Aniyo, I was just helping So wangsejanim out of his armor." Ha Jin raises her two hands, palm out, flat out denying.

So shakes his head and sits himself at the chair. Baek-Ah comes in with Jung, making the room full.

"Are you ready?" Soon Deok addresses Hae Soo.

Ha Jin nods enthusiastically.

"Wae, oedi ka? (Where are you going?)" So turns to look at Hae Soo. He was looking forward to spending an afternoon with her.

"It's my parents death anniversary today. Soon Deok volunteered to take me to their grave. It's been a while since I visited them." Ha Jin explains, tangling her arm with Soon Deok's.

So totally forgot what day it is today, "Can I come then?"

"Aniyo." Baek-Ah answers in a sing-song. "Only the two of them are leaving. It's supposed to be for girls and us boys will be left here. Jung tells me, we have to remedy something about our married brother here."

Baek-Ah chokeholds Eun by the neck. Eun pushes Baek-Ah away.

"You can play with our little brother then, I'll come with Hae Soo. It's dangerous out there." So stands up from his chair and the three blocks his way.

"I can protect her as much as you can." Soon Deok assures them. She takes Hae Soo with her and the two ladies say their goodbye.

"Ya! Who is going to prepare my bath!" So calls after them. "I'm telling you, I won't take a bath with those servants around me."

"You've survived plenty of war. You'll survive without a bath for a day." Ha Jin winks at him and leaves with Soon Deok.

"Ya!" So throws a tantrum.

"I'll prepare you a bath later when I come home." Ha Jin promises.


"I've never seen such a lively homecoming for our seja." Wook comments as he and Won accompanies King Hyejong back to his quarters after the assembly.

These days, King Hyejong spends too much time on Wooks company since So, Gen. Park and Jung are away in the north. Ji Mong follows at their tail, keeping watch after the king.

"Isn't a parade too extravagant?" Won chimes in, "The people are chanting the seja's name in the streets instead of yours, pyeha. Maybe we shouldn't encourage it too much."

"Nonsense. The seja deserved to be treated generously. They have just won us a peace treaty with the Khitans. Surely, we could afford our brother some adoration." King Hyejong confidently assures his two brothers.

"Of course, pyeha. I am only saying, we shouldn't spoil him too much. Lest our people forget that it is still you who is the throne and not him." Wook cautions.

King Hyejong understands what Wook is saying. Somehow, for the last two years of his reign, he feels that his people are more supportive of the seja instead of him. It's as if So is already reigning even when it is still him in the throne. The only thing keeping him from not suspecting the seja is the knowledge that So never wanted to become the heir.

The night before Mu's coronation, So came to him and ask him to release him from being the next seja. He wanted to leave the palace and disappear with Hae Soo. Mu had asked him to stay for a few years, at least until his reign is stable. He even gave them his blessing to marry just so the two wouldn't leave. Looking back now and assessing his people's support, King Hyejong is doubting whether he made the right choice of making So stay.


When Ha Jin comes home that night in the Damiwon, her legs are trembling from too much overexertion. It's one of the side effects she got from having her legs tortured some years ago. She can't run. She has a hard time climbing stairs. She can't kneel or ride a horse for too long.

Woo Hee had prepared the outer pool with herbal water to relieve her stress but since it's too warm these days to take a bath on a hot spring water, Ha Jin strips into only a layer of sokgot and sits by the edge of the pool. She folds her sokchima neatly up in her thighs and have her bare legs soak, almost knee deep. When her feet break into the water, she sighs, the warm water an instant relief to her aching muscles.

The gungnyeo(s) dim the light at the whole ground floor of the Damiwon and retires for the night, leaving Hae Soo alone on the outer pool with a pitcher of cold water and an empty glass beside her.

Ha Jin is at the middle of kneading her left calf when she hears the main door open but doesn't hear footsteps. Wondering if she just imagined hearing the door creak, she shrugs. She continues to apply pressure on her calf and almost fell to the water when she hears a voice behind her.

"Is this my bath? Did you prepare this for me?" So walks silent as always, reaching Hae Soo at the outer pool. He takes off his coat and lets it fall to the ground when he abruptly stops and turn away from Hae Soo. He sees her sokchima folded up her legs, "Ani… museum… mwo haneun keo-ya?! (What are you doing?!)"

Ha Jin quickly pushes her sokchima down to cover her legs, dousing it at the water, "Why are you here at this time of the night?"

So is dressed in his bathing thin black sokgot, his back to her, "You promised you'd prepare my bath for me. How can I not come?"

"You went around all day without taking a bath?" Ha Jin finds So ridiculously funny, "Jinjja?! (Seriously?!)"

"Ya!" So feels mortified and hides it with child like annoyance, "Unlike you, I always follow through with my promises."

Ha Jin couldn't hold back her chuckle and laughs.

"Eh? What could be so funny right now?" So is really annoyed.

"Kuenyang, I didn't know you would really wait for me. Mianhaeyo, wangsejanim."

"You addressed me in my title, yet laughs at my foolishness." So finds the preposterousness of his expectation but is disappointed nonetheless.

Ha Jin notices the crimson blush spreading on So's neck and stops laughing. She reaches to his hand, "Please don't be angry. I didn't mean to forget. You could still take a bath in here. Woo Hee prepared this pool for me. I'm sure it would soothe your aching muscles too."

So is contented to hear that and hides the smile trying to peek on his annoyed façade, "Kuere? Can I share the pool with you?"

"I was only relieving the tired muscles on my calf, please do so." Ha Jin extends the invitation to So.

Like a child, So quickly comes down to the water before Hae Soo changes her mind and withdraws the invitation. As the water comes up to his waist, he can feel the water's heat a little prickly for summer. He would have preferred the cool water at the Donji Lake at this time of the year.

"How's the water?" Ha Jin already knows the answer and holds back laughter.

"A little warm to my liking." So faces the hidden opening of the cave, keeping his back to her.

"You can turn around," Ha Jin tells him. Her legs from knees down are still soak in the water but this time her sokchima is covering it. Only her toes can be seen under water.

So turns to face Hae Soo and its a bad idea. Only then did he realize how thin Hae Soo's sokgot is. It's decent and not flimsy but he knows it's only a layer over her basic undergarment. If it gets douse with water, it will reveal everything.

He thinks twice, wondering if he should just face the other way again.

"Waeyo?" Ha Jin isn't aware of So's predicament, seeing nothing wrong with her clothes.

So fidgets, something he doesn't do.

"Come here. I'll help you with your hair." Ha Jin offers.

So thinks twice, wondering if he should point out to Hae Soo that her clothes are tempting for a man who misses her.

"I-ri-wa-yo. (Come here.)" Ha Jin repeats, extending her hand.

So wouldn't say no to that and wades into the water towards her.

Ha Jin pours a cold glass of water and gives it to So, "Mianhaeyo, I know the water is too hot in this weather. I'll prepare you a better bath next time."

"Gwaenchanha. As long you're here with me." So drinks the water and puts it aside, "How was your visit to your parents?"

"I miss them so much." Ha Jin rests her hands on her side, gripping the edge of the pool behind her knees.

So came with her a year ago and he knows how far the trip from the palace is, "It must have been hard to travel there."

He comes closer to her, standing beside her knees. With worry, he looks at her toes, a little hazy under the water, "How are your legs?"

Ha Jin absentmindedly kneads her upper thigh, the part where the wooden rod had fractured her legs, "It's stinging a bit but it will be fine."

So tentatively touches her shin over her thin sokchima, under the water, "May I… massage it for you?"

It is not normal for a boy to see even the tips of the toes of the ladies during Goryeo, let alone, touch her legs unless they are married.

An uncontrollable pink blush spreads over Hae Soo's cheeks, her ears seeming too hot to her touch. It's not as if she never wore shorts or mini skirts in the present time or that no one had touch her legs before but she's been trapped in this period for six years now. She had acclimatised with the customs and traditions quite well. Her legs had always been covered under layers of chima.

Though Goryeo is closer to the present day customs of equality between men and women or that women are more liberal than they were in Joseon Dynasty, there is still shyness in Ha Jin when it comes to being touched by So.

She looks away and doesn't really answer but she also doesn't protest or pushes So's hands away when it slides to her bare sole and starts rubbing her foot between his hands. With his thumb pressing some pressure points in her soles, Ha Jin flinches a little but begins to feel better after several strokes.

"Did the Mokrans around your parents grave finally blossom?" So asks, keeping Hae Soo's mind away from his touch to dispel the awkwardness in the air.

Ha Jin nods, "It did. I guess the ladies in our clan really loved the smell of that flower. Did you know every grave and shrine of our clan has Mokrans growing around it?"

"Ne, I heard." So's hand slowly slides upward to her calf and Ha Jin in takes a discreet breathe in her slightly open mouth, So's hand skillfully make long and gentle strokes, improving the circulation in her legs. "They say your clan is loosely related to the original clan of the daughter of the moon."

"Do I look like her?" Ha Jin blurts out.

So chuckles, "I wouldn't know. There are no paintings of her. Why?"

"Kuenyang, they say her mother is the most beautiful lady in the kingdom and that she isn't as beautiful as her but everyone likes her for being the a daughter of the heavenly moon deity." Ha Jin shrugs, wondering if So ever dream of their original lifetime too.

So finishes with her left leg and moves to her other leg. He positions himself in front of her knees to get a better access on her right leg, "However she looks like, I'm sure you're prettier than her."

Earning him a playful grin from Hae Soo.

Ha Jin relaxes in So's touch, getting used to his hands on her. They aren't exactly soft, it's full of callous from handling swords and fighting all his life but his touch is full of gentleness that overcompensates for it.

"She might be the daughter of the moon but you are my moon and to me you will always be lovelier than anyone."

Though Ha Jin finds his words too cheesy, somehow it still makes her heart flutter. She's glad to know that So differentiates her from the daughter of the moon even if it was her in the past.

Ha Jin brings her hands to So's hair, untying the ribbon and letting it down. She wets her hand with water and gathers his hair to tie it in a neat bun behind his head, "Is it any better?"

"I feel better." So naturally advances another step, bringing himself in between Ha Jin's knees and opening it. His one hand cautiously goes up beyond her knees, now laying on her thigh, at the rough patch of skin that healed improperly after her torture. He plays it coolly but inside he is fully aware of how soft and inviting Hae Soo's skin feels in his hands, the image of her bare legs still in his mind, tempted to look below and see her shin definitely bare.

"So-ya," Ha Jin rest her hand on his shoulder, looking beyond his neck and into the scars left by the lashes he got four years ago, "Does this part of your back still hurts?"

Her hands dip below his nape, tracing it lightly and sending a luscious goose bumps down his spine.

So's sokjeori is slightly open upon his chest, loosely held by ribbon on his waist. Years ago, he would have been worried and embarrassed to have Hae Soo see his scars but after that night when Hae Soo and him talked about that little girl named Sol, he became comfortable with Hae Soo touching him.

"Ne, when it's extremely cold." So answers honestly and sees worry dancing on Hae Soo's eyes, "Please don't worry about it. I already told you I'm proud to have earned these scars for you."

"Arayo, I just wish you didn't have to." Ha Jin lets her hand wander at what part of skin her hands could touch, feeling So tensing, "What's wrong? Am I hurting you?"

"Ani." The tensing on So's muscles has something to do with that delicious warmth pooling below his navel, down to his thigh. Every nerve on his body screaming to be touched. Unable to handle his cravings anymore, he commands, "Soo-ya… kiss me."

He catches her gaze and holds it, asking her to make a move first. His hand comes out under her sokchima and clasps at the hem of her seokjeogori. The air around them becomes charged and Ha Jin is sucked in to descend upon So's waiting lips. She touches her lips to his lightly at first and he automatically opens his mouth, bold and aggressive. This isn't one of those chaste and sweet kisses they had in the past. This one is of a hungry variety, unappeasable no matter how many times their tongue dance together. Ha Jin moves further into So's space, her knees on each side of So's waist.

So inclines his head to the opposite direction, deepening the kiss, his hand on the hem of her seokjeogori, moving underneath it, "Soo-ya, I want to touch you."

And that's when Ha Jin remembers where So's other hand is left lying, on her bare inner thigh, dangerously too far up under her sokchima. Ha Jin automatically holds So's hand at bay, seizing it from moving further up. She breaks their kiss and leans back but So grabs her arm and stills her.

Her heart beats hard on her chest, pounding in her ears, filling her head with excessive blood. She doesn't know if it's the heat rising from the warm waters or her body is just naturally reacting to So's touch but she feels lightheaded and hot all over, as if she's drunk on some kind of want.

"My beautiful moon, don't pull away." So pleads, not ready for their bubble to be broken.

When Ha Jin looks into his gaze once more, his eyes are hazy with desire. Everything about his expression, his lips red from her kisses, his Adams apple bobbing up and down his throat, the tense muscle on his shoulder, his chest tout and peaking from his sokjeogori, speak of hunger that longs to be satiated.

His hand on the hems of her seokjeoori travels to her neck, at her nape. He draws her down, meeting her lips with his again. Ha Jin kisses him back hesitantly this time, "Wangsejanim…"

She's being formal again and So notices her nervousness, "Do you trust me?"

So stops kissing her for a moment and looks her in the eye.

Ha Jin doesn't know what to say. It's close to midnight and the Damiwon is deserted. No one will come to disturb them. How far are they going to take this tonight, she doesn't know, wondering if she is ready for this.

Touching his forehead with hers, So releases a sigh. His hand underneath her sokchima withdraws into her knee, Hae Soo's hand following his, "Mianhada. I will never hurt you."

He kisses her gently this time, his hand on her nape, skimming on her upper arm, stroking and drawing pattern, taking her mind off of his hand on her knee. He leaves her lips, nuzzling on her chin, down to her neck. Her heart feels like jumping out of her throat and So's lips dip deeper on the collars of her sokjeogori.

Ha Jin relaxes enough to let her guard down, his hand underneath her sokchima worms it way out of her hold, gliding up on her inner thigh at the same time that his lips plays in her neck, up and down, sucking at the space in her clavicle.

So watches her close her eyes, his hand reaching the ribbon of her dari-sokgot (breechcloth) at her waist. He pulls at it's string, untying it before coming down slowly to her inner thigh. As his lips meets hers once more, his hand reaches to the small spot between her legs, the part where no one had touched Hae Soo before.

Ha Jin opens her eyes wide, suddenly becoming aware of So's hand and instinctively moves to withdraw from his finger but So holds her still, her legs unable to close since So is standing in between her knees,

"Don't move away from my touch, Soo-ya." He pleads as if it would hurt him if she moves away. "Please don't."

Ha Jin panics. It isn't her first time to be touched like this but it is a first on Hae Soo's body. Like every normal girl, she feels an unwelcome aversion to a foreign hand on her intimate spot,

"So wangsejanim…"

She automatically clutches onto him, tightening her arms around his neck. She rests her forehead on his shoulder, closing her eyes and digging her fingers to his skin. She can hear her heart pounding in her ears.

"Relax Soo-ya," So stokes her hair, waiting for her to calm down and get used to his hand before he moves his fingers, "You're beautiful and I love you so."

Sweet words that encourages Hae Soo to loosen a bit. So watches her bit her lower lip, her cheeks red in self-consciousness.

So purports her cheeks with kisses, commanding and leading her out of her shell, "Kiss me, Soo-ya."

Ha Jin turns to meet his lips, cautious and shy.

"Close your eyes."

Ha Jin follows.

His fingers begin to explore, feeling her tremble as he finds her folds. Parting it gently, his thumb draws gentle circular strokes that solicit a surprise gasp from Hae Soo, her knees slackening around his waist.

"Soo-ya," So whispers in her ear, brushing her hair to the other side of her shoulder so he'd have access on her neck. He fastens his wet mouth on her bare skin, sucking and leaving a mark before going up to her ear and commands, "Open your legs for me, I want to feel the inside of you."

Ha Jin's natural response is to tense and yet something in his commanding voice makes her all jelly inside.

His hand on her hair slides down to her back, pulling her closer so her legs will automatically part at his waist. Her sokchima pools above her knees, exposing her bare calves. His finger moves to search for her entrance. Following the path where she is most moist, he circles around the entrance, wetting the tip of his finger before coming in.

Ha Jin braces herself knowing it wouldn't feel good the first time., "Ah"

So doesn't take his eyes of Hae Soo's face, memorizing her expressions as emotions dance on her face to the feel of his finger inside her. He lets the whole length of his finger be enveloped with her heated and moist wall.

Closing his eyes, So drowns on the feel of her on his finger, on her uneven breath on his neck, on the innocence of her gasps, her nails raking on his skin. He wants nothing but to feel his self inside her. He forgets his self-control and starts being rough, his finger moving faster inside her.

Ha Jin squeezes her eyes shut, biting hard at her lower lips.

"Wangsejanim." Ha Jin seizes his wrist, stopping it from moving.

So opens his eyes, looking at Hae Soo's uncomfortable face. She looks away, unable to meet his eyes, "Appwaseo. Manh-i. (It hurts a lot.)"

So withdraws his finger automatically too fast, it solicits a painful gasp from Hae Soo, "Mianhada, I didn't know it would hurt so much."

He pulls her into an embrace, gentle once more, "Are you alright?"

He calms his self down, every nerve on his body protesting with want.

Ha Jin nods at the top of his head, "I'll be fine."

But So isn't, "Shall we continue?"

Though he means it as a joke this time.

"Not tonight. Mianhaeyo." Ha Jin embarrassingly says no.

"Araseo." So pulls away, laying a quick kiss on her bare knee before pulling her sokchima to cover her legs.

"Come to water with me? It's heat will help make you feel better." So suggests pertaining to the throbbing pain in between Hae Soo's thigh. He leaves her knees and closes her legs, holding upon her waist to support her descend to the water.

"Jamkkan. (Wait.)" So puts back her to the edge of the pool.

"Waeyo?" Ha Jin asks confused.

"Maybe you shouldn't get your clothes wet." So hesitates, touching his nape embarrassingly, "Your clothes are too thin, I might lose my self-control again."

Ha Jin blushes once more, amused at So's honest warning. After touching her too intimately, So still treats her with utmost politeness. She smiles, "I should probably go back to my room."

"Eh? Now?" So doesn't want to yet.

"Can I sleep in your room?" His eyes crinkles adorably, like a kid asking for a candy. "I can behave myself."

Ha Jin chuckles, "Go back to your quarters wangejanim. It's getting late."

She stands up, "Finish your bathing, I'll go and get a towel for you."

"You'll have to help me get dressed." So calls after her.

"Ne. Ne." Ha Jin answers walking away. She holds upon her abdomen unconsciously, a little painful from her first time experience.


PREVIEW:

Shall we have a change of owner of the throne again? ^^ Say goodbye to another character? Huhu. We only have Wook and Lady Shinjuwon as the villain. I guess So and Hae Soo will have to face Lady Shinjuwon at some point.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

I miss the timing of Ha Jin finally finding out about her connection with the daughter of the moon. Sorry about that. It was supposed to be Lady Sewon who tells her the story and her finding out about it last chapter feels like deux ex machina. I needed her to know before all the parents in her life die and the king and Lady Oh are last of those adults (Oh but there's Ji Mong, still!)

I'm unsure of that last sequence (Their relationship have to escalate somewhere, don't they? They can't stay innocent until the last chapter or I'm just nervous at writing smut. Mianhaeyo.) Everyone's relationship have to escalate by next chapter since we only have a few more chapters left.