A/N: It's been a long time since I last updated. Actually I was busy with my university work and I was also lacking inspiration. From now on I will try to update more regularly but I cannot promise. Happy reading :)

In the chamber under the lamp, Haesoo was quietly sitting. There was a white parchment that was placed in front of her but there was nothing on it. The ink was grinded and the brush was prepared. She picked up the brush and dipped it in the ink and began to write something very slowly and cautiously.

Not even a moment passed when she groaned, "Aishh, I got it wrong again." Soo crumpled another paper and threw it to the floor in annoyance.

"I am going to go crazy and lose my mind", she whined to herself. "I cannot even read Hanja properly. How in the world can I write them! I should have told Prince Wook the truth then he wouldn't have asked me to write a reply."

Her mind strangely wandered off to the unpleasant conversation she had overheard yesterday. She rested her chin on her hand.

"How can a mother say to her own son that your only talent is in killing people? Even if she's upset, isn't that bit too much?" She shook her head. "Worry about yourself Hajin. There's nothing you can do about other's matters anyway."

She slumped forward on the desk and mumbled into the wood, "I should have paid more attention to chinese classes when I was in school." Soo raised her head as an idea came to mind. She smirked, suddenly feeling determined again. She took a brush in hand, and began sweeping it confidentially across the paper.

Anything is better than nothing.

The next day, Haesoo quietly snuck into 8th Prince's library, hoping to leave her embarrassing work on his desk while he was away.

She carefully placed the folded paper on top of one of his open books, only having time to turn around before the door to his study was suddenly pushed open. Soo froze in her place and her eyes widened as all of the princes walked in. They stopped short, too, with confusion on their faces when they caught sight of her in Wook's study.

"Soo-ya!" Eun called chearfully as he made his way over to her. "What brings you here? Are you here to see me?"

She anxiously shook her head, "I just had to drop off something."

Soo clenched her teeth as Eun scanned his eyes over Wook's desk, quickly finding the folded paper and snatching it up. Soo had shot her hand out to grab it at the same time, and she was now gently wrestling with the prince for the paper.

Jung also came forward, curious about the contents of the letter. "What is it in there that you don't want us to read?"

Soo nervously replied, "Wook Wangjanim taught me a poem and told me to write a reply as etiquette."

Everyone looked at Wook for confirmation. "Yes, she's telling the truth."

Eun's excitement and curiosity doubled. "Does that mean you personally wrote this poem?"

Soo just awkwardly smiled as an answer. When she saw Eun pulling out the paper open, she dramatically held his hand. "Let me leave first. Open it after I am gone. Please. Please."

Flustered by her sudden touch, Eun couldn't say a single word and just nodded. Soo bowed to the princes before rushing out of the room.

Baek Ah quietly watched the whole scene. He turned his head to his elder brother, Wook and observed the way he looked at Haesoo. He knew those eyes. He knew that look. It was these eyes Myung Hee nuin longed to be looked at with. How heartbroken and terrible she would feel if she knew that her husband who she loves more than herself was in love with her little sister! Baek Ah was sure that it was a one-sided love at least till now. As he never saw Soo treating Wook any differently than the way she treated others. She had always been very polite and respectful towards him. Although he wondered how long it would stay like that. Her own cousin fell for his 8th brother's charms. He feared that Soo would not be different either.

Soo ran off to the pond. She paced its edge while miserably muttering, "How am I going to face the princes again? Perhaps it would have been better if I hadn't written anything at all. At least I wouldn't have been so embarrassed. "

"Soo! Soo-ya!"

She turned over to see an over enthusiastic Eun rushing towards her. Baek Ah and Jung followed behind, walking instead of running like their brother.

"Shoot!" Soo cursed under her breath. She gave a bright smile to Eun, "Oh! You're here. I just remembered that unnie was looking for me. I should get going." She wheeled around to quickly leave before Eun could tease her about her so-called poem. But to her dismay, she was blocked by Beak Ah.

"You can go but at least tell us from where you learned that innovative writing technique." He knitted his brows, "Wait, was it a drawing?"

"Ne?" Soo blinked several times. She scanned the faces of the princes. Instead of mockery she saw genuine curiosity in her face.

She softly chuckled at herself for thinking too much for no reason.

Now free of her worry, she replied in a relaxed voice. "Well, you can call it a drawing."

Jung walked forward. "But what kind of drawing is that? Who taught you that?"

Soo raised her chin, "Me. I invented them." Sorry to the original creator.

She moved to comfortably sit on a stone. The princes also sat on stones following her.

"Eight Prince's poem was so splendid that I felt mere words cannot do justice to it. So I tried to show him my emotions instead."

Baek Ah titled his head, "It seems a bit of an exaggeration to me." He looked at Soo, "Moreover it's not like he wrote the poem himself. He just copied it."

She blinked her eyes, "Oh, I see. So I was amazed for no reason." She said under her breath.

Eun scooted closer to her and asked her with bright eyes, "Soo-ya, Can you teach me?"

"Of course. Let's go inside. I will show happy, crying and angry drawings too." She got up, held her skirt and started walking. The princes also got up to follow her.

Soo suddenly turned around, "Oh right. They are not drawings. They are emoticons."

"You indeed learned it quite fast." Consort Myungsun commented endearingly.

"Told you I am a fast learner", Soo said while pushing her threaded needle upwards through the fabric.

Consort Myungsun put her hand on Soo's, stopping her in her stitching. "Soo-ya, can I request you something?"

Soo smiled, "Of course, Your Highness. You are my elder. By using words like request you're embarrassing me."

Consort Myungsun's smile grew bigger. "Two days later is my daughter Ra-on's death anniversary. Every year I hold a prayer for her soul in a famous temple outside the city. It will make me really happy if you can join me this year."

Although Soo wasn't expecting this. She didn't have the heart to refuse after seeing Consort Myungsun's extremely bright and expectant eyes. "It would be a pleasure for me. But I have to ask Myung Hee unnie for her permission."

"You don't have to worry about that. I will send her a letter myself. I do not think she will not refuse me. Moreover we will be returning that day itself." Consort Myungsun held Soo's hands. "You just prepare for leaving."

Soo warmly smiled and nodded.

Consort Myungsun watched Soo diligently practicing embroidery while drinking her tea. Suddenly she thought of something and her smile fell. "Is it true that Princess Yeonhwa had punished you openly in her pavilion?"

Soo's hands stopped and she looked up in confusion. How did she know about it?

Seeing her looking at her like this, Consort Myungsun understood what she was thinking. "Favorite pastime of court ladies is gossiping."

Soo put down the fabric on the table and forced a smile. "That was a small misunderstanding."

Consort Myungsun scoffed, "She whipped you over a small misunderstanding?" She already knew the details of the matter. She then sighed and shook her head. "Yeonhwa wasn't always like this. Hardships should make a person more sensible but instead it made her more arrogant. She should have thought before raising her hand on a noble personage over such trivial matters. It is fortunate of Yeonhwa to have a smart brother like Wook who suppressed the incident before others could take advantage of it." She looked at Soo. "Can you guess why Princess Yeonhwa hates you two sisters so much?"

"Because it hurts her pride that she is indebted to our clan?"

The consort smirked, "You're not dumb. Pride is something every princess should have but a princess should also know when to lower her head. Sadly, Yeonhwa hasn't learnt that yet. She put down her teacup. I cannot help you much from here anyway but I can give you some advice. Be as low key as possible. That's the best you can do for now."

Soo nodded, "I will remember that." Actually, Soo was already doing it. Ever since Yeonhwa punished Chaeryung because of her, she had become worried for Myung Hee. She would not always be there for her. If she kept going against her, she feared that someday Yeonhwa would take out her anger on Myung Hee too. So she deliberately tried to be as docile as she could be. Although Yeonhwa would still pick on her, at least it was less frequent than before as she didn't get many chances.

Haesoo wandered around the palace grounds like a lost soul. She had confidently assured Consort Myungsun that she didn't need anyone to escort her out. But little did she know that even after visiting the palace several times her memory about the structure of the palace was pretty much the same as before.

After wandering for a while Soo noticed a lake nearby. The lake and the surroundings seemed so beautiful that she couldn't stop herself from stopping there.

From the distance she vaguely saw a figure of a man wearing a black outfit but she dismissed him thinking he was some guard and walked forward. After walking for a while when she got closer she recognized the man as Prince Wang So.

Soo froze in her place. After their last unpleasant encounter she wanted to avoid him at all cost. For some time at least. She expected him to lash out at her or give her another one of his threats.

So must have sensed someone's presence because he turned around at her, looking surprised.

When she saw him noticing her, she hastily turned around to leave. But unfortunately while turning around, she accidentally twisted her ankle.

Soo writhed in pain and dropped to the ground. Carefully placing her leg she tried to get up but a shooting pain in her foot made her sit on the ground again.

"Why do you even try?"

She looked up and saw a bored or perhaps annoyed Wang So. She didn't know for sure. She was not in the mind to care for someone's mood. She took a deep breath and tried once more but she failed as expected.

So shook his head disapprovingly.

Soo rolled her eyes, "If you are not going to help then you can leave. There is no show going on."

"And you think you can manage alone?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Someone will pass by... sometime." She looked at him with her puppy eyes, silently begging him for help.

He frowned but extended his hand anyway. Here.

Fearing that he would withdraw it if she hesitated for a second, Soo immediately took his hand. To her surprise and relief, So helped her up quite slowly and gently. When he watched her still struggling to stand straight, he generously offered her his arms so she could balance herself.

They decided that he would walk her until they found a servant to escort her to her personal maid. But Soo's swollen ankle was taking them forever to even cross the lake. In addition, the dead silence and their previous unpleasant meeting made the atmosphere more awkward.

Haesoo decided to take the initiative. Understanding that most of their awkwardness was coming because of her being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she thought to clear it first. She glanced sideways at him to study his mood through his expression but frustratingly she found his face devoid of any emotions.

She spoke anyway, "I am sorry. That day, I didn't intend to hear but -"

"I don't want to talk about that." He dismissed her immediately.

Unwilling to make him angrier, she lowered her head.

For a long time they walked in silence. Soo's gaze fell on the peaceful and statue still lake. The only sounds were the bumbling of bees and the heavy echo of a raven croaking. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the fleeting colors of dusk began to fade away.

"I know that this is not my place to say but..." She deeply sighed. The usual chirpiness of her voice was missing. What was left was deep sadness and remorse. "My biggest regret in life is that I was not a very good daughter to my parents. I was unreasonable, inconsiderate and even took them for granted sometimes."

For a moment Wang So was confused. Soo had supposedly lost her memories, how could she remember what had happened in her childhood? But seeing her gloomy expression and tearful eyes, he didn't have any doubts. He assumed that perhaps she has started to remember fragments of her past.

Soo continued, "By the time I realized my mistake it was already too late."

Soo stopped walking and slowly turned her face to look at So. "The love parents have for their children is boundless and unconditional especially a mother's. A child can make hundreds of mistakes but a mother will always forgive them. Yes, they can be disappointed or upset with them. But isn't it because they had expectations from them in the first place? Every mother loves their child more than their life."

Hearing this, he recalled the incident in his childhood when his mother had tied him up and ordered the soldiers to shoot arrows at him ignoring his cries and pleading. He scoffed and said coldly, "Not every mother."

Soo slowly nodded, "Maybe. Maybe I am wrong. But I have lived years in regret and that regret even made me resent myself sometimes. I don't want you to wake up one day and feel that things would have been different if you had just tried more. Your Highness, what I went through, I sincerely wish that you won't have to go through it."

So stopped at his feet and turned his face to look at the girl beside him. She seemed a bit younger than him but her clear eyes held some maturity as if she had suffered greatly in her life.

Feeling his scrutinizing gaze, Soo unconsciously took a step away from him.

Suddenly strong winds began to blow and dark clouds began to form in the sky. So looked up the sky and thoughtfully said, "You might not be able to get home without getting wet."

The winds made the temperature colder. Even layers of thick clothes couldn't keep Soo from shivering.

Right at this moment she heard someone calling her name. Seeing someone coming their way, So perceptively stood at an acceptable distance from her.

"Agassi, I have been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been?" Chaeryung asked while panting.

Shouldn't I be the one asking this? You were supposed to wait for me just outside Consort Myungsun's quarters. If you had stayed there without wandering around then I wouldn't have gotten lost. Soo complained in her mind.

But seeing Chaeryung sweating profusely, she just casually said, "It's going to rain soon. Let's leave early."

So coughed which drew the attention of Soo and Chaeryung. Keeping his eyes on somewhere else, he told Chaeryung in a matter of fact tone. "Your Lady has hurt her leg. Leave through the west gate. It's a shortcut."

All of Chaeryung's focus was on Soo so when So spoke only then she realized that her lady was actually alone in this secluded place with Prince So. She didn't have a very good feeling about this so she thought to report it to Prince Wool or Lady Myung Hee when they returned back.

Soo on the hand was ruminating over what So has just said. West gate? Where is it now? I have to ask someone. What if by the time I find someone I have already reached half of the way and then what if they say that that west gate is in the opposite direction. She slightly raised her eyes to look at So, Should I ask him? Would it be of any help? There's no way we will be able to remember such complicated paths anyway. Should I send Chaeryung back to Consort-

"Agassi" Chaeryung interrupted her train of thoughts. what are you thinking about? Let's go back quickly before we get wet, otherwise Lady Myung Hee will scold us."

She looked at So one last time. "Thank you for your help earlier." Without waiting for his reply or reaction, she turned around with Chaeryung's help.

As So watched Soo walking away, his mind kept repeating two words: Expectation and regret.

A/N: The last part is one of the reasons why this chapter got delayed. I'm still not satisfied with it.