(Seongmok Palace, Songak)

~Baekah's POV~

Most days, my 4th brother So would come over for lunch. I think I was the one, among all of our siblings, that he was most comfortable with. In addition to being brothers, I was glad that we were friends. I couldn't bear to see So isolated and ostracized because of his scar. I understood that appearances did matter, but not enough to prevent me from getting close to him and befriending him. Although he made it seem like he was doing fine on his own and didn't need anybody, he still accepted me and welcomed my friendship. I thought that proved that he was lonely and he did want somebody to understand and support him. At our core, we all needed that. It was part of our humanity, and he deserved to be treated like a human being, not a beast.

At lunch today, I brought up the topic of our possible betrothal to Lady Hyeong of the An family. Yesterday I'd heard that our father the King's Majesty had allowed Lord An to choose an unmarried Prince for his daughter to wed. This was an honor that, according to my recollection, was only ever given to Lord Park Younggyu, with his middle daughter Lady Moongong who was now the wife of my 3rd brother Yo.

As such, both So and I, along with our 10th brother Eun and our 14th brother Jung, were candidates that Lord An could choose for Hyeong to marry. Although Hyeong and I were a bit more than mere acquaintances, we were not close friends, so perhaps it wouldn't be me that she would be married off to.

"What are your thoughts on this matter then?" I asked So. "Think you might be getting married soon?"

He shrugged dismissively. "It's not going to happen. Nobody has ever tried to plan marriages for me before. I know I'm unwanted. I mean, which family would want to send their daughter into a marriage to a man with this face?" He chuckled wryly, tapping his mask. "I'll probably end up forever alone. And that's alright."

"Don't say that about yourself, So," I nudged him.

"Even if it's not for this ugly scar, I've never even seen or heard of this Lady An Hyeong before, and I've no desire to be acquainted with her. Neither the Yu clan nor the Kang clan have had any dealings with the An family. There's no need for me to make allies for them," he added.

I nodded. "Lady Hyeong isn't familiar with Eun-ie either, so I guess it's not going to be him."

"That leaves Jung-ie then. Good. I think he'll be happy about that," So commented.

"You know about Jung's...liking?" I asked. I thought I was the only one that Jung had told, and I could keep a secret.

"Not until you've confirmed it for me just now," So replied. "I just always see him passing by my chambers after breakfast, heading to Hyunhui Mansion, and passing by again right before dinnertime, from Hyunhui Mansion. That's where the An family resides, right?"

"Yes, Jung-ie does spend a lot of time there, but it's not with Her Ladyship. It's with the youngest son of Lord An and Lady Choi, to practice martial arts," I revealed.

"Then it's perfect," he remarked. "How bizarre it is to think that I've never met this baby brother of mine before I returned to Songak. But this kid is getting married already. Can he even take care of a wife? He can barely look after himself."

I laughed. "I do think it'll be Lady Hyeong taking care of Jung-ie rather than the other way around if they are to be wed."

"I don't ever want to get married. I don't want to make it my responsibility to look after somebody," he declared.

"That's just because you haven't met the right person yet," I suggested.

"I'm not sure there is one for me," he shrugged once more. "There will be one for you, though, Baekah-ya."

I smiled and thought of Myunghee. I loved her but she could never be mine. Did that mean that perhaps she was not the one for me?

"I can't wait for you to meet the one for you and recall how wrong you are for saying this to me. I'll wait," I challenged, hoping to cheer him up.

"Wow. You're the second person to ever say this to me," he leaned back, mildly surprised.

"Second? Who's the first?" I inquired, and felt the burning need to know.

He waved his hand. "You wouldn't know who she is. Even if you've met her before, I don't think you'll remember her now."

"It's a girl?" I raised my voice in both surprise and delight. "You've got yourself a secret admirer, So-ya?"

He snorted. "No, she's not a secret admirer."

"Well, you've got to tell me who she is, or I'll go around telling everybody that you've got a secret admirer," I joked and leaned forward in interest.

"It takes so little to get you all curious and worked up," he whistled and folded his arms across his chest.

"Come on, brother," I pleaded. "I see it as a very positive thing. It means that I'm not the only person who believe that you deserve to have a normal and happy life like everybody else."

"Fine, I'll spill," he relented.

"I'm ready. I'm listening," I beamed. I must look like an elated child right now.

"Her name is Jiyoun," he revealed.

"Jiyoun? You mean the same name of our cousin, Wang Jiyoun?" I furrowed my eyebrows and thought for a moment.

"Yes, it is our cousin Jiyoun that I'm talking about. Technically, we're second cousins with her, as her father is Wang Shikryeom, our Chancellor. But since we call him Uncle Shikryeom…"

"I get it," I nodded, fascinated. "I didn't know that you were on such good terms with Jiyoun."

"I think that's the result of me and her seeing each other every day. After all, we grew up together in Shinju. Uncle Shikryeom didn't want his daughter to grow up in Songak for fear that she'd become a political target, so he sent Jiyoun to be raised in Shinju with her mother, a member of the Kang clan that adopted me," he explained.

"I know who you're talking about. I think she's only ever been at Court a couple of times, when I was really little. I don't really remember what she looks like," I replied.

"She's a beauty," he commented. "And in many ways, one of a kind."

"Really?" I grinned. "I don't know. It's possible that I was playmates with her as kids, but we never kept in touch."

"She and I are a lot closer. She's my only friend in Shinju. Actually the only ever friend I've had, until I came back to Songak and got on with you," he added.

"Your first ever friend, then," I said.

"My first ever more-than-just-friend," he emphasized, and tilted his head to the side slightly, as if waiting for me to pick up on what he was putting down nonverbally.

Was he suggesting what I thought he was suggesting? Could it be that he and Jiyoun were intimate? He was a man and she was, like he said, a beauty...should that be surprising?

"Are you serious?" I gaped at him.

"I'm always serious," he said, in a manner that was not at all serious. "Naturally, she was my, you know, first. And I hers. That's why we mean so much to each other."

"I can't believe it," I uttered. "I'll keep your secret though."

"I'm pretty sure even if you went around spreading this to everybody in Songak, nobody would believe it," he smirked. "Jiyoun and I are best friends and not even her family in Shinju suspected that we had a physical relationship."

"But I thought only married couples or lovers would do that thing in the bedroom," I replied.

"I thought so too. But like I said, our cousin Jiyoun is one of a kind. Growing up under her influence has made me the carefree person that I am today," he remarked. "You'll understand what I mean when you meet her."

"You mean you expect I'll have a chance to do that?" I asked. I didn't know whether to be amused by or scared of such an unconventional woman.

"Of course," he nodded. "She'll be coming to Songak after the New Year."

(The Damiwon, Songak)

~Eun's POV~

"Soo-ya, I'm so happy that you can play with me today. You haven't visited me in quite a few days now. Haven't you missed me?" I wriggled my eyebrows and nudged her twice.

"Of course I've missed you, Your Highness. That's why I'm here now. I do like spending time with my first ever friend in Goryeo, and that'd be you, Prince Eun," Soo smiled. A gesture as simple as a smile from her could make me melt and make my day.

"What've you been busy with these few days?" I enquired. "I want to know what could possibly be more important than making merry with me," I added, but actually I was eager to know what she'd been up to mostly because deep inside I wanted to hear that she wasn't having that much fun when she didn't get to see me. Of course I wanted to be assured that she was happy whenever she was with me. Because I sure was my happiest self when I was around her. Soo made me very happy and honestly that was the most important thing in life.

"Just accompanying Myunghee and looking after her. It's not suitable for her to go out for too long or move around too much," she explained. I knew she was worried about her cousin's poor health. I only liked her even more for spending her time taking care of my sister in law than go out and play. If I were in her shoes, I wasn't sure if I could make the same decision.

"Isn't it boring for you to stay indoors with her all the time though?" I cocked my head to the side, waiting for her to admit that it's more exciting to be outdoors with me.

"Slightly, but then there are still a lot of things that I can do with her even when we're at home. It doesn't matter, as long as she stays warm and can get the rest that she needs. I want to be by her side to attend her anyway," she replied.

"I see…" I nodded slowly. "I like how selfless you are, Soo-ya."

"I don't really see it that way. Myunghee is my family. How could I not take care of her? Your Highness would do the same too, right?" She asked.

"I don't know…" I looked down in shame. "Actually, my lady mother has fallen ill yesterday but I never really checked on her. I just told her maids to look after her attentively."

"My Prince, how could you not personally take care of her? She's your mother. When you were the one who got sick, she must've looked after you day and night," Soo said. Even though she was chiding me, her tone was still gentle.

I was quiet for a moment because she was right. I just never realized or acknowledged how much my family had done for me. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad for me to give up playing for a few days, to take care of my mother. I believed Soo would be proud of me if I could do that.

"I see what you mean. I think maybe I should go and check on her after dinner tonight," I said. "I bet my mother will be happier to see me than be constantly surrounded by her handmaidens."

She nodded in approval. "If it's convenient for your lady mother right now, we can go and visit her together. Do you think that would be possible, Your Highness?" She suggested.

I grinned proudly. I remembered Soo telling me how anxious it made her when she had to meet the two Queens. But now she volunteered to meet my mother. She'd only do that because she liked me enough, right?

"Sure. I think my mother will like you very much," I said sweetly. "Don't you have to go back to look after your cousin though?"

She beamed. "The 10th Prince is becoming more and more considerate now," she commented. "I'm not in a hurry to go home. Myunghee has invited your 13th brother as well as Lady An Hyeong to come over, so she'll have company."

I nodded and smiled. "Come with me, then."

A/n:

What do you think of So's Shinju BFF plus cousin Jiyoun? If you dislike her already, I understand, especially if you feel that way because you worry she might threaten the So/Soo pairing. But she won't, actually...if anything, she might even indirectly make it easier for Hae Soo to choose So ultimately. Jiyoun's character is a lot more than what So has shared. You might change your mind about her when she appears for real.

On another note, did you guys like reading in Eun's POV? Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter anyway. Do tell me what you think in the reviews below. :DD