After we fed the children, we took them to Dong Yi’s family and truly, they accepted the kind gesture.

Her father revealed that it was often an empty house but with the children’s presence, it was a 'blessing from the heavens’.

Dong yi made her family understand that the welfare of the children was in their hands and whatever they needed be would made available to them and they agreed and thanked me for the kind act saying you know, I was a gift from the heavens and everything I have heard before.

We stayed with them for the day before leaving in the evening, we waved goodbye to the kids in promise to visit them again. I guess this was how Mary Slessor felt when she stopped the sacrificing of twins in the Calabar tribe, great work Ma’am.

On our way back, I felt wonderfully great about my latest ordeal and I compared my views of this era to the twentieth first century, there was little or no difference, people still suffered no matter the corner of the world or time.

As we were going through the market on our way home, I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw a hanged corpse. Mother reflexes chipped in and immediately I placed my hand over Min Soo’s eyes, I was hella sure that body’s host left days ago and on the body was a label.

“Thief,” I read, Dong Yi saw it too and told me,

“My Lady, there was a rumour that an unknown spy infiltrated the palace and gave the layout of the palace to the enemies. The Queen Dowager and Her Highness were almost assassinated a month before which led to the pervious war led by General Yi.

Although I only heard that an investigation was been made and I thought the police Bureau has not apprehended the spy, until now. ” she finished with her eyes on the dangling corpse.

“But, how did they find him? How sure are they, that they caught the right one?” I sighed looking away as I could no longer the bear the sight of it and I walked on taking the little kid who wanted to see what I didn't want him to see, along.

My hand still over his eyes with Young Pil and Dong Yi tailing behind, till I was sure that we had long passed that area I removed my hand from his eyes and held him as we continued our tour.

We passed by a trader selling little things Min Soo called 'a gift shop'. He made me patronize the trader and I ended up buying gifts for my guard, my hand maid and my little companion plus an extra I got for buying seven gifts for Min Soo as a result of the puppy eyes moves he played on me, this thing has to be illegal, cause it is.

It's pocket wrecking! Min Soo agreed to be hungry so we decided to make a quick stop at the dream restaurant that Min Soo always wanted to go, what could I say? I guess I’d become a genie at this point.

A private room, a medium table filled with food either new or too exquisite dish for Min Soo and Dong Yi paid for by whatever Young Pil was showing this people. I need to get mine. After eating to our fill, home was the next thing.

Almost getting to my quarters, I spotted the Queen with same women near the garden around a table still doing teatime. I turned to walk away with Min Soo as one of the women shouted pacing our way with her hanbok in her hands.

“You, what are you doing here?” she pointed at him with surprise and clear disgust on her face. I turned to where the voice came from and looked at the questionnaire. I could feel sharp pains in my hand, only to see Min Soo hiding behind me while squeezing the DNA out of my hand in fear then I looked back at the woman.

“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” she came closer to us with the women behind her except the Queen. As she tried to step forward to me Young Pil beat her to it and I looked at Dong Yi who told me,

“My Lady, this is Prime Minister Nam Go’s wife Yi...” but before she could finish, the woman slapped her so hard that it made the Queen turned away like she didn't care.

“You low servant, a measly maid like you dares to call my name?” she spat.

“Is this how you have become? Disrespecting me? Seems like you have forgotten your place, a little wench with no life acting like she matters and is useful to her owner.” Before she looked at me behind the veil with anger not knowing who was behind it.

“Why are you with a veil or don’t you know how to respect elders?” she raised her voice at me but my eyes were on Dong Yi who held her face in pain and tears in her eyes.

Dong Yi raised her sad face to mine and I gave her a smile assuring her before I took her hands with Min Soo’s together and walked away from the snickering and whispering women into my quarters.

As I got inside, I walked up to Dong Yi and held her hands away from her face as I caressed the hurt cheek. It was so obvious that she was holding in the tears with Min Soo; I was so confused and so hurt that I sat on the bed and set them both on my laps and cradled them.

“Am sorry” was all I could say holding them in my arms.

After bath and dinner, Dong yi and Min Soo retired to bed while I picked up the extra gift I bought at the market and walked to the garden to wait for the King.

I looked at his face and realized that had been a week since I had seen him last. His countenance was better than last time. Though I was in refusal to admit it, I knew I had begun to miss him whenever I left, hoping that he did too.

He called me that name but I waited for him to say it again because I liked how it slipped from his tongue like sugar and butter.

“Hye Jin” he called me and I hummed in answer as I looked at his face and smiled at him.

“A precious gift, to you I’m a precious gift?” as I reasoned how would I even start reporting or how would he even react if I say a word... noting that by my side, a pair of curious eyes watched me like I wanted them to, I lost to the confusion inside my head.

“You do not seem to like the name? You might not see it but to us, you are a precious favour, to my people and to the throne. ” Sincerity crowned his voice yet I hoped that he could see that wasn’t the reason for my sad countenance.

“You see those little tiny dots on the heaven” he started pointing to the sky and I looked up,

“My mother used to tell me that they are our ancestors who watch and guide us, they know when we’re sad, happy, and angry or scared," he looked at my face.

"I do not know if your ancestors are up there and if they are not, let me watch over and guide you.” he finished, staring into my eyes with an assuring smile on his face with his dimples seeking my trust.

I felt a little bit relieved as I brought out the gift and placed it in his hands before I closed it with his fingers.

When he opened his hands, it was a black wood beaded bracelet with each piece threaded together; his face told me he received it with happiness and satisfaction with a smile that made me believe that my gift had reached the point where I needed it.

I watched his face fall into thoughts before he stood and grabbed a branch of the tree, broke it and scribbled on the ground.

“why are you not happy?” I read the words and received the cut branch offered to me. After he erased his words,

I went ahead and wrote, “I broke my promise today”, and I could sense satisfaction from him as he erased it and wrote, “Why?”

I erased and scribbled, “It was out of my control.”

he hesitated before “A promise to whom?” speaking to me this time

“My friends…” I replied,

“What did you do after?” he asked me with his voice calmly soothing my worry heart,

“I Apologized.” I continued scribbling because, at this point I knew if I peradventure opened my mouth, tears would escape.

“Did they forgive you?” he looked at me with expectant yet warm eyes that made it hard to look away,

“I hope so.” I looked away blinking tears away that had gathered in my eyes.

“They already have.” he said as he pulled my face to look into my eyes as he wiped the tear that had already fell.

“How do you know?” I looked at him surprised how sure he was that made me almost believed him.

“I know they understand that it was out of your power to do as promised so if you have apologized, then you are forgiven.” he smiled at me and it made me wished I had met him single or in Seoul.

“Thank you.” I wrote with a smile on my face, which he returned sincerely before he looked away into the sky full of stars while my eyes lingered on his dimple under the dim light of the moon.

“Where do you come from?” he suddenly asked with his eyes glued to the skies, after much critical thinking,

“Faraway” I wrote while I awaited his reaction. He looked at me like he was expecting something,

“I don’t know, all I remember was my home, a light then, I was in a cage.” which reminded me of General Yi and it made me smile when the image of a “pet mouse” came to me mind.

I looked at the King who kept watch on me like a child and I decided to begin a conversation,

“How did you become King?” I held the stick like a brush.

“My father was Prince Deok Heung, my uncle ruled until he died without a successor and I was chosen and crowned King.” he looked at the ground and I with a grin, which had my heart beating crazily.

“How old were you?” I wrote when I was sure he was done talking,

“I was 15 years old.” he answered confidently like it was no big deal.

“How long have you ruled now?” Though taken a little aback,

“I have been ruling the nation for 10 years now.” he said clearly enjoying the conversation.

“He’s 25 and married with two kids, fair enough,” I thought as we continued conversing. It was dawn already, we had gotten lost in our conversations that we thought less of time.

I looked at my partner in crime and saw no need of sleep in his eyes but I on the other hand, needed a whole day of it.

I picked the stick I had kept away when we were enjoying the quietness of the night together and I scribbled

“Good Night, Your Majesty.” before I stood up and waved at him as I heard him say to me as he was standing up.

“Never carry a burden or worry all by yourself, you’re my guest and it’s my responsibility to treat you well. If you have a problem, tell it to me at once or any time convenient for you. Good night. ” and I nod in return.

Morning came but I didn’t sleep a wink, I was thinking of the King and the previous night, I thought of our conversations, every feeling exchanged, what he said to me before he made me goodnight and the fact that I didn't say a word to him.

What it was an excuse to see me often? Alternatively, it was to earn my trust. Every possible scenario went through my mind yet none I was sure of.

“Thank you, My Lady, for Yesterday.” Dong Yi suddenly said smiling as I hugged her tightly.

“Where’s Min Soo?” I asked and she told me he was with Young Pil outside waiting for us, I picked my veil as we left.

As we got to where they were, I knelt in front of Min Soo and straightened his clothes as I smiled at him,

“Good morning Your Grace.” he smiled in return and held my gaze.

I hugged him and whispered in his ears,

“Call me Noona” with a big smile on my lips as I saw his reaction,

“Really!” he asked with excitement and I nod and immediately he jumped and hugged me happily.

When I dropped him on his feet, we began to walk out but Min Soo suddenly stopped and I turned to ask what was wrong but he quickly said to me,

“Let’s go together, Noona” grinning widely.

He ran towards me, which gave me enough time to catch him immediately and carry him up as they all walked out of the palace.

Min Soo and Dong Yi always kept me caught up in their conversations and songs, oh; I wasn’t complaining I loved it because I would never know what I would do without them.

After a whole morning of visiting different places Dong Yi’s and Min Soo’s favourite places included, we decided to make a pit stop at a restaurant.

Today, we had a round table lunch with Min Soo devouring half of them and after we ate and paid with whatever was in Young Pil's jacket. On our way out, we “coincidentally” stumbled on General Yi who came to eat, in his words, that is.

I was beginning to feel that the chances of meeting this person was way beyond coincidence but he claimed he had brought guest over and they had left.

After offering to be my tour guide and of course was rejected, I decided I had enough of this man and to ignore him would be the next thing on my list.

We had walked a great distance from General Yi’s annoying presence when I began to practice the Miss World pageant's notorious 'cat walk' at a comfortable pace, I tilted my head to the right side before this carelessly drunk beetle would fly into my eye, thanks to my sharp reflexes.

I felt it go through my veil tearing it in a clean split. Huh, weird . I checked for what kind of weird beetle it was and it was no crazy ass beetle, but an arrow.

I panicked and looked at the direction it came thinking another was shot. Immediately, I ducked taking Min Soo with me after pushing Dong Yi out of the way.

Young Pil was already after the shooter as I held on to the scared Min Soo in fear while whispering ‘it’s OK' in his ear to calm both of us down. We waited for Young Pil’s return with the shooter or an explanation but none was given to us, instead he returned with a bow and bunch of arrows with bloodstains on his cheek, which made me, conclude the shooter would never get to shoot again.

“Everything’s OK now, Your Grace.” he said assuring me and I nod at him relieved. Quickly, we got up and left for the palace quickly.

I couldn't bear the thought of someone wanting me dead; I just couldn't believe I had made enemies not so long. At first, I thought it was another of the General's crazy ass jokes but the assassin shot another straight at my face.

Fear swallowed me and I could feel goose bumps grow on my skin. I was grateful for my sharpened reflexes that I could move away in time if not... I asked Dong Yi to inquire from Young Pil what was going happen now but all he said was

“Everything is fine and don’t worry.” just the answers that I needed right now, thanks idiot! That was what I was trying to do before your answer made do the exact opposite, annoying nutcracker.

I knew tonight the King would be waiting for me but I was too scared to come out of my quarters yet at the same, I wanted to run into his arms and cry all the messed up fears away.....

...and I was right after all; here he was looking at me smiling like he had no worries in life.