It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 296Please respect copyright.PENANA6GfAqJZf5d
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”296Please respect copyright.PENANAlp5aQlNCyi
The toddler prince smiled through his chattering teeth and looked up to his mother’s round face as she spoke. Her arms were around him and she rubbed his little arms to keep him warm. She planted a kiss on his forehead. She then started whispering something which he could not make out. 296Please respect copyright.PENANAM46vDTensC
“Mommy…are you praying?”296Please respect copyright.PENANApISxRm1WA2
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.296Please respect copyright.PENANAwe4UP3cal8
“Consort Yuko!”296Please respect copyright.PENANAsB47seiGEK
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.296Please respect copyright.PENANALAUD3BbgnL
“I am Captain Lee. You will be riding with me, madam,” A strapping man on his horse said after approaching the carriage window. “Prince Yoshi will be riding with Constable Han.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAA58O8AdM4g
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.296Please respect copyright.PENANAgVAKsu5Vm1
“No…”296Please respect copyright.PENANA5l2jMPrv8j
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.296Please respect copyright.PENANACcrGFcFeaH
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”296Please respect copyright.PENANAwTysn1hIWF
“Mommy…”296Please respect copyright.PENANA2XHoqcA5Lo
Prince Yoshi felt himself being pried away by Captain Lee and then handed over to a barrel-chested man. The barrel-chested man nodded his head in a slight bow.296Please respect copyright.PENANAnDbF8J0513
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”296Please respect copyright.PENANAhwtPCh8t6C
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.296Please respect copyright.PENANAzXqa3zqs3S
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 296Please respect copyright.PENANAcejfW0APDM
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.296Please respect copyright.PENANAnlfJnj8SeQ
“Four!”296Please respect copyright.PENANATW3R6toQj5
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”296Please respect copyright.PENANA7my81ra5tC
The next thing Prince Yoshi remembered was riding into the darkness swaddled on to Constable Lee’s back.
“I will be forever grateful to you, Captain Lee. I am sure the King will reward you and all your men!”296Please respect copyright.PENANAtH2bJggY6p
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.296Please respect copyright.PENANAlotn0b58kf
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.296Please respect copyright.PENANA4wzGw1No5G
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.296Please respect copyright.PENANAKWniXCgfDZ
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.296Please respect copyright.PENANASZiJBXAUkE
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.296Please respect copyright.PENANA1mlQB8TO7Y
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.296Please respect copyright.PENANAQL8GYOnM1p
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAduCncvu0eg
“It is my duty and honor, Consort Yuko,” Prince Yoshi saw an older man bow to his mother. He had already seen this person’s face at court previously.296Please respect copyright.PENANAf69ognOYHO
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”296Please respect copyright.PENANAX0F5pXXyiS
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.296Please respect copyright.PENANALTv9fFEU56
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”296Please respect copyright.PENANAHJHRQAeSVK
Suddenly a young girl of about six or seven years of age approached them. She had a plush fur blanket with her. She smiled and bowed.296Please respect copyright.PENANA0fsrVzhMDd
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”296Please respect copyright.PENANARqnfTVQEzY
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”296Please respect copyright.PENANAoaAhYPMTKF
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAJgyMeWYVzE
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAPYNkoD1KzO
The little royal toddler was staring at her. He was very cute. Like a doll. She stepped up behind him and placed the blanket on his shoulders. His mother kneeled down and wrapped the blanket around him. He continued staring at Chaeyoung.296Please respect copyright.PENANAV0ynDqzlvD
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.296Please respect copyright.PENANAaAXuJzLNhq
“Yes…”296Please respect copyright.PENANACI4z8tSOrJ
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”296Please respect copyright.PENANAj8eb1cJFu5
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.296Please respect copyright.PENANAh9VvTUNmDz
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.296Please respect copyright.PENANAJSoPw8mfk9
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”296Please respect copyright.PENANABlBJMM6poi
“Chaeyoung is a good girl. She knows not to say too much.”
“I apologize, but we must make haste. My father’s health was reported to be quickly deteriorating.”296Please respect copyright.PENANABRFP9uDldp
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.296Please respect copyright.PENANAyA63dFaueY
“Open up your hands.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAnCY5OvbWkh
“Why?”296Please respect copyright.PENANADd9dw3Bufe
“I have something for you.”296Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ov2EAt7m9
Prince Yoshi opened up his hands and raised them toward Chaeyoung. She quickly placed a toy in his palms. It was an owl made of blue and white silk scraps.296Please respect copyright.PENANADNGGDN6Uvh
“What is it?”296Please respect copyright.PENANAIXYFl8UEP9
“It’s an owl.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAoXbMsdRLCp
“What’s an owl?296Please respect copyright.PENANAAerdAZSqRp
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAO7Jf9iHoW5
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”296Please respect copyright.PENANAKEmXSTh29w
“No. My governess did. She just finished it this morning. She said I should give it to you. It’s made from the leftover silk they used to make a new hanbok for my mom.296Please respect copyright.PENANAsfFWUjvRrc
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”296Please respect copyright.PENANAxlhKMClrE2
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.296Please respect copyright.PENANALbNf7ZxPye
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAUONH4ymJmS
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.296Please respect copyright.PENANAXOjgoJ1PuV
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.296Please respect copyright.PENANAdp751xm9iq
“Who gave you that?”296Please respect copyright.PENANAwxqRHtUi3z
“What, Mommy?”296Please respect copyright.PENANAkBB2didNOc
“That. The owl…”296Please respect copyright.PENANAuK3R5s5Hgu
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”296Please respect copyright.PENANArEmqbIB9jw
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”296Please respect copyright.PENANAj2Ax0KdTif
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”296Please respect copyright.PENANAJFnBPaoVhE
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.296Please respect copyright.PENANAnUIh7F1XOB
“I must write to Chaeyoung then and thank her for Hooty,” his mother said stroking his hair. “Chaeyoung was Minister Park’s grand daughter, right?”296Please respect copyright.PENANALHZzqSW5N9