It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD83JqvL25
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGySHsnH2H
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. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7x1n0UW74
“Mommy…are you praying?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSPiIAS6D0
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5VdZ9Mys7
“Consort Yuko!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZEeqY69jH
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIWkU50644
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGJZzeGQA5
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nzIyKyuEn
“No…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP37OBw0t9
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBpdv9r6cH
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIytp2TrugP
“Mommy…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnCbvsqPCg
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGVoE2SPm9
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9qbtT4YdS
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAtqCkF3p3
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxgzW2EW9X
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdrHDrpzhJ
“Four!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccRCfB5dAJ
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9K4Qnmp4M
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!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3NWKUhd8v
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthn4jyQTa1
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbJ3ahyXTk
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzoFExrw83
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziT43IkKBQ
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEQJ2rutxa
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C1A9XUV9E
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbScE8oePk
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUkFhp7tQC
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxEwX6q8IN
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZTKrtytTQ
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJkQqLOC1G
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudFRflGyg7
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeWt8uYsVo
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabnUHetghB
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnxiSZHtv6
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vAxKqDAto
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YH6lDGYGB
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEj8wjAQs7e
“Yes…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVHnFkIjvX
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRHOkS4Ixt
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaWxM7Uvfe
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0Ppwm15u4
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHtRBcQAwz
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWcf4BDwj3
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL43Wy47E6
“Open up your hands.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4XesEk8p3
“Why?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2hDpfqqLP
“I have something for you.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNDfiTN9bW
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ087QNnKv7V
“What is it?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWXYgb0LMj
“It’s an owl.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gUbtxVQ9q
“What’s an owl?485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55Fz9eRO44
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFoQyeY7ve
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvjKQTPiJM
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0TlVDkZoM
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLFbgGuz6t
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcZDM9cQr3
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEIH3AJd32
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarB4j3lPcP
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzsaO6rmqG
“Who gave you that?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0P1PdwMPu
“What, Mommy?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLibEoIskZp
“That. The owl…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHvkYGZFeP
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnUc9tWaq3
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mGXwsYKGj
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWONDHbaRt
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObpfyNktdV
“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?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWyIQQxnLn
