It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AjK9Kv1Dp
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4m1fDWnyY
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QiYOlb6N3
“Mommy…are you praying?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxbeXQQZwH
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIafJ1rXcjm
“Consort Yuko!”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJNTPuA6L4
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF5lGDaZGJ
“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.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT1qQJU4DU
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4T2uT1kAe
“No…”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2SIFIKew4
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQdwzjBqp6
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB2MjyLZLt
“Mommy…”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF4pnMAHYq
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtNIOnYuEt
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8Os1QFm8b
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2ylWDIt4K
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCosDzz1o8
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW7EKguvcX
“Four!”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3WrzewOIe
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabVVfcBflZ
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!”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7TD8P1Ory
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeouYFmk2g
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubjH8sdEZ0
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWwfbWmeYP
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX3eufoiHR
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwvapjmiKj
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViJwGTegpq
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCH8IiJLKb
“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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgjo1HX8wo
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNDGxPjwvZ
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UpRXYfEge
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZcWjTwZI2
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQsFl6jHwO
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUiEsR6adU
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0SEKzXlwU
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnxn5b2X5A
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKckAJiyBob
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorBeB9ezkr
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8M6jyuhik
“Yes…”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqdIWPmvKq
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgYCMJPAlp
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt0Ke9bH2n
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YvucghcCh
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLj6DFkDUr
“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.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhECMuuyfxh
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTcbahXBAF
“Open up your hands.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XqtajknJ7
“Why?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5ZGUqpwk2
“I have something for you.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeL13Fua98
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xSiZBzj4N
“What is it?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvmBp7mH8h
“It’s an owl.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiWwHNpJv6
“What’s an owl?446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2lJKtVYt8
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSmMcy579n
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIQYsVVA8o
“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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjNz5o1IlS
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9pQGgTzKm
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBDZGNTl52
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZOVuyNFOA
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90JyyhXJAY
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YqXSYzfQR
“Who gave you that?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS1ejFJr9B
“What, Mommy?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp7b4C262V
“That. The owl…”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrDS9CFKDC
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoMjuE2ljw
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOna98Ltwu
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZKhIXXHL9
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCewiAtRzh
“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?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3VmQgwXck
