It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKqmEMYbbJ
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8sTyH1ipk
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. 425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYuCID9cX1
“Mommy…are you praying?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiarPpmo2j
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxZsElXFhu
“Consort Yuko!”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3red8AIQrL
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThHlgUr7jK
“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.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8k34GuRg6
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDgBtTujDv
“No…”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpuCy5cY0Z
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQjO71a5A1
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpyAQg22W4
“Mommy…”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2roRPWYRk
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QvbxBZ8fL
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TNYLR3nEV
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi9dDleSH2
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmBCACnejs
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L210bVhBA
“Four!”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPDgFKOuwe
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyUx2g12RA
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!”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwEkIRgBab
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDr3I11PQG
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqKykbYr7I
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTdRo6EY5P
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIFYACDVF6
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipMrC3S4mU
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl258faAMx
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubAJRxG43p
“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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtHaJcqOaP
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh5Yrok8kG
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbLDCabDBV
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i908hdZzc
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJLYPCBDRm
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM79JJVuZ1
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP43A97YSH
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ8CPAoS1f
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j7U2Qlefz
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ZAG50oFu
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2sn8Uj1oY
“Yes…”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb8mtXy13e
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vNjsYL7zs
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWITuxDMIU
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtKySD9sBJ
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oiTUXQniO
“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.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL5UD1Ymbc
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcywltbxAaW
“Open up your hands.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyQe8quPyZ
“Why?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxYA2nTnFc
“I have something for you.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkQ17kMBIK
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGXLYIe9TE
“What is it?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA8zW43X9Z
“It’s an owl.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODiIhXZgdZ
“What’s an owl?425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bYgmhexXy
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg3Cf8Tuiz
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PjCA4tsAa
“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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZCJvdr2hn
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9srsTGJUf8
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDLyMvbJ82
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSWiRLzz4X
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag883VUWyc
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOlOFXPHvc
“Who gave you that?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIldI45ooMj
“What, Mommy?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHNMr9dXYX
“That. The owl…”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktK0nMj0ee
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MglWEAeLQ
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBbrVP6XVO
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1nZb189QC
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJtS3d3C4j
“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?”425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi6ozhDrsN
