It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW7OIrFS3O
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ryUHP1KA
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. 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJiXr6R6Li
“Mommy…are you praying?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGWFG5lFLa
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1i2IiWQ2H
“Consort Yuko!”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF0R15zSU9
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO2htfuoVL
“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.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRRjfuLtiO
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVT5ZBoME8
“No…”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQcGe9fQbx
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERj4eCF651
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcLAtezuja
“Mommy…”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRxGmNEDxP
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZGygsVezw
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7nOxOwvss
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71Kaw39Caz
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMUbRM60jC
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd2xCCrT1r
“Four!”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz3IRG569j
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2kJrhP9Cw
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!”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcm9EeRtBN
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGsQmLCLsF
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBoDy1sfQf
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWZkXeffTn
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3lvItAjqb
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDhdImXimq
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDL5LEqtoo
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVbj72OpqW
“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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzxJWrcE6s
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6NXjhFMee
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwIcgyrL7m
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6etWBPPRv
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8Z3q0dMO6
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9JvETV1IN
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzvwW0IyZY
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk41YNm9Rgj
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyPg6qkijn
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB7QiNdQqz
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4njeDishb
“Yes…”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvxV0lmV48
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrok7bpl3tQ
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeezGsOsBNC
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR9Fg4HGRF
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8aitoS5z6
“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.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZry5hst1kX
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKixzDcqsR
“Open up your hands.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVagMrh4v0f
“Why?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHfI3uAELN
“I have something for you.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCZiyqhQ4j
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i2NFNtJTo
“What is it?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EQAlYXxG8
“It’s an owl.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP39c8Gw7w
“What’s an owl?442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOuc2cZMco
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjROEQ5uYLw
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBuyFomTtB
“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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6Ax2MOTt4
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67zv63CtV2
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EO42NQOjy
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2b5up1g2O
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2GulgduxR
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk6B9wLyyg
“Who gave you that?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPYorH2EG9
“What, Mommy?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCf44addWd
“That. The owl…”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdSRsYu3H0
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxVFAmKqz9
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAssnHyAvdY
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AV1T8zgqQ
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAz7N75sBp
“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?”442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ClfMbSNzc
