It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DbxfG8JjO
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kflcLTUxd
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQT532Ot0f
“Mommy…are you praying?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW3f7BRN7V
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cTPYpRLXV
“Consort Yuko!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9w8v9yZnG
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu9ujpyS98
“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.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FWwfszmdO
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeduQy5rYAR
“No…”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPQcBVl7LJ
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUpkuujA5n
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkMq17dAn5
“Mommy…”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjhd7AZ0nH
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFBbE7w9QN
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjqFN1e2wL
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurqhdcIXCa
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly3hq1I8Bu
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BNIgKD3Tj
“Four!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRKGjLOE7N
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGZqxI1h5X
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!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo4ML2CgFO
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C5xvH75Tc
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGTZKo5X9E
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnz3kehaC1
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTR6gOn3Pj
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5rtV7ghUD
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXojDydFCQ
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu28yFfYkAE
“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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpenMUyZEH
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN6TJfOPgq
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH7yQfsLyw
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JAJd3sqOq
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG3W5Gyde0
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIdXKDDAdd
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0xEu2cuuC
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yMgwlxDW6
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWyoU92LCh
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTmgJwC48K
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9pl2IAoFa
“Yes…”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5pddv9bvH
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9B4kBe8nW
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ybARZ66Q6
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wnyOqAXH4
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn005DWGHCZ
“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.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpvwSKJJYp
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKx8uWhBV0
“Open up your hands.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9ZS5snPBZ
“Why?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UdQ20Qm5Z
“I have something for you.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIfdPmcy0o
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVcToVUHlJ
“What is it?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcNlaQiFQe
“It’s an owl.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x7ndjwnaY
“What’s an owl?437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVz1KHUvsx
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAnGduIaHg
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YFeGzjIt7
“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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLo9scoxtE
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWinOpWzzks
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JfOPIbh3P
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35wQxYxffJ
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VweoLAEcR
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfbzq53dmo
“Who gave you that?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7YA7PjXba
“What, Mommy?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kVCjkTH8D
“That. The owl…”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZRwfic1Ya
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS4WUWpHBt
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR4Me9iCnl
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDATEvIOO1z
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IzsGD7KT3
“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?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2we7dr93nP
