It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EGqbbBKY7
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4zdSKU7Lp
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. 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Mnu0AkpQF
“Mommy…are you praying?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn2IykAkXv
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskdMMEd1Qi
“Consort Yuko!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTJtAibCRd
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzOe5NeRvi
“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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUWQFx9l2v
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydA7m1DVNb
“No…”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudr6H8fKtQ
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdXmzqr2qI
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAN57xatWE
“Mommy…”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezhdAKUFyX
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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1wU0dSkNG
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUZPI3Zulg
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VFy6OIkHO
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVDNtVd2jO
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqCi7vlnZE
“Four!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcYlvpNPDv
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYIFDHtCPa
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!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdWUP7UqB7
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJFrgRcNiW
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k8Mzns05f
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeYjDHSUnF
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgQEphk1rn
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmuM61hbSU
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHEbsTLCUI
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbs6DeNfIcR
“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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXOhjMR9TU
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5c5CtZCA4
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXsdJduGGg
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmn53X40jJd
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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvc5CwkZ9i
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW1KJdzKKv
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB5y5oiCUl
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJUzimmvqy
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h9RbHKnTs
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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTJwgNxIEr
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTu9lZSvVm
“Yes…”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eecAhCtgy
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrZVQUevfi
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2VM2vjaaQ
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnR84wzo6f
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZnTbSXbyH
“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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7oavT2HfN
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE93ydmcoXq
“Open up your hands.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFwbK1einZ
“Why?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDm3hQFMYJ
“I have something for you.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuJa8NF0KU
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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc2F39IHqQ
“What is it?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJccnCK5lv4
“It’s an owl.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3o5TdxCcb
“What’s an owl?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUuCp5PlPq
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnMlwgnVqt
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjHmVBzWPR
“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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIIGSEXEZl
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNAUMltVoS
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLkt7iUuru
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46Ue9oE6Av
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBksp7lqJo
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhCbEFVdAE
“Who gave you that?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71Z0ZulKhP
“What, Mommy?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lK52tOitR
“That. The owl…”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKljSY4cN7
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7N52r9uvh
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtErYtjEEIf
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVsdQT4CBB
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXwxT64hf0
“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?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8E2IGKm3g
