It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 337Please respect copyright.PENANAXBUGEDBD8A
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”337Please respect copyright.PENANAm8izVCtDlL
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. 337Please respect copyright.PENANAUzSmVhDmk0
“Mommy…are you praying?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAs90ka8KDpg
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.337Please respect copyright.PENANAq2xKanDEwM
“Consort Yuko!”337Please respect copyright.PENANAsK0tQaKNZB
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.337Please respect copyright.PENANAszggSB9fVc
“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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANA8zIHQLcnbW
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.337Please respect copyright.PENANAvu4z115MTq
“No…”337Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2xYAKJQfr
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.337Please respect copyright.PENANAXrVcQdUPIV
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”337Please respect copyright.PENANARJBoKP2GAW
“Mommy…”337Please respect copyright.PENANAJvJCcDJeYZ
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.337Please respect copyright.PENANARtoAxIMOwr
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”337Please respect copyright.PENANA8XvzAJ1COm
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.337Please respect copyright.PENANAdgb6T8aG5J
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 337Please respect copyright.PENANAvr2nIV1uk6
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.337Please respect copyright.PENANAhk0mz6KBr2
“Four!”337Please respect copyright.PENANA5QenwtI0zv
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”337Please respect copyright.PENANAoP6yIewvnB
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!”337Please respect copyright.PENANAvvucdG6dK0
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.337Please respect copyright.PENANA7GRMPO7qGP
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.337Please respect copyright.PENANAvi6IBCFaWC
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.337Please respect copyright.PENANAJP86RBeAni
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.337Please respect copyright.PENANAzrt1fU3UH2
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.337Please respect copyright.PENANACZU5ZnlGdZ
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.337Please respect copyright.PENANApmUGnC7U7f
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAiuANiffDhE
“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.337Please respect copyright.PENANALpYdtkPUUJ
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”337Please respect copyright.PENANANib8n9pI1W
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.337Please respect copyright.PENANAtfbXF2xMoY
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”337Please respect copyright.PENANAPoN7sL2HjX
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.337Please respect copyright.PENANA9k5Wm4eAPC
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAZrshFyyazC
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAHrHHZQLui7
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAp2Cu4xsH21
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”337Please respect copyright.PENANATXNUGl5xUx
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.337Please respect copyright.PENANA83DjE2zgmd
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.337Please respect copyright.PENANAG95YeFld73
“Yes…”337Please respect copyright.PENANAOcOntC9Uq7
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”337Please respect copyright.PENANAg73p0fOFGq
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.337Please respect copyright.PENANABRkUI2dOmJ
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.337Please respect copyright.PENANAjcKZgfIrro
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAVV39knnjxR
“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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAJjj0abitZ1
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.337Please respect copyright.PENANAPEPZhfJv1v
“Open up your hands.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAPry7ueYh5K
“Why?”337Please respect copyright.PENANA6K4iin4icT
“I have something for you.”337Please respect copyright.PENANABhJ8Pt967o
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.337Please respect copyright.PENANArzkev7RVFU
“What is it?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAX0DHVAAJHQ
“It’s an owl.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAcvn8JwFYOI
“What’s an owl?337Please respect copyright.PENANAoCqDBhHGq1
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAvGW2u1eGPs
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAaQIf7vG1Eq
“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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAzoh9KuWp5m
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAq95UuLlMzT
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.337Please respect copyright.PENANAxKcQBEiEaB
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAkYNjA7VB8V
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.337Please respect copyright.PENANAnifECGPfJf
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.337Please respect copyright.PENANAEJmy3gj5WH
“Who gave you that?”337Please respect copyright.PENANA11GDAS3h7N
“What, Mommy?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAYb9AuSqO1A
“That. The owl…”337Please respect copyright.PENANAfdIAL3q3a3
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAchny0wnLWR
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAA8AlSzFDbB
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAR2T6p1KRH1
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.337Please respect copyright.PENANAva3gygQB7l
“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?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAGKGOOUYr4U