It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkuAB9FNLl
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI79Doft0NA
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. 373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vLw1sOOqL
“Mommy…are you praying?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6UKWP2lvN
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95fgo3H6J6
“Consort Yuko!”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiAcmft0Zz
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaL4NA734F
“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.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh08ie1PYM0
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMxpPodG38
“No…”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEogCiL7U7n
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbQVSsWIuZ
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zoWdKdSpU
“Mommy…”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYQHa9Opp5
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.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULoBBDv186
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSUbzxM1Tv
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEEMUtiHUP
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCXKmVKFyI
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA3fywAXnX
“Four!”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfavbTM9gl
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnZ0b1BH3H
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!”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOOLR2KY2Q
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTKSMo5ipi
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaHtjDn3wc
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5psOfu9cEk
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUSE8Xk6ur
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4dTZQhqLZ
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLJ874mMoi
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi14Vwbn0k
“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.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQtgJgTLAs
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPOLMjuXnI
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUjfZTaM4A
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrprBumorJ
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.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPWToBjcCs
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fwFeBnStd
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL4IFxkTEy
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfFblFPmIc
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVxklxWIzS
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.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iFjQBSwyV
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhvWRmkRkd
“Yes…”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr5yOv37rP
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQz0sh51fw
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmqe8Nr6q0
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg0T5nM6qW
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJgn0nTRfq
“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.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XKyv0q3lO
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6WWafuZZl
“Open up your hands.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxX32l6lvq
“Why?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9oTq8Rxpc
“I have something for you.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0asiw9K1a
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.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL4FylTAuh
“What is it?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDMBOCXrqT
“It’s an owl.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZZgtfMe75
“What’s an owl?373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1u8G1ZKqM
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXzgfBm9eI
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclUizvDWOh
“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.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05A0wuPF5D
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ4Z1rMOEs
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qytW8YoyU
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnphMoO3qz
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiDfiUYA87
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TIaRmKx25
“Who gave you that?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDCG5HXmDt
“What, Mommy?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZVWLFeOgE
“That. The owl…”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjgw7eIgXh
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3Yprl0Zhd
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVrrkSdCPR
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJHm2ZsMjk
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGLtCecSxh
“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?”373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0OpC1mw6W
