It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNatOWONCA
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpIdDJTyZD
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. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5XckzdixF
“Mommy…are you praying?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajPbXwzw6G
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i7ITY06mf
“Consort Yuko!”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsyQyY0EB3
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwAkxp3NjG
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrcPUSyDfm
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeyc0hd9te
“No…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKAhc7jFxW
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQx39kxldA
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39oV3VBh9l
“Mommy…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoKbUAKves
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPg88QgEZZ
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJUAicW7Ni
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3P67Elklb
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaCKXH6tEV
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRq5HCY9D5
“Four!”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdXSjfGK0J
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMqQap4WYi
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!”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY2airuZId
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeqOvOoE0M
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrFDjHUvzl
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrE4wxW3qZ
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxae8DoBlC
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVkyeFWJj5
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6UPu8aHww
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgOQuOt2T8
“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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwTAFvxNAv
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XqZNxRSAm
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk994VWK3m0
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC2AmIS5Ed
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHnEZ0dt7w
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyaGvC6nzc
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsgjoKjlZ1
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKE1UIFxCX
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqNZIzdktO
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgQsmwHTPW
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamACsXvj9r
“Yes…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46NsATvbiQ
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXtRGadwN6
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kYrbu3HSJ
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdBeSATuvS
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo0DHrjrW5
“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.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3V1SdAmCH
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BTaFr4xpU
“Open up your hands.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSMOEroBEs
“Why?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGowHXNiDZl
“I have something for you.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sHRU6SGiv
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuLTnNA1zZ
“What is it?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FBTqbcFYy
“It’s an owl.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgllOcSD8V3
“What’s an owl?388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjzzt6C3ne
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxGtEUPZ2u
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdB0Nbn9tf
“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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg7ruqmgBT
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlFNinMHYY
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaRi9VMeEH
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUfSWaeQZQ
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLz5d2j24e
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCWjubkIUo
“Who gave you that?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL0ZSl3WIO
“What, Mommy?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qrxrbN5Hp
“That. The owl…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY91KxMnit
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx1fKX2m6J
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx08w9BT6P
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcILWOPl7BM
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9fGfCpkFi
“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?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Kj43pqPJ
