It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctHGCIdPzj
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo343Pd9Luh
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. 415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0uuxQym1c
“Mommy…are you praying?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3kFchr1mb
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMb0BwAJRb
“Consort Yuko!”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJh7aJrI6l
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8csPjP9dyw
“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.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5T2OWI65a
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsFXfBeHU1
“No…”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAvHqZQGkC
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXjqswmAva
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUT9uc2XE5
“Mommy…”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk0qH5J9Eb
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.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyzItto2Ij
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SGFJ6ksEv
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvmcXKlNIE
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXRBP5ZYnv
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8K7FAfGWv
“Four!”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7LIA52bAF
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLSmznf57U
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!”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqsK9Y2XKz
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx9mxekQHF
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJQBaMdi48
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusu19iTTmH
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNAYDPIki3
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACY2FUSgn5
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIWbGgNEbs
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO04oNm7ut
“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.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatAA7qbd4Z
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV6BLNKbPz
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0vOfBKuvb
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFkSNAqU5b
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.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gGSya1Gl4
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTr1tV2kOq
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqSdD9dUeo
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTzHWcmHff
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4Ky6ydF01
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.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYsEl0iVFG
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQnfGhlu0U
“Yes…”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLXSoFs1Zp
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5MOLdMaMO
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oHjFS1UDo
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMERzwuqGj7
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlJ243oYxC
“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.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1caNnUMN0
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT9TYeld5P
“Open up your hands.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g4bE0G3hy
“Why?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljFK5gRkhp
“I have something for you.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEDJbCOEeT
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.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMkP8H87gl
“What is it?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ7Adbybv2
“It’s an owl.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUPVlJEahn
“What’s an owl?415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRKCgcH9dB
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspAHmsNLlN
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b37IxdMLi
“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.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVHqvR2Nge
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjek4QI3Qgq
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45PTHwGI81
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CW47M1CfN
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEPEMgh89M
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmfJP5ja51
“Who gave you that?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UFPU0NuY2
“What, Mommy?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9bO8wMwtI
“That. The owl…”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Qp8GuQZ3
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVMkJCibV3
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyujn9HHON3
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQmtHs9OTZ
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd8FaonF4a
“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?”415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpWtJD89YX
