It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc8mYFVxgn
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6ojJwqC1l
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. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzzFQ63E4v
“Mommy…are you praying?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcXL5Sl0Hf
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy34zIBlTC
“Consort Yuko!”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo6dxPEp3V
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknnA4UihND
“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.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dBj46nPGC
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPaiUkTpkZ
“No…”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl8E1eOTJ9
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6VJdchn2A
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9XdRHk7hJ
“Mommy…”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSQn8x1QVO
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRJkMn9dxh
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9zMhcTyo8
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ5M4UG4vF
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZWblLwVha
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEElwXD942a
“Four!”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Go5Q8gyv
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuqJqvAvE2
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!”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTYCZZAXb2
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOFNxUCu7l
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKnKjIqeAv
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuR2rmHQJh
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAQdIRVu7D
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gYxUlDiEx
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGspLSuGn4D
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvg5AE9Wtm
“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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4dNb1skSh
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpHW3a6wRD
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIGZnz3TpU
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIaLcCNs3a
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAfnXHBdVC
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReOfO2nz2r
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEEYS3pHGP
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHvrLZbLwq
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpajQKD6i37
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeUQVQVfVd
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQxw4sIv4B
“Yes…”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbB5WRkwLu
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VriQ9m82N
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMepKQGfnRC
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE95IXm3qs
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTZl51dAxR
“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.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckmaomlaJh
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVClRnRRS1D
“Open up your hands.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx429cGr4mi
“Why?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPGr18QgSb
“I have something for you.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdMPlDPPn6
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJRZhR4sUV
“What is it?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S5Y3AHyqB
“It’s an owl.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWd5vNzc5k
“What’s an owl?412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcWUIwQJGg
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fl2bJATx4
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTz5PeBHNs
“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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkBAfF2LLG
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocDCF5HLbS
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05VDEulnTX
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ89n5ZjiJI
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XbCVHT0Gb
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViebx0Ilag
“Who gave you that?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS7dodEi8K
“What, Mommy?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2FtEODiiL
“That. The owl…”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHxuDZhANR
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOe5Sfk4IJ
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwX81CGKB6
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84FK95mndj
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36cNlMHDUl
“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?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKCZJoPJwf
