It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIW8lC41Dg
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNetiA5n9D
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. 463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB8z8CYoxV
“Mommy…are you praying?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz4xoFvGmU
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxNlpJwVDi
“Consort Yuko!”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdgfSEALCy
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq9KnUDjjl
“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.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8WsuFb8rA
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzItAAgCYpw
“No…”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2cp9S2lpF
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA5qi1Tkzr
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheUrKfBPBb
“Mommy…”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs0SMqBXAq
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrUblgqo9w
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk7iwY76c6
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89JeQpJXVn
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpFMVteOjp
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaNdctdIqw
“Four!”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACAsNgkZPH
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZESmuJBzp
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!”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3BVlx2UAG
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrLC8WniMe
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh57VbHIPp
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWw6tkhC0r
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanG96CZKRJ
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfVX3zPyqH
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bjrbtgUuk
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc42WmleY85
“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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr13W8vbW92
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHvth2cFpZ
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bCNBIfHEU
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCORbCLHzqC
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5qsQES76h
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF5aiTkCPF
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjDQQKMSQc
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauhpvRASJG
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SYxpFmuU3
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVCcgh4znA
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZyaEeh0AO
“Yes…”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM3Ms7qnBD
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOCZTElDCw
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIziOb0I3H
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z1TssWvoG
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sn8vJY7Cb
“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.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu7GkQxvYc
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz0pZumPGk
“Open up your hands.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK2LbIGQC0
“Why?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexDZKutr8e
“I have something for you.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoRy33wqK3
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTPvbouA9X
“What is it?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPEx2PhFCC
“It’s an owl.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5IYlcUY2Z
“What’s an owl?463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQYP4tFatt
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO7SNa3GaC
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F25kUtrLa
“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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkPEzDWSOI
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJor58jQJPP
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79xrE9Y7mk
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mKo9mJqdP
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5aK1G174o
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrTze4IeVJ
“Who gave you that?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4YwVTQHuf
“What, Mommy?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOURuL1kk3
“That. The owl…”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrD5D065IE
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN7auSt3X7
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPgJDc9l60
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI1XAs8IXm
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITxDiAzD2j
“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?”463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw659uDUil
