It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjkPklJYxd
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcoFhvixWm
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. 414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaIDkumNm5
“Mommy…are you praying?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo04ciK8RRz
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkwJ1wCc6r
“Consort Yuko!”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfCh8gHf94
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByXhID9LPf
“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.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0r3mZGcoO
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx5u66PDdx
“No…”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRHHH6ouxE
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbeHjyZryU
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHU3xMgXgi
“Mommy…”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWNgCVcRmz
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.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8cZ8ZqbZZ
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HIOztZkAt
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UbxbTWMNN
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH6jurflcM
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr4Hko2xRC
“Four!”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtqXIgJ0I6
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErZKxPDyhB
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!”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkNnr35XPN
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8maSCcH7Uu
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn80gOkoTzD
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EmAn7pwBU
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8EFWYmU28
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyCpCxmmci
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9no5Q2HrZ0
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqoV8D59aW
“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.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCagDPrTh37
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MW55CAnrv
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJUwNSwjTM
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31XK8a3Nn9
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.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCjFAk6uvF
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahXAiGLX2M
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2pOHQa34K
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVx0VbfAyR
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVVae964Wa
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.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtoEoEPUFe
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQATfmYics
“Yes…”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0WT4ho1Dn
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu44qPeE0mL
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwsFMzyOEU
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJoz0Mwhuk
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSTNlobmQH
“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.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJOPgDZmVx
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhXfmHR4iv
“Open up your hands.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK5wIL7rs2
“Why?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5D20KNR0P
“I have something for you.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NuGMcWIJv
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.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56Z95yUHoX
“What is it?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0900FPRFI7
“It’s an owl.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeVA74YeQ0
“What’s an owl?414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTocbDFmPR
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNJuPHZ2VJ
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xwe8Ql8pb
“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.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPgW5WZ7G7
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80r0iw3Nh2
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy8KHBBi52
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP5gnR6zSp
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyZTa8GWCJ
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbpiu46Wo3
“Who gave you that?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7GHE3rIQO
“What, Mommy?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99FMqYlQqE
“That. The owl…”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rXEOiwTUz
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmui0UIW38m
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq4S2VYzvK
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcqRunnPYH
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6UAPxzIxv
“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?”414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPBb1WM9gu
