It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxXZBocjxJ
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBleWYTuJz
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. 464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz0papZzHs
“Mommy…are you praying?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHC6YnlZm8
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq6rHrVBib
“Consort Yuko!”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS94pYxJZq2
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawMhpl7DQz
“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.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhzXtZOUhT
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfkVdP6cwG
“No…”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8ocWGbLiN
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cjZPRrqIe
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYR90HF3bf
“Mommy…”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml4C1EH0RZ
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.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkThbbAQ1I4
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhihONGmIyd
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wPw9Tm12r
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK9Zl0hOny
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE06J2IeQD
“Four!”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaYWsk106x
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6WxDGbkB9
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!”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Kdj9s9ur
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoYRwuSnlW
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnnYrhMsTe
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zJw076jDu
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL5znldZ9o
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jnjOYYN10
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcFNcUJRvE
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJYuazpm7V
“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.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj7tpbB8FR
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmofvZmXrsE
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNm8lSlPwz
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRMiQoJFEE
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.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaU0aS0Odu
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D16Ub4fp4
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagpRspWDcT
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ251xj3Kn2K
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqIjYTvCJB
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.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejTnjzRXQd
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxuClWQ7Zc
“Yes…”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsuePNpr6S
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIKgtpoiBW
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUciUPopNxZ
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DwnDeFaN5
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBACCJkqBJy
“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.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRVxOmjImx
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQy6RmljRU
“Open up your hands.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdpmXpa90M
“Why?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqxUMVUT0K
“I have something for you.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFR1gEGR2W
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.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4jVozWT0R
“What is it?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDDOnlslV2
“It’s an owl.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58rvlEF9H6
“What’s an owl?464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd6DkkwXaF
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUbbVW691J
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMJoQZn25R
“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.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5W0imCAoD
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy3Qdxuwgu
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31mK7z01el
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlr8wum0wr
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG5K7XFV2H
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF74Lwgw3k
“Who gave you that?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmyiN9qE18
“What, Mommy?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnSWPnHclY
“That. The owl…”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwpQzSAMwt
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu1JkNPYWN
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNG4liTimv
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76mDSUgO50
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJj6JkZ8gN
“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?”464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0pTyqt9DC
