It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y8YWpETEG
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1EG2BaylO
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. 409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZttXjKkqI
“Mommy…are you praying?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYIRemICzi
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV4ktaOb7K
“Consort Yuko!”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1u7x5DPp3
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU2EnRtoRA
“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.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT5u328hiD
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sZXHNXuFL
“No…”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOojZrqVZU3
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcZCt7Bcjt
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSfeLaA8tE
“Mommy…”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrVWqWDi5r
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IoaKGaPnG
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibYpsz7mxF
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovEYBK6O6o
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAdLO2Dz5N
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YvwRfZ3Mu
“Four!”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbhQ9U7zST
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oOj7xKltd
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!”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F82Mu18Sl
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c1kxCGlMy
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSBsmFThoj
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W7KwkBrKE
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj9bxuTpbd
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGBk4Gd8L3
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9Yuzx94fK
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gbg1Ri4hM
“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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7b3A8ltMY
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lqBYxApcg
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tTnIo3Js3
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgrMW25VAu
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbdqJgSFuZ
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCRTKUwmtC
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9rp7uJPBy
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdCVP6Pn0w
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXCTuCOXLZ
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJLg4ZT3jf
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe38lYFzNP
“Yes…”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BuyklNcno
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQHw4TBqvy
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNGz2zH9Dp
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqweP3PR11
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUMu1noQ7P
“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.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvNdUVUt5a
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1b6Uyadqq
“Open up your hands.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzH8nTkhil
“Why?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4H7hxeGe7
“I have something for you.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5lsxskhYE
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVigL0KnSD
“What is it?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47YmaPmQc5
“It’s an owl.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2vMCSi9di
“What’s an owl?409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83uL9OEwLa
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ6eXrMYhq
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqNnoJqReI
“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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0sctARqDh
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZLpXZjsIX
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6XuWyTzxR
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0OnOA5jpP
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0zPYnfYbk
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRzSPI3WAU
“Who gave you that?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WRRTIs6Mm
“What, Mommy?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeLrBB4Bha
“That. The owl…”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyeqWp4ZxU
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaDvSHZl9U
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwFP1iYUFc
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflQTt3Kkhw
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XHSkQDtEm
“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?”409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6bhQcJszi
