It was dark and his face was cold. The wind outside the broken carriage howled. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoUC7KmTLW
“You are so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre2TzIMLqt
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAfWAIMAeT
“Mommy…are you praying?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocrDf4513s
Then there was the sound of horses galloping and men shouting.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHJXZuzBTT
“Consort Yuko!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNtFwyWgbw
“Yes…we are here!” the young prince heard his mother answer.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pbm3Mf8WP
“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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPGFc9ZFCR
Prince Yoshi felt the strange man’s hands on this waist.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgb0VkTlpD
“No…”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIcuK01kIk
His mother placed her mouth against one of his ears.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcukAlMBbc
“Shh. We will only be separated for a short while my darling. I will be brave if you will!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTUTV9nLyd
“Mommy…”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e8tokkU8n
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwjnageTNO
“Good evening, your highness. I am Constable Han. I will help get you to safety tonight. First, allow me to strap you on…”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A4tmtgjPe
“Let me assist you, Han,” Captain Lee said as he handed Consort Yuko his fur-trimmed cape.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCQ7hrsay2
Prince Yoshi was then swaddled on to Constable Han by Captain Lee. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK9gzuJVut
“How old are you now, your highness?” Captain Lee inquired as he wrapped up the young prince.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXQubZJb1M
“Four!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsYOWTnNAX
“My, my. I don’t remember being as brave as you when I was four!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb3AD3XPnv
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!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYdzReyfiM
Prince Yoshi found himself getting unwrapped from Constable Han by another strange man named Mr. Seo.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPysnMiaEI4
“Be careful…my back is a little sore,” Constable Han complained.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTLM12VnYN
Mr. Seo took Prince Yoshi off the horse and planted the child in his mother’s arms.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H26Gqw6mo
“Oh, you were so brave! It didn’t know you could be so brave!” his mother exclaimed as she rained kisses on his cheeks.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NcswdgodA
“Consort Yuko!” A voice boomed out.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BA01Zv66u
His mother’s head raised and turned toward the voice.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ6mP0X970
“Minister Park…thank you for your hospitality.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuNBAnqa0K
“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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4SWMJ52qM
“Come, come. It is chilly out here. Let’s get you and Prince Yoshi warm, Consort Yuko…”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8VFIxdb8b
His mother carried him to the main hall and put him down.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3Y9ZldrpG
“We will be sleeping at Minister Park’s home tonight, my little prince…”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SRXa8XUbP
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKnmK9D6Wi
“Consort Yuko, I would like to offer a warm blanket for his highness Prince Yoshi.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiiHbtXPm2
“My…what a precocious child. My daughter is about your age. What is your name?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelY7cWLMxp
“My name is Chaeyoung, Consort Yuko. The Foreign Minister is my grandfather.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszRIwPvVTU
“Prince Yoshi will accept your offer, Miss Chaeyoung.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHGIopONaY
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlXwG39kP7
“Isn’t this nice?” His mother asked him. His eyes finally turned to his mother.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KmsHswtbT
“Yes…”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqZQFDxhYn
His eyes turned back to Chaeyoung. “Thank you.”
“The prince was absolutely adorable!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ054sVfKFsB
Chaeyoung’s aunt was gushing about little Prince Yoshi the following morning at breakfast.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DCRBl6BOE
“He’s a half-breed,” Chaeyoung heard her mother say.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz3mEWe9vT
“Omo…watch your tongue! Your daughter is listening.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoq9E4YHEb
“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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g4BapktEg
Chaeyoung was standing in front of Prince Yoshi as his mother spoke to her grandfather.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydyYYdJ8WP
“Open up your hands.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbViwSUMvRy
“Why?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefgh2NHo0l
“I have something for you.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLU2QZONVv
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpihM8IGQAw
“What is it?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGACRZJNdr0
“It’s an owl.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWUfPfYvCy
“What’s an owl?408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCbsXMC7VM
“It’s a bird that flies around at night hunting little rodents.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu2xzLrXWG
“Oh.” The prince studied the fabric creature in his hands. “Did you make it?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FiJo1TMYP
“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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDZqV7u5DR
“Chaeyoung! Why are you not properly addressing Prince Yoshi?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OkGCV363S
Chaeyoung’s mother grabbed her by the wrist.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeOny21uRJ
“I apologize greatly, your highness.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWnct4MBkU
Prince Yoshi just stared at the woman in confusion. The woman was wearing a sash that looked like it belonged on his owl.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJdtJTsT6S
His mother was in tears. Her sadness was suddenly replaced with curiosity.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OCgahhYAz
“Who gave you that?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ5qgYZyV7
“What, Mommy?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQtporQtZu
“That. The owl…”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YJcF45Y5x
“Chaeyoung gave me Hooty.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iW7d2L9DJ
His mother laughed while wiping at her face, “Hooty?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQzSY9CNYs
“Hooty doesn’t like it when you’re sad.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjJkwSeGAG
His mother took him in her arms and hugged him.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn0BjqNIeW
“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?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeh8vc7l9Y
