The court maiden was drifting away in her thoughts again, marveling at the prince's striking features and captivating charm. Before she knew it, she was swept into a delightful daydream. The sun shone brightly as she imagined herself in a vibrant field filled with exquisite flowers, adorned in a lovely pink silk overcoat with violet accents and shimmering golden leaf decorations. Her flowing pink long dress and skirt, trimmed in gold, that elegantly hugged her silhouette, made her feel like a true princess. The gentle breeze caressed her hair, making it sway gracefully as she picked flowers. suddenly, a voice called out to her.
She turned to find Young-Sik galloping toward her on his magnificent steed, the wind tousling his hair as he approached with a dazzling smile that made her heart flutter. His eyes glimmered like stars kissed by the sun, and she couldn't help but bite her lip at the sight of his strong arms confidently holding the reins. As he drew nearer, he gradually slowed to a gentle stop right before Jin-Ri. With a warm invitation, he extended his hand toward her. Jin-Ri's heart raced as she took his hand, feeling the perfect blend of strength and tenderness in his touch—calloused yet soft, a warrior's hands that promised protection and affection.
The prince swept her into his arms, cradling her tenderly on his lap. With a soft pull of the reins, the majestic steed began to prance gracefully across the fields. Jin-Ri gasped softly as Young-Sik drew her closer, their hearts entwined in the moment.
"Hong Jin-Ri, my heart belongs to you... Will you be my princess forevermore?" Young-Sik's voice was a soothing caress, filled with both love and conviction.
Jin-Ri's laughter bubbled forth, and she playfully nudged him. "Oh my... are we moving a tad too quickly, Yong?"
Young-Sik tilted Jin-Ri slightly, his face hovering just above hers. "When it comes to love, speed is just a suggestion," he said with a playful grin. He inched closer, the anticipation thick in the air, ready to seal the moment with a kiss.
Jin-Ri squeezed her eyes shut, heart racing as she braced for her first kiss. With a playful pout, her lips seemed to beckon for the kiss she was ready to embrace, but just as their lips were about to meet, Young-Sik pulled back, barely touching her lips. "Hey! Jin-Ri, are you still there? You're drooling all over your food," The prince said out of the blue
Jin-Ri blinked, reality crashing in like a wave. "Wait, what did you just say?" she asked, staring at the prince who was snapping his fingers as if trying to wake her from a trance. She quickly dabbed at her lips and returned to her plate, feeling regret. "Aish... what a bummer, and I was just getting to the juicy part," she lamented, her enthusiasm deflating with every bite.
As they dined together in a tranquil atmosphere, the two stole shy looks at one another, yearning to understand the feelings that lingered between them. However, the words remained unspoken, leaving their true emotions hidden beneath the surface.
At the same time, Jin-Ri was caught in her whirlwind of feelings. "No! It can't be happening this quickly. He just saved me, right? But then there was that moment he lifted me onto his horse and the way he held me close when I was so scared... and then there was that other time..." Jin-Ri's thoughts trailed off, as she found herself irresistibly enchanted by the prince.
The instant their gazes met, an awkward silence enveloped them, thick and palpable. Jin-Ri, her cheeks flushed, fumbled with her full bowl, murmuring, "Oh goodness, I'm still quite hungry... I'll just fetch a bit more."
Young-Sik, trying to ease the tension, laughed lightly, "I've eaten far too much, my stomach is making quite the noise," he confessed, even though he hadn't touched his meal at all.
They both rose to their feet, locking eyes for a moment that felt like an eternity before they each took off in opposite directions. But just a few steps later, they both spun around, retracing their steps until they collided right in the middle of the path.
Jin-Ri gestured toward the pot swaying over the fire. "The pot's over there," she said with a playful grin.
Young-Sik let out a nervous laugh, pointing in the opposite direction. "The private area is that way," he replied, taking a step back.
Jin-Ri hesitated, glancing back at the prince. "Should I go with you?" she asked, a hint of mischief in her voice.
"NO!" Young-Sik blurted out, causing Jin-Ri to jump in surprise.
Just as Jin-Ri was about to strut away, she caught sight of Captain Gi and the soldiers gaping at her and the prince, their eyes wide with disbelief. "What's the matter? Never seen royalty before? Go to sleep!" she shouted playfully, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she sauntered off.
One soldier nudged his buddy beside him and whispered, "What's your take on the whole prince and girl situation?"
The second soldier shrugged, a bemused grin on his face. "Beats me."
Just then, a third soldier piped up, "Come on, it's crystal clear! They're totally in love! Just a little shy about spilling their hearts."
All eyes shifted to the third soldier, who suddenly felt the weight of their stares. "What?" he asked, genuinely confused by their intense expressions.
As the others strolled away, the third soldier couldn't help but scoff at their indifference to romance. "I've got a brilliant idea for a story!" he exclaimed, his imagination taking flight. "Let's swap the prince for a suave official, no wait...I'll make him an aspiring government official."
The soldier chuckled, "For our female heroine, instead of a court maiden, let's make her a gisaeng, no wait, that's too cliché...the daughter of a gisaeng!" With a flourish, he produced a piece of parchment, a tiny brush, and some ink. "I'll call it... the tale of Chunyang! Yes, that's it!" He began to write with fervor, humming a catchy tune, completely lost in his romantic reverie.
After midnight, everyone was fast asleep except for a few soldiers on guard duty. The prince was lying under a cherry tree, while Jin-Ri, after some convincing from Young-Sik, decided to stay in the tent meant for him. She got up and peeked outside, checking to see if everyone was still asleep.
Jin-Ri quietly crept out and headed toward the carts. When she got there, the guards were already sprawled all over the place. She approached the men looting the carts. "What are you doing? Don't take everything; that money belongs to the people of Gyong. Also, are the guards dead?" she asked the man directing the other bandits
"Jin-Ri, the guards are fine. You've completed your task, so there's no reason for you to stick around," Chief Bong said.
"Wait a second! You're taking everything! This feels wrong; I shouldn't have given you that info," Jin-Ri exclaimed, trying to snatch the silver bags. Bong Il-Sun struck her across the face and pushed her back.
"If you don't back off, I'll kill you right here and banish your parents from our village," Bong Il-Sung leader, warned her.
The court maiden sprang to her feet and positioned herself between the bandits and the carts. "Chief Bong, those belong to the people of Gyong! You'll have to get past me first!" she boldly proclaimed.
"Get out of the way Jin-Ri, I won't hesitate to kill you," Chief Bong exclaimed with a hint of disappointment at the young lady in front of him
"No! I'm afraid that's not right, you are taking what belongs to other people," Jin-Ri exclaimed, holding her ground
Chief Bong raised his voice, "Get out of the way, girl, we need this much more than any other people, you know that. Now, for the last time, get out of the way or you will get hurt."
"NO, you say that we need this money, but the truth is you need it to line your pockets," Jin-Ri said, the defiance in her was reflected in her words
Chief Bong drew his sword and aimed it at Jin-Ri. "I'll be sure to tell your mom and dad I'm sorry," he sneered before charging at her, making her squeeze her eyes shut.
The Chief's sword was knocked off course before it even reached the court maiden. Jin-Ri cautiously opened her right eye, questioning if she had survived. Her eyes grew wide in shock as she saw the prince right in front of her, looking concerned while pointing his sword at the bandit leader's throat. "Your Highness?" was all she managed to utter.
"Are you alright? Did they do anything to you?" Young-Sik asked, his voice laced with concern as he leaned closer to Jin-Ri.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her bottom lip quivered like a little kid who just lost their favorite toy. "He hit me right here," she whimpered, gesturing to her cheek, which was now a shade of crimson.
The moment Young-Sik caught sight of Jin-Ri's slightly swollen face, his complexion turned a deep shade of red. He spun around to face the village leader, who was trembling like a leaf. "Who is this person?" he asked
Jin-Ri bowed her head in shame. "He is our village chief; he exploits and extorts money from us. Forgive me, your Highness, but I gave him our location to save my friend," She confessed to the prince
With his sword aimed menacingly at the man's throat, he stepped closer and warned, "You will leave the village, never to return!" Young-Sik pressed the blade closer to Il-Sung's neck. "You will never, ever hurt her again! If you do, I'll make sure your end is slow and excruciatingly painful! You have until I say one to get lost!"
But before he could even finish his count, the bandits bolted into the night, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust behind. Young-Sik and Jin-Ri looked around, bewildered, and found themselves in an eerie silence, devoid of any bandits.
Young-Sik rushed over to Jin-Ri, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright? Does it sting?" he inquired, his eyes darting to her cheek.
"I'm perfectly fine, Your Highness, and the pain has faded... But wait, what was that about my face?" Jin-Ri replied, a playful glint in her eyes as she tried to piece together his words.
"Honestly, it's nothing to worry about as long as you're safe," Young-Sik remarked, surveying the chaos of the cart. His gaze caught two bags left behind by the bandits. "They've taken off with a good chunk of the gold and silver from this cart," he said, looking at Jin-Ri. "Please, go rouse the other soldiers."
"Right away, Your Highness!" Jin-Ri exclaimed, her feet already moving as she sprinted toward the rest of the troops.
Young-Sik's question hung in the air, heavy and unexpected, "Why did you do it?"
Jin-Ri dropped to her hands and knees. "Please, Your Highness, I deserve death. I have forsaken your kindness and betrayed you."
Young-Sik was taken aback by the court maiden's pleas. "She's serious, I never heard her say something like this before." With a sorrowful smile, Young-Sik asked again, "Why did you do it?"
"I'm truly sorry, Your Highness. I didn't think it through," she said while maintaining a deep bow. She then explained everything to Young-Sik about how their village chief coerced them all into giving him more than half of their wages, how he keeps his family hostage within the village, and how she was forced to tell him about the caravan out of desperation.
"Your Highness...are you alright, are you fine?" The platoon of soldiers asked after they arrived at the scene
"Don't worry about me, check on the others and see who needs medical attention" Young-Sik showing concern for his soldiers "Also, send a platoon of soldiers to Mt. Yangge village, tell them to run Bong Il-Sung along with his gang out of the village, and give them a warning that if they ever come back, I will personally flay them alive!"
Jin-Ri stepped up to the prince with a bit of hesitation. "Thanks for saving me again, Your Highness," she said, a little shyly.
Young-Sik's expression turned serious. He shouted at his court maiden, "Next time you do something reckless like that, I won't come to your rescue, do you hear me?" His voice was intense, and Jin-Ri felt a jolt. It was the first time he had ever spoken to her this way. She bowed her head, realizing he was serious about the warning.