Jin-Ri knelt, her heart heavy with the weight of her parents' future. The confrontation with the men had left her shaken, their words echoing cruelly in her mind. She was just about to drown in despair when Yeng knelt beside her, concern etched on her face.
"Jinnie, my child, are you okay?" Dam's voice was soft, yet firm. She reached out, helping Jin-Ri to her feet with a gentle pull.
"I just… why did you give it all away?" Jin-Ri's voice broke as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You could have at least hidden some for yourselves. Why give everything away?"
Seuk, Jin-Ri's father, looked at his daughter with deep affection, his eyes filled with understanding. "Those are just coins that we can get, my dear. Your well-being, however, is something none of us can ever replace." He wrapped his arms around Jin-Ri, pulling her into a tight embrace. She felt the warmth of his love envelop her, but it did little to ease her heartache.
"But what do you have now?" Jin-Ri lamented, her heart breaking for her mother and father. "You can't even buy food for yourselves."
"I wouldn't exactly say they have nothing," Yeng interjected, surprising them both. She dug deep into her pocket, her brow furrowing in concentration. After a moment, she produced two shimmering gold coins, holding them up triumphantly. "See?"
Jin-Ri wiped the tears from her face, her eyes widening in disbelief. "How? These are the prince's gold coins! How did you manage to get some?"
"I hid some," Yeng admitted with a sly smile. "I knew the chief would come snooping around. So before they could take the coins away, I tucked two away just in case. You really should count your money, Jin-Ri," she advised, playfully nudging her friend.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Jin-Ri hugged Yeng tightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you… Thank you, Yeng. Now I can leave knowing my parents have enough money for their basic needs."
Yeng beamed at the recognition, the warmth of friendship wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. "You would have done the same for me," she replied, handing the coins to Jin-Ri, who then passed them to her parents with tears of relief in her eyes.
Four days later, the two friends stood at the northern gates once more, the darkness of night settling around them. They flashed their plaques to the guards, who nodded and stepped aside, granting them passage.
"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you to the Cherry Blossom?" Jin-Ri asked, her concern for her friend evident.
"Hey, I'm a big girl like you—albeit a lot prettier," Yeng teased, her sly grin breaking the tension.
"Yes, you are," Jin-Ri conceded, her lips curling into a soft smile, a silent thank you for their unbreakable bond.
"I'll be going this way now. Madame Hu will be expecting me… you go on ahead," Yeng said, her tone light yet earnest. The two shared a heartfelt hug, a promise of friendship lingering in the air as they parted ways, each carrying the warmth of the other's love in their hearts.
Jin-Ri hurriedly dropped off her belongings at the court maiden's quarters, her heart fluttering with anticipation. She couldn't shake the yearning she felt for Prince Young-Sik; it had been over a month since she last saw him, and the emptiness of those days had only deepened her longing.
As she approached Young-Sik's residence, her heart raced with excitement. She had a plan—she wanted to surprise him. Silently, like a cat stalking its prey, she crept into the house, her pulse quickening with every step. The familiar scents of the prince's room enveloped her, drawing her closer to the second floor.
Meanwhile, Young-Sik perched on the roof, gazing at the horizon as he had done countless times before. Thoughts of Jin-Ri danced in his mind, filling the space of his heart with a bittersweet ache. Just as he decided to retreat back inside, he heard a soft rustling below. He turned, and to his shock, Jin-Ri appeared from nowhere.
His heart raced as he shrieked in surprise, the sound echoing in the quiet of the evening. In that instant, he lost his footing, teetering dangerously over the edge. But Jin-Ri was quick, her hand shooting out to grip his wrist, pulling him back with all her strength.
"Got you!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and exhilaration. Young-Sik tumbled into the room, landing safely in her arms, their bodies colliding in a breathless embrace. For a moment, they held each other tightly, hearts pounding in unison, the thrill of the near mishap electrifying the air around them.
As they slowly pulled away, they found themselves still intertwined, the warmth of their bodies igniting an unspoken tension. Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still. Jin-Ri's heart raced fiercely, an unfamiliar sensation washing over her, leaving her breathless.
"Why does it feel like this?" she thought, her knees trembling as Young-Sik's hands moved toward her face, brushing aside the loose strands of hair that framed her features. "What is he doing? No… don't…"
But the moment his fingers grazed her skin, a jolt of magic coursed through her. "Oh my goodness… he's just brushing my hair aside, yet it feels utterly enchanting!" she gasped internally, her thoughts swirling in a dizzying flurry. "His touch, his gaze, those strong arms—AIIIIIIIEEEEE!"
In that intoxicating moment, the world faded away, and it was just the two of them, suspended in the air, hearts fluttering as if ready to take flight. But as Young-Sik leaned in, Jin-Ri suddenly panicked. "Where are you going? Why are you coming nearer?"
Instinctively, she ducked away at the last second, breaking the spell. "Um… I think the laundry might be done. No, wait… there's a party that's almost over, and they need someone to handle the dishes. Um… I really must go." Confused and flustered, she stumbled backward, her heart racing as she dashed out of the prince's residence.
Young-Sik watched her retreating figure from the window, a smile creeping onto his face. "What a delightful girl she is," he mused, warmth spreading through him as he noted her hesitation, her glance back at him, before she bolted in a random direction.
Outside, Jin-Ri ducked behind a nearby building, her heart pounding in her chest as she peeked around the corner. The sight of Young-Sik still watching sent her mind spiraling. "Oh my goodness! Why would you want to kiss me?" She felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. "But why do I want him to kiss me?" Fanning herself gently, she made her way toward the court maiden's quarters, whispering to herself, "Thank goodness for my self-control… otherwise, who knows what might have happened."
With each step, the intoxicating thrill of their encounter lingered in the air, leaving them both breathless and yearning for more.
As dawn broke, Jin-Ri found herself ensnared in a web of dread that felt almost suffocating. Whenever she caught a glimpse of the prince approaching, she would quickly divert her path, her heart fluttering with anxiety. Should their paths intersect, she would bow her head, refusing to meet his gaze until he had moved on, her spirit both yearning and shy. How could she face the prince? The generous prince who gave her what she needed without hesitation. The prince who she must steal from to ensure that her parents are taken care of.
On the other hand, Prince Young-Sik wondered why his court maiden avoided him every chance she got.
After greeting him this morning and leaving his meals, she vanishes without a trace. Whenever he would run into her, she would disappear, without any explanation. For the entire day, it was like playing hide and seek with his court maiden, and an entire day was too long for the prince. He started to ignore her as well.
For the next two days, Young-Sik never once talked to Jin-Ri, nor did he even give her chores and things to do for the day. Because of this, he started to sneak out of the palace again and he would leave Jin-Ri behind.