Prince Wang Tae never imagined Hye-ri to grow up into such a strikingly beautiful maiden.

To be honest, he did think that she was pretty four years ago and found her adorable antics one of the few things which could bring a smile on his face. 

 In fact, his young fifteen year old self had started feeling more and more drawn to her who had always fascinated him since they were small whenever he would visit the Kim household and see her.  

Her pale face with that rosy blush, her light irises swimming with a shine which could battle the brightest of stars in the sky and that bashful smile which adorned her lips whenever he caught her subtly staring at him from the corner of her eyes was oh-so endearing.

However, when he received his Royal Father's command to join the military and guide the country's troop to suppress the rebellions in the northern part of the empire, he had to give up on those feelings. 

It took him and his comrade Baek-ah way too long to suppress and crush the rebels, who he knew spread not just in the North but all over the country- He had recently come to hear rumors about another rebellion in a village not far from the capital and therefore was looking into it.

For four long years he forced himself to forget his life back home. 

He resented his Father-King for sending him to the battlefield at the age of fifteen during his first year when he saw people die from war, from hunger, from diseases. No matter how much mature for his age or a skilled warrior he was, he was still a child back then. 

The next year was a bit more bearable and by the time the next season rolled by, he had become use to bloodshed.

Wang Tae had never liked his mother since he found out the extent to which his mother would go to protect her position as the King's favorite, the highest ranking woman in the Inner Court after Her Majesty Queen Myung-hee herself.

He despised that woman who gave him life for he knew just how ruthless she was, having taken many lives of innocent people. 

After his Father-King refused to investigate into his late half-brother's death, he started despising his father too. His hatred for the man who was the most powerful one in Goryeo only intensified when he was 'banished' to the North. His father didn't quite love him or his brother; he knew his father only loved the fact that he had power. He would not really bat even an eyelash when the news of the previous Crown Prince's death reached him. 

In some way thus, he could understand those rebels a little. He knew that the current King was someone who always bowed down to the corrupt and powerful nobles of his court who had supported his coup against his brother, the old King of Goryeo all those years ago.

 Those powerful nobles were the cause of high tax burden and subsequent poverty among the common folk of the nation. Those greedy and slimy old men who had monopoly over the nation's resources irked Wang Tae. 

Although he didn't share his mother's dream of him one day ruling the country, he still wanted to purge the nation and get rid of those evil men for people of Goryeo and their welfare.

 He had full faith in his brother though, faith that Prince Wang Won, although a bit childish and immature, would prove to be an able ruler and a just and benevolent monarch- something which the nation needed after being subjected to his father's despotic rule. 

He had faith that his brother, no matter how much hot tempered he was, would be far better a king in the future than their father. And he would always stand beside Prince Wang Won to ensure just that; like a shield to protect him from even his own mother if the situation arose.

Prince Wang Tae had never quite known or even tried to understand the concept of love. It started back years ago, him losing his faith on that emotion that is, when he realized just how much poisonous his mother's fangs hidden beneath her pretty face and pearly teeth were. 

The closest he came to feeling that humane emotion was akin to what he felt for his half brothers, Prince Wang Eun and Wang Won. And even his valiant horse which accompanied him to battles, his favorite one which its midnight black mane and a star shaped scar near it's forehead- Byeol, he called him.

However, there was a secret that the remnants of his heart clung to, a secret he had never told anyone.

A secret which effectively hid his blossoming feelings for a certain bright-eyed enigmatic young maiden, graceful yet clumsy, fiery yet a noblewoman with an inexplicable charm which could reel anyone in- a walking paradox named Kim Hye-ri.

There were a lot of reasons as to why he had to hide these at all costs. 

He was currently hunting for rebel traitors in the capital who were apparently the ones funding and sourcing all the rebellions up North. Rumour had it that a man named 'Hugyeja" was behind it. In fact, his last interrogation with a defector had left him with that name, which was now his prime suspect who he had sworn to catch.  

He killed people without batting an eyelash. The scars on his torso were a testament to that. He didn't care for anyone other than his brother and the good of his country. 

His personality was in stark contrast with the innocent and sweet Hye-ri, who couldn't even kill a bug though she sure loved to claim that she would kill Prince Won for this or that.  

Moreover, he was friends with her brothers. He had seen her grow and battled with feelings building up for her when he reached adolescence, feelings which he had been suppressing for four years while he was away; feelings which had now bubbled up again.

She was like cherry blossoms petals yet he was the blade the sole purpose of which was to shed blood.  

He knew there were a lot of reasons why he wanted to keep that secret hidden. As he was reassuring her by clearing his throat awkwardly, it felt as if he was reassuring himself because even he had overheard some of her household servants' gossiping that there was a very high possibility that Hye-ri was about to be wed off.

And he didn't like the thought of it one bit.

***********************************************

"Mother, you called for me?"

Prince Wang Won entered his mother, Her Majesty Queen Myung-hee's chambers, slightly bowing in respect to greet his mother. 

He never called her with those titles like 'Her Majesty' for the she hated court curtsies in private chambers. Queen Myung-hee adored her son more than anything in the entire world even though she was deemed as one of the most prickly and spoilt, not to mention jealous queens there ever were.

"My dear son!" 

Want Won had never seen her this happy before. She was beaming at him from where she sat, almost about to spring up in elation yet the proper royal etiquette held her back.

Grinning at her albeit in confusion, he sat down on the cushion laid in front of her for him by one of the palace court ladies after retreating when the queen gestured all  the servants to leave the chamber with a flick of her hand, her eyes sparkling with joy and excitement.

"What has you so merry, royal mother?" Wang Won asked, making her grin broaden if such a thing was even possible.

"My dear Crown Prince! The tidings I bring you today are so, they call for celebrations."

"Mother, my coronation is still a seven moons away. I'm still a prince." Wang Won insisted. 

He had mixed feelings relating to the royal edict. He was delighted at one hand for his dear mother was delighted yet he still had doubt swirling inside his heart on whether he was fit for the role or not. He still had things to learn, unlike his valiant elder brother who he felt was a better choice. 

But palace rules deemed it so that the legitimate son had to get the Crown Prince title. And Wang Won knew him voicing the thought that his elder half brother deserved the throne rather than him would not bode well with his mother. 

"Ah, semantics!" His mother rolled her eyes, leaning forward to excitedly whisper yell the next words,

"Apart from  your coronation, there is another cause for a royal celebration."

The queen titled her head slightly, a chuckle leaving her lips as she regarded her son, extending her right hand to touch the side of his face lovingly,

"My son, it's finally time that you get a bride!"

This made the young soon-to-be crown prince's eyes widen in startlement, making him spring to his feet at once, not caring one dime about royal etiquettes.

 His heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach when his mother narrowed her eyes at him, her joy slowly melting into confusion at his strong reaction.

A face floated into his mind, one which starred in his dreams more often than not. Almost every night to be precise.

"What?! Mother, what are you talking about?!"

***********************************************

A/N

Hi!

So, it's been way too long since I updated this baby of mine, so here you go guys! Haha I had to re-read because I forgot half the plot but no worries, this book has been revived. You can thank SBS and 'Lovers of the Red Sky' for the same.

Some big things have happened. Comment your thoughts and reactions!

Love you guys so so much. Again, sorry for the delay in the update (almost a year but who is counting lol)

Oh, and the word 'Hugyeja'  (used in the aforementioned chapter) means heir. 

Love,

Milli