The full force of the Royal Guard was ready not two hours later. Iseul stood with So-yeong, her grandfather and Jae-sungs father on the steps of the throne room, when all of a sudden Minister Go gave a shout and flew down the stairs.

Startled Iseul followed him and when she saw where he was headed her heart constricted. Through the open gate thirty or so Hwarang youth marched inside and ahead of them was Jae-sung.

Next to her, her grandfather bristled: "What is he doing? He knows he cannot go, he is a participant in the contest."

She turned around and gazed at him with wide eyes. "What do you mean, grandfather?"

Prime Minister Sohn shook his head and said: "All three of the final participants are to remain inside the palace grounds until the selection process is completed."

Everything went quiet as the king appeared in front of the double doors. He eyed the scenario before him and narrowed his eyes as he saw a bristling Minister Go next to Jae-sung who looked straight ahead. With a loud voice the king asked: "What is the meaning of this? Go Jae-sung, step forward."

Iseul's eyes fleetingly traveled over the faces of the other Hwarang. She recognized her friends instantly. Du Ho was there, as well as Chul-yeo and Chul-seok. All of the boys whom she practiced with for two weeks were standing there, waiting to enter a real war. She gripped her heart as she watched Jae-sung marching up.

He bowed in front of the king, but did not look her way.

"Go Jae-sung," the king bellowed, "are you not aware of the restrictions I gave you?"

"I am, Your Majesty," Jae-sung answered without a second thought.

"Then why are you disobeying my command?"

This time his eyes strayed to hers for a moment and Iseul sucked in a breath. Jae-sung inhaled and then said the words she already knew he was going to say. "Your Majesty, I hereby withdraw myself from the selection. Therefore I am no longer a contestant and no longer bound to stay behind." He dropped on one knee and added: "Please allow me to join my fellow Hwarang and bring those traitors to justice."

No one dared to speak, although Minister Go was hitting himself on the chest as if he somehow failed to raise his son well. Iseul disagreed. Right now she could think of no one more honorable than the young man who was kneeling in front of his king, asking to defend his country. Her heart swelled with pride, but the feeling quickly turned back to fear. She knew the king could not argue with his words and by the expression on his face she could tell he didn't really mind. It meant one less contestant to eliminate and no one could object, since the boy chose to retreat himself.

He wasted no more precious time on the matter, but made a gesture with his hand and ordered the captain of the guard to proceed.

Jae-sung stood up, threw one last glance her way and joined the men and women who were about to depart. The king spoke his final words of praise, telling his soldiers to be fearless and to overcome the enemy for the good of the kingdom. Iseul barely heard him. For a moment she envisioned herself standing in his place, ordering her soldiers to march up to meet the enemy. To fight and perhaps die.

With Jae-sung gone there was little doubt she would really become the crown princess and that meant she would one day have to make decisions like these. Would she be able to?

She took a small step forward as the armies began to move. Jae-sung led the Hwarang and when they marched passed the entrance of the throne room, he made the whole group stop and turn. The Hwarang knelt before the king, but when Iseul looked over their faces, she saw several of them looking at her instead of the king. They were kneeling to her, silently giving her their allegiance.

She pressed her lips together and gave a barely perceptible nod. She couldn't openly accept their homage. Instinctively she understood that the only way she could one day reach the throne, was to keep her head down for the moment.

With a heavy heart she watched as the Hwarang followed the Royal Guard through the gate, out of the palace grounds, until she saw nothing more than the dust their soles threw up. She looked at her grandfather and next at the king. Both men dropped their shoulders and walked back inside. Neither send her away, so she followed. From her peripheral vision she caught sight of So-yeong. She couldn't see his expression and wondered if he perhaps had wanted to follow his fellow Hwarang, but maybe wasn't brave enough. When he looked around and caught her gaze, he quickly diverted his eyes. She sighed. What would happen now? How long would the fighting last?

The king took place on his throne and Prime Minister Sohn took his place at his right hand. Iseul took a few more steps, but halted because she didn't exactly know where to go.

"Sohn Iseul, Mak So-yeong, events have overthrown the plans of what should have been a festive occasion," the king said, redirecting their focus towards him.

Iseul nodded her head and waited for him to continue. Her grandfather folded his hands in front of him and seemed to know what was coming next, but he did not look at her.

"I promised you I would announce the next heir to the throne of Silla today and I will not break that promise. The last decision is mine alone, so there is no need for the whole council of anyone else to be present." The king stood up, broadened his chest and boomed: "Sohn Iseul, step forward."

It didn't matter she had known the outcome in advance. It didn't matter she had had time to prepare for the words that were about to be spoken. Her knees wobbled and her palms were sweaty when she walked up to the steps that led to the throne, reminding herself to breath steadily. In and out, in and out.

There was a contented smile on the king's face as he watched her come closer. At least she could be happy about the fact that he really wanted her there. She lifted her skirts and began to walk up the few steps until she stood only one step below the king.

There weren't many spectators present, only So-yeong and her grandfather. She could almost feel his proud smile warming her back. From the side the head eunuch entered with a radiant crown and looking at the fine silver ring with its chains of delicate adornments and gems, Iseul suddenly felt the weight of the responsibility she had to carry from now on.

The king took the crown from the purple velvet cushion and walked over to where she stood. With a proud expression he placed it on her head with the words: "Hereby I name thee, Sohn Iseul, granddaughter of Sohn Hyeon-u, crown princess of the kingdom of Silla. Protect the people, serve the nation and be prepared to follow in my footsteps where ever I will lead."

Iseul bowed her head as those words settled in her turbulent heart. Yes, she would protect the people and serve the nation. However, she could not blindly follow the kings footsteps as he probably expected. He may have chosen a girl with the idea that she would be pliable and easy to puppeteer, but neither he, nor her grandfather should expect her to just roll over.

She put on a smile as she rose up and turned to look at her grandfather with a gleeful expression. She had done it, she had taken her place beside the king, all on her own. Now she would wait until her time came and then she would show the whole kingdom she was more than just a pretty face.