Even though Iseul didn't like how everybody ignored her during council meetings, she was very glad she didn't have any part in the proceedings of the next day. All she had to do was be present.

She had to fight the urge to look away as her two sworn enemies underwent torture until they admitted everything they had plotted against the crown in order to seize power.

The ax was sharp and their execution was swift.

🌸

Now that the threat was gone, Iseul was free to leave the palace grounds once again and the first thing she did a few days later was visit Do-yun. She heard from Nari that her friend's family was still under house arrest, but it hadn't been decided yet what to do with them. When Iseul reached the house there were guards in front of the gate.

Because she had brought her own guards she was allowed passage.

Do-yun was all but locked up inside her chamber. She looked awfully pale, but her eyes brightened when Iseul walked in.

"Is– Your Highness, to what do I owe this honor?"

Do-yun began to bow, but Iseul wrapped her arms around her and after a moment she felt her friend break down in quiet sobs.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you. I could strangle Hojin for what he did if he wasn't already dead."

She wondered if his family mourned his dead. For all his faults, he'd still been Do-yun's cousin. Her friend grew up with him. She decided not to mention his name again.

"I will try to plead with the king for lenience. Just hang in there, alright?"

Do-yun put on a brave face and smiled through her tears. She waited until Iseul sat down and poured her tea before shyly saying: "You did it, Iseul, you became crown princess. How do you feel?"

Iseul heaved a deep sigh. "Where should I begin? At first I was so proud, but then the war began and everything happened so fast. Next thing I knew I was wearing a crown, but all the power I seemed to have could not help me with anything that really mattered to me. I wasn't allowed of the palace grounds, you were almost banished, Jae-sung ..." She halted and felt heat rise in her cheeks when she thought about their late night meeting.

The topic was sensitive but Iseul was willing to bear the discomfort when she saw a spark of the old Do-yun ignite when the girl sat up straight. "What about Jae-sung?" she asked with glinting eyes.

With a deep sigh Iseul relented and leaning forward she softly urged: "You can't tell anyone, promise me."

Do-yun pouted. "Even if I could I'm not allowed to leave this room, so don't worry about that."

A little ashamed about her error, Iseul bit her lip. But Do-yun grabbed her hand and eagerly asked: "Did he say anything? The last time I saw him he was so adamant in speaking to you. I can see something happened. Please tell me."

"Yes, something happened. Oh, I'm still very confused and it's not like anything is about to change in the near future. I can't even tell you everything, but ..." She faltered, ordered her jumbled mind and finally said: "I think I'm in love with him."

Do-yun leaned back with wide eyes and slammed both hands against her mouth. It took her a whole minute before she could speak again. "When did that happen?" She quickly added: "Your Highness." But Iseul waved her mistake away.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I ... no, I really don't know. It's only been a month since we hated each other and were rivals in Bongyo. Somewhere along the line we learned to tolerate each other. We kind of worked together to find out about the conspiracy between ... well, between the traitors, but it wasn't until the end, when Chul-yeo found out the king wanted to have a woman in the seat on his right, that things really changed. Jae-sung promised to help me. I ... I guess I knew he liked me, because he'd asked me to marry him before."

"He what?"

"Shhh, quiet. Yeah, he offered to make me queen when he won the selection, but that was before ... well, never mind. Perhaps he wasn't even being serious, but I know he's changed since then." She ignored Do-yun's shocked expression and continued bashfully: "The night after he returned he ... he came to see me and ... he told me he loved me."

Do-yun clapped her hands. All signs of an impending depression now completely evaporated. "Oh, that is so romantic. And? Are you going to marry him now?"

Immediately Iseul shook her head. "If I marry him now, he will become king and I will loose everything I've fought for." When Do-yun opened her mouth to object, she quickly added: "It was his idea. We will ignore each other until ... well ..." She couldn't say the king was ill, so she waved her hand dismissive and said: "Until the time is right. So, Do-yun, you have to promise to keep this a secret. No one must know of our feelings for each other. Promise me."

With a grave expression Do-yun nodded. "I promise. Your secret is safe with me, Your Highness. Then a grin broke loose and she whispered: "Does Binna know?"

🌸

On her way back to the palace Iseul thought about entrusting her secret to her other friend as well. Binna could certainly keep a secret, but wouldn't it be awkward because Jae-sung was her brother?

When she thought about the difficult look that had been on her friends face the last time they spoke and everything that had happened since then, she made a u-turn. It didn't feel right to keep it from her.

In front of the gate of the Go household she suddenly halted. What if Jae-sung was at home? Would she be able to keep up the ruse of indifference? She took a moment to mentally prepare herself for the possibility of bumping into him and almost decided to turn around again when the gate opened.