.eighty six.

-

"His majesty was actually right when he said that happiness was fleeting. My brothers and I were never that happy together again."

-

Minji had asked for Hajin's help in getting out of the palace. Soon Deok explained to her sister that she had already talked with Baek-ah and he had promised to help. But Minji knew that as the head court lady, Hajin had a more specific control of the palace. There were court ladies everywhere, cleaning, washing, doing chores. But Hajin could make sure that they weren't in a specific place at a certain time. She could make sure that the hallways they needed for their escape would be cleared out.

Hajin visited the family for the three remaining days they would be there and promised to help her friend, and when she left the tenth prince's room on the last day, she went to go find Wang Jung. He had just gotten out of lunch with his mother and he smiled warmly when he saw Hajin. He remembered all the good times they had together with him, his brothers, Hak Soon, and Hae Soo. The moment she approached him, she grabbed his arm and asked him to follow her, which took him by surprise. They went into his private quarters and Hajin looked both ways before she shut the door. Once in the room, she still held her voice down into a whisper, in case someone had seen and followed them.

"I need you to help me with something of utmost importance." She said to him.

He was immediately taken off guard, since he never really associated with Hae Soo anymore. Not since they were both teenagers. What could she possibly want that involved him? But then he thought it was probably something regarding Hak Soon. 

"Baek-ah is waiting for me in the caves that lead out of the palace." She informed him, and Jung said nothing, but there was still a look of confusion on his face. "We heard from Hak Soon, and she's hiding somewhere in the palace--"

At the mention of her being there, Jung was overtaken with excitement and he cut her off. His eyes shone brightly at the thought of seeing the woman he loved once more. "Hak Soon is here? You must take me to her." He had been worried about her over the past few days. He didn't know if she was well, or if she was even still alive. He was relieved to know that she was in the palace. But that meant that it would be difficult for her to escape, especially with four children, now that Yo had taken extra security measures.

Hajin gave a shake of her head. "I don't think that would be a good idea." His expression of excitement immediately dropped. But the court lady continued. "Baek-ah and I are going to clear the path for them. He's been moving rocks for three days, but he has gotten tired and could use some help. I can try to help your brother, but it would be faster if you helped us as well. Maybe helping her escape will give you closure, so you can finally let her go from your life and your heart."

Though it hurt Jung in his heart, he had to agree. "Only because I know she's in grave danger if she stays here."

He also thought about his brother Han, his sister in law Soon Deok, the children, and even Eun. They had done no wrong to be treated as criminals of the kingdom. They didn't deserve what Yo wanted to do to them. He agreed to help and went to go find his brother Baek-ah in the caves. Hajin had some chores to do before being able to join them, but as soon as she was able to, she went to their aid. But they had been doing well without her, especially with Jung's help. The two boys had managed to remove most of the rocks before she even got there.

It was night time on the final night when the boys informed Hae Soo she could go and rest. They would be at it for a few more hours before going to bed themselves. The court lady thanked them, and washed up, but before going to bed, she made sure that the palace was absolutely dead silent before she set up a bath as a nice surprise for her friend and her husband. She went to their room and knocked on the door. She opened the door slowly to find the family sitting there in fear once again. But they were relieved when they only saw Hae Soo. The court lady smiled warmly at them, making the parents an offer. "I've set up a bath for you two to relax before your journey tomorrow morning."

Minji bit down on her lip nervously. "What if someone sees us? And what about the children?"

Her friend smiled at her, assuring them that everything would be okay. "I know the palace like the back of my hand. No one will see you. The court ladies are not allowed to leave their bedrooms at night, and Yo doesn't leave his room until morning." Looking towards the four children, she added, "I will take the children out to the garden to play, so they can get some fresh air. No one else lives in this part of the palace, so they can make as much noise as they want and no one will hear."

Eun and Minji were reluctant at first. But they trusted that Hajin was right, and that she would take care of their children.

Hajin took their months old baby in her arms. She took Jinki by the hand and had the twins follow her out the door and down the hallway. Eun already knew the way to the private baths, and he was the one to lead Minji there. It was like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders, not being worried and afraid all of the time. They had help within the palace, and that filled them with a sense of security. 

When they reached the baths, Hajin had set aside towels and clean robes for them to wear after. She had also set aside clean clothes for the children, since they had left home so quickly that they didn't even have time to pack anything. The young couple got in the bath and helped each other get clean. Minji felt nice at the sensations of the warm water washing away all her worries, and her husband's hands scrubbing down her body. She did the same for him and when they were done, they sat on the steps of the bath, overlooking the water together. Minji just wanted to enjoy the fresh air before going back to the room for the night.

There was silence between them for several minutes until Eun heaved a sigh. "I'll really miss this place. It was my home after all, and I spent so many happy days here with his majesty, with my brothers."

Minji turned her attention towards him. To her, it didn't matter leaving Goryeo or the palace. She never consider it her home. But for Eun surely there was a sadness to it. The place he had once considered home, he was no longer welcome in it. He was considered a criminal in his own country.

She said nothing, but he continued speaking. "With my family gone, this is no longer my home."

Minji reached out and grabbed his hand, taking it in hers and giving it a squeeze of reassurance. She didn't really know what to say to him. What could she saw to make him feel better? His brother had been murdered by a brother who was greedy for the throne. His family had been publicly executed because they were accused of conspiring to get Eun on the throne, even though it was not true. His brother hated him and wanted him dead. Their family was forced to run away if they wanted to live. All of it was horrible and it was just too much for anyone to bear.

"Love," She started slowly. "By tomorrow night we'll be safe. We'll be looking at these very same stars, but in Japan."

A smile slowly crept onto his lips as he nodded in agreement. That was when he realized that any place in the world would be his home if he was there with his wife and children. And they didn't have to be away forever. If something were to happen to Yo, they could always return. The next prince in line for the throne was So, and he loved Eun and Han. Despite his hard exterior, the fourth prince cared for his younger brothers.

"Recently I've been recalling all the good times we had together as children and teens." He said to her, hoping she would remember as well, since they had basically grown up together. When she nodded in agreement, he continued. "All the birthday parties, the breakfasts together, playing games in the field. It makes me sad that my brother can hate me so much when we all got along so well. His majesty was actually right when he said that happiness was fleeting. My brothers and I were never that happy together again."

"Let's not think about that anymore." Minji suggested, cupping his face in her hands and giving him a light kiss on the lips. It tore at her heart and sent a prick in her chest to hear him so upset like that. Eun really had nothing against Yo. They were brothers and he wanted to make things right with him.

He grinned against her lips as an idea came to him.

"Let's play some games then." He told her, and she nodded at the idea. A last bit of fun before they would have to run away like criminals the next morning. 

He showed her how to play different games. They made paper boats which he coated in wax from the bottom, so that they wouldn't soak through the paper. Then they used fans to blow the boats across the bath water. It was a little race that Minji tried to win, but her wrist started to ache after a while. It was almost as if she could see that seventeen year old prince in a vision before her as he called out happily. "I win!" With a big smile and his arms up in the air.

He then ran around the pool to her side and lifted her up in his arms happily. 

Minji giggled happily in his arms, startled at first, since he had taken her by surprise. As he set her down on the ground, he kissed her on the lips before he went back to his spot on the other side of the pool and offered her a rematch.

They had a few more races before their wrists started to hurt from fanning their boats across the water. They then returned to the steps and sat down, where Eun showed her his special skill as he called it, of making animals out of fabric napkins. He had made a rabbit for her and she felt all around it, since she could not see it. She was impressed when she actually felt a head and ears. He had done it so expertly and so quickly. She held it close to her chest and thought she would take it back to their room for Jinki. He would probably like it.

"I used to make them all the time when I was a kid to make bath time more fun." He informed her with a grin.

"So cute, love." Minji gushed.

The last game that they played was to make shadow puppets against the wall with the light of the candles. Eun had never done that before and was delighted when she taught him. He had told her happily that he would show that new trick to the children once they could reach Japan. Minji knew they would love it just as much as their father had. 

When they were done with their bath, they got up and left the room. Eun led her back to his cramped little room in the palace, where they would sleep for one final night. The children were already there and put to sleep. Hajin was sitting down with the baby in her arms. Minji thanked her with a hug and the couple laid down together on the ground. The bed was barely big enough for one adult person, but the four children fit perfectly. Minji had handed the cloth animal to Jinki, who held it tightly in his little arms in his sleep. She then kissed them each good night before joining her husband on the uncomfortable ground. 

He instantly wrapped his arms around her. Sometimes Minji thought it was uncomfortable, since she couldn't move around. But she had gotten used to it because she knew her husband could not sleep if he did not hold her close to him.

She tried to sleep that night and get some rest before leaving the palace the next morning. But she just couldn't fall asleep. Maybe it was the excitement of thinking about their new life. Or maybe it was just that uneasy feeling in her chest that she couldn't shake off.

-

only fourteen more chapters before the story ends, guys. 

thank you all so much for reading and supporting. it has meant the entire world to me. lets all cry together because this story is coming to an end. im so sad to see this end, but i started writing it almost three years ago.

but everything must end. 

-clary