.four.

"My name is Park Hak Soon, I'm fourteen years old. I live with my sister Soon Duk, and my parents in Goryeo. The same historical Goryeo of one thousand years ago. I'm friends with the fourteenth prince. We like to practice martial arts together." Minji repeated to herself in the privacy of her bedroom, pacing back and forth, her bare feet slapping across the wooden floor as she walked. Her hands intertwined, playing with her fingers nervously while she continued to repeat what was her life in Goryeo. "But Minji doesn't know the first thing about martial arts. I'm fucked."

She had been in bed for a few days since her accident, per request of her sister who had been good about taking care of her. She had also received visits from Prince Jung who told her stories about his adventures in the market in which he would dress as a commoner and practice his martial arts skills by fighting with people. Minji scolded him and told him that wasn't something he should be doing because he would get hurt, but he boastfully told her that he had never lost a fight before in his life.

There was a knock on her door that startled her. Most people at her house were already up and she had heard the footsteps of the servants coming and going as they did their chores.

"Lady Hak Soon," Came the voice of one of her servants. This was another thing she couldn't get used to in that past life. Having servants waiting on her hand and foot because she was of a high rank--a general's daughter. "We're here to help you get dressed. Your father would like to see you and your sister before he departs."

Minji quickly crinkled up her nose. "I can get dressed on my own, thanks."

She wasn't keen on the idea of stripping down in front of several maids, and then having them watch her as she got dressed. But the woman insisted. "Nonsense, my lady. That's our job." And without waiting for her response, she opened the door, revealing herself and about five other women who bowed before her as she entered the room. One of the maids held her shoes, another her outfit, while the last to enter the room carried her metal armor with some difficulty.

Finally accepting that she would be dressed by her servants, she was led to the middle of the room while the women stood around her after closing the door. Minji gestured towards the armor and crinkled up her nose. "I won't be wearing that today. Please set it aside."

The servant holding the armor nodded her head, and stepped aside, setting it by her bed. The main servant inquired with curiosity. "You won't be wearing your armor, Lady Hak Soon? You never leave the house without it." 

Of course Hak Soon--the general's daughter--was used to wearing her armor all the time. But Minji wasn't and she didn't want to carry around something that weighed almost as much as she did. She couldn't imagine how Jung must have felt when picking her up. It was like lifting two people at the same time.

Minji replied along with a shake of her head. "I'm very tired after my accident. I'd rather not wear it today." Or ever, she thought to herself.

She was asked to lift her arms out horizontally and the maids got to work on her. They placed layer after layer of clothing on her until they were finally done and Minji felt as though her arms were sore from holding them up so much. She sighed in relief and moved to go sit on her bed when she was stopped. They weren't done and were going to work on her hair next. By the time they were actually finished, Minji was certain a whole hour had gone by.

Since she didn't remember anything about her past life, she was led to her family who was having breakfast under the shade of a large cheery blossom tree outside. Soon Deok was already there, and with her were two other people that she assumed were their parents.

Minji greeted them with a respectful bow. "Good morning." She smiled slightly at them.

"My beautiful Hak Soon." Her father got up from his chair and walked over to her with determined steps, pulling her in for a hug. "We were so worried when we heard about your accident. But what were you doing in the princes' private bath?" He wondered, eyeing her with confusion as they pulled away. 

"Appa..." Minji began nervously. She didn't know what to say to him, since she didn't know the reason why Hak Soon had been in the bath. All Minji new was that she drowned in a river with her best friend and appeared in Goryeo.

"Abeoji," Father, Soon Deok said as she rose to her sister's aid. "She doesn't remember anything. She doesn't even remember that we're her family. Please be patient with her."

Minji shot her a grateful look. 

Her father nodded in understanding and went back to his seat. Minji greeted the woman who was supposed to be her mother with a respectful bow before she sat down at the only empty seat left at the table. 

The family began having breakfast together in silence until Soon Deok spoke up. "Appa, the servants informed me that you'll be leaving us today."

He nodded. "The king wants me to inspect the kingdom borders, since there have been a few disturbances in the last few months."

"Please be careful." His wife said, full of worry.

"It'll just be for a few days and then I'll be back here with my three favorite girls." He smiled a genuine smile at them and a smile tugged at Minji's lips. She didn't know these people, but they all seemed to love each other--genuinely love each other. It was a different feeling than the one she got at the palace. 

All of the princes seemed to get along well, except two of them. There were two which didn't strike her as people who could be trusted. As her mother from back home in the present time had once put it, their blood was thick and heavy. That was what they seemed like to her. That meant that they weren't people who had very good intentions. People with heavy blood were not thought to be good people.

Suddenly changing the subject, her father began as he looked to Soon Deok, "You will be turning eighteen within a year and a half. Have you thought about what I told you?" 

Minji furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

Her sister looked down at the food on her plate, the happy smile she had worn on her face earlier had now disappeared. "I would not like to marry so soon, abeoji. We still have a lot of time to think about this."

"I would like to set a date for you." Her father informed her. "That way we can start making plans for Hak Soon too."

Minji nearly choked on her food. "Whoa, wait just a moment there. I'm only fourteen, I'm not trying to get married right now."

Her family shot her awkward looks at her choice of words. The Korea of a thousand years prior did not use the modern language she was used to speaking in her own time. 

Coughing awkwardly, she corrected herself. "I mean. Appa...I'm too young to get married."

He nodded in agreement with her. "Yes. But it doesn't hurt to promise your hand in marriage to someone from a good family, even if there are still four more years before you reach the proper age for marriage." Turning his attention back to Soon Deok, he informed her, "I've been wanting to meet with his majesty, about promising your hand in marriage to one of his sons. Would you like that?" At the mention of the princes, Minji couldn't help but sneak a look at her sister. She knew that she was in love with Prince Eun, even though she hadn't outright said it yet. The look of happiness on her face dropped once again as he clarified, "The thirteenth prince is handsome, and it is rumored that many women in Goryeo would like to marry him. The fourteenth prince is talented in martial arts. I know they're both younger than you, but I think they'd be a good match."

When Jung was mentioned, Minji's eyes widened in surprise. Not only would Jung be her best friend, but he would also become her brother in law if her sister were to choose him as her husband.

"You can pick one of the two." Their father finished.

"I love Baek-ah and Jung-ah." Soon Deok started with a sigh. "But its not that sort of love. When I get married, I want it to be with the person I truly love."

"I agree with unnie." Minji spoke up. 

She couldn't imagine having to marry someone out of convenience, though she knew that was how things worked in that era. She only hoped she would be out of Goryeo and back to her old life before having to marry someone against her will. She would have thought that at least they--as people of a slightly upper class--would get the choice to marry whoever they wanted. Now she was realizing that it wasn't always the case, even for the princes.

"Just think about it." Her father insisted, hoping that she would later change her mind. "I don't intend to talk to him about it for another few months."

-

Their father excused himself after breakfast and said goodbye to his family, setting off on three week journey out of Damiwon. The next to excuse herself was their mother, who returned to her quarters. Last was Soon Deok who informed her sister that she would be at the Damiwon palace, where she would try to talk to prince Eun. She also informed Minji that Jung would be visiting on his way to the village.

He arrived a while later, just like her sister promised, and he was dressed in simple clothing which made him seem like he was everything short of a prince. She would have thought otherwise if he wasn't so handsome, pleasing to her eyes.

Jung grinned when he saw her sitting at the table, watching as the cherry blossoms fell from the trees around her. She extended her hand to catch one, observing its beauty for a moment before his voice broke through the peaceful silence of nature. "I'm glad to see you're doing better, Hak Soon."

She looked up to meet his eyes and smiled back at him.

"Thank you, oppa." She bowed her head slightly.

"Oppa? You leave Damiwon, then come back after two years and suddenly you call me oppa." He shot her a look that was a mixture of confusion and amusement.

"You're older than me." She pointed out. "At least that's what Soon Deok told me..."

He nodded his head in affirmation. "I am. Its just that...you never called me oppa before. You always thought it was awkward because we were born in the same year. Before, I'd have to beg you to call me oppa."

Minji replied nervously. "I'm sorry. Its just difficult to adjust. I'm relearning everything as though I were someone else. What would you like me to call you?"

"Oppa is fine." He grinned at her again, recovered from his initial shock.

"So my sister said you were going into the village today." Minji said in a suggestive tone. She didn't want to be left in the house all day like her mother, and she also wanted to find the eighth prince's house in order to find Hajin. 

"The king has a few errands for me to run, but when I finish, I plan to practice some martial arts." Jung nodded, informing her proudly. "I practice on my own all the time, but its more fun to use those skills on other people."

"Can I go with you?" She asked him eagerly.

He replied with a smile, liking the idea of bringing her along with him. "Of course you can come. I wanted to pick out a hair pin for my mother as a present. Maybe you can help me, since you're a girl and you would know what women like."

Jung held his hand out for her to take and she slid her hand into his. He helped her get back on her feet and the two walked out of her house where he had tied his horse near a post. He helped her on and climbed up behind her, securing her safely between his arms as he held the reigns of the horse tightly.

The whole way into the village market, he told her more stories about the two of them. And he told her about the two years in which she had been away. According to him, she had been with her uncle and aunt in another town. One of her cousins had died and her parents sent her away to help her family around the house, and so that they would cope with their grief since they had lost their only daughter. Jung confessed that he had missed his best friend while she was away, but that they had been able to keep in contact through letters. He let her know that he had kept all of them in those two years that she was away.

-

an update today, even though i updated yesterday bc its a very special occasion.

TODAY IS BRANDY's BIRTHDAY. boysrepublics happy birthday bandry, a very good friend of mine. such a wonderful and creative person. we've known each other for like two and a half years. and im very anti social by nature, so that's surprising. quince años bue. difrutalos y pasatela bien. esas copitas que me eché son dedicadas a vos. jajaja. <<ahora, despierta la mujer que en mi dormía. y poco a poco se muere la niña. comeinza la aventura de la vidaaaa. ahora, se enciende como un sol la primavera. mis sueños se convierten en promesas. me cambia el corazón de quinceañera.>>

i hope you all like the update and have a wonderful week!

-clary xx