.twenty five.

Everything was chaos among the princes as everyone returned to the palace together. Hajin had been taken away before the others could even see her or talk to her again, to a part of the palace where the others couldn't reach her. They were told by the head court lady that she was to be examined and prepared for the wedding ceremony, and that she was to see no one during that time. Minji couldn't help but cringe at the words used by the servants. Her friend was to be stripped down and examined by the other court ladies like she was an animal on sale at the village market. 

At the palace, the princes separated once more to see what they could do to help, leaving Minji alone with Wang Eun. Neither of them knew how they could be of assistance to stop the wedding. The tenth prince paced around the main room of the palace while Minji bit down on her nails in worry. She just wanted to help her friend.

One by one, the princes returned unsuccessful.

Jung explained to Minji that he had talked to his mother and asked her to intervene. When Minji showed some signs of hope, he further informed her that she could not do anything to stop the wedding, as much as she might want to. It was the king's decision and she did not want to interfere. The two teenagers didn't know that she had tried to interfere in one of his weddings once before, before they were even born, but to no avail. 

Han explained that there was nothing they could do but stand by and watch. It had been difficult to stop the wedding from the start, but now knowing that she was marrying the king made it impossible for them to interfere. Despite being princes and part of the royal family, getting involved would get them severely punished. Minji didn't want that for the other boys who were already like family to her, but it was a risk she was willing to take for herself. Unfortunately, Jung held her back to stop her when she tried to leave his side to go find Hajin. She wanted to lead her to the private bath and help her escape though the tunnel where she first saw her friend leave with Chae Ryung so long ago.

With the princes gathered in the main room, waiting to hear news of the wedding, So and Wook still hadn't returned. It was about a half hour before anyone came to inform them of what was happening. They watched as So rushed past them with Hajin in his arms, blood was dripping from her wrist in a deep cut that someone had made on her. 

Wook rushed behind them and Minji left Jung's side to hurry after them as well. As she ran behind the two princes, she could hear Ji Mong's voice as he explained to the boys what was happening.

So took Hajin to one of the bedrooms and placed her on the bed, immediately springing into action and tearing a piece of his gown to wrap around the gash to slow the bleeding. From the entrance, Minji and Wook stood by. Minji's heart raced with worry at the sight of her friend, unconscious and pallid, like her life force was dissipating by the minute. She looked to the eighth prince for answers. "What happened to her?"

He heaved a sigh full of frustration. For one because he had been unable to help her, and for another because she had done something reckless in order to get out of marrying the king. 

"She learned that a woman with a scar on her body cannot marry a king." Wook explained, matter-of-factly. He knew the rule already, but he didn't think it was something Hajin should do. For he knew the social stigma it was in their society for someone to have a scar, especially for a woman. "While my brother and I tried to talk his majesty out of the wedding, she broke a vase and used the shards to slit her wrist."

"Oh my." Minji gasped. 

Wook turned to leave the room, informing Minji and his brother where he was going. "We need to get a doctor here to help her before she bleeds to death."

So only nodded, kneeling by her side and putting pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. Though he would never admit it out loud, he looked like he was genuinely worried about her. Minji cut the distance into the small room and knelt down beside her friend, her eyes stinging with tears at the thought of losing her. And she wondered what that would do to her in the present time. Would her soul just return to her body? Was there even a body in that lifetime to return to?

Minji didn't want her friend to go without her. She didn't want to stay by herself in a world she didn't know.

"Aish, you're such a pabo." Minji scolded her friend, who at the moment could not hear her.

The doctor arrived shortly after Wook left and attended to her wound. The doctor informed that she was delicate and he would need to check on her again in the morning, but all they could do now was wait. One by one, the princes came to visit her, but Minji refused to leave her side if even for a moment. 

Jung had offered to get Minji home, since there was no way for her to communicate with her family and let them know where she was. Minji agreed, but promised she would be back in the morning. They left the palace together under the moonlight and Minji couldn't help but think of the time Eun walked her home. The two young princes were so different.

With Eun, they had a hard time climbing over the wall of the palace and had to walk home because he had been too scared to go get his horse from the stables. With Jung, he had gotten hiss horse and helped her climb on like a gentleman. 

The ride back to her house was silent until Jung found himself asking her, "Since when are you two so close though? I don't understand."

He was genuinely curious. 

He didn't know that the two had even met, when Park Hak Soon returned from her year with her aunt and uncle, let alone that they were friends. He had only heard mentions of Hae Soo from his sister, who pegged the teenager as being insufferable. Now the two seemed like they were the best of friends.

Minji replied simply. "I just feel like I've known her forever."

-

It was days before Hajin awoke and there was already talk that the king wanted her to be punished for her actions. The other princes pleaded and had gotten her a lesser punishment, although, when Minji heard about it, she still thought it was harsh. Considering that, she wondered what the original punishment would be. None of the other princes would tell her. Not even Jung who literally lived and breathed for her. He would deny her nothing, except this, since he knew how much Hae Soo meant to the general's daughter.

The punishment was that Hae Soo would lose her noble title and would become not even just a regular citizen of Goryeo, but a servant. And a servant of the palace nonetheless. When Hajin was informed of this, she said that she didn't mind. She preferred it over having to marry the King. 

The same day she woke up was the very same that the king ordered for her to pack a few belongings from the eighth prince's home. She would no longer need the intricately designed dresses or hair pins. She could only bring her most precious objects with her, the rest would be given to her at the palace. She would be handed a court lady uniform as well as a room for her to sleep in, and she would be immediately trained by Court Lady Oh, who had been the same woman who examined her prior to the wedding. 

They were outside the palace doors while the other boys were given a moment to say goodbye to her. Though she would be in the palace and would get to see them more often, it was not proper for a servant to be so close with the royal family. She wouldn't even be allowed to have visitors like Hajin anymore. The only way Minji would be able to visit her was if she pretended she was there for Jung.

"I promise I will find a way to get you out of this, Hajin." Minji swore to her as she pulled her in for a hug. The fifteen year old was the first to hug her. 

She had been so close to offering herself to join Hajin as a palace servant as well, had even discussed it with her father. But her family was dead set against it. Her father asked her to think of herself, and Jung. A sacrifice like the one she wanted to make would throw their engagement out the window. But Minji was desperate and didn't know what to do. She had even been so bold as to think of talking to the king about it. But it was hard to meet with him. He was very important, and he was always busy.

As they pulled away, Hajin reassured her with a brave smile. "Stop feeling sorry for me. I got out of a marriage I didn't want, and that's what matters. Now I have to learn to accept the consequences of my actions." Their eyes both glanced down to her wrist which was still bandaged up. She would forever remain with a scar as a reminder that she had the power to decide her own fate in a society that wanted to do otherwise.

Even between them, they were so different. Hajin stood up for what she believed in and refused a marriage she didn't want. While Minji accepted her fate and her upcoming marriage to Jung. The difference was that Hajin was to marry the king for political reasons while Jung and Minji were being married off because they liked each other.  

One by one, the other princes embraced her and asked her to be brave. Eun even told Hajin that she could come to him if she had any problems with any of the other servants. He promised he would protect her from their abuse if it ever came to that. Hajin smiled a genuine smile and patter his head like he was a child, genuinely touched by his words. The three had started out as mortal enemies. But by now they were warming up to each other and could almost be considered friends. Eun was obviously nicer to Hajin because he had a crush on her, fueled by comments his older brothers made to him.

So was the last to give her a hug which was full of awkwardness. For someone like him, who had never received love, it was difficult to express that feeling. But he had told Hajin in a low and threatening voice that she shouldn't have done what she did, and that he would never forgive her if she did something so reckless again. Hajin couldn't help but look away from his intense gaze.

Ji Mong came out to end their little reunion, a sad smile in his eyes as he watched them. This was the peak of their good years. Where they didn't have to worry about who was going to get the throne. They could actually get along and be a family. 

"Come Lady Soo, its time to start your new life." He called to her, still accustomed to calling her by her noble title. "Court Lady Oh is waiting for you inside."

Hajin pulled away from the group and nodded her head in acceptance.

She then followed the astronomer into the palace while the other boys watched her go. Minji felt Jung walk up to stand by her side, giving her words of comfort. "Don't listen to them when they say she won't be allowed to be our friend anymore. You can still come and see her whenever you want."

"I hope so." Minji said, biting down on her lip nervously.

The group waited a few moments before following way into the palace. It was going to be the start of a new life, not just for Hajin, but for all of them.

-

END OF PART ONE

-

so i don't know how many parts i want to write for this story. but i was thinking maybe 100 so that it can be an even number. bc i cringe at odd numbers. 

anyway, i might do one hundred here and then a second book.

or fifty here and then a second book with fifty chapters as well. it depends on how many more ideas i have for this story. i'll probably know by the time i reach around chapter fifty. so please be patient.

i hope you're all liking the story.

i also hope you noticed the tiny eunji moment where he said he would not let her fall off the horse. we're going to be having more of them as the story continues. thank you all for reading. it means a lot.

have a good night!

-clary