.twenty one.

When Eun realized that he was holding Minji's hand--the general's daughter who was the closest thing to a sworn enemy to him--he let go of it like she had sent an electric current through him. Minji looked down at the floor awkwardly as her hand dropped to her side, not knowing what to do or say. She was still surprised at the gesture, the fact that he had taken her hand in hers. But she knew it was all part of their act to look like friends, as the tenth prince claimed.

The silence in the room lasted a few long moments, until one of the other princes spoke up. It was Baek-ah, the thirteenth prince, who broke the silence by pointing something out. Of the youngest brothers, he was the one who most refrained from speaking in front of the king, or the older brothers. He was of the Silla clan and they had been taken out by king Taejo before he rose to power and founded the kingdom of Goryeo. Because of that, the thirteenth prince came from a family who had essentially lost their title, a fallen family. He was only royal through his father, and it was the reason his older brothers Yo and Won treated him like he was less than the others. They didn't feel that he shared the same status that they did. 

His father didn't treat him any different, but Baek-ah sometimes felt like deep down, his father had preferences. when he did feel that way, Baek-ah knew he was not one of the favorites.

"See? Eun hyung is always out in the field trying to catch birds." He said without even a hint of worry, knowing his brother all too well. Except this time he was wrong, but the information still found a way to work to the tenth prince's advantage.

His father's tone softened significantly, yet he still repirmanded one of his youngest sons with stern words, for making everyone worry like that. His reprimand was for Minji as well, who took the blame for Eun being out of the palace that morning. "It is far too early for two children to be playing out in the fields alone. Next time, Eun-ah, let someone know where you're going or wait until after breakfast."

The tenth prince gave a nod of his head. "Yes, your majesty."

"Sit and have breakfast with us." His father said, not discussing the matter any further. Looking to Minji, he offered a kind smile, his eyes crinkling with a gentle kindness. It was of the few times in a day in which he got to be a real father to his sons and not just be the King of Goryeo. "As the daughter to one of my closest friends, it would be an honor if you joined us for breakfast as well, Hak Soon-ah." 

Yo scoffed at his father's words, but spoke low enough that only a few of the princes sitting within ear shot were able to hear him. "She's not a royal, she doesn't have the same status as us. Even if she is of noble blood, it still isn't the same." If he thought that Baek-ah, being a prince of Goryeo, was not of the same status as the other princes, to him Minji was even lower. Her family was part of the noble class, and it was through the fact that her father was general of the army and one of the king's most trusted friends.

Minji was grateful for the invitation, but declined with a shake of her head. "I should be getting back. My mother and sister will be worried if they don't know where I am."

Now it was Eun who seemed to have a negative reaction. Still not having sat down at the table, he nudged her, saying under his breath, "If the king invites you to his table, it is a huge honor. You can't just decline. You have to sit now." He held his head low to prevent from the other boys and the king noticing that he was enticing her to stay.

Her eyes widened at the fact that she had just rejected the king in his own house, but she hadn't thought too much of it. "Uhm," She bowed her head gratefully. "Okay, I'll stay and have breakfast with you all."

But now Jung rose from his chair, eyebrows furrowed in displeasure at the fact that suddenly his betrothed was acting strangely, more strange than when he found her in the hot spring and she claimed to have forgotten everything. Now she was growing closer to his hyung, Prince Eun, and Jung had to admit that he didn't like it. His older brother was reaching marriage age with each passing day and he didn't want the king to notice their newfound closeness. If he did, he might instead arrange for Hak Soon to marry Eun instead. Prince Wang Jung would never allow that. 

"Maybe I should get her back home." Jung offered, interrupting the invitation exchange. "She's right. If she left the house like Eun did, her family will be worried."

At this, the king nodded in agreement. "I suppose you are right, Jung-ah."

Jung bowed his head towards the king.

"Next time she can join us for breakfast." The king smiled at her. 

Eun sat at the table, joining his father and brothers while Jung led Minji out of the palace and to the stables where a servant prepared a horse for them. But Minji noticed he was clearly upset with her. His arms crossed over his chest and he would hardly look at her. 

"Oppa..." She whined, trying to get her attention. But he would have none of it.

When his horse was ready, he helped her climb on and now both sulked all the way back to her house. He didn't want to talk to her about it at the palace. There were so many people and the walls had ears. He didn't want the servants to spread the word around that the two teenagers were not even married yet and were already having their first lovers spat. 

They arrived at her house within fifteen minutes and he climbed off, helping her off the horse as well. When Minji noticed he wanted to tell her something, she asked for the guards to give them some space. The two armed men at the front of the house nodded and walked off to allow them to talk with privacy. 

"Are you mad, Jung oppa?" She asked him innocently, already knowing well that he was upset at her. Or maybe not at her, but at the fact that she was suddenly so close to Wang Eun.

He avoided her eyes for a moment, giving his answer without speaking a word to her. But Minji would not accept his silence as a response. She tried to lock eyes with him and this time said with a bit more authority.

"Are you gonna talk to me or not?" She asked, her big brown eyes showing signs of iritation growing in them.

Her hand reached up and was about to poke his cheek playfully, hoping to get a response out of him. The response she got was one she didn't expect. He gripped her wrist in his hand and backed her up against the door of her house, trapping her between him and the door. She was taken by surprise and her eyes widened in shock.

"Do you prefer my hyung over me now?" He asked he in a low voice, full of hurt at the thought of being replaced by the girl who had stolen his heart just days after returning to town.

Minji quickly shook her head, gulping at how close he was to her. So much that he towered over her and she could feel his body heat. "N-no." She stammered a response. "Its just that he walked me home last night after I tried to leave the palace by myself. Then he was too scared to walk back so he stayed over. That was it. We just lied because we didn't want people to know he slept over at my house."

Relief washed over the youngest prince's face. "Really?"

"Why would I lie?" She pointed out.

He seemed to relax significantly, and then there was a look of guilt on his face. Guilt that he thought for even a moment that his betrothed and one of his closest brothers had something behind is back.

"I guess I should apologize to my hyung." Jung heaved a sigh.

Minji nodded her head. "There is honestly nothing going on between me and the shrimp prince. Be sure of that."

-

On a different day, Minji had gone over to the eighth prince's home, knowing the way even by memory now since she often visited Hajin there. When she arrived, she was on her way out with Lady Hae and the eighth prince himself. She informed her friend that they were on their way to the palace to give the two queens some presents that Hajin made for them with the help of her servant Chaeryung. She invited her friend to go along with them and Minji decided to go, since she had nothing else to do. She could also pay Jung a visit since the two were doing well after his jealousy episode a few days back.

They arrived just as the two queens were discussing something and the atmosphere was tense. The subject quickly changed and Queen Yoo made a sharp remark to Wang Wook and Lady Hae about how it was a shame that she hadn't given him any children. Seeing how Lady Hae had been affected by the comment, Hajin was about to step in. But Lady Hae interfered and encouraged the sixteen year old to give the queens her present. 

Queen Yoo expected nothing less, but then looked to Minji expectantly. When she reconized who she was, she said with dismay. "Ah, its you. Jung-ah's little friend."

Minji bowed her head respectfully. She was a queen after all, even if Minji wasn't exactly fond of her. She could tell by just looking at her that she didn't have a good heart. Their tense conversation and awkward giving of gifts had been once again interrupted when yet another person entered the room. This time it was the King, accompanied by a few servants who left the room when they saw there was something of a family gathering and didn't want to appear improper by staying and listening.

The moment the king laid eyes on Hajin, his expression turned into a scowl. "Aren't you...the girl who dared to hit one of the princes? You are Hae Soo."

Hajin's eyes widened in fear, as did Lady Hae and Wang Wook's. They didn't want Hae Soo to be punished for what she did. But they knew they were powerless to help her. Queen Yoo, on the other hand, was more than pleased to see what was about to happen next. 

Before Hajin could even react, Minji threw herself onto the floor at the king's feet. "If Lady Hae Soo should be punished, then I should share that punishment as well." She said, keeping her head low, but still seeking for mercy. "I took part in the beating of the tenth prince as well."

Hajin threw herself on the ground next to her friend. "Please forgive me. It was all my fault."

The king heaved a sigh, looking toward the general's daughter with more compassion. "Hak Soon-ah, as the daughter to one of my closest friends and the betrothed to my youngest son Wang Jung, I can forgive such a thing from you, my child. Rest easy. But her--" He looked towards Hajin with a glare. "She cannot be given the same treatment. She shall be punished."

"Ah, your majesty." Wook stepped in on Hajin's behalf. "They're children after all. They were just playing games."

But the king would have none of it. "She gave him a black eye. That's not a game."

"She's my best friend, your majesty." Minji insisted, still on the ground at his feet. "Please be as benevolent with her as you have been with me."

Realizing that her words were getting to him, Hajin nodded in agreement. She decided to play off the fact that tyrants relied on fear while wise kings relied on virtue. "I know you will forgive me because you are a good and wise king."

Taejo raised an eyebrow at her. "You are not afraid of me?"

Hajin gave a quick and firm shake of her head. "I know you are a good king, so I am not afraid."

"Why do you think I am wise?" He decided to test her.

This left the sixteen year old without an answer. When she said nothing, he saw the displeasure on the king's face once more. Hajin wracked her brain for something, anything to say, until something finally came to her. "You united the kingdoms and founded a new nation." The basics of their middle school history classes when they were younger. 

The king was now pleased with her answer and heaved a chuckle, deciding that the girl had a silver tongue and he liked her. He would forgive her for hitting one of his sons. "Reward this girl with a rug." He called to one of his servants who was likely standing outside.

Now getting up to standing, the two girls bowed thankfully towards the king. 

Minji heaved a sigh of relief as the adults went elsewhere to continue talking, and Hajin disappeared, leaving her alone. Seeing no one around, Minji went to go find her fiance Wang Jung.

-

this chapter was mostly filler. but i'm trying to post more often. i will try to write another update tomorrow. i kind of want to write one hundred chapters for this story. but i don't know yet. it depends on what i want to have happen in the story later.

thank you so much to those of you who still read this story. it means the entire world to me. we will start seeing minjixeun interaction more and more.

so stay tuned for that.

i also want to mention that in the upcoming days, i will go back and do some editing. because i completely forgot to add a big detail in this story. minji will mention it later, as though it has been a part of the story all along. so please o with it. it will be added to earlier chapters soon.

-clary