I opened my burning eyes to greeted by the bright sunlight. I looked around the unfamiliar room which I was in. My head was spinning with every move I made, but I ignored it. I have to find a way out. The marshal.... I left him in the fire alone. I wonder if he's okay....... It's my fault...

"Good morning princess" I jumped at the sound of the voice, which came from the person sitting on the other corner of the room.

His short black hair was combed behind. His deep blue eyes were glued on mine, holding a firm gaze. I didn't answer him but stood there, astonished.

"I'm Jae, a pleasure to meet you. I hope you remember me, Princess." He said, getting up from the chair.

My heart stopped beating in shock. So he's the one we were after? The letters were from him? Is he the one who tried to poison the marshal and now left him in a burning place alone?

"Where's the marshal?" I asked him, my anger rising bit by bit.

"Oh, Ogum? I burned the place down yesterday. I don't know where he is." He said, a chuckle leaving his lips.

I couldn't for a sentence. I just stood there, my heart beating very fast. It shocked me but I couldn't stop my heart from beating so fast. He moved towards me and pulled me to him. I tried to protest but ended up collapsing onto him. He drugged me while I was unconscious! I thought as I tried calm my heart down. Soon, I fell into unconsciousness, as I felt him carry me.

******

"We got a lot to catch up on" I heard the stranger say.
"I hope you got your memories back, for I can't keep on calling you a name that isn't yours. Oh and, I was curious on how Yeongsoel was doing..."

I opened my eyes again to see the same room.

"I sent a note to Hoon. Ogum will receive a letter if he's alive. They both should know where the princess is." Jae's voice was right next to me.

I stood up quickly but a hand grabbed my fist and turned me around. I turned around to meet Jae's eyes, our faces few inches away.

"Do you really not remember me?" He asked me, his gaze piercing through mine.

Of course I don't remember you. I've never met you my life....

"Let go of me." I said coldly as I could.

His gaze was strong but a small tap on the door brought us both back to reality.

"Master, your horse is ready." I heard a voice say.

"I'm heading out for a bit. Stay in here my bride." He said, leaving me alone in the room.

After the door locked in front of me, I looked around the room for a way to escape. I had no choice but to jump through the window. I waited til the footsteps outside the door disappeared and made my move. The room was on the top of the castle but gladly there was a balcony few feet down. I blocked the door and pulled the bed sheets and curtains and ripped them to make a long rope. I tied one end to the bed and other around my waist.

"Please don't let me down" I said out loud before lowering myself down from the window.

Thankfully, the rope didn't let me down and soon I lowered myself to the balcony. I looked around but no one was around so I peeked through the balcony to find a another roof. Score! I thought as I jumped on to the roof from the balcony instantly. I landed on the roof with a small thud as I looked around to see if anyone noticed. Thankfully no one did, so I climbed down the roof.

"Ready the horses! We must leave!!" I heard a merchant yell.

I noticed that I had jumped on the roof of the stables, which was now busy with a couple readying the horses for their departure. I quickly ran over to them. I hd no time to explain nor lie, so I waited till the merchants readied the carriage. When the couple sat in the front of the carriage, I ran to the back and pulled myself into the carriage.

Thankfully no one noticed and I took that until we passed the guards. After the castle disappeared behind us, I carefully stepped out of the slowly moving carriage without them noticing me. I walked over to the end of the path and jumped into the woods.

I must find the Marshal! I thought as I broke into a run, zooming across the forest.

Our tent was set in a clearing of the forest, and I stopped in my tracks as soon as I spotted any clearing among the trees. I was about to walk back into the path and head back to the capital and search for him, when a faint outline of a horse caught my eye.

I looked towards that direction to spot a brown horse running towards me. Marshal's horse!!! I thought in relief, as I looked at the horse's back. There was no rider on it. The horse was coming towards me and I jumped into its tracks, in order to calm it down.

"Woah boy! Woah! Calm down...." I said as I held its reins tightly.

The horse neighed in protest but I ignored it. Calm down. I can't find the marshal, and you want me to deal with you? I thought as I stroked it's head gently.

"Good boy. Now, where's the marshal?" I asked the horse.

What am I doing? Why am I talking to a horse?? I thought as it licked me from chin to forehead.

"Ewww....." I said, wiping the saliva.

I got in to the horse and we ran off into the forest, looking for the marshal. I found our tent, which was pretty much burned to the ground. I walked in through the half burnt tent flap. The marshal's sword was still there, covered in ash. I picked it up and tied it around my waist and left after checking the woods around the tent. I picked up the bag of letters I took with me on my way.

My mind wondered off to the morning, where I met Jae. He asked me whether I remember him. Why? He asked me to remember who I am, for he can't call me by a name that isn't mine. What does that mean? Am I a fake? A decoy? Did I also loose some of my memories? All kinds of theses thoughts covered my head.

It was nearly noon, but no trace of marshal was anywhere to be found. It scared me and at the same time it made me angry. I was fighting with my own feelings while I was on the horse back, when an arrow landed on the tree trunk few feet away from us. I turned around to see a man on a horse's back, aiming an other narrow at us. Before I could even think, the marshal's horse zoomed through the woods like a maniac.

"Easy boy! Easy! Slow down!" I screamed in panic and the horse suddenly slowed down.

I looked ahead to see why and spotted the man who shot at us earlier, standing in front of us, few yards away. The marshal's horse freaked out again and as a result, I was thrown off it's back as he ran into the woods. The other man got down from his horse and walked over to me, aiming a clear shot at my head.

I clutched the marshal's sword which was hanging from my waist and pulled it out. I was sure that it was one of Jae's soliders. He hid his face, so I was unable to find his dragon burn mark.

"Princess Ran?" The stranger asked in a confused tone, pulling his mask away.

"Hoon!?" I gasped in shock, as he dropped his weapon.

"What happened? Where's Ogum?" He asked confused.

I was so glad to see Hoon, for I knew that I was about to go crazy. He was still plenty of feet away from me when I dropped the marshal's sword onto the ground with a loud clank.

"Hoon!!" I exclaimed again, as tears of both relief and fear flowed down my cheeks.

I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his stomach. He looked surprised, but he hugged me back. I needed help to find the marshal but I didn't know whom to trust, but now I was glad that Hoon showed up.

"What's wrong?" He asked, pulling me into his embrace.

"The marshal's.....he's....missing. and it's my fault." I said, wiping away my tears.

His expression changed quickly and he helped me to climb his horse. I leaned against his front as he pulled the reins, signalling the horse to go fast. I told him everything while we zoomed through the woods. He told me that he came in searching for us and thought I was a thug.

"How did you and the marshal split up?" He asked me through the whooshing wind.

"Well someone set our tent on fire and kidnapped me. I'm suspecting it to be Jae." I said, leaving out the fact that I actually met Jae.

"What!? What did you say?" He asked, pulling the horse to a stop.

"Did you say that you suspect it to be Jae!?" He asked me angrily.

"Yes. But it's only a hunch. We must find the marshal. I think he's in trouble." I said, quickly changing the subject.

Hoon started again, without saying another word. Few minutes passed and I noticed that we were actually headed to his palace.

"Hoon. What about the Marshal?" I asked, panicking.

"I'm taking you to safety. I received his letter. I can't let you wander off like that ever again." He said, plainly.

"No! I want to come with you!! We need to find him!" I protested.

He didn't answer me, but kept on going. Just before we entered the palace, he pulled down his usual mask. I tried to convince him to make us go back to find him but he didn't budge.

"Take her somewhere safe." He said, handing me over to a couple of generals.

"Princess, it's a pleasure to see you again. Have you heard about the commander?" A general asked me, in the middle of my protests.

"No. Why?" I asked, puzzled.

"He was found dead in the camp few days ago. The body was rotten but we are sure it's him." The other said, shaking his head.

Oh..... so Hoon couldn't find a match. I thought, looking behind to see him ride his horse away towards the main castle.

The generals handed me over to crying Miri, who hugged me with all her might. I wasn't able to spend the day peacefully since the absence of the marshal haunted me. I was about to sneak out of the room when I heard Yeongsoel's voice right outside the door. Hearing his voice calmed me down, for he always was kind and gentle to me.

"Milady. How are you?" He asked me as Miri left us alone, closing the doors behind her.

"We got a lot to catch up on. I hope you got your memories back, for I can't keep on calling you a name that isn't yours. Oh and, I was curious on how Yeongsoel was doing..." I remembered the voice. Jae's voice.

"Yeongsoel, what do you know about Jae?" I asked him desperately.

"Princess. I can't tell you. For your safety."

"I'm way too deep in this matter! Please tell me. The marshal might be in danger." I protested angrily.

The room fell silent. Was I too rude? I looked over at him, who stood in the other end of the room. He knew something important, but I just couldn't get him to say it. A long sigh left his lips.

"Okay. I will tell, but t-" He started to my relief.

"Princess. The king wants Milady to come to the main hall immediately. A visitor is waiting for you there." Yeongsoel was cut off by a message from one of the genetals, who was outside the door.