"Let us try this again, Sooyoung-ah."

The princess and her maidservant sat back in their rough hay seats once more, watching as Jungkook led the horses out of the stables and into the open fields behind the barn. They watched as he took each horse out of its pen once more, and smiled as Jimin walked right into the barn as if he owned it. Rinji began to shuffle uncomfortably in her seat, remembering the events of the day before without control over her unrelenting thoughts.

"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" Sooyoung asked, touching Rinji's hand. With a silent nod, Rinji reassured her that she would be okay.

"'Remember, Your Highness. If something happens, call for me with the flute. You have the flute, Your Highness?"

"Yes, Sooyoung. I have the flute," she replied, showing the flute tied to her wrist to the maidservant -- who nodded in approval. As a princess and as heiress to the crown, she was tutored in many subjects; as a noble girl of the palace, she was also educated in the humanities -- including vocal practice, instrument playing, philosophy and other fields she didn't care to remember at the moment.

"As much as I'd love to stay and watch, I have a job to complete. I'll see you when my task is done," Rinji whispered, patting the girl's head as she quietly got up from the bales of hay and ran out of the barn.

"Be strong, Your Highness," Sooyoung smiled, pulling her veil over her face and walking out of the barn behind its walls.

Jimin's voice growled for Jungkook, commanding him to come closer. Sooyoung's eyes widened as she watched the general and the stable boy kiss passionately -- and her teeth clenched in a surprised manner as Jimin reached around Jungkook's waist to untie his belt.

Knowing what was to come and remembering why she was there in the first place, Sooyoung left the two to their privacy -- but not before quietly closing the stable doors behind her.

Don't be loud, General Park, Interim Jeon. These walls have ears!

Rinji walked towards the gardens, not wanting to recreate the circumstances of the day before; she noticed her heart racing as soon as she came into even a remote vicinity of the kitchens, and she didn't want to become too unstable to continue on her task. She decided to perch herself on a high pedestal built into the roof of the building right next to the gardens, and after a series of jumps and swings, she was soon sitting cross-legged on the wooden beam that overlooked the entire garden.

Untying the flute, she gently placed the flute up to her lips and began to play.

If she couldn't go to Mirin, Mirin would come to her.

She allowed the wind to blow through her hair, harnessing its energy as she played. Her back, as if it were guided by some divine instinct, began to sway and bend with the music. Her eyes were no longer open to the garden and the hazy gray sky, but closed as the peace of the tune surrounded her entire being. She shook her left hand over a hole in the instrument -- creating a shrill, spine-chilling imitation of a bird call with it before resuming her nearly silent lament. The sight of her playing on that pedestal wrought tears and impressed gasps from those who gathered to watch and those who silenced themselves to listen to her melancholy, yet rejuvenating performance.

It was only when she removed the flute from her lips and opened her eyes that she became aware of her audience below her -- which included His Majesty, His Divine Grace, her proud parents, her scowling aunt, Doctor Jung, Guard Min, Chindeok and roughly half of the palace.

Retying the flute to her skirt, Rinji jumped back from the pedestal to a shed near the gardens, from which she hopped to a concrete structure just above the ground. She received compliments, nods of approval and positive feedback from everyone around her before she was approached by the two royals.

"In all my years of being here at the palace, I don't think I ever heard such a wonderful performance," Namjoon smiled, looking over at Seokjin -- who agreed. "Blessed is the musician whose notes flow in their blood, a wise man once said. I believe I now understand what he spoke of."

Rinji bent her knees, bowing in gratefulness for the compliment.

"I couldn't have said it any better, Princess," Seokjin. "Such playing is the mark of a master. You must have put hours of effort into your craft. Namjoon-sshi, do you believe she deserves the title?"

Namjoon's chin raised itself proudly, allowing a single nod to resonate throughout the place like a gong.

"A true master has reached the height of their trade, becoming one with the spirit of it. Your soul has grown tenfold in strength. You are worthy of the title of Sage of Music."

Rinji knelt on the soft dirt below her, bowing towards the two kings once more. She accepted the title with thousands of thanks on her tongue and millions more in her heart. Her proud parents were dragged by the hand towards the back of the building near the gardens -- not having time to congratulate their daughter. Rinji saw this with her peripheral vision, almost unable to stop her heart from pounding once more against every organ that shared space with it. Sensing Rinji's fear, Seokjin took the girl aside to calm her worries.

"What troubles you, Princess?"

"I-I am afraid, Your Majesty. I am afraid...I have such a responsibility on my shoulders now that didn't exist before. I want to face my fear, but..."

She chose her words carefully; Seokjin still believed that she spoke of her new title as Sage, but in truth, she spoke of a bigger fear -- Mirin.

"Rinji, do you know the story of your name?"

"No, Your Majesty," she replied, looking up at him with childlike eyes.

"Before you were born, and even before His Divine Grace and I fell in love"--

"I-In love?" Rinji whispered. "Your Majesty...and His Divine Grace...are in love?"

"Absolutely, Rinji-ah," he replied with a smile. "Love is essential to ruling together the right way. Love is essential for life."

Rinji smiled back, nodding in acceptance of Seokjin.

"Before we fell in love, there was a young servant in the palace. She was sent to summon me to the palace, and at the time, I had just been pushed to the ground by my rival, another harem woman. Have you heard of Yang Sura?"

"No, Your Majesty."

"Another story for another time. She pushed me to the ground, right here in these gardens. The young girl came to get me for His Divine Grace, but noticed the cuts on my hands. She washed the blood from my hands and offered to bandage them, and she even mended the cloak that Sura tore from my back as she pushed me."

"What a kind soul," the princess observed, smiling a small grin.

"Indeed, Princess. Sadly, however...the innocent girl who once washed my blood shed her own some time later. Sil Choyoung -- the brother of the head of the Silcho clan that swept the nation like a plague -- shot her with an arrow. The girl died in my arms, promising to be with me in spirit."

Rinji could barely keep herself from tears, realizing who the girl was.

"Her name was Kang Rinji. Your mother gave you that name in order to honor me and that kind little soul. You have inherited her spirit and carry on her will in her place. For this reason, Heaven blesses you as well with talent and a kind heart. We trust you, Rinji, because you are inherently great. Your righteousness comes from the inside."

The princess felt connected with the girl, even though she had lived generations before her. She felt her essence suddenly joined with another force...another fire that burned for justice and the determination to do what was right.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not let you or Rinji down."

Rinji turned around, running from the gardens towards the stables. She knew Mirin and her parents would chase her, and Sooyoung would be back from the forests by the time she got there. Her heart burned with a new fire -- a fire that was unafraid to shine brightly in the darkness.

"Nothing you could do here would let me down, Rinji," Seokjin sighed, watching as she raced down the courtyard. "You already make me proud."