"Your Highness, do you believe this dress would be suitable?" Sooyoung said, whispering to the Princess who stood waist-deep in her wardrobe. Sooyoung was staring down at a peachy, pastel-colored dress with white undergarments, a deep grape-violet skirt and a faded yellow belt. Rinji stepped out of the messy organization of outfits in her closet to look at Sooyoung's full, rosy cheeks, her soft, round eyes and her raven black hair.

Sooyoung looked away upon meeting the girl's passionate eyes.

"Y-Your Highness?"

Rinji approached the maiden, assessing her respectfully from head to toe.

"You must dress up as well."

Sooyoung opened her mouth in protest before Rinji stopped her with a caring gaze.

"Sooyoung-ah, you have done too much for me to pretend that you're still just my maidservant. You may serve me, but from now on, we are equals."

The girl bowed, trying to hide her red nose and cheeks.

"We're going to visit Hancheol. At least put on something more colorful, Sooyoung-ah."

Sooyoung got to work, looking around for a modest, humble robe to wear while Rinji straightened out the dress her beloved picked out for her. They were busy for a few seconds before another maid ran into her room, bowing before Rinji quickly.

"Your Highness, Lady Chindeok is here to see you."

"Please place her in my pavilion and serve her tea while she waits. Have Miyu go to the kitchen and ask for a light meal for three as well. Thank you."

The maid bowed, running off to do as she was told. Rinji began to undress, taking off her sleepwear to put on the robe Sooyoung picked out for her. Sooyoung immediately began to help her, taking off her belt and pulling off the single layer of cloth that kept her shielded against the cold morning air.

Sooyoung rapidly helped her get dressed, and pulled half of her flowing, shadowy hair into a braided bun while the other half fell down to her hips. Rinji did not apply a lot of makeup to her face; she wasn't going on any official business, and she wanted to appear sincere. She only covered the soft blemishes on her face, and allowed herself to care little about what others thought.

Rinji put on the jade seal of a royal family member and smiled at herself in the mirror.

"You look beautiful, Your Highness," Sooyoung said, grinning at her partner's reflection.

"You are even more beautiful, my Sooyoung," Rinji smiled, turning to face her. "Will you need help with your dress?"

"N-No, Your Highness, please don't trouble yourself. You should meet Lady Chindeok in the pavilion and eat with her."

"I dare not eat without you, Sooyoung. I ordered a meal for three."

Sooyoung felt blessed to have Rinji as her mistress -- she even felt the fortune rushing through her veins.

"My eternal thanks, Your Highness. I will be ready in just a moment."

Rinji nodded, giving Sooyoung a quick smile before leaving the room to see Chindeok. She turned a corner and found her sipping on a cup with steam flowing into her delicate face. She was kneeling on a satin pillow, wearing a simple, soft green dress that was composed of a pleated skirt tied taut over a long-sleeved blouse. Long patterns of black dragons decorated the collar of the top, but there was little other decoration except the embroidery of it.

"Deokie," Rinji said, catching her attention. She turned and smiled demurely at her, getting up to give her a long hug. "So good to see you, sister."

"My pleasure to see you too," she said, quiet as a forest without wind.

"How are you?" Rinji asked, kneeling on a pillow next to Chindeok. "Have you been feeling well?"

"I am in good health," Chindeok replied. "I've been working hard."

"What have you been up to? I see you have a scholar's robe on," Rinji said, curious about her choice of dress.

"I've been studying under Doctor Jung. My aim is to become his apprentice."

"Is that so?" Rinji said, approving of the thought. "That's wonderful. I'm sure Uncle Hoseok would be honored to have you around."

Chindeok beamed, happy that someone was proud of her. Everyone around her was proud of her, but she sometimes refused to believe it.

Rinji's maid arrived with a small meal for the three; after being thanked for the food, she placed a tray that held three bowls of rice, three small plates of sweet, saucy meat, and three cups next to a pitcher of persimmon water.

As if on cue, Sooyoung came out in a red dress, similar to that of Chindeok's -- only her dress was more of an actual dress tied with a black belt just underneath her chest.

"Your Highness," she said, bowing to Rinji. "Lady Chindeok."

"Hello, Sooyoung," Chindeok smiled, motioning for her to kneel at the table and join them for breakfast. Sooyoung did just that, clasping her hands in prayer before going in.

"Let's eat well," Rinji said, picking up her food and beginning to eat. Everyone followed suit and had a silent, yet comforting meal.

"To Hancheol?" Rinji said, looking at the faces of the two women by her side.

"To Hancheol," they said, nodding in determination.

They had walked three miles from the palace, keeping silent as they approached Hancheol's gravesite. His gravestone was carved from a large boulder that was already sitting there in the forest; his fathers thought that the best place their son could rest was surrounded by nature, silence and serene peace. Hancheol wouldn't have wanted a big fuss over his gravesite; he might rest better knowing that his parents fulfilled his wishes. Rinji was carrying the dagger that Yoongi would've given him upon becoming a soldier, Chindeok carried a small bag full of seeds, and Sooyoung carried a simple wooden box with her. They sat around the gravesite, placing their things in front of them and kneeling on the ground before it. They bowed once, showing reverence to it before sitting back up to speak.

"Hello, dear friend," Rinji began, placing a hand on the hallowed ground beneath her. "How are you?"

"I'm sure heaven is a wonderful place," Chindeok chimed in, nodding at the gravestone. "I almost wish I was there with you."

Sooyoung silently opened up her box, understanding that this was a personal affair and to speak out would bring disrespect to all three of the people before her -- dead or alive. She set out a small cup in front of the girls as they spoke to the stone, and delicately put another out right in front of the stone when they finished.

"His Majesty made me Sage of Music. Now, I get to tutor all the little kids of the palace. I can barely keep them all in check!" Rinji smiled, looking at the stone as if Hancheol were really sitting there.

"I'm studying to become Uncle Hoseok's apprentice now. I didn't know being a doctor was so difficult. Your father knows so much, Cheollie!" Chindeok continued, following suit.

"Uncle Yoongi is doing well. He is in good health and eats a lot. His Majesty and His Divine Grace are doing well too. They're doing everything they can to keep our homeland together," Rinji said, nodding towards Sooyoung. Taking that as the signal, Sooyoung pulled out a flask from the box and poured more persimmon water in each of the cups.

"If you ever come down to earth, please tell Uncle Jimin and Uncle Jungkook not to do their business in  the stables. They'll get caught!"

At that, Sooyoung and Rinji laughed, shaking their heads. Chindeok sighed sheepishly, shaking her head and smiling wide.

"My mother and father are doing well. They told me that they visited you the other day. Told you all about us."

Sooyoung looked around in the box and found an extra cup for herself. She stared at it in confusion, thinking that she only packed three. She looked back over at Rinji, who smiled at her.

"Hancheol, this is Sooyoung. She's the girl I told you about last time. Sooyoung-ah, say hello."

Sooyoung blushed, bowing before the gravestone. She murmured her greeting, gazing at Rinji with affection in her eyes before looking away. She took out the last cup and poured herself some of the drink, holding the cup in her hands.

The soft, hazy gray clouds above them began to part themselves in half for the sun that suddenly outstretched its rays to the three girls below it. In an instant, the whole forest around them shone with the glistening presence of golden light, and luminescent waves of glassy warmth washed over them to alert them of a spirit's presence.

They all raised their glasses, smiling bittersweetly at the one cup before them that couldn't be raised.

"We love you, Hancheol. May you rest in peace."

They all drank from their cups, and after swallowing the fruity drink without pause, Chindeok poured Hancheol's share into the ground next to the gravestone.

Chindeok pulled out her satchel of seeds, taking one carefully from the bag and pushing it into the wet earth near the stone. She clasped her hands before it, saying a prayer that it might grow.

They could never leave their friend's memory behind. No matter how far in life they walked, they knew that he was holding their hands, walking proudly with them.