Mt Keun

"Left the palace early again?" Mr Son exclaimed from behind the counter, "I suppose you want some mochi?"

Mr Son, the owner of Lucky Son, was an old man in his 50's. He and his wife had been watching Han Aeng since she decided to blatantly ditch her duties and jump security for the past few years. The truth of that story is that after finding out no one could put a tab on her, the King ultimately let her do what she wanted.

Han Aeng gave a cheerful nod in response, melting onto the table with her hands stretched out comfortably. "You know me too well. I'll take some of ajumma's candles as well."

"Who would guess a wild girl as you would have such clean taste," Mr Son teased, headed to the back of his store, ruffling her head in the process.

"Aa, ajumma, your husband's bullying me again," Han Aeng whined, brushing out her hair to fall more naturally.

Mrs Son set out a bowl of japchae and carefully patted Han Aeng on her head. "Did he lie, though? Yer nearin' the age to get married, and yer still act like a babe."

"Tsk, like husband, like wife."

As expected, nothing beats food when you're tired from being pretentious all day long.

Mr and Mrs Son sat down next to Han Aeng, talking about their day. Attentively watched her eat, as they would their daughter.

Her innocent charms meant that the Son couple felt attached and responsible for her after seeing her a few times.

They belonged to the more significant portion of the people who considered Han Aeng an angel, a cute little girl who has not even a single strand of evil in her. The other minority portion would rip their clothes and cry blasphemy on the streets if they heard Han Aeng's innocent characteristic. For one, Minister Jang's daughter would justify that Han Aeng was the devil's reincarnation and nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing. In saying that, no one has believed her - rather, no one could; she was just too adorable.

"Here you are, Young Miss." After eating her food, Mr Son handed Han Aeng a bag full of mochi and candles, winking playfully at her.

Han Aeng returned the gesture and waved goodbye to the old couple.

Typically, she would stop by at her manor on a full stomach to pester her dear nanny, but she knew that no one would be home at this point. So instead, she skipped her way to Mt Keun, the great big mountain east of the capital, Han Aeng's haven.

Mt Keun was the primary source of freshwater for the capital, and very seldom people would come here to pick wild herbs and such. For the most part, it was empty and void of humans, making it the best place to hide from responsibilities. Ever since she figured out no one could stop her from leaving the palace when she felt like it, she would come here to eat, sleep, and be a living log.

Today was meant to be a rest day for our nosey lady, Han Aeng. Still, when she noticed some of Minister Jang's servants and a few guards at Mt Keun's base, she couldn't help but curiously follow behind as they climbed up the mountain.

"Remember to take what I assigned to you and nothing more. Make sure you stay close. No one will look for you if you get lost and forget about running away. You will die because of the cold if not the wildlife!" The maid in charge barked out her orders.

The younger maids complied immediately and rushed off in little groups to pick whatever they needed. "Remember, this will be the last time we come at this time. Starting tomorrow, we're coming early in the morning."

Han Aeng observed from afar as they rushed around gathering wildflowers, herbs, and roots. While they were not collecting anything suspicious, it was exceptionally unsettling that Minister Jang would send maids to get common goods. Everything the maids collected seemed like things supplied by local merchants and doctors, so why did Minister Jang need to go out of his way to collect them from Mt Keun.

"Maybe the old geezer finally ran out of money." In the end, Han Aeng didn't ponder on the topic too much and decided to go her way, leaving Minister Jang's servants behind.

She took a detour, headed to a small cave where she stored her secret stash of blackberries before heading to her final destination.

Every step she took made her mouth water, and she could practically envision its delicious juice trickling down her lips. Speculating how splendid it would be to eat under the bamboo forest was an ecstatic feeling that churned her stomach. But never in a hundred years did she expect this.