An Old Handkerchief

Hearing the empress speak the Chiongsun dialect made the prince smile. "It's nice to know that all of your years here in Guiong have not dulled your Chiongsun blood cousin," he replied to the empress before taking her hand and kissing it as a sign of respect

"Be careful, Young-Sik," Empress Pai cautioned the prince. "I'm confident enough to say that many other nations are eyeing Chiongsun; they know we are still recuperating from the war." She cautioned her cousin, "Be mindful, and don't give them a reason to invade our home." After cautioning her younger cousin, Empress Pai bid him farewell as she followed the emperor back to the festivities. Young-Sik watched on as the Emperor and Empress vanished amongst the crowd. He then made his way back to where Jin-Ri was waiting.

At that moment, Jin-Ri waited patiently for her prince. She fidgeted with her fingers as she watched the guests get drunk and embarrass themselves. "What drunkard fools, can't even hold their liquor, what light weights," she mused to herself, making fun of the drunk Guiong nobles.

"Lady Hong Jin-Ri?" A male voice called out from behind her. She turned to look and saw Xun Ju standing behind her. "May I?" The Guiong captain gestured to the vacant seat by her side. Before Jin-Ri could even answer the question, Xun Ju sat down without an invitation from the court maiden.

Jin-Ri, though surprised by the brazen approach by Xun Ju, was surprisingly calm and collected. "Captain Xun Ju?" she replied to the man beside her.

"I am happy that a beauty like you remembers my name," Xun Ju said flirtatiously in response to the court maiden.

"Your name only has two syllables, it's harder to forget than to remember," Jin-Ri shot back at the Guiong soldier. "So what brings you here?" she asked as her eyes scanned around.

"I am a captain in the Guiong Imperial Army, I'm supposed to be here," Xun Ju answered, hoping to start a banter with Jin-Ri

"No, I mean why are you here...why are you here sitting next to me?" She continued to scan around her, not minding the man conversing with her.

"Are you looking for someone? That man from yesterday, perhaps?" Xun Ju answered, "Shouldn't you be focusing on me? Since I'm the one here and not him," he added, his voice laced with much self-confidence.

Jin-Ri, sensing the smugness of the man, opted to walk away. "Yes, I am looking for the prince, and I am his betrothed." She stood up from her chair. "Excuse me, the prince might be missing my company by now."

Walking away, Jin-Ri was caught by surprise when Xun Ju grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going? I am not done with you yet."

She struggled to remove the grip around her wrist. "Let me go before you lose that hand!" Jin-Ri warned the Guiong captain.

Xun Ju grinned maliciously. "Why? Are you going to remove my hand?" he asked, mocking the woman. "I wonder if you are as fiery in bed as you are now. How much do you think that Chiong Prince will sell you to me?"

The Guiong soldier then felt a hand press heavily on his shoulder. "Let her go," Prince Young-Sik warned the captain in a calm yet threatening voice.

Xun-Ju loosened his grip on Jin-Ri, which allowed her to run behind Young-Sik. "You have a very wonderful woman with you, would you like to sell her to me? I'll give you...five gold coins. That's a very generous amount considering she is just a Chiong woman," Xun Ju declared, hoping to elicit a response from the prince. Watching the prince's face tick and his hands curl up into fists and tremble uncontrollably, he knew the prince was about to explode; he needed to press the verbal attack.

"Let's go, your Highness, he is not worth it," Jin-Ri pleaded with Young-Sik. She grabbed hold of his arm and slowly led the prince away from the rude Guiong Captain.

Xun Ju watched as the couple walked away. When they were a few steps away from him, he ran after them, and he again grabbed Jin-Ri, this time on the shoulder. Forcing her to turn his way, he raised his voice at the prince, "I said sell this woman to me!" All the guests turned towards the three, wondering what the commotion was all about.

Brushing off Xun Ju's hand, the prince replied, "She is a woman and not an object to be sold." Young-Sik's voice was hushed, but it contained the intensity of a raging storm.

The Guiong Captain, not to be outdone, replied, "She is a court maid, am I right? Court maids are property that can be sold, so not happy with five coins? How about six?" The crowd witnessing the heated exchange gasped at the revelation.

"*How can a prince pair with a mere servant?*" The people murmured and whispered with each other, catching Young-Sik's ear.

Speaking in the Guiong dialect, Young-Sik shot back, "*Then you should have an idea what she means to me. Never go near her again, let this be my only warning*"

For a second time, Xun Ju grabbed Jin-Ri by the wrists in an attempt to pull her towards his side. The prince was quick to react, grabbing the Captain's hand, he violently twisted it from the wrist joint to an angle where it was about to snap. Xun Ju cried in pain, his face contorted as his wrist was twisted to its limit.

From behind the gathered crowd, a voice erupted, "*Prince Young-Sik, kindly release my soldier*" All heads turned toward the source of the voice, and when they saw the emperor, the crowd parted to clear a path for him and the Empress.

The emperor approached Young-Sik, and only then did he release the squirming soldier "*Why did you attack one of my soldiers?*" He asked the prince

"*I warned him, never touch my woman ever again. He did not listen*" The prince calmly replied, his face devoid of any emotions.

The emperor motioned for Jin-Ri, saying, "*Come forth, child.*" She looked to Young-Sik, who nodded reassuringly. Jin-Ri took a step toward the emperor and stood upright. "*She is indeed lovely, but I've heard she's just a simple court maiden. Is that true, Prince Young-Sik?*" He then turned to the prince with a mocking smile, clearly enjoying the moment.

Young-Sik simply replied, "*Yes, she is!*"

The Emperor let out a derisive laugh as the crowd gasped and exchanged whispers. "*I always thought Chiongsun was a bit lacking in manners, but this is truly unexpected, *" he said with a chuckle, causing the crowd to burst into laughter alongside him. Young-Sik glanced at his cousin, who quickly shook her finger at him, indicating he should keep his head down and avoid any confrontation.

"*Since you've mentioned she's merely a court maiden, that makes her nothing more than an item to be traded. if you don't want to sell her to the soldier, then sell her to me. Just tell me your asking price, and I'll offer you double,*" the Emperor asserted. "*If you agree, I'll ensure a hundred years of harmony and cooperation between our realms. We'll assist you in any battles, provided you fight for us when called,*" he added.

Young-Sik swiftly realized that he was caught in a cunning trap. Agreeing would signify that Chiongsun is merely a puppet of Guiong, while a refusal could lead to a potential clash between their nations. Jin-Ri looked towards the prince, their eyes meeting, and she offered a melancholic smile, her eyes communicating, "I trust you" Young-Sik then discreetly observed his cousin, the empress, whose stern demeanor seemed to caution him, "Tread carefully; your forthcoming words could either command respect or spark a war."

The prince made his way in front of Jin-Ri, asserting, "*She is beyond a mere court maiden.*" He met her gaze before turning back to the emperor. "*She is a princess, my princess, the one I have chosen to journey through life with. Forgive me, Your Highness, but I will never part with her, as I know you understand that we do not forsake those we love, may it be a person or our country.*" His voice was calm, yet it carried a tone of resolute defiance.

The emperor remained silent for a few moments, then he spoke, "*So be it, I suggest you and your people rest the night, the journey to Chiongsun is a long one*"

Young-Sik bowed to the Emperor and the Empress, and Jin-Ri followed suit. The pair then turned around to leave the banquet as they felt they had overstayed their welcome. The crowd watched the pair walk away, but Xun Ju, who felt insulted, pulled out his sword and charged at Young-Sik with deadly intent.

With fierce determination, Xun Ju raised his sword to strike at the prince. Jin-Ri, spotting the Guiong captain barreling toward her prince, quickly intervened, shoving him out of harm's way. Young-Sik's reflexes took over as he saw the danger; he seized Jin-Ri's hand and yanked her toward him. The blade cut into the court maiden's shoulder, inflicting a deep but survivable wound. Had the prince not pulled her to safety, the consequences could have been much more tragic.

The prince quickly cradled the injured Jin-Ri, and he sighed in relief that it was not fatal. The shock, however, rendered the court maiden unconscious. He lifted Jin-Ri and instructed one of the eunuchs present, "*Take us to your infirmary! *" The eunuch quickly led the way.

Upon arriving at the infirmary, Young-Sik placed Jin-Ri on a medical bed and rummaged through the supplies. The Guiong physician was about to protest, but the eunuch stopped him. After finding antiseptics and some thread, and a needle. He proceeds to treat Jin-Ri, and the prince cuts the sleeves to expose the wound. The prince then poured the antiseptic solution on the wound and surrounding skin to sterilize the area and prevent infection. After cleaning the area, he meticulously closed it by sewing. Young-Sik poured some antiseptic solution onto a piece of cloth and placed it on top of the closed wound. Using a dry medical cloth, he closed and covered the entirety to prevent infection.

After treating Jin-Ri's injuries, Young-Sik sat back and let her sleep. He then noticed a piece of cloth fall from Jin-Ri's pocket. He picked it up, and the first thing he observed was how old it was. Turning the cloth in his hands, he noticed that it was laced with golden threads. Young-Sik's breathing was suddenly fast and shallow when he recognized the old cloth as the handkerchief he had given Eun-Ae sixteen years ago. "Why do you have this?" he wanted to ask her.