This is Baek Ah turns.

It had been a while for the 13th Prince since he left Songak after informing the king, his 4th brother, that their 8th brother had passed away. It was a long journey for him. He wandered and then return to his hometown and wandering again. The king really left him alone, never arranging him a marriage; he still feel the pain of losing Woo Hee; or even asked him to return to Songak. During that time, he often wondered how the king was doing. He knew the king had Crown Prince and other children, but he knew better. His 4th brother was not living, he was just trying to survive.

When he received news the king passed away, he quickly made his journey to Songak. He barely made in time, only be able to attend the funeral with all the remain of royal family members. He watched all the faces familiar to him, he saw the Queen and her children, and then his 14th brother, Jung. A figure of a young lady next to Jung peaked his curiosity. Her hair was pulled, she was probably married. Baek Ah looked around, assuming the lady was married to one of the royal families, but apparently she was not. The 13th prince finally could see the lady after the funeral was over and he was surprised to see her. She resembled his old friend, Hae Soo, but the one thing made him stunned was he also caught a glimpse of his 4th brother on the lady.

"Hyungnim, is that you?"

Baek Ah blinked and turned around to meet his 14th brother, Jung. Two decades shaped him into a mature man, perhaps the same as him.

"It's really you!"

They both laughed happily and hugged each other. The lady only stood not far from them, she bowed slightly to him when their eyes met.

"Is she your daughter? She looks like..."

"Yes, I know." Jung released his hug. "She looks like Hae Soo, doesn't she?"

Baek Ah nodded, unable to say words. Seeing the lady just like seeing his old friend again, and he just realized how he missed her.

"Are you staying? Please, you can stay at my house. My daughter will stay too, she already asked permission from her husband." And then, Jung stared at his eyes, "There are a lot of things we need to talk about."

Baek Ah went silent when he sensed some important things lingered behind Jung's stares, and he knew this place was not the right place for a lot of ears around.

Finally, the 13th prince smiled. "I accept your invitation."

The brothers walked together around the village with Baek Ah looking around. Songak had changed a lot during his absent, in a good way. He glanced behind him and saw the lady followed them silently. Her head was down, her hand clutching a hairpin, from her face Baek Ah could tell she was sad. Well, everyone would be sad for losing a great king, but if he remember all the faces during the funeral, only this lady was genuinely sad. Not that he was not or his 14th brother wasn't sad either, but this lady, she was just different. And Baek Ah couldn't figure out what it was.

"Is she married? Your daughter?" he asked.

Jung nodded. "Yes, with governor's son."

Baek Ah blinked. "Governor's son? I thought being a royal family she would marry someone from powerful background."

His 14th brother smiled knowingly. "The king didn't propose marriage to her. She asked for herself."

"What?"

"That's why I said there are a lot of things we need to talk about," Jung said while extending his arm to a gate. "We're here." And then, he looked at his daughter. "Prepare tea for me and 13th uncle."

The lady smiled slightly. "Yes, father."

Baek Ah still watching the lady closely when she walked in into the gate.

He was still curious.

His 14th brother guided him to a gazebo. They sat next to each other, enjoying the nature. Baek Ah took a deep breath. It was really nice to come back even though only for a while.

"How have you been, Hyungnim? It's been years," he heard Jung said.

Baek Ah smiled. "I'm well. I can see you are well too." The 13th prince looked around and then, sighed. "Our 4th brother really passed away. It still feels like yesterday when I bid him goodbye and told him to take care of himself."

Jung smiled back, reminiscing a memory. "He always be fond of you. I remember his remark to our 3rd brother to defend you."

The 13th prince chuckled. "Yes, he is always straightforward like that."

Their conversation was stopped when the lady approached holding a tray with a full set of tea. Baek Ah tilted his head and watching her. Her gesture was elegant, like any noble lady would do, her face resembled Hae Soo with big eyes and warm smile, but then again, he saw the glimpse of his 4th brother on her.

The lady didn't say anything after putting the tray in front of them, only bowing slightly before walking away.

"She is beautiful," Baek Ah said, uttering the first impression he saw on the lady.

Jung smiled while pouring the tea to one of the cups. "Yes, she is."

Baek Ah followed the lady movement until she disappeared on one of the corners. He pursed his lips. "It's strange. Why do I feel like I see our 4th brother on her?"

"I'm not surprised if you are the only one who can see that after all these years."

Jung's statement made Baek Ah froze.

He slowly turned his head to meet Jung's eyes. His 14th brother stared back at him, challenging what he had seen. His heart thumped when he realized. Baek Ah turned his head again and saw the lady sat next to a pond, staring at the hairpin on her hand.

"You were saying..."

"Yes," Jung said again.

"I thought she is yours."

"She is by law, but not by blood."

Baek Ah went silent before pouring the tea to his cup and drank it. "That means you and Soo never..."

Jung chuckled. "What kind of man do you think I am, Hyungnim? I'm not the one who force a woman even though she is my wife." And then, his eyes turned sad. "I just wanted to free her from that cage. My older brother said he loved her, but he was not strong enough to let her go. I didn't know why he finally let her go."

Baek Ah recalled his memory the day he met Hae Soo at the palace gate when they had a drink together before she had to leave. There was also the 8th brother. His eyes widened in realization.

"Our 8th brother probably the one who made the king released her," Baek Ah said.

"What?"

Baek Ah sipped his tea again. "Before Hae Soo with our 4th brother, she had relationship with the 8th brother. But, I guess it was over." He blew a breath. "Wook-nim probably told the king about his relationship with Hae Soo in the past. You know how So-nim was when Hae Soo was involved."

Jung blinked. "Are you saying our 8th brother loved Hae Soo?"

The 13th prince nodded. "Yes. Do you remember when we met Hae Soo at Wook-nim's study room? 8th brother said he gave her a poem and wanted Hae Soo to write the reply."

"Ah, I remember." And then, Jung chuckled. "It was more like a drawing than a poem." His eyes turned somber. "Our 4th brother was the one who understood what Hae Soo drew. I guess they already understood each other so well even before they realized it. And I just knew there was already competition on winning her heart."

Baek Ah looked at the lady again. "How long have you known?"

"Several weeks after we got married. Hae Soo probably already carried the child before she left the palace. And I think, that was why she accepted my offer. She wanted to save the child." Jung sighed. "But, no matter how hard I tried to hide her, the heavens knew I'm not her father. They met by coincidence."

"And?"

"And of course our 4th brother won't let her go although he honored Hae Soo's request not letting the child live in the palace. He sent birthday presents for her every year, even sent a lot of medicines when he found out she was ill. He often asked for her to come to the palace. I was so worried it would make the palace suspicious, but I guess our 4th brother knew what to do."

Jung sipped his tea while Baek Ah was too interested to touch his cup. His 4th brother played the father figure was something he never imagined at all.

"I heard he slayed some men and punished court ladies ordered by the Queen to investigate who she is." Jung went on. "He really protected her." And then, he too looked over the young lady. "She doesn't need to know what her king father did to protect her. There were already enough blood shed before she was born. Let her think her blood father is the kind man she will always remember."

Baek Ah nodded. "And her marriage? It was not arrange by the king?"

Jung shook his head. "No. The king said himself he would marry her if she loved the man."

The 13th prince smiled. "How fortunate she is. And So-nim, I never knew he could do that."

"He was full of surprise, wasn't he?"

Baek Ah sipped his cup and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, he was." He looked again at Jung. "And now, after he passed away, do you think the Queen..."

"No, I believe he has a way to protect her even after his death. He always does when he lives and he will after he dies," Jung said in finality.

"And your servants?"

His 14th brother took a deep breath. "I sworn them to secrecy. All of them already passed away, carrying the truth with them."

Baek Ah didn't reply, only sipping his tea.

His eyes lingered on the lady.

Now he understood why she looked so sad during the funeral.

Any child would feel that way.

At night, Baek Ah sat on the gazebo, enjoying the silence of the night. He was still trying to learn the fact that his 4th brother was actually a father to a beautiful lady. He could imagine what the king had to endure to protect his daughter.

Not interested on drawing, Baek Ah started to play his musical instrument. The sound mingled with darkness, the feeling was almost sacred. He stopped playing when he sensed someone watching him. He turned his head and saw the lady.

Baek Ah blinked.

His memory replayed the day at 8th brother's study room when Hae Soo peeked on them.

He smiled when their eyes met.

The lady straightened her posture and quickly bowed. "I'm sorry to disturb you."

Baek Ah put aside his instrument. "No, you're not. Why don't you give your 13th uncle a company?"

She looked hesitant before approaching him and sat next to him, enough to keep the distance for she was a married woman.

"Geomungo?" She asked while pointing the instrument.

The 13th prince smiled brightly. "You know this instrument?"

She nodded. "Father sometimes asked some musicians to play music around the house. They always play one song that my mother sang years ago. They said it's the king's favorite."

Baek Ah pursed his lips and picked up his instrument again. "Maybe you can sing for me."

The lady blinked. "Eh?"

The prince ignored the shock expression from the lady and signaling for her to start singing. She smiled slightly and began to sing.

The days that pass by painfully

In the stillness of the day and wind

The rest of the song brought a memory for Baek Ah.

It was the song Hae Soo sang for Eun-nim on his birthday.

He continued to play the instrument, the lady's voice was clear and beautiful, filling his memory during the happy time when he and his brothers were not fighting for the throne. It was a long time ago.

When finally the song ended, they both went silent.

Baek Ah put down his intrument. "I know this song. Your mother sang for us on Eun-nim's birthday."

"Eun-nim?"

The prince smiled. "The 10th prince."

"Oh..." She looked thoughtful and sighed, she had the faraway look on her eyes. "I always wonder what happened to my father's brothers. He's the 14th and the king is the 4th, where are the others?" She stared at Baek Ah and smiled. "It's a privilege to meet you, Uncle."

Baek Ah realized Jung didn't tell her about the gruesome period during the claim of the throne and he understood why. She didn't need to know about all the blood and tears after King Taejo passed away.

"I've been close to your father and the king." He looked at her closely. "I know about you too."

She blinked.

Baek Ah smiled reassuringly. "No need to worry. I'm an ally for the king. Your secret will safe with me. He always say I'm his person."

"His...person?"

"Yes."

Her expression changed. "The king...my father said the same thing to me before he passed away." She looked again at Baek Ah. "He said I'm his person."

The prince patted her shoulder. "Of course you are." He sighed. "I've known your king father before he was a king. I was on his court too, but something happened." The memory of Woo Hee sacrificed herself replayed in his mind, causing him to clutch his chest. Even after all these years, the pain remained the same.

"Uncle?"

Baek Ah tried to smile. "It's just an old memory."

The lady only nodded, didn't quite believe him. She stared at the garden and gave a long sigh. "When I first met my father, I was six. And I knew he was my father when I was 16." She pulled out the hairpin from her hair. "He gave me this for my birthday present." She caressed the hairpin. "I missed him."

Now, Baek Ah understood why she always clutch the hairpin. It was the only reminder of her king father. When no one knew she was the king's daughter, father and daughter had to keep their relationship a secret. The prince knew that must be hard too for his 4th brother.

"Do you know my mother, Uncle?" suddenly she asked.

The prince smiled knowingly. "Yes, I do. And I can tell you stories about her too. Do you want to know?"

Her eyes turned bright and she nodded.

Both uncle and niece spent the night sharing stories.

Baek Ah spent the next two days at Jung's house, getting know his niece better. She was funny, fiesty and elegant, very interesting person. Before he returned to his hometown again, Baek Ah wanted to visit So's and Eun's cemetary, and to his surprise the lady wanted to come with him. They went together, visiting Eun's cemetary first. The lady didn't say much, only clasped her hand and prayed. Baek Ah smiled slightly watching her. Eun-nim probably would get along really well with her.

When finally they reached the late king's cemetary, both of them stood in silence before the lady walked closer and knelled. Her head down, she clasped her hand, closing her eyes. The wind blew around them, seemed to hear the lady's prayer. Baek Ah too, closed his eyes and began to pray, wishing happiness for his 4th brother in the next life.

The next day, after saying goodbye to Jung, the lady accompanied him until they reached the gate. Baek Ah smiled and gave her one of his old pictures that he drew. She blinked and looked over the picture closely. She smiled with misty eyes, for realizing it was the picture of her parents. Baek Ah remembered he drew both So-nim and Hae Soo after the rain ritual, sneaking on them, before his 4th brother became king.

"Please, visit us more often, Uncle. You are the only uncle I have," she said making Baek Ah smiled.

He patted her shoulder gently. "I will. I promise."

To his surprise, she suddenly hugged him. The prince blinked before hugging his niece back.

"Be well and stay healthy, Uncle," she said in low voice.

"You too."

She leaned away and Baek Ah started to walk. He turned around when he was far enough to see the lady waved her hand to him. He smiled and waved back.

He would definitely visit the princess again.

Someday.

End note:

Thank you for your love for this story. Hopefully, not get you teary-eyed since the drama has ended. There are a lot of great stories in this fandom. You should check it out.

Thank you again for the reviews, faves and follows.

I'll see you around \^o^/