Timeline : Episode 9

Pairing : Wang Yo/Hae Soo

Part I

Lost in thought, Hae Soo gloomily followed Wang Yo's procession and fortunately halted in time before bumping into one of the eunuchs when they crossed path with Yeon Hwa.

The Princess bowed at Yo and seemed surprised when she caught a glimpse of Soo being part of the small group. Faking a smile, Yeon Hwa waited for Yo to stride off but he did nothing of the sort.

"I will return soon." he informed, "Until then, you should plan carefully."

Without warmth nor emotion the Princess politely replied, "I will await your safe return."

Although bothered by Yeon Hwa's reaction or lack of it for that matter, Yo walked away without a backward glance. The moment Soo walked past the haughty Princess, the latter had pursed her mouth in a self-satisfied smirk. Good riddance, Soo could read in Yeon Hwa's eyes.

-Three months later-

Before leaving Songak, Baek Ah had given her medicine and cure in case of sudden poisoning or odd illness; Jung had gifted her with a silver dagger which rested securely in her sleeve by now.

Hae Soo also heard that Wang So was sent to Later Jin as ambassador, to unofficially keep the King informed of the situation at the borders; as for Wang Eun, he was newlywed and still brooding over that matter.

In fact, the only person she didn't have news from was Wang Wook. He had avoided her altogether since that fateful day, since the moment he knew she was responsible of So's perfect bare face during the rain ritual.

Soo's gaze scanned over Wang Yo's group, they were traveling on horseback making their long journey just bearable. Knowing full well that anything -not to his liking- could warrant his wrath, Soo purposely kept a safe distance with Yo's horse. She knew Queen Yoo certainly planned to get rid of her, she had after all helped Wang So gain favors from the King and thus erasing all chance for Wang Yo to be Crown Prince. Conclusion: she was to be wary of him.

As for the 3rd Prince, he didn't expect for Soo to travel that well, although she was the only female in the group, she didn't complain nor delay the journey. He noticed that she had kept her interaction with him to a strict minimum though she was amicable with all his eunuchs and guards.

And then, after the first few months of total indifference and suspicion, Yo felt something akin to curiosity whenever it concerned the court lady and as days passed, he purposely tested her limits.

"His Highness is returning from his inspection, he ordered for you to prepare his bath." informed one of the eunuchs.

Soo who was cooking with the innkeeper, glanced up to the older man in surprise. "Me? Are you certain?"

Eunuch Kim nodded silently, a flash of kindness and understanding passed through his eyes before leaving the inn's kitchen.

Without much more cogitation, Soo hurriedly made preparation, drawing the water from the nearby well then heated it to the perfect temperature in order to fill a wooden round bathtub. She didn't dare to add any scented herbs or essential oils to prevent Yo from accusing her of harming him. Unbeknownst to her, the prince in question witnessed all her preparation and chuckled to himself at her insight.

The moment, Yo stepped foot into the small bath-chamber the air around her turned blue, his dark attire was quite messy and his appearance showed sign of fights. However, it was his dark gaze that paralyzed Soo, she didn't know him well to assume what he was thinking nor what he was planning to do to her.

Making sure that her dagger was within reach, Hae Soo bowed, "Your bath is ready, your Highness." Without waiting for a response, she attempted a strategic retreat, only to be blocked by a wall dressed in armor, when she looked up at his face, Wang Yo was grinning smugly.

"I do not recall dismissing you." he spoke while spreading his arms in order for her to undress him.

The court lady tried to suppress her blush and started to take off his armor and garment, layer by layer. Only when the Prince stood in his black under-clothes that her fingers trembled on the last ribbon, the last safety belt that would prevent her from looking directly at his bare chest.

Amused, Yo's smirk grew wide, he clasped his bloody right hand on hers –and Soo highly suspected it wasn't his own blood– and untied the ribbon. The under-shirt flew open allowing for the young woman to have an unconcealed view of Yo's muscular chest. She thought it would disgust her, she thought wrong for she swore that she could've been blind by such perfect torso; hand on her own chest, Soo tried to calm her erratic heart. To no avail.

Satisfied by her daze expression, the 3rd Prince entered into the bathtub and settled himself comfortably, feeling his muscles relax instantly in the hot water.

"If by some unfortunate turn of event, that girl were to never return, it wouldn't be a great loss. I am going to get rid of all those infuriating Damiwon girls, one by one."

Wang Yo stayed silent, half-listening to his mother's complaint. The King was sending him away to be killed but he planned to return safely hence it was all that matter to him, so for the first time in his life, Yo prioritized his own self over the Queen's.

Once again, Hae Soo proceeded to leave the bath-chamber but Yo's voice cut through the air.

"If you had tried to pour anything in my bath, I would have killed you today." he stated with closed eyes.

Soo frowned, "There's only hot water-"

"I know." he cut her off before asking eventually, "Whose side are you?"

"I am on no one's side." Soo said in a whisper, Yo opened his eyes and looked straight at her.

"You helped the wolf-dog during the rain ritual. You deeply care for Baek Ah, I also know for a fact that my 10th and 14th brothers love you... not to mention that you are smitten with my 8th brother." Wang Yo elaborated without cutting eye-contact. "So I'm asking again, whose side are you?"

Soo gulped, "My answer remains the same, your Highness." She saw him step out of the bathtub and took several steps toward her. His dark eyes pinned her on the spot and all of sudden she had trouble breathing.

"Fine, let's see where your loyalties lie."

Is he testing me? She gazed up at the man in front of her, "Taking side and loyalty are two different matters, your Highness, you of all people should know that."

Wang Yo blinked, confusion marring his face, that woman was different. He prided himself on spotting people's weaknesses and he could tell hers, eyes closed. Hae Soo was too kind and unselfish for her own good, however he also noticed something dangerous lying in her dark orbs.

Recklessness.

Wang Yo hated it as much as he admired it. From that day onward, the Court lady was tasked to prepare the Prince's daily bath.

One evening, when the eunuchs served Wang Yo his dinner, the latter asked out of the blue, "Where is Hae Sanggung?"

Both eunuchs shared an awkward look, "Hae Sanggung is most probably eating with the guards."

Yo frowned while rising from his seat, in three strides he was out the room. The eunuchs followed him silently until they reached the noisy servants quarters. Inside the room, Yo's guards were appreciatively eating their dinner, compared to the royal kitchen, the meal Soo had served them was nothing to be ashamed of, and as usual since they traveled together, the guards loudly made their compliments.

Yo heard the smile in Hae Soo's voice when she answered, "You all make an awesome job at protecting the 3rd Prince, cooking is the least I can do for you. Please, eat a lot!"

"Thank you Lady Soo!" shouted all the guards.

The moment Hae Soo slid open the door and saw Wang Yo standing behind, she nearly dropped her dinner tray. The 3rd Prince wrapped and stilled her trembling hands with his firm ones, something ticked in her brain when she gazed downward, he was holding her hands?!

"Where are you heading in such hurry?" he asked eventually.

With bated breath, Soo replied, "I was going to... eat under the atrium..."

Moments later, the Court lady found herself sitting comfortably under the so-called atrium, ordered to share the Prince's dinner. She felt awkward to say the least but Yo didn't seem to care, he ate in silence, glancing at her from time to time when a new taste greeted his palate -surely something he tasted from her own meal. Soo, eyes glued into her bowl of rice, sat on the far end of the table, as far as possible from him. But still, she wasn't supposed to share a dinner under the moonlight with him. Not him.

"You will only attend to me from now on."

"Huh?" was the only logical word she could utter. Blinking thrice, Soo forced her brain to work properly. Did he mean, his personal maid? Why?

Since the beginning of their journey, he never asked anything of the sort from her and truth to be told, she was kind of free since she traveled with his group. While he was inspecting storehouses, she just visited the village or small town they stayed in. She studied plants and herbs whenever she had the chance to meet an apothecary or a doctor.

So why did he change his mind now? Did he think she was slacking off? Certainly.

Soo stared at him for many minutes, oh, she could see the challenge in his eyes, he was daring her to say something, "Why are you trusting me all of sudden?"

"Who said I'm trusting you?" he retorted.

"Letting me attend personally to you, requires a certain degree of trust, your Highness."

"It might also be a trap set to force you to show your true colors."

A battle of wits was taking place, a mind game neither intended to lose.

Hae Soo finally murmured, "Then you will be highly disappointed, for my true colors are what you are seeing now."

"I am no fool, you hate me-"

"I don't hate you-"

"The moment you will see an opening, you will run me through-" Yo growled and very slowly his brain registered her last reply, "What did you just say?!"

Soo shifted uncomfortably, "I don't hate you, your Highness. Sure, I don't like the way you treat your siblings and you are far from being a kind man, you also have a bad temper-" She stopped her ranting when his glare became like the Arctic ocean.

Wang Yo felt something different emanating from the court lady, not that he was going to admit out loud but she was a sharp-witted woman and so far he could understand why his many brothers were infatuated with her.

"You will attend to me anyway," the 3rd Prince stated, "as a punishment for your criticism."

Soo grimaced, "Very well, your Highness... however, I will never ever wash your body... so if you're unsatisfied with my condition, you can kill me now."

Wang Yo burst out laughing thus surprising the court lady, the latter didn't know the man could laugh with such airiness hence she didn't know whether to be afraid or instead relieved. He was, after all, known to be temperamental.

He purred, "Someday, you might regret your words..."

"Hardly, your Highness." Soo retorted with conviction.

- Six months later-

She didn't know exactly how many months they had passed on the road, the only thing obvious was that the King had sent the 3rd Prince into a dangerous journey. The thieves were quite considerable around royal storehouses however Yo wasted no time and just beat them off like some annoying flies. Bandits on the road were also a pain in the neck as they always delayed the mission and got Yo enraged -like now.

After the disruption, the small group was getting ready to go on their journey when the 3rd Prince witnessed a rather funny scene, Hae Soo was grumbling about stupid men and Yo's guards who doted on her, bore an amused expression thanks to her antics.

"Don't they have a brain at all?!" Soo scoffed, incredulous, "Are they stupid or what? He is the notorious 3rd Prince, there's no way they could have beat him... but they still have to try and get themselves killed..."

Wang Yo drew near Soo's group, the guards who saw their master's silent approach suppressed their smile, only the court lady seemed to be unaware of his presence and so she continued to rant.

"Don't they know of this old saying... when all fails, run! If it were me, I would've run-"

"Where to?" Yo asked, brows furrowed.

Hae Soo jumped out of her skin and whirled around to face him as an awkward expression marred her face. "I... I-"

Yo appreciated to see her squirming under his scrutinized gaze, "So you were planning to run away all along?"

"I did not, your Highness!" swore Soo with round eyes, "it's a misunderstanding."

He leaned into her until their eyes were at the same level and growled low, "Too bad, because I would've loved chasing you over..."

"I have no doubt trusting you on that, your Highness." whispered the young woman, "however as long as I am within reach, please refrain yourself from taking out your bow."

The now relaxed Prince shot her a curious stare. She's an odd sort, a very rare specie indeed.

Moment later, they got on horseback and trotted away in order to reach the next town. Inwardly, Yo felt quite delighted about Soo's praise –though, technically it wasn't directed to him– for she seemed to have learned a lot about him during the past few months and oddly that fact didn't worry him at all, like he thought he would.

I'm back!

Please feel free to share your opinion, advice, insight... I'm all ears.

Take care,