CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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"Life in the palace"

Side story

Their childhood days

After she healed the boy, Eon Jin felt her body becomes weak and she felt dizzy. "Eon Jin... Are you okay? What happened?" Sora said when she saw Eon Jin's face so pale and sweating. She returned to the forest because she feel guilty towards to Eon Jin. She saw the unconscious body of the young master. "Who is he?" Sora asked. Eon force to smile despite on what she feel. "He's the one who screaming for help, Sora..." Eon Jin said. Sora approach the boy and her eyes widen when she saw his face. "Prince Tae Pyung?" She whispered.

"Sora... Can you go to Wol Sook and tell her that I need my medicine... " Eon Jin said. Sora look at her, "Eon Jin.. you really don't know this boy?" Sora asked. Eon Jin nodded, "Waeyo?" She asked. "Just wait here and I call your servant..." Sora said. She's about to leave when she heard someone's calling Tae Pyung's name.

Sora look at to Eon Jin who is trying to stand up to approach the boy. Sora panicked when it seems that the voice who's looking for Prince Tae Pyung is come near to them, 'Im sorry, Eon Jin... But I need to do this... I must be the one who help him not you...' In her mind.

She walk towards to Eon Jin. "Sora... Why?" Eon Jin said. "Eon Jin tell them that I'm the one who treat this boy... Arasso?" Sora said. Eon Jin look at her with puzzlement. "But Sora, I'm the one who help him and treat him.." Eon Jin said in her weak voice. "Young Master where are you??" The man's voice shouted. "Over here!" Eon Jin shouted as she gathered all her strength. Sora look at her and because of panick and insecurity, she intentionally push Eon Jin, "Ahhh!!!" Eon Jin shouted and she fell at the lower side of the mountain. With her trembling body she look where Eon Jin's fell. "I'm here..." Tae Pyung said. Sora immediately approach him, "You save me!" Tae Pyung said. Sora nodded, "Yes, I'm Min Sora... Im the one who save you.." She said.

On the other hand, Eon Jin head hit on the rock. She try to scream for help but she can't. With the tears flowing down in her cheeks her eyes slowly close.

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Present days

Eon Jin with her heavy feet she manage to walk towards the central hall of the palace to greet the elders. "Your Highness... Are you okay? You seemed pre occupied..." Wol Sook said. Eon Jin didn't speak and she suddenly remember what Tae Pyung did to her on their first night together. 

Meanwhile, Tae Pyung is walking towards the central hall to greet the elder. He suddenly remember what he did last night to Princess  Eon Jin, and there's a part of him that he feel guilty towards to her. He stop from his walk when he saw Eon Jin in the opposite side. She's not wearing her smile today.

They met at the center as they're looking to each other. Eon Jin make a bow to show respect to him. Tae Pyung didn't take away his eyes from her. Eon Jin didn't speak as she stand beside him.

When they went inside the hall, Queen Han Soo and the Queen Dowager notice that there's something wrong to the Crown Princess. The couple take on  their knees and show respect to the elders before they take a sit.

"Crown Princess, you seem different today? Is there something bothering you?" Queen Han Soo said. Eon Jin look at her and let out a force smile. "Nothing, Your Highness... Maybe I'm just miss my old life as Lady Eon Jin, Your Highness..." She said. Tae Pyung steal a glance on her. "How's your first night together as married couple, Crown Prince?" The Queen Dowager said. Eon Jin choked as she sip on her tea. "Are you okay, Crown Princess?" The King asked. Eon Jin nodded as she let out a small smile.

"Your Royal Highness... Maybe the Crown Princess didn't use to talk about our privacy... I observed her as a shy type person..." Tae Pyung said when he observed that Eon Jin want to forget what happened to them last night. "Oh! Im sorry...." The Queen Dowager said. "It's okay, Your Royal Highness..." Eon Jin said.

After they greet the elder, the couple went together outside the hall but Eon Jin take the opposite direction as their went outside. "Crown Princess... Why you don't tell them what happened last night? You have the opportunity to tell it to the Queen Dowager." Tae Pyung said. Eon Jin stop from her walk. "Why should I tell her, Your Royal Highness..." She said and she turn around and look at him intently, "My body is yours just like what you told me last night... So I know I don't have a rights to make an appeal or reject what the Crown Prince's want." Eon Jin said. "Can I leave now, Your Royal Highness?" She said and she start to walk away from him. Tae Pyung look at her from a far.

Eon Jin walks as she trying to control her tears, 'not only my body... But you also have my heart... Tae Pyung...' In her mind.

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Tae Pyung is seated on his study room  but he couldn't concentrate because of what Princess Eon Jin gestures towards to him. "Did you notice her, Chief Eunuch? She's an arrogant woman! I'm the Crown Prince and she  stares at me like that?" Tae Pyung said. Chi Su try to control his laughter. " Your Royal Highness... It seems that you did something wrong to the Crown Princess so she's been mad at you..." Chi Su said. Tae Pyung trying to forget what he did to Eon Jin last night. "Yes, I am... I made a wrong move and let my anger and frustration control me that night..." He said. "Your Royal Highness... The Crown Princess is still learning to live here in the palace. Try to be good on her... Your Royal Highness..." Chi Su said. Tae Pyung didn't speak but he got his point.

"Your Royal Highness, Man Bok is here.." the servant announced. "Let him in.." He said. "Your Royal Highness..." Man Bok said. "Did you relay my message to Lady Sora?" Tae Pyung asked. "Yes, Your Royal Highness... She agree to meet you tomorrow at the forest..." He said.

"Your Royal Highness... What about the Crown Princess?" Chi Su said. "Chief Eunuch... I'll try to be good on her, I'll try Arasso? But for now... I want to talk to Lady Sora about what really happened to the forest." Tae Pyung said. "By the way, Chief Eunuch.. you're with my brother that day... Did you notice  a girl aside from Lady Sora?" He asked. Chi Su try to recall that day. "Nobody is there aside from her, Your Royal Highness... But your brother saw a piece of lady shoes   and a coat  that covers on your body the day when we saw you." Chi Su said. "Where is it?" He asked. "The late Crown Prince gave it to Princess So hee. Princess So hee wants to play it when she was a kid that's why the late Crown Prince gave it to her." Chi Su said. "Arasso... I'm going to ask her when I visit her at the temple." He said.

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