The sound of metal hoofs clicked against the ground as the gates of the palace were drawn open. Jongin stopped sparring immediately and dropped down to his knees. The carriage stilled right in front of him and he raised his head to glance up at the door. The door swung open and the royal princess delicately stepped out of the carriage.

  "Gongju-mama." the whole courtyard chorused as her figure gracefully emerged.   "As you were." she nodded and the courtyard continued to bustle with activity again.    Jongin was the only one still on his knees.    "Jongin?"   "Princess, welcome back."   "Ah," she smiled fondly at him. "It's been a few weeks since we last met. Did you miss me?"   "I....." Kai's words got stuck in his throat as he avoided eye contact with her. "We....all did."   The princess bent down to examine his side profile.    "Are you sure it wasn't only you?" she asked as she crouched down to his level and tilted his chin up with her index finger.    "Y..yes— princess." she repressed the smile creeping up to her lips.   "Jongin—"   "Gongjunim! Your etiquette classes will start  in a few minutes would you like to get ready?" The princess' maiden called out.   "No," she replied as her eyes remained fixated on the warrior in front of her. "I'm tired. Please tell Lee seonsaengnim that I would like to postpone my lesson to later. thank you." The maiden bowed as she excused herself from the pair.    "Princess, please.....stand up."   "I will when you will." She discreetly smirked when she was met with the crown of his head as he bowed even lower.   The next thing Kai knew, delicate fingers wrapped around his wrist; pulling him up to his feet.   He looked up and met the angelic face which he fell for every single time.    "Do a good job today. " she smiled as she gave him a soft pat on the cheek and pulled up the long fabric of her hanbok.   "Yes.....princess..."   He gaped at her as he watched her traipse back to her quarters.   He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned around only to meet eyes with Chanyeol.   "Don't forget that the Chinese Emperor is coming for a visit tomorrow evening and he is requesting for the crown prince to spar with his own son. You're to standby and protect him tomorrow so, you better get sparring." Kai sighed and bowed towards the elder in relent.    "Make sure you train the prince well. General Huang is no easy opponent." Chanyeol chuckled as he walked towards the sparring arena.     ....   "Gongju, aren't you excited for the spar off tomorrow when the Chinese warriors come for their annual visit?" Her highness' favourite maiden asked as she combed through the princess' long hair.    "Maybe, why? What's with that smile of yours Sori?"   "Oh nothing." she bit her lip as she tried to contain her smile.   "Sori," The princess glared at the maiden through the mirror and the latter merely laughed it off.   "Nothing! I was just thinking about how good Yi Fan would look in his new armor." she sighed dreamily. The princess chuckled and shook her head.   "Typical of you to think about him that way."   "Oh, and you're saying this as if you don't think of Kai the same way that I do of Yi Fan. You probably think of him way more, princess."   "Sori, shh! Keep your voice low. It's called a secret."   "It's not when you're blatantly showing off your affection and favouritism towards him in public."   "When did I ever? I did no such thing."   "Sure, keep living in denial for all I care. But you must be pretty happy that your father is allowing you to court that noble warrior."   "I am. I'm delighted. It should be a sin to be this happy but yes, I am happy and I will flaunt it." the princess smiled as she slipped the hanbok off her shoulders and dressed in casual clothing.   "Where are you going in that outfit? That's for training purposes only—"   "Exactly. I'll be taking a stroll in the sparring arena."   "Princess, you should act more lady-like! You can't just go around wearing commoner clothes and kicking people to the ground."    "And since when did that ever bother me?"   ....   The sound of whiplashes filled the courtyard as hard punches, fast kicks and swift sword play was being practiced.    Everybody stopped and stood at command the moment the princess stepped out of her quarters.    "Gongjunim."    "As you were." She raised a hand before darting her eyes to the direction of her love interest.   "I've read in books that the men are supposed to initiate the first move, not the ladies'! Gongjunim, what are you doing!" She hushed her maiden and put a finger to her lips before making her way towards the boy.   "Wangjanim~" she greeted her brother as she spotted him in the middle of the courtyard.   "Oh? Little sister!" he smiled as he tackled a warrior to the ground before advancing to give his sister a hug.    "How was your trip over in the East?"   "It was good. I learnt a lot of things and we stamped a few agreements here and there. That was a little boring. But otherwise it was very nice." her eyes flitted to the figure behind her brother.   "Jongin." she beamed as she stepped around her brother to greet her lover.   "Princess...what are you—"   "Can you to teach me how to use the sword today?"   "W-what?"   "It's for self-defence. Jongin, if I can't use a weapon right, I can't protect myself."   "But..sis...you know how to use a sword."   "Junmyeon shh." She whispered. Jongin finally relented and nodded as he pulled her gently towards the middle of the courtyard.    "You shouldn't be here, princess. It's dangerous. Accidents happen all the time."   "So? You're here. You can protect me."   "I'm supposed to be watching over the Prince for his spar-off tomorrow."    "Okay then I'll just go find someone else who can help me—"   "You can't! E-everyone's busy preparing for tomorrow."   "Then you'll just have to help me!"    "Princess, I just told you. I can't."   She frowned at the tanned boy.    "Do you not want to spend time with me anymore?"    Kai immediately shook his head in denial.    "That's not it. What I'm trying to say is, I have other duties to carry out, princess. I can't be distracted by the nagging thought of making sure that you're safe." The princess bit her lip in guilt and looked away.    "So I'm a burden now." she nodded to herself before turning away from him.    Without thinking, his hand shot out to hers and dragged her away from the arena to her private patio. He turned around sharply and ran a hand across her cheek, cupping it tenderly. He gazed down into her eyes and she responded by staring right back at him.    "Don't ever say th