먼저 : Little Prince

The years flew by in a blink of an eye. 

Prince Jong Dae was now seven years old and still growing — way too fast. 

Grandmother Yeon sat out on the porch in the courtyard, working on her embroidery, as little prince Jong Dae ran around playing with the sticks and rocks on the ground. Grandmother Yeon would occasionally look up from her work and watch the little prince for a few seconds before returning her eyes back to her work. There was always a smile on her face whenever she looked up at him and she couldn't help but feel contentment every time.

Usually at this time of the day, late afternoon, Prince Hae Myung would visit the both of them, bringing sweets from the palace to the little prince as well as some juicy rumors and news that were floating about through the kingdom. Aside from that, Hae Myung would often ask Grandmother Yeon if she needed anything but she would always decline nicely with a smile.

Grandmother Yeon strained her ears to listen for the sounds of the thundering hooves of the horse, but she couldn't hear anything. It was strange that the prince wasn't on time - did something happen at the palace or did something happen to him on the way to her house? After a few minutes, the wise woman set her embroidery down of the porch and stood up, making her way over to the gate. She unlocked the gate and stepped out. Jong Dae, who was playing with the ants on the ground, looked over his shoulders just in time to see his grandmother step out onto the path and quickly stood up. 

"Grandmother," he called her. 

Jong Dae ran over to her, curious as to why she was stepping outside of the house. Did she loose something out in the woods earlier? Curiosity grew in the little prince as he pondered about what his grandmother was looking for. He reached up and grabbed her hand, reassuring that he was there with her. 

"Grandmother, I'm right here" Jong Dae said, his big eyes looking up at her. 

The wise woman looked down at the little prince and smiled.

"I know."

She squeezed the prince's hand lightly before returning her gaze back to the path. Jong Dae followed his grandmother's gaze and stared at the path, which laid at the edge of the forest and lead into the dark and scary forest. The little prince pursed his lips and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. 

"What are we waiting for, Grandmother?" he asked, looking up at her again. "Is it someone important?" 

"Yes, it is someone very important..to the both of us," she answered him with a smile. "You will find out very soon." 

As if on que, the sounds of hooves thundering came closer and closer until a tall figure came out of the edge of the forest. Grandmother Yeon breathed out a sigh of relief and smiled; she was happy that the prince kept his promise and always came to visit the two every single day. Jong Dae stared at the moving figure until it got closer and realized who it was. His eyes lit up with happiness and a wide grin grew on his face. Jong Dae dropped his hand from Grandmother Yeon and ran towards his brother.

"Hyung!"

Hae Myung saw his little brother and pulled the reins on his horse, telling him to slow down. Wind trotted over to the little prince and stopped, allowing Hae Myung to jump off. As soon as he did, Jong Dae ran into his big arms and gave him the biggest hug he could with his small arms. Hae Myung smiled and wrapped his arms around the little prince, returning the hug. Even though they saw each other yesterday, Hae Myung couldn't help but miss his little brother — he even had to tell lies to the servants and guards in order to escape from his studies at the palace, but that was the least of his worries. Being a witty prince, Hae Myung stored a pile of commoner clothing under a pile of branch and twigs in the forest so that he could change out of his royal attire and appear as a commoner — like everyone else in the village before he went on his way to the outskirts of town. Jong Dae has never seen him in his royal attire but Hae Myung knew that he will one day...and realize who he was.

"Did you sleep well, Jong Dae?" The older prince asked as he pulled away to look at the little one's face. 

"Mmm!" The little prince nodded a giant smile. "Did you?"

"Mmm, I did also!" Hae Myung replied, gently patting his little head. 

After greetings, the wise woman lead them back to her house and listened to the news that Hae Myung had brought from the palace as little Jong Dae played with the horse and sticks. The older prince told the wise woman about the rumors of one of the palace maid poisoning the King's tea as well as putting mercury into his bath water. Luckily, the royal doctor caught the maid and the King had her executed. The older prince went on and on about the good news that has been floating around until the sky began to turn orange and red, indicating that sunset was very near. 

"I must leave now, grandmother," Hae Myung told her and stood up from his spot on the porch. "My father will get worried if I don't return soon."

"Alright," Grandmother Yeon nodded with a smile. "Be careful and stay safe on your way back. The path is dark and full of unexpected surprises but doesn't let that distract you, my prince."

"Yes, grandmother Yeon, I will take your wise words and put them to use," the prince replied and bowed to the wise woman. 

Before leaving, Hae Myung made sure to give his little brother a hug and a couple pieces of the royal sweets he was able to save from the palace. He knew that Jong Dae would enjoy them as much as he did when he was a kid. Leading the horse to the gate, the older prince climbed onto the saddle and took the reins into his hands. Looking down at the little prince, Hae Myung couldn't help but feel sad. He could tell that Jong Dae didn't want him to leave. 

"Are you coming back tomorrow?" The little one asked. 

"Of course I will," the older prince nodded. "I'll come visit you every single day."

The little prince smiled at his words and nodded.

"Okay! I'll wait for you!" Jong Dae exclaimed.

With that, Hae Myung flicked the reins and Wind begin trotting away from the little house and towards the woods where they had come from. As they did, the older prince heaved out a sigh and looked up at the orange sky above him. The existence of his little brother was to be kept a secret from his father and the kingdom at all cost. He was disappointed at the fact that his father was afraid of a mere told prop