“You sure are a handful Rapunzel.”

“I’m sorry.”

She said, sheepishly grinning as she sat beside him.

“Are you gonna be okay?”

“Are you talking about those guys?”

She nods meekly, trying to read his expression.

“They won’t come back again. Maybe other men will come but not them.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I had slit his throat slightly. The pain will lasts for a life time.”

“Deh?”

She asks, totally surprised.

“A crown prince was gifted with this sword. My grandfather told me when I was a kid. I have to fight monsters and if I killed them, the most powerful one will grant me a sword; which is this one.”

“Wow.”

She exclaimed, amazed at what he told her just now.

“How did you killed the monsters?”

“I can’t tell you that, but I did killed them. That’s why I have this sword with me and was eligible to take the throne when abeoji wants to step down.”

“I see. That huntsman said about the second prince.”

“As I told you, I was framed and it was my cousin doing. He wants to be the King and as long as I was alive, he can’t. He tried to poison me but I was protected, as I have this sword. So now, his plan was changed. He wants me alive because he need the sword.”

Yonghwa leans backward and lie down on the grass beneath him.

He sigh.

“I don’t know you had been through a lot.”

“Not as much as you had.”

He then closes his eyes.

“Aren’t we going home now, oppa?”

She asks carefully.

“Its dark. Just sleep for now. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

“But.”

Yonghwa stood up and removes the bag she was carrying and makes her lie down.

“Sleep so we could leave early tomorrow.”

“I’m a light sleeper. I can wake up easily.”

“Fine. I won’t say anything. Just sleep now.”

Yonghwa rested his arm across his forehead and closes his eyes.

Shinhye pouts as she turns to lie down on her side, looking at Yonghwa who had fallen asleep.

She smiles as her heart flutter.

“I like him.”

She mutters and soon fall asleep, after staring at Yonghwa to her heart content.

***

Yonghwa wakes up to the sound of birds chirping and he remember that he was in the middle of the forest and when he turns to his side, he was remind of that he was with Shinhye.

He shook her arm lightly as he sat down.

“A light sleeper huh?”

He mocked and calls her name.

After about few minutes, only then Shinhye whines as she opens her eyes.

“How can you sleep like this huh?”

Shinhye grins as she wipes her face.

“I know now how to use the wand.”

“How?”

He asks as he puts on his armour and carry the bag.

“The fairy told me. While I was asleep.”

Yonghwa had his hands on his hips, sighing at Shinhye who he thought was talking nonsense.

“I just need to do it wholeheartedly. Wait a minute.”

She closes her eyes and she spins the stick one time and point at some empty space.

She opens her eyes and was close to disappointed when a horse, a white horse appeared out of nowhere.

Yonghwa jaw drop at the magic and Shinhye jumping excitedly.

“Oppa, I finally know how to use it!”

She exclaimed happily and went to touch the horse.

“Wow.”

She mumbles as she it.

“This is how a horse feel like.”

“Let me ride on it, I’ll help you up after.”

“But how?”

“Trust me will you?”

Shinhye grins and nods excitedly.

“Gurae oppa.”

“Look how happy you are.”

He whispers, amuse at Shinhye childish way of express her happiness.

He hop on the horse, setting down the bags and helps Shinhye up.

She sat with a yelp but soon cheering.

“Are you ready?”

“Neh!”

She response and holds on to where Yonghwa told her to.

“Since its your first time, you might feel uncomfortable  while we ride the horse, tell me if you feel like falling okay.”

“Deh oppa.”

“Alright. Here we go.”

And they ride across the forest, easily find their way out but then Shinhye asks Yonghwa to stop.

“Wae?”

“We should go to the South.”

“South wae? The palace is on West.”

“We have to go to South. After that, we can head to the palace.”

“Can’t you tell me why?”

“I have to confirm it first.”

Yonghwa shakes his head.

“Fine.”

He said and turns the direction to the South instead; he was glad that the horse is easy to handle.

The journey had become longer and soon they stop in front of a small hut when Shinhye wants them to.

“Do you know this place?”

“Aniyo. But its in my dream.”

“Dream?”

“Uh huh. Maybe we can find it here as what the fairy told me.”

“What are you looking for?”

He asks; pushing the door that look really old and was surprise.

“This is.”

He said and turns to look at curious Shinhye.

“You found anything?”

“Deh. It’s my father’s stamp.”

He brought it to her and had that frown on his face.

“How?”

“You are framed oppa. Based on your story, I think someone else stole it and put the blame on you. Is this important?”

“Very. No work can be done without this. It’s some sort of inheritance. We can’t make a new one either.”

“Keep this secured then oppa. We should go now. They must come here, whoever guarded this place.”

“You are right.”

He said, placing the royal stamp in the bag.

“Palli oppa.”

Shinhye said, quickly closes the door after Yonghwa comes out; the horse was still there thankfully and they ride that to where the palace was.

“Wow.”

Shinhye exclaimed when they arrived at the kingdom.

Yonghwa ride the horse all the way into another forest and Shinhye was dumbfounded.

“Why aren’t we go straight into the palace?”

“I have the secret path to my room.”

“You do?”

“Of course.”

“You surprised me every now and then.”

She said, giggling.

“As if you don’t.”

He said sharply, and they arrived at a passage like way which makes her awed at the scenery.

“It’s lovely.”

“Deh. It’s made by my grandfather.”

“But why is it only secret way for you?”

“Because I’m the crown prince.”

“The king must know about it too then?”

“No Rapunzel. Only I know.”

“Why?”

“It’s a gift for me after I learn how to fight with sword.”

“This sword?”

Yonghwa sighs at her non stop questions but did answer her while he ride the horse to where the secret door is.

“You have to make it disappear now.”

He said when they hop down from the horse.

“Hmm. He can’t be here right?”

She said emotionally as she took out the magic stick.

“Now off you go honey.”

Shinhye closes her eyes and twirl the stick before the horse disappeared with a poof.

“Come on. We have to go in now before anyone come close.”

Shinhye follows Yonghwa closely and he chants something before the a door appears from the bush.

“Is it magic that I see?”

“Sort of.”

Yonghwa said slowly, tugging Shinhye’s hand as he walks in.

Shinhye once again had her jaw dropped that day, as she saw how spacious the room is.

“Wow.”

She exclaimed the same thing again and again as she walls further.

“I need to see eomonim. Can you stay here for the mean time?”

“What if someone came?”

“No one enter my room.”

Yonghwa said and removes the armour he was wearing since yesterday and walks to a huge closet.

He comes out wearing a royal attire and Shinhye was in daze as she stares at him.

“Handsome.”

She said it out absentmindedly and Yonghwa chuckles.

“I’ll be right back Rapunzel.”

“Neh Prince.”

She said, bowing like how a commoner will and Yonghwa knocks her head.

“Don’t just change because I am dressed up like a real prince now. You should just call me oppa. That’s more heart fluttering.”

He pats her head and she feels her heart quickens.

“Aishh this handsome prince. Always makes my heart flutters.”

***

“Eomonim.”

“Yonghwa.”

The queen exclaimed, hugging her dear son close before she take a good look at him.

“You are back?”

“I found out what is missing.”

The queen had a frown on her face but she makes him sit first.

“What is it Yonghwa? And how you found out about it?”

“For that, I want you to meet someone.”

“Who, son?”

“Can you come now?”

“Sure. Where to?”

“My room.”

Thankfully, the room is just around the corner so Yonghwa doesn’t need to pass through guards.

“Rapunzel.”

He called when he comes in with his mother and Shinhye quickly responds with a yes.

“Who is this son?”

“This is Shinhye. I met her in the forest when you ask me to run away. She was locked in a dungeon. I bring her out and she helped me find the royal stamp.”

“Oh.”

The Queen said, walking to Shinhye who has her hair down now.

She bowed to the queen, feeling warm at how the queen smiled at her.

“Thank you Shinhye. You proved that my son is not at fault at all.”

“I just find out in a dream Queen.”

“A dream?”

The queen eyed Yonghwa and he nods.

“She is gifted eomonim.”

“Aniyo. I just get help.”

“But dear, how did you end up locked in the forest?”

She asked while caressing her face.

“You must have been scared.”

“I was at first.”

She said shortly, her tears threaten to fall due to how nice and kind the queen is at her.

“How about your parents?”

She asks with concern, still looking at her with kind eyes.

“I will help her find her parents. We will start by spreading the news because Shinhye only had the memory of her parents.”

“Sure son. But now, let’s meet your father.”

Yonghwa sighs.

“Will he believe me?”

“Yes. He will son. I assure you that The King will.”

She smiled and Shinhye look at Yonghwa when he turns to her, had the prettiest smile when she nods.

“Alright. Let’s meet abeoji.”

 

 

Woah.. I totally forget about this story..
I’m sorry it take this long..
Sorry lovelies...
Love you all...