Seol’s birthday outing overall went very well. She along with Ju had a wonderful time blending along with the townspeople, and marveled at every other stall they passed by. In addition to the wares, they participated in the lantern lighting, and enjoyed the street performances along the way.

To So’s dismay, they did run into Sung Jin’s colleague and his son Taek Geun, who nearly blew their cover. He also noticed the glances the boy was giving to his daughter, but was relieved to see that Seol paid them no attention, but was instead more interested in the snack stall nearby. Ju also seemed to notice his sister’s lack of interest, but after seeing his father’s stern look, he held in his laugh and simply followed his sister to the nearby stall. After their greetings, the two parties went their own way, and So felt a squeeze on his arm. When he looked down at Soo, he saw a bemused look in her eyes.

“Seems like our daughter has caught someone’s eyes, husband.”

“Hm…”

Soo laughed and patted his arm reassuringly.

“Don’t worry. It seems that she has no interest in him now. I believe we may have a few more years until we will have to give her hand away for marriage.”

“I don’t approve of that boy. He’s giving her suspicious looks.”

“Oh, well I don’t know about ‘suspicious’ but it seems like he is quite smitten with her.”

“Smitten indeed…”

“I recall someone giving me the same looks back in the day…”

So could not deny her words and found himself blushing as he cleared his throat, looking away from Soo’s amused expression.

“Anyhow, that isn’t the problem here husband. Let’s just enjoy the rest of our outing tonight and worry about it when we actually have to. It has been a long time since we have left our home.”

So let out a sigh and had to admit Soo was right.  He put his hand over her hand that was placed over his arm and squeezed it affectionately.

“Of course, wife.”

“Now, let’s go see if we can persuade Seol not to buy the entire stall of pastries tonight.”

So let out a chuckle as they approached the stall.

“She seems to get the sweet tooth from you.”

“I can’t help it if I can’t get donuts during this time...all I have is your yakgwa and dasik to fill my cravings!”

“Donuts? Is that something you could perhaps have the royal chef make for you?”

“I can’t introduce that here...what if that changes the entire pastry industry in the future?!”

Seol turned around as her parents walked up to the stall and looked at Soo in curiosity.

“Mother, what is a donut?”

“I said ‘walnut’ dear, walnut.”

------

The family stayed out later than usual, but after some time Soo could see the children were getting tired. When she saw several stalls starting to pack up, she also decided it was a good time to start heading back to the palace.

As they were walking, Seol indicated something to Ju, who looked at her before they both hurried forward. Suddenly they veered off to the side where they saw a small boy sitting near the opening of the alleyway. Seol knelt down and pulled out the bag of sweets they had purchased earlier before offering it all to the boy.

“Would you like this?”

The boy looked up at her somewhat distrustingly. Why was this noble lady offering him sweets? There would probably be some strings attached or something...he learned that the hard way before and barely escaped from being taken in as a slave.

“I am not asking anything in return, except that you share it with your family.”

“My Nooie speaks the truth, please take this as well.”

Ju pulled out his pouch of meat pastries and also offered it to the boy. The boy in response widened his eyes and looked back and forth between the two people in front of him before reaching out to hesitantly accept the gifts. After setting them aside, he kneeled down and bowed to them deeply.

“Thank you my lady and lord. I will not forget this and will endeavor to repay your kindness one day!”

“Then I will expect for us to meet again,” Ju said with a grin before offering out his hand to help the boy up. 

Seol smiled before also helping the boy up and sending him off on his way. So silently motioned over a guard as they did so.

“Make sure he gets home safely.”

The guard nodded silently before slipping off quietly to tail the small boy. 

“That was very nice of you two to give him your treats,” Soo said with a proud smile.

Ju and Seol looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders.

“It was the least we could do. We are very privileged living in the palace,” Seol said quietly.

“The money we spent was not really ours anyway...it was from the taxes the people paid, wasn’t it father?”

So also smiled, glad that both children knew their position came with responsibilities.

“You are right. That is why it is our duty to spend the funds wisely, and not to keep it all to ourselves. We must do all we can to help all of our people, including those just like the boy you helped tonight. I hope you keep this in mind in the future.”

“Yes, father,” both children answered seriously.

So nodded, looking up at the darkened night sky. The clouds were coming in, slowly covering the moon.

“Good, now let us go back. It is getting late.”

-----

A few weeks later found Soo working at Damiwon as she usually did. That day however she was surprised to hear not only Seol but also Ju announced by a court lady. She indicated to let them through the doors before they entered her work room. She gently set down her brush and looked up with a smile as she saw her children walk up to her desk.

“What brings the 1st princess and crown prince to these quarters?” Soo said teasingly. 

Although it was not forbidden for them to visit, it was not something the children did often as they got older, growing busier with their studies and their own hobbies. Seol would occasionally come to visit and have tea with her mother, but Ju rarely visited Damiwon, preferring to practice with a sword during his free time.

“Mother, Ju and I were thinking about our outing a few weeks ago...and we wondered if there was some relief that could be provided for those who are not fortunate enough?”

Ju waited until Seol finished before speaking up.

“We remembered back to the boy that we gave our snacks to, and thought of how many more there are like him.”

Soo pursed her lips and nodded, agreeing with him.

“You are not wrong there, but what exactly do you propose we do?”

Seol and Ju looked at each other before both looked back at their mother, who was waiting for their answers.

“We were thinking of cutting our own budgets to contribute to the cause. We really don’t need the funds, and most of it is sitting there accumulating anyway because we do not use it,” Seol said after some thought.

“That is very kind of you two, but even if we do donate part of your budget, that will still not be enough for the thousands of people who are starving in our country. Have you thought of any other way we could fund this project?”

Both royal children pondered a bit before Ju spoke up first.

“With the slave emancipation father enacted years ago, we have a new source of tax funds…”

Seol nodded slowly, understanding what her brother was suggesting.

“Although the funds are now used to improve the roads, couldn’t we allocate a portion to provide shelter and food for the poor? It would be for the public good afterall!”

“We could even provide medical treatment too, right mother? Perhaps we can recruit doctors and workers to run a shelter...,” Ju added in.

Soo was proud that they thought of a potential solution for their problem. But before she could say anything, the doors opened and So walked through without being announced. The children looked up in surprise as their father entered before greeting him. 

Soo met So’s glance while Seol and Ju’s heads bowed down and held back a laugh when she saw his mischievous expression. It seemed he had arrived not long after Seol and Ju had entered her work room, and heard everything they had suggested before deciding to make his presence known. 

“Greetings to Paeha. It seems I am lucky enough to receive so many visitors today,” Soo said with a smile as she stood from her seat.

So nodded before looking back at Seol and Ju who now looked up at their father in curiosity.

“Has court adjourned for today, father? You are usually not done this early…” Ju asked.

“I was fortunate to have finished matters early today so I figured I would pay your mother a visit,” So said as he turned to take a seat at the table Soo used to receive guests. “I did not know I would meet you two here as well.”

Soo motioned to the court lady to leave before she walked from her seat at her writing desk to sit next to So at the receiving table. Both children stepped closer to their parents before Seol spoke up.

“We came because we wanted to ask mother about something.”

“And that something happened to be about providing relief for the poor, right? Even going as far as to offer your own royal budgets to provide funds?”

Seol and Ju had incredulous expressions on their faces, realizing their father had heard them since the very beginning. Soo finally let out her laughter and looked over to gently admonish So.

“Come now, So ya. Please cease your jokes. The children were seriously pitching their case to me before you arrived.”

“Indeed they were, and I agree with them, don’t you?”

“I believe what they say has much merit. The details need some ironing out, but I think it’s something we can consider as a topic to be addressed at future court meetings.”

So nodded before addressing the two children.

“1st princess and crown prince, I expect a proposal written and submitted to me by the end of the week.”

The two looked at each other in excitement before turning back to So and chorusing: “Yes father!”

Although others might think otherwise, So and Soo wanted to raise their children as equals, something that was not condoned in this society. They hoped to foster an unbreakable bond between the siblings so that regardless of what happened in the future, the two would learn to look after each other during hard times. The events of these past few weeks have made the two rulers very proud of their children. 

“All right, I think it’s just about time for lunch. Will you have your meal here today, So ya?”

“Mm, I think that would be appropriate. Sit down children,” So said as he motioned them over with his hands.

As Seol and Ju sat down happily making conversation with their father about his day, Soo sent for their food to be prepared. As she sat back down, she felt So’s hand slip into her own and gave an affectionate squeeze under the table. Soo gave him a smile before she too joined into their conversation, thankful that she could have moments like these.