True to Ji Mong’s prediction, the Crown Prince did summon her, asking for the tea he had been missing due to his travels. As she entered the throne room, she looked up to see the Crown Prince, soon to be King, sitting on the throne. Although it was a strange sight, she knew she would eventually get used to it. King Taejo had done much for Goryeo, and now it was time for his eldest son to carry on the legacy.

 

As she neared the throne, she set down her tray on the table before stepping back, and kneeling to the ground to honor the Crown Prince, who would be crowned as King the following day.

 

“Greetings to the new King. Long live the King, long live the King.”

 

Crown Prince Moo chuckled, and urged her to stand up.

 

“Thank you, Hae Soo. But I have heard about your knee, please stand up. I will send a royal physician to attend to you soon.”

 

She grinned and stood up.

 

“It is only proper I greet you as such, your highness.”

“There is no need for formalities between us, Hae Soo. You have done my family a great service through your loyalty.”

“Yes, your highness,” Soo said before she began preparing the tea.

“I do not remember the last time I have had your tea.”

“I have been away from the palace for a year, and have only recently returned at the request of the late king. He too, asked for my tea.”

 

Soo heard him sigh as she continued to prepare the tea.

 

“It is hard to believe my father is gone. He has always been there to watch over me, and now I must fill in his shoes. I do not know if I can do it.”

 

She poured the tea and presented it to him on his personal table by the throne. He nodded and thanked her silently, taking the tea and drinking it as she stepped back.

 

“I believe your father had great expectations of you, but only because he knew you were capable of following his footsteps, your highness.”

“I have fought alongside my father, and have stood in his court as he handled issues with the ministers and nobles, but I have never sat in this seat until now. Now that I am sitting here, I truly feel the weight of the kingdom upon my shoulders.”

“You are not alone, your highness. You have your brothers to help you.”

“I am sure you know not all my brothers are to be trusted.”

 

She looked up at him to meet his gaze, before averting hers again.

 

“If I know that, then your highness should know even better than I. You have grown up alongside them.”

“I am not ignorant to the fact that you were caught in the mess Queen Yoo and Yeon Hwa instigated to target me. And the fact that my 8^th brother hid it and left you to suffer.”

 

She looked up in surprise at him, and he simply smiled grimly.

 

“I never had the chance to apologize to you, Hae Soo. I am truly sorry for what has happened.”

“It is not your fault, your highness. I know there was not much to be done.”

“My 4^th brother has informed me about what you two have surmised concerning the situation. And I intend to rectify that, at least as much as I can.”

“But what can you do? There is no evidence, and it has been a year if not more since that event.”

“True, but we will keep searching for evidence secretly. Until we can truly punish those who are responsible, I can at least improve your status. My father sent you away to work as a musuri for the past year, but now I intend to bring you back as a Damiwon Court Lady.”

 

She would be able to leave the Gyobang, but the thought of being in the palace again, so close to those who had willingly harmed her, did not sit well with Soo. She supposed Crown Prince Moo saw something in her expression, and he continued to speak.

 

“I can see that is not to your liking.”

“I mean no disrespect, your highness. It would be a great honor for me to serve you.”

“Perhaps it would not be the best decision. You will be reminded of your painful past.”

 

He was right. All she would remember as she walked the halls of Damiwon would be Court Lady Oh, and how Soo was the cause of her death. She didn’t think she could handle it again, but if the Crown Prince wanted to make her Senior Court Lady, she knew it would be disrespectful to refuse. Furthermore, although she had learned much from Court Lady Oh, she was unsure if she could fill in her big shoes. Looking at the Crown Prince now, she supposed she could sympathize with how he felt to become King.

 

As Soo continued to keep silent, she saw the Crown Prince turn to pick up a scroll from the stack that sat beside him. He turned towards her and held out the scroll. She hesitated for a second before walking up to the throne and accepting it. Looking at the Crown Prince, he nodded once before she opened the scroll, reading its contents:

 

I, King Taejo of Goryeo, restore Gyobang musuri Hae Soo to her previous birthright as a noble lady of the Hae Clan, for assisting Crown Prince Moo in becoming King. Should Lady Hae Soo and Crown Prince Moo wish it, she will also be promoted to Senior Court Lady Hae to serve the royal family from Damiwon.

 

Furthermore, should the two parties wish it, I consent to the marriage of sacred 4^th Prince Wang So and Lady Hae Soo.

 

Signed, his royal majesty

King Tae Jo

 

“Is this a decree from the late king?”

“Yes, and according to tradition, it would be disrespectful to not fulfill such a decree. I was planning to reinstate you to your former positions anyway, but I would need significant evidence and reason to do so. However, because my father has left this decree, we can circumvent the problem. Although many will question it, no one can go against his final words.”

 

She felt tears come to her eyes, but she forced them down. This was not something to cry about, although her tears were of happiness rather than sadness. King Taejo had left this final gift to her, someone he truly saw as his daughter, though they had no blood or marriage connections. She supposed he had loved Court Lady Oh very much, and she felt thankful to him, for giving her the choice to live her own life according to her wishes.

 

And as much as So wanted to believe his father put the kingdom before his own family, she knew that with this decree, the King paid more attention than So thought he did. To think that he would go so far as to allow his son to marry someone like her, showed how much King Taejo cared for his 4^th son, even if he did not outright express it.

 

“I will give you time to think matters over. I do not need an answer tonight.”

“Thank you for your benevolence, your highness. I believe you will be a wise and good king, just as your father was.”

“It warms my heart to hear those words from you, Hae Soo.”

 

She smiled and moved back to her original spot, grimacing as her leg began to bother her again.

 

“Is your leg still in much pain?”

“I have been told it was not treated properly, so I still have pains on days I work too much.”

“I will have someone prepare a room for you so the royal physician can examine your knee.”

“If I could make a request, your highness, to stay at the astronomy tower? I would feel more comfortable there.”

 

Crown Prince Moo chuckled and nodded.

 

“You and So really are similar. All right, do as you wish.”

“Thank you, your highness.”

 

With a final bow, she exited the throne room and walked to the astronomy tower. When she arrived, she saw the royal physician was already there, and he gave her a slight bow as he indicated to the chair by the table. After she sat down, he first took her pulse before examining her knee. His face did not betray anything, and after he had finished his examination, he finally addressed her.

 

“It is true your knee was not treated properly, but I believe if you keep your knee wrapped during the day, and at night apply hot compresses, the pain will slowly go away. However, it would be best if you did not use it too much until it is truly healed. I will prescribe a salve to put every morning and night.”

 

She did not know how it would be possible not to use her knee, but considering how she would no longer be a water maid anymore, she supposed it would be easier.

 

“Furthermore, your pulse is slightly irregular. Do you get a stuffy chest sometimes, like you cannot breathe? Especially when you are stressed or upset?”

“Yes, I do. Is there any way I can improve that?”

“Try not to get too excited or worried about things. Only you will know what exactly gives you heart palpitations. I will also prescribe a daily tonic that will improve your heart.”

“Thank you, royal physician.”

 

He nodded and packed his bags before leaving the astronomy tower. After he left, Soo walked out to the balcony to look at the stars.

 

She wondered if she would be punished in another life. The body of Hae Soo when she had first arrived in Goryeo was in tip top shape, and yet she had damaged it again and again. First, with the scar on the wrist, now with her knee, and her heart. She began to feel her chest get stuffy again, and she slowly calmed herself down, taking deep breaths. She was glad to see that the stuffy feeling did not progress, and decided to simply be thankful she was alive. Although Goryeo had not developed de-stressing exercises, Go Ha Jin had read about ways to reduce stress, and utilizing those exercises would help reduce Hae Soo’s heart palpitations.

 

As she sat on the balcony, staring at the stars, the rustling of fabric could be heard. She turned to see So had joined her on the balcony, who smiled at her before turning his gaze towards the night sky.

 

“How are the stars that you can only see in Goryeo?”

 

He still remembered the first time they sat under the stars together. It was the night before he entered the palace, and she had happened upon him stacking the prayer stones that he’d knocked down days earlier. When she had accused him of knocking them over again, he gruffly turned around to sit on the steps, offended that she had jumped to conclusions. When she joined him on the steps, they sat in a comfortable silence, before she wished him well upon his entry into the palace. As she did so, the first snow she had seen in Goryeo fell from the sky.

 

“They are still the same, beautiful as ever.”

 

He took a seat next to her, moving his head about to look at the stars before looking over at her. She could feel his eyes on her, and she turned to meet his gaze.

 

“They are the same, but I do not think they are beautiful.”

 

She furrowed her eyebrows, confused to what he was saying.

 

“Why not?”

“Because they pale in comparison to you.”

 

Upon hearing those words, Soo blushed. So that was what he was trying to get at. Ha Jin prided herself in being able to catch pick-up lines a mile away, like she did with Eun, when he told her she was the first girl to have ever treated him as she did. But the fact that she didn’t even see So’s compliment coming made her wonder if she was so used to being Soo, that she had forgotten how to be Ha Jin.

 

“Stop lying,” she mumbled as she turned her gaze upwards again.

“I promise that I am not lying,” he said.

 

She looked back at him, and she could see that he meant every word of what he just said.

 

“Thank you,” she softly said.

“You are welcome,” he said, smiling wider now that he was satisfied with her reaction.

“Do you know any stars or constellations, your highness?”

“Of course I do! I spend too much time with Ji Mong not to know.”

 

He pointed to the area on her right.

 

“See that star over there? It’s the northern star, always the brightest and pointing in the northern direction.”

 

He seemed to be pointing to the star that was part of the Big Dipper, and she chuckled. Knowing modern facts about stars, even if she didn’t know a lot, was amusing. Perhaps she could teach him a few things.

 

“That is part of the Big Dipper, your highness.”

“Dip…peo?”

“Dipper. See those other stars around it, they all make up corners and a handle. It looks like…a gourd! Do you see it?”

“If it looks like a gourd, then why is it not named that way?”

“Well, I have heard that in other countries, they call gourds Dippers…”

 

That was such a shoddy explanation, but So seemed to buy it as he nodded. Looking around, he then pointed to another area in the sky.

 

“Soo ya, is that not another Dip..per?”

 

She looked in the direction he was pointing and saw that he had found the Little Dipper.

 

“Yes, that is the Little Dipper. That North Star you mentioned before? It’s actually that last one on the Little Dipper, on the handle. And just like you said, it always points in the northern direction.”

“But it is not as bright as the ones in the Big Dipper. Why is that one the North Star?”

“It is the North Star because all the other stars in the Little Dipper do not shine as brightly in comparison. They say slaves used that star to guide their way out of slavery into freedom.”

“They used the North Star?”

“Yes, they did. Did you know the North Star also has another name?”

“What is this name you speak of?”

“Polaris.”

“Po…what?”

“Po-la-ris.”

“Po..lar..iseu.”

 

She laughed at his attempt at saying the foreign word. How could the man everyone feared be so cute and innocent with her?

 

“Good enough.”

“Fascinating. I have never noticed those constellations before, never mind hearing of their many names.”

“The stars always have something to reveal. It is just a matter of knowing what to look for.”

 

He nodded and they both continued to look at the heavens in silence. She did not know how long it had been before she heard So speak again.

 

“Soo ya.”

“Hmm?”

“Have you considered my offer?”

 

Soo knew he was referring to his proposal to take her out of the palace. She looked at him to see his face serious, but also nervous. To think that she, a mere girl, could make a man like him so nervous. It almost made her want to laugh.

 

“It still stands. I am willing to do whatever that makes you happy,” he continued.

 

She remembered the final decree King Taejo had gifted her. He had basically served her freedom on a silver plate, and she knew So was willing to marry her. But the question: was she ready to take that step?

 

As she looked at So, she knew she had feelings for him, but she wasn’t sure if it was love yet. However, she did not see any harm in marrying first and slowly getting to know each other. Wasn’t that how arranged marriages worked in this time period? Marrying for love must have been rare, especially if it was concerning any members of the royal family. If they did not do it now, and by some chance So did become Gwangjong, she did not think it would be easy to marry him then. Furthermore, she did not know when her chance at freedom would be given to her this easily again.

 

Despite not knowing her own feelings, she knew So would go to the end of the world and back for her. He had already done so much, from helping her escape her marriage to the King, helping her adjust to palace life, and taking care of her after the poisoning incident. Yes, he would do his best to make her happy, and she knew that without a doubt, even if she loved him just as a friend, he would still make her happy. She only hoped that she could make him happy as well.

 

“I have considered it.”

“And?”

 

She looked away shyly. What was this, Ha Jin turning shy in front of a man? Granted, he was a prince, and a handsome one at that, but she did not think she would feel this bashful.

 

“If you say you are still willing, then I am willing as well.”

“Soo ya?”

“I’m saying I’ll marry you, Wang So! Must I make myself anymore clear?” She said, getting more embarrassed by the second. However, when she turned her head to look over at So, she could see his look of surprise melt into one of happiness. Before she could do anything else, he had already leaned in to give her a kiss on the lips. As he pulled away, a full grin could be seen on his face.

 

“Thank you, Soo ya.”

“For what? Agreeing to marry you, or letting you steal a kiss without saying anything?”

 

He had the courtesy to blush.

 

“For both.”

 

She had to smile at his reaction. Yes, this was the right choice. She must have made the right decision if she was feeling his carefree. As she continue to look at his smiling face, a vision suddenly hit her.

 

It was red, like all her other visions. She had seen this one already, the one of Gwangjong on the steps of the palace in his black robes and hair tied up. As Gwangjong turned to look at her, she could see an expression of seriousness on his face, one that she had interpreted as coldness and perhaps evilness the first time she had this vision. However, when Gwangjong smiled, her vision turned white.

 

“Wang Hoo…”

 

She blinked and she saw So again in front of her.

 

“Soo ya, did you hear what I just said?”

“What?”

“I asked when you wanted to be married.”

“O…oh, you did?”

 

His face turned into one of worry, his eyebrows furrowing.

 

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes, of course it is!”

“You are not…reconsidering your decision, are you?”

 

There was that look of nervousness, and vulnerability again. She really affected the 4^th prince, didn’t she? She shook her head before scooting closer to him and then resting her head on his shoulder daringly. She could feel him stiffen before relaxing into her.

 

“Of course not, your highness. I was simply thinking.”

“About?”

“About the possibility of you becoming King.”

“Soo ya, you cannot be thinking of that. That is treason.”

“I know. But this game of thrones made me wonder what it would be like if you had a desire for the throne.”

“I have no such desire.”

“I know…”

“But you must have some, considering how this is the second time you have brought it up to me. Are you sure you do not want to sit on the throne?”

 

She was about to retort but realized the playful tone he had spoken in.

 

“No, I was simply musing. Of course not. I’m sorry for my foolishness.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“And for your question, I suppose we should wait until after the coronation and your father’s funeral. It would only be respectful, right?”

“Yes, that would be best. Though, I am not sure if I can wait that long.”

“Your highness, you have waited the past year to see me again. Surely you can wait a little more.”

 

He chuckled before resting his head on top of hers, where it still rested on his shoulder.

 

“I suppose you are right.”

 

And so they spent the rest of the night staring at the stars, exchanging stories and sharing memories. All the while, Soo kept playing over the vision she had just seen in her head. Gwangjong had called her Wang Hoo, which meant Queen. Who was he referring to when he said that? Was it her? Did that mean she was going to become a Queen, and his Queen no doubt? Although the thought scared her, she realized that her decision had changed the nature of her visions.

 

She could only hope that they had changed for the better. And as she listened to So describe the time he had helped rebuild a village during his travels, she knew that she would not regret her decision.

 

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As always, thank you for reading! Please comment and share, and I’ll see you all in the next chapter!

*Disclaimer: I have no knowledge of how they treated injuries in the past or in general. All treatments described may or may not be the correct method, and are simply fictional, written for the sake of the story.