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‘Father!!!’

(Soondeok gets down from her horse, her father runs out of his tent, astonished to see his daughter)

‘Soondeok? Soondeok, is that you?’

‘Daddy! I…I…’

(Soondeok’s panting, her father quickly holds her)

‘Daughter, you alright?’

‘I’m fine. Dad, I’ve got something to tell you…alone…’

‘Yes yes yes, of course darling. Here, come in. It’s cold out here.’

(Inside)

‘Daughter, did something happen? The prince, where’s he?’

‘He’s with her.’

‘Her?’

(Soondeok gives her father the letter)

‘His royal highness and I were walking in the mountains one day-’

(Soondeok stops, trying to catch her breath)

‘And then we found an old lady unconscious. That lady…that woman…was carrying around this letter…I think she’s one of your spies.’

‘Spies? I ain’t got no old ladies as my spy, I ain’t that mean you know. Making an old lady do something as dangerous as that.’

‘But she’s got to be! I mean…’

‘Deok ah, you sure?’

‘Read this yourself dad.’

(Her father quickly reads the letter, his eyes widens)

‘How’s she? How’s she now?!’

‘Alive…hopefully. The prince is taking care of her. She’s pretty weak actually, not even certain she’ll make it…’

‘Well I hope she does! You did well, Soondeok ah, you did very well. I’ll go and meet her myself…So did you come just for this?’

‘Yes, it took me longer than I thought…travelling in winter is not the best idea but…sorry about that dad.’

‘No no no, you did great darling. We’ll leave at dawn tomorrow, have some rest tonight.’

‘Dad, will you be coming with me?’

‘Of course! Me and some other men will, she needs our protection.’

‘If that’s the case, let’s leave now! Why wait?’

‘You need to rest, Soondeok ah. Besides, I need to settle things down here as well, I can’t just vanish like that. Did you forget your old man is a grand general, hm?’

‘Oh right…Alright…But dad, who’s she?’

(Silence)

‘Soondeok ah, wanna ride with me?’

‘What? Now?’

‘If you’re tired then-’

‘No, I’m fine dad! It’s been a long time anyway. You know, just me and you, riding…it’ll be fun.’

‘Good, wait for me in the stable, I’ll be right there.’

---------------------------

(Soondeok and her dad in the middle of a field, alone, on their horses)

‘My little girl, when’s the last time we rode together, hm? I can’t quite remember.’

‘Quite a long time…not since I got married I suppose…’

‘Ahh…yes. So how’s that boy? Is he doing well?’

‘Dad! “That boy” has a name~ When will you stop calling him that? Or better, call him your son-in-law!’

‘I still don’t like him, Soondeok ah.’

(Soondeok looks at her dad)

‘You just say that because you don’t want to admit you like him now, right?’

‘Nonsense!’

‘I heard you, dad, last time you came over. I’d say you’re growing pretty fond of him~ Right? Right??’

(Soondeok grabs her dad’s arms, trying to make him say he likes the prince. Her dad tries to look away)

‘Ya ya ya, just answer my question.’

(Soondeok giggles)

‘Yes, we’re both doing well.’

(Silence, both takes a deep breath)

‘Soondeok ah.’

‘Yes daddy.’

‘You remember Captain Park In Jo’s riot?’

‘You know I at history, dad.’

‘So you don’t know?’

‘Let me think…Ah! You mean…that riot which the former king stopped? Captain Park In Jo was said to have plotted a riot and wanted to claim the throne himself… He was dad’s friend so you tried to plead for him in front of the former king but he wouldn’t listen…’

‘Do you know what happened after that?’

‘He was executed, wasn’t he? And his family too…it’s treason after all. You grew a bit distant from the former king after that incident, didn’t you dad?’

‘Yes…’

(Silence)

‘Dad, you still think he’s innocent, don’t you? You still think someone framed him, right?’

‘He’s my friend, no, best friend…I know him better than anyone else…I know he’d never do that. He’s someone who’d risk his life to protect even an inch of land of our Goryeo, Soondeok ah. Yes, it’s been a long time…this happened not long after you were born…yes, a long time indeed.’

‘Then…why did you bring him up suddenly?’

(He looks at Soondeok)

‘That old lady, she used to work in his house.’

‘Old lady?’

(Soondeok thought for a moment)

‘Ah! THAT old lady! Really?!’

‘I sent her away from Goryeo when they began arresting everyone…’

‘A maid…I don’t get it…Why would dad try to save a maid?’

‘Not just a maid, Soondeok ah, a nurse.’

‘Nurse?’

‘A wet-nurse, to be more precise.’

‘Wet-nurse…so she’s taking care of a baby? Whose baby? Her baby? Wait, that won’t be…don’t tell me…’

‘Yep…Captain Park’s son.’

‘DAEBAK! I mean…so his son is alive?! Dad, you actually smuggled them out and saved them?’

‘What else could I do? I would’ve smuggled their mother as well if she didn’t kill herself before I got there…’

‘She died?’

‘She’s been weak ever since the delivery. It’s common for mother of tw-’

(He suddenly stops)

‘I mean, yeah, that.’

‘Dad, did you just say the word “twin”?’

‘Of course not!’

‘But you were going to! I heard! I heard you say “tw-”. And you said “their mother” before that too! You would’ve just said “his mother” if there’s only 1 baby, right? So there were 2 of them? Really dad? Oh dad please tell me~’

(He clears his throat)

‘I’ll tell you some time later.’

(Grand General tries to change the subject)

‘Oh look, here come Bogum! He’s probably here to remind me of the meeting. I’ll go back now. You two can talk a bit longer out here. Ya, Soondeok ah, help me persuade him, would you?’

‘Of what?’

‘I found someone for him, but he won’t marry her no matter what. Help me out, please?’

‘Who’s she?’

‘Yuju. The-’

‘I know who she is, dad. Well, they seem a perfect match.’

‘Exactly! So you help me out okay? I have to go back now, hm?’

(He rides away, Bogum arrives not long afterwards)

‘Deok ah! You’re here! I can’t believe it! I heard you’ve come so I rushed here…is everything alright?’

‘Yes, everything’s fine.’

‘There’s the prince? Did he hurt you? What did he do to you? I swear if he hurts you I’ll-’

‘Bogum ah.’

‘What?’

(Soondeok pats him on the shoulder)

‘I came to give dad something, that’s all. Okay?’

(Bogum lets out a sigh)

‘Really?’

‘Really really.’

‘Well, that’s great then…’

(Silence)

‘Bogum ah, it’s been a long time right? Both of us riding out together.’

‘Yes, indeed.’

(Soondeok looks at him)

‘Why won’t you agree to it?’

‘To…to what?’

‘Your marriage! I heard you were going to marry Yuju.’

(Bogum keeps his head down)

‘I see your dad is making you persuade me too, huh?’

‘Bogum ah, it’s about time you settle down and have a family of your own. How long do you expect yourself to stay next to dad?’

‘I’ll see for myself.’

‘Bogum ah…’

‘Why are you worrying about me? Worry about yourself first, Deok ah!’

‘What’s wrong?’

(Bogum tries to look away)

‘Are…are you happy? Deok ah, be honest with me, are you?’

(Soondeok smiles)

‘Of course I am…Because I’m married to someone I love. I’m sure you will learn to love Yuju if you marry her. She’s a kind girl, Bogum ah, and gifted in many ways. Please, reconsider.’

‘It’s not me who doesn’t want this marriage, Deok ah, it’s her.’

‘You talked to her?’

‘I sure did…she likes someone else. What’s the point then, for me to marry her?’

‘I see…’

(Silence)

‘Bogum ah.’

‘Hmm?’

‘I hope that you’ll find your own happiness soon.’

‘How can I? When my own happiness married someone else already?’

‘Bogum ah…let’s say…I’m just saying…for example…say…I’m your first love…’

(Bogum looks at her)

‘If…say…I’m your first love, I too would’ve wanted you to find someone else soon. Really. To stop pondering on what’s in the past…’

‘What if I won’t want to forget? What if I don’t want to let go? What if…I still hold on to that small chance?’

‘Your life will be hard then, Bogum…very hard…very lonely…very sad…’

(Soondeok sighs)

‘I’ve done my job, the rest is up to you. Now…RACE YOU TO THE TOWER OVER THERE!’

(Soondeok gallops fast before Bogum got a chance to stop her – both raced for a very very long time)

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‘This is fun isn’t it?’

‘Soondeok ah, your heart okay?’

‘I’m fine! Ya, have you forgotten who I am? The warrior, they called me, remember? Come on, let’s go back now, the sun is doing down and I’m starving!’

(Soondeok turns her horse around, Bogum halts her)

‘Soondeok ah.’

‘Yes?’

‘What if…say you were to choose between the prince and I, who would you choose?’

‘What?’

(Soondeok wanted to laugh but then she saw how serious Bogum looks)

‘As…as my what?’

‘Husband. Oh forget about this life, I know you chose the prince already. But in your next life…if you can choose again…who would you choose?’

‘I…’

‘Say we’re both strangers to you. Say we’re both with the same status. Say…we both meet you at the same time. Who would you choose? Just think about our personality, nothing else.’

(Soondeok thinks hard, at last she gives her answer)

‘In my next life...I think I’ll just stay alone.’

(This answer caught Bogum by surprise)

‘What?’

‘Someone like me…who brings nothing but trouble to everyone…I suppose it’d be better if I just stay by myself…’

‘I...I thought you would pick the prince.’

‘I guess that’s what love means…the prince has given me so much in this life, I don’t want to hinder him in his next life as well…’

‘Then you can pick me, Soondeok ah!’

‘I can’t…’

‘Why not?’

‘If I say I’ll pick you…I’m afraid…things will get awkward between us, even if you meant it in our next life… I don’t want that. I don’t have many friends, and you, Bogum, is someone I can always trust, a friend I can always rely on. Besides, even though you couldn’t marry your first love in this life, you should at least try to marry her in your next life.’

‘My first love…I’m a fool aren’t I?’

‘No you’re not.’

‘You got me though, Soondeok ah, I really thought you’d pick the prince.’

‘Don’t tell him what I just said, he’ll kill me! I promised I’ll marry him in my next life as well.’

‘You did? Hmm…what if I tell him?’

‘Ya! Don’t! I’ll kill you! Really I will!’

‘I’d like to see you try, my little sister.’

(Both smiles at each other)

‘But Deok ah, I still won’t marry Yuju. I won’t stop her from having a chance with her first love, tell your father that for me please.’

‘Ya~ Why should I? You tell him yourself!’

‘He listens to you more…’

‘I doubt the difference.’

‘So when will you go back??’

‘Tomorrow. Will you come?’

‘If your father tells me to.’

(Soondeok stretches out her back)

‘Aigoo, I’ve been riding for days, I suppose I have to lie down now…after I eat that is. Come on, let’s go.’