Hanyang, 1438

The party at the palace was at full swing. The sound of gayageum echoed in the air, with the laughter of elite gisaengs and the colorful swirls of the dancers' sleeves. Soju was pouring abundantly, and Princess Hye Kyo felt if she didn't go right then and there to avoid the crowd, she'd shout at somebody. 

Her father, Emperor Sejong, was having his diplomatic smile on, entertaining ministers, rich tradesmen and the head of Sungkyunkwan. 

Everybody who would be happy to see him die at any moment, Hye Kyo thought. 

She usually had a train of eight lady in waitings and eight guards following her every steps, but they've all known her for years. They knew when they better gave her space for herself. Besides, she only escaped to her favorite garden at one corner of the palace. They were all waiting at the gate, believing she'd be safe. 

She felt better at the quiet garden. She loved the smell of the flowers and the little pond. It's her favorite place since she was a child. 

She sighed a loud sigh that would make her mother, the Queen, scolded her. 

Be as you should be, her mother always said. Be as you should be. 

I am being what I am, she answered silently inside her heart. I am doing what I have to, Ommonim. 

Free from anyone who would judge her every move, she massaged her forehead with her thumbs. 

All those restless nights were really catching up on her. 

Leaning at the bridge, she massaged her aching shoulders. 

"You should never be alone, Gongjoonim"

She jumped hearing the voice, and turned around.

"Joong Ki-ssi! Don't scare me like that!!!"

A young man wearing the royal guard's soldier suit walked carefully towards her. 

"I have a lot to say to you, Gongjoonim. And this is the right location to talk"

"I refuse. Run along and do your rounds or something. I'm having a headache seeing all those hypocrites around my father"

"I need to talk to you"

"I said I don't want to!"

"I need to ask you something important, Gongjoonim"

"I don't want to hear it!"

"Why, of all the people in the world, did I see the first daughter of the emperor visiting The Assasin's Village last night? In black plain clothes too? What are you trying to do?"

Hye Kyo's head reeled. Joong Ki was indeed her childhood friend. You wouldn't be able to be the daughter of the emperor and the first son of The Right Minister without spending your childhood together, all because their fathers were the best of friends. 

But that doesn't mean she had to share all her concerns with him now. 

She really couldn't tell him the answer. 

"Why, then, the esteemed soldier of Royal Guard was in The Assasinl's Village last night? You're supposed to be here, in the palace, last night"

"So were you, Gongjoonim"

"I am doing what I have to, Captain Song" she said coldly, suddenly speaking in her cold honorific tone. 

"Need I remind you something I've told you many times before? You are a princess, Gongjoonim, not a prince. Don't do what you're not meant to do!"

"Can't a daughter protect her father?" 

"It's not. A daughter's. Duty" Joong Ki said, clenching his teeth. 

Princess Hye Kyo lifed her chin. And with eyes wet with angry tears, she replied, "None of his sons care to protect him. They want him to die as soon as possible to fight for his throne"

"That doesn't mean you can trot along The Assasin's Village with only two guards!"

"You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do!"

"Haven't I?" he asked back, holding her wrist.

She pulled her wrist away, furious now, viciously saying, "Remember your place, Captain!"

Joong Ki shook her body roughly, past caring the about manners then, making her jewels rattled.

"Listen to me!" he said, gritting his teeth. His nails dug deep into her arms and she tried hard to stifle her screams. "A father must be saved, but if The Left Minister only heard a whisper of you trying to send a spy on him, you'd be dead. Rather than seeing you die, I'd rather lock you up myself! Use your brain, Gong Joo! You can save no one! Just save yourself!!!"

Seeing him this angry crushed all her confidence. He made her felt weak and useless. Choked by her own angry sobs, she pulled herself away from him. 

"Either help me, or pretend you're deaf and blind. I'm going to save my father. If you dare scold me like this ever again, I'll make sure you'll be sent to jail!"

With that, she turned away and walked as fast as she could without breaking into a run, holding her expensive hanbok dress above her ankles to walk faster. 

Once she got out of the garden's gate, she walked to the direction of her own palace, her lady in waitings and guards following behind her. 

On the bridge, Captain Song gripped the stone edge until his knuckles went white. 

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When one of her lady in waiting helped her undress and changed, she was shocked to see the nail marks on the princess's arms. 

"Omona! Gongjoonim! What is this? What happened?"

".............it's nothing. I just met a beast"

"What???"

Ignoring her maid, Hye Kyo climbed her bed and turned to the wall. 

She had too much heartbreaks already. Joong Ki better be her ally and not her enemy on this. 

How come he found her at The Assasin's Village?

His fierce expression earlier would be repeated on her mind for a while. 

She knew that face. 

He wasn't only furious. 

He was also afraid she would be hurt. 

With this. 

With her crazy plan. 

She curled into a fetal position and closed her eyes.

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Author's Note:

This foreword probably doesn't make much sense. 

But I was inspired by this: 

I had to start writing this or else I won't be able to sleep. 

This story happens in Joseon era. Hye Kyo is the emperor's first daughter and Joong Ki is the son of an important minister who's also her childhood friend, and he's currenlty a captain for the royal guard. 

I hope I can finish this story and Lilacs for The Angels too. 

I honestly hope I can finish all my stories (if you follow me from my LJ, you know I have a lot of unfinished stories)

I'm still recovering from the high of watching ep. 16. 

Btw, after going to a skin specialist, I finally found out what's the cause of my severe allergy. I have scratches and wounds on my body because I have asthma. It sounds unbelievable, but apparently lungs and skin are related. My skin is a lot drier than normal people's skin. With drinking skin vitamin and using lotion diligently, I'll be fine. So glad to know the reason of my allergy. Somebody told me it's a virus, but apparently not. Lesson learned, trust only doctors and DO NOT avoid them.