It was already late in the afternoon when the rain finally stopped. Though the King invited them to stay over for dinner, Kwon Jiyong casually refused.

Park Sandara was walking behind her uncaring husband on their way to the Southern gates now, musing over the cold and somewhat lonely view of his back. He had a posture of unmatched royal air, distant and aloof, yet somehow, Sandara felt his solitude. How could someone's back look so desolate?

She let out a helpless sigh, couldn't help but grow even more curious about him.

"What are you spacing out for?" The lofty man suddenly asked without even turning towards her, waking her up from her trance. "Come over quickly!"

Those last three words seemed to be his signature ones. Come over quickly! She rolled her eyes at his cold, conceited back. So much for thinking about this distant man! She thought, but she didn't regret.

As she struggled to keep up with his long steady strides, Sandara was suddenly reminded by something. Her precious gift to His Majesty!

"Daegam, wait! There's just something I forgot to give His Majesty! I'll be quick!" She bowed at him but didn't wait for him to reply when she rushed back into the palace. She half ran, half walked as she looked around but without any servant to guide her, isn't the palace a really huge place for a first-timer like her to loiter around?

In a short while, she realized she was lost.

Park Sandara was a woman with so much talent, but that doesn't mean she has no weakness. And one of the things she couldn't really count on to was her sense of direction. Maybe it was because she never had the chance to really go and explore the outside world all by herself. Even before, when she would visit the infirmary or gather with the poor children, a servant or two would always accompany her. Even when she tried to escape from the Cherry Blossoms House, Seol and Byeol was with her as well. But it wasn't surprising for her to grow up sheltered. She was Gyeongju county''s most precious daughter after all!

She panted as she fished out a small package from her sleeve, and tried to recall the paths they took earlier. She followed the twists and turns of each path until she reached a courtyard with a beautiful flower garden surrounding it.

Such magnificence! The climate had been so dry for years. Even the plants back at His Excellency's estate were nothing but dried twigs. But here, the flowers are in full bloom as if spring had arrived earlier in the place! The gardener must have really great talents to maintain such precious blooms!

She wondered at the pure white flower petals and at the yellow flowers scattered all around sparkling with tiny droplets of rain.

"Beautiful daffodils..." she mumbled, still in awe at the view. "And these are—"

"White tulips,"

A voice in front of her suddenly startled her. She looked up and saw a lovely lady that resembled the purity and the charm of the flower before her. Her eyes were big and clear, her cheeks with the hint of pink, and her lips were of a cute little heart's shape. She looked young but her face seemed to be holding back a lot of emotions. Just who is she—

Gasp! Just as she was quietly marveling at the lady's features, she caught the sight of a golden dragon pin securing the lady's hair. The lady was also flanked by numerous palace servants, so in short, she is...

"J-j-ungjeon Mama..." she breathlessly spoke before she finally remembered her manners. It wasn't that she was overwhelmed by her presence. It's just that the encounter was all of a sudden and out of the plan. "This..." she hesitated for a moment before continuing, "This aunt-in-law—"

"Aunt-in-law, this queen welcomes you,"

Sandara looked up and she couldn't help but feel at ease when the girl gave her a warm, assuring smile. 

This is Kim Jisoo, the Chief State Minister's daughter. 

The Queen of Joseon.

People have numerous rumors about how jealous and cruel the Queen is but seeing her face to face, Sandara couldn't help but doubt all those hearsays. The young lady looked really harmless to her.

"Aren't they so pretty?" The young queen asked.

"Yes... Very." Sandara answered timidly.

"I heard aunt-in-law and uncle arrived earlier. Forgive this ungrateful niece for not being able to welcome and serve you tea,"

"No, don't apologize," Sandara said, although she also wondered why she wasn't with the King earlier. "There would be a lot of time in the future," Sandara added.

"This niece would look forward to that next time,"

Sandara wanted to chat more with the girl but she really had no time. So before she could even process her thoughts, she grabbed the girl by her hand and handed her the small package she's been keeping.

"Jungjeon Ma-ma... Can you grant this aunt-in-law a favor?" She said. "I forgot to give this earlier to Jeonha as a token of my appreciation for his generosity for bestowing me my marriage. I intended to find him but only lost my way and arrived at this place."

The young queen only held her hand in hers and fully accepted her request. "No worries, aunt-in-law. This niece shall pass it on,"

"Thank you," Sandara pulled away, now completely convinced that the people have wronged this queen in every way.

Why? It's because she's seen her intentions all before her eyes. She even felt a pang of pain for the girl. When she went inside her thoughts, all she's seen were her excitement for having someone to talk to. Heck, the Queen even had in her mind her prepared explanations for the meaning of the flowers in her garden, only that she was shy to say it out loud.

While the yellow daffodils were flowers which denotes that spring has come, it also meant new beginnings. As for the white tulips which Sandara had to admit was new to her, those foreign flowers mean forgiveness.

How could such a young heart only think of forgiveness and new beginnings? The Queen should have planted peonies and roses instead!

But she didn't have time to worry about these things as of now. Time is the most important matter to consider.

With that, she paid respects and she was thankful the Queen lent her a maidservant to guide her way back to the Southern gates. She couldn't keep Kwon Jiyong waiting!

On the second thought, did that guy even wait for her?

Yi Sung didn't even notice it was already late at night for he was busy inspecting the ten chests full of silvers and golds and jewelries and silks from the palace treasury. These gifts were supposed to be sent to Park Sandara on her wedding day but prior commitments made it impossible for the King to send it on time. Besides, he wanted to check everything himself before sending it away.

But what does he really know about women and their fancies?

None.

And now his head was already aching as he pestered Park Won-hee.

"You think this is enough?"

"It is already too much, Jeonha. Please do not add anything anymore." Won-hee was also starting to have a headache. How was he supposed to know what his sister liked when they've been apart for years? Besides, even though his sister naturally liked such feminine stuff, she wasn't that picky!

"Aigoo, uncle should be the one doing this. He should at least be the one picking gifts for his wife. Do I really have to act like his elder???" To this, Chief Eunuch Lee Soogeun rolled his eyes. Who are you to worry about someone else's wife's gifts when you barely hadn't given the Queen anything, Jeonha? In the end, it's really 'Like Uncle, like nephew!

Park Won-hee scratched his head helplessly. "Jeonha... T