Seulgi was slightly surprised. For her walks within the castle last night was a total contrast to what she is seeing at the moment. The castle seems to be alive and blooming. Men in robes, groups of ladies in lavish dresses, maids and squires kept running along here and there. It was definitely a different sight to what she saw yesterday, but nevertheless, she likes it.   “Was it always this way?”   Seulgi spoke out of the blue, making the knight, Ser Jongin, turns back to face her with a questioning look. She then repeats herself, and it was only then the man, nodded in acknowledge.   “Yes, this is the common life in the castle.” Ser Jongin explains, as he slows his steps to walk by her side, “A bit still when the King is gone, for no major errands should be held while the King is out. But since the Majesty is back, our tasks goes on as usual.”   Seulgi hums in response as they head out to the front gate, separating the castle and the path down to the village. A robust looking man, sporting a grubby shaved beard, with a long scar on his left cheek, passes them and eventually he stops to greet Seulgi, though his eyes momentarily gaze upon her attire.   “My Lady,” The man bows, “I’ve not introduced myself before, albeit your father has spoken much about you. I’m the Master of the Horses, Head of the Knights, Ser Gong, at your service.”   Her father, Seulgi thought, she never saw her father once since her arrival, and yet her father still managed to talk matters about her. “Pleasure to meet you, though I have not seen my father for more than a day.”   “Our new Chancellor is quite occupied at the moment,” Ser Gong looks around at the people, moving here and there, “Besides, there’s an occasion to welcome our new Chancellor and his daughter soon.”   “An occasion?”   “I do not know much My Lady, but somewhat soon it will be announced,” Ser Gong darts his eyes towards Jongin, a rather stern gaze fell upon the knight, “And as for you, make sure you guard the Lady well. I heard it’s the Princess order. One finger on the Lady and you know what it means.”   “Aye, My Lord.” Jongin firmly nods, before Ser Gong bids goodbye.     They were initially supposed to take the horses to go down the slope but Seulgi did not want that. Riding the horses would definitely garner attention and she would like to stay away from it, and rather evolve herself with the public as a commoner. And so they walked, though Seulgi knew if one were not to have stamina, they would get weary easily but she did not. And that somehow impresses the knight.   “What Lord Kang said was true, aye.” Ser Jongin finally spoke after the both of them step onto even ground.   “What did he said?”   “He told me you were rather different from other girls.” The knight slightly wipes the sweat forming at his forehead, “You wish to be one of us, don’t you?”   “My father seems to be one to speak isn’t he?” Seulgi utters, again wondering why her father would always tell things of her towards certain people, “And yes, I did not come here to get wedded off. I came here to be a noble like you.”   “We aren’t that noble, My Lady.” Ser Jongin sighs before saying, “And we’ve arrived Whiteridge.”       Rows of taverns greeted her sight. The two of them walked in silence through the streets with Ser Jongin walking close behind her. They passed the greengrocer with his tent full of apples and oranges, and the butcher with his bloody lumps of meat on display and chickens hanging up. The people look fairly immerse with their businesses as they kept calling out for customers. They walked to another different route, which gave a different air from the life and bustle from the previous street. The people who came in out from their tavern, and pacing along the streets most appeared with a grim, uninviting look on their face. There were sounds of metals being hit, coming from a blacksmith forge around a secluded corner and Seulgi’s feet made a move on its own as she ambles towards the place. There was a boy, probably a couple of years younger than her, with his hands covered in soothe, pushing a loaded wagon filled with chunks of iron.   The boy timidly stares at Seulgi for a moment, and then turns wide eye when he spot Ser Jongin at the back. “A-Are you coming for Jiwon? He’s at the back.”   “Jiwon?” Seulgi turns behind to look at the knight who looks equally puzzled and shrugs off.   And so, they headed to the back, and Seulgi then felt the heat emitting from the fireplace coming from the particular room. They step inside to find another man who had his back turned, his brown woollen tunic splashes with black marks all over. He was sitting on a small stool as his hands clasp tightly on the hammer, hitting the heated iron.   “Is that you Chanwoo?” The man asked in gritted teeth as his hands does the work, “I told you to bring me those bars from the bastard, didn’t I? Those bloody tigers will visit in a few days and – ing Old God’s sake!”   The man stood up from his chair, and turns around angrily but he soon look surprised, as he eyes both Seulgi and Jongin. “What do you want? The shop is above, this is the forge.”   “Are you Jiwon?” Seulgi prys.   The man frowns, before he steps forward towards her, “Yes, and who the bloody hell are you?”   Ser Jongin steps forward, standing beside Seulgi, probably trying to intimidate the blacksmith, Jiwon. The latter stares at Jongin up and down, probably trying to figure out who was this man because Jongin, himself had removed his armour earlier, and looking more like a commoner rather than a knight. But his leather shoes gave away.   “Are you sons of one of the Lords here?” Jiwon steps back, his eyes shows a tint of curiosity with his pupils darting side to side.   “I come from the North,” Ser Jongin told, “I thought I walk around the city with my… –”   “—?”   Seulgi wanted so bad to shove that steaming iron inside the fireplace into this blacksmiths’ arse but she refrains herself and fake a simple smile, which fooled the man enough.   “Um…n—”   “Oh, yes,” Seulgi smiled sickeningly sweet, “I’m one of the new girls from the brothels. I never got the chance to…look around the city just yet. You see…this sweet lad offered me, I can’t push my chance, could I?”   Jiwon grunts, “I suppose. But this ain’t no place for strolling. Go back to the main streets would ye?”   Seulgi notices Jiwon staring at her appearance and mutters, “You sure have weird taste in your clothings? I suppose you don’t sell well like the other girls.”   The comment was her last straw and Seulgi forcefully struck the man’s face before he landed on the ground, clutching the side of his face. Ser Jongin then grip her arm and the both of them make a run back towards the main street, while several onlookers stares weirdly at them for a moment.   “Well that, is the Fleas Bottom.” Jongin explains with a relief smile, as he releases his grip over her, “Those parts are the less merrier areas of Whiteridge. I reckon you don’t visit those places much often, unless you have an errand.”   “A he said?” Seulgi spats, as they once more hurdle amongst the many people.   “I apologize for his choice of words, My Lady,” Ser Jongin turns to look at her with empathy, “But you sure have very strong fist.”   “Haven’t I told you before? I wished to be a knight; therefore I have always trained like one.” Seulgi cracks a smile before they amble away.     They enter a semi-hectic tavern, with conversations being told in loud voices while others hooded close together, barely a whisper could be heard. Both of them took a seat at an unoccupied rounded table near the corner and soon a lady with a revealing cleavage came and places two glasses of beer, not forgetting to wink both at her and Jongin.   “Do not drink, My Lady,” Ser Jongin warns her as she eyes the dark brownish liquid, “There might be something in it for all we know. And I was heavily reminded to protect you at the utmost.”   “From whom?”   “The Princess,” Ser Jongin states, “After Lord Lee appointed me to guard you last night; the princess came to meet me after her mass this morning. The Princess also informed to bring you to her after our trip.”   “I see.” A small smile escapes from her lips, after noticing Joohyun’s concern over her. “If I don’t drink this, then you should.”   “I don’t drink when I’m on duty, My Lady.” Jongin points out, “You surely…must have known that, don’t you?”   Well to be truthful, she actually forgets the rule for a moment, but being the confident person she is, “Of course. I was just testing you.” Seulgi notices a smile threatening to escape from Jongin’s lips and she was about to say something when she unintentionally heard.   “—An outsider for a Chancellor?”   “He’s not just an outsider; he’s the Lord of the East.” Another man argues as he chug down his cold ale.   “But still, don’t we have our own men from the West? Stronger, richer, big army what not – ? Yet he still chose a stranger?”   “Kang Jaerim ain’t no stranger. He was there at Chaeyeon’s burial did he not? He even fought side by side with Bae during the Blackpool incident.”   “Aye, true.” The disapproved man puts down his empty glass, “But don’t ye think the King doesn’t trust other Lords in our region? Even to the extent of appointing an Easterner.”   “His actions always seem vague since Chaeyeon died. And he even kept that cursed child locked up in the