Eun’s diary

I just don’t get it! Soondeok’s been ignoring me for days because of those stupid books! I don’t even know why mother bought them for her and now all she does is read! It’s raining day and night so I can’t go outside much and with her ignoring me, there’s absolutely nothing to do now! I’m bored! I want to play!!! Someone give me something fun to do! If only I could just get Soondeok to play with me – even hide and seek will do! I miss my nephews, we’ve never run out of things to do and play when we’re together. I suppose if I have kids, I won’t be bored all the time, right? Oh, please just stop raining already!!! Why do we have so much rain even in autumn? And last night, at around 3am or so, something woke me up and I saw Soondeok coming into the room from outside. I don’t know why but I know exactly what I saw – I asked her this morning about it and she said she had gone to the library to read because I need to sleep. Heck! This is going crazy! She’s giving up her sleep for books? I’m speechless – books make me sleep.

Soondeok’s diary

I have a secret, should I write it? I’ve been sneaking into the palace at night lately, ever since we’ve moved back. I want to read the records, I want to know what happened back then when they kicked mother out, I want to know if there’s a way I can help mother regain her title. I’ve been going around Queen Yoo’s place as well – if I ever get the chance, I want to ask her myself, without her knowing who I am, of course. Yes, I’m well enough to jump over walls now. To be honest, I worry about the king’s safety. If someone like me can sneak into the palace easily like so, what about assassins who would sneak in and attack the king? I’ll need to tell father to be aware of that…after I’ve finished my mission, that is.

The prince? He doesn’t know, he sleeps too well at night, at least that’s what I thought. He saw me coming back last night though, I told him that I was reading in the library...hope he won’t ask about it anymore. What did he do after we came back? Well, he’s been doing all sorts of things – helping me unpack things every now and then, go hiking, ride, taking care of me just like my big brother – when it’s not raining that is. Mongryong sure was happy to see us, I was happy to play with him again. Maybe I should invite my nephews to come over, they’d love to play with our dog!

Oh! And I’ve forgotten to mention, mother put this huge bookcase in our room and she filled it with lots and lots of new books! I can’t stop reading them – I thanked her over and over again, she seemed happy that I liked it. Eun disliked it though, saying how he hates to be in the same room as books, but I don’t care, as long as I can read. If only Eun can love reading as much as I do! It’d be so much fun! We could spend all day in the library and we can share the stories we’ve read, wouldn’t that be lovely? We could also go on a picnic and read under the tree all day, while listening to birds singing in the sky. But that’d be impossible – it’s hard as it is to get him to pick up a book at all, how would I be able to make him read?

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(Raining outside. Eun tossing and turning on his bed, Soondeok reading)

Eun: ‘Soondeok ah, what are you doing?’

Soondeok: ‘Can’t you see I’m reading? Oppa, this one’s really good, you want to read it?’    

Eun: ‘You think I’m crazy? Why would I want to read it? In fact, why would I want to know it at all?’

Soondeok: ‘Too bad. This one is just mind-blowing…oh well, if you’re not interested, then I guess I’ll continue with it.’

Eun: ‘Deok ah, play with me. I’m bored!’

Soondeok: ‘I know, you said that for the hundredth time. Your highness, please, just let me read till dinner time in peace, okay? We can play board games at night, how about that?’

Eun: ‘Deok ah. I want to go riding. Now!! Ride with me. Let us race again! Surely I’ll beat you this time.’

Soondeok: ‘It’s raining, isn’t it? You want to get all wet in the rain and catch a cold? Then make me spend day and night taking care of you.’

Eun: ‘AHHHHH!!! I’m bored!!!!! Deok ah!! Please?’

(Soondeok doesn’t look up. Eun gets up and snatches her book away and holding it high. Soondeok tries to grab it.)

Soondeok: ‘Oppa! Give it back! I was getting to the good part! Oppa!’

Eun: ‘Deok ah~~~ Please? I want to ride!! Or just do anything together! Please? Soondeok ah~~~’

Soondeok: ‘Just….one more chapter! Please? Oppa, can’t I just finish this chapter?’

Eun: ‘No! It’s either me or reading. You choose! Either “Husband” or this book? 1,2,3!’

Soondeok: ‘Book!’

Eun: ‘W-what? Ya! Park Soondeok!!! You want to die?’

Soondeok: ‘You’re the one who asked! Oppa, can you give it back to me?’

Eun: ‘Aish! Soondeok ah, you’re mean! You're selfish!’

Soondeok: ‘I’m only asking to read one more chapter. Please?’

Eun: ‘Liar! You’re completely hooked to this book! After you’re done with one chapter, you’ll want to read the next! Never! I’m burning this book!’

(Eun takes the book out of the room, Soondeok runs after him, saying in disbelief)

Soondeok: ‘Your highness! Don’t tell me you’re mad again!! Give me back my book!! Oppa!!!!!! Don’t burn it! Come back! It's raining outside’

(Both fighting in the front yard as rain pours down)

Eun: ‘I’m not giving back! How can you choose this book over your husband, huh? I’m gonna burn it to ashes!! How dare you? I swear I’m gonna find the author and give him a real beating!’

Soondeok: ‘Don’t! Alright, I’m sorry, your highness. I’ll ride with you, just please don’t burn the book! I beg of you! Let’s go ride now. Please give me back the book before it’s soaked through.’

Mother: ‘Kids, why are you two out here standing in the rain? Hurry back before you two get sick. And Eun, is that a book I see in your hand? Gosh, I’ve never thought I’ll live to see this day!’

Soondeok: ‘Mother!’

Eun: ‘Mum! Soondeok won’t play with me! She chose to read this over playing with me! How could she do that? Mother, you should scold her good!’

Soondeok: ‘It’s not that…mother. It’s just that…’

Eun: ‘And when I asked her to choose between book and myself, she picked books!!! Mother, isn’t this too much?’

Mother: ‘Eun ah! How can you interrupt her from reading?’

Eun: ‘Omma!’

Mother: ‘Son, if your wife wants to read so much, let her! You should learn from her too, you should read more. Look at you, this is why your temper’s like this, you need to build good character by reading good books, like your wife. Look at her, she’s an angel, I tell you, angel. Why? Because she reads a lot. Scolding? You should be the one getting scolded! Look what you’ve done! Now the book’s all wet!’

Eun: ‘Mother!!!! I’m your son! Why do you always take Soondeok’s side?’

Mother: ‘Eun ah, can you grow up already?’

Eun: ‘Omma~~ It’s not fair~~~’

Mother: ‘Son, then impress me! Give me the grandchild I’ve been asking for!’

Eun: ‘Mother! Why do you think I’m the only one responsible? Soondeok needs to take part too! Why is it that you’re always telling ME to hurry? That it’s always MY fault?’

Mother: ‘Aigoo, because I know YOU are the problem, son!’

Soondeok: ‘Mother, please don’t say that to the prince. It’s all my fault – I told him I didn’t want kids yet. Really, mother.’

Mother: ‘Is that so?’

Eun: ‘Forget it! I’m done with the women in this house!’

(Eun leaves)

Soondeok: ‘Oh mother, what if the prince does something that’ll hurt himself? And the rain, what if he catches a cold? I’ll go and bring him back.’

(Soondeok about to head out but mother stops her)

Mother: ‘Daughter, you don’t have to. I know my son. But Soondeok ah, do come back into the house, it’s pouring outside…are you alright? You don’t look so well since you’ve come back from your father’s place. Why? Is something wrong? And…I’m not sure if I’ve heard right but… why didn’t you want to have kids?’

Soondeok: ‘Mother, I’m fine, thanks for asking…it’s just that, it’s not that we don’t want kids, mother, I love kids! If I could, I’ll have them now, but I don’t think the prince and I are ready to be parents yet. Besides, the prince has yet to get along better with me. I…I’m sorry mother, to keep you waiting.’

(Mother hugs Soondeok)

Mother: ‘Oh, my dear, I’m sorry my son’s like that. Pay no attention to him.’

Soondeok: ‘Mother, I think I really should go out and find him, just in case.’