Chapter 9

Inside the private room of the tavern is full of laughter when Byul-yi let out a loud burp

As well as Joohyun who were silent for the whole time, just watching both Seungwan and Sooyoung almost flirting each other and also at Seulgi being talkative

Knowing that her other companions are drunk, especially Yongsun who's clinging on Yerim, Joohyun eyed Seulgi.

Giving her a sign to talk outside with her before leaving the room first

Seulgi, of course, stood up immediately. But Heechul stopped her

"I'll go with you-"

"Just stay right on the door so that you could still keep an eye to them" Seulgi said and took a brief glance at them

She went outside and found Joohyun standing on the balcony of the tavern right in front of their room

She also wants to know how Joohyun knows her name. But, wouldn't be suspicious to Joohyun? What if she doesn’t remember? And at the same time, why Joohyun has never spoken about her name ever since they met?

"So.." Seulgi cleared as she went beside Joohyun, "Are you perhaps missing me? That's why you ask for me here? It's jusst the two of us-"

"You're such a talkative one aren't you, silver spoon?" Joohyun faced the taller one. And there she goes, she has this thought of Donghee and Seulgi are just one

'They are really look alike'

"Well, it's just that I assume that you miss me. I was-" Unfortunately, Seulgi sneezed out that cut her off. It also surprised Joohyun

"Oh. You caught a cold?" Her brows furrowed and went closer to the latter

Seulgi looked at her with her wide eyes and held up her palm at Joohyun to stop her, "What? N-no.." she chuckled awkwardly, "Of course, no. The air is dirty"

Joohyun scoffed at her words, "You always got a lame excuses, Silver spoon"

With that, Seulgi just gave her a sheepish smile and shrug her shoulders, "So, what makes you want to talk to me?"

'Does she remember it?' Seulgi thought

Thinking that it would be too much to ask first about her weird thoughts to Seulgi being the Seulgi she knew, she voiced something else

"Yerim told me that you send me home" she uttered

"Yes, I did.. You were so drunk that's why you fainted"

Joohyun let out a soft chuckle, "I'm sorry about that. I just had problems"

Seulgi looked at her in a frown, "Do drinking alcohol is a solution?"

"Yes, sort of. You forget things for a while" Joohyun answered as she crossed her arms

Now, her statement made Seulgi chuckle, "It's you who has lame excuse and reason, My Lady"

Joohyun looked at her in disbelief, her brows are already narrowed, "Are you taking it back to me, Silver spoon?"

Seulgi pursed her lips, sheepishly shrugging her shoulders. But the older one brushed it off

She grew up inside a palace that has a different kind of living. She was taught to act brave and never show tears to anyone, act decently, and don't ever make a mistake

And don't let anyone know that she is suffering because it will affect her people.

That is how she grew up, however, she understands why Joohyun went drunk because she suffers

"Have you heard about the Crown Prince is looking for a wife?" Joohyun suddenly asked

Her question made Seulgi stunned. But not to look obvious, she tried to answer, "Oh. About that.. Uhm"

'Wait, I haven't talked about it to my father. this life. Why do I have to live with that kind of rules?!' she thought and look at Joohyun

"Hey! You've said it wrong, it's looking for a Prince's consort. A future queen of our country!" Seulgi twitch her lips up as she shrugged her thoughts off

And Joohyun just chuckled at her behavior, "Do you think the Crown Prince would choose me?"

Her question once again took Seulgi off guard. Would she choose her? She has romantic feelings for her after all

"It depends if you're qualified for being a Queen in the future" Seulgi said and wander her eyes around the place, "You're beautiful. I won't be surprised if I see you next time as a Queen of Joseon"

Seulgi's last word sent shivers on Joohyun. She couldn't imagine being a Queen when all she do with her entire life is to save people lives

However, she's on a different living

"Why? Do you want the Crown Prince to choose you?"  Seulgi asked as she looks at the latter

'Because I'll choose you. And if that happens, I'll tell you who I am-'

"No"

Seulgi gulped. Well, she didn't expect Joohyun to say no.

'Right, she's different from the other Ladies' She chuckled softly on her thoughts

Then, Seulgi clears , "That's unexpected. Do-"

"Hey, do you think living inside the Palace is like living a peaceful life?" Joohyun asked

That made Seulgi scoff bitterly. It's an interesting question but she knows, she has to answer her like she has just an idea of the living inside the Palace because of the Princesses and her so-called father

"Princess Yongsun and Princess Seungwan told me a lot of stories of their living inside the palace" Seulgi let out a short sigh as she take her gaze off from the Lady

"You'd never like to live inside the Palace, Milady. Not unless you love someone inside" Seulgi stated with a small smile on her face

'I would love to choose you to be my Queen.   But I don't think you'd love to live in that living where you have to sacrifice everything because everyone depends on you'

"I do" Joohyun snapped her out

"H-huh?"

"I do like someone who's living inside the Palace"

Seulgi felt something pang inside of her. Right on her chest when Joohyun said that.

Remember, it couldn't be her. The Lady knows she's just an ordinary person, roaming around the capital and a young man

"R..really? Who?"

Joohyun stuck her tongue out on Seulgi, "That's a secret, Silver spoon"

Seulgi pouts at Joohyun's response

That's when Joohyun unintentionally said something

"You look like someone I know"

That's it

Thoughts of how Joohyun knows her name, her whole real name, is back.

'This Bae Joohyun. Have we ever met?'

"But nevermind, let's go back inside before everyone put malice on this" Joohyun said and shot a glare at Seulgi

Joohyun stepped in front of the door and turn her gaze to Seulgi, "Because you've told everyone that I am your girlfriend, dummy" She flashed a lopsided smile before entering inside

Joohyun decided not to talk about it as she doesn't want to think that people around her that she's crazy.

But she doesn't know that she left Seulgi keeps thinking about what happened on the river, thinking that she knows the Prince's identity.

"Your Highness, is there something wrong?" Heechul went towards her

"Orabeoni"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

Seulgi took a breathe and said, "Remember when she was drunk a few days ago?"

Heechul nodded his head

"She knows... She muttered my name" Seulgi uttered and sighs, "She knows that I'm Kang Seulgi"

Heechul’s eyes widened in surprise, "W-what? Your Highness, we-we must kill her and her family immediately-"

"No.. No one could ever lay a finger on her family" Seulgi sternly said, "Especially to her, that's an order"

"But.. How did she know? Councilor Bae and her wife, they told her?"

Seulgi shook her head and leaned her back against the wall, "Her parents are my Father's loyal subjects. They won't do that"

Heechul knows that Joohyun's parents are loyal to the King and Seulgi for their whole lives. But how did Joohyun know?

"I wonder if we met before.. Do we?" Seulgi scrunches her nose

After a while, her face went on terror, and looks at Heechul, "What if she's a diety(goddess)?"

Her question made Heechul cackle, "Are you serious with that, Your Highness? Why would she be a deity? I know she's beautiful  but that's ridiculous if she's a deity"

Seulgi shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. She muttered my name when she's beautifully half-unconscious.." She said and they both went silent for awhile

Not until something popped on Seulgi's mind, "What if she already dreamed about our reincarnation? It's possible, right?" She asked in desperate

"Have you ever read the Three books of yeonghon-ui hwansaeng (Reincarnation of souls)?"

Heechul furrows and simply nodded his head later on at Seulgi's question

"See, it's possible through that book!" Seulgi held her chin and nodded her head, "Right. I'm very sure about it!"

"Look.. What if I am still Kang Seulgi in our next lives? Same face and everything. Then, she dreamed about it when she was drunk"

"And what if she saw that I'm not a man and I-"

Heechul let out an exasperated sigh, "She is a Physician. Enough with that, Your Highness. If you want her to be safe, ask her"

Seulgi let out a long sigh, "I guess, I'll wait until she speaks about it"

"I don't think the Crown Prince has no idea about the marriage, Your Majesty" Councilor Jung said inside the Assembly Hall

All the officials and ministers are gathered to have a morning assembly with the King

"I didn't have a chance to talk with him about it. He has been sick for 2 days"

Meanwhile, Junmyeon let out a silent chuckle when the King said that

'She just roamed around the capital Last 2 nights because of one Lady, Uncle' he thought

But he snapped out when Haneul elbowed him

"Why are you smiling like that?" Haneul whispered

"Nothing" Junmyeon pursed his lips

Then, the Assembly Hall's door opened without announcement

It was Seulgi with her nonchalant expression

Everyone inside the Hall bows their heads to show their courtesy to Seulgi

"Your Majesty" Seulgi halted in front of her Father's throne and bow her head at him

"My Crown Prince, why are you here when you're still sick?"

"I am feeling better now, Father. I thank you for the medicines you sent into my quarter. It helps a lot" Seulgi answered politely

But on her peripheral view, she saw how Junmyeon trying his best not to laugh

Of course, he knew. Seulgi slipped last night at him

She discreetly shot him a glare to stop him from chuckling

"Your Royal Highness, I am sure you've heard about-"

Seulgi immediately cut Councilor Jung's word, "About my marriage. Right, Councilor Jung?" She smiled at him

Councilor Jung flashed a small smile, "You are a smart crown prince, Your Highness"

Not wanting his presence, Seulgi just irks her brows and turn her gaze back to her Father

"Your Majesty, I also heard that the Ming Envoys are coming 12 days from now. I suggest postponing my marriage, it'll cause chaos on our people if-"

King Dongwon didn't finish his daughter's words, "Councilor Jung told me that Royal Marriage could help to stop the sudden drought in provinces. Our people there are suffering for days"

Seulgi brows went narrowed when she got to know who suggested her marriage

"There's not so much candidates for the Princess selection. I already chose three ladies for you" King Dongwon said and turn her gaze on the Chief Royal Secretariat (in charge of receiving and delivering the king's order.)

"The Queen Dowager(former queen/widow, King's mother) has given me her approval for the Crown Prince's consorts"

Chief Royal Secretariat bow his head and stepped in front of Seulgi

But Seulgi spoke up, "Your Majesty, I don't think marriage will-"

"My Crown Prince, I was in your age when I married the Queen. Our people start asking for the heir back then because she couldn't produce an heir back then. And now, I don't want you to feel the pressure I felt when I was just a Crown prince like you"

Seulgi tightened her jaw and her fist, she knows that her Father's only saying that because he has to. But it's getting on her nerves

"Chief Royal Secretariat"

The Chief nodded his head and opened the scroll book in his hand

"The selection for the Crown Princess will be hold on Day 26 of month 2, Year of the Sheep. And the wedding ceremony is on Day 28"

It caught Seulgi off guard, "Wha-"

"I hereby announce that the Crown Prince's consorts are Chief State Councilor's daughter, Bae Joohyun"

Seulgi tried to keep herself tranquil face. She always feels different when she hears that Lady's name

'I am Lovesick'

"Left State Councilor's niece and Former Government war hero- Lord Jung Jihoon's daughter,  Jung Soojung"

Seulgi raised her chin and met her father's gaze with a smile on his face. She knows that the King knows she has to choose Soojung

"Right State Councilor's daughter, Choi Hyojung"

Seulgi shut her eyes in frustration as the announcements are done

After the assembly and the King left, Haneul went to Seulgi, "Are you okay?"

"No, he's not" Junmyeon butts in on them

Seulgi chuckled out softly, "I wonder who will they choose"  she muttered

"You don't want to choose in your own will?" Haneul asked her as they exit the Hall

The Crown Prince shrugged her shoulders. She then saw Councilor Bae walking towards them

"Councilor Bae and I will talk. Stop nagging me, both of you" Seulgi take Junmyeon's arms around her

Haneul and Junmyeon just laughed at her before they bowed and left

"Are we going to talk right here, Your Highness?" Councilor Bae asked

Seulgi smiled, "I just want to ask you a favor about Joohyun"

Eunuch Shin drop his knees on the ground in front of Seulgi

"I'm begging you, Your Highness. You have to attend your afternoon lectures now. His Majesty would get mad-"

"Where do you think we're going right now?" Seulgi irks her brows at him 

Lady Choi looked at her, confused. Even Eunuch Shin

"Get up and don't block my way, Eunuch Shin" Seulgi said and her Eunuch immediately stood up and step aside

The Crown Prince start walking towards the pavilion to meet her Royal Lecturer

But then, she saw a Noble Lady touching the flowers on the wall. Her back was facing them

"Are we accepting visitors inside the palace today?" Seulgi asked Eunuch Shin

"I've heard that we only accept the family of the Officials" He answered

Seulgi raised her bro