Anyway, I would like to make a historial k-drama recommendation. It is because the idea of where Seulgi and Zitao met, fought and joined hands are from that drama. It's good, I swear! Watch it if you have time. The Crown Prince is Park Eun-bin from Extraordinary Attorney Woo :)) The drama is "the King's affection"

Enjoy reading!

It was a dark place. A very dark place

Everything around is dark, and only a tunnel of overflowing light rays from afar she can see

She tried to take a step, only to feel something wet on her foot. She looks down and saw her white socks are wet by the water up to her ankle

"Where am I?" She mumbled

"Bae Joohyun"

A deep woman's voice echoes throughout the dark place surprised her

"W-who are you?" She stammered and look around but she couldn't see anyone 

Someone called her once again and Joohyun realized it came from the light from afar

"You.."

"You must get yourself ready"

She frowned, confused

"This soul has given you a chance to travel back time to fix your mistake"

And that's when a high-pitched static noise echoed throughout the place that made Joohyun scream in pain

She covered her ears with her palm, she fall to her knees and started to feel like her eardrums are going to explode

She was screaming until it fades slowly and it gave her relief.

She was still recovering when she heard a footsteps in the water behind her 

And found someone just walking past beside her

Her eyes narrowed into slits to see who it was as she looks heavenward

The person is back facing her. And it's a back feature of a man

A not-so-tall man

Joohyun studied his features and he was wearing a Joseon nobleman's clothes

"S-seulgi?" She mumbled

She slowly stood up and walk towards the one she called Seulgi but before she could poke its back..

Another noise invades the place

But this time it doesn't hurt her ears

It was someone screaming in agony

The voice is so familiar yet she can't tell who it was

Until it screams her name

"JOOHYUN-AH! PLEASE! PLEASE NO! DON'T DO THIS TO ME"

"HYUN-AH! PLEASE!"

"YOU PROMISED ME! YOU PROMISED ME, HYUN!"

Her eyes snap wide open. Joohyun jolted in to sit on her blanket

She was covered in a cold sweat, her hands were shaking, and her heart is pounding hard

She looks around her in fear and suspicion as she rubbed her eyes harshly and even slap her cheeks

Only to realize she has woken up from that weird dream

She looks beside her and found Yerim sleeping soundlessly, probably in her peaceful dreamland

Joohyun was panting hard and she breathes out slowly and gets up to take water from the table near Yerim

As she chugged the water, she thinks about her dream

"Why is she in my dreams again?"

"And what was that?"

Yerim jolted up from her bed when she heard someone open her door

Only to see her Joohyun Eonni stepping out of her room

"Eonni?" Yerim rubbed her eyes, "Why are you here?"

Joohyun turn around and smiled at her as she went to her

"Good morning, Yerim. You were busy inside your dreamland last night and I slept here"

Yerim frowned

"And why? Because as far as I know, you are the one who has the bigger, elegant, and fancy room among us because you own this?"

Joohyun chuckled softly and patted the kid's head, "Just get up and you will know"

She winks at her before she walks out of her room, leaving Yerim who is processing everything inside her mind

"I'm still sleepy" She yawned and stretched her arms. As she was about to lay down again, she heard some unfamiliar voices greeting Joohyun

"Good morning, My Lady. We sincerely appreciate your hospitality to us"

She frowned

"Who's that?" She mumbled

"It is nothing, Court Lady Choi. Is she awake?"

Yerim went more in frown, "Court Lady Choi? What the?" She gets up

"His Royal Highness is still in the deep slumber, My Lady" A man answered

That's when Yerim decided to come out of the room without even fixing herself

Only to be greeted by the view of a middle-aged woman and a plump man

Both of the servants' eyes widened in surprise to see Yerim and immediately bow their heads to greet her

Yerim was still surprised to see them but she managed to bow her head to greet them too

Awkwardly surprise.

Both Court Lady Choi and Eunuch Shin are stealing glances at each other, probably communicating by it

"Eonni" Yerim called Joohyun, "Did I hear it right? His Royal Highness? Is that Crown Prince?"

Joohyun glanced at Seulgi's servants first before she responded to Yerim by nodding her head, "At my room"

"Oh my goodness"

Minho then suddenly came, he bowed to Joohyun first and said, "My Lady, we have to send the Crown Prince to the palace as soon as possible. The morning assembly will start soon"

Eunuch Shin and Court Lady Choi run immediately towards Joohyun's room where Seulgi is currently in a deep slumber

Yerim looked at Joohyun with a knitted brows, "The Crown Prince? In your room? Mind to tell me what's happening and why His Royal highness is here?" She questioned the older one

"Don't tell me that they just appeared out of nowhere"

Last night, Joohyun let Seulgi in her embrace. She knew that the latter was exhausted, and she deserves to sleep in peace

Yeah, Joohyun could call it peace because it was peaceful. No people around, just her, Seulgi, the lake, and the moon

They were like that for almost an hour and Joohyun's shoulder is already numb

And after that Eunuch Shin went to them, asking if they can leave already because it was already late

They put Seulgi on Minho's back and Joohyun stayed beside her until they reached her home

Court Lady Choi asked Joohyun if they could stay there for one night as it was time for the shifting guards on the palace and they couldn't pass easily as they just fled the palace without anyone knowing

Joohyun told them it was fine and let Seulgi sleep in her room alone. And the other two are in the spare room in her place

And her, is of course at Yerim

"Oh, really?" Yerim put her hand on her waist, "So, you fled last night when we're all asleep?"

"I didn't mean it. She wanted to talk" Joohyun explained, "There is nothing to overreact at, Yerim. I felt bad because I can see her life is hard as a Crown Prince"

Yerim stared at Joohyun for a long and the older one couldn't figure what's with Yerim's stare. The kid was just staring at her flatly

"Eonni"

"What?"

Yerim's lips parted as she was about to speak, but she decided not to and just look away with a sigh, "Nothing. I'll get myself ready. Even she's a woman, she's still our Crown prince" she said

"It'll be a shame for me to show myself like this to her- I mean, to His Royal Highness" Then Yerim walks away, leaving Joohyun staring at her

Then, she sighed

Eunuch Shin came out, "My Lady, His Royal Highness is asking for your presence"

Joohyun followed him inside her room and found Seulgi's disheveled appearance yet look adorable

"Can you leave us?" Seulgi asked her servants who bow their heads and left

"Did I do something terrible last night? I was drunk?" She asked Joohyun

Seulgi is still sitting on the bed

"I can say yes. You almost break my shoulder last night" Joohyun answered nonchalantly and patted her shoulder

Making Seulgi looks at her in worry and rose from the bed, "What did I do?"

Joohyun lightly pursed her lips to stop herself from smiling to see how adorable Seulgi's worried face is

"You just fell asleep after your drama last night" Joohyun gave her a little shrug and walk towards Seulgi

Staring at her, she flicked Seulgi's forehead, making the latter groan

"Aww! What was that for!'

"Hope you had a good sleep in my blanket and room, Silver spoon" Joohyun stick her tongue out on Seulgi before she turn around and opened the door

"Get yourself ready as I've heard you will have a morning assembly inside the palace. But you have to take breakfast first" She said before she left Seulgi dumbfounded

The latter stayed standing in her spot before she chuckled in joy, "Aigoo. Why are you so different, Bae Joohyun?"

"You are making my heart flutter this early morning" she giggles softly at herself and stomps her foot like a child who won from hiding and seek

The Queen flinched in surprise when her son just throw the cups on the floor

"Grand Prince!"

Bogum looked at his mother breathing heavily, his facials were furious and frustrated

"Why are you acting like that?"

"Mother, we could have that land to build an army! But look what happened! He joined hands with my brother! He and the Crown Prince are in a good relationship now!" He gushed in frustration

The Queen simply nodded her head and pour herself a tea, "Why are you rushing things, Grand Prince?"

Bogum looked at his mother frowning, "What?"

"You are acting like Seulgi will have the throne now. Remember, people will still choose you as their King. They will make a petition because you are the legitimate heir of the throne, not him if the King died"

Bogum scoffed, "No matter what petition people do, that won't make things change. Councilor Bae has his back. A lot of officials here in Palace will fight for it that Seulgi is the rightful heir of the throne because of Grandfather's will!"

The Queen took a sip of her tea before she answered, "What did I tell you? It's easier to get rid of them. Late Princess Ah-jong is already dead with her daughter who would might ruin our plan, my son. You have to less your concern"

Her statement caught Bogum off guard, "His Majesty's sister? W-what do you mean? How come that they are part of-"

"You will know soon" the Queen cut him off, "All you have to do first is to wait for the right time to make a move"

"And what was your plan again?"

"Marry Councilor's Bae's daughter. She might know something about the Crown Prince and she is just pretending she doesn't know him" he said, "I know there is something that the Crown Prince is hiding from us"

"Are you sure that will help you figure it out?'

Bogum stare at his mother for seconds before he answered, "Maybe. I also want to take her away to the Crown Prince, he had enough and take everything away from me"

Queen chuckled softly, "Do you like her?"

"Yes. And even if we make Councilor Bae step down from his position, I'll still make his daughter be my future queen"

The Queen just smiled at her son's statement, "Anyway, I thought the Crown Princess joined hands with you? She probably knows everything about her husband"

Bogum scoffed in annoyance, "She is useless, she's in love with my brother"

"I see. But are you not scared that she might tell that you want to ruin Seulgi? Why don't we kill her instead? We chose a wrong Crown Princess after all"

"She won't do that" Bogum confidently answered her question, "And we won't kill her"

He sighs in contentment as he took a sip of his drink, "Not yet"

Both Sooyoung and Byul-Yi's eyes went wide as owls when they came out of their room and saw Seulgi will join them in the breakfast meal

They looked at each other before they get on their knees to bow at Seulgi to show their respect

"It is such an honor to greet you, Your Royal Highness"

Seulgi is not used at it. Even Yerim showed her courtesy to her earlier, her knees on the ground

And she doesn't want that

She doesn't want that look that she is on top of them like she's the highest person you have to respect, well, she is but she doesn't want it from them

Seulgi treat them already as her friends

"Uhm, you don't have to" She told Sooyoung and Byul-Yi, "You may now rise, please?"

Sooyoung and Byul-Yi looked at each other before they stood up.

Their eyes are on the ground as they joined the table for the meal

And Seulgi could feel that the ladies are not comfortable. Aside from Joohyun who doesn't even treat her as a Crown Prince

Eunuch Shin then leaned to her ear, "I told you, Your Highness. We could have just prepared a separate table for you"

Seulgi looked at him, giving him a narrow forehead

"You know that this is my very first time sharing a table with people" Seulgi muttered as she looks at Joohyun and others

"Am I not making you comfortable? If it does, then I will just have a separate table" she asked them

Byul-Yi shook her head immediately, "No, no, Your Royal Highness. It is fine, it is just we.. we are shy for sharing a table with you, a C-crown Prince"

"Yes! Yes we do" Sooyoung added while Yerim nodded her head to agree with Byul's statement

Seulgi sighs softly, "I don't see you as a mere person, I see you as my friends. Hope you still see me as Donghee you've met"

"Can you please talk to me in the same you used to? I am not a different person"  she softly told them

The three look at each other as they sigh before they bow their heads, "Yes, Your Highness. But please let us address you appropriately" Yerim said

Seulgi smile broadly and nodded her head, "That will be fine"

"So, let's dig in?"

As they stepped out from the gate, Joohyun's friends bowed for the last time at Seulgi

Minho then came with two horses so their way towards the palace would be faster

Seulgi is waiting for them to leave aside from Joohyun of course. And thankfully, Yerim noticed it

"I think she wants to be alone with Eonni" she whispered at Byul-Yi and Sooyoung

They bowed their heads to Seulgi before they went back inside

"Hey, I am going to leave now. Thank you for last night" Seulgi shyly told Joohyun, she's looking somewhere else and tugging her earlobe

"That is fine. Now, I have to wash my blanket because it smells alcohol now" Joohyun said, trying to tease Seulgi who fall for it

"I am sorry-"

"I am just joking. You have to go now, I am sure the assembly is starting" Joohyun told her

Seulgi nodded her head then she took her right hand from her back to show a bouquet mix of purple and pink tulips

She picks it up earlier when Joohyun wasn't around and tied the stems with straw

She only found out that it's Joohyun's favorite flower because of Sooyoung

"I know I gave a lot but take this still" she grabbed Joohyun's hand to take the flowers from her hand

"I will leave now" she grinned and rushed towards her horse as her face is now red as tomatoes

Making her two servants chuckle softly

"We will leave now, Young Lady" Eunuch Shin and Court Lady Choi bowed at her, and so do Joohyun

She watched Seulgi kick the horse and trot until they are already out of her sight

She glanced down at the flowers in her hand, "That silver spoon" she chuckled softly

As soon as Seulgi reached her quarter, she hop off from her horse and she was greeted immediately by court maids

The others have her crown prince's robe, belt, sock, shoes, and even her crown

The other court maid has a wet towel to clean Seulgi's face and a pot

While Seulgi is walking, court maids are preparing her

But a mere court maid almost untie her inner robe but she was immediately stopped by Court Lady Choi

"Forgive me, Your Highness"

Seulgi just nodded her head. She bent down to let the other maid fix her topknot and wore her crown

"Is the assembly starting?" She asked

"The officials are on their way, Your Highness. And the King is still in preparation" Eunuch Shin answered

As they arrived at the back of the council hall, the maids have already done fixing Seulgi

Seulgi took a breath and release it slowly, "Let's go"

She stood up in front of the entrance and the doorkeeper announced her presence

As soon as the door opened, she stepped in and all of the officials greeted her with a bow to show their respect to the Crown Prince

Seulgi saw Bogum and Haneul standing there in front and the Queen and Queen Dowager sitting on their throne side to side of the King's

While Junmyeon is standing beside Councilor Bae

She inhaled and halted in front of the Queen's seat

"I thought you're not going to show up again, Crown Prince"  Seulgi heard the Queen tell her

She didn't say anything and just lightly bow her head at her then the King came

The morning assembly started and the officials started to send the scrolls of reports to the King from each province of Joseon

While Seulgi is feeling drowsy and just fighting back herself from yawning

Junmyeon can sense it and he badly wants to laugh at her. He knew where his cousin came last night

"Is there anything else?" The King asked them after he stamped the last scroll

It took seconds of silence before Councilor Jung stepped in, "Your Majesty, I know you know that it has been 10 years since my dearest wife died and we only had one issue" he stated

Seulgi looked at him with her drowsy eyes

"She left me with our only dear son when he was just 9 years old and now he is 20"

King Dongwon nodded his head to acknowledge that he remembers it

Seulgi blew air out of the bore, "Just say what you want, I want to rest" she mumbled and only Haneul heard it

Haneul leaned into his sister's ear, "You drank last night, aren't you?"

Seulgi look at her brother and just stuck her tongue out at him as an answer

"It's been 2 years since I sent him to Nanjing and now he is back, Your Majesty to serve you with his whole life" Councilor Jung bowed his head and that's when someone stepped in the aisle

It was a young man who came out from the line of mere officials

Seulgi looked at him and that's when she couldn't control her yawn only to flinch when Haneul put his arm around her

"Her father is looking at you, Crown prince" He whispered at her

Seulgi frowned but realized immediately that she was talking about Joohyun, and she met Councilor Bae staring at her, smiling

She sheepishly smiled at him and turn her attention to the young man that is the son of Councilor Jung

"My name is Jung Chanwoo and it is an honor to greet you, Your Majesty" The Young man said and put his knees on the ground to show his respect to the King

Seulgi eyed him like she was judging his whole life. Well, she is. He is the son of the man she hates the most

She doesn't care if he is a son of a second state councilor, she just wants to give him that skeptical and judging stare

And Junmyeon can feel that anytime he'll burst into laughter because of Seulgi's behavior today

"Jung Chanwoo" King muttered his name

"Yes, Your Majesty"

"You mean to serve me with your whole life?"

"Yes, Your Majesty"

"Even my son who is the heir of this throne?" King Dongwon took a glimpse of Seulgi

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will also serve His Royal Highness until I die"

Seulgi twitches her lips skeptically, badly wanting to roll her eyes

This time, Councilor Jung stepped in once again, "If you don't mind, Your Majesty. He may start as a low member of the Official of Censors"

"Can I trust him?"

"I assure you, Your Majesty"

Seulgi frowned when she heard her quarter's door opened

She was lying on her bed, resting her eyes and now someone ruined it.

She gets up in frustration and, "I said no one should enter my quarter- oh"

Heechul chuckled softly and got on his knees on the ground to greet Seulgi

"Yah! Are you okay now? You're still in pain last night!" Seulgi stood up and reached Heechul on the ground

"Scared of any attacks that might happen to you again made me strong, Your Highness. Please allow me to protect you once again"

Seulgi hissed and was about to smack Heechul but she halted, "Are you sure you're okay?"

Heechul nodded his head, "Physician Bae was there earlier to check up on me"

A relief sigh came out from Seulgi's mouth, "That is good to know"

"By the way, Your Highness. I've heard that Lord Jung will be here to tell you personally where that arrow came from"

"Why won't he just send me a letter about it?"

"I don't know but this is only a command for me to tell you"

Seulgi sighed, "Alright. When will he arrive"

"He has left in Gyeonggi-do, and expecting his arrival tomorrow, Your Highness"

"Okay, that is good to know.  I don't have anything to do today, should I ask Lady Bae to go out with me?"

Heechul blink his eyes, "But, you just slept at her quarters last night, Your Highness"

He knew of course that his master wasn't here last night, but in Joohyun's place instead

"What do you mean?" Seulgi raised her brow, "I don't mind if I see her every day. And I know she doesn't mind" she shrugged her shoulders

"Okay, I will call Court Lady Choi and Eunuch Shin about this"

Seulgi nodded her head, "It's already Samjinnal (celebration for the upcoming spring) today, right?"

"Yes, Your Highness"

"I will ask her. Tell them to make a preparation-"

"Your Royal Highness, Lady Kwon is asking for an audience" A sudden announcement at Seulgi's door

"Mother" Seulgi mumbled, "Let her in!"

Heechul stepped aside and bow his head as soon as Seulgi's mother came in

"Your Highness" Lady Kwon greeted her daughter

Meanwhile, Seulgi is giving her a wide grin, "What makes you come here, Mother?"

Lady Kwon smiles and looks over her shoul