Soojung entered the Crown Prince's chamber. She didn't let the doorkeepers announce her presence

And when she stepped in, she took a peek behind the curtain, and there she found Seulgi already sleeping

But as she steps closer, she can see that Seulgi has a smile on her face that made Soojung frown in confusion

Earlier, she just found out that her wife is wailing and throwing tantrums after the argument with her father and now she's smiling

And then, she realized, Seulgi won't leave the palace for no reason. She probably went out to see Joohyun, to calm herself, and to find her peace

She sighs softly and bent down to fix Seulgi's blanket

"Now, I am at ease to see you sleeping without any burden, Seulgi" Soojung mumbled as she stare at her face

"I am grateful that you met her"

She loomed closer and planted a soft kiss on Seulgi's forehead, "I love you so much"

Seulgi jerks a bit and pops her lips in her sleep

And Soojung stayed still, watching her loved one sleeping in peace

If Soojung is given a chance to love again, it's still Seulgi. Even she won't have her because Joohyun exists. And no matter what, she will keep on choosing Seulgi

Earlier, Bogum tried to threaten her again along with the Queen. But she keeps on defying them

She would never let anyone know the deepest secret of Seulgi

She won't let that happen just to ruin Seulgi's life

And Seulgi will be dead once everyone found it out, and she doesn't want that to happen

Seulgi deserves the world she wanted to build

Since what happened last night, Joohyun couldn't stop thinking about it

How awkward it was when they left the room and part their ways

They just waved at each other, their cheeks are red as tomatoes

She was thankful that the others are not there, only Minho and Heechul who are clueless about what happened

And today, Joohyun is quiet while in front of their meal while the three are laughing along with Minjeong and Baekhyun

Well, they are happy that Minjeong is back with the table again

And Joohyun is thankful that Minjeong is not saying anything. Because if she does, it'll be a chaos

But she was wrong

"Eonni, what are you thinking?" Minjeong asked, that's why the others turned their attention to the older one as well

"N-nothing" Joohyun shook her head and mix her food, she's silently praying for the kid not to say anything about it

Minjeong hummed, "Are you thinking about what happened last night with Orabeoni?"

That's it, Sooyoung, Byul-Yi, Yerim's eyes went into something mischievous gazes that made Joohyun sigh

Even though she couldn't see it, she knows how the girls are staring at her

"What happened last night with you and His Ro- I mean, Young Master Donghee, huh?" Sooyoung's eyes narrowed into a slit

And Joohyun didn't dare to glance up. She doesn't want to meet those mischievous stares of her friends who always make exaggerated reactions

"Do you feel bad that he, uhm" Minjeong halted as she pursed her lips, trying to Eonni

And she was successful when Joohyun stood up from her seat and took her plate, "I will just eat in my room. I am not in the mood to talk with anyone today, I have my period" Well, she lied in the last sentence

She's just avoiding them

She went inside her room, leaving her friends dumfounded

While Minjeong is smiling mischievously and Baekhyun is very confused

"Can you tell us what happened?" Byul-Yi asked the kid

But Minjeong shrugged her shoulder. She will just keep shut until Joohyun and Seulgi tell them by herself

And she owed them

Seulgi is playing with the dagger that Zitao gave her a few weeks ago. A couple of daggers rather

She was waiting for her lunch to be served inside her chamber while Eunuch Shin and Court Lady Choi are just standing there, waiting for the other maids and watching their Crown Prince whistling while playing with the daggers casually

"You know, that Chanwoo should be thankful that I didn't kill him" Seulgi groans as she stretches her arms

The two servants glance at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They don't know how to react after all

"Is there anything I have to do after I eat my meal?" Seulgi asked them

"Yes, Your Highness. The Queen Dowager wishes to meet you" Court Lady Choi answered her

Seulgi nodded her head and hid the daggers inside the table drawer

"I have another question"

"Please do so, Your Highness"

Seulgi exhaled softly and asked, "Is it normal to have this feeling when you are in love?"

"Like you always wanted to see them, talk to them, make them happy"

"Touch them, everything. And, kiss" Seulgi lowered her voice with the last word before she turn her gaze to her servants

Only to find the two frowning in confusion

And that's when Seulgi realized that these two have served her for their whole life.

Palace is like their home. And Seulgi is like their child. Ever since she was inside her mother's tomb, these two already ought to take care of her

They already devoted their lives to Seulgi

They also don't have any husbands, wives, or children. They only have their parents, siblings, and other families

And.. they are still s

"Uhm" Seulgi chuckled awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I forgot" she rubbed the back of her nape

And the two just bow their heads

"Nevermind! I just want to say that I am happy every time I am with her. And those pretty, plump, and luscious lips, I want to feel them with mine!-"

She was cut off by her gushing when her chamber's door opened without any notice or announcement

It was Junmyeon panting and sweating hard

"Your Highness, we found the assassin!"

Seulgi's brows knitted as she stood up, "Let's go"

She hopped off her bedchamber and left

Leaving the two servants calling her. Because Seulgi being Seulgi, forgot that she's only wearing her inner clothes

Court Lady Choi took her Crown Prince blue robe as Eunuch Shin took the prince's hat, then they ran after their prince who was rushing with her inappropriate appearance

And the court maids that they have been encountered on their way are giggling and whispering to each other

Well, they are probably talking about how hot their Crown Prince is with her fixed topknot and white inner robe

And Court Lady Choi is giving them a shot of warning glare to stop them from talking about Seulgi in a dirty way

Because Seulgi is not even giving them attention, she was just talking with Junmyeon. Their expression shows how serious their conversation is, especially when the way how Seulgi told them to stay away and will just wear it later every time they nag her to wear the robe and

But they were blocked by Seungwan and Yongsun who were in disguise, leaving the palace

Yongsun and Seungwan stared at her from head to toe before they burst into laughter

"I don't know what would be Lady Bae's reaction when she see you like that" Yongsun laugh

Seulgi frowned and turn around to eye her servants

Both Court Lady Choi and Eunuch Shin rushed to Seulgi to put the crown prince's robe and crown on her. At least they immediately got what Seulgi means with those gazes

And the other royalties just laughed

"She's different when it comes to Lady Joohyun" Seungwan giggled as she whispered to Yongsun who giggle along

Junmyeon was just standing there, smiling

Seulgi tense her shoulders and strengthen her posture, "Let's go"

They were about to go when Yongsun spoke

"Are you not going to ask us where are we going, Your Highness?"

Seulgi looks at her and tilted her head to the side with a downward smile, "I know where to. Just tell her I miss her, goodbye!"

As Heechul take off the sack from the culprit's head, Seulgi bent down a little to see the culprit's bleeding and wounded face

She barely recognizes its face due to the mix of dry and fresh blood on its face and some swollen black and violet marks

It probably came from beating

"Who did this to him?" Seulgi looks up at Heechul who shrugged his head and turns his gaze at Lord Jung

And Seulgi follows his gaze, and there is Lord Jung with his tranquil face

"I shall not have the war government hero title for no reason, Your Royal Highness" he plainly said

Seulgi chuckled and shook her head in disbelief, even at his age, she couldn't believe that he did all this beating on a built young man

Either way, he's been in wars before she was born

"I can see that this man couldn't admit who is behind all the attack on me" Seulgi said and look at the miserable appearance of the young man

"Do you even know who are you trying to kill, young man?" Seulgi asked him gently as she her head to the side, still looking at him

The young man scoffed, "What an arrogant crown prince you are"

Heechul was about to strike him with a scabbard when Seulgi raised her hand to stop him

Seulgi sighs softly and smiled, "You are right, I am an arrogant crown prince"  she nodded

"Who wouldn't? Well, knowing that you are the future King of Joseon?"

She loomed closer at him, "But I chose not to be like that"

"Now, tell me who is the one who commands you to do this to me?" Her voice was dangerously low when she asked him that, along with her long face

The young man didn't say anything and just keep that annoying smile on his face, which he didn't fail to annoy Seulgi, but the Prince keep herself together

She turn around to glance at Junmyeon, who was eyeing her to keep asking him before she could do anything

"Are you looking down at me? Thinking that I don't have any power to kill you and your family?" Seulgi furrowed her brows at the culprit

But she didn't receive any response

The young man keeps on spitting out blood on the ground and that annoyed Seulgi more

Seulgi inhales sharply and stood up, still looking at the young man

"I have to ask you again, who ordered you?"

The young man looked at her eyes. He's giving something unpredictable gaze at Seulgi

But it seems like he's challenging her patience due to how he flashed a lopsided smile

"You have to kill me first, Crown Prince. And even if you do, you will never know-"

He was cut off when he felt a hard punch on his cheek

"Your Highness" Junmyeon called Seulgi in worries

And Lord Jung eyed him to let Seulgi

Seulgi bent her knees a little again and take a hold of the young man's chin to face her

"Are you still not going to tell me or..." Seulgi paused and let off her grip a little hard

She turns her back around to take something

And that's a smoldering iron

"You want this?" Seulgi asked him again, but her attention was on the smoldering iron in her grip

"You know what, you must be honored that I am still kind to you," Seulgi said and glance at him, "And for you to know, I haven't tried this yet on anyone, so, what if I brand your little kid?" She glances down at his private part

Seulgi was just trying to threaten him. For her at least to know who commanded him

And Junmyeon almost got choked when Seulgi threatened him like that. But he palmed his face so he could not burst into laughter

The young man scoffed, "You are such an idiot crown prince, Your Highness. I told you I-" he stopped and groan in agony when he felt his skin meet the smoldering iron that Seulgi is holding

Seulgi has already placed the iron on his thigh. She's tired of asking him

"Who ordered you to attack me? I can neglect it if it is only once, but you almost killed me twice though" Seulgi nonchalantly said, still holding the iron that burning the man's skin

Despite the pain, the young man tried to answer, "I only attacked you once! It's only that night!" He grunts

"Why do you keep blaming me for what happened on the Royal Hunting!"

Seulgi stops as she takes off the iron away from him, a frown forms on her face when he said that

"What?"

Lord Jung stepped in, "He keeps saying it, Your Highness. That he is not the one who attacked you at the royal hunting,"  he said

Despite coughing and grunting in pain, the young man let out a short menacing laughter

"Do you want to know who ordered me that night, Your Highness?"

"Who?" Seulgi frowned more, "Tell me who"

"Councilor Bae" he smirked, "Happy?"

"Don't make me look stupid!" Seulgi exclaimed, "Why would he do that when I am with his daughter?! You think you can fool me?!" She grabbed his collar

The man didn't even flinch. A mischievous lopsided smile slowly flashed into his face, seeing how furious Seulgi is, he was satisfied

Joohyun can't help but chuckle after Yongsun told her what Seulgi have said

Does she miss her too?

Wait, they just met each other last night, aren't they?

And Joohyun has to keep herself from the weird feeling she has toward Seulgi. She has to

Aside from what her father told her, she has a girlfriend. She keeps thinking that she has Wendy, even though she was in the past

"Will she come tonight?" She asked lowly to Yongsun, almost whispering as she has these kinds of friends that put malice on everything when it comes to her and Seulgi

Yongsun shrugged her shoulders, "The Crown Prince seems too busy today. I think they found the assassin who attacked all of you from that night and at the royal hunting"

Now it caught Joohyun's attention as she tilt her head, "Really? Do you know the reason why she was attacked?"

Yongsun sighed, "I don't know. But I think it is because she's the Crown Prince. And the day is coming that she will abdicate the throne"

"She's becoming a King?" Joohyun faltered

And Yongsun nodded her head, "That is why you have to be careful too. She's the one who has been surrounded by a lot of enemies and it's not only Seulgi who doesn't want you to be in danger, us too"

Seeing the sincerity in Yongsun's eyes made Joohyun feel overwhelmed. They are all worried for her about being with Seulgi all the time

Is that a reason too why Councilor Bae asked her to stay away from Seulgi? Or it is for Seulgi's safety only?

What if.. Seulgi died?

No, Joohyun doesn't want that to happen

She was overthinking

And no, why does she care after all? Why does she?

But never mind. Something just came up already in Joohyun's thought

"Our King is King Seonjo, right?" She asked Yongsun who nodded her head

"Yes, why?"

Joohyun frowned and didn't say anything as she went inside her room, leaving Yongsun who have just shrugged her shoulder in confusion

"Seulgi was His Majesty's second child, and she's an illegitimate crown prince as Bogum is a child from a Queen" she muttered while biting her cuticle and her other hand on her waist

"That's what she said, her status is unstable because of it. Moreover, she's not a man. And if everyone knows about it, she will die"

Joohyun gasped as something appeared in her mind, she shut her eyes immediately and think of it

"Come on, come on. Remember the history, you head" she cursed under her breath, kind of stomping her foot on the ground

"King Seonjo, 14th king. And Seulgi will be the 15th, she'll still be going to rule. She's going to be a King" She opened her eyes wide and chuckles in satisfaction

"She will not die-" she halted when she realized one thing again

She frowned, "She will sit on the throne right after the war. S-so.. T-there will be a war, it's 7 years long"

Her eyes widened, "7 years, am I still in this Joseon that long?!"

Joohyun was exaggerating things but she immediately shove it off to think of her knowledge of the history

Well, who knows? Maybe she can change history since she's here

And speaking of, she suddenly realized her weird dreams

"I have to fix my mistake?" She mumbled, "And it was Seulgi for sure. She was screaming. It was her voice!"

She shut her eyes once again and remember things, "She was deposed in a coup d'etat and someone will reign the throne after her death"

"And now, what is the mistake I have to fix? She died as a refugee in exile. And I wasn't there-"

She paused and frowned, "Will she die because of me?" She gasped "Right, she will die because of me" she nodded her head

"Now, I have to stay away from her to keep her alive and be a good ruler. Based on history, she was a good king, it is just she was deposed. Yes yes, I will stay away from her" she gushed

"That's the mistake I did. Maybe this past life of mine stayed on her side and now she died"

She pursed her lips confidently, and shut her fist, "Now, I am going to fix it by staying away from her and it's my time to go back in 2021"

"Fighting!"

The King was sitting in his chamber, staring out of nowhere. As his servants are all in line inside, waiting for any commands from their King

He was thinking about how to talk with his daughter again. And about his conversation with Councilor Bae earlier

"I don't think we can stop His Royal Highness and my daughter, Your Majesty"

"What are you saying?"

"My daughter.. seems to have a romantic feeling with His Royal Highness"

"Do everything you can to make your daughter stay away from Seulgi. Do whatever it takes"

The King let out a long frustrated sigh. Last night, he sent someone to follow his daughter. He wasn't wrong for suspecting that she went to Joohyun's house

And he knows that Seulgi is still mad at him

"Your Majesty, the chief royal secretariat is here to see you," The King's Eunuch told him that snap him out

"Let him in" The King composes himself and let the servants open the door for the Chief Royal Secretariat

It bows its head to greet the King

"What's with the sudden visit, Chief Secretary Hwang?" King Dongwon asked him

Chief Secretary gave the scroll he was holding to the King's Eunuch

The King's Eunuch takes it and gives it to the King

"You received a letter from Emperor Wànlì, Your Majesty" He informed the King

King Dongwon frowned and suddenly felt anxious when he heard that it was a letter from the Ming Emperor

"You may leave," King Dongwon told him

Chief Secretary Hwang bow his head and left the King's chamber

Then, the King opened the scroll to read the letter from the Emperor

Every word he read made him frown until he couldn't help but his anxiousness increase as he read the last sentence that the Emperor wrote

He lets go of the scroll that drops on the ground, and the noise echoes throughout the chamber

His breath started to get heavy, his sweat was cold and he feels like someone is choking him

He pressed his hand to his throat, and his chest rose and fell with rapid breaths.

"Y-your Majesty! Are you okay?!" The Eunuch and Court Lady rushed to the King

He wanted to live, that's what he's thinking as he feels like he's dying

He can hear his heart pounding hard and loudly

The servants were panicking and called for the royal physician

Their King's veins were popping out, his face is red and gasping

Yerim was startled when Yongsun hugged her suddenly after she gave her the sock she made for the princes

"I like this, Yerim!  You are so talented!" Yongsun pulled off and glance at the sock

"I-it's an honor, Your Highness"

Byul-Yi hissed, "I gave that idea to her, you know!" She pouts

Yongsun chuckled and place her hand on Byul-Yi's thigh that made the latter go stiff

"Then, thank you" Yongsun smiled at Byul-Yi

The latter couldn't stop herself from turning red due to appreciating how beautiful the Princess is

And Yerim purses her lips to prevent herself from laughing at Byul-Yi's reaction

"C-can't I have a hug as well?" Byul-Yi stammered

And that's when Yerim burst into laughter

"I told you, Your Highness. She likes you!" Yerim suddenly exposed her friend to the princess without thinking about it

Yongsun blinked and Byul-Yi gawked as she look at Yerim

Badly wanted to smack Yerim's head if the princess weren't there

"W-what?" Yongsun stuttered

Yerim realized what she have said and shut immediately, "I-i mean" she looks at Byul-Yi nervously and saw how her friend turned from flustered to embarrassed because of what she have just said

"S-she likes you being here with us even though you're a princess, Your Highness" Yerim reasoned out and look at Byul-Yi with an apologetic gaze

"Oh" Yongsun chuckled, "Alright. I like her too, she is funny and adorable"

And once again, Byul-Yi is flustered

Meanwhile, inside the kitchen, Sooyoung is watching the Princess cooking something

She was amazed to see a Princess who is good inside the kitchen

"I sometimes asked the kitchen servants to let me cook my food and begged them not to report it to anyone," Seungwan said as she cleaned her hands after she made a fire inside the cast

"You always do it?" Sooyoung asked

"No, I barely do. But if His Royal Highness is with me, they could not do anything"

Sooyoung chuckled as Seungwan did

"Are you close with His Royal Highness?"

"Of course, he is my brother. Half brother, rather" Seungwan said and take a seat beside Sooyoung

"It is fine if you said sister, Your Highness. We know"

Seung-wan's mouth agape before she laughs, "Yes, I forgot! But yes, my sister"

Sooyoung laughs along. And they went silent

Then, Sooyoung sighs and asked Seungwan, "You don't find it weird that His Royal Highness is in love with Joohyun eonni?"

It took Seungwan a few seconds to answer as she looks away and sigh

She suddenly thought of stopping herself from confessing her feelings to Sooyoung. Scared that the younger one might not be into love like this

A different love

"Well, I don't find it weird because that's where she is happy" She shrugged her shoulders

"Why? Lady Bae knows the truth, yet you don't find it weird as well that she seems like His Royal Highness?"

Sooyoung shook her head, "But I don't know. Everything is so different now"

"Yes, you're right" Seungwan chuckled

"Anyway, your highness. I am confused"

"With?"

"Why His Royal Highness didn't choose Eonni? To be his crown princess?"

Seungwan hummed, "The only reason I know is she doesn't want Joohyun to have a life inside the palace. Want to know why?"

"Why?"

"It's hard to be a Princess. Me, personally, as a King's only daughter, it was truly hard. I don't have much freedom, but thanks to Yongsun Eonni and Crown Prince" Seungwan said

"And Seulgi thought that it wouldn't be easy for Lady Bae to be a Crown Princess. That's a big responsibility, she'll be a Queen in the future, that's a thing she has to face if she was chosen"

Sooyoung pursed her lips and nodded her head, "That makes sense. But why does she keeps bothering Eonni?"

Seungwan laughs once again, "You can't stop love, you know. Sometimes, even though you know it's wrong, you couldn't stop yourself from loving that person, because that's what makes you happy. Do you agree?"

"I.. I don't know, I haven't felt in love yet"

"You haven't yet?"

Sooyoung nodded her head, "I don't know what's love after all"

"Then, look at me and you will know" Seungwan boldly said

And suddenly Sooyoung felt her face warm up not because of the princess's statement, but because of the stares that she was giving her as well

But Minho's voice save her

"Princess!"

Seungwan stood up as Minho came

"What's wrong, Officer Choi?"

"His Majesty.."

Seulgi was about to go to her chamber to change her clothes to go out when a Mere Eunuch came catching his breath

Heechul was on alert to block him from reaching Seulgi

"Your Royal Highness!" The Eunuch dropped his knees on the floor

"What's with the rush?" Seulgi asked and lightly push Heechul aside to see the Eunu