"You seem so happy," Soojung said as she placed a cup of tea on Seulgi's table

They are already in their sleeping robe and has to take a rest for the night

"You notice that?" Seulgi asked with a smile on her face as she took her teacup, "Thank you for this, Soojung"

Soojung just smiled at her and fixed the blanket behind them, "You probably went out with her, aren't you?"

"Yes, I thought she was going to push me away" Seulgi sighed in satisfaction after she took a sip of a hot tea that Soojung made for her

"Why would she do that? She seems like your presence through"

Seulgi shrugged her shoulders and look at her, "Tell me about your day, Crown Princess"

Soojung raised her brows and chuckled, "It's new that you are asking me that"

"Come on, tell me about your day" she whined and Soojung couldn't help but to chuckle

"Well, I went to His Majesty's quarter earlier. Lady Kwon was there too and Queen Dowager"

Seulgi nodded her head, "You had a lady talk with them? Because as far as I know, Father is still unconscious"

Soojung chuckled, "Yes, and you are not allowed to know it"

"Aw, too bad. I am still a lady though" Seulgi pouted her lips that made Soojung roll her eyes

"Stop it. If you keep on pouting, I am going to kiss you"

Seulgi scrunched up her face and flick Soojung's forehead, "Kiss me, my foot. Let's go to sleep"

She stretched her arms and let out a yawn loudly before she laid down, pulling Soojung beside her

"You can blow off the candle if you can't sleep, Crown Princess" Seulgi mumbled and fall into a deep slumber quickly

Leaving Soojung fully awake and just staring at her

"Lady Joohyun must be lucky to have your first kiss, Your Highness" she whispered to herself and smile later on when Seulgi let out a soft snore

"If you should have chosen her as your Crown Princess, she'll witness this adorable sleeping Crown Prince"

Soojung plant a soft kiss on Seulgi's forehead and she gets up to blow out a few candles to darken the whole room

Joohyun has been groaning in frustration for a long now since she was all alone inside her room

She's been hitting her face on her pillow to stop herself from thinking of what she had done earlier

And been cursing herself

"What's with you, Bae Joohyun?!"

"Why do you ####### let yourself fall in- no! No! I didn't!"

She covered her face with a pillow and let out another muffled scream

She was frustrated. She doesn't know what's with her earlier

Maybe she wanted that too? To kiss Seulgi on her cheek?

She wouldn't forget how awkward it was on their way home. No one even dares to speak

Even Seulgi tried to ask her, she cuts her off

"Kang Seulgi!! What did you do to meee"

Joohyun doesn't know how she fell asleep after how frustrated she was last night. All she just knew is she woke up from the noise outside

She went out of her room and found Minjeong and Yerim running around the yard and Baekhyun is after them

They are probably playing around

"What's with the chaos this early morning, kids" Joohyun yawned

They stopped and turn their attention to her

"Morning? It's already midday, noona" Baekhyun shrugged his shoulder

"Midday?"

"Yes, Eonni. We knocked on your room several times but you are still sleeping" Minjeong added

"Oh" Joohyun blinked her eyes

"You want tea today, Eonni?" Yerim asked her

"Yeah, I guess I need that. Thank you, Yerim"

Yerim gave her a thumbs up and pulled Minjeong with her, sticking their tongue out to Baekhyun

Seulgi is heading her way toward the Queen Dowager's quarter. She was summoned by her Grandmother and Hanuel is with him

As they came, their presence was announced

Seulgi stepped in first and followed by Haneul

They bowed deeply to the Queen Dowager to show their gratitude

It is just three of them inside the quarter as the Queen Dowager wants privacy with her two grandchildren

"I summoned two of you as I have something urgent to say" Queen Dowager stated

"And you must know about this, Crown Prince" she glances at Seulgi

Queen Dowager took something from her royal table, "My son, His Majesty received this letter from Ming from the other day" she opened the scroll and ask Haneul to take it and give it to Seulgi

Seulgi gladly take it and read the letter from Ming

Her forehead started to narrow as she read each sentence. Haneul couldn't help but take a look and he has the same reaction

"Grandmother" Seulgi faltered as she lets go of the scroll and look up at the Queen Dowager

"His Majesty might be surprised by the report that Ming gave us. The Japanese are starting their invasion of us to get the Ming and the Ming Emperor is offering a hand to us to stop them before they could step foot in Joseon"

Seulgi's eyes flickers as she clenched her jaw, "How are we going to do that? Father is ill right now, Grandmother" She breathes out in frustration

"Your Father knew this is bound to happen after he refused their request to send Japanese armies through us to attack Ming" Queen Dowager Insun stated. Seulgi has to know this

"But we have been a tributary state of Ming for long and your Father won't let them attack them. He even sent a messenger to know what will Japan do. But what we received was an assurance that they'll never attack us, yet this is what will happen"

Seulgi shut her eyes as she sighed. This is what she fears the most

"It was Eunuch Huang Zitao who found out that they are attacking us first, that is why they sent us a warning already. It might be too late to prepare huge armies, but we have to do it as fast as we can, my grandchild"

Haneul tensed and look at Seulgi, "You have to set up a conference for this one with the official, Your Highness. With or without His Majesty's consent, he knew that you have to do this"

Seulgi frowned as she scoff and shook her head, "No, look at what happened when I-"

"This time is different. He is unconscious, and you are the Crown Prince. You are the heir of this kingdom, and you have to do this" he held Seulgi's shoulder

"Councilor Bae will agree to this too. Give me a word and I will summon all the officials"

"Orabeoni, no-"

"Your brother is right, Crown Prince" Queen Dowager butts in, "You have to talk this matter with the officials. Hear their pieces of advice as a Crown Prince"

"Don't make any second thoughts with this urgent situation, japan is coming to invade our country, Seulgi"

It seems like yesterday, she was so happy but now there is another problem to face as the Crown Prince of this nation

Sometimes, Seulgi thought that she couldn't take being a Crown Prince. But she has to

After the Queen dowager told Seulgi the news, she decided to call for Councilor Bae and Lord Jung inside her quarter

She was staring at Councilor Bae and Lord Jung's facial expression who is reading the letter that was given by Ming

But Councilor Bae and Lord Jung seem so calm

Seconds later, Councilor Bae let out a sigh, put down the scroll and look at Seulgi

"They are probably preparing to leave now, Your Highness. Once they step foot in Busan, it'll be hard to stop their armies" He said

Seulgi nodded her head. She was aware of it, Ming told them that Japan prepared samurai armies including the laborers will be possibly 158,900. Also, 700 ships and 300 warships

Everything comes so quickly and it's making Seulgi feel pressure as a Crown Prince, now that her father is still unconscious

"My estimated day of their arrival will be in 4 days, Your Highness. They might even use cannons before they could step foot in Busan. I am certain that they will attack Busan first" Lord Jung said

Seulgi looked at them, and both of them can see the fear in her eyes which she was trying her best not to show

"Can we go beyond their armies? Is it possible?"

Councilor Bae and Lord Jung looked at each other for a few seconds before Lord Jung answered

"I will send a letter to my men in Gyeonggi-do to send our skilled armies before, Your Highness"

"Thank you, Uncle"

Seulgi turns her gaze at Councilor Bae, "Gather all the officials, I will lead the assembly today"

As like what Seulgi commanded, they gathered all the officials in midday.

Each official's loud gasp echoed throughout the assembly hall after Councilor Bae read the letter

And that's when the ministers and other officials starts stating their advice which became indistinct on Seulgi as they were all speaking all at once

She shut her eyes and covered her ears

Her anxiousness is increasing with every word they said. She can see their mouth calling her name but she couldn't hear anything

Junmyeon looked at Haneul, eyeing him to shut all the officials as he noticed his cousin's situation

Haneul sighs and also noticed his sister

He went up to the throne beside Seulgi and yelled that made them all shut their mouth

"Quiet!"

"Show your respect to His Royal Highness! Speak and give your advice accordingly!"

All of them bow their heads and apologize to Seulgi

And the Crown Prince just simply nodded her head, "You may start Minister Cho" she called the Ministry of Defense as she feebled

"Your Royal Highness, as what I've said, we shall not make any actions to stop their invasion not until His Majesty come back to consciousness" he bowed

Seulgi frowned, "Are you telling me that we should just sit down, and wait until they attack Busan? Watch my people get killed with their hands?"

"That's not what I meant, Your Highness"

"Then, we shall take action right now"

"This is not a time for us to waste a time. His Majesty gave his authority to me for this and I shall do everything in a must for me to be able to protect my people" Seulgi told them as she straightened up, forcing herself even her head is throbbing in pain

Councilor Jung glance up at her with his skeptical gaze

"I would rather die than my people just because of those in higher state's incompetence and cowardliness"

"Just opened the door! You don't know me?! I am a noble man so don't touch me you- let me go!"

"Don't you know my father?! He is the- hey! that hurts!"

Joohyun came out from the kitchen along with Sooyoung when they heard some shouting outside

She frowned as the guy who was shouting is familiar. Their gatekeepers and Minho are stopping him

And Minjeong came out with Yerim and Byul-Yi from the backyard

"Chanyeol orabeoni?"

"Oh! Minjeong-ah! Tell them you know me! Tell them!"

Minjeong was about to say it when Minho saw Joohyun and bow his head to greet her

"This young man is causing a scene in front of your house, Young Lady" Minho informed her as he went to her

"Let him in, I know him. He is a friend of the Crown Prince"

Minho bows his head again as acknowledgement to follow the order

"Let him go" Minho commanded the other guards

The guards let Chanyeol go who is probably frustrated with the guards who wrinkled his robe

He rolled his eye at them and look at Joohyun, greeted her with a bow and Joohyun did the same

"I am sorry for the scene I cause, Lady Bae. Nonetheless, I am here to report something as I am worried about Minjeong and Baekhyun my friend"

He looked around and noticed that Baekhyun is not around

"Where is he?" He mumbled

"He is buying a fish at the market" Byul-Yi replied to him

Chanyeol nodded his head, "I don't think he can find one. There are no new imports goods from the north" he said

Sooyoung leaned down to Joohyun and whispered, "Why is he saying that to us?"

Joohyun shrugged her shoulders

Then, Chanyeol ran towards her and Minho being her bodyguard immediately blocked the taller one with his arm

"What are you doing?" Minho shot him a glare

"I have to say something to her, why?"

"It's okay, Minho. Let him be"

Chanyeol sticks his tongue out to Minho and composes himself to face Joohyun

"To get this straight, My Lady, His Royal Highness told me this and I shall not tell you about this but you have my friends in your hands so I shall do this" Chanyeol told her in a low voice

Joohyun tilts her head to the side as she frowns, "Why?"

Chanyeol inhaled deeply, "It is scary but as what His Royal Highness told me, the ships couldn't cross the yellow sea nether the east sea due to the possible invasion"

A frown on Joohyun's face slowly fades

'I-invasion. I-it is that war? It is starting now?!' her eyes widened and look at Chanyeol

"And then?"

"His Royal Highness told me that he will try his best to provide food for his people to avoid poverty as they closed all the borders to the sea," Chanyeol said, "Also, he wants to know if you still have foods that are good for a month?"

Joohyun look at Sooyoung to know, as Sooyoung and her friends know their food storage

"I don't think it will last for 5 days" Sooyoung tug her earlobe

Chanyeol nodded his head, "I will tell His Royal Highness about this"

He bowed to Joohyun and went to Minjeong to bid goodbye before he left

Joohyun followed him outside and saw people passing by with a frown on their faces

And she even saw someone arguing and throwing a straw of vegetables

Then, Baekhyun came empty-handed

"I can't find a fish, noona" Baekhyun pouts as he bows his head to apologize to Joohyun

"It's okay. We can still have the same dish earlier" Joohyun said and patted Baekhyun's shoulder

Baekhyun nodded his head and went inside

Joohyun stared at her surrounding before she let out a heavy sigh, "Oh God, bring me back"

"I don't know how long should I stay on this living. Bring me back once I can finally make that Kang Seulgi stay away from me"

It was another day of Seulgi not showing up to Joohyun. She was so busy inside the palace because of her huge responsibilities

She even distributed some goods to the whole capital and other provinces that could provide them with a portion of food for several days

And she made sure that Joohyun got hers, of course.

Not just that, Seulgi is busy gathering all the armies they have in Joseon. All the skilled armies

She also sent armed guards to protect all the borders of Joseon

But the thing that bothers Seulgi is her father is not yet back into his consciousness. She needs him

Their country needs the King, not her

"Your Highness, Eunuch Huang sent us two ships with some goods. It was all guard up by their soldiers" Heechul reported on Seulgi inside her quarter

"That's good to hear, bring that up immediately at the inventory and distribute it fairly"

Heechul bows his head, "And also, Your Highness. Our armies are near at all the borders for an eye"

Seulgi smiled and rolled the paper she had written something, "Send this to Ming. It's for the Emperor"

She took another one inside her sleeve and lend it to Heechul, "And this is for Eunuch Huang"

"Yes, Your Highness"

Heechul took the letter and bowed as he left

Seulgi let out a long frustrated sigh, she haven't had a proper sleep yet and she feels exhausted already

She badly wants to see Joohyun to see how she's doing but she can't

Then, she heard a loud thud outside her quarter. Followed by Eunuch Shin's voice shouting

"Your Royal Highness!"

The door opened and Eunuch Shin was catching his breath. His eyes were twinkling with happiness

"What's with you?" Seulgi frowned

"Your Highness! His Majesty! His Majesty is awake now!"

It took a few seconds before Seulgi processed what Eunuch Shin have said before she stood up, wore her crown, and rushed to leave her chamber

As she arrived at her father's quarter, she found her Mother and Grandmother beside the King

Seulgi bowed her head

She felt the ease after seeing her father looking at her. He's finally back to his consciousness

Then, she looks at her Grandmother who nodded her head. She was asking for permission to hug her father

She immediately ran to her father and hug him, snuggling her face in the crook of her father's neck

"Seulgi" the King faltered. His voice is so weak

"You did well as the future ruler of Joseon, my child"

Seulgi felt the King's hand caress her back. And that's what she wanted always from him

She shut her eyes and stayed comfortably in her father's embrace

She even didn't notice that the King, Queen Dowager, and Lady Kwon are communicating by eyeing each other. They don't know how to tell Seulgi

Until Queen Dowager decided to do it

"Crown Prince"

Seulgi let go of the embrace and look at her grandmother

"The Royal Physician said that the King needs a full recovery. His heart is not good as before"

She frowned and turn her gaze to her father who gave her a small smile

The King took her hand and caress it, "I.. I might not be able to handle the throne that much, Seulgi" he paused and inhaled deeply

"And I need you... I need you to take care of it"

"A-are you going to step down from the throne?"

The King chuckled softly and shook his head, "Not yet. But I might have to anytime now"

"Father, I can't-"

"You can do it. Look what you have done to the country now, you didn't let them starve" King Dongwon smiled and poke her child's cheek

"You care for them, and you will always do"

Seulgi didn't say anything. She doesn't know what to feel

Maybe she was afraid? Afraid that her father will step down now from the throne and give it to her?

Afraid that there will be people who will resent her for being an heir when she's an illegitimate heir?

Afraid of the threats that she might receive as the heir to the throne again?

She doesn't know. The threats she had when she was just a kid is enough and she doesn't want that to happen again

Minjeong was frowning as she was staring at Joohyun in the front yard alone

Beside her is Yerim, they are looking at the older one by the window

Joohyun is all alone in the yard, at the chair table. Staring up at the night sky

"Is there something bothering Joohyun Eonni?" She asked Yerim

Yerim shrugged her shoulder, "I don't know. She seems not on herself since yesterday. She was just so happy when she was with the crown- I mean, that Donghee"

Yerim slap discreetly as she almost slipped

"Maybe she misses him?"

"I don't know"

Joohyun let out another long exasperated sigh

She doesn't know why she's staying outside on a cold night

She jolted up immediately from her seat when their gate opened, she was so excited to wear her slipper and ran towards the gate

And there she saw Seulgi enter. She smiled as soon as the latter waved at her

"Hi, did I wake you up?" Seulgi asked sheepishly

Joohyun shook her head and smiled, "It's still early, Silver spoon. What made you visit?"

Seulgi showed what she was holding to Joohyun. It was a layered lunch box wrapped in silk

"You had a dinner?"

Joohyun furrowed as she nodded her head, "What is that?"

"Ryujin made me dumplings earlier. I have a lot of leftovers, and I decided to bring some" Seulgi said and put down the lunch box

She untied the silk and take the first layer, then, she opened the second one

"I also bought refreshers. My Mother made this, you know her, right?"

Joohyun chuckled, "Yes, of course. Go take a seat" she offered

Seulgi take a seat and the lunch boxes are in between them, "My mother makes the best drinks, so you should have a taste"

Joohyun watched Seulgi pour a tea for her and put some few petals of mint leaves

"Here. You should be honored that a crown prince pour tea for you" Seulgi winked at Joohyun that made the latter hiss at her for being cocky again

"Then, thank you, cocky prince" Joohyun stick her tongue out on Seulgi as she took the tea from her

Seulgi was left amused with how just Joohyun addressed her, "Cocky prince? What?" She chuckled

"Yes, cocky prince" Joohyun took a sip, "Hmm, it tastes good. Yuja tea, right?"

"Yes, do you want some more?"

"I will pour for myself later instead as you are being a cocky one" Joohyun shot her a glare and placed her teacup down

Joohyun opened the other box and found dumplings, she picks one and fed herself

"Ryujin makes good food, h