A moment before the Crown Prince’s departure 

Court Lady Choi couldn’t stop herself from sobbing while putting the military robe on Seulgi

While the Crown Prince and staring at herself in the mirror absentmindedly 

The Crown Prince’s head court lady stepped out from the partition and called Ryujin

“You may serve His Royal Highness’s tea” Court Lady Choi said

Ryujin bowed her head and went inside to serve the tea on Seulgi

“Are you certain that His Royal Highness doesn’t want Lady Bae to know about this?” Eunuch Shin asked Court Lady Choi

The lady nodded her head, “His Highness is not even talking to me. I just hope she does on Ryujin” She turns her glance at the curtain and sees the kid already serving tea on Seulgi

“Have you checked all of the things that His Highness must bring?” 

Eunuch Shin nodded his head, “For now, the Queen Dowager is waiting for her inside the Crown Prince’s chamber before the departure ”

Seulgi is still on her knees as she watched the King’s companion leave. 

Even his palanquin is already out of her sight, she kept her knees on the ground. She’s anxious about this that her father wasn’t able to do his task

She thought she was ready to sit on the throne and lead things like this, but she is not. Or maybe that’s what she was just thinking 

Before her father left, the King gave her a command to Gyeongsang-do to meet the General she was told

Seulgi has to join forces with the said General and gather more troops and recruit civilians in order to form a voluntary army

Heechul went to Seulgi and bow his head

“Your Royal Highness, Minister Park’s son is here to see you”

Seulgi looked over her shoulder and frowned, “Chanyeol? Why are you here?” She stood up and faced the latter who is standing behind Heechul

“It is nice to see you with that robe, Your Highness” Chanyeol greeted her with a bow and his usual grin

Seulgi just smiled and asked him why is he here but Heechul is the one who answered her question 

“He found out that you are sent to lead the war, Your Highness. And he volunteered himself to come with you”

Seulgi’s forehead creased as she look at Chanyeol who has a wide grin on his face

Chanyeol then said, “Have you forgotten that I was sent to take a military exam in Ming? And you know that I want to be like Lord Jung and became a Commander of-“

“Alright, stop it, you are being talkative again” Seulgi said and Chanyeol immediately pursed his lips

“You can go with me, prove yourself to me so that I can appoint you as the next commander” Seulgi smiled at him before she walks away

Chanyeol’s eyes twinkled in happiness as he look at Heecul, “Hyung- nim, you will respect me as someone higher than you after this war” he grinned and ran away before Heechul could smack him with his scabbard 

“This kid” Heechul chuckled, "I now found who will take care of you on my behalf, Your Royal Highness" he mumbled and followed Seulgi

“Then, how about us?” Princess Yongsun asked Councilor Bae in surprise 

Councilor Bae gathered all the princes and princesses inside the royal library

“All the royalties will stay in Ming with His Majesty for safety. But Prince Neungyang(Junmyeon) will stay here”

Bogum huffed, “Why Father decided not to leave me here and watch the Hanyang?”

Councilor Bae smiled, “That would be under Prince Neungyang(Junmyeon)’s duty, Your Excellency”

Seungwan frowned, “When are we leaving?”

“His Majesty has left, and we are going to follow him before the Crown Prince’s departure”

“So, you are saying that we will leave right now?” Yongsun asked

“Yes, Princess. The Crown Prince must be the last one to leave the palace discreetly. I already commanded all the servants to prepare your things, all they need is all of you to leave”

“This is unbelievable!” Seungwan huffed as she stood up and leave the place, followed by Yongsun

And they didn’t stop them

“How about the Crown Princess? Her safety is a must” Junmyeon said

“Her Highness wanted to stay here until His Royal Highness come back” 

Seulgi turned around to take a last glance at Soojung and Junmyeon

Everyone has left and it is only her, Soojung, and Junmyeon who are staying in the palace right now

Soojung has a smile on her face before she bowed goodbye to Seulgi

Seulgi didn’t say anything, but she wished for her wife’s safety as the princess decided to stay here and wait for her

She went inside her palanquin and breathes in

“I can do this” she mumbled

Meanwhile, outside. Soojung watched her palanquin leave. She stayed on her track until Seulgi is already out of her sight

“I know you will come back, my dear Seulgi”

Junmyeon took a glance at her and smiled, “We all know she can do it” he assured the Princess

Not far from them, Councilor Jung and his allies watched the Crown Prince leave in discreet

They haven’t left the country yet, they will leave right after the Crown Prince

“I am certain that when His Royal Highness came back, he will be the new King. We opposed this appointment since he was born” 

“He’s right! What will happen to us? His Royal Highness is not a slow-witted man, he will surely put us down in our position”

Councilor Jung raised his brows at the two official ministers behind him, “His Royal Highness’s royal guards and other companions are outnumbered if you compared it to the Japanese armies”

He turned around and face them with a lopsided smile on his face, “Anything can happen to him in the chaos of war”

On the next day, Joohyun woke up with a dried tear on her cheek.

For at least, she fell asleep with ease that Seulgi will come back for her. And she couldn’t wait to have her back in her arms again as someone she won’t ever push away

And if Seulgi is the reason why she can't go back to her present life, she will be glad to stay. 

Earlier when they went back home, Joohyun received a letter from her father that they will be staying with the King’s side along with her Mother

Her mother has to follow the King’s command to be his physician in Ming for a while

Joohyun let out a long sigh. She was left in this town alone with her friends

All she has to do is to wait

She then heard a knock on the door

“Eonni, are you awake?”

It was Yerim 

“Get in”

Yerim get inside and Joohyun frowned when the younger one seems frustrated 

“What happened?”

“I don’t know what to do, Eonni. You are the only one who could make Minjeong calm down” Yerim sighed in frustration 

“Why? What happened?”

“She found out that her sister couldn’t come home as the kid was sent to war with His Royal Highness earlier”

Joohyun shut her eyes as she breathes in, “So the whole capital found out that there is a war?”

Yerim huffed, “It even surprised us that the King left his country and let the Crown Prince take over his place” She shook her head

“Everyone is mad towards the King, and some are hopeless toward the Crown Prince” Yerim palmed her face

Joohyun is expecting this. Not everyone will like Seulgi to be the King nor even trust her having the throne

“Before you go to Minjeong, have you talked to His Royal Highness? He left in the dawn, right?”

Joohyun nodded her head and forced a smile, “She will come back, Yerim. She will save our country”

Yerim was silent for a few seconds and studied the older one’s face. Then, she smiled, “I know, no wonder why your silver spoon became the heir to the throne” She giggled that made Joohyun hiss

“Get out of my way, little rascal. I have to talk to Minjeong” She stood up and went to Minjeong’s room 

Only to find the latter crying on her pillow while Sooyoung and Baekhyun are trying to calm her down

“Baekhyun, go to Missus Jung’s house and tell her to come here” Joohyun ordered the latter

Baekhyun nodded his head and left the room

“Sooyoung-ah, go grab some snacks”

The latter also left the room to follow the older one’s order

Joohyun take a seat beside Minjeong’s bed, she was not saying anything yet when the kid snuggled on her and bawl her eyes out more

She let her and caress her back

“E-eonni”

“Hmm?”

Minjeong sniffed and looked up at her, “I... I am really afraid, I-I am afraid to lose R-ryujin” 

“Why do t-they have to send her to the war along with the Crown Prince?”

Joohyun stared into Minjeong’s eyes. She saw sorrow and anger at the same time, and she understand what the kid feeling right now

She is afraid too and asks why it has to be Seulgi who needs to risk her life for the country and people’s sake

“Minjeong-ah, do you know why Ryujin was sent with the Crown Prince?”

The latter shook her head

“Aside from being the Crown Prince’s servant, she is the most favorite servant of the Prince because she is kind and full of joy”

Minjeong just shut and listened to her

“Who knows? Maybe the Crown Prince doesn’t want her to come but she forced herself because she is very loyal and faithful to him?”

“But.. but what if they failed? W-we don’t know what will happen in the war, Eonni” That’s when Minjeong’s tears started to come out again

“I can’t imagine Ryujin dying in the hands of the Japanese”

Her statement made Joohyun halt. She is starting to feel heavy on her chest again thinking that she already lost Seulgi

“It won’t happen, trust me” Joohyun forced herself to calm down and comfort Minjeong by hugging her again

“The Crown Prince will protect her with all the power he can”

She knows Seulgi won’t like it that she is thinking negatively about things, hence, she has to stay positive for herself and Seulgi

‘Please come back safe and alive, Seulgi. Oh God, please take care of her’

For Joohyun, time doesn’t fly fast today. For her, it’s like a year 

But like what she has told to the Crown Princess few days ago, she never gets tired of waiting for Seulgi. Neither two of them

It is hard but Joohyun has to keep her word because she knew that Seulgi is there and waiting for her too.

She will come back.

“Eonni, tomorrow is Yerim’s natal year, what should we do?” Byul asked Joohyun as she took a seat beside her

Joohyun was in front of their fish pond and feeding their fish

“Didn’t Prince Neungyang (Junmyeon) sent meat earlier?” 

“He did. What I was saying is it’s that it? Are we not going to make a stew or rice cakes?” 

Joohyun faced her, “Minjeong and Sooyoung already did that last night”

“What?” Byul-yi’s eyes went bulged, “I didn’t know!”

“Yes, because you are busy crying over that letter Princess Yongsun gave to you” Joohyun twitches her lips up and stand up

“Y-yah! I am not-“

Joohyun stuck her tongue out on Byul and was about to leave when they heard some noise outside their residence

Then, someone just crushed in their yard and it was Minho and Junmyeon, their facial expressions shows terror

“Pack up your things! Right now!” Junmyeon exclaimed

Baekhyun who was taking a nap on the ground bench got awake by the noise

“What’s happening?” Joohyun asked Junmyeon

Junmyeon rushed to her, “Pack your things, we are going to leave right now” he sternly said 

“Why? Tell me what’s happening first” Joohyun frowned

Junmyeon sighed and look into Joohyun’s eyes, “His Royal Highness ordered me to tell everyone in the capital to evacuate because the forces of Japan are coming here”

“What?! Oh my goodness!” Byul-yi exclaim