"Seulgi? Kang.. Seulgi?" Joohyun muttered. Almost inaudible but it enough for Seulgi to hear it

She was stunned

Joohyun knows her as Donghee, A painter in the capital, and the one she called Silver spoon

No one could ever know her birth name. No one, aside from the royal family and Joohyun's parents

But she knew that Councilor Bae and her wife won't say anything about her to everyone, even to their own daughter.

How could she know her birth name?

"H..how did you know?" Seulgi stuttered. But Joohyun already passed out on her embrace

She then mumbled, "Bae..Joohyun... How did you-" she looks at the unconscious latter before letting out a long sigh

Seulgi looked up in sky as she noticed that the beautiful cocktail-blue shade was beginning to darken into gravel-grey.

Large pillows of cloud were forming, blotting out the old-gold colour of the sun.

She tilt her head to the side when she felt Joohyun body jerks on her back

Yes, she's lifting the unconscious Joohyun behind her heading back to the infirmary

Seulgi chuckled out softly, "Hope you wake up once the raindrops-" her words cut off when she felt the rain started to splatter

She look around to see if there's a shelter to stay in for a while. But the rain stars to fall hard than it usual

"Your Highness!"

Seulgi turn her head back at twelve o'clock and found Heechul that has worry on his face

"Why you didn't wait for me" Heechul took off his outer robe and rushed towards her and Joohyun

As he was about to put his robe at Seulgi, the Crown prince immediately stop her, "Put that to her"

Heechul furrowed, "But-"

"That's an order, Officer Kim. Cover her well, we have to send her back to Physician Bae" Seulgi said and Heechul couldn't stop the Crown Prince

As he settled the linen enough to cover Joohyun, Seulgi started her pace without a word

Heechul sigh, "We'll get the blame again if you get sick"

He started to walk again but something bothered him suddenly. He looks at Seulgi and Joohyun

"Your Highness.. Please don't fall harder. You know that you should not"

Yerim let out a frustrated sigh as she watch the rain falling on the ground, "Now, all of my Eonni's are gone and left me here all alone with the woeful sky" she mumbled as she leaned against the wall

She once again sigh and watch each people running in the rain looking for some shelter, her eyes immediately caught Seulgi rushing inside the infirmary with the unconscious Joohyun on her back

"Oh my goodness! AUNTIE!"

With her strength, Yerim abruptly opened their private lodge's door to let Seulgi put Joohyun inside

"What happened to her?!" Yerim asked in panic at Seulgi who were drenched in rain

"I was taking her back here but the rain came up. She's gotten wet, warm her up immediately" Seulgi said as she stood up

Then, Mother Bae came. went agape when she saw the Crown Prince appearance as well as Heechul outside

She eyed Yerim, "Go get Joohyun her clothes. Also, give them blankets and make some hot oolong tea for them"

Yerim nodded her head and rush to leave

"Your Highness, what happened to you? And why-"

"I found her on the river drinking alcohol. She was with Yerim but I told her to leave her with me" Seulgi cut her off, "But unfortunately, she passed out and the rain came"

Mother Bae’s face was full of worries as she stare at Seulgi from head to toe. She took a towel from the cabinet and was about to dry the Crown Prince when Seulgi stopped her

"It's okay, Auntie. I can do it, just please watch her over" Seulgi turn her gaze to Joohyun

"But you easily get sick-"

"Auntie. Let me, we'll leave as soon as the rain calms down" Seulgi gave Mother Bae a reassuring smile

The physician just let out a short sigh in defeat, "Alright. Stay here and don't come out"

Seulgi nodded her head and dried herself.

Then, she watched how Mother Bae take care of Joohyun. A small smile plastered on her face

She remembers how her mother take care of her when she was just a kid. And she missed that moment

"I have a question, Auntie" She suddenly spoke

Mother Bae looked at her, "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Who knows my birth name?"

Her question made Mother Bae frown in confusion, "Why did you ask?"

"Who knows, Auntie?" She repeated, ignoring what the Physician's response

Mother Bae then answered, "Of course your family, Your Highness. Me and my husband"

Seulgi brows narrowed, "You didn't tell anyone about it, right?"

"Yes, of course, Your Highness"

Seulgi's eyes then darted on unconscious Joohyun, 'How did you know, Bae Joohyun? Who are you?'

"Auntie. Here's the hot tea. I also give Mister Heechul one" Yerim suddenly came in with a tray in her hand

The blurry girl feature in front of her was taller than her. She has black curve stuff on her head, but she knows what it was. A baseball cap

There was an indistinct noise of people around the blueish ambiance and cool breeze that brushes through the surface of the river that contains a fresh and relaxing feel around the whole place

But as time goes by, her vision went clear.

Once again, those beautiful-sharp eyes are staring directly into her eyes. She couldn't even dare to take her eyes off on her, she can't help but stare in those eyes as well

The only thing that stopped them was when various girls inaudibly screamed someone's name but sounds familiar

That's when she felt the sudden warm embrace of the taller girl in front of her

"S-seulgi.."

Then, everything happens so fast

She saw various girls running towards her, and pushed her on the cold water

She felt how the water keeps pulling her down. She saw.. She saw the girl named Seulgi swim downward to reach her hand

'Kang.. Seulgi.. help me'

Eyes snap open, loud gasp came out from , Joohyun is covered in a cold sweat, shaking, heart pounding, looking around the room suspiciously and there, her eyes caught Yerim staring at her in worries

"Eonnim. Are you okay?" Yerim cupped her face as she wipe the older one's sweat with her palm

But Joohyun seems in shock from her dreams

She has these weird feelings of knowing that Seulgi and Donghee are the same.

Those eyes. Yes, it's always the same. Neither the stare. It didn't change

The sharp but deep and soft stares. It feels like it's the same person

"It can't be. He is a man" she muttered

"Eonnim? Are you okay?"

She looks at Yerim, "Did you take me home?"

Yerim shook her head, "He sent you back here. He drenched in rain"

Joohyun frowned, "Who?"

"Donghee-ssi"

"Where is he?"

Yerim’s forehead creased in confusion, "Why did you suddenly look for him?"

"I need to see him-"

"Eonnim. You seem not okay, what's happening with you?"

Joohyun just look at her and didn't utter some words

"You've been muttering that Seulgi name many times in your dream now. And this is the second time" Yerim told her, "Who is that Seulgi? Is he the man of your dreams?" She laughed at her statemen

"Nothing" Joohyun sighs as she doesn't want the younger one to think that she's crazy

The Crown Prince's palace servants are wailing outside the chamber when Seulgi started to cough and sneeze loud

It's a big trouble for them

They surely know that the King might scold them again for letting the Crown Prince get sick

"Should I get ready to get flog by His majesty?" Eunuch Shin mumbled to himself as he start pacing back and forth outside the Crown Prince's chamber

"Why did you let His Highness do that? You know that he easily gets sick! Why are you being so reckless!" Eunuch Shin bawled at Heechul whom standing quietly beside him

Then, the door opened, it was Lady Choi and Royal Physician, "His Royal Highness is already sleeping. But he's still burning hot in a fever" The Royal Physician stated on both of them

Suddenly, everyone bowed their heads deep when the King came in

"Your Majesty!"

King Dongwon eyed Seulgi's servants, "I've heard what happened to my Crown Prince" he said

Eunuch Shin immediately drop his knees on the floor, followed by Heechul, Lady Choi, and other servants to apologize

"We deserve to die for being negligent at His Royal Highness, Your Majesty!" They apologized in unison

"Court Lady Choi" The King called Lady Choi. The servant immediately went to her King

"Yes, Your Majesty?

The King asked almost inaudibly but enough for Lady Choi to hear it, "Did the royal physician take Seulgi's clothes off?"

Lady Choi answered with her low voice, "No, Your Majesty. I was the one who did it"

King Dongwon nodded his head, "That's good but let Councilor Bae's wife take care of the Crown Prince next time or else-"

He stopped when Jongin came

"Your Majesty, Lady Kwon is here for an audience to His Royal Highness" He bowed at him

"Let her in with me. She is Crown Prince's mother after all" The King told him before entering the Crown Prince's chamber

"I have to arrange a wedding for Seulgi"

The King's statement suddenly surprised Lady Kwon, causing a loud gasp to come out from

"W..why?"

"It is not just because of the sudden drought in some provinces and the visit of envoys from Ming dynasty.." King Dongwon explained, "It is also because she has to. If she became the King, people would start asking for an heir even we know it's impossible"

"Does she know it?" Lady Kwon asked

King Dongwon shook his head, "I asked for Councilor Bae and Councilor Choi's daughter. Also Soojung" he said

"But" Lady Kwon furrowed, "Only Soojung knows her real identity"

"I thought of what people would react if we only had one candidate for Crown Princess.. And I know" The King took Seulgi's hand and caress it with his thumb, "She'll choose Soojung.. She has to"

A sudden silence between them.. Then, Lady Kwon started to study her daughter's situation

"I didn't know that her burn scar on her back to her shoulder is still visible as before" Lady Kwon mumbled as she caress the exposed scar on her daughter's shoulder

"That's why she is destined to be the next ruler of this country because of her goals in life" King Dongwon chuckled softly, holding Seulgi's hand

"How's Late Princess Ah-jong's daughter?" Lady Kwon suddenly asked

King Dongwon then let out a short sigh, "Councilor Bae always told me that she grew up as a cheerful and loud kid. Like how my sister was"

Lady Kwon let go of Seulgi and caress the King's shoulder to comfort him as she noticed the gloominess on his face

"I still didn't give her death a justice. I still can't punish to death the one who tried to kill her just because she gave birth to Yerim, her second daughter" King Dongwon scoffed bitterly, "That's why I'm grateful to Seulgi, that she bravely save Yerim 12 years ago"

"But she couldn't remember certain things"

Heechul breaks the silence of the night as he's following the young Seulgi behind

"Your Highness. I think Princess Ah-jong won't be happy to see you visiting her tonight" Heechul sigh but being a stubborn young crown prince, Seulgi ignored him and continue her pace

But as soon as they're getting near, Heechul immediately pulled Seulgi with him and hide behind the big oak tree when he saw a bunch of assassins killing the guards and servants at the quarter

"What's hap-"

Heechul covered Seulgi's mouth, "They attacked your Auntie's quarter"

Seulgi's eyes widened, "We have to save them, Orabeoni!" She tried to let go of Heechul grip, but the latter didn't let go of her

"Just stay here and wait for me," Heechul said before he gave Seulgi his dagger

"Please save my Aunt and my cousin" she begged with her teary eyes

Heechul nodded his head and ran off

But he and Seulgi was left in shock when they saw the fire engulfed the entire place

"NO!"

Heechul looked at her with a reassuring smile, "I'll save them"

Seulgi couldn't wait for any longer after she saw how big the fire is. It was a horror for her

The fire was even coming out of the house through the various openings.

As a child, she could imagine that there's like a fire-breathing dragon inside the house, puffing away vicariously.

"I'm the Crown Prince and I shall not let myself watch the people around me sacrificing their lives just to protect me. My cousin is there" She closed her fist tight and went to a different path that Heechul made his way

Seulgi hide behind the fence when she saw Heechul come out from one of the burning chambers, coughing hard

Seeing how Heechul left, she knew that Heechul couldn't find them.

Heechul might think that there's nothing inside was likely to survive the fire

But then, Seulgi heard a small whimper.

Seulgi's eyes darted on one of the chambers that is not yet surrounded by fire. She stood up and bravely went inside

And there, she saw Princess Ah-jong.

Shot with an arrow on her back, catching her breath and seems like trying to reach the wardrobe on the edge of the room

"A..auntie" Seulgi whimpered

"S-seulgi-.. Your Highness, p-please"

Seulgi abruptly went to her and help her father's sister

"P-please help your.. cousin Yerim" she held Seulgi's robe tight, "S-she's inside" with her strength, she forcedly pointed the wardrobe

"H..help her please"

With her eyes filled with tears, she looked at the wardrobe and went there

As she opened the door, she's greeted by scared young Yerim

"O-orabeoni.." the little one, whimpered

Seulgi lifted her immediately on her arms but then she fell on her when the fire set in inside the room already

She suddenly felt uneasy when she saw how the fire crawling on the wall and almost reached the floor

"Mother.." Yerim suddenly murmured that snapped her out

Seulgi turn around and saw that Princess Ah-jong is only half-conscious, "L-leave.. the sm-smoke and f-fire.. Leave" Princess Ah-jong stuttered as she's already choking with her blood

"Mother. Let's go" Yerim mumbled weakly as she wrapped her arms around Princess Ah-jong

"G-go.. Go, my baby"

Princess Ah-jong looked at Seulgi who's crying and shaking her head, she knew that the Crown Prince won't leave her but she has to "Faster.  L-leave.. Save her.. J-junmyeon and Yongsun for me, S-seulgi.. and be a wise king, promise me"

Seulgi hugged her and start sobbing hard, "Please leave, Your Highness. I'm begging you"

With all her strength, Seulgi let go and lifted Yerim who's already wailing hard and not letting go of her Mother's hand

"We should go, Yerim" She tried to sound stern to the younger one and forcedly pulled her with her

As she opened the door, she saw Heechul running towards them. He was surprised to see Seulgi inside the fire

"Your Highness!!" Heechul rushed to her

Yerim looked at Seulgi, clutching her robe, both of them sobbing hard, "Orabeoni"

Seulgi smiled at her, "I'll save her, okay? I promise"

The little kid nodded her head

"Take her first" Seulgi gave Yerim to Heechul

Heechul placed Yerim down on the ground, far from the burning place

But as he turns around to take Seulgi.

An unexpected thing happened

Seulgi inside the chamber, she saw her Auntie was already unconscious, "Auntie"

A loud crash behind her made her f