Chapter 5

• A message came from Queen Ingyeong, Yi Sun's mother for me and my mom to enter the palace to discuss the preparation for our eighteenth birthday which was in a week.
• Growing up, Yi Sun and I always celebrated our birthdays in the palace together. According to my mom, the queen was planning to have a grand party to celebrate our coming of age to ascend the throne.
• After my lesson, my mom dressed me up in one of my best outfits and we rode to the palace in our various palanquins carried by four servants each. We entered the palace and made our way to Gyotaejoen palace where the queen resides. The palace has been my second home since I was a little girl, so I knew every inch of the place like the back of my hand. The servant put down the palanquin as Mi Su and Yang Mi helped me and my mom out.
• The queen's court lady announced our arrival to the queen before she led us in. "Your Majesty." Mom and I courtesy in front of the queen.
• The queen was dressed in a wine-colored dangui and blue chima. Her dark hair was tied to the back held together behind her neck by a dragon-shaped hairpin called Binyeol. In the center of her head sat another piece of jewelry called Cheupji.
• "Don't be so formal. Have a seat." We took our seats in front of her as she checked out some silk clothing materials. "Jungmyung, what do you think of this color? I want you to wear it as your skirt at your birthday ceremony." She showed me the wine-colored material in her hand.
• "I think it's beautiful." I smiled.
• "Perfect. It's going to go well with the royal blue material I chose for your Hanbok Top," she said and my mom nodded.
• On my birthday, my mom and the queen took turns preparing my dress. It was the Queen's turn which was why she was asking me about the color. A few moments later, a seamstress came to take my measurements while my mom and the queen sorted out the other preparations for the ceremony.
• When the seamstress left, I sat down, listening to my mom and the queen as I yawned from time to time.
• "Jungmyumg, you look bored." The queen glanced at me.
• "Oh no, not at all. I'm just tired, that's all." I shook my head.
• "Court lady Han, send someone to check what the crown prince is doing," The queen ordered.
• "Yes, Your Majesty." The court lady went out of the room and came back seconds later while my mom and the queen continued to talk about the number of guests and food preparation for the ceremony.
• A knock sounded on the door and the court lady replied, "Come in."
• The door slid open, revealing a palace maid." Your majesty, the crown prince and Prince Yi Jung are training with the commander of the royal guards," she said.
• "Jungmyung, would you like to go join them?" She turned to me and I nodded with a smile on my face. "Very well."
• I stood and paid my respects to her before walking out of the room with Mi su. I strolled to the east palace with a huge smile on my face while Mi su teased me endlessly.
• "It has been more than a month since I've seen Yi Sun and Yi Jung, so don't blame me for being so excited to see them again," I retorted.
• Getting to the training ground, I was greeted by the two princes battling each other with wooden swords. Yi Sun was in a purple vest and jacket which was embroidered with five golden dragons on the chest, back, and shoulders. The outfit was only worn by the crown prince or grand prince. While Yi Jung was in a similar blue outfit his outfit had a tiger head embroidered with silver threads. They both dodged each other's attack effortlessly and I stared in awe as Yi Sun's amber eyes twinkled and his sweaty face glistened under the bright sun. His sharp jaw flexed as he swung his sword at his cousin. Overall, he was a sight for sore eyes.
• The two princes had the same skills and techniques when it came to martial arts because they were trained by the same person except that Yi Sun preferred to use defensive martial arts while Yi Jung used offensive.
• When it comes to archery, Yi Sun had a better aim but his skills paled in comparison to mine, and when we talk about horseback riding, Yi Jung was the fastest. They finished their battle with Yi Jung on the ground and Yi Sun pointing his wooden swords at him.
• "Wow, that was nice to watch." I clapped as I moved closer to them.
• "Jungmyung." Yi Sun beamed as he walked to me. "When did you get here?" He took my hands in his.
• "Not too long ago."
• "I've missed you a lot." He pulled me into a hug and buried his face in my neck as he inhaled my scent, making a flash of heat warm my inside.
• "I missed you too," I said, locking my hands behind him.
• "Cough, cough, cough," Yi Jung said, making us pull away from each other.
• "Jung." I jogged to him. "No need to be jealous, I missed you so much."
• "Really?" His dark brown eyes lit up as his lips perked up in a smile.
• "Of course, you are my best friend."
• "If he's your best friend, what about me?" Yi Sun interrupted.
• "You can't be my best friend, since you are already my fiance," I replied.
• "Can't I be both?" He gave me a confused look.
• "No, you can't, selfish idiot." Yi Jung stuck his tongue out at him while I chuckled at the banter.
• "I've not seen you guys in a month and now that I'm here you are welcoming me with your argument." I folded my arms and looked back and forth between them.
• "We are sorry," they chorused.
• Yi Sun walked back to the commander who was putting the wooden swords back in their places. "Commander Baek, can we leave now?"
• "Yes, Your Highness. I wouldn't want you to keep her Ladyship waiting." He turned to me and bowed his head before leaving the training ground.
• "Let's go inside and have some tea," Yi Sun said and we nodded. He took my hand as we walked into his chamber in Jaseondang Palace with Yi Jung behind us. We stepped into his chamber and took our seats as his eunuch served us freshly brewed ginseng tea.
• "Did Mom ask you to come to the palace because of our birthday?" Yi Sun asked.
• "Yes, but she told me to come and join you guys when she noticed I was bored." I shrugged.
• "The queen has always been so lenient with you but it's only a matter of time before you have to host banquets yourself." Yi Jung smirked.
• "The queen will be around to help with that, so I'll be fine." I stuck my tongue out at him and Yi Sun chuckled.
• "Sun," I called and he glanced up at me. "How do you feel about your fast-approaching eighteenth birthday?"
• "You mean, our eighteenth birthday?" He cocked an eyebrow.
• "Yes, so how do you feel about it?"
• "Well, I feel happy about it because it means we'll be getting married soon." He smiled at me, making my cheeks heat up. "But at the same time, I feel pressured because I will be crowned king soon. I'm not sure if I'm capable of leading the people of Joseon." He sighed.
• "Trust me, you have nothing to worry about. You have been preparing for this all your life, and your uncle and Jung will be there to guide you through. My father will also support you in any way he can," I assured him.
• To be honest, I was also nervous about becoming queen but I didn't want Yi Sun to know that. If he did, he'd only feel more pressure about it and I didn't want to add my worries to his. As my father said, I should become his strength, not his weakness.
• "You're right. I have Uncle Yi Yun and Jung with me, so I'll be fine." He smiled at Jung who returned the gesture.
• The room went silent as we sipped our tea quietly. My eyes were wandering around the room when they accidentally landed on the Gayageum, the twelve-stringed zither that was hiding in the corner of the room. I stood and walked toward it as their curious eyes followed me.
• Picking up the zither, I went back to my seat and placed it in front of me.
• "I didn't know you still had this."
• "I'd forgotten about it since I didn't have time to play it since you stopped coming around." He shrugged.
• "That's bad of you." I shook my head at him as I plucked the strings with my right hand, resulting in a soothing melodic sound.
• "I guess you still remember how to play it. Why don't you play something for us?" Yi Jung requested.
• "Sure." I plucked the strings, playing the song titled Second Moon. As I sang along memories of me playing the zither with Yi Sun and Yi Jung flowed through my mind, and a feeling of satisfaction washed over me, knowing that we were still as close as ever after so many years.
• Yi Sun rested his elbow on the table, placing his fist under his chin as he gazed at me in admiration. Yi Jung moved his head from side to side, following the rhythm of the music.
• I played the zither to my heart's contentment while praying in my heart that we remain this way forever; happy and always together