Seol-hee was about to sneak past the field but stopped when she heard a ripping sound. People who couldn’t overcome their curiosity gathered in circles and while looking there, they saw the sight that took place and froze.

“Ah…” Kang Yoon grabbed Seol-hee's hand tightly.

“Insolent! Four years ago, my father said I couldn’t touch her, that was just unfounded rumors by you court ladies!”

A very angry Son Yu kicked the court lady as he shouted. A stick with a thick whip hit the court palace lady. Red blood seeped out over the light green jeogori (upper garment in hanbok). Seol-hee, who recognized at a glance the court lady who had quietly followed behind her, gripped Kang Yoon’s hand.

“Prince, please stop.”

“Ah, Seol-hee is here, did you come for refreshments with me?” Son Yu stopped kicking the court lady and asked with a friendly smile.

It gave Seol-hee goosebumps and she retreated, but Kang Yoon came in front of Seol-hee.

“Stop it, brother.”

“Who told this bastard he can come inside the field? He must be out of his mind.”

Kang Yoon’s lips trembled. He was still a small child that only reached his waistline.

“Oh, now that I see, the both of you have the same eyes.”

“Your Majesty, please!”

A loud shout rang out from inside with a loud ring of a bell. As the emperor came, everyone fell flat on the floor. The princes who had gathered in the dance hall knelt all at once and waited for the emperor.

“It’s noisy.”

Seol-hee, like the others, fell on the floor, but the emperor, who walked without hesitation, hugged her.

“Tch! What did this insolent boy do?”

“It’s not me, Your Majesty…”

Yoon, the emperor, could guess what happened at a glance. The corners of his mouth raised as he hugged Seolhee and surprisingly patted the small of her back. After taking a glimpse at his young son kneeling below him, he swallowed his laughter inside.

“It seems that Seol-hee is pretty close with the prince.” Yoon, while holding Seol-hee with one hand, gently stroked Kang Yoon’s hand with the other.

“Ah, Father…” Kang Yoon raised his reddened face. “Let the court lady be treated, Your Majesty.”

Yoon beckoned and the eunuch hurriedly helped the court lady who was beaten by Son Yu and disappeared. Son Yu, who was kneeling down, grinded his teeth.

“Father, that court lady…”

“Tch! I didn’t ask you, who told you to speak?”

Yoon then asked Seol-hee after cutting off Son Yu’s words. Seol-hee hesitated if she could say it but she whispered in a very small voice into Yoon’s ear, and everyone held their breath.

“It looks like our Seol-hee wants to play with the prince. Ah, not here, but in the manor?”

Although she had whispered quietly, everyone in the palace knew what she had asked the emperor because Yoon repeated it loudly. Seol-hee nodded with a red face.

“That’s right. The prince may go to the manor whenever he wants.” Having said that, Yoon turned around and embraced Seol-hee. 

Yoon had never shown affection for his own children. He took the throne from his own brother. There was no guarantee that his children would not do the same. In the first place, Yoon had a twisted perception that brothers were just like that, and that they were born to be like that. So, even more so, Yoon was obsessed with his teacher’s child.

Yoon handed Seol-hee over to Haewoon, who was quietly standing behind them, with a sad face. 

“Father!”

Haewoon held her daughter and looked at Yoon, who was now smiling with satisfaction.

Less than three months after that incident, a prince was announced as the successor. The crown prince is from the royal bloodline of the Giran empire who had a truce with the Baek empire. 

The prince’s name was Seo Kang Yoon.