The palace was always crowded with countless faces: eunuchs in their emerald-colored robes with black headpieces and maids with braids tied on top of their heads in strictly one hairstyle. There were also various court officials whose attire colors and embroideries differed based on rank.
Those faces could change every day, and Wonbeom didn’t care because the personalities behind them didn’t matter. All of them were someone’s spies. How he slept, what he ate, every book he read, every sideways glance – all were reported to someone.
When Kim Soyong appeared in his life, she was just another face among many who would report his movements to her family. However, there was a difference in how Wonbeom thought about her. She made him unreasonably angry by being who she was.
Other spies didn’t bother him at all however Kim Soyong did. She imprinted herself into his mind. The more fascinated he was by her the angrier Wonbeom became. He tried to expel her from his head but it was an almost impossible task. He wished she had been born into another family, but it couldn’t be changed either. His coldness towards her was his defense reaction to his own deeply buried feelings.
However, Kim Soyong was always there, in the corner of his eye. Slowly without him knowing she fell into his heart and left him to deal with the consequences of having feelings for the enemy. She tormented his soul with doubts while she was around. And when she disappeared Wonbeom suffered even more. From his guilt, from his unresolved feelings he held back, from hopes of her return.
By the time Soyong came back into Wonbeom’s life, his restless heart was at peace about what he wanted and what he felt.
This however didn’t cure his mind from endlessly thinking about her. It only made things worse. Wonbeom’s reaction to Kim Soyong’s return surprised him probably more than her mysterious disappearance and no less mysterious return. He simply couldn’t help himself from trying to get her reaction to his teasing because it only further proved she was back.
That led Wonbeom to a rather ridiculous day at the royal conference. He hardly remembered what ministers proposed regarding an important tax reform. Instead, Wonbeom’s mind was full of fear the Queen might consider him a creep:
“Why did I stare at her while she was sleeping?” Wonbeom mumbled to himself with a sigh. Ministers only shared confused looks and whispers spread like a breeze across the Injeongjeon Hall.
The contradictory thoughts followed him later that day when he read appeals while working in Seonjeongjeon Hall. He smiled uncontrollably remembering how rosy her cheeks were when they shared drinks. The memories of their bickering over who must drink more made him overwhelmed with joy.
“He’s beyond saving,” Hong’s voice suddenly yanked Wonbeom back to reality.
His friend and brother both stood in the center of the room. The lit-up lanterns suggested that it was already a late hour. Wonbeom blinked in confusion, looking at the scroll in his hands that he held this whole time upside down.
He read nothing today. And he remembered the conference happening but not a word that was said at it.
“What time is this?” Wonbeom asked from his brother who stood by Hong’s side looking even more unamused than usual.
“The curfew will be in an hour,” Hong chuckled answering instead. “I guess it’s pointless to ask how your day went?”
“Did you find out the reason behind the Queen’s lies?” Yeongpyeong asked ignoring Dul Il’s teasing.
Wonbeom put the scroll back on the table and took another one that he prepared right after he left Queen’s residence.
“She thought I would punish her and her father solely for belonging to the Andon Kim clan,” Wonbeom stood up and walked to his brother, holding the scroll to him before continuing: “I’ve prepared the document with the royal seal to ease her worries.”
“You really going to pardon her father?!” Yeongpyeong asked reading the content of the scroll. “He changed his mind at the end however it won’t erase years of corruption!”
“The moment I married the Queen, he became my family too,” Wonbeom insisted. “He reflected on his deeds and basically gave away all his goods to commoners.”
“He’s broke and his own family wishes to see him dead. To me he was punished enough,” Hong nodded agreeing.
“You say that because you’re befriended Queen’s cousin,” Yeongpyeong rolled his eyes. He indeed considered the whole Kim clan as awful without exceptions.
“Ya, Kim Hwan is not bright enough to participate in corruption,” Hong stood in a defensive pose with both hands on his hips. “This is all jealousy talking in you,” he shrugged and turned away.
“You both so ridiculous,” Wonbeom shook his head. When his brother is away from Director Hong, he’s the most reasonable person Wonbeom knows. But once cheerful Dul Il got involved, Yeongpyeong always lost his temper.
“Says the man who can’t focus on work because of the woman,” Hong smirked. “I never saw you like that, not even with…”
Dul Il stopped abruptly but everyone knew what he wanted to say. Even while Wonbeom had a relationship with Hwa Jin he didn’t lose his head in clouds like today.
“The wait was too long,” Wonbeom looked towards the opened window in the direction of Queen’s residence. “You know me, I like action more. The wait was killing me,” Wonbeom avoided his friend’s and brother’s eyes.
“Maybe visiting her at this hour is reasonable,” Hong patted Wonbeom’s shoulder. Wonbeom raised his brows, not sure what his friend was insinuating. “She probably took off her rings, it’ll be easier on your cheek,” he laughed finally finishing his thought.
Wonbeom let out an annoyed sigh. He must come up with more work for his friend, he has too much free time to develop this ridiculous sense of humor.
He took the document from Yeongpyeong’s hands and headed outside. Even with the high probability of getting slapped, Wonbeom preferred the Queen’s company more. Maybe when they clear this misunderstanding and she’ll accept his apologies, they can start fresh. And maybe he would stop acting as a complete fool. He can’t run a country when every little thing the Queen did, gave him so many contradictory emotions that it distracted him from anything unrelated to her.
When he finally reached the Queen’s residence, Wonbeom once again faced obstruction from her loyal maids.
“Her Highness is sleeping, Your Majesty,” Choi Sanggung bowed to him. And as Wonbeom could see from no light coming from the Queen’s bed chamber it might be true.
“It won’t take long,” Wonbeom assured her and took a step forward only to be blocked by Choi Sanggung. He raised brows, not used with any maids acting so brazen towards the King.
“Her Highness asked to not interrupt her rest,” Choi Sanggung politely insisted.
Wonbeom narrowed his brows, looking closely at the older maid but her emotionless face didn’t give any clues for him. He then turned to see a younger maid, the one who entered the palace with the Queen and she didn’t have the same experience of hiding her agitation.
Something was different; yesterday they allowed him in, letting the Queen deal with him herself.
Wonbeom bypassed an older maid and quickly opened the sliding doors walking inside. The spare room was empty just like the second part where Queen’s bedding was prepared. No one was there. Wonbeom looked around to make sure he didn’t miss anything and the Queen was indeed absent.
He turned back, looking at Choi Sanggung again: “Unless the Queen is hiding behind this screen,” Wonbeom pointed at the screen with the scroll he had in hand, “I must conclude the Queen’s room is missing the Queen herself.”
“Her Highness took a walk outside… The chilly air helps her fall asleep,” Choi Sanggung tried to come up with a new story but Wonbeom didn’t believe it.
“I know you mean well, Choi Sanggung, and I honestly admire your loyalty to the Queen,” Wonbeom approached the older maid, standing very close to her. She didn’t dare to lift her eyes from the floor and Wonbeom basically towered above her. “But there’s no need to cover for her anymore, I know Kim Soyong is back.”
The younger maid behind Choi Sanggung gasped.
“It might be hard to believe but I won’t purposely hurt her ever again,” Wonbeom hoped his voice sounded sincere enough to convince her close maids. “If you believe she’s safe whatever she’s doing right now, I would trust your judgment and come back in the morning…”
“Her Highness left the palace to visit her father,” the younger maid busted out quickly making everyone turn heads in her direction. “I’m sorry Choi Sanggung but I can’t stop worrying!”
Wonbeom ignored the rest, rushing out of the room and running towards his residence. When the Head Eunuch caught up with him, Wonbeom already changed into his black attire for secret missions that he always had hidden in his room.
“Sangseon1Sangseon – the Head Eunuch., I need you to alert the Royal Guards and Prince Yeongpyeong,” Wonbeom instructed quickly without letting the older man put any word in between. “I need them to join Podocheong2Podocheong – literally Agency for Thieves Arresting, was a government body that was responsible for the arrest and punishment of criminals during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. on the streets of Hanyang immediately and make sure that every possible path between the palace and the Queen’s home is under their eye.”
And before the old eunuch could react to what he was seeing or say something, Wonbeom opened the window and left using his usual route. He couldn’t afford anyone slowing him down, so he decided to leave the palace secretly. Wonbeom also knew his brother needed time to put everyone on their feet at this hour and Wonbeom couldn’t wait.
Seeing the busy street, even at this hour, Wonbeom calculated the probability of the Queen using the safest path among many people around.
“This woman never chooses the easiest way,” Wonbeom shook his head and ran into the nearest narrow street.
He wandered between hanoks3Hanok – a house., trying to inspect every possible street but found nothing. People were absent and the dark windows of hanoks told him that people were already prepared to sleep. The desperation raised in Wonbeom with every step and every look around the corner where he couldn’t find the Queen.
He hoped he was wrong and she safely reached her home and was drinking tea in the company of her father. But his heart pounded fast, worrying she might be in actual danger. And when he heard a loud cry for help, his heart almost stopped beating for a moment.
Wonbeom ran as fast as he could in the direction of the sound and he didn’t pause even for a moment when he finally saw her. The Queen was on the ground and three unknown men pointed their swords at her.
Everything Wonbeom needed was for her to be alive and he would make sure it stayed that way.
He jumped from the higher street right before the men and the battle began. Those were skilled swordsmen however the rage Wonbeom had within him made him unstoppable. Two opponents got him occupied without the chance to take a third one into the fight. However, when Wonbeom briefly looked the other way he saw how Soyong threw dirt into the remaining attacker’s face, blinding him. Hopping the Queen can continue standing up for herself with one of the attackers, Wonbeom focused on two others.
All Wonbeom needed was to wound them enough to give up but not cause lethal injuries because he very much wanted to know who sent them and how to find them. But he was ready to any measure to keep his Queen safe tonight and if it meant eliminating those people, Wonbeom would do that.
Behind him, Wonbeom heard Soyong’s squeak and he turned to her voice just in time to knock out the third fighter with the back of his handle. He dived back into a fight with the remaining two, effectively injuring them and finally stilling on the spot, catching his breath.
After making sure the attackers wouldn’t try anything again, Wonbeom turned and saw Soyong with a stone in her hand, rushing towards them. She stopped abruptly, her eyes wide in obvious shock upon seeing him. For a moment, Wonbeom thought she considered him a threat too by seeing how she held the stone in her hand. But a second later, the stone fell from her hand and she relaxed with a loud exhale.
“Jungjeon4Jungjeon – Queen or My Queen.,” Wonbeom walked towards her, “are you hurt?” He worriedly observed her and even in the moonlight of the night, he could see her cheek being swollen and pink. She might have more injuries but she stayed silent, looking at him with tears in her eyes with a mix of hope and tenderness. Once again Wonbeom wished to know what her gaze could mean.
Before he could do something else, they heard noise and Soyong turned away from people approaching them. Based on their uniform it was Podocheong at last.
“Your Majesty? The leader of the group asked, looking doubtful.
“Arrest those people and inform Director Hong immediately,” Wonbeom ordered them right away. “Tell him I need to know everything those people know.”
“Does Your Majesty need an escort back to the palace?” The man now stepped closer to Wonbeom and the Queen, all doubts disappeared from his voice.
“I’m going home,” The Queen suddenly reacted upon hearing the other man. She still stood with her back turned away, hiding her face but she briefly glanced at Wonbeom.
“Is it this important?” Wonbeom sighed. It’s not the first time he sees her stubbornness but he’s surprised she still wishes to continue with her plan instead of returning to the safety of the palace.
She turned her head again, looking into his eyes before quietly saying: “Today is my mother’s Memorial Day…”
Wonbeom closed his eyes, how he didn’t know that? It explained why those people waited for her today out of all days.
“We not going to the palace,” Wonbeom told the man he talked to before. “I ask you to follow us until we reach Great Lord Yeongeun’s house. You can leave after that; the estate already has guards.”
Their small procession took off towards Queen’s natal home. Wonbeom and Soyong walked first but their protectors were nearby, alerted to react to any threat or noise.
“You know everything, aren’t you, Jeonha5Jeonha – Your Majesty.?” Soyong suddenly broke the silence. “You know who I am…”
“The difference was too apparent,” Wonbeom confirmed. “I’m surprised you tried to act it out, Jungjeon.”
“I had my reasons,” she quietly said without looking at him.
As they made their path to her father’s home, side by side, their hands almost brushed against each other. However, it felt like the abyss was always between them. This whole evening she avoided his eyes and Wonbeom felt like he was missing her again even though she walked by his side.
The only thing Wonbeom learned after her return is how hard it’s going to be. He must be happy she’s alive and back in Joseon. Or be happy the truth is revealed at last. Instead of happiness, Wonbeom felt even more guilt, his heart aching that once again his actions led to harm for her. She lived her life as a bright happy woman but after meeting him, Soyong always got hurt no matter what Wonbeom did.
Wonbeom wanted to say how sorry he feels about what happened today but he doesn’t know where to start. There are too many things he must apologize for. He’s afraid one night won’t be enough to cover everything that went wrong between them.
But before he could say something to end this agonizing silence, they finally reached their destination. He realized it by seeing how Soyong changed, straightening her back and looking forward with so much hope in her eyes. And after they passed big bushes by the road, they could finally see the entrance to the estate. The next moment Soyong suddenly ran to the stairs that led to the front gate and by the time Wonbeom reached the stairs himself, she was already on the top and froze before two guards who blocked her way.
“Open the gate, it’s a royal command,” Wonbeom ordered from behind.
Inside the yard, they were greeted by more guards, who walked to see who come that late. And soon, Kim Mun Geun showed himself from the backs of the guards.
“Ah, Your Highness!” He noticed his daughter first and then recognized Wonbeom too: “Your Majesty!”
“Abeonim6Abeonim – an honorific form of “father”, Appa – a casual form of “father”.!” Soyong rushed into her father’s embrace. “Abeonim…” she whispered again, hugging him tightly.
Wonbeom smiled observing this heartwarming reunion. His doubts about Kim Mun Geun’s true nature left him a long time ago when the Queen’s father agreed to help expose his own clan. But now he sees confirmation of how sincerely father and daughter cared about each other. He gave up all his money and power to keep his daughter safe. While the Queen risked her well-being and lied to the King himself just to find a way to protect her father.
“I’m sorry that I’m so late, Abeonim,” Soyong moved away from the hug.
“What are you talking about? You never miss your mother’s Memorial Day, I knew you would come,” Kim Mun Geun smiled. “But what happened to you?”
The old man finally noticed the poor condition of her clothes but Soyong shook her head: “It doesn’t matter now,” Soyong turned back to look at Wonbeom. He would be happy if she really wished to look into his eyes at last but he knows that she just turned away so her father doesn’t notice her swollen cheek.
“We both come to pay our respect to mother,” Wonbeom walked to stand by Soyong. “Sorry for disturbing you so late, father,” Wonbeom lowered his head apologizing.
“Your Majesty shouldn’t apologize,” Kim Mun Geun awkwardly waved his hands. “This way…”
The insides of the home looked very empty even in the semi-darkness of a few lanterns illuminating the way. The room where everything was prepared for the memorial had more light and Wonbeom saw a lot of flowers and food on the table. Together with Soyong they stood before the table, bowed, and lowered to their knees.
“Eomeonim7Eomeonim – an honorific form of “mother”, Eomma – a casual form of “mother”., I’m home,” Soyong whispered. Even in the dim lighting of the candles, Wonbeom saw tears glistening in her eyes. That sad sight he remembered too well from the times before her suicide attempt. How he can even be redeemed from a grave sin like that?
“I’m glad you’re back, Wonbeom sincerely said. Soyong turned to look at him, with surprise read in her eyes. “You’re just in time to visit your mother,” Wonbeom added, to ease the tension. Maybe now is not a good time to talk about his guilt and he should be just happy for Soyong.
“I would visit anyway,” Soyong looked away again. “This place would be destroyed by the fire in the next century but people will rebuild it again.” Soyong smiled: “In the future, it’s a restaurant. A place where people eat fancy food. Some strangers would eat bulgogi in my room someday.”
For Soyong this was her home where she grew up but ruthless time will change everything and this place turns into something else. Wonbeom found it incredibly sad. Losing something precious is always hard, but knowing for certain that something would be lost in the future while you couldn’t change anything must have made her feel even more broken.
“There’s even a portrait of me hanging in the hallway,” Soyong smiled to Wonbeom’s surprise. Maybe she felt different about it. “It’s a popular place because it was my home a long time ago.” She turned to Wonbeom again and he realized her smile was sincere and not a sad one: “We might vanish but people will remember us. I always wondered if anyone would remember me through the years.”
She was so calm and her gaze was so soft that Wonbeom wondered if it could be because she was in her home where she knew every corner or perhaps, just perhaps, they became a little bit closer. He hoped they could have many heart-to-heart conversations like this. Maybe one day he would tell her about himself as well.
Wonbeom felt like he was hypnotized by her big brown eyes as they were staring into each other’s eyes for a long time which still felt like not enough. It ended with Soyong blinking suddenly after they heard the noise in the hallway. Wonbeom didn’t even know they were alone the whole time they had their little chat. But now Kim Mun Geun came back to them with a little box in his hands.
“It’s not much but still…” He said looking how Soyong got up and walked towards him. “Happy Birthday, Soyong-ah,” he handed the little box to her.
Wonbeom sighed and closed his eyes, mentally kicking himself for now knowing not only about the day Soyong’s mother passed but that it was also the day she was born. There are so many things he tried to find out about her while she was away but he forgot about basics.
In the box was a beautiful pearly-colored hairpin with a gem in the center. Soyong smiled warmly at her father and thanked him with another hug.
“Will you come back to the palace now?” Kim Mun Geun asked when they broke the hug and he was able to look at Wonbeom.
“Jungjeon must be exhausted,” Wonbeom smiled himself. “If it won’t bother you too much, could we stay here for a night?”
Kim Mun Geun got all enthusiastic all of a sudden: “How Her Highness and His Majesty could bother me? I will order to prepare rooms for you both… and a bath… and fresh clothes… and…”
“Could I also use your office? I need to write a note to the palace and order to send a palanquin for us tomorrow,” Wonbeom interrupted his overly excited father-in-law. They should have visited him more often, he’s probably very bored living under home arrest. Even if it’s a fake one.
Wonbeom was about to leave, writing the letter to his brother and leaving Soyong alone with her father when he suddenly heard her voice:
“Jeonha?” Wonbeom turned to look at her, loving the soft sound of her voice when she called for him. “Thank you for being with me tonight,” she bowed her head in gratitude.
For her, Wonbeom thought, he could be by her side every day and night for the rest of his life if she would allow it. But it was too early for confessions like that and instead, Wonbeom just nodded and left.
==== POST CREDIT SCENE ===
Wonbeom took one book after another, quickly going through the pages, and placed it back on the shelf once he was sure what he was looking for wasn’t there. He already inspected every book in Seonjeongjeon Hall8Seonjeongjeon Hall – King’s study., leaving the usually tidy place in a mess. Now was the turn of Huijeongjeon Hall9Huijeongjeon Hall – King’s residence. and the longer Wonbeom searched the less he cared if he put books neatly or not, did it fell on the floor after that or not.
Wonbeom was irritated more than usual lately. All his servants tried to be as quiet as possible, trying to not get in the way when Wonbeom started requesting something rather loudly.
“Sangseon!” Wonbeom called an old eunuch. The latter ran inside the room so fast, that he almost tripped. “Where is the stack of books that was right there,” Wonbeom pointed to the commode by the window. “I’m certain I left it there this morning!”
“Your Majesty finished reading, and I requested the books to be returned to the library,” the old eunuch quickly responded, avoiding Wonbeom’s eyes. “I will request to bring them all back…” he quickly busted out next.
Wonbeom waved his hand: “Don’t bother, I’m sure it wasn’t there…”
He turned around, observing his room, trying to remember where he put the book he was looking for. He doesn’t even remember what the book was about and it didn’t matter. What he needed was inside the book, tucked between pages.
“Where else I could leave that book…” Wonbeom mumbled. He ran out of ideas. It could be anywhere, even at the Director’s Hong office where they used to have secret meetings.
“Your Majesty always acts strangely after meeting with the Queen,” Head Eunuch whispered while walking outside the room.
Wonbeom closed his eyes, taking a deep irritated breath. He was indeed not in his best mood lately. And yes, the Queen was the reason behind his bad-tempered outbursts. Her long absence is what caused Wonbeom distress. Today he had a usual meet-up with his brother, Director Hong, and Chef Jang. Together they discussed their plans on how they could set a trap for escaped Kim Clan’s officials. It went normally with typical banter between Chef and Director Hong and with Yeongpyeong’s judging everything and everyone face.
But after the meeting ended Wonbeom realized that the Queen’s perception in his mind kept changing from Soyong to Chef. That sudden realization scared him. Kim Soyong slowly slipped away from his memories the longer Chef’s Queen was around.
Wonbeom needed something to hold the memories of her in his mind until she came back. And for that, he must find that damn book in which Wonbeom left the red ribbon Soyong gave him in their first encounter in the palace. He used it as a bookmark for some time until he decided what the ribbon represented was too dangerous. His constant thoughts about Soyong became too alarming. So the ribbon was left in the book that Wonbeom never read again. But he wouldn’t dare get rid of it. The book must be somewhere…
Wonbeom opened his eyes abruptly, having a new idea about where he might left the book. He rushed to the room where his bed was prepared, went down on his knees, and reached his hand under the commode. He slid his hand across the bottom until he found what he was looking for. He made that secret place under the commode to hide his books from the eyes of various spies. Later he simply changed covers between his book with lewd pictures and important ones. Because of that, everyone believed he was a pervert. But better have this reputation than let the Kim clan know he actually intelligent and ready for a fight King.
He let out a relieved sigh after he pulled out the book and saw the end of the red ribbon peaking between the pages. Wonbeom remembered now how this book ended up there. He was reading before going to bed when he realized his improvised bookmark was distracting him. So he put the book away with the ribbon in it and tried to erase the memories of it.
He stroked the ribbon with his thumb, feeling a fine silk with a floral pattern. He remembered how Soyong tied the ribbon around his wounded arm and how he couldn’t take away his eyes from her. That was a simpler time when he was just Wonbeom and she was just Soyong and nothing else existed except for her big brown eyes.
Not satisfied with just one memory, Wonbeom sat at his lower table and spread a blank paper before him. He put a ribbon by the side, as a reminder who he must capture, and started to outline the portrait. With every movement of the pencil, he was trying to recall more happy moments with Soyong. There weren’t many, he mostly played a fool or was cold to her. But then he remembered one more joyful moment, the one where Soyong wasn’t aware of his presence.
It was early spring, right after she was chosen to be the next Queen. The weather suddenly became cold again and the snow started falling down. It was a rare moment when Wonbeom was left wandering the palace alone. This is when he heard a maid calling for her mistress, worried she might get cold. He walked on the sound of laughter and found Soyong.
She was laughing running away from her two maids who tried to cover her in extra layers to warm her up. Soyong seemed to have other thoughts, as she gracefully avoided the trap of her two maids. She turned away and her skirts twirled in the process, it looked as if she was dancing.
Wonbeom remembered how he smiled uncontrollably. For the first time in the palace, something so simple and joyful happened, brightening his day.
Keeping in mind this scene, Wonbeom continued his painting. He put extra effort into capturing the glimmer of her eyes. The cheeks would be painted in pale pink when he would use paint to color it. Just a bit, because that is how he remembered it from that cold day.
Wonbeom remembered her wide smile but he couldn’t quite get it right and ended up making just a glimpse of it. It was a smile ready to break free, the corners of her mouth were just slightly up. But Wonbeom still wasn’t satisfied with the final result. He decided to correct the lower lip, blending it slightly to add more volume because her lips were definitely fuller than he portrayed initially.
Wonbeom was fully concentrated on his task, his finger brushing against the painted lower lip when he froze suddenly, realizing he got lost in an act as if he were stroking Soyong’s real lips.
“What am I doing?” Wonbeom asked in the empty room.
There was no one to give him an answer. He was the only one who knew the reason why his mood was down or why he was irritated. It wasn’t only because he needed Soyong’s forgiveness. Or because he felt sorry for her. It was because he wanted to go back to that night at the lake and hear her out. And if she asked him to love her again he might answered differently.
The night passed and by the morning servants found Wonbeom sleeping at his table. His stretched arm was his pillow and the finished colored portrait of Soyong was next to his face on the table.
Author’s notes
The portrait Wonbeom made (and the one Soyong saw in the future) was made from this and this photos (source). I know it’s Shin Hae Sun and only behind-the-scenes photos but I LOVE it so much that I decided to write it in the story. And conveniently it’s a replacement for the rain scene but with snow and with Soyong being happy before things got bad for her.
And I know Wonbeom was ok with Queen’s changes on the show, however, the Queen in the show was a mix of two souls and he wasn’t aware of it. Here Wonbeom knows about the swap and therefore he reacts differently. Maybe I explain obvious things but I want to talk it out nonetheless. Because even tho this is an AU, I try my best to write everyone in character. It’s the same characters in different circumstances. Whether I’m succeeding in it or not is another question lmao
The next chapter is Soyong’s POV and it’s still the same night >_> I couldn’t just injure Soyong without giving Cheoljong an opportunity to tend her wounds <3
PS Cheoljong be like: “Hello. My name is Lee Won Beom. You harmed my Queen. Prepare to die.” (from the famous movie “Princess Bride”: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.)
Aww, that picture/portrait! You know I’m all for the youthful Kim So-Yong! 💕
But that post-credit made me gasp! Love how it reflected the present WB’s dilemma.
Thank you for the update. It really makes my busy week~
Youthful Soyong is the most adorable girl, I wish we saw more of carefree days from before drama started. But I hope after all hardships on the show, both of them returned that youthfull and carefree personalities they once lost because of the palace’s drama.
Thank you for reading! <3