My deep soul

Chapter 12

That night, the moonlight spilled through the lattice windows of Jinyoen’s home. She and Dara sat cross-legged on the floor, sipping warm tea while sewing.

“I like the hanfu you’re wearing, Jin,” Dara said, her voice gentle.

Jinyoen smoothed the pale silk sleeve, smiling faintly. “Ah! Eun gave it to me, remember?”

Dara chuckled. “Oh yes. You cried because it was so beautiful.”

Jinyoen flushed, swatting her lightly. “Don’t remind me.”

“Jin… you know, you could have gone to the parade tomorrow. Why do you always hide yourself away?”

Jinyoen sighed. “Parades aren’t for me. Besides, it’s noisy.”

Dara tilted her head. “Still… you deserve joy. You’re too hard on yourself.”

Before Jinyoen could reply, a voice echoed urgently from outside.

“Jin! Jin!”

She froze. “Is that Ahro?”

Ahro stumbled inside, face streaked with tears. She threw himself into Jinyoen’s arms, trembling.

“What happened, Ahro? Why are you crying?” she asked, alarmed.

“She took them,” Ahro sobbed. “She took Father and Orabeoni. Please help me, I don’t know what to do!”

Jinyoen’s blood turned cold. “Who took them?”

“The queen. She took them.”

“What!” Jinyoen rose abruptly, fury flashing across her face. “How did she—? No, never mind. Ahro, wait here with Dara. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Wait—where are you going?” Ahro grabbed her sleeve.

“I’m going to the palace.”

“I’m coming too!”

Jinyoen cupped her face firmly. “No. Stay here. It could make things worse. They won’t dare lay a finger on me. I’ll be safe.” With that, she rushed into the night.

---

Hours later, she waited near the looming gates of the palace, her heart pounding. At last, the gates creaked open, and Sunwoo staggered out.

“Orabeoni!” she called, running to him.

But Sunwoo didn’t respond. His eyes were glassy, unfocused, as though he hadn’t fully returned from wherever he had been. The moment she reached him, he collapsed into her arms.

“Sunwoo!” Jinyoen caught him, holding him upright. His body was trembling with weakness. She kept patting his back, murmuring reassurances.

From the shadows across the courtyard, Jidiwi stood silently, his eyes narrowing as he watched. A sharp, unfamiliar burn coiled inside his chest at the sight of Sunwoo in her arms. He clenched his fists, a strange mixture of anger and jealousy flickering across his features before he turned away.

---

Jinyoen carried Sunwoo to her home with Dara’s help. “Prepare medicine,” she instructed Dara briskly. “And Ahro—stay here tonight. It’s safer.”

Ahro’s eyes were wide with fear. “Jin, what will happen to my father?”

She knelt before her, taking his trembling hands. “Don’t worry, Ahro. He will be fine. Jiso won’t dare harm him. Let’s wait until tomorrow, hm? Come, stay close. I promise—I won’t let anything happen to our father.”

The girl nodded, though his tears did not stop.

---

By morning, the air was tense. Jinyoen accompanied Ahro back to her home. They were barely settled when the queen’s soldiers arrived, their armor gleaming coldly.

“We bring an order,” the leader announced. “Sunwoo is to join the Hwarang.”

Jinyoen stepped forward, her eyes sharp. “Where is Master Ahn Ji?”

“Meeting with the queen, my lady. He will return shortly,” the soldier answered, bowing. Then, without waiting for her reply, they departed.

Jinyoen’s face flushed with anger. “So that’s the deal you made with her? To throw him into the Hwarang?”

Sunwoo blinked, confused. “Why not? Isn’t it an honor?”

Her gaze softened with worry, though her words remained sharp. “It won’t be easy for you. The Hwarang are all noble sons. They’ve studied with private tutors their whole lives. We have ten days, Sunwoo. Ten days for you to learn the basics if you want to survive in there.”

Just then, Ahn Ji returned. After hearing what had happened, his face tightened. “We don’t have a choice. Sunwoo must go. But he cannot go unprepared. Ahro, Jinyoen—you will teach him.”

---

Later that afternoon, they found Sunwoo outside, tossing a dice into the air and catching it absentmindedly. Ahro crouched beside him.

“Alright. How much can you read?”

Sunwoo grinned. “I can read everything on this dice.”

Jinyoen arched a brow. “Do you know more? How many characters do you think exist in the world?”

Sunwoo thought for a moment. “It can’t be more than two hundred.”

Ahro and Jinyoen stared at each other, then groaned in unison.

“You don’t mean the number two hundred?” Jinyoen pressed.

Sunwoo tilted his head. “Is there more?”

“We’re doomed,” Ahro muttered.

Jinyoen bit her lip, worry gnawing at her. 'How am I supposed to teach him philosophy, history, etiquette, and letters in ten days?' Her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

But when she looked at Sunwoo’s earnest face, determination lit her eyes. “Fine. Then we’ll just have to work harder than anyone else.”