𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀. . . nishimura riki ✔

𝟬𝟬𝟲; the triplets

IN THE MIDST OF NOON, A YOUNG PRINCE RAN OUT INTO THE COURTYARD, GIGGLING HEAVILY. After him, came three boys, all the same age. They had wide grins on their faces as they chased Jungwon throughout the courtyard. It was their favourite thing to do whenever they had any free time. The triplets, who were sons to Lord Park, trained hard to become knights. They would be equally honourable as their uncle, Commander Park, the one who led the army beside the king.

Jungwon stopped running, looking up at the window to the farthest tower to the right, seeing Jieun smile down at him. A sheepish grin made its way to his lips as he turned to look at the triplets. The oldest, Jay, twelve years of age, smiled up at her.

'I have not seen the princess lately,' Jay said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He had got a fair share of moments with the princess, each and every single one of which he greatly enjoyed.

'She is busy with Jiho,' Jungwon replied. 'Doing his duties.'

'A princess doing the prince's duties?' Sunghoon, the youngest brother, asked. He had never heard of such a thing. Of course, his own lady mother sometimes helped his father with politics and such, her opinion having some weight, but Sunghoon had been raised and taught that women should not dip their delicate fingertips into politics. It would hurt their pretty heads.

Jungwon only shrugged, 'she said she wanted to do it, because Jiho is always busy.'

'So she won't play chase with us anymore?' Jake asked, the thought of the princess not joining them when they played caused a string of disappointment to snap inside of him.

'When will we see her then?'

'Maybe later. . .' Jungwon said, feeling a tad odd because of all the attention Jieun was suddenly getting. 'We celebrate our eleventh name-day in a few weeks. She will be present at the feast.'

A LITTLE GIRL SAT BY THE WINDOW OF HER OLDER BROTHER'S QUARTERS, SHE WAS PEERING DOWN AT THE COURTYARD, SEEING HER TWIN BROTHER. She had been spending awfully a lot of time with her older brother, finding solace in his company now that their mother and father had been a bit distant. Nevertheless, helping Crown Prince Jiho with his duties always seemed to excite her. She was currently helping him pen a few new letters to various Masters across the Old Citadel where they all got educated. 

Their father, King Jaeho, had given her permission to help Jiho with some of his duties. Her hand hurt from writing, having gripped the quill a bit too tight. Her eyebrows were furrowed, locks of black hair falling in front of her face. Jieun was too focused on writing to notice it.

'Here━' Jiho gently pulled her hair up so it was not covering her face anymore. 'It is much easier to write when you can see what you are writing.'

She smiled sheepishly at him, embarrassed that she had been too caught up in the letters. Her cheeks turned one shade redder, and Jiho could not help but laugh. 'Sorry, I should have told the maids to braid it before I went to see you,' she mumbled.

'No it's fine,' Jiho said with a small hum as he finished up the last of the letters. 'We're done for now, how is your hand?'

Jieun grimaced, looking down at her hand. It was hurting quite a lot from the way she had gripped the quill. She was not used to writing as much as she had done in the last few days. 'Sore?'

Jiho chuckled, 'a bit, I'm sure. You don't have to finish the last letters if you don't want to, my sweet sister. We'll just keep working on them every day until you feel more comfortable.' He smiled softly at her. 'You are already working wonders, sweet girl. I am very impressed, and very grateful.'

'Good,' she said with a nod, pleased with herself. 'I like helping you.'

'Tell you what,' he said and leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees. 'I think we should go to the kitchen now that we are done. . . I heard they were making pastries.' He reached a hand out and offered it for her to take.

Jieun's head perked up. 'How will we get to the kitchens without anyone seeing us?'

'We'll be going to the kitchen through a secret exit. We won't be using the normal routes.'

Jiho walked over to his wardrobe, opening it. Jieun tilted her head in confusion. She had never heard of these secret passageways before, especially not one in the castle. 

She knew the guards used some to traverse through the city quickly, but the thought of them existing inside her own home made her shudder. Who knew about them? And who used them? They could be a great tool for spying on people.

The back of his wardrobe had proven to be the very barrier between his room and one of the secret passageways.

'Who knows about them, is it just our family?' She asked him.

Jiho turned around to face her. 'Yeah, just us. We've used them for generations to. . . get around.' He debated on whether he should tell her the real reason why they were built and used, but decided against it. Of course, they could be used to get around, but the real reason behind it may have been a bit darker. They were used to spy on people, to gain information.

Certainly a very good strategy if used correctly.