𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗦, Go Won

𝟬𝟰𝟭. 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲

"I thought about it all night." Dang-gu said. "Although this may put my love at risk, I will do what I must as the heir to Songrim."  Sometimes Dang-gu had stupid ideas.  "I should tell my uncle."  Dang-gu got up.

"No." Yul said. Da-hye took the opportunity to steal Dang-gu's seat.

"You all remember seeing him argue with Lady Jin, right?" Yul asked. "If we accuse her daughter of being a fake and a murder without any concrete evidence, things could get ugly between Songrim and Jinyowon." Yul explained.

Dang-gu sighed. "You have a point." Dang-gu said.

 "If the truth gets revealed, there will be a fight between Jin Mu and Jinyowon." Da-hye said. "Songrim should not be involved."

"But why did they bring a swindler to act as such a powerful priestess?" Dang-gu asked.

"Because they need someone in that position." Uk said.

"What if she gets caught?" Dang-gu asked. "A mother would know her daughter. In the end, she will get caught." Dang-gu said.

"They kill her." Da-hye replied.

"Why do something so reckless?" Dang-gu asked.

"Because it does not matter." Uk said. "Jin Mu must have something big so that even if Jin Ho-gyeong finds out that her daughter is a fake, she will not be able to do anything about it." Uk explained.

Sang-ho came in looking for Da-hye. "Da-hye, the leader summoned you." Sang-ho told her. Apparently, it was time to check up on the soul shifter Master Kang in Sejukwon.

"Has the petrification stopped yet?" Da-hye asked.

"He is able to breathe now." Master Heo responded. "He can also move his finger and toes."

"Master Kang was a mage with many years of training." The leader said. "How did he become tempted to use sorcery?" The leader asked.

"If Jin Mu were to approach me and tell me that I could shift my soul into a younger and more beautiful body." Master Heo said. "I would be tempted too." Da-hye had to admit she would be tempted as well. However she probably would not agree. Master Heo laughed. "I am joking. But I am sure many people would fall for that." Master Heo said. "They are merely keeping quiet because of Songrim."

"First, it was Cheonbugwan and the royal palace." The leader said. "Now it looks like Jin Mu even has influence over Jinyowon."

"But we have evidence to prove that he has been performing the alchemy of souls." Master Heo said. "Once Master Kang spills everything, we can finally put a stop to Jin Mu."

"I do not think Jin Mu is scared of getting caught, Master Heo." Da-hye said. Da-hye knew for sure that Jin Mu was plotting something with Lady Jin's fake daughter, Jin Bu-yeon.

"Instead, he is already plotting something new." The leader said. "I have no way of telling how far Jin Mu is willing to to go from here." The leader explained. "And that scares me."

Da-hye started at the soul shifter Master Kang intently, his skin was still gray but some parts were not petrified. Soon he would regain consciousness and be able to speak. Then they would know the truth. 

It was so hard for Da-hye to get her mind of what had happened last night. She regretted it so much, but it was what the Crown Prince deserved.

Da-hye was now studying in Jeongjingak. However she could not focus. She tapped the top of her ink pen on her lower lip. Da-hye was working on her memorizing skills. She was writing a summary of a book she had read a while ago. Her mind would not focus on the book, it was so frustrating! Why could she not take her mind off the Crown Prince?

Da-hye placed the ink pen down and tried to think. She tried to focus, but she could not. She could not stop thinking about the kiss, should she have forgive him? But how could he be so blind to not see how he hurt her! This was bothering Da-hye way too much.

She needed fresh air. She got up from her seat and started walking to the door. It was so hard to not think about last night. Da-hye had not been to the capital and Chwiseonru in a while, she had been cautious to not accidentally bump into the Crown Prince. But that did not matter anymore, did it?

"Da-hye." Gu Hyo said. "Where are you going?"

"Chwiseonru." Da-hye responded. "Why?"

"Shall I come with you?" Gu Hyo asked.  Perhaps ,if Da-hye had another person with her, it would distract her from the Crown Prince.

"Fine." Da-hye said. "You can come along if  you insist."

"Right." Gu Hyo smiled. "I will."

The Crown Prince had decided to go to Chwiseonru for ginger wine and, although it was very unlikely, he hoped he would see her there. 

As he was arriving he did see Da-hye there. But she was smiling and talking with another mage. It was Gu Hyo. The mage who had hugged her. What could they possibly be doing here together? Had Da-hye just forgotten about the Crown Prince that easily? The Crown Prince waited until Da-hye and  Gu Hyo went inside, so they would not see him.

The owner, Ju-wol, approached the Crown Prince. "Your Royal Highness, you have come for cinnamon and ginger wine, right?" Ju-wol asked.

"That is correct." The Crown Prince responded. "I have."

"Do you know what happened just a while ago, Your Royal Highness?" Ju-wol asked.

"No." The Crown Prince responded not paying too much attention. 

"Young Lady Park came here with a mage. He is from a noble family." Ju-wol explained. "There is a lot of talk going around right now. Young Lady Park is not know for being friendly." Ju-wol said.

"Why do people care so much?" The Crown Prince asked. "It is not like Da-hye and that mage are dating." The Crown Prince was getting jealous. It surely could not be a big deal that Da-hye came to Chwiseonru with a friend, right?

"That is the thing. Many people thought that Young Lady Park would most likely end up getting married to Young Master Seo." Ju-wol explained. "He and Young Master Jang are the only other mages that Young Lady Park is friends with besides her brother. And it is known that Young Lady Park does not like Young Master Jang very much." Ju-wol said. "But now, she has come here with that other mage. He could be Young Lady Park's potential husband." Ju-wol explained.

No, that was impossible, right? Even if Gu Hyo came from a noble family, Da-hye would never marry someone like him.

"I do not think so." The Crown Prince said. "You see, Park Da-hye would never date someone like that. Even if he is from a noble family. I do not think she would settle for him." The Crown Prince scoffed.

𝗦𝗼, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰. 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸, 𝗜'𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝟰𝟭 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜'𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟭.