The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 02 -

One And A Half Years Later

Yeseul sat on the ground at her parents' shop and folded clothes. Her family sewed and sold clothes. When her little brother was born her parents decided to open the business and after a long time of moderate business, they became one of the most respected clothing makers of the city. For a year now a lot of officials and other well-respected families came to their shop to get hanboks. In the beginning only the three of them, her dad, her mum and Yeseul, were occasionally getting a job, now they even were able to give three more people a job at their shop. Nevertheless, her parents wouldn't let themselves to not work on the hanboks themselves.

Meanwhile their home and shop grew into the shop building at the busy street, a big courtyard with a lot of clothing lines hanging and a storage building that connected the shop to the families living quarters in the back of the property.

Yeseul was in the area between the shop and the storage in a hallway room from which small wooden stairs lead into the shop. Her little brother sat next to the doorway of the stairs and played with some wooden toys. He was almost 7 now and Yeseul couldn't believe how fast he grew up.

»Yejong, can you bring two of the green hanbok from the first shelf to the storage?«, she asked her little brother.

»Yes«, he answered and left for the storage.

Yeseul just finished her last hanbok when her mum showed up in the door to the shop. »We have a new customer. A Hwarang. I want you to consult him together with me«, she said excited. Yeseul stood up.

Hwarang. Beautiful young men that are supposed to protect the unknown crown prince. That's how the Queen had introduced them. They got picked and were now soon to be welcomed in their new position. Yeseul knew her mother was excited as she had a plan her in mind. She wanted as many of the Hwarang buying their uniform in her shop as possible so that they could promote their work.

As Yeseul went down the stairs and through the shop to the fitting area she heard two of their employees whispering.

»That's Kim Yeowool in our shop.«

»That Kim Yeowool?«

»Yes!«

Yeseul knew that name. Kim Yeowool was supposed to be one of the most beautiful men of the country. She had never seen him but often heard about him when she strolled through the streets. Even more so since the Queen announced she was looking for handsome men.

She followed her mother to the fitting room and closed the door after they entered. The man that was standing there with his back to them had a fan in his hand. He wore a light green hanbok. When he turned around Yeseul got startled. Suddenly she was transported back to that winter evening about one and a half years ago. That handsome man from that evening when she had been taken back to the capital on a horse was now standing in front of her again.

»What do you wish for?«, her mother asked and brought Yeseul back to reality. The two of them bowed to their customer.

»I need the Hwarang robe«, he answered noble.

»I see. I'm going to be back in just a moment«, her mother said as she left the room, »Why don't you help Mister Yeowool undress?« Yeseul nodded.

Yeowool put the fan on one of the chairs and turned to Yeseul again.

»Hwan Yeseul«, he said, »Nice meeting you again.«