The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 29 -

Riding their horses next to each other Yeowool accompanied Yeseul back to the Palace. The streets they chose were nearly empty. It was a peaceful night; warm, a cloudless night sky full of stars, only light breezes and even the crickets seemed to be quieter than usual. Even though Yeseul had just chased robbers out of the city, it all seemed so peaceful now. After thanking the city guards and when it was just the two them Yeowool had checked on the wound caused by the knife, but it turned out to be just a little cut.

Yeseul looked over to the man she loved so much. His beautiful face was lit up by the light of the lanterns hanging in front of the houses they passed. She couldn't help but smile as she admired his features.

»What?«, he asked amused in as calm voice and smiled back at her. Yeseul really loved his smile. She wished she could see it more often, but her work at the Palace and especially Lady Ok didn't give her the chance. Yeseul's mind already tried to think of when the next possibility to meet would be. The next days in the Palace surely would be busy and if it wasn't generally busy then Lady Ok would make solely Yeseul's days busy, she was sure of that.

»Look, it's them again«, Yeseul suddenly heard the voice of a young woman say. She held herself back to look in the direction the voice came from.

»Hwarang Yeowool and his concubine«, another young high voice said.

»Probably on the way to one of their nightly meetings«, a third voice spoke up. All three of them laughed. »He should get married first before taking a concubine. That's just the wrong order of doing things.«

»Yes, that's just wrong. She's not even worth it. She's just some clothesmaker's daughter, not even a True Bone«, the second voice agreed.

»As a Sacred Bone, the lowest you should go is True Bone«, the third voice stated and the three of them laughed.

»But, you know, I agree with you. He has to get married first before taking in a concubine, otherwise it's just wrong.«

»It won't be easy for him to find a wife. He is handsome and a Hwarang. But, I mean, everyone would know that you'd be competition to a low born concubine, embarrassing.«

»Maybe she's just a fling and you can get rid of her when you marry him.« The three girls laughed again.

»Yeah, maybe she's just a pastime.«

»Oh, shhh. I think they heard us.«

»Quick, go!«

Yeseul could here fast steps getting further away. Her thoughts were running again. She felt so sad. Maybe the things they said were true. It probably was the wrong order of things if she could only be considered Yeowool's concubine. Then he would have to get married first. She really didn't like the thought of that. Maybe her status would be embarrassing him if more of the public found out. But then again, the other Hwarang she met, one of them even the King, didn't seem to have anything against it. At least not that Yeseul knew of.

She had been so much in her thoughts she didn't even notice that Yeowool had taken her hand and that they had arrived at the Palace walls. They were further away from the gate as Yeseul asked for. She didn't want the Palace guards to see her with Yeowool and start rumours inside the Palace as well.

»I don't want to say goodbye«, Yeowool complained and slightly pouted at her.

»I don't want to either«, Yeseul answered, unwillingly letting go of the Hwarang's hand and jumped of the horse, »But, you know, I have to be back at the Palace. Lady Ok and so on.«