The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 33 -

It was a warm and sunny evening as Yeseul peeked out from behind the wall of the Hwarang House. She stood were the wall ended and the horse-riding training ground began. Her eyes glued on one Hwarang in particular, the one she could call hers. A proud smile was on her face as she watched him train mounted shooting. She was pleased to see the other Hwarang Seonu, Suho and Banryu with Yeowool as well. He had complained that they always missed out on each other when going to their mandatory four hours of training.

Yeseul had gotten off work rather quickly today, as Court Lady Ok surprisingly had nothing to complain about the hanbok they currently were sewing for Princess Sookmyeong. Yeowool had told her that he started to train in the evening since the temperature would be cooled down, so Yeseul had tried her luck and had peeked over the wall of the Hwarang House until she found him.

The Hwarang had halted their horses and jumped of them as they talked to each other. Yeseul come out behind the wall and started walking towards them.

»Hwan Yeseul!«, Suho shouted. He was the first to notice her and waved at her. The others waved at her as well. Yeowool's face lit up as soon as he turned around and saw her. With a big smile on her face Yeseul waved back at them and started making faster steps. Arriving at the small group she stepped next to Yeowool and bowed to the other Hwarang.

»Hello Yeseul«, each of them greeted.

»Hello«, Yeseul greeted back and bowed again, a bit shyly. Somehow, she felt really shy around the other Hwarang, especially with Yeowool by her side as she knew that they knew about them.

»How is work at the Palace going?«, Suho asked.

»It's better now, that the coronation is over«, Yeseul explained, »There was so much to do during the coronation.«

»Right, you got ill. It was because you were overworked, I heard, right?«, Suho kept the conversation going.

»Yes, but I'm better now.«

»Yeowool always had to tell us about you every time we met him-", Seonu was stopped by a light panic hit on the shoulder by Yeowool. The group laughed.

»Alright, let's leave those two love birds to themselves, right?«, Banryu teased and put his hands on Seonu's and Suho's back to push them forward.

»Yes, let's leave the love birds alone«, they kept joking as they bid goodbye with waves and took their horses all while Yeowool glared at them a little embarrassed.

Yeowool turned to Yeseul and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. »Hi, Yeseul.« She smiled happily.

»Hi, Yeowool«, Yeseul greeted back and they started walking. Yeowool had his horse on his right side, while Yeseul walked on the left next to him. »How was your training?«

»Good. It's always good to train in groups that way we can help each other improve better«, Yeowool answered.

»That's true.«

»And what about the Palace? Anything new?«

»No, not really. We are sewing for Princess Sookmyeong. She has a very clear idea of what it should look like, but I think we're doing great«, Yeseul answered.

Yeowool closed his eyes and took a big breath. »Ah, it's such a nice evening.« Yeseul did the same.

»That's true.« For a while they just enjoyed the sun and the light summer breeze as they walked next to each other. Yeseul loved those moments in which all they did was being present and enjoying the nature together. Sometimes they didn't have to talk, sometimes being next to each other was more than enough. Such as in moments like this, which the evening sun had dipped the few clouds in their evening colours and the hot air began cooling down to a bearable temperature.

»Since you asked about my father a while back«, Yeowool started and Yeseul looked at him curious, »I thought a lot about it. And I think for a long time there were things that were more important to me than this topic, so I ignored it for a while. But now... I feel like I want to know. I feel so curious suddenly.«

»That's great. And how do you want to find out?«, Yeseul asked.

»I thought about trying to ask mum once more.«

Yeseul let out a small laugh. »You're really trying to mess with you mother at the moment.« He laughed as well.

»Well, she is the person who should know it the best.«

»What did she tell you the last time you asked?«

»The same answer she gave me every time: She won't tell me.«

»Do you know why?«, Yeseul asked. It was a mystery to her why his mother had never told him. What possibly could be the reason?

»No, another thing she won't tell me.«

»Hm. Do you know anyone else who could know?«

»I don't think so. She won't tell anybody. But I'll just try once more. And if not, we have to think about other ways to find out«, Yeowool declared. Yeseul could see how determined he was to find out the truth about his father. After all, it had been a mystery all his life. Sooner or later the curiosity would've found him anyways. But something worried her about this new mission he had set himself.

»And what if the answer is something you wouldn't want to know in retrospect?«, she asked a little concerned.

»Hm«, he answered thoughtfully, »Then so be it. I want to know. And afterwards it will be too late. It's not like I could erase certain information in my head.«

»Alright. So, you're sure about it?«

»Yes, I am. Will you help me?«

Yeseul turned to the handsome Hwarang, tiptoed and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

»Yes, of course.«