The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 34 -

Yeseul wanted to hurry. Bokja, Joohye, Gyeongsoon and herself had just finished tidying the sewing room, which Court Lady Ok had commanded them to do after their work hours, and she wanted to leave the Palace before Lady Ok could give her any other task. The four girls got to their shared room in quick steps, giggling at this childish action. Joohye closed the door behind them. Yeseul quickly got to her drawer.

»Whoa, free for today«, Gyeongsoon said happy as she let herself fall on her yo mattress. Yeseul desperately searched for a hanbok she could change into from her maid uniform.

»We could've tidied the room tomorrow in the morning«, Bokja complained and sat down in front of her drawer, stretching herself, »I don't understand, why she's always so mean.«

Yeseul finally decided on a hanbok. It consisted of a dark blue jogeori with white seams and a chima in the same colours.

»I wonder if anyone really understands her intentions«, Joohye exclaimed exhausted.

»I'm almost certain she just hates everyone«, Yeseul said and started changing. It amazed her how over the time she was at the Palace she became really good friends with these three girls. She had been rather shy in the beginning, but since they spent every day together Yeseul quickly warmed up to them. They talked about everything and anyone. If one of them heard any rumour spread inside the Palace she would carry it inside the sewing room and tell the others starting hour long discussions on whether the rumour could be true or not. But there was one thing Yeseul couldn't tell them about and it was Yeowool. She somehow didn't dare to. Thus, she was happy that those rumours from outside the Palace didn't get inside so easily.

»Are you going outside again?«, Bokja asked and watched Yeseul as she closed the jogeori with the help of a black belt.

»Yes. I told my parents I would eat dinner with them«, Yeseul answered and hastily moved to the small mirror they had standing on one of the drawers.

»Ah, I wish I could leave as well and walk around the city«, Joohye said dreamy, »But I have to wait at least ten more days for my biweekly off-day.«

Yeseul started doing her hair. She undid the strict bun and only pinned up half of her hair with a wooden hairpin, the other half fell on her shoulders.

»Yes, you're so lucky to have gotten that coin by His Majesty«, Gyeongsoon agreed.

»I'm sorry, I wished I could give it to you when I don't use it, but you know the guards have a really good memory«, Yeseul apologized, »Remember the time we tried to let Bokja take the coin to leave?«

»Yeah, that didn't work, unfortunately«, Bokja said disappointed, »Court Lady Ok let me mop the hallway when she found out.«

»Alright, girls, I'll get going, before Lady Ok comes to find me«, Yeseul declared. The three girls wished her a lot of fun.

Yeseul left the Palace without any problems by showing the coin to the guard and made her way to her home. It was a warm and nice evening as it was so often this time around. The sunlight danced around her nose, tingling her and causing her to sneeze lightly. She wondered if there would be time left to visit Yeowool after dinner. But she wasn't sure if she would have to look for him at the Hwarang House or at Princess Yoongmyeong's residence. She didn't want to get near the later. The princess's opinion on her had been clear, she didn't like Yeseul. So, she wanted to avoid going there again.

Yeseul arrived in front of her parent's shop. It was already closed, so she decided to take the small alley that led to their sandy courtyard.

»Yeowool!«, she heard her mother shout from further away. Yeseul eyes lit up. He was here?

»Yes?«, he shouted back. Indeed, Yeowool was here. She wouldn't have to look for him after all.

»Can you bring me the next batch of new arrivals?«, her mother shouted again. Yeseul arrived in the courtyard and saw Yeowool sitting on the pyeong-sang with his back to her, a batch of fabric next to him. He must've folded the new arrivals to fit their shelves. He wore a grey hanbok and a fan lay beside him.

»Yes«, he shouted back and stood up. Yeseul used this chance, ran up to him and covered his eyes, just like he had done so often. He jumped in surprise, removing her hands and turning around.

»Yeseul!«, he greeted excited and didn't let go of her hands, »You mother already told me you would come by today.« He gave her a short kiss on her lips.

»So, I didn't surprise you?«, Yeseul joked.

»You did surprise me. Didn't you see how surprised I was?«, Yeowool played along. Yeseul took the batch of fabrics and together they went to the storage.

»Mum, I'm home!«, Yeseul shouted as they entered. Her mother appeared but seemed very busy.

»Yeah, great«, she said and patted her daughter on the shoulder, »Now help him with the new arrivals. Food still needs a while.« Then her mother was gone again. So, they had no other option than doing what they had been told. They stored the newly arrived fabrics in the shelves and took the last few that Yeowool had left on the pyeong-sang inside and folded them as they sat on the floor between the shelves. Finally, Yeseul could ask the question that had been running in her mind the whole day.

»Did you ask your mother?«, she asked, »About your father?«

»Yes«, the Hwarang answered but shook his head, »but she still won't tell me. She said that I should not know, that it most probably was better that way. I don't understand what the reason could be.«

»Hm, what a shame, that would've been too easy. And now?«, Yeseul asked, »Is there any other way you could find out?«

»It won't be easy. We could try to create a list of possible candidates. After that we could go around and ask for clues. For example, if they ever had something to do with the Palace and my mum in particular. But that's a lot of work«, Yeowool explained his plan.

»Yes, that sounds like a lot, but I would love to help you«, Yeseul agreed but another idea popped up in her thoughts, »Does your mother write? Maybe something like a dairy? Or maybe there are something like love letters she wrote to your father.«

»Mum does write frequently. Maybe we could find something in our small library«, he answered thoughtfully, »There we could find more information about possible candidates as well. I'm almost certain, we have some recent history books lying around. We can start there. Yes, I think that's a good starting point.«

»But the library is inside your mother's residence, right?«, Yeseul asked a little concerned, »She doesn't want me there.«

»No worry, I'll sneak you inside. I know a few side entrances. She won't know you're there«, Yeowool assured her. Still a little hesitant Yeseul agreed with a nod.

»This is exciting«, Yeowool said with a big smile on his face and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. He was right. Sneaking into the residence of a princess to look for clues about her past lover in her library definitely sounded like an adventure.

»It is«, Yeseul agreed with the same big smile.

»Food is ready!«, they heard her mother shout. They had finished their task anyway, so they made their way inside the living part of the house. The table was set with table ware and a variety of food. Without any complains Yeowool had started claiming the seating spot right next to Yeseul as his, banning Yejong to sit at the side of the soban. However, the seven-year-old didn't complain since the Hwarang would gladly answer all his questions.

The day ended perfectly for Yeseul. She had her favourite people around, talked and laughed with them and had delicious food in the meantime.