Suitors and Strangers

Chapter 11 (Pil)

"Has Sa Ra returned yet?" asks Joon Seo as she stares out into the surface of the pond. She gets no response from her attendants; she sighs deeply as she closes her eyes. The familiar sensation of worry and panic set in; she knows this feeling all too well. It's the same feeling she got whenever Wang So was sent on those stupid missions that could have killed him.

"Are you alright, Joon Seo?" asks a sickening voice that makes Joon Seo sick to her stomach and her skin crawls at the mere mention or thought of the man. She opens her sighs and composes herself to face him.

"Of course, Prince Wang Yo," she says with a smile. "What gave you the impression that I was not?"

"You were staring off into space," he says with a sly smirk. He's wearing his expensive set of garments today and curiosity gets the best of her, but she quickly changes her mind.

"I was deep in thought," she says scoffing a bit, almost in a flirty way. "I was just wondering how Sa Ra was doing. It's been a while that she left and being as she and I had gotten closer she is my sister. Not by blood obviously, but by something much deeper."

"Princess Pil?" asks the head attendant of Queen Yoo. Wang Yo looks at the lady as if he was interrupted in the middle of an important meeting was was about to harm the lady. "Her Majesty is asking for you."

"What does my mother want with her?" asks Wang Yo but he is ignored as Joon Seo goes to the attendant and they walk away. He is about to stop them when he decides to pay a visit to Yeon Hwa.

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"I'm sorry, but what Your Majesty?" asks Joon Seo as she looks at Queen Yoo with wide eyes, shocked at what she has asked her to do.

"I know you heard me clearly, Joon Seo," says Queen Yoo with a fake smile. She's trying to get this girl away from Wang So and into Wang Yo's arms so that she can help him get onto the throne.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," says Joon Seo once she's recovered from her shock. "But what you are asking me to do is simply impossible. His Majesty will be the one to ultimately choose who I will marry."

"But he'll keep you happiness in mind," says Queen Yoo a bit tense. She's getting tired of this girl's antics. "Think about it for a few days and then come to me once you have your answer."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Jon Seo says as she stands and exits the Queen's quarters. She is so stunned by what she has been told she doesn't notice the hawk that has been flying over her. She still cannot believe what Queen Yoo is asking her to do. She can't possibly do that to her father. She heads to Queen Hwangbo's quarters.

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"It's been awhile, Yeon Hwa," says Wang Yo with a smile. "Have you been well?"

"Since when have you been interested in my health?" asks Yeon Hwa as she grips her garments tightly but secretively. "This is the first time in almost a month that you have even acknowledged my presence."

"I'm always worried about the health of my younger sister," says Wang Yo in a sickly sweet tone. Yeon Hwa scoffs. "I actually came by to offer you something." This catches Yeon Hwa's attention. "I want Joon Seo but I can't do that with Wang So in her eyes. And I know you want him but she's already in his heart." She glares at him. "How about we help each other so that we both get what we want?"

"What's your plan?" asks Yeon Hwa as she leans in a bit; Wang Yo smiles a dangerous smile.

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"She asked you to tell His Majesty what?" exclaims Queen HwangBo as she looks at Joon Seo in shock. "Who does she think she is? You don't even have feelings for that rotten man!"

"Mother!" warns Joon Seo, not wanting anyone to listen.

"She thinks she's so slick trying to get you to marry that man," Queen Hwangbo says through gritted teeth. "Leave the palace, my child!"

"What?" asks Joon Seo really confused.

"Call for Wang So!" says Queen Hwangbo to one of her Ladies as she goes to hold onto Joon Seo's hand. "You heard me. Leave the Palace and live a peaceful life with Wang So."

"M-Mother! How could you ask me to do such a thing?" asks Joon Seo; her eyes watering. "I don't want to leave you behind! I can't leave you here knowing you'll be in danger!"

"Wang So has arrived, Your Highness," says the Lady.

"Let him in," responds Queen Hwangbo as she sits back into her seat. Wang So enters and he sits next to Joon Seo.

"You called for me, Your Highness?" he says as he keeps his eyes down. Joon Seo feels her heart race and pound so loud in her chest she almost swears everyone in the room can hear it; it is the same for Wang So.

"Take Joon Seo and leave the capital," she says quietly. Wang So looks up in shock and is about to say something. "Before you refuse, understand that Queen Yoo and that vile Wang Yo are planning on forcing Joon Seo to marry him and will use her as a scape goat or a tool to gain the throne as she is now His Majesty's favorite in the Palace. You must take her tonight and flee the capital. This not a request. It is a command!" Wang So looks at Joon Seo, who looks like she is going to cry, and then back up at the Queen before speaking.

"We'll do as you say, Your Highness," he says. He hears Joon Seo gasps. "Let's go. The quicker we get our belongings together, the further we can get away from here while the sun is still up." He stands and takes Joon Seo with him as they excuse them selves from the Queen's quarters.

"Are you crazy?" whispers Joon Seo harshly as Wang So grabs a few needed things from his quarters and Joon Seo's quarters. On his missions, he has befriended people who can create false papers and can help them escape the capital without anyone noticing. "Why did you agree? She'll be harmed by those monsters!"

"They wouldn't dare harm her," he says as he takes Joon Seo's hand, which causes her to shut up, and they make their way to the horse stables, without anyone noticing. "She's too close to the King and to Lady Oh for them to do anything to her. But you?" He turns around to face her. "You they will use to their advantage and whenever they are through with you, they will cast you aside as if you were nothing more than trash! Joon Seo, can't you see that this is for your own good?" Joon Seo looks down to her hand and grips his hand tightly. She looks up at him after a few moments.

"Let's go," she says with fire burning in her eyes. Wang So smiles a bit then grabs one horse from the stable. Joon Seo looks at him confused.

"They'll find us faster if we use two horses," he says as he gets on and holds out his hand to help her on. "Plus, we can get there faster on one horse than we could on two." She takes his hand and covers her face. She begins to feel her face burn as she realizes just how close she is to him. Wang So gets the horse in motion; they exit the palace and soon they are headed to the gate that will lead them out of the capital. As they get closer to the gate, Joon Seo covers her face because they cannot afford the guards to spot them. Thankfully because the guards see that it is Wang So leaving they didn't stop them and they kept going.

Sa Ra, thinks Joon Seo to herself. I'm sorry for leaving you once again but I promise I will send you a letter once things settle down! Until then please stay well my friend! Don't do anything that will cause you any grief!