In This Life

Jun Ho

Kim Chang Min

"Are you enjoying the books I gave you, your highness?"

He was dancing with Mi-Sook, Jun Ho's younger sister, and possibly his future wife, according to his mother. She wore her family gemstones, sapphire and amethysts, which coiled around her neck like a sparkling collar. Her usually shiny, black hair pulled was tight ball atop her head while a creamy, red masked made of lace covered one half of her face. She was beautiful, anyone can see that, but her beauty only reaches the eyes, not the heart, not his.

"It's great," He forced a smile, looking up to the podium for his mother, who was watching him like a hawk, "It's very different."

"I'm glad you liked it," She signed, fluttering her eyelashes.

Chang Min hasn't read a single word from those novels.

Mi-Sook continued on about whatever Mi-Sook usually talks about, which mainly contains subjects about herself. Like always, Chang Min would space out and forget to answer her questions and spin her when she was supposed to turn during the dance. He's surprised at how unbothered she seemed, or either she's hiding her irritation very well.

"I remembered how you would stay in the library all day long--

The music faded, and the current of dancing couples came to a stop; everyone turned to the interruption.

Mi-Sook hissed under her breath, "I can't believe--

"Lady Yin Jidam! Daughter of Yin Hung Wo!" The soldier cried.

Chang Min looked up towards the open gates. Sure enough, Lady Yin Jidam stood there, frozen, perhaps letting these aristocrats relinquish in her beauty. Sad to say, he wasn't one of them. On cue, his mother leaned across the podium with a brilliant grin that spread from ear to ear. This was her way of saying, "Dance with her, dance with her!"

Chang Min sighed as people began whispering and gossiping. He had agreed with his mother to behave, which meant obeying her wishes.

He turned to Mi-Sook, "I'm sorry, Mi-Sook, but I promised Lady Yin Jidam her first dance."

Chang Min began making his way towards the stairs when Mi Sook gently pulled him back. She was smiling, "I don't think so, your highness. It seems my brother has beat you to it."

With his brows furrowed, the crowned prince looked across the stage to see that Mi-Sook was correct. In his frosted white hanbok and silver mask, Jun Ho had Lady Yin Jidam beside him as they slowly tread to the center stage. The music started playing again, and the party proceeded.

"Would you mind finishing our dance?" Mi-Sook purred.

He looked back once again towards Lady Yin Jidam. The young prince will ask her for the next dance.

"Certainly."

Jeon Song Ji

Walking down those long, endless stairs, Song Ji felt like she was at a circus show. It was the only time Song Ji could spend her time outside of the house or the library as a child. Her grandmother took her every year when the circus came to town. She was happy laughing with her nana and looking at the beautiful parade of ridiculous people, animals, and circus freaks who could do the most unimaginable things. The circus was a great memory for her.

But now, in her glittering dress and styled up hair, Song Ji felt like she was at another circus show. Except for this time, she was the main act, this one-woman parade that brought smirks, laughter, and envious looks from these aristocrats every time she took a step downwards. It felt like she was a circus freak walking on a tight rope, and she'd fall at any minute.

Luckily, she didn't. Song Ji kept on walking, and before she knew it, she had reached the end of the stairwell.

Immediately, as if in a rush, a tall man completely in white bowed his head to her and reached out his hands.

This happened before, she thought to herself, in another lifetime.

Without a thought, she clumsily bowed back and took this stranger's hand. They were smooth and large, with not a single flaw to be seen. The pair walked together into the midst of the most luxurious crowd as the music begun. Song Ji knew how to dance... alone. She read many romantics books about balls, and she had a lot of free time to dance with herself. Still, dancing with another human being was quite tricky. In her head, her skills were tolerable as he led her through the dance.

"Of course, you would arrive late. It's so you, Yin Jidam," The man spoke.

His voice was young with olive tan skin and black hair that contrasted his ivory hanbok and masked. His eyes were familiar, as if she saw him in a dream.

"You're normally very talkative," He raised his eyebrows, "Did I say something wrong?"

She couldn't speak. He'll know it's not Yin Jidam. On instinct, she did what most pretentious ladies do and whipped her head sideways with her chin held high. The young man laughed and playfully frowned, "Ahhh, I know."

For some reason, she couldn't look him in the eye. A strange fire burned in her chest as if her heart was crying, and she didn't know why.

The young man continued, "You wanted to dance with the crowned prince, but I stole you away before he could. My apologies. I am a burden to most people."

She glanced at him, and there it was-- the sad smile.

The one from the meadow. The lips her eyes would travel to every time he finished a sentence and wondered to herself how soft they were. She was sure it was him. The wound in her heart recognized the stabber before she could. He looked the same, sleek, and polished like a prince she thought he was.

"Are you okay, Yin Jidam?"

Her knees grew weak, but she forced herself to stand up, taking in the face of the man who took so much away from her. She wanted to scream, cry, and lash out at him with every fiber of her being, but she couldn't.

The music faded to a stop, and people began moving to sit down and find more partners. This was her chance to escape before she could do anything else that could blow her cover. She had to get away from him.

"Yin Jidam?"

With those last words, she pulled up her gown and turned away from him, quickly losing herself in the crowd. Song Ji tried not to look back, scared he would walk after her.

He was here.

Kwang Soo was here.