The Stolen Princess And The Blind Prince

Haneul, just as promised, returned in half an hour. With her help, I escaped the pool.

"Deeper than you thought milady?" She asked me, as I wrapped myself in a towel.

"Hotter than I thought!" I huffed; my cheeks puffed out remembering my 'pain' from earlier.

She handed me a rag. Upon inspection, I noticed it had been cut from a larger brown cloth. It was very soft.

"What's this for?" I asked.

"It's for blowing your nose."

I complied, avoiding her gaze. How had she known I had been crying? The bath house was completely empty, I was sure…

Haneul spoke, breaking the silence between us.

"Sometimes. On nights like these, I miss my family too."

Oh good, something else to talk about!

"Were you not born here?" I asked, walking down the slope. Haneul took the soiled rag from me, shaking her head as she followed closely behind.

"No, I'm from up north. There was a famine there about fifteen years ago. Jin and I were children then." She laughed, a huff of air leaving her nose, "We were saved."

"By whom?" I had never heard of us taking in any refugees when I was a child. Given, my kingdom was far-south…

"The Empress herself."

Another shock to the system. From what I understood, the Empress lead her own city-state to the west, near the sea. I had never heard anything about her before. Even so… how could such a hawkish emperor have such a dove-ish wife?!

As I was getting dressed, Haneul explained as little as possible: The empress is a powerful, but shadowy woman. About 30 years ago, she came to the emperor and offered to be his wife. He, offended that some random woman would just barge into his palace, went to war with her. After a few months of fighting, the Empire of Peaches conceded. It was absolutely one-sided.

Doves are scarier than I thought!

"Is that why she doesn't live in the palace? She's too busy managing her own affairs?"

Haneul's voice came from behind me, as she was tying closed my pajama-robe.

"Hmm, that's one of the reasons…"

How mysterious!

---

"Munch, munch!"

Ah, this is torture.

"Crunch crunch!"

Just as I was beginning to like this place…

"Hahaaa, this is so good!" The round bastard shouted. He sat across from me, surrounded by various sweets and a large pot of steaming tea. And the worst part?

He just keeps eating. A small green rice cake, a pancake stuffed with filling. They would all disappear as soon as he willed it. Was this some sort of secret martial art? Dematerialization?

This man can't be my fiancé, right?

I mean he wasn't ugly. He had a round face and a slight tummy. But his frame reminded me more of barrel, than a bowl of pudding. He was dressed in evening pajamas as well. They were mostly a dark oaken brown, with an accent of purple for the sashes and bindings.

His hair was long too. It was tied together in a neat bun at the top of his head, accented by bark-colored tree sticks. I couldn't see his eyes though. They were slits, hidden in his face. This wasn't a bad thing; it was just the opposite! He was bouncy and boisterous; his cheeks a warm pink as he shouted compliments into the air. His face, as annoying as it was to admit, was never 'frowny.'

"Oh! This tea is amazing!"

Ah, now he's slurping. I guess this is different! Good! Wouldn't want his insides to turn to stone!

Now I can be reminded of my hunger, and my thirst!

"Woo, oh, that was some good stuff!" He leaned back in his chair, straining the wood underneath.

I just want my stew, please don't talk to me.

"And who are you?" He called.

Damnit.

"I am AhnAhn, princess of-"

"Oh, you're the girl that's marrying my brother!" He clapped cheerfully.

"Wow, you're really stunning!" He continued, "Ah, but you must think I'm some sort of food monster!" He slapped his belly, laughing. It was a hearty one, and after he was done, I had to resist the urge to smile.

Hum, at least he was a little entertaining.

"Well, my name is Chang-hoon. Famed writer! Ah! Sorry for ignoring you! I get like this when I'm stressed!" He laughed again, happy to carry the conversation.

"I've been searching for an author who's gone missing ever since the war… I loved his works! All the search parties I sent out over the last five years were barred from getting into just the capitol! It was ludicrous! I even begged my father to give me personal access, and send in some of my personal guards! I didn't care about the money. My father was interested until he heard I was looking for a man. At that, he just said: 'No one in or out!' Can you believe it!" He flipped another pancake into his mouth, then gulped some tea.

An author? There were many of those types, including me. But I only did it as a hobby… Simple poems about nature and made up fairy tales. Nothing too crazy.

"Princess! Do you know anything about this? Is there anyone who comes to mind?!"

"Well, what did he write about?"

In a burst of emotion, Chang-hoon slammed his palm on the table, "We both had an all-encompassing love for children!!"

....

"We both wanted to share our love with as many children as possible! Ensuring that as many young boys and girls, basked in our raining love! Swimming in it! Breathing it! Swallowing it, absorbing it into their very being!"

Perhaps I should go to bed now. Right now.

"We wanted our love to cover them, mind and body! Filling children to the brim, and exhausting them. Even those who would resist would eventually be broken by our power. Our knowledge! Our love!!"

Is it too early to jump from a window?

"You see," my word, he's not stopping… "As much as my father loves war, he tends to forget that once war is over there are casualties. Children without fathers, mothers without husbands. Not enough money coming in, so the children begin working."

"They stop going to school," Chang-hoon balled his thick fingers into a sturdy fist, "Never learning to read, or write, or even dream! It's a disgrace. Children should be children, not horses, saddled with, -with a.d.u.l.t responsibilities."

Where is this going? I'm a bit lost…

"The man I was looking for! Was a children's author! He wrote very simple stories, under a feminine pen name I'm sure!"

Wait…

"These stories were perfect for those beginning to read and write! Even a.d.u.l.ts could follow easily."

He seemed to calm down a bit, taking a moment to drink his tea.

"I preferred their nature poems more but…" he seemed to deflate, shaking his head, "I worry that they might just be dead."

I blinked. Simple stories; simple poems; feminine pen name?

Could he be talking about me?

"I'm sorry," I finally said. "It's been a long time since I've had the time to read anything like that. I'm not even sure he lived in the capitol city…"

"Bah! It's ok. Don't worry about it!" Chang-hoon scratched his cheek. "It was just talk, just talk."

"Milady," came a kitchen-maid carrying a tray that smelled… just wonderful.

I could smell the beef, the vegetables, the seasonings. She placed a bowl of rice, and a cup of tea next to me as well.

I said my thanks, the maid turned and left, but not before glancing at Chang-hoon.

He was too busy enjoying another pancake.

"Wow! You must've been starving!" Chang-hoon, you really can't help but commentate, can you?

Ah… it reminded me of my mother. I swallowed the tears, along with my first sip.

It's a bit saltier than I would like, but mixing it with the rice nullifies the issue.

"Well, you must have some questions about my brother, right? I chatted your ear off, so I should return the favor."

The soup went down the wrong pipe! You've seen Wulin? Augh, stop coughing for a second! I need to ask…

"What's he like?" I finally said, after gulping down three cups of tea.

"Looks wise, he's quite slim! His hair is a bit too long even for me though…" I don't think Haneul mentioned long hair, that's something new! "Temperament wise, he's quite shy."

"Really?"

"Yes, we're like opposites! But his hearts in the right place." Chang-hoon smiled, remembering something, "He loves children almost as much as I do!"

Urk! I hope he means… in a not-creepy way.

I eat some more of my beef stew, chewing this new information.

Hn, well I guess I should be happy that he's not likely to be dog-ugly. No offence Kyu!

"Master! Young Master I finally found you. You-you should be in bed!"

A thick-spectacled male servant came from the kitchen door, paper fan in hand. He was sweaty, his clothes stuck to his c.h.e.s.t, arms and legs.

"Ah! My favorite editor!" The bulky man quickly got up from his seat. He spared me a glance apologizing as he ran out the room, "I'm sorry AhnAhn! We must cut this short! I'm behind on my deadlines!"

"Please Master!" the servant ran after him, huffing, "You know how you are the morning after your midnight snacks!"

And with that, I was alone again.

---

"Goodnight Princess," Hanuel said tucking me in.

The room was dark, all but the small lantern Jinhong held in her hand. In the other she held up some of my writings.

"These were in your luggage. They looked important," she explained simply, placing it on the table.

Haneul left some rags on the table, passing me a knowing look.

My maids, dimly lit by lanternlight stood in the doorway.

"The wedding ceremony is in the morning," Haneul said.

The pair bowed and left.