This story, characters, events, customs, and places are purely fictional and in no way accurately represent the history and customs of any country past or present.When the soldiers returned to the palace, it was already daybreak, but they still could not find the missing prince. "What do you mean there was no sign?" the king yelled at the captain."Go back there, the lot of you! Don't you dare return until you find my son! Leave all of you!" He shouts to his subordinates. Once alone, he picked up all the scrolls on his table and threw them away. He broke down and cried at the pitiful fate that befell his family.That moment, somewhere deep within the mountain, in an area, the soldiers did not look. Young-Sik and Eun-Ae emerge from where they slept. Eun-Ae was stretching and looking directly at the rising sun. "If the sun is here, then the north would be...""That way" Young-Sik interrupted the little girl, pointing to her left. The prince then started to trek northward.Eun-Ae scoffs "Tsk, Smart-Ass," she said beneath her breath. "Hey! wait up!"After enduring hours of walking and the sound of Young-Sik's stomach growling, Eun-Ae finally had enough. "Oh my goodness...If you're hungry, just say so. I've had enough of that gurgling sound""I'm not hungry!" Young-Sik said, with a raised voice. He was about to continue walking, when his stomach grumbled again, this time louder making the prince stop and rub his belly. "Fine...maybe I'm a little hungry...but we have nothing to eat"Eun-Ae shook her head and sighed "What do you mean, we don't have anything to eat?"The little girl, looked around, brushing aside vegetation. Then she found some smooth bright green leaves. She came closer to smell the leaves, and she detected a grassy-like aroma, she collected some leaves and went to the prince.The little girl, offered the leaves to Young-Sik "What's that?" he picked up a single leaf and looked at it with disgust "Is this edible? Or are you trying to poison me?"Eun-Ae's face crumpled "Aish... if I wanted you dead, I don't need poison, I'll just push you off a cliff...smart-ass" She then took a bunch of leaves and ate them. She shoved the rest into Young-Sik's hands, turned around, and started to walk northward.Grimacing, the prince nibbled at a small piece of the leaf, when he learned that it was rather tasty, he started to gobble up the leaves "Hey...wait for me...stick girl wait up" the prince called out as he followed his companion.Back in the palace, the Ministers gather, to discuss the recent uprising. "We learned that the cause of the uprising was because of the tax increases. But the King never sanctioned any tax increase," said the Right-wing minister"Are you saying, that someone authorized tax increases, without the King or our knowledge? Are you insinuating that one of us has the gal to use the King's name for their benefit?" said a minister from the left.Another minister from the right stepped in "There is no other explanation, someone from this very gathering is the true instigator of the uprising"Minister Gi, remained silent as he scanned the people around him, too nervous to speak as he might say something incriminating."What bothers me, is how did these peasants have access to military-grade weapons? How did they get the money to purchase such weapons?" Asked another right-wing minister.Voices erupted at the great hall as the ministers debated on which issue to resolve first.The King slammed his fist on the table, to stop the squabbling "Enough!" he roared, silencing everyone "Can I not mourn first for my family? Can't this wait till I find my missing son?"Do-Yun stepped in and dared to speak "Your Highness...I too am in mourning, as you all know, my father died defending the royal family. Yet here I am, speaking to you all because just like my father, I value our nation and as such, the nation comes first"The King calmed himself "Speak your mind, Minister Lim"Do-Yun bowed to the King "Your Highness, a more pressing matter is...the nation is left without its Queen and heir. A chain of succession must be established, to showcase that our strong monarchy will continue"The King sat on the throne and thought "Very well send a message to Magistrate Lee, and have his daughter return to the capital as soon as possible." With those words, the King left the great hall.Three days later, a messenger accompanied by a platoon of soldiers arrived at the home of Magistrate Lee. The messenger was led straight into the magistrate's office. Consort Lee was present when the messenger handed a scroll to the magistrate. He took the scroll opened it and read the contents. "The King is requesting that you and the prince return to the capital at once," he told his daughter"Has the uprising been controlled already?" Consort Lee askedMagistrate Lee nodded "Ye, but at the cost of the lives of the Queen, The crowned prince, and his wife"Consort Lee, covered her mouth from the shock "The Queen... and the royal family, they're all dead?""You are to be crowned queen as soon as possible" Magistrate Lee, rose from where he was seated and went to his daughter to hug her "Congratulations my darling," he said smiling.Just then Man-Ju burst into the room and excitedly asked "I saw the soldiers outside, is it all over? Are we going home? Is it Father or the crowned prince here to fetch us"Consort Lee gave a sad smile and said "The Crowned Prince... Mountain bandits killed your brother along with Princess Yoo-Na and the Queen""What? No...that's not true! He is the best swordsman of all Chiongsun. Young-Sik? What about Young-Sik?" he asked with tears streaming from his eyesConsort Lee, glanced at her father. The magistrate cleared his throat and said "He is missing, they have not found him yet, and the ministers are speculating that he might be dead as well"Man-Ju cried uncontrollably at the news he heard, his mother tried to console him with a tight embrace, but he continued to cry.That night, heavy torrential rains hit Mt. Yangge. The two children scrambled to find shelter. As they were running along a path by the edge of a cliff, Young-Sik saw the lights of Nyuong gum. "We made it, we're here" The little prince started to run despite the wet and muddy path."Your Highness ...stop it's too dangerous, I found us a cave for the night, let's wait for the rain to stop before we continue," Eun-Ae told the prince while grabbing him by the handBut the prince just shrugged the little girl's hand and insisted to continue "No! I'm so sick of sleeping in the dirt and eating grass, I want to go to my grandfather's house and eat proper food and sleep in a warm bed. If you want to stay...then stay here by yourself"Young-Sik started to run amidst the heavy rain. Knowing that the prince was in danger, Eun-Ae ran after him.When she caught up with the prince, she tried to restrain the prince. The two children struggled in the middle of the rain. Eun-Ae was trying to stop the prince from exposing himself to harm, while Young-Sik could only think about the comfort of his grandfather's home. "Listen to me, we have to wait it out, it's too dangerous" she shouted at the prince. The sound of rain was muffled by the rumbling sound of thunder that followed blinding flashes of lightning.Then without warning a sharp streak of lightning struck the ground by the two children. Young-Sik was thrown to the ground by the explosion. After a while he regained consciousness as his vision slowly came into focus, he grasped his head from the constant ringing and pain. When the pain and ringing quickly subsided, Young-Sik got up and looked around for Eun-Ae."EUN-AE!" the prince shouted; then he heard her call to him "Your Highness help me!" Realizing her voice came from the cliff, he quickly went to the edge and there he saw Eun-Ae hanging at the side, her weight supported by only a small rock.He quickly got down on his belly and reached for his friend. "Reach for my hand!" he shouted, stretching his little arm to its limits. He was about to reach her hand when the unthinkable happened. The rock that Eun-Ae's was holding onto, broke off making her fall. Young-Sik saw the terror in her eyes as she fell, and was swallowed by the darkness of the ravine.Young-Sik kept calling her name, but he could hear no answer. He crawled to the middle of the road and huddled. He kept crying and crying. Images of his family's death and the look of terror on Eun-Ae's face as she fell from the cliff, flooded his mind. The only thing he could do was to hug his knees and cry.The next morning, the sun shone happily on the capital. Birds chirped as they shook the water from their feathers. Drops of water slid from the leaves, falling to the ground.A group of soldiers trekked the last possible path they could think of. "It's been four days now, I don't think a young boy like the prince can survive all alone in a place like this," Said one of the soldiers"I don't think the King is expecting us to find the prince alive, I guess as a father he just wants to give his son a proper burial, seeing that the crowned prince's body will probably never be found." Another soldier said expressing his sentimentsAs they passed a narrow path by the side of a cliff, they saw the province of Nyuong gum. "That is the homeland of our late Queen," said one of the soldiers pointing at the town in the distance.As the soldiers marched on, the captain saw something from ahead of them. Nervously he approached what he thought was a pile of tattered clothes, upon further inspection, he immediately recognized the royal robes embellished with a two-toed dragon. "I found him...I found the prince" the captain shouted.The soldiers quickly gathered to see, what the captain was shouting about, whispers and murmurs ran about as they looked at the boy sprawled on the ground.He gently picked up the boy and placed his ears on the boy's chest. The captain's eyes widened when he heard a heartbeat. He quickly positioned his fingers near the prince's nostrils to feel for air. When he felt air run through his fingers he quickly shouted "He's alive the prince is alive!" All the soldiers cheered loudly as they finally found Prince Kim Young-Sik alive.The sun was about to set that very same day. All the ministers gather at the great hall, waiting for the King to stamp his seal on Prince Young-Sik's death registry."Your Highness... the minister of registry is waiting, so the line of succession can be passed on to Prince Lee Man-Ju," Minister Do-Yun said, reminding the KingThe King's throat felt dry, and a single tear fell from his eyes. With trembling hands, he reached for the royal seal. To the King, the light seal felt like a ton of bricks, it was too heavy to lift let alone move. He then placed it above the papers. He was about to stamp the document when a eunuch came bursting in the great hall.He bowed to the startled ministers and went in front of the King. "Your Highness...the soldiers have returned and...""And what?" The King asked the eunuch, all eyes were staring at the shuddering eunuch.Trying to speak he fumbled with his words "It's...it's... come with me Your Highness" the eunuch just said as he ran out of the great hall. The King put aside the seal and followed the eunuch. "Your Highness, you need to stamp the document first" The left-wing ministers called out, but to no avail, the King ignored them and followed the eunuch. Having no other choice the ministers followed the King.King Seo-Jung's heart raced as he followed the eunuch, he knew that his son was found, but in what condition? Hundreds of scenarios and possibilities played in his mind, but none of them was favorable.Finally, they reached the courtyard, he saw a great gathering of soldiers, eunuchs, and court ladies. He stopped running, his legs felt like they had lead weights attached to them. He dragged his feet, trying to go where the servants gathered.One of the court ladies noticed the King and immediately informed the others. Everyone bowed to the King, except for one person. The soldier in the middle has his back towards the King. The soldier turned around to face the king; he had a smile on his face. "Your Highness...we found the prince, we found Prince Young-Sik and he is alive"Seo-Jung gazed at Young-Sik, who the soldier was carrying. Young-Sik's once neat hair was now rough and tangled, covered in mud and dirt, his clothes in shreds. The prince's lips were parched and cracked from lack of water.King Seo-Jung reached out to his son, running his fingers through his hair. The prince weakly opened his eyes and whispered, "Father?" Seo-Jung felt a surge of renewed strength as he gently took his son from the soldier and held him close.Tears streamed down the King's face, not of sorrow, but of gratitude, happiness, and relief. He thanked the heavens that his beloved son had survived against all odds.The King's subjects erupted in joy as their prince made a miraculous return. However, not everyone shared in the celebration. Lim Do-Yun clenched his teeth, his fists shook and seethed with anger, sensing that the prince would thwart his ambitions to rule Chiongsun.Five days have passed since Prince Young-Sik's return. Not once did he leave the residence of the former crowned prince. The King worrying about his son's condition came to visit. When he entered the room, he saw the prince just lying in bed, with his back turned to the door. He sat down by the prince "My prince, you should come out and play, your body will weaken if you continue to just lay in bed all day"But the prince did not reply, King Seo-Jung stroked his son's head. The King's heart aches for his son, he could not fathom the scar that the ordeal left. He leaned over to his son and whispered to the prince "When you are ready, talk to me my prince and I will grant you a wish...whatever It could be"The King stood up to exit the room but before he did, he took one more glance at his son who didn't even flinch. Outside the room, he talked to the Eunuch and the lady in waiting in charge of the prince. "How fares my son?"The two looked at each other before the eunuch spoke "Your Highness...the prince keeps himself inside Prince Seo-Joon's room. All he does is to cry and embrace his brother's sword." The eunuch paused and glanced at the room where Young-Sik was "He thinks he was at fault for their deaths. We hear him saying they died because he could not help them""Has he visited the royal tombs?" The King askedThe court lady shook her head, "I'm sad to say that not even once had he visited my King""What happened to you, my son?" The King wondered, not wanting to force his son to get out of the crowned prince's residence, the King made his way to the great hall.That night the King visited consort Lee, and he saw the court ladies busy moving her things into the Queen's residence. When he entered her room, consort Lee bowed gracefully to him. "Are you ready for tomorrow? For our wedding and your coronation," The King asked"Yes, your Highness...How about our son? When will his ascension to crowned prince be? When will he move to the residence of the crowned prince?" She asked enthusiastically"The crowned prince is already living in his residence," The King said.Consort Lee was angered by what she heard, that she almost lost control of herself. "Forgive me, my King...I don't understand, but am I not going to be Queen? Doesn't that automatically make Man-Ju the crowned prince, he is older than Prince Young-Sik"The King smiled "It does not matter...I chose him to be my heir and successor" he then observed consort Lee, her hand was trembling he noticed "Do we have a problem?" he asked casuallyConsort Lee relaxed her hand and smiled "None, your Highness we don't have any problems"But deep inside, Consort Lee was seething with anger "My son will be the next King, no matter what" she declared to herself.Outside, Prince Man-Ju heard everything, his parents were talking about, he thought it did not matter, but he could not deny, that he felt a pinch in his heart with whom the King chose to be his heir.Four months have since passed and Young-Sik's condition has not changed, he still locked himself out from the world. One day, during the first day of the month of the dog, Man-Ju came knocking into Young-Sik's room."Get up! Come on Young-Sik get up" Man-Ju asked his brother"Go away" was Young-Sik's only responseMan-Ju scratched his head, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Young-Sik "What do you mean go away? You have been stuck here for a long time now. You haven't even visited our brother's grave""They don't want me there...I was the reason they died" he said, Man-Ju could detect the sorrow and guilt in his voice."What do you mean they don't want you to be there? You're not the one who killed them" he replied to what Young-Sik said"Because I couldn't help them all, and that girl. She helped me survive, but when it was my turn to help her, I failed. It was like I killed them all" He shouted at Man-JuFed up Man-Ju pulled his younger out of bed and held him by his shoulders. "You did not kill them; you couldn't help them even if you wanted to...you are just a little boy!""That's not true, I couldn't save them, I couldn't help them, that is why they died" Young-Sik shouted repeatedly, and he continued to scream hysterically.Then Man-Ju slapped Young-Sik in his face. This made him stop screaming and instead, he cried, he buried his face in his older brother's chest "Sorry Young-Sik, I just can't bear to see you like this...it feels like I lost you as well" Man-Ju said with tears streaming from his eyes."I miss them Man-Ju...I miss Mother, I miss sister Yoo-Na and I miss Seo-Joon. I want them back, please give them back to me" he cried and pleaded, for the return of those that he lost. "That girl, I need to save her, I need to save them all""We can't get them back little brother, they're gone now. But me and Father and Mother, we are here...please don't let us lose you as well" Man-Ju said to his grieving brother"Remember what the crowned prince told us to do...we have to give it our all, we have to do our best to uphold our duties in the darkest of times, this is that time brother. Let's not make Prince Seo-Joon cry in his grave, we must continue his work"He dried his younger brother's tears "Are you ready to come out now?" he asked Young-SikSobbing, Young-Sik nodded and quietly allowed his older brother to lead him out of the gloomy room. For the first time in four months, Young-Sik steps out of the crowned prince's residence and into the outside world, the bright light blinded him for a moment. When his eyes got used to the bright sun, he looked around at the people around him, everyone was smiling, and everyone was happy that he was outside again.Man-Ju however cut the celebration short "We can all cheer later, for now, he needs a bath" Man-Ju said while pinching his nose. The Lady in waiting approached Young-Sik and took a whiff of the air around him, gagging at the stench of a person who had never taken a bath for a long time.After a proper bath and wearing proper clothes again, Prince Young-Sik and Prince Man-Ju visited the royal tombs. While Prince Man-Ju knelt in each tomb and lighted incense, Prince Young-Sik just stood and looked at the graves of his family. Though he is only a child, his face shows a stern expression, however, sorrow and pain are evident in his eyes. In his mind, the same thought repeated over and over again. "No one will ever hurt my family ever again! I will kill anyone who dares to try"