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Chapter Text

The crown prince looked at the unusual girl sitting before him. His first meeting with her had left him with decidedly mixed feelings. She tried to spill filthy chamber pot water on him and even offered to drink it, just so he would spare her master. That spoke of loyalty or madness.

Loyalty to her master, madness because she would spill such filth on the Crown Prince. It was like his title meant nothing to her. Yet, in the end, she brought him naksu's sword, the thing he came to collect in the first place. And she managed to tell him to "go to hell" without actually saying it. A Peculiar one to be sure.

He just found out that she would not continue serving her master after his marriage into the Jin Family. He couldn't see why, but he got a thought.

"Should I take you in?" he asked, looking at her for a reaction. He nodded lightly, "I can do that. There must be things you can do here."

Mudeok pondered this, "No thank you, you may think me to merely be a filthy girl, that everyone avoids. But I don't serve just anyone."

" Just anyone. " he repeated incredulously. "Mu-deok-gee" he punctuated every Syllable of her name and melodically drew it out at the end, "you would be serving the crown prince, I can do anything I set my mind to. You asked for my protection and I gave you my cinnamon satchel. At my side, I could protect you all the time." she looked up at him interested. "Seeing you in this," he gestured to her dress, "I might even stop calling you filthy. "

"Oh, your majesty I never dreamed of hearing you say those words." Mu-deok replied cheekily, overplaying her happiness.

Go Won chuckled. "You sure know how to compliment Mu-deok." he gave her a sly look. Setting down his teacup he asked: "So, do you want to live here?" he tried to not sound as hopeful, as he felt inside.

Mudeok looked around the room, slowly. She looked deep in thought. The prince had a point, she realized, in the palace she could get access to relics and members of the royal court. Of course, she did not plan to stay a servant forever, but she also lacked a different precise plan for her near future. And the prince intrigued her in some way. If she could tolerate Jang-Uk, she could tolerate him. At least for a while. "I think so, your majesty." she slowly replied.

"Splendid." the crown prince gave her a genuine broad smile. He really seemed to care, she thought. "Is there anything you wish to retrieve from the Jang Residence? Any belongings?" the Prince inquired.

Mudeok stared at him, taken aback by his thoughtfulness. Come to think of it...Naksu's sword was already here in the palace, but there were a few things she had collected during her stay in the Jang family. She would like to get those. "Yes, your majesty there are some things I care for left there."

"I can send someone to retrieve them," the crown prince offered.

"Thank you, your majesty, but I'd prefer getting them myself, they are merely trinkets, but personal to me.

"I understand, then go get them and when you return you shall join my court immediately."

She gave him a half-smile. The prince hoped to see a full smile on her face in the future.

"What should I do with these clothes?" Mudeok asked, touching the turquoise hanbok dress on her body. She still sounded quite put down.

"Keep them." Go won ordered. "They are my gift to you."

"But when will a mere servant like me have the opportunity to dress in silk." Mudeok complained.

"I'm sure an opportunity may arise." the prince replied, raising his brow sheepishly at her. 

Mudeok-ah felt her cheeks blush. Sure..." she said with an ironic tone.

He chuckled, "you'll have to work on the tone if you are to be the servant of a prince."

She nodded, "Yay..your majesty."

The Crown Prince sat in his chambers, drinking tea and his thoughts soon wandered back to Mudeok. A smile crossed his lips as he recalled how she didn't like the cinnamon wine but acted as though she did. She had a unique sense of humour. He realized he was looking forward to having her around him. From now on, he'd get to see her every day.

He wouldn't have thought that'd please him the first time he met her. That is where she gained her name 'filthy Mudeok'. But when he saved her and gave her his cinnamon satchel, he warmed up to her and her attempts to please him by talking bad about Jang UK. He liked it when she aimed to please him. And seeing her in that silk dress, he would really have to consider a new nickname for her.

"I'd like that."

He was startled by the sudden voice, he thought he was alone in his chambers.

He turned around and peered into the face of Mudeok sitting at his table. How did he not hear he come in. He was trained by Jin Mu in the Art of Magic, to hear any opponent or intruder approaching. What Arts did Mudeok control to bluff his supreme senses?

"Mudeok!" He exclaimed. "How did you get in?"

"You thought about me," Mudeok replied, "so I came."

Go Won furrowed his brows in confusion. "Soldiers guard every sentence and my senses are trained to hear any intruder. What sort of sorcery do you wield to break into the royal palace?"

"Oh, your highness...Just be glad I am here. Your guards know me as Mudeok, or did you already forget about the cinnamon satchel you gave me?" she held up the item, lightly shaking it in front of his eyes.  "And you were deep in thought, it was easy to miss my light steps."

The prince nodded. "Alright, I believe you."

"I thought you'd be happier to see me."

"I am." he assured her quickly. "You just...startled me. I am...not used to that."

Mudeok grinned. "I know"

A small grin spread across the prince's face. "You enjoy surprising me filthy Mudeok."

"You like being surprised. It's something new."

"You can read my thoughts?" Go Won asked.

Mudeok nodded.

Interesting, the prince thought. "You are right," he replied, "I am used to people abiding by what I or my royal parents say. You do not always comply. Especially for a woman that is new, they are usually happy to see me."

"Confident much?" Mudeok raised an eyebrow.

"I am glad you accepted my offer. Now that you are back, I will see more of you and your unconventional personality."

"I am glad to be here too." Mudeok stood up and started slowly walking around the table, looking around the room.

The prince grinned more. "I suppose it is a nice sight. There are many rooms, all decorated. You can drink the finest cinnamon wine and wear the softest silk garments."

"You and your cinnamon." Mudeok snorted, pacing around him and the table in a circle.

"You don't like it?" Go Won asked, peering up at her. Suddenly she was staring right next to him and her appearance had changed. Her simple blue clothes were gone, instead, she wore a loose peach-coloured dress. Her neck, ears and hair were decorated with glittering jewellery.

"Mudeok you look different." he was startled again.

"Don't you like it?" she asked, leaning down. Won found himself feeling flustered.

Mu-deok grinned again. "I Like this place." she said, looking around once again. "And I like you." she said looking down at him almost possessively. The prince felt his cheeks burn. "I hope you think of me often. Then I can visit again."

Something wasn't right. "What sorcery is this?" the crown prince whispered. He wanted to stand up, but Mudeok gently pushed him back into his seat and put her index finger on his lips. Her nails were suddenly long and golden he noticed.

"Shhh," she mused. "Let's not break the mood just yet." she leaned down, cupping the prince's cheek and kin with her hand and pressed her lips to his. Go Won was flooded with an array of sensations. Soft, surprise, sparks, long hair tickling his cheeks. It was so unexpected and he was not in control. But the nagging feeling got stronger, this could not be the real Mudeok. She would not act like this. She seemed to despise him and even if not, such a change was too quick even for her. And most importantly her dress had changed abruptly and he did not hear her come in. At best she'd be a hallucination, at worst a concealed assassin. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away from his lips. A part of him regretted losing the feeling.

"Enough," he growled in a warning tone. "Who are you? Tell me this instant!"

"You broke the mood." Mu-deok hissed and suddenly was gone. At the exact same moment, he heard the sound of glass shattering. Turning around he saw his mirror had broken.

Chapter Text

Mu-deok gazed at the great mirror portal looming before her. The sight was surreal. The portal hung from the sky touching the sand of on the ground, as though it weighed nothing. It was not an object but a field of energy. A lake and starry night sky reflected in it. She was in another dimension, of that Mu-deok-i was certain. After leaving the prince and heading to the Jang residence, she was cornered by Jin Cho-yeon, the "season spring" as people in Daeho called her. Jang Uk's ex-betrothed and soon-to-be betrothed again. She dragged her into some family drama and made her take the blame for a broken jade sphere.

When she finally managed to explain to the daughter of the Jin Family, that she was no longer Jang Uk's maid, she reluctantly let her go. On her way out of Jinyowon, she was suddenly, drawn to an alley in the vast gardens. And that's where she found the secret door to the vault of Jinyowon. Of course, she had heard of it, every self-respecting mage had. It was full of magical artefacts, 200 years old or even older. She wondered why the door was open. Who would leave it open and unguarded, if it contained such valuable items. The mirror that sucked her in, looked innocent at first glance. She knew better now. Jin Cho-yeon also looked sweet and innocent, yet she was stuck here thanks to her made-up drama.

Mu-deok hissed under her breath. She was getting very annoyed with this whole no-powers situation. She was the feared assassin Nak-su-da for crying out loud! People should bow down before her and cower in fear. Yet she was forced to live the life of a servant. Pathetic.

Meanwhile, in Chwiseonru, the head Mistress of the Establishment heard her name being called."Lady Ju-wol," she turned to see one of the servants running towards her. "the Crown Prince is here." he huffed out.

Ju-wol quickly grabbed her skirts and rushed to the entrance of Chwiseonru. She found the Crown Prince waiting there in his royal long robe, with his trusted Eunuch at his side and a couple of servants behind him. The usual party.

"Your royal Majesty," Ju-wol bowed as low as her intricate hairstyle allowed, "How can we entertain you today?"

"I am not here for the drinks. I am looking for someone." the Crown prince explained in a serious tone that almost hid the worry seeping inside him.

"Of course, your highness." Ju-wol said, looking at him intently with her bright eyes. "Who is it?"

"Mu-deok-i. Jang Uk's former maid." the prince lightly raised an eyebrow.

"Filthy Mu-deok?" Ju-wol replied automatically. "Oh yes, I've seen her today." she stopped at the disapproving expression that the crown prince gave her. She felt guilty, and she was about to find out why.

"Don't call her that. I gave her that nickname so it's for me to use." he scolded her, then quietly added. "And she wasn't filthy today, she actually looked quite good in blue silk."

Ju-wol was unsure what to make of that, but she knew for sure that she had touched a sensitive topic. "Of course your majesty I deeply apologize." she bowed down again.

"You said you have seen here. When?" the prince asked, starting to be impatient.

"Yes, your majesty. I saw her around noon when men from Cheongbuwan led her away."

"Ah yes, that is when we spoke." the Prince concluded.

"And I saw her at late afternoon," Ju-wol continued, "she passed by and was stopped by young Lady Jin Cho-yeon."

"Hmm, what could she want from Mu-deok-i? Did they leave together?"

"Yes, your highness. They were headed to Jinyowon."

"I see than I shall look there."

"May I ask something?" Ju-wol dared.

The prince nodded, implying she rather be quick about it.

"You called Mu-deok-i Jang Uk's 'former' maid?"

"Ah, Yes," the prince's expression turned into something between a smug smirk and a pleased smile. "She was set free, so I took her in."

"How generous of you, your highness."

The Crown Prince nodded in agreement, as though he too thought he was being generous.

"Thank you for your assistance." he said to Ju-wol.

"It was my honour, your royal highness." Ju-wol bowed again. And moved to the side as the prince and his servants started down the street in direction of Jinyowon.

Mu-deok-i wandered the beach in the light of an otherworldly moon. It was much bigger than the "real" moon ought to be, bathing the landscape in silver-white light, like seconds before sunrise on a cold morning. Now and then a lonely mirror would suddenly appear in the landscape at several meters distance, showing her a reflection, a version of herself. Not her as she looked now, but in various outfits and hairstyles, from certain stages of her life. The reflections talked. She saw herself - as a teenage pupil of the Danju, in her red and purple outfit. That is how Seo Yul knew her. Another mirror should her - as an adult mage and the deadly assassin Naksu, what her body looked like before she was fatally wounded and had to leave it. And lastly her - as the servant Mu-deok-i, in the blue cotton robes she wore right now, carrying water and catering to her Young Master's every whim.

She was disappointed with her young Pupil Jang Uk. He seemed to prefer living alone in the quiet of the woods, to her training methods. Fool. If only he listened to her, she could make him wield power, and he in turn would help her regain hers. But perhaps it was for the best. Once she would regain her powers fully he would be the first to fall, he knew too much of her already.

In the Residence of the Jin family, all were awake and running about, despite the sun having already set. This included Cho-yeon and her mother, they wanted to find the thief who stole their precious yin-and-yang stone. They were in the middle of a conversation when one of Jinyowons female warriors ran up the stairs of the garden house. "Lady Jin Ho-Gyeong, Lady Jin Cho-Yeon," she addressed the mother and daughter," the Crown Prince has arrived.

Jin Ho-Gyeong turned around, to face the female guard, confusion was written on the face of Jinyowon's leader. "The Crown Prince?" she asked in utter surprise. She quickly headed down the path the lady guard led them, her daughter Cho-yeon, hurrying behind her.

They met the Crown Prince's party midway on the stone path that winded through the Gardens. They bowed their heads and the prince bowed his as the Jin Family was one of the most powerful Mage families in Daeho.

"I am in search of someone." the prince announced in his deep voice. "I was told that she would be here." he paused looking around. "Is there something going on? There seems to be a disturbance."

Lady Jin replied: "A maid caused trouble and disappeared, so we were looking for her." short and simple no need to bother his royal highness with unnecessary details. This was an intern matter. A member of the royal family should not think her incapable of solving matters in her own home.

"A maid?" the prince asked, with interest.

Lady Jin was confused by his interest and embarrassed about the matter at the same time. "She does not work for us." she explained, lowering her eyes from the prince's inquisitive gaze. Her name is Mu-deok. She serves the Jang family." Of course, a member of her own household would never cause such trouble. Why did the Prince have to visit them on this particular evening when nothing was under her control.

"She is whom I am looking for." the prince revealed calmly.

Lady Jin looked up at him, very confused as to what matters could link the prince and that maid, for him to be looking for her. She was also a little fearful of what the answer to that might be. If she was important in some way and the Jin family was blamed by the prince for her disappearance...

"Did something happen?" the prince asked, pulling Lady Jin out of her thoughts. He seemed honestly concerned - about Mu-deok's well-being? Lady Jin could not fathom why.

Jin Cho-yeon felt uneasy in the prince's presence, but knew it was her turn to reply. For she knew the story she was supposed to tell. Looking everywhere, but, into the crown prince's eyes, she started: "That maid..."

The prince immediately turned his gaze on her, "accidentally broke the yin-and-yang jade that was going to be used to make my wedding rings." Cho-yeon recalled how she placed the blame on Mu-deok, in front of her mother and the Jin family's servants. She was feeling more and more uneasy, with every passing hour. Her mother had sent for Jang Uk and ordered Mu-deok to be locked up in the annex in the meantime.

"She must have been scared about getting punished." Jin Cho-yeon continued spinning her tale for the prince, "While she was locked up, she stole the jade and ran away."

"Miss Ju-Wol," yes the head mistress of Chwiseonru, turned to see the same servant coming towards her as before. Only this time he was not running. "Two mages of Jeongjingak are here to see you. They are asking about Mu-Deok."

"Why is everyone looking for Mu-deok-i?" Ju-wol thought as she headed to meet them.

The Crown Prince and the two ladies of the Jin family had gone inside the garden house, with their and the prince's guards waiting outside. Only the prince's trusted Eunuch who was always at his side, followed them in and stood behind the prince as they sat down at a table. Cho-yeon placed the empty jade box on it as evidence. "Seeing as we still have not found her, it looks as if she has already fled this place." she ended her tale.

The prince looked at her with a strongly disbelieving demeanour. "She got scared and ran away? A bold girl like her?" he voiced his thoughts out loud. Cho-yeon looked away so he could not see the growing guilt in her eyes. She had no idea the prince knew Mu-deok's character so well.

Their small party was interrupted by one of their lady warriors, announcing the arrival of two mages of Jeongjingak. The prince exchanged a look with Lady Jin. She seemed to be surprised as well. The lady warrior moved aside to reveal the young mages Seo Yul and Park Dang-gu entering the garden house. Cho-yeon stared at her friends in surprise.

"Your royal highness, what brings you here?" Seo Yul asked.

"What about you, Yul?" the prince asked his cousin in return

"To look for someone." he replied simply.

Go Won narrowed his eyes in utter surprise at the situation. "Did you also come here looking for Mu-deok-i?

"Yes." Seo Yul affirmed. Cho-yeon openly stared at her friend in surprise. Dang-gu noticed the discomfort evident in her expression.

"I am here for Mu-deok." Yul announced.

Chapter Text

Jin Cho-yeon summed up her story for Yul and Dang-gu. "She broke the yin-and-yang jade, then ran away with it to avoid getting punished." she ended her tale, and looked over at the Crown Prince, with distress evident in her eyes, for she was scared of getting punished.

She had been scared of her mother's reaction to the broken jade, but now she was even more scared of the Prince's reaction if he found out she had just lied to him. She could tell it was important to him, to find Mu-deok, if he came all the way here even after dusk. It wasn't easy lying to her mother, the leader of Jinyowon, but it was an entirely different feeling to have lied to the next leader of Daeho. And Cho-yeon could see in his eyes, that he did not quite believe her story.

It wasn't that she was smitten with him; on the contrary, she knew how loud he could get when he shouted orders when things weren't under his control. She had seen it first-hand when she, Yul and Dang-gu went to visit Uk and found him in the middle of a match with the Crown Prince.

Dang-gu's clear, melodic voice sliced through Cho-yeon's brewing worry. "But why did you not get the wedding rings made?" he looked at her. "I went to Chwiseonru to lend you my hand, but you weren't there." he sounded disappointed, even a bit sad. Cho-yeon glanced away from him, feeling even more guilty.

"I just...decided to postpone it." she blurted out, her voice filled with unspoken emotions. She had not meant to disappoint Dang-gu. She could not look into his eyes with such sadness in them.  From the side, she could feel her mother's inspecting gaze on her face.

Lady Jin looked at her daughter. What did the nephew of Park Jin mean by that? Lending her his hand. Was there something going on that she was not aware of?

The Crown Prince decided to put an end to the non-verbal communication between the mother, daughter and Songrim's heir, and instead return to the important matter. "Yul," he addressed his cousin, "why are you looking for Mu-deok-i?"

Seo Yul was quick to reply, evidently also wanting to find Mu-deok-i quickly. "I saw an illusion of Mu-deok-i. She appeared in my chambers in Jeongjinak."

In the meantime, for the real Mu-deok-i, the night had passed and dawn had come. She could not see the sun because clouds covered the sky – dark, twisting clouds that looked like they could rain and storm at any moment. She had ventured beyond the beach of the lake and found a scenery of green hills. However, ponds of water were a regular occurrence here, no matter which direction she went. The temperature was mild – from time to time, a light wind blew through the scenery, refreshing but not cold. She was comfortable in her blue servant's clothes.

She did not know how time passed here in relation to the outside world. She wondered if anyone was searching for her. The last time she saw Jang Uk, they had mainly fought about their varied interests. He wanted the peace and quiet of life in the wilderness, while she wanted to train him hard. He admired Hemp Master Lee, and she had great respect for him since he was a Master of all the magical arts. Jang Uk would benefit from becoming his pupil at the very least. If he practiced chastity with the chaste herb tea like Master Lee suggested, he could progress truly fast. But Jang Uk seemed to take the idea very personally and felt like he'd be less of a man in some way. Damn male pride. It was not like he was using it for anything anyway, but apparently, it was a symbol to him. Foolish pupil. He should listen to his Master. She stopped and breathed in deeply to calm her emotions. The stormy clouds above reflected how she felt inside.

She looked ahead and suddenly found herself on top of the hill she had been gazing at. How was that possible? She had gotten lost in her thoughts, but she couldn't have walked that fast. What was even more surreal was that there was a mirror standing in the middle of the scenery once again. This time, it was a tall mirror that cast no shadow. It reflected the lush green hills and the inky black of the stormy sky, creating an epic contrast. Mu-deok-i stood at an angle to the mirror so that she could see the landscape, but it did not reflect her image.

She stepped closer to the mirror, bracing herself to see another version of herself. As she stood directly in front of it, the reflection revealed her in the turquoise silk hanbok dress gifted to her by the Crown Prince. Mu-deok-i smiled tiredly and addressed the reflection, "And what do you have to criticize about me? Certainly, nothing I haven't already thought of in my head. If you were truly me, you would know that."

"I am not here to criticize," the Mu-deok-i in the mirror mused back in a vibrant melodic voice. She talked confidently,  a little more in the deeper tones of her voice. "I am here to present you with a proposition."

Mu-deok-i's eyebrows raised in surprise as she took a step back from the mirror. "A proposition?" she repeated, her voice laced with skepticism and curiosity.

"While you were here, I ventured into the outside world," the reflection said. "Specifically, I visited two young men who were longing for you."

Go Won listened as his cousin Seo Yul recounted his encounter with the illusionary Mu-deok-i. It beared similarity to his own experience, he wondered whether Yul told them everything. He himself would not admit to all here gathered that his vision had tried to kiss him, even succeeded in it.

Seo Yul told his story as best he could, leaving out just a few details of personal nature, like the moment when she tried to kiss him. And he almost let her. He had let himself get caught off guard. Enchanted, by a vision of Jang Uk's maid.

He told the gathered people in Jinyowon's garden house that the vision had talked to him and tried to come close, that was when he defended himself. And as a result, she disappeared in a magical portal that resembled broken shards of a mirror.

In the tranquil surroundings of Jinyowon's garden house, Yul shared with the assembled guests his strange encounter. He recounted how Mu-Deok had sought to approach him, and he had been compelled to fight it off. In the end, she vanished into a magical portal that resembled shards of a broken mirror.

The crown prince asked, more to himself: "Does that mean what I saw was also an illusion?"

"You saw something too, your majesty?" Seo Yul inquired, surprised.

The prince nodded, "I experienced a similar event. And she disappeared before my eyes."

"It was odd," Seo Yul concluded, "so I went to Chwiseonru looking for Mu-deok. They told me she was dragged here."

At this Lady Jin finally looked up. "She was not dragged here. She was here to run an errand. And she disappeared with something precious. We are in search of a thief, not an illusion."

Then she added, more to herself: "Honestly all this fuss over a maid."

Seo Yul reacted quickly: "She is not a mere maid." he said in a calm but serious tone.

"She is our friend" Dang-gu joined in.

"And she is no longer in service of Jang Uk." Go Won added. Everybody turned to him in surprise. "As of this afternoon, she is my maid." he announced to the group.  Everybody looked even more confused.  "I know you offered to take Jang Uk into your family by marriage to protect him against the duel. I do not hold that against you, I never planed for my and Jang Uk's disagreement to turn into such a big event. Nor have I been the one who organized this duel. I met with Mu-deok-i over tea this afternoon, she told me she will not remain Jang Uk's servant after his marriage.  I offered to take her in and she accepted. She was on her way to gather her belongings from the Jang Residence and was to return to the palace right afterwards. But apparently, she was intercepted by Jin Cho-yeon on her way."

Lady Jin looked down, feeling very degraded. So now she was responsible for the prince's property disappearing, the day couldn't get worse.

Jin Cho-yeon felt very uneasy. She shouldn't have blamed the broken jade on Mu-Deok. But, she was scared of her mother's reaction. And now it was too late to back out from her story.
"Why do you all believe Mu-Deok is still here? She ran away. We must search the town."

"Something about the vision was off." Seo Yulb said. Turning to address his royal cousin, he asked: "Did your mirror also break, your highness?"

Go won, looked up surprised "Yes."

Dang-gu cut in: "I hope i remember this correctly, but aren't illusions created by powerful magical items?"

Seo yul remembered immideately what Dang-gu meant. "Yes that is true, and the most powerful relics of Daeho all reside in the vault of Jinyowon." he said, looking directly at Lady Jin.

She looked back, eyes narrowed. Did he want her to do what she thought he did?

"Is there by any chance an enchanted relic that could create illusions of a person in Jinyowon?" Seo Yul asked.

Lady Jin begrudgingly replied: "Perhaps. There are many items locked in Jinyowon. For good reason."

"Since my and Jul's mirror broke, perhaps it is a mirror?" the prince guessed.

Dang-gu: "That would make sense"

Seo Yul nodded, signaling his agreement of the theory. "Lady Jin, I respectfully ask you to let us inside Jinyowon to search for such a relic. Hopefully it will help us locate Mu-deok-i."

"Even if such a mirror would exist. It doesn't mean it will know where she is." Lady jin retorted.

"Even so, it is our best lead right now." Seo Yul replied.

The crown prince turned to her: "As the crown prince, I could order you to open the vault."

"Please help us find our friend." Dang-gu pleaded.

Chapter Text

"Seo Yul!" Go won heard his own deep voice calling out his cousin's name. He had grabbed hold of him when that mirror started pulling him in. The image slowly faded away and was replaced by milky pink patterns that told him his eyes were closed. He stretched out his hands and felt a surface of twigs, leaves and small plants. Was he laying? He couldn't remember having passed out. His ears registered the chirping of birds and bees. Was he outside? How had they gotten out of the vault? He couldn't remember. Had he saved Yul? Was he okay? He opened his eyes to find out and was blinded by sunlight, he was definitely not in the underground cave vault anymore.

He blinked repeatedly to adjust his eyes to the change of light. Sitting upright, he touched the back of his head but it didn't hurt. So he hadn't passed out on a hard surface, that was good. And if he had been kidnapped, he was handled gently. Not that he'd expect anything less for his position of prince, of course. He sighed, he was the crown prince of Daeho and yet the people he most yearned to impress with his position, did not care or despised him for it. 'Good' he thought, at least in the case of Jung Uk. It pleased him if he made that orphan son jealous. He held him responsible for his teacher not getting the official position he deserved. Which had belonged to Jang Uk's father, his teacher's master.

He breathed in deeply and raised his gaze, drinking in his surroundings. He had expected a forest, but instead, it was an enchanting meadow filled with flowers. The semi-shade that had tricked his senses had been provided by a sole tree towering above him. He sat up and mindlessly walked up to it, touching its bark and caressing its leaves. He recognized the shape, it was his favourite tree as a child. He had spent hours playing near it-- His thoughts were interrupted by laughter. He turned around and chuckled out loud as he saw a group of children dancing in a circle, all wearing crowns woven out of flowers.

"Go in at your own demise" Lady Jin's voice rang in Seo Yul's head. He saw a green and gold pattern, swirling and dancing before his eyes and felt a soothing summer breeze caress his left cheek. After a while, he realized he was lying on his back. His eyes fluttered open and a roof of bamboo leaves swayed in the wind above him. Sitting up, he saw a bamboo forest, with sunlight streaming in between the stems. Awakening his senses, he traced the ground and felt a soft carpet of the finest grass and moss he could wish for. Seo Yul had been known to get disoriented when anxious. He was now at an unknown place and didn't know how he got there, he was both disoriented and anxious. But strangely the enchanting fairy-tale like bamboo forest provided him with a sense of comfort that soothed his senses and tingling in his stomach.

The prince, he remembered. When Lady Jin had let them enter the underground vault, his cousin Go Won was adamant to be at his side. And so they explored the wonderous cave of treasures together. Whispering comments about beautiful and unusual items they found, but careful to not touch anything. They had wandered through the gigantic vault that seemed a world of it's own, until they stumbled on to the mirror. They had not touched it either, but it spoke to them. Better said, an image of Mudeoki spoke to them. Of course they had stopped and listened, her gaze drew them in, quite literally and they found themselves being sucked into the mirror. He recalled Go Won throwing his arms around him. He raised his head and looked around, but his royal cousin was nowhere to be found. Perhaps he had gone ahead to explore the bamboo wood?

"I have a proposal for you"  her reflection had said, draped in the prince's silk dress.

But when Mudeoki inquired, something pulled the reflection's attention away suddenly. Looking distracted sideways as though spotting someone. Mudeoki turned to her left but saw nothing there except for the landscape of endless green hills.  "Wait for me here." the mirror-self instructed and left her alone with her spiralling thoughts.

Mudeoki didn't know how long she had waited now, but it dragged on for ages. Time here was a twisted, mocking enemy. It stretched and coiled around her, a relentless reminder of her solitude. There was not a soul in this place, she had met no one after two days of walking.  And thus she was left alone with her thoughts. The worst punishment imaginable. Her solitude echoed the emptiness she felt inside. The Emptiness of a purpose lost. Once, she had been a shadow in the night, a whisper of death. Now? Now she was a ghost, haunting hills that cared not for her failures.

She alternated between sitting in front of the mirror and walking around the top of the hill, but always staying in visual range of that damn mirror. Lost in her thoughts she stumbled and failing to catch her anything, fell. She cursed loudly, this wretched place. Anywhere she went, she kept falling. She had once been promised an extraordinary fate by her master, but lately, it felt like she had always been destined for one thing - losing.

She sat on her butt and stared up at the grey and inky blue stormy clouds. "What do you want from me?!" she screamed at the sky. A loud thunder filled the air, echoing from the hills around and a wild wind ruffled her hair. "Why am I here?? What should I do?? How am I prove myself??" she was sick of it. All of it.

Once she had a mission. A sense of purpose. Without it she was nothing.

His heart yearned for the carefree joy of a time before his father's gaze grew cold with disappointment, and his mother... she was different then, her smiles more genuine, though they still brought him comfort now in their rarity.

But it wasn't just his parents' altered affections he missed. His friends, too, had drifted away or changed since he ascended to the role of crown prince. Their camaraderie, once pure, now felt tainted by ambition and expectation. Their once genuine connection now used for influence and favours. Only Jul, his cousin, remained unchanged, his seriousness a constant through the years. Him, he trusted.

Instead of peers he had servants and advisors, the equality lost. And women? Their looks of admiration held a different weight now, objectifying and jealous, their company often transactional.

That is why he enjoyed those rare genuine connections whenever he found them. Raw emotions touched his heart, and made him feel alive. Even if they were a raw passionate hatred.  That is why he enjoyed the strange challenge presented to him by-- He was jolted back to the present by a familiar voice.

"Ahhh, I knew you'd miss me." it was unmistakable. Pulled from his reverie, Go Won turned and there she was – Mudeoki, emerging between blossoming bushes, her turquoise silk dress contrasting vividly with the pink flowers.

"Filthy Mudeoki!" he exclaimed, his voice betraying the joy he felt.

She stepped closer, her presence suddenly commanding his full attention. "Oh, Your Highness, you wrong me," she teased, closing the distance between them in surprisingly few strides. He realized then that she wasn't the disheveled figure he had teasingly named her. He had to agree, she was certainly not filthy, quite the contrary. Upon closer inspection her skin shimmered, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyelids peach-coloured and glittery and lips a striking hue of red. It reminded him of the moment he had found her in the dress, dolled up, mistaken for a Gisaeng. She looked even prettier now. He wondered briefly about the cosmetics that adorned her – such luxury seemed incongruent with her status.

But that thought was fleeting, overshadowed by the sight of her. The sunlight's caress framed her face and made her hair aflame with auburn hues, a delicate floral pin adorning it. Where had she acquired such a trinket? She was a servant... He didn't know, but in that moment, it hardly bothered him. She was captivating, far from the 'filthy Mudeoki' he had once known."