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Eun Sook awoke the next morning to find him gone.  Discovering the door to his bedchamber open, she peeked inside.  Only to notice his empty bed.  But he had left something on it.  It appeared to be a scroll.  She stepped into his room and approached that bed.  And swallowed as she recalled the first terrifying moments that she’d spent in this room last night.  Before she’d learned just how honorable Jijin was.  

She reached out and fingered the roll of parchment.  Then she opened it to discover a blank canvas waiting for her words.  She smiled as her eyes fell upon the note which he’d left for her on the bed.  Her eyes slid across the bold strokes of the characters which he’d written not too long ago.  Characters that – she noticed – were much larger than normal.  He had taken her words about her disability to heart.  She felt oddly touched by his courtesy.  She didn’t even need a magnifying glass to read his missive.

“My dear storyteller, write until your heart is content.”

Next to the scroll, he’d also left her a quill pen and a block of ink.  And the requested fragment of magnifying glass.  She now had all the tools she needed to let her creativity fly!  She scooped them up and headed out into the other room to search for his office.  She was going to find a comfortable place to work and get busy crafting another tale.  This time on parchment.

––

He’d been gone all day long.  Eun Sook had sat alone in his office the entire day.  Writing.  Reveling in her characters and their plot lines.  When she wasn’t enjoying the sumptuous fare which he’d clearly provided for her.  A maid had brought her three meals.  All at the appropriate times. 

Eun Sook had been relieved that he hadn’t returned.  Being around the extremely attractive man in his private chambers was still awkward.  Today, she felt that she would be even more disconcerted than she had been last night.  She’d felt the distance increasing between them during his absence.  She wasn’t looking forward to his return.  Despite his obvious kindness to her.

But as it turned out, she needn’t have worried.  Her eyes began to grow heavy long before he returned.  So she headed to the couch and stretched out upon it.  She didn’t even fight her growing weariness.  She’d worked hard all day long.  She deserved a rest.  No doubt, upon returning to his chambers, he would wake her if he needed her.  In the meanwhile, she was going to get some sleep.

––

He strode towards his room with a fierce countenance.  Seon Woo had just confronted him.  For a moment, the king had feared that he wouldn’t be returning to Eun Sook tonight.  His rival for the throne could have removed his head had he desired to.  The king had dropped his sword.  But his challenger had never been able to wreak upon him the vengeance which he’d desired for his friend’s death.

Perhaps Seon Woo could actually read his heart.  Whatever the case was, he seemed to believe the king’s assertions.  And now he was backing the king’s plan.  They had parted tonight as friends.  Working towards a common goal.  To protect Silla.  And to unify the three kingdoms.  The king finally had a faithful ally.  His very own cousin.

He felt satisfaction rising in his heart.  And something else…hope.  But they still had to face all their foes.  Could they carry off their plan with success?  And defeat every one of his enemies?

He believed that they could…but only with the help of the hwarang.  The question was…had he forged a strong enough bond with them all to draw them to his side?

He had set all the players into motion tonight.  He was certain that there was no way that he’d be able to sleep.  He was thankful that he had his little storyteller to whom to return.

He didn’t return until very late.  It was far past dark when he entered his chambers.  Only to discover that his bedroom was empty.  As he wandered into the adjoining room, he found her sound asleep on the couch.  He sighed.  He really didn’t have the heart to wake her.  But he needed her companionship tonight.  He was on edge.  Anticipating the coming confrontations.  Tomorrow was going to be a busy day….