10 years later...

"Didn't you say that Oraboeni is returning today?" Hye-ri asked her maid Jang-mi, who was also her most trusted confidante and friend, aside from her brother Ji-hyuk of course.

She peeped out of the window of her room to see what was happening outside- dozens of men and women were rushing back and forth. It was all to prepare for the feast that her father, Minister Kim was hosting for the celebration of his eldest son, General Kim Baek-ah returning home victorious.

Her brother had volunteered to go and crush the rebel uprisings in the remote provinces on the border of the kingdom, along with the eldest Prince Wang Tae. They both were returning back after six long months.

Although, it had been almost three years since Hye-ri last saw Wang Tae:

He was so rarely in the capital for the past couple of years as he was regularly sent off to the troops of the royal army for battle with rebels, small attacks from the tribes that lived past the kingdom borders and whatnot- Hye-ri didn't bother much with keeping herself up to date with the latest military developments or the politics of her kingdom; frankly, it bored her. It had never appealed to her and she was unwaveringly convinced that it never would.

She couldn't have possibly known what fate had in store for her...

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When Hye-ri's brother arrived back home after being away for almost half a year, he was welcomed with great pomp and show. After all, he had returned home after successfully crushing the rebel armies and it called for celebration.

General Kim Baek-ah and Prince Tae were treated to music by the best musicians in the capital, dance performed by the most skilled and graceful dancers in the kingdom and a lavish feast full of scrumptious food and the best wine in Goryeo by Minister Kim. Both had come straight away from the palace after being congratulated by the king on their victory.

The king unfortunately was feeling a bit unwell so he sent his other son, Prince Won to join the banquet.

Hye-ri therefore, was naturally very surprised when Wang Won came in the king's stead. Much to her annoyance, her brother Ji-hyuk welcomed his friend brightly. They both had been good friends since their childhood days.

"He's here too? Ugh. Last time he visited our house, he "accidentally" knocked down my favorite vase!" Hye-ri wasn't too thrilled with the news of his arrival like her brother.

Wang Won and Hye-ri had been like that since their childhood- because both of them were overly pampered and spoiled by the people around them; being the proud spoiled brats that they were, they clashed with each other frequently.

They both lived to bicker with each other. Growing up together over the years, while the young prince had become a close friend of Ji-hyuk; he loved to play pranks on Hye-ri and tease her.

And Hye-ri, whose mother had taught her to always be elegant, poised and polite and to behave like the noblewoman she was; often seemed to lose her cool with the troublesome prince. 

Kim Hye-ri didn't really have a bad temper in general and her manners were always deemed as impeccable and praiseworthy at noble gatherings.

( however her mother begged to differ ; seeing as she didn't miss any chance to admonish her daughter from time to time)

But the troublesome Wang Won managed to flare up her almost non-existent temper.

The end result was always them being stopped by Hye-ri's brothers or Prince Wang Tae before they bit each other's heads off; or worse-before they killed each other.

Even so, the young prince and Hye-ri were not total enemies who hated each other's guts; and although both were way too stubborn and proud to admit it, they did share a connection and cared for each other deep down. Both had grown up together after all.

"Yes, I'm afraid so my lady. His Highness-" Jang-mi began but Hye-ri interrupted her at once with a huge scowl on her face at the mere mention of the young prince,

"His Highness my foot! That 'Prince' is a total jerk unlike his elder brother who is a perfect gentleman." huffed Hye-ri irritably.

"Kim Hye-ri watch your mouth!" Hye-ri's mother just had to appear at that particular moment in her room.

Her mother was a really strict woman, and while many people said that Hye-ri had apparently inherited all her mother's delicate features and pale complexion and that she was a total carbon copy of her mother, Hye-ri begged to differ on the matter.

Hye-ri gulped nervously before turning to face her mother,

"Mother, what brings you here?"

"First tell me, is this how I raised you? Badmouthing the prince of our kingdom?! And don't even get me started on the language you used! Don't use such words, it isn't ladylike and proper."

Her mother gave Hye-ri one of her classic glare-cum-disapproving-scowl, which was all too familiar to Hye-ri. She knew that a long lecture on 'proper etiquettes for noblewomen' would soon follow so she cursed her bad luck and gave Jang-mi a beseeching look which said-

"Help me get out of this one."

Jang-mi just hung her head low in surrender and shrugged apologetically scared of Hye-ri's mother like all the other servants in the Kim household.

"You traitor!" Hye-ri muttered dejectedly and prepared herself for the lengthy speech that she was about to hear; one which she had heard one-too many times from her dear mother.

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"Oraboeni I missed you so much!" Hye-ri exclaimed with delight as soon as she saw her eldest brother.

She would've hugged him right away but as they were all in the middle of a celebratory feast with many prominent and high-ranking noblemen present, she could only beam brightly at her brother.

Heaven forbid that she gets lectured by her mother again, and possibly even Young-ja too.

"I missed you too sister." General Baek-ah gave his sister a rare grin. His comrades could swear that the general didn't even know how to smile- he was known to be a hardened, cold and calculating fighter, devoid of any feelings on the battlefield; where he killed swiftly and mercilessly.

If only those soldiers who he commanded in the army could see him then; they would surely die of shock if they saw him smile at his sister warmly . Only those close to him knew that in reality he wasn't at all like they thought him to be and that he had a very gentle heart and was very shy and reserved.

Speaking of expressionless cold people, Hye-ri glanced at the person standing beside her brother.

Prince Wang Tae.

Hye-ri had last seen him when she was thirteen. He hadn't changed much, he looked as serious as ever; still stingy with his expressions.

But Hye-ri's heart did a little leap when she laid eyes on the prince. He had gotten more good-looking if that was even possible.

There was a small cut above his eyebrow which hadn't been there before, but that only added to his handsomeness instead of diminishing it.

His hairstyle had changed though- his long black hair was cropped a bit on the right side of his forehead; almost hiding his right eye but not quite. His black obsidian eyes, dark as a cloudless night sky were as guarded as ever. He was wearing his standard royal dark blue robes; his wardrobe choice hadn't changed much.

He was the total opposite of Prince Won, his half-brother.

While Hye-ri begrudgingly admitted that Wang Won wasn't bad to look at; with his dark brown eyes that were always lively and twinkling with mirth (mostly at her expense) and his elegant and striking features; Wang Tae had a certain ruggedness to his handsomeness.

The only thing in common that the half- brothers shared was their mutual love for each other unheard of amongst royal siblings much less half-brothers.
And, their tall height-
Prince Tae had always been tall even when he was a kid but Prince Won's height had suddenly increased due to his adolescent growth spurt. He had been a few inches shorter that Hye-ri when they were small but now he towered over her like his brother.

Hye-ri had always felt a bit intimidated in his presence ; and now she felt that more than ever before. A telltale blush would soon paint her too-pale-for-her-liking face red and Hye-ri knew it.

She tried to compose herself and gave the prince a customary polite bow and then turned back to her brother,

"If you missed me so much Oraboeni, why didn't you write to me more? I received only four letters from you these past six months! FOUR!" she pouted grumpily. Her brother bit his lip and began to say something; only he didn't get a chance to because a certain someone beat him to it,

"That's so sad Lady Hye-ri. But you see, they went there to subdue the rebels; not for a vacation." The newcomer clucked his tongue and said it in a condescending manner which irked Hye-ri at once.

"Prince Won! How nice of you to join us today, we are so grateful that you came to our humble abode." Hye-ri said, sarcasm heavily coating her words and she bowed in front of him insincerely.

Prince Tae and General Baek-ah exchanged a wary glance among themselves; they were no strangers to the fact that their siblings couldn't go five minutes without fighting and bickering with each other. Both men had often acted as mediators when it had happened one-too many times in the past.

"Likewise, Lady Hye-ri. I must say, this color suits you. You should wear yellow colored clothes more often" Wang Won complimented her mockingly. He knew that she despised the color. Her mother had made her wear the light yellow hanbok dress against her wishes and protests.

"Why, thank you prince." She snapped irritably at him.
Hye-ri never snapped at anyone except him. Her patience level was fairly high but somehow Prince Won always managed to snap it in a second.

"Woah there! Learn to take a compliment well, will you?" he grinned at her devilishly; his dark brown eyes twinkling in amusement; which made her blood boil. He constantly managed to aggravate the hell out of Hye-ri; it had been like that since they had met each other on that fateful day.

"Enough both of you! I shudder to imagine how much you both must've fought in our absence; I pity Ji-hyuk who was stuck between you two for six months. Can't you both for once not argue or fight with each other?" Hye-ri's brother frowned at them disapprovingly and Wang Tae mirrored his expression.

"No." Both said it in unison; for once agreeing on the same thing.

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A/N

Hanbok- it is a traditional korean dress worn by women.