Hoshi's Pov

"You are not suited for the throne. It would be great if you die. Die. Die. Die!"

I woke up in unfamiliar place. There are no soft bed, decorated curtains, the nice fragrance of incense and a servant who will approach me as soon I opened my eyes. W-Where am I?

"Oh? You're finally awake." Who is that?!

I sat up, wincing in pain. "Ahhh!"

"Don't worry. I already treated your wound," a skinny guy, who is blowing air to the fireplace, said.

"W-Who are you? W-Where am I?!" I shouted. My hands secretly reached my side, expecting to get my sword. But its gone! And unexpectedly, my clothes turned  ragged!

The skinny guy sighed. When he faced me, his cute face made me realised that he is not a he, but a she. "I'll admit that you are a pretty boy," she murmured. "But shouting like that is inconsiderate for the person who saved your life."

Save my life?

"You s-save my life?"

"I saw you in the middle of the mountain: unconscious and naked."

UNCONSCIOUS?! NAKED?!

"YOU INSOLENT WITCH! HOW DARE YOU SNEAK TO THIS PRECIOUS BODY!? YOU DESERVE A DEATH PENALTY!"

"YOU ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO SHOUT  AT ME! I BROUGHT YOU HERE IN MY HOUSE!  I TREATED YOUR WOUND, GAVE YOU CLOTHES  AND PREPARED FOOD FOR YOU. YET YOU ARE BEING UNGRATEFUL?!  HOW SPITE OF!" She banged the table beside me using her spear.

S-She is r-right. I am not in the position to complain.

With those words she marked, my lips pursed like a scared puppy. She is the only one who has the courage to shout at me, along with my father: This kingdom's King.

Okay Prince Soonyoung, let's remember what happened a moment ago:

Dino and I rode our horses to the mountain for hunting. We got separated when I followed a deer. Suddenly, a group of bandits attacked me. They got my sword, my clothes and my horse! Then everything went black.

"So... you really save me huh," I muttered, still staring at the blank space.

The woman put a tray of food abovr the table. Riceball? So that's what it looks like. Ive been wondering what kind of food a riceball is.

"I don't know how to repay your kindness. But when I meet my acquaintance, I will pay you  with good price," I offered.

"Why? Are you rich? A nobel?"

"Tss. I am not just a nobel. I am this kingdom's crown p-"

[Flashback =

"Crown Prince, if we are out from the palace, you shouldn't  tell to anyone that you are the Crown prince.  Or else,  you'll be in danger," Dino said. ]

"I'm...  just a passerby merchant."

"Merchant? Then, if you want to repay  me, bring foods and medicines," she asked before lifting another tray of rice balls.

"Foods and medicine? That's odd. Usually, girls want gold, jewelry,  clothes, make-up and clothes for reward."

"I don't  need  money nor golds. When the authority  found  out that a person like me holds something precious like that, they will snatch it instead. Also, things that can make me pretty,  is not necessary here. Guy's clothes  are comfortable.  And I don't  want to get married. So foods  and medicines are  enough."

I still don't get it. 

"Okay," I agreed.  "I'll pay you as soon as I meet my acquaintance."

"Good. Eat the riceball, I'm sure you are hungry." She walks towards the door with those tray of riceballs.

"Wait. Where are you go--"

She already went out.

"-ing?"

I blinked. She is right. I am already hungry. But whenever I looked at the riceball on the table, my appetite lose. How can the crown prince eat the same meal of commoners?

"Maybe... just a little."

I got the rice ball onto my hands and stared it for a bit. I have no choice. When I took a taste on it, it took me only a minute before it was already on my palm!

The riceball taste good! How did they cook this?! Im gonna asked this dish to be cook at the palace!

My eyes started to roam around.  Her house is small: no decorations, filled of charcoals and green herbal plants. It is nothing comparable to my room. However, there is a warmth surrounds.

I got up from the bed and saw the slippers made of straws. She prepared the slippers huh. How hospitable despite of her rude choice of words.

Using the straws slippers, I walked towards the door. My wound is still hurt but it is endurable. And so I opened the door.

The sun is almost setting to the west, making a beautiful orange dawn sky. Laughter filled the air. I am now standing in a small village of poor people: sick old men and women, skinny children, tired mothers and wounded men.

Being the crown prince, I thought everyone is sleeping, eating and living equally. But looking at the reality, I realised that there are still people in my kingdom that are suffering. For years, I enjoyed in Gisaeng's place, playing gamble and hunting. Now I know why my brother opposed of having me as the soon to be king. Because I had no will to change the country for the better. I feel ashamed.

"Here grandma, eat this rice ball. Make sure to drink your medicine." I looked at the woman who saved my life. She is giving foods and medicine to her villagers. Why? She has nothing at all!

Someone held my hand. When bowed down, there is a thin kid looking up on me. "It is my first time seeing you mister." And it was my first time getting held by a commoners. "Are you that lady's lover?"

With my eyes widened, I answered, "No!"

"Ahh. That's great. I like that lady." Kids are funny. They thought love is east. "Mister, you look so sad. Are you hungry? Do you want my rice ball instead?"

He offered me the rice ball he is holding. I can't believe that a skinny kid who seems to be hungrier than I, offered his one and only food. It made me wanna cry.

"No thanks. I'm full," I declined.

"Okay. Bye."

"That's Meeko," the girl approached me.

"Ha?" I muttered.

"The kid you were talking."

"Ahh."

"Why did you  get up from bed? Your wound might not recover."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Hmm. Go on."

"Why are you helping  these people? You don't  have enough for yourself."

She looked at her villagers before she answered with a smile, "Because they need help. I am happy to see their smile even though life is hard. That's  why, I am doing my best and giving  my best to protect it."

Her smile, it is breathtaking.

"I see. What happened to those wounded men? " I continued to ask.

"Bandits attacked our village from time to time and forcefully get foods from us. It considers lucky if no one dies after their attacks."

"How awful! You should report them to the authorities! "

"Authorities? No. They are worse than the bandits. They collects high taxes from us until nothing left. Bandits or them, both are thieves."

I thought how my father runs the politics  issue  is perfect. But there are still  corrupt officials who  are the reasons of people's  suffering.

"Our head lady, a man is coughing  blood! What should we do?!" a guy called her.

"I'll be there!" She replied and dashed towards their direction.

I am this country's crown prince. That girl is nothing but a head villager of this poor place. I ate different kind of expensive foods, but she giveaway her own food. I was playing to my heart  contents,  but she is helping the poor.

I maybe the prince, but this girl is greater than I.

My heart keeps on pounding while I am looking at her from afar.

Someday, I want to be like her.

Time flies by.

I can hear the owls from the outside while I am back sitting on her bed. She is cutting firewoods so she can cook for our dinner. Weirdly, my heart won't stop beating so fast just by looking at her!

Am  I attracted to her?! I know she is amazing but... no! I am the crown prince. There are a lot of beautiful gisaengs I can summon in palace! I should get a grip!

"Why are you blushing? Have a fever?" She is already sitting beside me, holding my forehead to check my temperature. Oh my gosh!

"Im o-okay. Ahem," I stuttered.  Damn! I'm feeling so hot!

She pulled her hand. Now I can breathe. Hoo! "When are you planning to leave?"

"Don't worry, sooner or later, my bodyguard, I mean, my acquaintance will find me. Then, we will provide foods and medicines to your village."

.

.

.

.

Sh*t! Why is she intently just staring at me?! And with a small gap?!

"You are kind," she mumbled.

"Ha?"

"Rich people won't  promise  to support  food. They looked down on us."

"R-Really?" My cheeks felt hot!

"Thank you Mr.? What is your name?"

"My name?"

My name. Since I was born, people surrounds me call me "Crown Prince". Even the queen and the king. Its been so long since someone called me in my name that I almost forgot it.

"Soonyoung. My name is Soonyoung."

I met her gaze after telling my name.

"Soonyoung. Nice to meet you, Soonyoung." Then she smiled.

I clenched the blanket, finding it hard to breathe. My heart almost burst from the happiness when I heard her calling my name!

"How about you? What is your name?"

She avoided my gaze like she doesn't want to talk about it. Why? "I don't have a name. People calle, 'head lady'. But I don't have an exact name."

"Eh? Is that possible? Although being a crown prince, has a name. I MEAN! OUR KINGDOM'S CROWN PRINCE. HE-HE."

"Hime."

"Hmm?"

"Hi-me. Its been a long time since someone called me 'Hime'."

Hime. That word is familiar. Hearing it feels nostalgic.  Where did I hear it?

"Hime," I called her, and so, she looked back. "Hime. Hime, you are an amazing person. I adore you, Hime."

She froze. Did I say it wrong? 

She bit her lower lip and suddenly... she cries?!

"H-Hey, Im sorry. Did I offend you?" I worried.  

"N-no. I am just...  just happy. So happy that it made me cry. Thanks for calling me like that. I will never forget it."

She said she will never forget it. I must be happy, right? But... based in her words, it sounds sad that someday soon, we will never see each other again. I want to see her more. I want to hear her thoughts more. I want to watch her smile while helping others. She will be my inspiration. So... is it okay to ask this?

"Hime. Come with me. Come with me to the palace." I cupped her cheeks to made her looked at me.

"Palace?" She sobbed.

Her eyes are so round, I can even see my reflection. It is so beautiful: a red flaming eyes. Red?!

"H-Hime. Y-Your eyes, it turned red," I gasped.

She yanked my hands away, get the knife and pointed it to me! "Palace you said. Who are you? WHO ARE YOU?!"

Sorrow and pain, her red eyes tells me a painful story hidden behind her past.

"H-Hime, calm down. Actually... well... the thing is..."

The door opened, and a man shouted, "Crown prince!" It was my personal body guard, Dino.

"You.are. the. Crown. Prince?" Hime said, gritting her teeth.

"Hime, I-"

"GET OUT! GET OUT OR ELSE, I'll kill you! "

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