Sohee POV

Two months went by before I saw Howon again.

"Damn! Those guards don't give up easily" he panted, as he tried to catch his breath. I couldn't help but giggle. "This isn't funny! You have no idea how hard it was to get away from them!"

"I'm sorry" I apologized. "At least we know that they take your protection seriously."

He collapsed on the bed. "Too seriously, if you ask me."

"You must be hungry" I commented. "I'll go and make you something to eat."

"Thanks" he yawned.

Prince Howon POV

The months passed by one after the next and, before we knew it, four years had passed.

"I think the guards have finally given up following me when we come to the temple" I smiled as I arrived at Sohee's house.

"Considering you kept running away from them for four years, it's no wonder. I'm surprised they didn't give up sooner."

I took a seat on the pyeong sang and said "I think it is finally time to put our plan into action."

"What?" She was surprised. "Already?"

"Yeah" I smiled. "Daeyeol has been working hard for the past year. I think he is ready."

"Are you really ready for this?"

"Honestly" I sighed. "They keep pushing me to get married. Thankfully, I have been able to use my illness as an excuse to postpone it. If we don't do this now, I'm afraid they will force a marriage on me and my wife will be bound to the palace after I die. I really don't want that to happen."

"Okay" she smiled. "When would be the best time for me to appear?"

"My father in planning a large banquet to celebrate Chopail next month. I think that would be the most ideal time to implement our plan."

Sohee POV

"We should probably let the village know."

"Right" He smiled in reply.

After our first encounter, I thought it would be best if we told the villagers about our plan. They were a bit surprised when they found out, but they all seemed to trust my judgement.

"Howon! Sohee! It's so good to see you two! How have things been?" Mrs. Park, one of the village elders, said as she saw us coming into the village.

"We've been well" I replied. I quickly scanned the village square and then asked "Are the other elders around?"

"They are probably oversleeping. You know how Mr. Choi and Mr. Jang get this time of the year. Mrs. Hong should be here any minute though. She and I have patrol duty this morning."

"Would it be possible to get everyone together?" I asked nervously.

"Is something wrong?"

"No" I smiled. "We just wanted to talk to everyone."

"Okay" she nodded. "Give me a minute to gather everyone" she said as she took off.

"Don't worry" Howon said as he placed an arm around my shoulders. "Everything will be fine."

"I hope so" I sighed.

Once most of the adults of the village had gathered, I took a step forward and began "As you all know, Howon and I have been working hard for the past four years to try and cure his illness. However, we haven't been successful."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Mr. Choi yawned.

"We knew that it would be difficult because Howon was the Crown Prince and he can't come here frequently. That is why we have been working on a way for him to be able to stay here."

"I remember you mentioning that a few years ago" Mrs. Hong said. "What are you planning on doing."

"We plan to force my father's hand" Howan said.

"Force?" Mr. Jang asked. "How can you force your father to let you go?"

"I plan to go to the palace and 'threaten' him" I shyly spoke up.

Everyone was shocked. "Threaten?" "Do you think that will really work?" "What if they come after you?" "After all of us?"

"Please calm down" I spoke up. "I know that you all have supported us and I don't want to drag you all into this, but this is the only way Howon will be able to come here and stay."

Mrs. Park stepped forward "Honestly, we all have watched over you since you were little and we know how important this is to you. I think we all knew that this would happen one day." She took a few steps forward and gently took my hands into hers. "We will do everything we can to help. Just tell us what we need to do."

"Thank you" I smiled with tears in my eyes.

Prince Howon POV

After explaining the plan to the gumihos in the village, we knew there would be no turning back. The next day, I returned to the temple determined to see this through to the end.

"Your Highness!" one of the guards called out to me when he saw me heading for my room.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked him.

"No! It's just... You are usually gone for a week when you disappear" he bluntly commented. 

I looked at the guard and said "Let the others know I'm back and that we will be leaving today."

"Yes, Your Highness!" the young guard shouted as he snapped into attention. Then he ran off to inform the other guards.

We left immediately and arrived back at the palace two days later. Needless to say, everyone was quite surprised that I had shortened my visit to the temple.

"Why are back already?" Daeyeol asked as he followed me into my chambers. "I thought you'd be gone for a couple of weeks."

"I didn't want to lose track of time and miss the banquet next month" I replied, hoping that it was a good enough excuse for him.

"You are always missing banquets and festivals" he chuckled. "I don't think anyone expects you to be there."

Perfect! Everything is going according to plan.

"Still... I should participate in these 'Royal Functions', right? I can't keep missing them."

"I don't think anyone would blame you" Daeyeol replied honestly. "You've been sick since you were young."

"You're right" I smiled. "I've been sick since I was young and father still wants me to take the throne" I complained. "Why can't he just give the position to you?"