Today was the 10th death anniversary of the former king of Kouka, King Junam, also known as my grandfather. My father, King Il, was making a speech to the people in his honor, talking of how the kingdom has been free from any significant wars for the past ten years; during his reign. I looked to my left, where my sister, Yona, is supposed to be standing. 

But she wasn't here. 

I turned to my right to see two of the generals that guarded the castle: Hak and Ahi. I signaled Ahi to ask about Yona, but Hak was the only one who noticed, and asked a servant. He rolled his eyes at the servant's response, and reported back to me. "She's still preparing herself," he mouthed.

For a moment, I was wondering why she took so long, but then I remembered. Soo-won is coming to the castle. Once the ceremony was over, I walked behind my father to go to Yona's room. I stood aside as he, Yona and Hak argued, and once she started to nag about her hair, I decided to leave and take a stroll through the garden. Ahi, who was appointed to be my bodyguard, followed me.

"Is something the matter, Vienna?" he asked as we silently walked through the corridor. I smiled lightly and answered, "Ahi, you know how I can't stand Yona nagging about her hair." He gave me an apologetic smile, and once we had turned the corner, I came upon Soo-won himself.

"Good afternoon, Princess Vienna," Soo-won greeted me. He sounded delighted. "Good afternoon, Lord Soo-won," I greeted back. "Please, just call me Soo-won. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Soo-won smiled at me. I returned the smile, and replied, "Yes, I believe the time has passed. And please, just Vienna is enough." He then proceeded to greet Ahi, and I couldn't help but contemplate my feelings towards him.

He's kind, gentle, and friendly towards everyone, and often, when we're alone, he acts naïve and childish, as a form of play or tease. Soo-won is sociable, ever since he was a child, and has been able to establish connections with various people. He looks frail, with lack of appearance in combat, but at least I know that he never displays his real strength unless he needs to. 

Soo-won turned to me again, and just as he was about to continue our conversation, Yona appeared and bumped into him. I was expecting her to apologize, like how she's supposed to, but she never did. Yona stared at Soo-won and blushed, and he acted as if nothing had happened and greeted her, and conversed with her. 

I felt immensely left out of place. I was the youngest sister, and somehow had more respect for a Lord than the eldest princess. "Are you going to stay for long?" Yona asked him, and he affirmed. "Yes. I want to attend your birthdays, so of course I'll be staying." I smiled to myself. He was staying for mine and Yona's birthday. 

I was born a few days before Yona's first birthday, and it caused such trouble in early years, that I suggested moving my birthday to the same day as hers. Now I don't really remember the actual date of my birthday. 

Yona kept on asking him questions, and she tried to look cute or quirky for him, and it was a disaster. In the middle of one of their conversations I excused myself, and headed towards the garden. "I'm going to take a nap," announced Ahi as he laid on the bench closest to me. "Tell me if you need anything." "Okay," I responded, and sat around the flower bed, picking different flowers. 

Later in the evening, as I  was quietly admiring which flower to pick, I heard the sharp sound of Ahi's sword scratching it's sheath. I turned to see a semi-sleepy Ahi pointing his sword at Soo-won. "Your reflexes are as good as ever, Ahi," commented Soo-won with a smile as Ahi drew back his sword. "Sorry, Soo-won. You came with no warning," Ahi apologized. "It's alright, no need to apologize, it was my fault," the blonde Lord proceeded to sit aside me on the garden bed, leaving the lazy guard to nap again. 

"What are you making?" he asked, as I picked another flower. "I'm making a flower crown," I smiled at my work as I had finished it. It was the prettiest one I had made so far, and so I turned to Soo-won and placed it on his head. "It's really pretty. I love your work, Vienna," he commented, and made a blush creep on my cheeks. 

"I was going to ask you earlier if you wanted to see Hak, Ahi and I play archery tomorrow. I know how much you love to watch us," he said.  I smiled and nodded. "It'd be an honor."

The next day in the morning, like he said, Soo-won came and escorted me to the training area of the garden, and watched as the three of them went on their horses and started to play. I was standing aside my father when Yona appeared. "It's so unfair! Why does Soo-won always wants to spend time with Hak and Ahi, but never with me?" My big sister whined as she oversaw them from where we stood. I was about to tell her off, when father busted in instead.

"Now, now. Soo-won and those two haven't seen each other in a long time either." Thanks, dad. Yona kept quiet as the three began another race. Hak was the only one to score a bulls-eye. I looked in admiration as Ahi complimented Hak and Soo-won. "One day," started Soo-won, "I'll be able to score a bulls-eye just like Hak! Just you wait!" I sighed of happiness and content. Just watching them play like that reminds me of how much we've grown past the years. But then I guess, not all of us have grown.

"I want to be an archer just like them!" exclaimed Yona. I rolled my eyes as father formed another tantrum. "That is absolutely out of the question! I wasn't even comfortable letting those two handle weapons!" "But you've never even done it yourself!" Yona stroked a weak point there. "No, and I never intend to use them." "You're such a coward!" Here, I had to barge in myself. It was a chance to humiliate father without being punished for it. "What kind of king doesn't handle weapons?" I asked him, crossing my arms. 

Before he could respond, however, Soo-won called on my sister. He said he was going to teach her how to ride a horse. She instantly lit up and went down, and I followed behind her. Yona tried her best to get on Soo-won's horse, and it was hilarious. Both Soo-won and Hak had to help her, while Ahi and I watched. "Just stay relaxed. We're not gonna let you fall off, okay?" said Soo-won as Hak was trying to push her up. "I know it's a big and scary horse, but I'm kinda getting crushed over here!" Hak exclaimed, Yona telling her off. And finally, she got on the horse with Soo-won. I admit, I was a bit jealous when I saw them so close, but shrugged it off and turned to Ahi. "Ahi, can I ride your horse?" "Yes, of course. Need me to help you up?" he asked, but I declined and got up myself. 

By now, all of them just stared at me. I took the horse's reins, and smiled at Ahi. "I think you got this. Just in case, I'll walk beside you, okay?" I nodded, and urged the horse to walk. "Woo! You go, princess Vienna!" exclaimed Hak, and I waved at him slightly. We were passing by Yona's horse already, and I heard her talking about how she was engaged to Hak. And Soo-won congratulated her. I slightly smiled at her dumb remark and kept galloping. After a half an hour, Soo-won had an appointment, and it had started to rain, so the rest of us went to have warm tea inside. 

"I can't believe you, Soo-won! How could you ever buy that story!" exasperated Yona. "You're cruel for even saying that story," commented Hak. Father then said that maybe, Yona's engagement won't be a lie, because she is already of age to marry. She told him that she wanted to marry Soo-won, and it broke my heart. Her crush on Soo-won was more than simple, and in my head, I was ready to yield my love for him, but then father told her off.

He said he had given her everything he asked for, whenever she asked for it, but that he simply couldn't give her Soo-won. "You have to think, Yona, of who you are going to marry. Your spouse will be the next king when I've completed my due, and that's why I simply can't give you Soo-won!" Yona was furious, and stood from her seat to go outside. I followed her, because I was worried she'd do something stupid. 

Finally, she ended up collapsing on one of the halls. "Yona, are you okay?" I asked as I stood in front of her. "Does that mean I'll have to marry someone that I wouldn't mind losing? It doesn't seem fair to me. Doesn't everyone deserve to be with who they really love?" Before I could respond to her questions, she continued, "Oh, who am I kidding? Even if I had father's approval, Soo-won would never want to marry me." That's not true. I've seen how he takes care of her, and how much he tries to be there for her and make her content. "Yona, I-" "No matter what I do, he'll always see me as just a child-" 

"Yona! If you're a child, what does that makes me? A fetus?" At the least, I made her laugh. "You don't know how he really feels towards you. Just talk with father. You know, soften the waters. He'll come through," I finished with a smile. She looked up and smiled at me, but we both were interrupted when we heard a sound. 

"Hello?" asked Yona, followed by my voice. "Who's there? Show yourself!" A scary figure in a cloak started to approach us. We both clearly recognized the cloak.  It was from the rebels that killed our mother. "Run!" I yelled, and as of that, we ran through the wet corridor. I was slower than Yona, and she managed to turn a corner and lose him, but he still had my tail. I slipped on a puddle of the rain water, and he was so close to me, I could almost hear him breathe, but I stood, and grabbed the nearest thing and smashed in to the ground, entering the nearest room.

The room was pitch black, and the only thing I could hear was my ragged breathing. Then, a light was made in the room, and I shrieked. "Vienna? Is something wrong?" This was Ahi's room. I looked at him, but couldn't make a single sound. I was stunned. Worried, he walked closer to me and hugged me. "What happened?" he asked again. This time, my tears decided to fall. He was alarmed, since I never had cried in front of anyone before. "T-there was someone..." I stuttered, looking to the door. "H-He had t-the cloak and f-followed me and Yona," I managed to finish, and tried to wipe my tears. Ahi's eyes widened and stormed outside. 

After a few seconds, he came back and sat aside me, side hugging me. "It's okay. It's all going to be fine." I cried into his shoulder a little while, and when I stopped, he offered to escort me back to my room, where Yona already was. She told me how she had confessed to Soo-won, who's room she entered when we fled the cloaked man. "Well, he's not engaged yet. You did ask him to consider, right?" Yona nodded, and after a while, we fell asleep.

A few days later, the castle was celebrating our birthday at the ball room. Yona and I were in our best attires, greeting our guests. After a while, Yona stayed in her seat, over seeing the group of people while I went off to dance. I didn't care with who I danced with, honestly. I just wanted to have a good time. I only turn 15 once, after all! After a few hours, I stopped dancing to catch my breath and grab something to drink, when I saw Soo-won in a corner of the room, talking to Min-soo. I walked over to him and smiled. He was the only one who hadn't danced with me tonight, and I was going to persuade him to. 

"Min-soo, would you mind if I steal Soo-won for a dance?" I asked as I clanged on the lord's arm. Min-soo chuckled and said it was no problem, and Soo-won agreed to dance with me. We danced for a while, and afterwards he asked me outside to tell me something. "Happy birthday, Vienna," he said as he showed me a black box. He opened it, and inside was a beautiful hair ornament.

"Soo-won! These are beautiful!" I exclaimed as I looked it over. It was handmade, of beautiful beot-kkot flowers in ceramic. He gently took it in his hands and entangled it in my hair, gently and slow. When he finished, he let his hand flow within my hair. "I love your hair, Vienna. It reminds me of the twilight sky, just before the sun sets. That's my favorite time of day," he complimented, and all I could do was say thanks, and blush. 

Ahi then came and interrupted us. "Princess Vienna, your father told me to escort you to you room. All the guests began to leave, and you must be tired," he informed. I nodded, and bid my farewell to Soo-won, thanking him one last time before going with Ahi to my shared room with Yona.

"I'm going to talk to father again," she told me as we both brushed our hair. "Are you going to follow my advice?" I asked, laying the ornament Soo-won gave me in it's box, placing it by my bed. "Of course! I love Soo-won!" her words hurt me. I love him too, so why don't I fight for him?

I'm the youngest princess. The man I marry won't be able to become king, and Soo-won fits the kingly status. I was raised more to be Yona's understudy, having a bit more freedom than her was part of it, since I don't really matter much. I was forced to grow up at the same pace as her, even if we were one year apart, and I ended up surpassing her level of intelligence, so I can understand completely how Soo-won might be able to fix the internal conflicts of the kingdom.

She had already left when I finished daydreaming, so I decided to go to sleep.