iv. eight princes

"Court Lady Oh, why would the King want to meet me?" I asked as I followed beside her along with a couple of Damiwon ladies and Ji-ae behind us.

"You are precious in the eyes of the King. I informed him about what has happened to you early today and he wishes to see how well you are." Court Lady Oh told me. The palace was huge. So this was what it looked like before the palace was re painted with non artificial paintings.

Upon walking at the entrance, I had noticed a tall man. He looked like he was in his twenties and he was very handsome up close.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Court Lady Oh greeted and bowed at him. I followed after her.

"I heard about what happened to Eunha. Are you feeling well now?" He spoke directly to me and gave a small smile. My heart beated loudly.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. But, Eunha has lost her memory." Court Lady Oh spoke. And suddenly, the small smile was gone from his lips. He pursed his lips into a thin line before smiling at me again.

"I'm sure you'll have your memory back. The King is waiting for you." He spoke. His smile growing wider.

We made a bow before leaving him to meet with the king.

"Who was that just now, Court Lady Oh?" I asked quietly. Court Lady Oh kept her head high while walking inside the palace.

"That is the 8th prince, Wang Wook. He has a sister named Yeon Hwa." Court Lady Oh informed me. In History, Yeon Hwa married the 4th prince, Wang So....

Court Lady Oh and I passed guards before we could enter inside.

"Court Lady Oh and Lady Eunha wishes to enter inside." A guard called from outside the door.

"Bring them in." An old voice spoke. Soonly, the doors were opened. Revealing nothing but the King and a man in brown suit beside him.

"Your Highness." Court Lady Oh greeted. We made a bow before him.

"I have heard from Court Lady Oh that you have lost your memory." The King spoke. I could only look down.

"Yes." I spoke gently.

"Lady Chu Eunha you are. Residing in Damiwon palace when I insisted you reside in the palace." The King spoke. "When Court Lady Oh first brought you in, you were very close with the princes. Especially with the tenth prince since you would play along with his jokes." The King said. I could only nod and try to take down mentally the information I was getting about Eunha.

A small wooden table was then prepared infront of us. I sat beside Court Lady Oh while the King sat opposite from us.

"Have at least some memories been retrived back?" The King asked.

I shook my head.

"Not even a tiny one?" He asked again.

"All I could know was that, I liked pine nut porridge." I spoke, meeting the eyes of the King. The only response I got was the King laughing.

"Amusing as you are." The King made a comment. Maids started to enter inside the room and slowly different royal cuisines started coming in the table. Ranging from goldongban, mandu, namul, tteok and quince tea. It was all too much but nevertheless, I had to accept what the king had to offer.

"Eunha, what would you think of living in the palace?" The King suddenly asked. I paused for awhile before taking my answer.

"It would be a very nice oppurtunity for me to live in the palace. I would also want to learn about medicine while I would stay in the palace." I spoke with a smile. The King had smiled back, I guess he was pleased with what I had to say.

"I shall make some preparations for the room you will be staying in." The King spoke. I turned to look at Court Lady Oh, but she was very much occupied in eating.

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After the lunch session, I was given permission by the King to stroll around the palace. I looked around the beauty of the palace and felt the cool breeze kiss through my skin. Not far from me was a young looking boy who had a bandana around his head. Upon seeing me, a wide smile painted his lips and came running towards me.

"Eunha!" He called happily. This boy must be the tenth prince Wang Eun. I gave a small smile to him.

"Ya Eunha. Have you forgotten me?" The prince asked as his smile turned into a pout. I let out a hearty chuckle before I could respond.

"I'm sorry Your Highness." I bowed before me. "But I have lost my memory early today." I told him. Eun's eyes widen.

"That's very bad! No wonder you can't remember me. I'm Wang Eun. The tenth prince! But now that you are here, we shall play games toge-"

"Oh, it's Eun and Eunha!" Another one spoke. Suddenly two princes came running towards me while the other one, prince Wook just walked his way.

"Ya Eunha, do you at least remember us? We heard from Wook that you bumped your head today." A tall man in a rather dark complexion told me. All of their eyes were fixed on me. Hoping that I would at least remember them.

I shook my head and showed a small smile to them. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. But, I do remember prince Wook and prince Eun. Because they introduced himself to me earlier." I chuckled and beside me, Wook stifled a small smile and Eun smiled at me.

"You shouldn't be so formal with us. We were all very close with you ever since Court Lady Oh brought you here!" He said.

"We'll introduce ourselves again. I'm Wang Baek Ah, the thirteenth prince."

"I'm Wang Jung, the fourteenth prince."

"And I'm Wang Eun! The tenth prince!" I chuckled. He has such a happy and joyful vibe in him.

Lastly beside me, Wook looked into my eyes. And I felt my heart beat beat loud in my heart again. "Wang Wook. The eigth prince."

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"I heard that wench brought her adopted child here. And to think the King even made the other wench a Princess!" Queen Yoo exclaimed in her chambers, sipping tea with her two sons.

"He shouldn't have made a Princess. Rather made her a slave, court lady or concubine." The man with earrings spoke. He was Wang Yo, the third prince who was very good in shooting with the bow and arrow.

"But, didn't she come from a very royal family? Chu royal clan." The other one said after sipping his tea. He was Wang Won, the ninth prince.

"Royal clan or royal family or not, they are wenches who don't deserve to be here." Queen Yoo spoke calmly yet irritably and then sipped once more in her tea.