Two

It rained on and off every single day since Lee Hwi self-declared the demise of Dam-I. It was almost as if the heavens were mourning her.

"The gods must be cleansing Joseon of everything dark in order to prepare for a brighter future," said Shin Yeong Su.

Hwi watched as he beautifully glided his calligraphy brush across the fresh roll of ivory-colored parchment paper to create a river.

"Your skills never cease to amaze me," said Hwi, with a slight smile.

"You flatter me, Your Majesty," he replied, without making eye contact.

His concentration level was absolutely admirable.

"Shin Yeong Su will help guide you in the future," Hwi remembered his late father telling him.

That was just early last year when he was The Crown Prince - the time when he, Lee Hwi, was forced to wed in order to name a Crown Princess. Given the advice from his father, Hwi had picked Shin So Eun, and even went as far as visiting her at the Shin residence to ask for her hand in marriage. Unfortunately, Shin So Eun had respectfully declined for her heart was reserved for another man... Jung Ji Un.

He couldn't blame the woman, though. It was hard to not fall in love with Jung Ji Un. Even during their adolescent years, Jung Ji Un had possessed this charismatic personality unlike any other.

"Your Majesty, are you listening?"

Seeing that His Majesty hadn't blinked in a while, Shin Yeong Su slightly leaned forward and stared into his eyes.

"Your Majesty," he repeated.

Hwi suddenly snapped back into reality. He blinked wildly several times before exhaling soundly.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" Shin Yeong Su questioned.

He was still curiously staring at Hwi.

"I- I'm fine," Hwi stuttered without making eye contact.

He picked up his cup of tea and took a sip. As opposed to his response, he was, in fact, not fine. His mind had wandered to the two people that shouldn't even be on his mind.

"It's not raining anymore," said Hwi, after a quick glance out the window.

It was then that he realized that Shin Yeong Su wasn't concerned about the weather at all.

"I'm sorry," Hwi quickly added. "It's just that I think this expedition is making me more nervous than I expected to be."

"It is indeed normal, Your Majesty," Shin Yeong Su replied. "You've never been outside of the palace before so this feeling is absolutely normal."

"Right," Hwi slightly nodded.

Little did he know that Hwi had been outside of the palace. As a matter of fact, he had spent his childhood years at a monastery before it burned down, and was only introduced to the palace as a result. Enter the cruel twist of fate.

"Do you intend to visit the new trading port as well?" asked Shin Yeong Su for the second time.

Of course, Hwi had missed the question the first time as his mind was pre-occupied by his ex-lovers. He shouldn't even call Shin So Eun an ex-lover since there were technically no romantic feelings whatsoever. It would've been a business transaction, if anything.

"Of course," Hwi replied.

"Then if you take this route, you can board a ship to your next destination."

Hwi watched as Shin Yeong Su traced an imaginary line from one spot to another on the map he drew. It seemed like a short distance on paper.

"Although I'm concerned of the waters...

"I can swim," Hwi blurted.

He wasn't even sure if any court officials knew of that personal fact about him. There was, however, Jung Ji Un.

There he goes again. He wished he could control his mind better. This was more difficult than he thought.

Hwi shut his eyes and pressed his hands against his temples. He had to get Jung Ji Un out of his mind.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?"

Hwi let out another heavy sigh and nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine," he replied. "We can take that route."

Shin Yeong Su nodded and shifted his focus to the map.

"I'm going to leave it to you then," said Hwi, getting up. "I shall head back to the palace now since the rain has ceased."

Shin Yeong Su got up from his chair, too, and walked Hwi out to the front where Eunuch Hong waited with an open umbrella.

"I'm counting on you," Hwi said to his most loyal court official.

Shin Yeong Su bowed and watched as Hwi and Eunuch Hong set off on foot.

"You don't seem too well," Eunuch Hong said to Hwi as they turned the corner into the marketplace.

"I'm fine," Hwi replied. "You can close the umbrella so we don't attract attention."

Eunuch Hong closed the umbrella and followed Hwi closely. The five steps rule only applied within palace walls. Hwi, however, turned around and scolded him to keep the appropriate distance.

"Whoa!"

Without warning, a woman had crashed into Hwi, nearly knocking him over. He grabbed her waist to prevent himself from falling, only to unintentionally embrace her in his arms as Eunuch Hong's eyes widened. This is why the five steps rule only applied in the palace, because incidents like this never occurred within palace walls - except for that one time with Noh Ha Kyung.

The woman gazed into Hwi's eyes and he couldn't help but to feel that she struck an odd familiarity.

"You," she whispered.

Her arms were wrapped around his neck.

"Is it you again, my lord?"

Hwi released her at once and stepped back a few inches. He'd definitely seen her before.

"Sorry," he hastily apologized. "Are you alright?"

"I- I'm fine," the woman replied with a shy smile.

"Have we met before?" Hwi blurted.

"Early last year outside of the jewelry shop," the woman replied. "You were with two other men then."

No wonder, Hwi thought. They crashed into each other before.

"Oh," he said, slightly in disbelief of his luck.

Funny how it was his fault both times they crashed into each other. He was too strict on enforcing the five steps rule this time.

"Sorry again," he added politely with a single nod.

Hwi straightened his hat and continued his way back to the palace.

"Did I miss something?" Eunuch Hong questioned from five steps behind.

"Do you have to know everything that happens in my life?" Hwi asked, crossing his arms behind his back.

Eunuch Hong gave an uneasy smile.

"You don't have to answer that," he replied.

Hwi rolled his eyes and continued down the gravel path. He would've been at the palace by now if it weren't for that incident.

"Do you want me to look into that woman for you?" Eunuch Hong asked.

"Why would I want that?" Hwi shot back.

"Well she literally crashed into you twice," Eunuch Hong replied. "Who knows what intentions she has?"

"I don't think she is a threat in any way," Hwi replied. "Besides, it was my fault both times."

"Right," Eunuch Hong agreed.

He was glad that he wasn't blamed for once.

"Actually it's your fault this time," said Hwi. "If you kept a five foot distance then that incident could've been prevented."

"And that's the very reason I should keep close you to at all times when we're out and about," Eunuch Hong replied. "Incidents as such do not occur in the palace... well, except for the Queen."

Hwi rolled his eyes as Eunuch Hong babbled on.

"Although I must admit that it seems every woman you catch from a fall ends up falling for you instead," said Eunuch Hong. "The look on that young woman while ago was no different from the Queen when..."

"Are you done spouting nonsense?" Hwi asked, slightly annoyed.

He sure was talking more than usual lately.

"I'm just trying to make conversation," replied Eunuch Hong. "Besides, it was a compliment."

"A compliment?" Hwi questioned.

Despite him being forced to listen to Eunuch Hong the entire time, he somehow missed the compliment.

"Well I mean you are quite a handsome and noble guy," Eunuch Hong explained. "So it's normal these women fall for you."

Hwi stopped in his tracks and turned around. He shot yet another death glare at Eunuch Hong - it was just this morning that he gave him the same stare.

Eunuch Hong backed away a few inches as an early self-defense in case His Majesty decided to throw a punch or kick in addition to the death glare. Usually, this type of punishment was expected following this type of stare.

"I- I'm only joking," he stammered, backing away some more.

Hwi suddenly found his reaction amusing and couldn't help but to chuckle. For as long as he could remember, the guy had always been annoyingly funny.

"You scared me, Your Majesty," said Eunuch Hong, struggling to keep up with Hwi as they ascended a hilly road.

"Shh!" Hwi exclaimed.

He had to remind him that they were still in public.

"Ah!" Eunuch Hong groaned. "I don't know how I feel about this expedition we're about to embark on."

"You don't have to go then," Hwi replied. "I'll try all the good foods for you and tell you about them when I return."

Eunuch Hong frowned.

"I'll try to do better," he scowled. "I promise."

Hwi smiled as he entered the palace doors. He always enjoyed teasing Eunuch Hong.

"Five steps!" he barked, although Eunuch Hong already adapted the drill as soon as they stepped into the royal courtyard.

As he followed King Hwi to his quarters, Eunuch Hong was glad that he was able to make His Majesty smile. Even if it meant he could possibly get hurt in the process, even a little smile was worth it. He may have been known as The Ice Prince or The Five Steps Prince but he wasn't going to allow that personality to carry on to his kingship era.