One

"You must take this secret to the grave... grave... grave..."

His mother's voice echoed in his head, waking him from his sleep. Lee Hwi suddenly jolted upright, cold sweat rolling from his face onto his silk blankets. After managing to catch his breath, he got out of his blankets and threw on his daily robes.

The air was cool and crisp outside, matching the iciness in his heart, hence, his colorful moniker, The Ice Prince. He'd earned such a nickname during his Crown Prince era.

"Your Majesty!"

As always when Hwi slipped away from his chambers, Eunuch Hong followed wearing a concerned expression.

"Same... same nightmare?" he asked Hwi, panting profusely.

"Did you run here, Bok Dong?"

He totally ignored the eunuch's question.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied. "You should get back to bed before Court Lady Kim comes after you, too."

Again, ignoring Eunuch Hong's advice, Hwi descended the small steps and started towards his archery area, a grassy haven tucked in the corner of his quarters.

"It's so late," said Eunuch Hong, as he watched Hwi pick up his bow.

"That's right," he agreed, reaching for an arrow.  "It's late so you should just turn in and leave me alone."

"You know I can't do that," Eunuch Hong replied in a defeated tone.

He stepped to the side and watched as His Majesty found consolation in a quick archery session yet again. This was normal for him when nightmares disturbed his sleep. As the King's caretaker, all he could do was stand and watch.

"Is it... Jung Ji Un?" asked Eunuch Hong.

Hwi threw a deadly glare at him. That's when Eunuch Hong knew he'd asked the wrong question. To avoid any physical punishment, he lowered his head and stepped back a few inches.

Hwi clenched his teeth and slowly looked away as he picked up another arrow. Eunuch Hong watched as he mounted it and released it with the utmost precision he'd ever witnessed in a practice shot. The arrow pierced through between the target's eyes. Even more impressive, it was a look away shot.

"So dangerous," Eunuch Hong mouthed.

"No one will assume you're mute if you don't say anything at all," said Hwi.

Eunuch Hong slightly shuddered at the king's icy cold tone, which sent off The Ice Prince vibes.

"My mother visited me tonight," Hwi admitted. "I believe she wanted to remind me of the secret."

"Maybe it's just part of the grieving process?" Eunuch Hong guessed.

"Everyone who knows the secret are gone, except for you, me, and Court Lady Kim," Hwi replied, completely ignoring Eunuch Hong's assumption.

He picked up another arrow and mounted it on his bow.

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten Her Royal Highness The Grand Queen Dowager and former Queen?" Eunuch Hong reminded him.

Indeed he did. Not only his paternal grandmother and former Queen knew of the twin secret but also Jung Ji Un, although she didn't have to worry about him. Plus, Eunuch Hong knew better now than to bring him up again.

"Noh Ha Kyung," said Hwi, referring to his former Queen.

"I think we know why you had that nightmare," said Eunuch Hong. "The former Crown Princess may be reminding you what needs to be done to keep that secret."

"I will do no such thing," Hwi replied, returning to aim his arrow at the target.

If that's what his mother was trying to relay to him then she'll just have to haunt him forever for he could never take another life just to keep himself safe, let alone the life of his paternal grandmother and former wife.

"What if the former Queen...

"We don't have to worry about her," Hwi snapped before Eunuch Hong could finish.

"Right," replied Eunuch Hong, remembering that not only did His Majesty spare Noh Hak Su but also his daughter.

"Noh Hak Su only did what he did to fulfill his daughter's wishes of becoming Queen," said Hwi. "That makes me respect him more."

He released another arrow and watched it hit the top of the target's head.

"At least there are no more threats in the palace now," said Eunuch Hong.

He was right. Lord Sanghyeon and his supporters had met their fate, and Noh Hak Su was but a mere commoner now. The nightmares were probably just that.

"I'll accept my fate as is," said Hwi.

He set his bow down and returned to his chamber. Eunuch Hong quietly followed without another word.

"Turn in for the night, Bok Dong," he said, without turning around.

Eunuch Hong gave a slight bow and closed the doors as Hwi returned to bed. It was really late now.

Hwi tossed and turned many times before falling into a slumber again. Sunrise would bleed through his windows in just a few hours, followed closely by the routine morning greetings - which were usually a lot quicker now that he needed only pay a visit to The Grand Queen Dowager.

"You don't seem well," she said to him this morning.

She was observant as usual.

"I had some trouble sleeping," Hwi admitted, wondering if she cared at all.

Did her concern only lie with her twin brother? For years, she played Lee Hwi so well that their grandmother never realized she was actually the granddaughter that was supposed to die.

"You should take better care of yourself," she replied. "Joseon needs a healthy and strong leader."

Hwi gave a slight nod to acknowledge her advice.

"I hope you do the same, grandmother," he replied.

"I've lived for far too long," she replied. "I've seen everything to the point I feel nothing really matters anymore except for the people's well-being."

Funny that's how he currently felt, too.

"I want you to see me accomplish that and watch as I steer Joseon into prosperity," Hwi told her.

The Queen Dowager cracked a smile. It had been a while since he's witnessed her graceful smile.

"I will stand by quietly and watch," she replied softly.

This was by far the most normal morning greeting in a while. It was only months ago that Hwi had secretly been calling them "couples' therapy", referring to the counseling advices he and his former queen received from the Grand Queen Dowager when she pressured them to produce an heir. Now that she understood that there can never be an heir, she didn't have a choice but to watch as Hwi ruled to the best of his ability.

"A royal expedition?"

Loud chatter erupted in the assembly hall following Hwi's proposal of temporarily leaving the palace to journey across the country.

"I just want everyone's insight regarding this idea," he replied to Minister Shin Yeong Su, who was the first court official to raise concern in response to Hwi's topic this morning.

"It's a great idea but a dangerous one," said Yang Moon Soo of the Royal Institute. "The Mings at the border especially are a great threat."

"He's right," Chief Guard Gu chimed. "Once you step foot outside of the palace your life is in danger."

"I think I will be just fine with Kang Eun Soo," said Hwi. "Too many people will just attract unwanted attention."

"Your Majesty, if you are adamant about this then I will draw a map for you to mark key locations on this expedition," said Shin Yeong Su. "The closer you are to our military camps, the better."

Hwi nodded.

"We'll also ditch the royal robes and don normal attire throughout the trip," he added.

"That's ideal," said Minister Shin, stroking his silver beard. "If we carefully plan this then it'll be a rather beneficial trip for you, Your Majesty."

Hwi smiled and nodded. To be Lee Hwi is one thing but to bring out the best in him is another.

"I think it's a bad idea," Court Lady Kim said later as she served Hwi's tea in his chamber.

"I promise I'll be careful," said Hwi. "If I don't go out to observe the living conditions of the people of Joseon, I will never be able to relate to them and cater to them at that level."

Court Lady Kim pursed her lips and stepped back to the side.

"Bok Dong and Kang Eun Soo will be coming with me," Hwi added. "I promise everything will be fine."

"I can never stop worrying about you," replied Court Lady Kim. "But if it's something that you wish to do to prove you are greater than you already are then I respect your decision."

Hwi smiled. He felt very fortunate to have Court Lady Kim in his life. He probably wouldn't even be alive today if it weren't for her. Although his mother was no longer with him, Court Lady Kim definitely made up for it all throughout the years. Not only the woman kept her secret but she also kept him sane.

As he closed in on the idea of this expedition, Hwi couldn't help but to think of Prince Jae Eun, his older cousin, and Commander Yoon Hyeong Seol, the man he credits for saving his life as an infant. He'd lost both during the battle with Lord Sanghyeon, his maternal grandfather. If anything, he owed it to them to be as great as he could be.

"Their sacrifices shall not be in vain," Hwi told Court Lady Kim and Eunuch Hong as the two prepared his bed.

"They'd be proud of you, Your Majesty," said Eunuch Hong.

Despite the recent heartbreaks, Hwi was forced to find the courage to go to bed in order to rise to be a better person he was the day before. There were people counting on him. If he spent his time wallowing in heartbreak, those who have sacrificed their lives would be in vain. He had to bring out the best in Lee Hwi.