Ha-Rin continued to scream and call for help and Min-Jae ran frantically, praying that he was not too late.
One of the men pinned Ha-Rin while the other ripped her clothes piece by piece. "No Please stop" She cried and pleaded, but the men were too far off to listen to her.
Just as the two men thought they were getting their way, Min-Jae attacked the two men, violently shoving them off Ha-Rin, making them stumble "Are you okay?" He asked her, she covered herself with her arms and what was left of her clothes.
The men stood back up "She is ours, so why don't be a good little boy and move along before you get hurt" They warned the young man standing between them and their target
Min-Jae stood resolute, determined to defend Ha-Rin from the two "I will kill you both before I let that happen" He then assumed a fighting stance where he led with his left foot, his right fist at waist level ready to attack and his left fist raised ready to defend.
The man on Min-Jae's right attacked first and he was met with a swift punch to the solar plexus, the man crumpled to the ground like paper. The second one rushed in but was met with a roundhouse kick to the jaw, that sent the man spinning to the ground. The two men quickly got up and ran away.
Min-Jae took off his outer shirt and covered Ha-Rin with it. She then cried at the thought of almost being violated. Min-Jae embraced her tightly and made a solemn promise to her "I will never let this happen to you ever again, I will never leave you alone ever again"
"Since then, he stuck to me like my shadow," Ha-Rin said while looking at her husband lovingly "He protected me, cared for me, treated me like I was a Queen. Who wouldn't fall for a man like that? We got married three years after our first meeting." She added finishing her tale
"Her parents lived long enough to see their granddaughter be born" Min-Jae added
Young-Sik smiled cheekily at their love story, but then his expression turned stern as he asked a question "Sister-in-law said at first you did not remember anything, when did you get your memory back?"
"A few weeks after I was able to walk again, I started to remember everything," Min-Jae explained "I was over the jagged peaks of the mountains near the capital, I was reaching for a sprig of ginseng, then a flicker of movement my eye. A small figure wandered among the trees, lost in thought. My heart raced as I looked closer, and suddenly, a rush of memories flooded back—faces, laughter, and moments that I thought were lost forever. I recognized your face brother, it was you who gave me my memories back"
In that instant, memories of their mother, the Queen, and his beloved wife, Princess Yoo-na, surged forth, bringing with them a pain that felt both fresh and ancient. The ambush, the chaos, the screams—the night that had stolen everything from him. He stumbled back, grasping his head as if trying to hold the memories in place. The world around him blurred, and he felt the heavy burden of his identity crash down like a tidal wave.
Later that night, after a long day of grappling with his past, Min-Jae stood outside the modest home of the family that had saved him. The stars twinkled above, but they felt cold and distant. He could hear the laughter of the family inside, a sound that had brought him comfort during his recovery. Ha-Rin, their daughter, had been a light in his darkest days, her kindness a balm for his wounded soul.
Ha-Rin stepped outside, her brow furrowed with concern. "Min-Jae? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle yet filled with curiosity.
He took a deep breath, his heart racing as he prepared to reveal the truth. "I remember who I am," he said slowly. "I'm the Crowned Prince, Kin Seo-Joon."
Ha-Rin laughed, a sound that echoed like a melody in the night, but it was tinged with disbelief. "You can't be serious! You're just—"
"I am serious, Ha-Rin," he interrupted, his voice steady despite the tremor in his heart. "I am the prince. I was lost, but I'm found now."
Her laughter faded, replaced by wide-eyed astonishment. "You're… the prince?" she whispered, searching his face for a sign of jest.
"Yes," he replied, the gravity of his words weighing heavily between them. "I remember everything—the palace, my family… and the tragedy that took my mother and Yoo-na. I thought I'd never remember, but it all came rushing back."
A flicker of happiness sparked in her eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by sadness. "But… that means you have to go back, doesn't it? Back to the palace?"
Min-Jae nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "Yes, I have to. They need me."
"I don't want you to go," she said, tears glistening in her eyes. "You belong here, with us. With me."
He stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "Ha-Rin, you saved me. You gave me hope when I had none. But I have a duty to my kingdom, to my family. I can't abandon them again."
The night air grew heavy with unspoken words. They stood together in silence, the weight of his decision hanging in the balance. Finally, Min-Jae leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers, savoring the moment. "I will always cherish you, Ha-Rin. You have my heart."
With a heavy heart, he bid farewell to the family that had taken him in, the warmth of their home imprinted on his soul. As he set forth on the journey back to the capital, he could feel the pull of his past, yet a new path was forming before him, one that he had not anticipated.
Upon arriving in the capital, Min-Jae found the streets bustling with activity. The air was thick with excitement as townsfolk gathered for a public proclamation at the palace. He looked disheveled and worn, blending into the crowd as he made his way toward the palace gates.
As he neared the central courtyard, he caught sight of his youngest brother, Young-Sik, standing before the King. The boy's face was a mixture of pride and determination, and Min-Jae felt a swell of love for him.
The King raised his hand for silence, his voice booming through the crowd. "Today, we celebrate the birthday of our youngest prince, Young-Sik. It is a day of great importance as he is to be declared the official heir to the throne!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Min-Jae felt a bittersweet pang in his heart. He was proud of Young-Sik, yet the knowledge of his own role in the kingdom felt like a distant memory. He watched as Young-Sik stepped forward, ready to accept his destiny, but then something unexpected happened.
"I wish to abdicate my claim to the throne," Young-Sik proclaimed, his voice steady and clear. Gasps rippled through the crowd, and Min-Jae's heart sank.
Min-Jae's breath caught in his throat. He watched as Young-Sik turned to Man-Ju, a look of understanding passing between them. Tears pricked Min-Jae's eyes as he realized the depth of their bond, the strength of their love for each other, and the burden that had been lifted from his shoulders.
The King, taken aback, asked, "Tell me…why don't you want to be King, let alone crowned prince?"
"Because Your Highness, I will be more effective and useful, serving our nation and King as a soldier, a physician, and a scholar," Young-Sik replied, his gaze unwavering.
Min-Jae smiled through his tears, a sense of peace washing over him. He realized that this was what his brothers needed—each other. They were ready to lead, and he was no longer required. Silently, he bid them farewell, knowing that they would be in good hands.
The next day, as Ha-Rin tended to the goats, she looked up to see a figure approaching over the hills. Her heart raced, and she recognized him instantly. Min-Jae. He was back.
"Min-Jae!" she cried, dropping the basket of feed and running toward him. They collided in an embrace, the world around them fading into oblivion. They kissed, a sweet mingling of joy and relief, as though the universe had conspired to bring them together once more.
"Why did you come back?" she asked breathlessly, pulling back to look into his eyes.
He smiled, warmth radiating from his heart. "The Kingdom of Chiongsun is in good hands," he said softly. "I am no longer the prince. I realized I was needed here, on this farm, with you."
Her eyes widened with disbelief and joy. "You chose me?"
"I chose us," he replied, his voice firm yet tender. "I chose to be with you, Ha-Rin. This is where I belong."
"You know what they say that anger sometimes can clear your mind and show you what to focus on?" Min-Jae started "One day, as I was delivering medicinal herbs to the market grounds, I bumped into the last person that I should bump into"
Minister Lim along with Minister Gi and some of the left-wing ministers were walking towards the northern gates when a man bumped into Minister Lim. The bump surprised the minister, nearly making him fall over
Minister Gi angrily kicked Min-Jae making him stumble to the ground "You stupid peasant, you dare to touch me?!" he went over to the stumbled Min-Jae and started to kick him repeatedly
Min-Jae at first shielded himself, but then he heard a voice, a voice that stirred a deep rage within him. "Enough Minister Gi, are you really that shallow that a mere peasant can make you lose control?"
Min-Jae stared at the owner of the voice, Minister Lim Do-Yun "You" He said weakly as he stood up, not minding Minister Gi's relentless assault
Min-Jae approached Minister Lim, only to find himself obstructed by the minister's bodyguards. A whirlwind of emotions surged within him, as vivid images, familiar voices, and fragments of his past flooded his mind. Minister Lim, seemingly indifferent, continued on his path, ignoring Min-Jae's presence.
In a surprising turn, Minister Lim paused and retraced his steps to face Min-Jae. The minister's gaze fell upon the quaking man, whose beard trembled with pent-up frustration. Min-Jae's fists were tightly clenched, ready to lash out, yet he stood paralyzed, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions and memories that engulfed him.
"You seem oddly familiar peasant, Have we met before?" Minister Lim inquired, addressing the former crowned prince, oblivious to his true identity due to his focus on social rank.
A whirlwind of images and memories surged through Min-Jae's consciousness, Queen Min-Ah's death, Crowned Princess Yoo-Na's stabbing, each one more vivid than the last. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounded violently in his chest, and a piercing ringing filled his ears, drowning out all else. The pain in his head intensified as if it might shatter at any moment. Then, in an instant, everything faded away; his thoughts and sensations dulled, leaving only one haunting image: Lim Do-Yun's face, the last thing he saw before being cast into the abyss.
Min-Jae with an emotionless expression and an even colder voice answered "No, Minister, you might have mistaken me for someone else" Then he walked away without uttering another word
"When I finally got control of myself, I convinced Ha-Rin's father to leave our village to take our family as far away from Lim Do-Yun as possible" Min-Jae explained
Young-Sik's fists trembled after confirming what he suspected all along, that it was Lim Do-Yun who had orchestrated everything. He was about to speak, but Ha-Rin spoke first "Young-Ju you said you want to play along the shoreline, why don't take your uncle and show him around?"
"Okay," Young-Ju said with a smile, he then took his uncle's hand and pulled him out of the tent and into the shoreline.
Emerging from the tent, Min-Jae and Ha-Rin observed Young-Sik and Young-Ju playing by the water's edge. "Do you think he could be right? What if you are the last hope for Chiongsun?" she pondered.
Min-Jae crossed his arms defiantly. "Even if that's true, my first responsibility is to my family."
"He's angry with you, not because he thinks you've abandoned him, but because he's afraid you'll leave him again," Ha-Rin clarified to her husband. "What if your brother is correct? What if you need to step up and become crowned Prince Seo-Joon once more?"