fanfiction: this happiness was always inside me

Fanfiction for Korean television show "Mr. Queen" (2020)| Jo Hwa-jin/Oh-wol | set during episode 10

After the king left, Hwa-jin wiped the tears from her eyes, growing increasingly agitated. This man who supposedly loved her...why had she wasted so much time on him? Sometimes she struggled to remember why she had committed her life, body and self to him.

And why had they found no news of Oh-wol? What had happened to her? Perhaps...she should have committed her life to Oh-wol instead. She could only pray it wasn’t too late, as the maid’s absence lengthened.

Prince Yeongpyeong entered and bowed, his eyes tired. He was the only one who seemed to care what had happened to Oh-wol.

Hwa-jin sat up straight. "Did you find her?"

Hesitantly, he shook his head. "There's not even any sign of the norigae you gave her. My Lady, I’m afraid---"

Court Lady Go hustled into the room, bowing low. "My Lady, there's a message for you."

She lay down a thin sheaf of papers on Hwa-jin's desk, along with a little bag, like a perfumed sachet, but with something hard in it.

"Thank you," Hwa-jin said, even though what she really wanted to do was snap that a stupid letter didn't matter much right now.

Court Lady Go retreated without even saying who sent the message, and Hwa-jin pulled open the sachet, up-turning it on the desk. A norigae clattered onto the desk.

Her heart skipped several beats. The norigae had a small orange stone, attached to the deep blue strings by golden leaves

Prince Yeongpyeong, still standing silently and patiently before her, saw her face turn white. "My Lady! That norigae---perhaps---"

"Yes," Hwa-him choked, clenching the stone in her hand. "It's the one I gave to Oh-wol."

There was blood on it, trapped in the carving. Hwa-jin wanted to fling it across the room, but instead she grabbed the letter and almost ripped it getting it open.

Hwa-jin sobbed as she read the crudely lettered words. It was Oh-wol's handwriting! Even as a fine lady's maid, she had hardly ever practiced her writing, preferring to braid Hwa-jin's hair or make jokes during the lessons.

My Lady, the letter read, I'm so sorry I've left you alone for so long! I've been followed, threatened, almost killed, and I had to go on the run. Please, if you can, meet me at our favorite spot soon. I will wait there every night at midnight.

Hwa-jin ran her hands over the precious words, tears running down her face. She didn't know, didn't care, what kind of expression she was making when she looked up at Prince Yeongpyeong.

"Oh-wol is alive," she breathed.

---

"This could be a trap," Prince Yeongpyeong muttered, looking left and right as they trudged through the darkened streets.

They had had to dress Hwa-jin as a man to sneak her out of the palace this late at night. She fiddled with the unfamiliar ties and laces, her hair hurting from the topknot. The maids and court ladies had objected strenuously to this plan. "It's too dangerous, what would the  king say if he knew?" they asked, hands twisting anxiously.

Hwa-jin had never cared less what the king thought. A constant litany of Oh-wol, Oh-wol, Oh-wol ran through her mind.

"Oh-wol would never betray me," Hwa-jin insisted. "Surely you understand this kind of loyalty."

Prince Yeongpyeong said nothing more, but she could sense his skepticism.

Meet me at our favorite spot , Oh-wol had written. Honestly, this could be a few different places, but Hwa-jin led them confidently to a small wilderness that grew in the middle of Hanyang, a dense thicket of trees and bushes perfect for playing hide and seek. The two girls had spend many carefree hours chasing each other through those bushes, leaning against the tree trunks, holding hands, playing house, practicing kissing---

What a fool Hwa-jin had been. 

She would not lose her chance again.

A chill breeze played through the leaves as they reached the wilderness, but Hwa-jin's blood ran hot in her veins, and she plunged without a thought into the bushes. The prince hissed a warning but followed without another sound.

The first few minutes were fruitless, Hwa-jin bumbling around with no direction in the darkness. Only a small amount of the moonlight made it through the canopy, and she hit her head on more than one tree. Finally, Prince Yeongpyeong pulled her to a halt. "Are you sure this is where she'll be?" he whispered.

Hwa-jin hesitated, blinking back tears. "I---" Maybe Oh-wol had been talking about another spot they shared. There had been so many good memories, and to Hwa-jin, any place with Oh-wol had been a favorite spot.

"I don't know, I thought she would be here," she whispered, lowering her head.

A branch cracked nearby, and Prince Yeongpyeong whirled around, sword already drawn.

A weak, timid voice barely reached their ears. "My Lady? Is that you?"

Relief like a wave washed through Hwa-jin, and she thought for a moment she might faint. She laid a hand on the prince's wrist. "Put down your sword," she said. "It's Oh-wol."

Oh-wol emerged slowly from the underbrush, her clothes tattered and dirt-crusted, her hair falling mostly unbound, and her eyes---

Hwa-jin ran forward and caught Oh-wol into her arms, tears already falling. "Oh-wol," was all she could gasp for a moment. Only her name.

Oh-wol's arms came up and weakly grasped her back. "My Lady! Oh, I missed you!"

For a moment, they only stood like that, Hwa-jin clinging tightly, and Oh-wol sagging with relief into her arms.

"I thought---when we couldn't find you---" Hwa-jin gasped, pressing her face into the side of Oh-wol's, not even minding the dirt and smell. It was all worth it, to have a second chance.

Oh-wol didn't answer for a moment, only shuddered. "My Lady, I have so much to tell you."

"Not now," Hwa-jin murmured. She leaned back and caressed Oh-wol's face---the face of her dearest, best, darlingest---- "Let's get you back to the palace. We'll clean you up, eat, and sleep. Then, you will tell me everything."

And then I will destroy everyone who hurt you, she promised in her mind.

Oh-wol smiled tremulously. She seemed too tired and shocked to cry, but she smiled . "Yes, My Lady. Let's go...together."