It happened in the blink of an eye.
The daughter of Minister Lee Bae-won, Lee Jan, who was the same age as Jade, suddenly kissed Jade on the lips.
She was a woman with large eyes, a tall frame, and fair skin.
After the kiss, Lee Jan blushed, seeming embarrassed.
Jade, too stunned, couldn't say a word.
The first to speak was Lee Jan.
"I didn't mean to... If it was rude, I apologize, sir."
"..."
"Sir, is there a woman you have feelings for?"
"No, there isn't."
Lee Jan twisted her body playfully and said coquettishly.
"Then why won't you accept my feelings?"
"..."
"Please give me a chance, Sir. I want to show you my charms."
Jade was speechless, taken aback by her boldness.
"I will show you how good a match I am for you. Look forward to it."
----------
The Princess's palace kitchen was busy preparing the princess's meal.
The palace maids were chattering while preparing food, still gossiping about the latest rumors.
As Lady's attendant Park washed rice, she asked, "Is it true that Jade and Minister Lee's daughter are, you know, involved?"
Lady's attendant Kim, who was plating the food, responded, "They've been talking about marriage."
At that moment, Princess Genie stopped in her tracks just as she was about to enter the kitchen.
Following behind her, Chief Court Lady Han frowned.
"We were told not to talk about others in the palace," she muttered.
Genie weakly spoke up.
"Lady Han, I'm not eating right now. I'm going to see Father instead."
"You should at least eat..."
Just as Lady Han was about to say more, Genie walked away.
Jade, entering the palace garden, ran into Genie, who was leaving.
"Your Highness, where are you going?"
Before Jade could finish his question, Genie passed by him with a sulky look.
"I'll be eating elsewhere today."
Jade quickly turned around to watch her retreating figure.
The Princess paused for a moment.
"You don't need to come to the princess's palace on holidays. Also, here..."
Genie weakly pulled a blue headband from her pocket.
"Today is your birthday, right? Here's the gift."
Jade's eyes widened slightly.
"How did you know today was my birthday..."
Genie didn't even wait for his words to end and turned away, walking off with a weak step.
Jade, still in a daze, watched her retreating figure.
----------
The grand assembly hall was filled with ministers.
Jade, confused as to why he and the palace maids were also ordered to attend, entered the assembly hall.
Princess Genie was standing right next to King Gen on the throne.
Jade stood at the back of the assembly hall with the palace maids.
King Gen slowly looked at each minister and servant.
A tense atmosphere filled the room, as though an important announcement was about to be made.
"You've all heard that my health has greatly improved, thanks to the many ministers who have shown concern. Now, our kingdom is in the greatest era of peace in history. In this situation, since I'm still healthy, it would be unwise to cause discord by appointing a successor. Thus, I've decided to postpone the appointment of a successor."
Some ministers who had been eager for the appointment of a successor suppressed their displeasure and lowered their heads.
After all, now that the king had recovered his health at the age of forty-three and the kingdom was flourishing, there was no longer any reason to hasten the succession.
"And there is one more piece of news."
King Gen looked at Princess Genie kindly.
"Why don't you tell them yourself?"
"Yes, Father."
Princess Genie took a step forward and looked at all the ministers and palace maids.
"I will be leaving for Arabia in three days to study the wider world."
She spoke boldly.
'Arabia…?'
Jade's eyes widened slightly.
'She's leaving so soon…'
Jade was surprised by how quickly the princess's desire to go to Arabia had been fulfilled.
Princess Genie's confident eyes met Jade's startled gaze.
She casually turned away and continued.
"So, I would like to call on those who will accompany me to Arabia. First, Chief Court Lady Han, who has always been with me."
Chief Court Lady Han nodded at the Princess.
"Next, Lady's attendant Park, who is an excellent cook."
Lady's attendant Park, startled, looked at the princess and quickly nodded in agreement.
"Finally, as for the guards..."
Jade felt his whole body tense.
His name shouldn't be called.
He had a clear purpose for coming to the palace, and if he were to go to Arabia, all his plans would be ruined.
"For the guards, Officer Jung will accompany me."
Officer Jung lowered his head in a show of loyalty.
At that moment, Jade breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that his name hadn't been called.
However, a feeling of disappointment lingered.
Officer Jung was only responsible for guarding the princess for three days out of ten.
So naturally, Jade, who was the princess's personal guard, had expected to be called, but seeing the young princess call someone else, a sense of regret washed over him.
'No, it's a good thing. If the princess had called me to Arabia, that would've been a real headache.'
Jade reassured himself.
----------
From that Day, the Princess's palace became busy preparing for Princess Genie's departure to Arabia.
The palace maids, though saddened by the princess's departure, did their best to serve her during her final days in the palace.
Jade, as the Princess's guard, stayed by her side, watching her every move.
Despite being only twelve years old, Princess Genie was serious about preparing for her journey to Arabia.
Jade couldn't bring himself to speak to the busy princess, who was preparing for her departure.
Though a part of him wanted to ask why he wasn't called as the guard for her trip, he held back. It was a simple curiosity, but asking might lead to the princess asking him to go with her, which would have complicated things.
'It's a good thing. If the Princess leaves for Arabia, I'll likely be assigned to the royal guard and serve the king. This works out better…'
As he watched the princess prepare to leave for Arabia, Jade thought to himself.
----------
Time passed quickly, and soon three days had gone by, marking the day that Princess Genie was to leave for Arabia.
The entrance of the palace was filled with palace attendants who had come to bid farewell to Princess Genie and her party.
The King, who had come out to give his daughter a final farewell, looked at Princess Genie with a mixture of sorrow and pride.
"Be sure to write to me once you arrive in Arabia. I know you'll be busy with school and experiencing many things, but still, remember to send me letters from time to time to let me know how you're doing."
"Of course, Father."
Princess Genie replied with a bright smile.
At the back of the attendants, Jade quietly watched the farewell between the King and his daughter.
Princess Genie gazed warmly at each of the attendants who had been with her.
"I'll miss you all. Even when I'm not here, please take good care of Father in the palace."
The palace attendants nodded, their faces full of sadness.
Princess Genie slightly tilted her head and looked at Jade, who was standing behind the attendants.
"Jade, even though it was a short time, thank you. From now on, please take good care of Father as a member of his royal guard."
Jade smiled faintly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Princess Genie turned one last time to look at the King and the attendants, then turned and left the palace with Lady Han, Lady's attendant Park, and Officer Jung.
Jade stood still and watched the young princess's figure grow distant as she left the palace.
As he gazed at the retreating figure of the young princess, an inexplicable sense of sadness overcame him, and he silently wished for her well-being.
----------
11 years later
[June 1393, Hana Kingdom.]
"Did you call for me, Your Majesty?"
In the early morning, Jade, the captain of the royal guards, was summoned to the King's office.
"I'm sorry to call you so early. I have an urgent task for you. I want to assign you the mission of bringing Princess Genie from Arabia here."
Jade's eyes widened.
'Princess Genie…?'
His heart skipped a beat.
Eleven years ago, when he said goodbye to Princess Genie, he had worried about her traveling to Arabia as a child.
He sometimes wondered if she was doing well in a foreign land.
Even though he had only spent a little over a month with her, he had grown fond of her, which surprised him.
But that was eleven years ago.
The memories of those days were fading, and Jade's emotions became complicated.
He wondered what she would look like now, having grown from the adorable twelve-year-old into someone else.
"Your Majesty, may I ask why you wish for the princess to return?"
"As you know, my health has worsened again.
The princess has written that she's enjoying her time in Arabia, but I think it's time to meet her again.
I don't know how much longer I have left.
Also, the ministers have been insisting on appointing the son of Minister Ju, Ju Tak, as the successor, causing a ruckus.
I need to discuss the succession with Princess Genie, and if she wants it, I'd like to give her a chance.
She was a child back then, but now that time has passed, she may have different thoughts."
Jade lowered his head in loyalty.
"I will do as you command, Your Majesty. I'll go to Arabia and bring the princess back."
King Gen looked at Jade with trust.
"I'm counting on you."
----------
In the study, Kim Jin sat at the table, listening to Jade.
"It seems like a good thing. The Ash Kingdom is probably worried about Ju Tak taking the throne. If a princess with no experience in war and leadership ascends the throne, it could make our plans much easier."
"..."
Jade felt uncomfortable hearing Kim Jin's words.
Using the young princess didn't sit well with him.
But regardless, meeting her again wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
He found his feelings somewhat amusing.
'It was just a brief time we spent together. Why am I feeling this way? I'm just curious if she's been well all these years.'
Kim Jin, noticing Jade's slightly brighter expression, smiled faintly.
"Jade, is something good going on? You seem a lot more cheerful than when I last saw you."
Jade shook his head, embarrassed.
"Not really. Nothing special."
But his face still carried a small smile.
Since receiving the King's order to bring Princess Genie back from Arabia, Jade had been unconsciously looking forward to the day he would meet her again.
He was surprised at how much he was looking forward to it.
To calm himself, he told himself that it was just the excitement of leaving the kingdom after so long and stepping onto foreign land.
That night, when Jade returned to his quarters in the barracks, he pulled out a blue headband from a deep drawer.
'This is the headband Princess Genie gave me 11 years ago…'
He had never worn it before.
In fact, he had never felt able to wear it, as it felt too much of a reminder of the past.
Jade placed the tattered black headband he had been wearing on the floor.
For the first time in 11 years, he tied the blue headband around his head.