Chapter Text
Since Go Won was young, his elders had always told him that he has much to be proud of. He was handsome. He was healthy. He had shown remarkable power since he was young. He was a powerful mage. He had done well (enough) in his studies.
Most importantly, he was the sole heir to his father's kingdom. Go Won’s claim to the throne was indisputable.
That was until… Jang Uk.
His former master had succeeded in using Go Won’s wounded pride and insecurities to turn him against Jang Uk. Although some years have passed since the whole ordeal, Go Won can't help but still feel some kind of remorse whenever he sees the man. Or his wife, Filthy Mu-deok. Naksu. Jin Bu-Yeon- Jin Seol Ran?, Jin Bu-Yeon that is.
It did take some time for him (and everyone else) to wrap their heads around what happened. Whatever the case, Go Won was glad that everyone has their own happy ending. Except for the fact that now his people think that he has cut off his libido. That rumor didn't sit well with him at all.
Now that Uk and Buyeon had captured two of Jinyowon's most dangerous escaped relics and with the Park twins' incoming 100th-day celebration, the infamous couple was expected to return to Daeho soon. With that, jeongjingak's recruitment will begin. And following that Jin Bu-Yeon had sent word that she will officially begin the queen's selection by sending royal notices to the women she already picked out. And hopefully by then the ridiculous rumor would die down.
Aside from taking care of political matters, these days Go Won enjoyed helping his cousin with jeongjingak's rebuilding. That was why the king was often making his way in and out of songrim and jeongjingak. To be clear, Seo Yul never asked for Won's help in the first place but the King felt obligated to help anyway. To be honest, Won was getting tired of listening to the advisers cry and please in court that he's desperate for any distraction. Even if it means more work for him.
So one day as he was walking alone, he saw the most peculiar sight in one of the gardens inside jeongjingak. A white rabbit was happily hopping around. Huh. At the king's surprised noise, its ever-twitching nose turned in his direction. The young rabbit hopped its way to Go Won's feet and proceed to curiously sniff on his shoes.
Won squad down to look at the white rabbit closely. Cute, he thought as he begin to pet its fluffy fur.
Wanting to see the bunny's face, he was about to pick the little bunny by the scruff of its neck when a voice shouted, "Stop!"
Won looked up to see who had dared to shout at him. A strange young lady was making her way to him. Both her hands were holding her heavy dress up so she could quickly reach him. From the expression on her face, it was clear that she was not happy to see him there.
"Yah! What do you think you're doing?" She asked once she was standing in front of him. She put her hands on her hips and stare down at him in disdain.
"Me? Are you talking to me?" Go Won asked. Just who is this woman that dared to use that tone with the king.
"Yes, you!" She shouted. She quickly squatted down and slap his hand away from the innocent bunny. "You can't pick up a rabbit that way!"
"What?" Go Won asked in surprise. This brazen woman had even dared to put her hand on him.
"You must haven't been around animals that much huh?" She said as she stroke the bunny's fur gently. "Well, everyone around here is pretty sheltered when it comes to taking care of animals."
How dare she? Just who is this woman? Judging from her attire, she was from a prestigious family. How come Won has never seen her before? "Who-?"
The girl interrupted him when she hold his outstretched hand on hers.
"That's alright. Let me show you how to do it." She said. The girl continued talking as she maneuver his hands with hers. "You can gently hold it here but you can't pick the rabbit up just by its scruff alone. Use your other hand arm to tuck his hind legs under the bunny like this."
She stepped back as she finished arranging his arms around the rabbit. "There, now you're holding him correctly. How is it?"
Won looked down at the rabbit contently sitting on his arms. "It's alright." He said.
The woman laughed. "He's a good one, isn't he? I've been told that he's a special rabbit but my eonnie didn't tell me why."
"Agassi? What are you up to now?" A voice suddenly shouted nearby.
The woman's eyes widened. Before Go Won could say anything, she pulled on his arm and dragged him inside one of the nearby empty sheds. She pulled him down so both of them were squatting on the dirty ground. She put her index finger to her lips, signaling him to be silent. He didn't know why but he did. Both of them keep silent and stare at each other quietly.
As the voice outside faded away, the young lady began to giggle. After she stopped laughing, she smiled at the king while he just stared strangely back at her.
"Thanks for not busting me out." She stood up and brush the dust from her silk skirt.
Won stared astoundedly from his squat position. He was too stunned by the strange woman's action.
"Oh, do you need help standing up?" She asked with a raised brow. "Huh sir, come to think of it, you do look strong. Like a mage."
"I am-" Once again the woman interrupted him.
"Ah! You must be interviewing to enter jeongjingak? Here let me help you up. You'll need all the strength to face that man, Seo Yul." She said as she helped him to stand up.
Before Won could say anything else, the same voice outside could be heard coming closer to their shed.
"Yikes! I have to go." She said as leave for the door. Before she exit the room, she turned around and point to his arms. "Please put the bunny down gently by the fish pond. He likes to stare at his reflection there! Thank you, I hope you pass the interview doryeonnim!"
Startled, Go Won looked down at his arms. He didn't realize the little rabbit was still there.
"Wait! Yah!" Go Won shouted after the woman.
"Aish." He sighed in frustration. How did this happen? He was there to relieve his stress from the palace and bother his cousin but somehow he ended up meeting a strange woman who left a rabbit in his arms.
Go Won walked down the path to the fish pond. He squatted down and gently put the rabbit down safely away from the water. True to the girl's words earlier, the rabbit began to hop close to the pond. It looked over the edge and stared at its own reflection. What a strange rabbit.
"Tokki Agassi." Go Won said as he remembered the strange girl's smiling face when they were inside the shed. It was fitting. Only a strange girl like her would know this strange rabbit.
