The next day Young-Sik and Jin-Ri continued their leisurely stroll through the market, suddenly Young-Sik pulled Jin-Ri into a corner "What's wrong?" she asked, surprised at the unexpected action the prince did
Instead of answering the prince pressed a finger to his lips in a signal to stay quiet. The prince then peered out of the corner and then quickly retreated. "What is it? Are we in trouble?" she whispered
"Worst!" The prince whispered back to her, "Can you see a snobbish-looking young lady with a throng of servants following her?"
Jin-Ri couldn't resist the urge to peek around the corner, and there she found the person Young-Sik had been raving about. The young lady floated through the crowd, exuding charm. When she paused to consider a delightful find, her devoted servants eagerly examined the goods that had sparked her interest.
"Wow…what a stuck up…she couldn't even be bothered to touch what she wanted to buy" Jin-Ri commented, her intentions of ridiculing the lady were very obvious.
"That stuck-up lady is Lim Ji-Hye, the only child of Minister Lim" Young-Sik whispered while still looking around the corner
"No wonder she is a stuck up, he is the daughter of the man with something stuck up his behind" Jin-Ri exclaimed with a giggle
Young-Sik again pressed a finger to his lips as they watched Ji-Hye pass by from their hiding place. With the two of them so close together confined in that tiny corner, Jin-Ri couldn't help but stare at the prince's face. She could feel her heart flutter at that very moment, Jin-Ri could not understand but her body moved on its own, leaning closer to Young-Sik. Her arms slowly going up to embrace the prince.
She quickly pulled her hands back down when she heard the prince say "I think they're gone" Young-Sik carefully slid from their hiding spot
"Thank Goodness," She thought to herself.The two peeked out and once they were sure that Ji-Hye and her entourage were long gone they stepped out of their hiding place.
The two glanced around the market making sure that Ji-Hye was no longer there "I think she's gone" Young-Sik said with a sigh of relief. The two of them turned around to resume their stroll
"Who's gone?" a voice asked them, Young-Sik and Jin-Ri were startled to see Ji-Hye in front of them.
Ji-Hye's lips grimaced as she saw what Young-Sik was wearing "How many times do I have to tell you, to wear clothes fit for a prince? I can't have my future husband gallivanting outside and looking like a farm hand"
She turned her gaze to Jin-Ri, a smirk playing on her lips. "And you?" Jin-Ri glanced around, then pointed to herself with a playful grin. "Yes, you! Who are you?"
"Me? I'm just his court maid," Jin-Ri replied nonchalantly, which made Ji-Hye's eyes narrow in irritation.
"How dare you speak to me and the prince like that! You haven't even bowed to me, knowing I'm destined to be your master's wife. Do you want to be punished?" Ji-Hye shot back, her tone dripping with authority.
"Why would I bow to you?" Jin-Ri asked, her voice sweet and innocent, completely devoid of any sarcasm.
Without warning, Young-Sik grabbed Jin-Ri by the nape and gently dipped her head into a small bow, to ease Ji-Hye. Jin-Ri shot the prince a quick glare, as she massaged her nape.
"That's better, but still, how could you let your master go out looking…looking like this?" She asked the court maiden all the while her scrutinizing look scanned the prince.
Jin-Ri was about to answer when she was cut off "Then again, you are just a lowly servant, I couldn't expect you to know what presentable fashion is even if it hits you in the face" Jin-Ri's eyebrow shot up at the comment she just heard "I guess for you, this…this ugly thing is the height of fashion?"
Jin-Ri's blood started to boil, she bared her claws ready to scratch the eyes out of this woman in front of her. She started to charge at Jin-Hye when she was suddenly pushed back into the corner by the prince.
"There is no need for that Lady Ji-Hye, additionally I already told you, I like walking around the capital wearing simple clothes like these," Young-Sik said in defense of himself
"That will have to change, once we are married, like I said I can't have my future husband look shabby and not princely" She then glanced around until she saw a clothes shop. She took Young-Sik by the hand and pulled him towards the shop, followed by Ji-hye's entourage and Jin-Ri
Before the man in charge of the shop could speak, Ji-hye gave her instructions as she kept looking around the shop, "I guess this will do, I want you to dress him with the finest clothes, your shop could possibly have…and please burn these ugly rags" She instructed the man about the clothes the prince was wearing
After a few moments, Young-Sik stepped out of the fitting room, looking dashing in a light blue hanbok topped off with a traditional gat. Lady Ji-Hye's entourage gasped in unison, their eyes sparkling like stars at the sight of the prince. Jin-Ri arched an eyebrow, bemused by the servants' over-the-top reaction. "What's with these ladies? Have they never laid eyes on a man before?" Meanwhile, Jin-Hye shot a fierce look at her own servants, instantly silencing their chatter.
Ji-Hye looked at the prince "I guess for a small shop that is the best you could do, for now, that will suffice" Ji-Hye said in a very snobbish manner. "How much?"
The owner nervously fidgeted with his hands and answered "That will be thirty gold coins, my lady"
Jin-Ri's eyes widened when she heard how much the clothes cost. "Thirty? What is this made of? Gold thread?"
"How cheap, no wonder it is so drab, pay the man," she told one of her servants. She stood up and walked toward the prince, she took his arm with a smile, which made Young-Sik flash an awkward smile "Why don't we have lunch, dear husband?"
Ji-Hye calling Young-Sik her husband, elicited a surprise reaction from Jin-Ri and the prince "Husband? Really? The nerve of this snob to call the prince her husband, when the prince hasn't even said yes!" Jin-Ri thought to herself
Young-Sik carefully broke away from Ji-Hye's grip "Husband? Look were not even married yet, if it's the clothes, I can pay you back" he said nervously
Ji-Hye clung to the price's arms again and this time much tighter "Non-sense, they are just mere trinkets, you can throw them away later"
"Throw away thirty gold coins? Where does this snob live so I can kidnap and hold her for ransom?" Jin-Ri thought to herself, astonished by the wealth Ji-Hye was throwing around
Ji-Hye started to pull the prince with her "Besides for all intents and purposes, you are my husband, It was already agreed upon since our childhood days, and marriage is just a formality"
"It is?" Young-Sik exclaimed with a flustered expression
"It is?" Jin-Ri reacted as well much like the way Prince did
"It is!" Ji-Hye answered, putting a period on any inquiries
As they strolled out of the small shop, the owner came up to them carrying the prince's old clothes wrapped into a small bundle "What about the young master's tattered clothes my lady?"
"Burn them" Ji-Hye answered without batting an eye
The group left the shop, and Jin-Ri approached the owner "Let me take care of that madam" She said humbly
"Well thank you, young lady, The truth is these are still in good condition, it is such a waste to just throw them away" The shop owner explained as she handed Ji-Ri the bundled-up clothes.
Jin-Ri cradled the prince's clothes as she ran after them. The group eventually reached an expensive restaurant. Ji-Hye may be a snob but she still takes care of her servants or something like that. "Here are five gold coins, have your meal then come back here," She told her servants
One of them asked Ji-Hye "Young lady…what about her?" she asked pointing at Jin-Ri, who was kicking small rocks not minding them
Ji-Hye sighed heavily "Take her as well, she will become my servant anyway when the prince and I get married," she said in an exasperated manner. She and the prince entered the establishment.
Ji-Hye's servants started to look for a cheap place to eat "Hey you!" They shouted to catch Jin-Ri's attention "Common let's have our lunch," Jin-Ri shrugged her shoulders and followed the group. They soon find themselves at a small ox bone soup eatery. There were eight of them including Jin-Ri and they occupied two tables.