LOVED BY YOUR MEMORY

CHAPTER 17

By the time the first light of dawn spread across the palace rooftops, Hye-in had already arrived at the Crown Prince's quarters.

She had come earlier than usual.

Much earlier.

After yesterday's scolding, she had decided that being late—or giving Seo Jun another reason to reprimand her—was something she could no longer afford.

She immediately began her duties.

She organized the documents on the Crown Prince's desk, arranged the writing materials, checked the royal records, and made sure everything was in order.

The palace gradually came alive around her.

Servants began moving through the corridors. Guards changed shifts. The sound of footsteps and quiet voices replaced the stillness of dawn.

It was nearly the eighth hour when Seo Jun finally entered his quarters.

Hye-in immediately bowed.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

"Good morning."

His gaze briefly moved around the room before settling on her.

"You came early."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"How early?"

Hye-in lowered her eyes.

"Before sunrise."

Seo Jun regarded her quietly.

"There was no need to come that early."

"I apologize, Your Highness. I only wanted to make sure my duties were completed properly."

"Your duties were not in question."

Hye-in looked up slightly.

Seo Jun walked toward his desk.

"Yesterday is already behind us. You need not continue punishing yourself for it."

Hye-in bowed her head.

"Yes, Your Highness."

A little later, footsteps sounded outside.

A kitchen maid entered carrying a large breakfast tray.

She bowed deeply.

"Your Highness, the royal breakfast has been prepared."

Seo Jun nodded.

Leave it there."

The maid placed the tray on the table and bowed again before leaving.

Hye-in stepped forward and carefully uncovered it.

The breakfast had been prepared for the Crown Prince: warm rice, soup, several small side dishes, and freshly prepared tea.

She arranged everything neatly before stepping back.

Seo Jun took his seat.

Hye-in remained standing nearby, waiting in case he needed anything.

"You may sit for a while," Seo Jun said.

"I am fine standing, Your Highness."

"It was not an order."

Hye-in hesitated before giving a small bow.

She remained nearby while Seo Jun ate, ready to assist if necessary.

Once breakfast was finished, she helped clear the table and returned the dishes to the tray to the kitchen before returning back to the Crown Prince's quarter.

Then Seo Jun walked toward the desk and picked up one of the documents she had arranged.

"You didn't have to come this early."

Hye-in looked up.

"I know."

"Then why did you?"

"Because I don't want to be scolded again."

The answer came so quickly that she immediately regretted saying it.

Seo Jun stared at her.

Hye-in lowered her gaze.

"I mean... I wanted to make sure everything was ready."

A faint change crossed his expression, but it disappeared almost immediately.

"Very well."

He placed the document back on the desk.

"Since you're already here, stay and help me sort these."

"Yes, Your Highness."

For the next hour, Hye-in remained busy beside him.

The morning passed quietly.

Seo Jun occasionally asked her to bring a particular record or arrange a document, and Hye-in followed each instruction carefully.

She checked everything twice.

Sometimes three times.

Eventually, Seo Jun noticed.

"You've checked that document three times."

Hye-in looked down at the record in her hands.

"I don't want to make another mistake."

"You won't."

She looked at him.

Seo Jun had already returned his attention to the papers before him.

Hye-in said nothing.

But somehow, those two words made her relax.

Only after everything had been taken care of did Seo Jun speak.

"Hye-in."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"I'll be going to the training grounds."

Hye-in's hands paused.

"The training grounds?"

"For horse-riding practice."

Her expression immediately became uneasy.

The memory of her previous fall flashed through her mind.

The horse losing control.

Her body slipping from the saddle.

The sudden impact.

Then darkness.

She had lost consciousness after falling from the horse.

Even though some time had passed, the memory had never completely left her.

Seo Jun noticed her silence.

"You don't have to ride."

Hye-in quickly shook her head.

"No, Your Highness. I can ride."

"You fell the last time."

Hye-in lowered her gaze.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Then don't force yourself."

"I won't."

She took a quiet breath.

"But I would like to try again."

Seo Jun studied her for a moment before nodding.

"Very well."

Hye-in bowed.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

LATER THAT MORNING

The palace grounds had become livelier as the morning progressed.

Seo Jun had decided to continue his horse-riding practice, and Hye-in followed him toward the royal stables, carrying the riding equipment.

The moment they arrived, Whisper lifted his head.

Seo Jun approached him and ran a hand along his neck.

"Has he been fed?"

"Yes, Your Highness," one of the stable servants replied. "He was fed earlier this morning."

Seo Jun nodded.

Hye-in stood a few steps away, watching the horse.

Whisper looked calm.

Much calmer than the horse she had ridden the last time.

Yet the sight of the saddle was enough to make her stomach tighten.

Her last riding lesson had ended badly.

She could still remember the sudden movement beneath her, the reins slipping from her control, and the terrifying moment she had fallen.

After that, everything had gone dark.

She had lost consciousness.

Hye-in swallowed and forced herself to look away.

It won't happen again.

Seo Jun mounted Whisper with ease.

He adjusted the reins before turning toward her.

"You will ride as well."

Hye-in blinked because the statement caught her off guard

"Me, Your Highness?"

"Yes."

She glanced at the horses.

"Are you certain?"

Seo Jun regarded her calmly.

"You said you wanted to try again."

Hye-in hesitated.

"I did?"

"You did."

She could remember saying it, but she wasn't going to contradict the Crown Prince of course she could vividly remember saying it.

A stable servant brought another horse forward.

Hye-in stared at it for a moment.

The horse shifted its weight, and she instinctively stepped back.

She immediately composed herself.

Seo Jun noticed

Hye-in stood beside her horse, already knowing she would have to ride as well.

She had agreed to the practice earlier.

She just hadn't expected her nerves to return the moment she saw the saddle.

Her eyes lingered on it.

The memory of her previous fall came rushing back.

The sudden movement of the horse.

The loss of her balance.

And then nothing.

She had lost consciousness after the fall.

Hye-in took a quiet breath and forced the memory away.

It happened once. It won't happen again.

Seo Jun turned toward her.

"Are you ready?"

Hye-in nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness."

But the slight hesitation in her voice did not escape him.

She approached her horse and placed one hand on the saddle.

For a brief moment, she stood still.

Then she carefully placed her foot in the stirrup and mounted.

The horse shifted beneath her.

Hye-in's body immediately stiffened.

Her fingers tightened around the reins.

Seo Jun noticed.

"Relax your hands."

Hye-in glanced at him.

"I'm fine, Your Highness."

"You are holding the reins too tightly."

She looked down.

Her knuckles had turned pale.

She slowly loosened her grip.

"My apologies."

"There is no need to apologize."

Seo Jun's voice remained calm.

"Just keep your hands steady."

"Yes, Your Highness."

He turned Whisper toward the training grounds.

"Follow my pace."

Hye-in nodded and followed.

The horses began moving slowly across the grounds.

At first, Hye-in remained tense, carefully watching every movement beneath her.

She remembered how quickly her last ride had gone wrong, and every unexpected shift made her heart jump.

But she refused to stop.

She had fallen once.

She would not let fear keep her from riding again.

Gradually, her grip loosened.

Her breathing steadied.

After several rounds, Hye-in's fear began to lessen.

The cool morning breeze brushed against her face as they rode beneath the trees bordering the training grounds.

She realized she was no longer gripping the reins as though her life depended on them.

A small smile appeared on her face.

She was actually enjoying herself.

"You're improving," Seo Jun said.

Hye-in looked over.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Her smile widened.

Then Seo Jun added calmly,

"Though you still have much to learn."

Her smile disappeared.

"Your Highness..."

Seo Jun looked ahead.

"What?"

"You could have just let me enjoy the compliment."

"I was being honest."

Hye-in sighed.

"Of course."

For a moment, Seo Jun's expression softened with the faintest hint of amusement.

They continued toward the far side of the training grounds.

Neither of them noticed the royal procession approaching from the opposite direction.

Until the guards ahead suddenly stopped.

Hye-in gently pulled on the reins.

Her horse came to a halt.

She looked ahead.

A group of palace attendants was approaching.

At the center of the procession stood a woman dressed in elegant royal robes.

Hye-in's expression changed immediately.

She recognized her.

The Queen.

She quickly dismounted.

Seo Jun did the same.

Hye-in stepped aside and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty."

Seo Jun straightened his robes before offering a respectful bow.

"Mother."

Queen Kim's procession came to a stop before them.

For a moment, the training grounds fell completely silent.

Hye-in remained with her head lowered.

The Queen's gaze moved toward her.

Then slowly toward Seo Jun.

Neither spoke.

Queen Kim was the first to break the silence.

"Seo Jun."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Her gaze moved briefly toward Whisper before returning to her son.

"I did not expect to find you here."

"I came for horse-riding practice."

"I see."

Queen Kim glanced at the other horse before looking at Hye-in.

"And you?"

Hye-in immediately lowered her head.

"I accompanied His Highness, Your Majesty."

Queen Kim gave a small nod.

"You are Hye-in."

Hye-in looked up slightly, surprised that the Queen knew her name.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I have heard your name before."

Hye-in's hands tightened slightly around the reins she was still holding.

"I am honored, Your Majesty."

Queen Kim regarded her for a moment before turning her attention back to Seo Jun.

"Has your riding improved?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Good."

Her eyes briefly moved toward the training grounds.

"The physician advised you not to overexert yourself."

"I remember, Mother."

"Then you should take care."

"I will."

Queen Kim nodded.

There was a brief pause before she noticed the horse beside Hye-in.

"Is she practicing as well?"

Seo Jun answered calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Queen Kim looked at Hye-in.

"Have you ridden before?"

Hye-in hesitated for only a moment.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then you must already be familiar with the basics."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Queen Kim gave another small nod.

"I hope the practice goes well."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Hye-in replied, bowing respectfully.

Queen Kim then turned to Seo Jun.

"I was on my way to the royal gardens. I only stopped when I saw you."

"I understand, Your Majesty."

The Queen gave her son a faint smile.

"Do not let me interrupt your practice."

"You are not interrupting, Mother."

"Still, I should let you continue."

She turned toward her attendants.

"Come."

The attendants immediately followed.

Before leaving, Queen Kim looked back once.

"Take care, Seo Jun."

"I will, Your Majesty."

Hye-in bowed again.

"Your Majesty."

Queen Kim acknowledged her with a slight nod before continuing down the path.

Hye-in remained still until the Queen's procession had disappeared beyond the trees.

Only then did she release the breath she had been holding.

She looked toward Seo Jun.

"Your Majesty seems very kind."

Seo Jun mounted Whisper again.

"She is."

Hye-in nodded and looked toward her own horse.

The brief encounter was over.