The girl from the dream

The girl from the dream. He was a prince, the emperor's younger brother. The emperor was 47 years old. He had no sons, and the newborn children of his older concubines didn't survive more than three months. Therefore, if no heir was born, the prince would be next on the throne. The prince was a handsome man: tall, well-built, a skilled fighter who always returned victorious. He had dark hair, fair skin, dark eyes, and a brave heart. He was cold, stern, and merciless toward his enemies. Goryeo, 923, June 21, 4:00 a.m. He had a dream—the first of his life. In it, he saw a girl. She was exquisitely beautiful: fair skin, black hair, and rare gray eyes. Her movements were smooth and light, and her smile was genuine. In the dream, he spoke to her with a tenderness he had never experienced with anyone else. Suddenly he woke up with a start. The prince sat up in bed, his palms resting on the sheets. His heart was beating unusually fast. He never dreamed. Not in childhood, not after battles, not after blood and victories. And this dream... was too clear. Her face didn't disappear. Her gray eyes—rare, calm, as if they knew more than they should. Her smile—not rehearsed, not courtly. Genuine. And the way he spoke to her... softly, quietly—as if there was another side to him he didn't know about. The prince slowly clenched his fingers. “Sleep…” he said hoarsely, as if testing the word to taste. But there was a strange feeling inside. Not anxiety. Not fear. Emptiness, as if someone had left without saying goodbye. Three months passed. It was almost the end of autumn. He never forgot that dream, but he always repeated to himself that it was just a dream, not reality. On November 20, he was in one of the villages searching for her. He went with trusted men and asked the villagers about the girl, but no one knew anything and dared not lie to the prince. And suddenly, as he was questioning one of the villagers, a girl flashed by. He instantly recognized her with his quick eyes and remembered the girl from his dream. The prince called one of his men and told him to find her but not to show himself to her.