*Flashback*

The grand hall was decorated in a golden theme. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the décor around her. The floors were made of glass under which was a large pool built in such a way that it seemed that the guests were standing on water. Colorful fish of various species were swimming around merrily underneath her feet. She recognized goldfish, koi fish, angel fish but the others were from species she did not know much about. ​​

The walls were coated with gold paint while the curtains were also of matching color. The staircase sparkled ahead with a soft furry carpet laid on it while a large chandelier hung right above her head, illuminating the hall in a golden light. The wine fountain was also golden. It was gold and gold everywhere.

Sunye pulled her sweater closer to her, trying not to shiver too much but her hypothermia had been acting up recently. Her adoptive father, Han Daewhi, had her checked with the doctor who did not seemed to have found anything physically wrong with her. They deduced it was psychological due to the shock of being separated from her real family at such a young age.

Rubbing her hands together, she tried not to stand out among the elite crowd which had gathered around. The little girl stared at the grown ups who did not pay much heed to her. They were wearing masks of different colors and sizes while holding wine glasses in their hands and chatting. Everywhere her eyes went, she could see the masked people laughing in the golden palace.

It excited her. It scared her.

"Sunye!"

Startled, she looked around to find her father, Daewhi looking at her. He was in his mid-forties with greying hair and a friendly face. After her accident, he had adopted her since she reminded him of his own deceased daughter and had been raising her ever since.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, feeling concerned. "You know very well that you're not supposed to be here."

"Where is San?" Sunye asked. "I can't find San."

"Shh…" Daewhi shushed her. "You should call him the Crown Prince! Not by his name."

He looked around, hoping that no one had heard her. Calling any of the royal members by their name was a serious offense within the palace and it could cost him his job. He had been their cook for over twenty years and he followed the protocols very strictly.

"The Crown Prince is busy tonight," Daewhi replied. "He won't be able to play with you. Go back to our apartment and rest."

Chef Han's quarters were inside the palace grounds right next to the guardhouse. It was not a very large house but was big enough for the father-daughter to live in. Sunye was instructed to stay there until the party was over but her curious mind brought her to the grand ballroom where the Emperor had held a feast to celebrate his twelfth year in power.

Sunye wanted to catch a glimpse of San. She knew that he hated these sort of gatherings and preferred to stay with her rather than talk to people. He was the one who sent a message via a servant to her to sneak into the party somehow but she got caught by her father.

Seeing her disappointed look, Daewhi sighed.

"Dear, this place is not for us," he said in a gentle tone. "We're merely servants here. You can't sneak in here to meet the Crown Prince! It is not appropriate. You do remember the palace rules I taught you, right?"

"Yes, father," she mumbled, looking down. She knew very well that if she hung out with San too much, the palace guards would complain to the Emperor and her father might be fired. She was not totally prohibited from talking to him but San tended to skip his classes in order to meet up with her. He was already punished by the Emperor for his actions and he was grounded for a month. Sunye could not even see him for the past few days which made her very sad.

"I will go back, father," she said, looking crestfallen. Daewhi took pity on his daughter. She was so little and lonely that it broke his heart to see her like that. His own wife and daughter had passed away in an unfortunate car crash and Sunye was the only person left in the world for him. It pained him to think that he could not give this little girl a proper life.

Sunye was walking through the ballroom's doors and headed towards her tiny apartment. She was saddened by the fact that she still could not meet Kim San. He must be waiting for her.

She glanced behind her at the elegant palace. It was sprawled across a hundred acres and had over 300 rooms in it. The palace was a testament of strength and unity in the country. It withstood numerous wars and saw the changes in the monarchy which had its roots deeply stuck inside the heart of the nation.

There were many renovations done to the place. Sunye had heard stories of how it was once a shack where the first Emperor of the country used to hide in. Gradually, it grew from a shack to a hut then to a mansion before finally, it became the Golden Palace. It was the proof of the country's endurance.

For Sunye, it was a beautiful cage.

Sometimes she pitied San who was touted to take over that terrible throne which sat in the middle of the throne room. It was a cold thing to sit on.

The wind gushed by, making her shiver more. The sweater she wore was of no use. She must head back indoors.

Half walking, half running towards her apartment, she finally reached it. Closing the door behind her, she picked up a few firewood and threw them into the fireplace where a flame was already ablaze. She rubbed her hands together and began to take some comfort from the heat of the fire.

Sunye stared at the flames, her eyes filled with sadness. Her heart was desperate to meet her one and only friend but she was not allowed to until his punishment was over. It was not fair at all. Why was he being punished for something so trivial?

"I miss you, San," she whispered.

"I missed you too."

Sunye yelped and turned around to see Kim San emerging from the shadow of her bedroom's doorway. He was smiling at her.

"How did you manage to get away?" Sunye asked in astonishment.

"I have my ways," he said cheerfully. He jumped on the couch to make himself comfortable and leaned back.

"I brought this for you," he added, holding up a stick of cotton candy. Upon seeing it, her eyes lit up in excitement. Before San could respond, Sunye snatched the candy from him and unwrapped it to chow on it.

"Won't you share?" he asked in dismay.

"No."

San only shook his head and watched her eating the candy. There was a wide smile on her face as she ate. San's usually cold expression softened upon seeing her so happy.

"Whatcha looking at?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing," he claimed. "Just how uncouth you look while eating cotton candy."

Sunye scowled and tried to slap his arm but he pranced off. "Slowpoke!" he teased her. She ran after him, playfully hitting him while San dodged all her attacks. Soon, they were laughing and shouting while throwing the cushions at each other. The children's laughter echoed across the empty house, lighting it up with their merriment.

"Take that!" San yelled, hitting her with a cushion while Sunye reiterated with a pillow attack of her own.

"You can't even hit me!" Sunye claimed. San replied with more hits while Sunye laughed.

Suddenly, the front door flew open. The two children stopped in their tracks and spun around only to be gripped by fear.

A tall, good looking man in his thirties was standing at the door. His dark hair was cut into a buzzcut while a golden crown with a dragon symbol sat on his head. The man's sharp eyes were glaring at the children who cowered under his gaze.

"F-father," San stammered.