Once Upon A Time in Joseon

8. The Rule Breaker

The more he mastered, the more he realized that no matter how much he achieved, the gnawing feeling of inadequacy never truly left him. Even as his skills surpassed those of his tutors, even as his reputation grew, the Crown Prince could not shake the fear that one day, he would falter, and the entire kingdom would see him as a failure.

And so, he continued—caught between the world of frozen time, where he could perfect himself, and the real world, where time never seemed to be enough. Was this all enough for him now?

Nobody knew but me

When he arrived at the modest home where his teacher lay, the Crown Prince hesitated at the door, his heart pounding. There was no one to see him except a little caretaker outside the hut, whom he could have easily been invisible to, in the darkness of the night, only if he was careful though. He pushed the door open gently and stepped inside. Master Jang was resting on a low bed, his breaths shallow, his once sharp eyes now dulled by the weight of illness. But when he saw the Crown Prince, a faint smile crossed his lips.

"My prince," Master Jang whispered, his voice barely audible but still filled with the warmth that had always comforted the boy.

The Crown Prince knelt by his teacher's side, his throat tight with emotion. "Master, I... I couldn't let you leave without seeing you one last time. I'm sorry, I broke the rules but..."

Master Jang raised a trembling hand and placed it on the prince's shoulder. "It's okay, Rules are made to be broken by brave ones. You've always been brave, You've always been strong, my prince. Stronger than you realize. But strength is not measured by perfection. It is found in accepting our imperfections."

The prince swallowed hard, fighting back the tears. His teacher's words felt like they were piercing through the armor of composure he had carefully built over the years.

Before Master Jang said more, he reached under his blanket and pulled out a small object, placing it gently in the Crown Prince's hand. It was a small, intricately carved button-like object, its surface smooth but with ancient symbols etched into it.

"Take this," the teacher said softly. "It is a gift, something that was entrusted to me many years ago."

"I should do something so I am remembered for at least one good deed. Remember me as a Helper, my Prince, forgive my sins..." the breadth between sentences were filled with the little Prince sobbing. "What a life i lived, it's all in vain... i dont know what i could change to make it right..."

"Not a good villain, not a good hero, not a good father, not a good husband, not a good teacher, neither a good man. What a life in vain..."

"Master Jang, you were the best thing in my life, Master... You were the best teacher ever..."

"A teacher that leaves mid lesson? There was so much to teach you, there was so much you could have learnt. Forgive me my son for leaving so soon."

The Crown Prince looked at the object in his hand, the tears in his eyes made sure he could not have a good look and the pain in his heart made sure he could not concentrate on his hands at all.

"Use it wisely," Master Jang continued as he read the confusion on his students face, "but remember, it is a double-edged sword."

The prince bowed his head, clutching the object tightly. Racing for any word that could make the last moments of Master Jang any less painful. "I will honor you, Master. I swear it."

With that, the old sage closed his eyes for the last time, as if this was the last thing that hung him to life and now the room was filled with an unbearable silence. The Crown Prince, feeling a surge of emotions he had never allowed himself to confront. What is even death to a perfect boy who has been prisoned in the palace wall for all his life? He remained by his teacher's side almost until dawn, his heart heavy with grief and a newfound sense of responsibility.

But it was already too late. When he realised that no one shall know about him missing from his chambers, he was too late to reach back on time unnoticed. He needed an excuse but all he could think about was the small button in his hand. He did not want to leave his Master like that but he was not the one to make the rules.

Stepping out he realised how late he was and what would happen if he was discovered roaming around at night without security and permission. He clicked the button, not thinking much, wondering what it does and if he can use it to get himself out of this trouble. To his astonishment the world went still, time froze, and the chirps of the early birds fell so quiet, he almost wondered if he had lost his senses due to the button. But he could hear his clap and the echo of the clap as well, which was unusually loud. He had no time to waste to think, his legs ran toward the palace as he realised that he was wrong. Time was the only thing he had, abundant of it.

In the days that followed, the Crown Prince did not tell anyone about the time stopper. The object stayed hidden in his robes, a secret known only to him. He knew he could use it to gain an unfair advantage—to outshine everyone during his exams or training. But he did not. Instead, he chose to use the time stopper in ways that no one else would understand. Late at night, when the palace slept and the moon hung high in the sky, the Crown Prince would press the button, freezing time.

In this frozen world, he trained relentlessly. Hours became days, and days became weeks as he pushed his body and mind to their limits, mastering every skill, every form of combat, and every piece of knowledge the kingdom had to offer. His archery improved, his swordsmanship became flawless, and his understanding of politics deepened. In the stillness of frozen time, he became the perfect prince—at least outwardly.

But in the quiet moments, when he stopped to rest in this world devoid of life, he felt a profound loneliness. The fear that time might never resume nagged at him. What if he were left alone, suspended in this isolated world forever? The very thought of it chilled him to the core. Yet, his desire for perfection and his sense of duty to his kingdom drove him forward.

The more he mastered, the more he realized that no matter how much he achieved, the gnawing feeling of inadequacy never truly left him. Even as his skills surpassed those of his tutors, even as his reputation grew, the Crown Prince could not shake the fear that one day, he would falter, and the entire kingdom would see him as a failure.

And so, he continued—caught between the world of frozen time, where he could perfect himself, and the real world, where time never seemed to be enough. Was this all enough for him now?

Nobody knew but me
If he is happy or if he sad
If he is here or if he is gone

Or if he has powers or if he is mad