𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄, 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐀𝐒 𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐀𝐄𝐇𝐖𝐀 , 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆. Though her father had many children, she was one of the few born to his Queen Consort and thusly favored. The king hesitated to marry her off as he did with his other daughters, but eventually he gave her as a bride to a high-ranking member of the Yi family, a clan of great power and esteem. The marriage was intended to further secure the allegiance of the Yi to the crown; a relationship that had grown somewhat tenuous due to fears the Yi might try to usurp the Kim rulership. But Aehwa herself was opposed to the union. Though she did her duty and married her betrothed without complaint, it's widely noted that the once-jovial princess became withdrawn, spending most of her days plucking away at her gayageum in solitude. Her singing could often be heard throughout the halls of the palace, and many would stop to listen to her hauntingly angelic voice.
Aehwa's loneliness did not last, however, as she grew fond of the company of Yi Namkyu; a high-ranking general in her father's army and the cousin of her husband. The two began an affair that lasted for many months, and Aehwa fell deeply in love. Many believed the princess's returned joy was a sign that she had settled into her marriage at last, but her husband grew suspicious. Though he was unable to catch her in the act, he had his servants bring him proof of Aehwa's infidelity. When he confronted her, it quickly became clear to her that there was no escape for her — but she could still protect Namkyu, as they had no proof of her lover's identity.
No matter how hard she was pressed to betray him, she held firm and kept his secret, swearing she would take her lover's name to her grave. She was brought before her father for her crime, who, in his great shame for his daughter's indiscretions, gave her the choice of public punishment or a quiet death to avoid further disgrace upon his court. Aehwa chose the latter. As Namkyu was away leading a military campaign at the time, the two never got to say goodbye, and Aehwa was long dead by the time he returned to Seorabeol.












