The door of the carriage opened and the King went out first before the door next to Vivian was opened and a hand was offered to aid her coming out which accepted gratefully but immediately released when she realized whose hands she held. Dong Yi came, bowed and maintained that position.

He looked at her with the softest expression, “What is your name?” his voice sounded with authority that turn to who he was speaking.

“My name is Choi Dong Yi, your Majesty” she answered head bowed yet sounded so happy. “Who is your father?” he asked as his hands went behind his back. “Choi Woo Ryun, he is a fisherman, your Majesty,”she humbly yet happily answered “and your mother?” “Ga Ui, she is a fish trader at the local market, your Majesty” she replied while shivering like she caught a cold.

“Well, Dong Yi of the house of Choi, get the royal guest ready for the banquet tonight” he ordered her.

His Majesty Seon Jo of this great nation personally gave her an ordered You couldn’t imagine how happy she was, because the King has never done this before to any maidservant, not even Her Royal Highness’s or the head maid. “Yes, yourself Majesty” she answered with pride and enthusiasm as the King left and walked in the opposite direction of the courtroom.

Vivian

As we got inside the hut, I noticed Dong yi smiling more than usual and I became curious about it. “Emm... Dong Yi,” I called. “Yes, Your Grace” she answered as she smiled like a ‘Colgate’ model, “Why are you so happy?” I asked facing her with my hand akimbo. “Nothing, Your Grace” she answered absent-mindedly, which made my curiosity increase by 50%, “Really...? Then why are you so happy?” this time I asked standing closer to Dong Yi and when the young girl still hesitated, I offered her to sit opposite me which she slowly accepted.

“You can tell me anything, I’ll listen” I smiled at her as I got ready to listen. “Today, His Majesty spoke to me, my lady. No one in my whole family for generations has ever come that close or even spoken to his Majesty but I did, not just that he also asked for name and my house, I'm so happy and honoured, my lady." the exact feeling I could understand, “Well, congratulations. But, how did you get to serve me?” I asked as Dong Yi properly sat.

“My first Mistress is the Prime Minister’s wife; she gave me up to the Head Maid a long time ago. I have been serving in the palace for her, as soon as Your Grace came, the Head Maid appointed me to your grace.” she said fondling with her trembling fingers, “What was your old Mistress like?” I asked holding the trembling little fingers. “She is of royal linage, the previous King was her Brother, she has everything but she isn't an open minded person like Your Grace...” she raised her eyes to my face.

“Like me?” I looked surprise at her for the words she just uttered. “Yes my Lady, she isn't as kind as you, she keeps the line of ‘master and servants’ uncrossed and doesn't even see us servants more than just ‘objects’ that can be bought or sold at will and If we do something wrong no matter how minor it is, she’d give us the punishments of thieves. ” her hands trembled under mine.

“And what punishments are they?” I asked noticing the fears she exhibited as I questioned. Dong yi turned her back to me, untied her Pho and pulled it down below her shoulders to her bust line. I gasped in shock when I saw the scars on her back, healed long cane marks that would not leave in years to come. I asked myself in anger. I couldn’t help it; my eyes filled with tears as I caressed the scars and slowly hugged the young child with motherly instincts and affection, “Dong Yi, never will you face such anymore I’ll make sure of it, anyone who threatens your peace, lemme know and I’ll take care of it, understood?!” I determined that love was all this child would ever know.

“Yes, my Lady” happiness and respect finds my heart as I'm grateful that the heavens answered my prayers to end my sufferings as I hugged My Lady with love and promise of loyalty no matter what. Looking at the dress the King sent to me through his eunuch, I'm more than satisfied to know that I have his attention which made me ogle this ‘hanbok’ with pride. I knew this feelings too well and where they led, but they weren’t as important as finding a way home as soon as possible.

This wasn't my world and I wouldn't stay in place where war could breakout anytime without a tangible reason. All I cared about was going home and patience was one of my virtues. Dong Yi opened the door for me to go outside and as soon as she did, she closed the door and helped me lift my hanbok so I could step down safely. As I followed her to where the banquet was holding, I spotted the familiar face of General Yi who walked perpendicular but seemed to go the same direction as me. When we got to the same spot that connected our ways, he stopped to acknowledge me, “Your Grace” he bowed briefly to me and I looked at him remembering how he had me in chains like a psycho and I just nod at him, looked forward and continued to walk as he tagged along side me,

“I hope Your Grace has forgiven me for our poor first meet?” I nod again before he continued. “It was really wrong of me and I deserve any punishment Your Grace deemed me worthy of.” Sincerity crowns his voice, which surprised me, he was really sorry so I decided to let it go for the fact that I would run into this man frequently and the last thing I needed was unnecessary tension and awkward atmosphere. I shook my head to show him it wasn't relevant anymore and I knew that he understood because he smiled, “Whaaaaaaatttt! Girl, this man can smile. Ain’t pigs flying?” I didn’t imagine he could smile or even have a charismatic one that moved my attention to his incredibly handsome face from the path I was walking but I kept my cool.

“I hope we meet in better circumstances since we might run into each other in the future.” He said as he stopped at the entrance of the venue, faced me and bowed while I slightly bowed in return. As he showed the way to the banquet to Dong Yi and I, we went first before he followed. Getting to the part of the table Dong Yi told me my sit was, I spotted the King, next to a young woman dressed in royal regalia and quickly acknowledged her as the Queen, his Queen, this Nation's mother. “That’s right; their Kings were always crowned with a queen. He is married, how could I forget that? ” Disappointment quickly found me as I looked at how they smiled and laughed happily together at the performing masked dancers but I did my best to remind myself that I didn't care though it was very obvious I was terrible at it.

I was shown my sit right next to the King, and General Yi who flashed his smile at me when I sat by him which I found somehow mood lifting by the tiniest bit and I was internally grateful. The masked dancers left the stage after performing what gave their audience joy like no other, and then the King stood to give a speech with every one paying attention.

His eyes found and lingered on me before moving to the sitted ministers and the guests. “To night, we’re gathered here today for many reasons but the most important ones, to celebrate the heavens sent' the rain and... the coming crown prince.” he finished his sentence with that look that made my heart drop. I had to admit that this man was out of bound as I found myself comparing this moment to modern years. It had me thinking that he would be a ‘happily just married’ man expecting his first child, and putting myself in his wife’s shoes, I would surely loathe it that a random stranger without a known origin is trying to cheat on me with my husband.

From now on, I was going to respect that boundary with my whole experiences of heartbreaks. As soon as the King announced the Crown Prince’s arrival, the people at the banquet chorused joy-filled congratulations to the royal family, lifting their cups in cheers and celebration, but I could still notice some wearing different expressions among the groups. “Yeah sure, they’ll be some wishing him a desert marriage, wolves with dog rabies” I wasn't in shock at all because, I’ve seen it dramas where ministers would want to control the royal chair occupier or even the King makers themselves. Fuming at the sight, I turned to my right to see General Yi observing me like a chemist in a lab with his smirk creeping me out.

As I looked at him, the only feeling I got was to wipe that smirk off his face but since it was worth admiring, I'd just ignore him but, immediately I regretted that decision as my eyes fell on the Queen and I think General Yi noticed because the next thing I heard was, “Her Royal Highness Queen In Mok is His Majesty’s wife and the mother of the princess." He said taking a drink from his cup not bothered like, it wasn’t enough blow on the chest already, I looked at him nodding slightly. “How come you understand me but don’t say anything?” he asked looking at the cup he was holding with his fingers and earning an uninterested stare from me.

“Is there like a secret language I need to learn, or should I write on a piece of paper for you to… or maybe I should just shut up." he said looking defeated, which alone reminded me of the rain soaked pet mouse in Home alone III; I definitely didn't see this one coming.

Remembering my laugh was always a centre of attraction, I giggled trying not to attract stares, well, not until the General had to look like a hypnotized kitten, well... More like a drunken puppy in this case. I couldn't hold it any longer; I had to let out the floods of laughter hiding under my giggles.

Throughout the party, I tried not to look at the King's direction; from the performers to the exit and from the exit to the stage, sometimes I’d smile at General Yi who would return it with a swayed look. We seemed like friends now and anyone who would see us would think we’ve had a long term friendship. With the party getting to the peak, the Queen received permission to retire first and I saw an opportunity to leave since they murdered my interest at the ceremony right before it started.

I stood and bowed to the King whose eyes followed my every move, before I turned to leave but General Yi offered to walk me back to my quarters which I accepted happily with a nod since I was worried how it was going to look like leaving alone in midst of a celebration.

As we walked back to my hut, I began to wonder why I agreed to General Yi’s offer in the first place because he wouldn’t shut up. He had my attention until he began to ramble about the royal generations and some traditions that were lame and ignorant by the way, war and people in the royal house that I couldn’t care less about.

“ I groaned internally but smiled as if I was enjoying it. I was convinced that he was not planning to stop rambling anytime soon when I looked at his face and immediately I stopped listening. I found the King creeping into my thoughts instead; He was a husband, a father to a daughter and a son on the way.

?

When General Yi said ‘good night,’ interrupting my thoughts, I watched him bowed slightly before disappearing into the night, smiling infectiously. I turned to Dong Yi who already was waiting for me at the door. After I took the last of my clothes off, I entered into the giant bath basin filled with warm water and sprinkled with flower petals.

I inhaled the fragrance, which reminded me that my bathtub was missing a Latino macho to complete the scene. I loved how it gave the room a lovely and relaxing fragrance that made me forget my worries and just dive into this looming quietness.

I walked towards the lying figure on the ground and turned it around; it was a familiar face with blood pouring from her mouth. “Please tell little brother Noona is sorry” “Wait!” I screamed as the body vanished into oblivion. I was scared and I began to run with no idea where I was headed because I felt anywhere was safer compared to where I was running from but I didn't pay attention to the incoming truck on a very high speed on my left, before I could register its presence... “

I opened my eyes to see Dong Yi before me with worry and fear visible on her face, “My Lady, are you alright?” Relieved that it was just a night mare; I smiled at Dong Yi as I nod. “The water is cold my Lady, you should get up so you won't catch a cold.” Dong Yi advised as the cold-water stung my bones when realized I had fell asleep in the bath. I got up and wrapped my body with the hanging robe next to the tub and left to avoid really getting cold. I entered into the bedroom and saw my sleeping garment, I changed into them and flopped on top this soft levels of whatever my bed was made of.

I closed my eyes to sleep but It seemed like already done that in the bathroom because depending on the number of times I had been rolling on the bed for hours, I had definitely qualified to be an egg roll. When I realized no sleep for me tonight, I stood up and walked to the garden where I spotted a familiar face.