“You look like a warrior” i smiled at Min Soo straightening his clothes I had asked Dong Yi to get him.

“And you look wonderful, your Grace. ” Min Soo replied standing before me with a biggest grin on his face as i puts on my hat with a veil round it to conceal my face like i did last time.

I wanted continue the tour on the village and I was fully ready to go. As we stepped out, the Queen passed by with her escorts but she didn’t turn to my direction, she just walked on like we were invisible.

I held Min Soo’s hand and we continued our excursion as Dong Yi and Min Soo talked all the way.

The market became my second favourite place which made my bed, the first. It bustled with life just like Seoul’s rush hours, the cars, the noise, the people, i missed it. The sidewalks, the nightlights, the cool breeze and the voices of everything that made it so “Seoul” i missed it all.

For this day, Min Soo was our tour guide, he was to take us round the market where he knew and I appreciated it. He showed us the house he used to live with his mother.

He went around showing us his neighbourhood, saying hi to his old friends at the same time but when i asked him where he went after they left that place, he took us back on the road to the village market.

We passed the market and continued to walk, until we finally got to our destination.

I couldn’t believe my eyes at what saw, there were kids everywhere, all looking tattered, under fed and poor.

Min Soo ran to them and as they all saw him, they ran to him to welcome him asking him questions about himself which he answered eagerly until one kid pointed to us.

“Those are my friends: they helped me before at the market that day and they want to meet you all.” He replied as he turned to look at Dong Yi and I.

I walked closer to the kids looking at their faces, body, clothes and surrounding which has one thing in common – dirty, that muddy kind of dirty.

I began to inquire about the kids by touching them on their heads or hands while Min Soo introduced them and told me why they were there.

All were orphans; some ran away from their masters because of harsh treatments and decided to stay with the others.

He also told me they were fathered for by an elderly man in his late eighties who couldn't fend for them like before so they had to fend for him and themselves.

Oh, good, I thought and i decided to see the old but, one of the kids us,

‘Grand Pa’ had passed away the day before when he heard of Min Soo’s execution. They've been alone since and had not eaten anything good yet, he told Vivian.

I immediately signalled to Dong Yi to do the necessary while I sat with the kids and tried bonding which was great with my veil on.

A moment later, Dong Yi arrived with two baskets of white buns covered with cloths and Young Pil behind her carrying water in a jar, as the children saw the treats, they were happy and received the buns with eagerness which made me watch them as they ate all they were given which wasn't enough.

Dong had to buy more until we were sure they had to their fill.

I felt sorry for these kids and didn't want to leave them Here, I wanted them taken care of and catered for like normal kids. First, they need to be fed which was already happening, secondly, they could use a change of environment and to do that she must know how many they were.

A head count was done and they amounted to twenty kids in total.

I wanted them in the care of someone accountable, within reach and familiar to me and the persons who fitted in the three categories were none other than Dong Yi’s parents.

I would hand them over to them and cater for them indirectly.

I decided to let Dong Yi know and when she heard my idea, she agreed without delay saying it would make her family feel honoured which made me rest assured and happy.

After the children were fully fed, they were taken to Dong Yi’s family and truly, they accepted the kind gesture.

Her father revealed that it was often an empty house but with the children’s presence it was a 'blessing from the heavens’.

Dong yi made her family understand that the welfare of the children was in their hands but whatever was needed would be made available to them and they agreed thanking me for the kind gesture saying you know, I was a gift from the heavens.

Then i waved goodbye to the kids in promise to visit them again. I guess this was how Mary Slessor* felt when she succeeded in saving those bunch of twins babies that were sacrificed in the evil forest of Calabar, great work Ma'am.

On our way back, I felt wonderfully great about my latest ordeal and i compared my views of this era to the twentieth first century, there was little or no difference, people still suffered no matter the corner of the world or time.

As we were going through the market on our way home, i almost jumped out of her skin when I saw a hanged corpse.

Mother Reflexes chipped in and immediately i placed my hand over Min Soo’s eyes, I was hella sure that body’s host left days ago and on the body was a label.

“Thief” i read, Dong Yi saw it too and told me,

“My Lady, there was a rumour that a unknown spy infiltrated the palace and gave the layout of the palace to the enemies, the queens were almost assassinated a month before which led to the pervious war led by General Yi, though I only heard that an investigation was been made but I thought the spy has not been caught, until now. ” she finished with her eyes on the dangling corpse.

“But, how did they find him? How sure are they, that they caught the right one?” i sighed looking away as I could no longer the bear the sight of it and I walked on taking the little kid who wanted to see what i didn't want him to see, along.

With her hand still over his eyes with Dong Yi following behind, when I was sure that we had long passed that area i removed my hand and held his as we continued our tour.

We passed by a trader selling pretty little things Min Soo called 'a gift shop'.

He made me patronise the trader and I ended up buying gifts for my guard, my hand maid and my little companion plus an extra i got for buying seven gifts for Min Soo as a result of the puppy eyes moves he played on me.

That look has to be made illegal. It's pocket wrecking!!!

Min Soo agreed to being hungry so we decided to make a quick stop at the dream restaurant that Min Soo always wanted to go, what can I say? I guess I am a genie

A private room, a medium table filled with food either new or too exquisite dish for either of us. After eating to our fill and paying, home time was the next thing.

✴✴✴

Almost getting to my quarters, i spot the Queen with same women near the garden around a table still doing tea time.

I turned to walk away with Min Soo as one of the women laid eyes on Min Soo and shouted pacing our way with her hanbok in her hands.

“You, what are you doing here?” she pointed at him with surprise and clear disgust on her face. I turned to where the voice came from and looked at the questionnaire.

I could feel sharp pains in my hand, only to see Min Soo hiding behind me while squeezing the DNA out of my hand in fear then i looked back at the woman.

“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” she came closer to us and the women except the queen trailed behind her.

As she tried to step forward to me Young Pil beat her to it and i looked at Dong Yi who told me,

“My Lady, this is Prime Minister Nam Go’s wife Yi...” but before she could finish, the woman slapped her so hard that it made the queen turned away like she didn't care.

“You low servant, a measly maid like you dares to call my name?” she spat.

“Is this how you have become? Disrespecting me? Seems like you have forgotten your place, a little wench with no life acting like she matters and is useful to her owner. ” before she looked at me behind the veil with anger for not knowing who was behind it.

“Why are you with a veil or don’t you know how to respect elders?” she raised her voice at me but my eyes were on Dong Yi who held her face in pain and tears in her eyes.

I walked up to dong yi and held her hands away from her face as i caressed the hurt cheek as she raised her sad face to mine and i gave her a smile assuring her before i took both Dong Yi’s hands with Min Soo’s together and walked away from the women snickering and whispering into my quarters.

As I got inside, Dong Yi broke into tears with Min Soo; i was so confused and so hurt and i sat on the bed and set them both on my laps and cradled them.

“” was all I could say holding them in my arms. After bath and dinner, Dong yi and Min Soo retired to bed while I picked up the extra gift I bought at the market and walked to the garden to wait for the King.