7

Crown prince's POV

The maidens lined up along the wall and lowered their heads in front of so-yi.

Their eyes looked down in uncertainty, a bit disappointed on the matter that they had to bow down to one of their own fellow workers, I would assume so.

So-yi lifted her hands to start having them lift up their heads. Instantly I slammed my foot down and had her look my way.

" Don't justify their wrongdoings with a truce, accept their apology so that we can quickly begin preparations for tomorrow. It's your own lack of pride that caused this upon yourself, how dare you allow laziness in my chambers, I should be punishing you as well for condoning this disorder." I commanded.

So-yi looked up for a bit then pressed her lips down in order to receive the apology.

At that time Yi-ae entered the room, with her golden, hanbok embroidered with silk blue images of storks that were illustrated in pattern.

" What do we have here? They've only working for a short while yet already caused trouble?" She asked as she strolled over towards a seat and sat down as her servants followed.

" Shh." I ordered, as I then gestured with my hands for the maidens to hurry along.

As she observed she lifted her brows in disapproval I knew this due to her consistent gaze.

" why on earth are servants apologizing to a servant, you must get bored easily to have organized together such a performance. " she continued to speak.

So-yi looked in her direction then turned her face before their eyes met.

" I'm surprised it seems as if she hadn't started the trouble but she most defiantly probably led to it." Yi-ae began.

" If others hear your chattering they'd assume you were jealous of the poor creature." I responded.

I watched as So-Yi turned around and looked at me when I mentioned the word creature. She couldn't have possibly expected some warm gesture of neutrality just because I ordered this of the servants did she? I asked myself.

I shrugged my shoulders and pointed out directions with my pointer finger. " finish up here and move along. " I then commanded.

The scene had grown too awkward due to the uninvited guest.

Yi-ae followed me towards my room as she closed the door, So-yi I could hear hurried after her but was slightly shoved over by the use of her foot to lock her chances of entrance.

" Miss, are you okay?!?" I heard one of the officers call out and just like that I heard feet scurry away from behind the door.

" Did she do something to you? I'm curious." I asked the woman before me as she walked about my room.

" She gives me this feeling of rebelliousness those are the most annoying peasants, the ones that overtake positions they shouldn't by trying to influence those in power. I can feel her methods when ever I look at her. She makes me want to hurl by look of her face, her being, her complexion everything causes anger. " she listed on.

" Even so if you show her such kindness the others may assume she's in your favor be careful." She humorously advised.

I laughed before she did, at her attempt of such a horrid joke, therefore I took my walk towards my bed before addressing Yi-ae

" Well you're causing me to be uncomfortable, by the fact that you always come in here, as if we've married just because I've allowed you to kiss me doesn't mean I've allowed you into my world. " I corrected her as she walked closer towards me.

It seemed the words I said were not the ones she was looking for so in anger she walked away out the room disappointed at my choice of speech towards her.

After a long pause of silence, I called out for some entertainment. " officer Yung, bring in So-yi please. " from the closed doors he shouted " yes sir"  and then the voice disappeared.

It was returned with some chuckling and laughter, which eventually died down the closer they got to the door.

So-yi was slow to entrance, she quietly came in as her head was already bowed down.

" you were happy and joyous just second before you entered now you're looking distraught and weakened what's your reasoning?" I asked her.

" Sir, your grapes." A voice called out peaking from the door.

" taste it. " I spoke while I paid my attention towards So-yi.

The maiden did, and I glimpsed at her and she bowed and handed me my tray, as I accepted grapes being handed to me, I returned my attention to where it was prior.

The maiden bowed then exited the room.

" Now, So-yi—."

Before I could finish she spoke up at random, giving me a scare and a slight jump.

" I do not find it worth my life, or time to be under command and order of someone that refers to me as a creature but everyone else as a maiden as if I don't display human properties. I've held in my anger at times when you'd casually use me for your topic of entertainment in front of your officers, or other workers, I believe in my situation no matter the punishment you believe I should receive in this predicament of speaking so harshly towards you that I am deserving of some level of respect as do all your workers because without us you'd have to do things yourself. Your richness is an excuse for laziness and I for the matter will not accept such disrespect." So-yi ranted and rambled on.

I couldn't respond so quickly to her accusations but I could hear the footsteps that walked towards the door. At that instant, I transformed the topic of conversation.

" Very well, your acting seems more alive today but I request for you to work with another to get the wording correct, you sound a bit off." I added.

" Before So-yi could dispute my words with her attempt in saying. " I'm being ser—." The queen walked in.

She came in with officer Yung behind her, and So-yi quickly bowed. She scanned so-yi up and down then sighed as she looked at me.

" You're writing one of your plays again, I see for a short moment I had prepared myself to participate in an execution today, to hear such words from a maiden." The queen said walking to me and sitting beside me.

" you're dismissed we can do more practice later." I called out, and So-yi quickly did so.

The queen stared towards the door and shook her head disapprovingly. " That thing of a human has a spirit of a leech, don't feel so sorry for her sad life that you give her an idea that you share any feelings for her beyond one of power. People like her with mothing, get hopeful once they get that attention." She said.

" Did Yi-ae..." I began to ask.

" there is no matter in who brought it to my attention just that you're aware that I will also be on the right side of things, especially if you do wrong." My mother spoke. She gave me a kiss on the head and then disappeared out the door.

—•—•—•—• Author's point of view •—•—•—•—

Ai walked about the palace, as she kept her head held up, while she passed the queen.

In her pride she often did so.

" On the way to see my husband again?" The queen asked while she was further down the hall.

Ai looked towards the queen for only a moment then turned around to continue to walk. The area that surrounded them was a simple one, it was presented with the Golden decor of a kingdom but was calming compared to the other halls, this was what marked the difference from the King's hall from all the others, and it did so beautifully in describing his mannerism.

" Don't be so hostile towards me queen, I was invited, not intruding," Ai answered knowing well the affect of her words to the queen before she began to walk away.

Upon entrance to the king's room, she knocked twice, then the officer allowed her entrance. The mysterious king sat upon his throne, made of simple gold and the design of infinite rubies aligned as an outline to his throne.

besides him on the ground sat Kyung, the young man of handsome features as well as genuine love that caused all the women he encountered a love they hadn't foreseen.

" Your hair is getting gray." Ai said as she stood before the king. The king gave a small smile of amusement as he waved Ai over towards him.

" Just request it and I'll make sure it goes back to looking as tree sap golden as it once did when you were younger." Ai lectured on.

The king gave a soft laugh, before diving the mood into a soft moment of silence, due to the balanced feeling of the air.

On occasion Ai would stare at the young man beside the king, and look away as their eyes would lock. Eventually the king nodded his head.

Kyung stood up and walked towards Ai, as he suddenly wrapped his hands around her. She closed her eyes for a moment as she held her breath but she only began to tear up and cry.

Her lips quivered, as she let go of the boy then

Pushed him out to look at him again. Her hands cupped his face as she dusted him off before hugging him again. " you've been eating well?" She asked him.

He nodded his head. " you've been listening well, staying out of trouble?" She asked.

Kyung laughed and nodded his head; " if anyone would walk in it'd be obvious you were my mother... Mother, your questions are too heart warming." The young man said.

Ai chuckled as she smiled through her tears and brought him close into a hug once more.

" only behind closed doors am I allowed to hug you and hold you so close, I have to make right of my time." Ai rebutted.

" The second you're able to, you're coming with me, okay? The minute you're able to you're coming with me, you know I never forgot about you right?" Ai asked her son.

Kyung nodded his head and smiled. " I wouldn't allow my eldest son to suffer, you just keep your promise of being near me at this time and I will make sure to keep you near him." The king spoke.

Ai nodded her head and sighed. " Ai I'm sorry I couldn't promise you marriage." The king said at random.

Ai waved her hands away at his words of absurdity and chuckled. " no mistress in their right mind envisions a marriage with the king, I am just glad you found us when you did."

" As wholesome this interaction is the attention shifted from me, into your romance as much as I adore you both plenty I have no desire of being reminded that I'm a bastard in this palace." Kyung spoke.

Ai nodded her head and later towards the king as if it was by his fault alone the conversation continued.

" No matter what they call you, you're not a bastard, stay strong a bit longer and we can leave together. " Ai instructed.

The young man just nodded his head with a smile.

Ai stared at the young man once more before giving his a kiss on the cheek and letting him be.

" Do I get one too?" The king asked. Ai stared at him then walked away.

As her heard the voice of her son laughing at his father behind her. She placed her hands over her mouth forcing the sound of tears to remain suffocated.

She thought back in the first time she was called to the palace her hands blistered as she held onto Nia. She handed her to Alba after finding them a place to hide.

The king was alone in the palace that weekend as the queen took a trip to visit her older brother.

The king invited her into the same chamber room, as Ai kept her distance. She was dressed and bathed in the smell of smoke and disgraced sadness. On the floor an older child was playing with a ball. He looked about the age of ten years, he was sitting beside some books reluctant to look up.

The moment she set her eyes upon him she held her breath, she wanted to run towards him but she was unable to, she wanted to hold him though he was unaware of who she was. The young child looked saddens and alone.

" you recognize him don't you? Wouldn't it be a blessing to live along side him? I know you remember him." Ai suffocated herself as she shook her head and backed away from the palace. Only to return three years later.