Vivian

As the maids led me to the - hopefully luxury - apartment I was given. I stopped and took a cursory gaze at it and its surrounding and I was drenched with disappointment to feet when 'what I got was totally different from what I thought'. It was a small hut, or to say a cabin that I saw.

Where's all the luxury, your grace, yada yada at? Was this all he could offer, a pen looking like a poultry? Hmmph! So much for a royal guest.

I smiled at the maids as they turned bidding me to enter, which I did as they followed behind me and stood at the door to slide it open for me to enter. But what you see ain't always what you get! This room's spaciousness was definitely not what I saw on the outside, this was on a whole different level.

As I walked in, the black ink painting on white paper that stood spread behind the table was the first thing that caught my eyes. It was a detailed painting of three mountains with streams that ran from the top of the widest mountain in the right to the other lower than it by the middle and a water fall on the highest mountain that ran directly to the ground. The widest mountain was depicted like it was the mother of the other two, which was wonderful.

I looked at the luxury furnishings, the golden curtains that separated the sitting room from the bedroom on the right. A mini library by the left side of the painting opposite the bedroom. “It seemed so tiny from the outside though.” I shrugged as I went and stood over the bed to feel the softness of the sheets; as I laid on it feeling the smoothness of the sheets, slowly I could feel my exhausted self lose consciousness with the world around me.

I couldn’t tell how long I slept but I knew it was for a long time because the day was already dark and dim lights had been stationed at some specific places that I could see standing up through my window pane over the bed. I stood up deciding to continue from where I’d stopped.

I noticed the room had another door that didn't look like one and I decided to check it out. I slide it open and found a small veranda to a pathway that I followed with my eyes, and was led to a garden. The beauty of this garden called to me and I couldn’t resist it especially the way the lights stationed in it shone into the yard.

So, I stepped outside closing the door to go into the garden. The particular place that made me comfortable was under the white plum tree and the bench underneath; somehow, it gave me the feeling of being back in the Seoul.

Now talking about Seoul, I tried to figure out anything I could remember up to the light that shone from the jewel but nothing else. What could have happened? How did I get here? These questions continued to swirl in my head and I was hoping to ask someone but, who?

I just sat there contemplating, without even seeing the figure that was walking up to me, startling the civilization out of me. “Whoa!” l flinched, startling that person and almost falling off the garden bench but, the person quickly caught my hands in the air saving me from 'humpty dumpty had a great fall'.

I breathed out as the person pulled me back on the bench and got closer to me before speaking “I apologize for scaring you, Your Grace.” as the person’s voice got to me, I turned to view the speaker. A petite young girl I presumed to be fifteen bowed to me. Thankful for the company, I took her hand smiling and motioned for her to sit, which obviously surprised her yet, she sat down slowly next to me.

“What’s your name?” I asked, “Dong Yi - Choi Dong Yi - Your Grace.” she answered. “How old are you?”, “Sixteen, Your Grace”, “Where is this place?” I asked pointing at the ground, “The royal garden inside the palace, Your Grace” she answered respectfully. “Yeah, but where is this place, this country?” making large circles with my hands, why do I feel like someone is controlling my senses?

“Country...? Ah! You mean nation?” mimicking my gestures, “Yes nation, yes where is it?” grateful for her understanding. “This is Gyung-buk-gong of Joseon, Your Grace”, “Wait, What, Joseon, How, when, why?” I thought standing up from the bench.

Well, that explains alot, the swords, wooden bars, and all I have seen today. Of course, I knew the answers but I couldn’t believe it that I’d time travelled back to hundreds of years of history, faraway from everyone and everything I knew.

I looked at the girl and asked her repeatedly but Dong Yi gave me the same response each time, “Joseon.”. “What’s the name of your King?” I asked, “His Majesty is King Seon Jo,” she answered. “What year is it?” I asked again, “1571, Your Grace,” she answered patiently. “Anything else you want to know, Your Grace?” she inquired, “No, that’s all” I said weakly. “Then I suggest we get inside, Your Grace. Your food is on the table. A warm bath and your bed are ready too,” Dong Yi continued as we walked to the hut.

As I listened to the young child, I saw a familiar face walked by and I stopped to get a proper view of the person, who turned out to be the General Yin.

“Dong yi, who is he?” I asked nodding my head to his direction, “That is the King’s General, Yin Sun Shin...,” she answered telling me everything about him on our way inside the house.

When we got inside, she led me to the table and began to uncover the dishes on the table and I sat too interested in the colourful table. After eating and getting satisfied, I got a warm bath and a new silk robe meant to be a nightgown, which ended up looking more like mourning clothes but what it lacked in appearance, it made up in texture. It's smoothness against my skin encouraged my sleep like a baby.

The following morning

“…ur Grace! Your Grace!” Dong Yi voice called, “Its morning already, I’m here to prepare you for the day, the King requests the presence of Your Grace in court today” excitement filled the voice. “The Court? Why would he do that?

I stood up and walked to the door to open it. Dong yi was in front of me with clothes neatly folded and behind her are were others and they all bowed to ma at the same time. The one on the right carried a pair of shoe on a pillow and the one on the left, a brown wooden box. While allowing them in, I noticed the other girls were all eyes on me; remember what I said about staring?

I pointed at them too tired and sleepy to say a word. “Good morning Your Grace, this is Shin Ah and Sun Ae, they’ll be assisting me to bring items for you, here or anywhere.” Dong Yi answered as I smiled and waved at the girls, which didn’t help because they didn't stop staring even as they left the room.

“Some things just never change” I recalled when I noticed the girls standing by the door to stare before walking out. “Your Grace, your bath is ready,” Dong Yi said to me, “Ok…” I acknowledged and walked to where the basin was after I already confused the girl with my last word.

“Ok…?" She looked at me confused like a little kid and I realized I just spoke a foreign word to a native child. “Hmm... I meant, all right. ” I smiled and returned to walking into the bathroom I didn't know that cabin had - seriously what's the inspiration behind the design? - as she prepared my clothes in sequence. “Your Grace, do you need help?” she asked standing behind the door of the washroom.

"Yeah, I do.” I answered with strain in my voice caused by me trying to reach my back and as a result, she immediately rushed in before I finished my words, which got me smiling at the diligent girl and her enthusiasm.

“Come help me scrub my back.” I handed her the towel I improvised for a sponge, as I couldn’t find any towel or sponge. “Scrub? We only scrub floors, Your Grace. ” she collected it with a smile despite the confusion making me paused for a minute to look for the right word to say.

"What about, help me wash my back.” I correctly asked before I sighed with relief at my intelligence but she was already done. After I was dressed and dolled up with ribbons and hairpins from unknown sources that I couldn’t say no to, hanging on my - Dong Yi pony-fied hair, I began to feel heavy laden and disappointed that no mirror was present so I could see what was weighing me down.

She led me outside where we walked past sheds and cabins, in smaller and lager sizes until we stopped in front of a familiar place I immediately recognized. The throne room doors stood closed in front of me with eunuchs standing in front of it all dressed in black robes with embroidered image on it.

“Your Majesty, the Royal guest awaits entrance.” the eunuch on the right announced my presence and the doors were opened for me immediately and I entered the room amidst the stares with courage. I believed I had gotten used to the staring or so I thought, until I saw a minister’s eyes and mouth open, which wasn't a good sight for me.

But I just smiled and continued as if no man was there, until I saw General Yin and stabbed him with the daggers in my eyes making him shudder under my gaze before I turned and walked straight to stand before their King.

This is exciting, it was just as if I was in a movie. Witnessing all thus first hand, I can't wait to explore this whole town like a it's no man's business.

King Seon Jo got up from his throne to where I was and lifted my face with his fingers. My eyes steadily rose to his face and stared unwavering at those deep brown orbs that could drown an elephant.

it reminded me of warm chocolate. Damn, I miss my cup of warm chocolate that always melt my worries away especially when made with milk, shoot! That serene feeling of home, I miss it.

However, what I did not realize I just missed were the words the King had just said. My eyes blinked more than twice when I realized I did nothing but stared into his eyes as I thought away. I looked away to hide the awkwardness in them, but he caught my face, smiled at me and held my hands “I asked if you would grace us with your presence in the rain ritual today, maybe the heavens will listen to our prayers, if they see you with us.” I was about to disagree cause I wasn't going to stand in front of a whole nation that was gonna stare me down to the next life.

No, I wasn't going anywhere, but when he widened his smile and those dimples called my name, hell To the no! Why would he look at me like that? Were Kings allowed to do that flirty puppy look in public? I nod in approval and his smile grew wider revealing his Colgate model set of teeth, and I could feel my heart on a race with Usain Bolt left 100metres behind.

The room suddenly becomes hot from the heat from my cheeks, but you know what they say? BLACKS DO NOT BLUSH.

The time for the rain rites arrived and although I have seen these rites in movies, I was eaten up by excitement to witness it live. While waiting for Dong Yi to show up since she told me that the dresses worn were different from normal clothes I did a little squats, it wouldn't hurt have my behind looking gracious now would it?

After waiting for a while, she entered with my attires along with something I had specifically asked for. She dressed me up quickly, we exited the room with her taking me to join in the ride to the venue of the ceremony.

As we rode, I discreetly asked her to tell me everything she knew about the rites and every detail I got, made me wonder if she was a sage or something. “Your Grace, There have been no rainfall for a year now and the farmers are complaining that the crops are not growing well. The citizens are blaming the King for angering the heaven, so this rite was arranged so that the heavens will be appeased and they’ll forgive His Majesty’s sins and let down the rain." Dong yi explained, but I asked, “Who’s leading the rites and when did it begin and how many days will it hold?”.

“It’s his Majesty, Your Grace and the high priestess has leading the ritual, but she said that the heavens wants their son’s pleas not her's”, “So the King is to do it himself until the heavens are appeased?”, “Yes, Your Grace”.

“But, how do you know ‘THEY’ are appeased?”, “The rain Your Grace, the rain would fall.” Dong yi smiled, making me feel dumb for asking. When we arrived, everyone was waiting for the King to alight first before uniformly moving out to where the others already were.

I asked Dong Yi to take me away from the crowd where I could see all that was happening but she declined saying that the Royal order had stated already where I was supposed to stay. As I settled down, I searched the crowd looking for the King but before I could look far, through the transparent veil I used in covering my face, I caught him staring at me, with a smile that he didn't know did more harm than good.

As I couldn’t help the weight of the eyes on me, I smiled back at him knowing he was verifying my position. Every person stood around an altar where some items were positioned orderly and though I couldn’t see these items properly because I stood far away from the altar where the King and a woman I considered as the priestess stood and the ceremony in general. With everyone was dressed in white, either to signify the rain, purity, or maybe the heavens, I caught the King staring again, thinking that he would take a quick look this time, I looked on but he ogled longer before looking back to the altar. Thank God, I had this veil on.

As they begun the ceremony, I watched with curiosity as the King bowed, stood up repeatedly while the woman Chanted a mantra loudly like she was in labour as she shook a noisy instrument that looked like a Maraca and this went on for hours like, don't they get tired?

It was evening now and surely, we had left the palace in the morning. The sun had set but the sky still gave its light so I guessed it was about 4:00pm now but the ceremony looked like it was far from ending.

I tapped Dong yi, who was seriously engrossed into the ceremony, “Your Grace?” she smiled at me. “When will this be over?” impatience laced my words. “When the rain falls, Your Grace.” She answered sounding like a lady in waiting. “And when will that be?” not being to ignore the hunger pangs, “That will be when the heaven are appeased, Your Grace?” “The way I see it, I don’t think the heaven will be.” I said seeing the general walking to the gate.

“Why do you say so? Your Grace” she swiftly turned her attention to me looking surprised and scared which made me realize my mistake and I began to think of an immediate solution.

“hmmm, where I come from, we don’t do this, we observe the weather conditions instead." I said with my eyes to the altar away from us and away from her curious eyes. “You watch the weather? How do you do it?” I knew that she wasn't interested in the rites anymore with the way she looked at me. “What month is this?” I asked as if I knew what to say next. “It’s the first month after the new year celebration, Your Grace.” she answered almost immediately.

“January? But it is august in Seoul. Oh yeah, the New Year celebration could fall under any month...” I whispered, “Seoul? Where is.... Seoul?" She uttered the words as if it were sugar. “That is where I came from. Dong yi, could I tell you a secret?” I gestured for her to come closer. “Yes, Your Grace.” coming closer with her ears to my side in eagerness.