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, my lady" she answered as she smiled like a '' model,

"Why are you so happy?" facing her with my hand akimbo.

"Nothing my lady" she answered absent mindedly,

"Really ...?! " now I'm curious more than before,

" Why are you so happy?" this time i asked standing closer to Dong Yi

when the young girl hesitated, i offered her to sit opposite me which Dong Yi slowly accepts,

"You can tell me anything, I'll listen" i smiled at her,

"Today, His Majesty spoke to me, my lady. No one in my whole family for generations has ever come that close or 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 sat on the bed,

"My old mistress is a 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 my Lady came and the head maid appointed me to my Lady" she said founding with her fingers,

"What was your old mistress like?" I asked holding the trembling fingers.

"She is of royal linage, the previous king was her in-law, she has everything but she isn't an open person like my Lady..." she raised her eyes to my face.

"Like me?" I looked surprise.

"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 jacket 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.

Who exactly was the bitch on rampage???

I couldn't help it; my eyes filled with tears as i caressed the scars and slowly hugged the young child,

"Dong Yi, never will you face such anymore I'll make sure of it, anyone threatens your peace, lemme know and I'll take care of it, you hear?!" 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 Dong Yi's prayers to end her sufferings as she hugged me 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 the his attention which made me ogle this 'hanbok' with pride.

These feelings i knew 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 too.

All i cared about is 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, the door was closed and she helps me lift my hanbok so i can step down safely.

As i follows her to where the banquet is holding, i spot 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 connects our ways, he stopped to acknowledge me,

"Your grace" he bowed briefly to me and i looked at him and remembered how he had me in chains like a psycho but i just nod to him, look forward and continued to walk along side him,

"I hope your grace has forgiven me for our poor first meet?" i nod again and he continued

"It was really wrong of me and I deserve any punishment your grace deemed me worthy of. " Sincerity crowns his voice which surprises me, he is really sorry so i decided to let it go for the fact that she would run into this man frequently.

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 bow in return.

As he showed the way to the banquet to i and Dong Yi, i went first before he followed.

Getting to the table, i spot the King and saw him next to a young lady dressed in royal regalia and quickly acknowledged her as the Queen, his Queen.

"That's right; their kings were always crowned with a queen. He's married, how could I forget that? Disappointment quickly found me ask looked at how they smiled and laughed happily together at the performing masked dancers but i did her best to remind myself that i didn't care.

I was shown my sitting place, right hand to the King and next to 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.

After the masked dancers left the stage, 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 rain, heavens sent and... the coming crown prince" he finished his sentence with that look that made my heart drop.

I had to painfully admit that this man was out of bound as I found myself comparing now to modern years thinking, 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 heart breaks.

As soon as the announcement about the crown prince was made, the ministers chorus congratulations to The throne, lifting their cups in cheers and celebration, but i could still notice some wearing a 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 cause, 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 regretted that decision as my eyes fell on the Queen and i think General Yi noticed because,

"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.

like it wasn't enough blow on the chest, 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 but 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 or maybe... I should just shut up" he said looking defeated, which alone reminded me of the soaked pet mouse in Home alone III; I definitely didn't see this one coming.

Remembering my laugh was always a center of attention, i giggled trying not to attract stares, but not until the General had to just look like a hypnotised kitten more like a drunk puppy in this case.

I couldn't hold it any longer, i 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 at the moment and anyone who'd see us would think we've had a long term friendship.

With the party getting to the middle, the Queen received permission to retire first so i saw an opportunity to leave since my interest in the ceremony was murdered 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 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 traditions that are lame and ignorant by the way, war and people in the royal house that i couldn't care less about.

"Please shut up" i groaned internally but smiled like I was enjoying it. Looking at his face, I was convinced he was not stopping anytime soon.

I stopped listening immediately the King crept into my thoughts. He's married with a daughter also a son on the way, what was i thinking?? But how would I know?

she wish that he's wasn't, what am I saying? ......

My thoughts were interrupted when General Yi said 'good night' and bowed slightly, not without smiling infectiously before disappearing into the night and i watched before turning to Dong Yi who already was waiting for me at the door.

After i took the last of my clothes off and entered into the giant bath basin filled with warm water and sprinkled with flower petals enjoying the fragrance and the warmth.

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 walk towards the lying figure on the ground and turn it around, it is a familiar face with blood pouring from her mouth.

"Please tell little brother Noona is sorry"

"Wait!" i scream as the body vanishes into oblivion.

I'm scared and i begin to run with no idea where I'm heading to because I'm feeling anywhere is safer compare to where I'm heading from but i didn't pay attention to the incoming truck on a very high speed on my left, before I can register its presence...

"CRASH!!!!"...

I open my eyes to see Dong Yi before me with worry and fear visible on her face,

"My Lady, are you alright?" Relived it is just a dream; i smile 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 advises when the cold water stings my bones after realising i fell asleep in the bath.

Getting up and i wrapped my body with the hanging robe next to me and leave to avoid getting cold.

Depending on the number of times I have been rolling on the bed for hours, I definitely qualify to be an egg roll.

when i realized no sleep for me tonight, i stood up and walked to the garden and i spot a familiar face.