Yieun awoke as the sun was high up in the sky. She was being punished for leaving breakfast early the other day by being made to take her meals in her room, alone. She knew by the brightness of the light streaming in that she had missed breakfast time. She’d have to go hungry again.
Lazily stirring, she called Cailin to help her wash up. Afterwards, she moved to her desk, placed in a corner of the room, and grinded out some ink.
“Should I help you, My Lady?”
“No, it's alright.” Yieun replied without turning back. Hearing her master’s reply, Cailin took off to complete her other chores. Picking up her brush and dipping it into the inkwell, Yieun fell deep in thought about her preparations. What would she need? A capable maid. Although Cailin was loyal, she was inexperienced and likely wouldn’t be able to help her once they went to the Prince’s palace. People she could rely on outside the palace. That reminded her about the loyal subordinates she had not contacted since her punishment. She should contact them, but she wouldn’t be allowed to leave the house until the day she left the capital. Sigh, she would have to send letters. Five in total.
“My Lady, I brought lunch.” Cailin walked in, just in time to see her mistress stretch her arms.
“Great. Can you give these letters to Huanshu?” Yieun handed a thick stack of letters to Cailin.
“Yes.”
Huanshu stood at the gate and yawned. He was diligently completing his duties as a guard of the Pshin household, although they were not the masters he served. Just as he was about to go for his lunch break with the other guards, he saw Cailin approaching from the corner of his eye.
“You guys go ahead, I’ll come soon.”
“Oh ho, meeting your lover again huh?” A round bellied guard rumbled.
“No, she’s not my lover.” Huanshu retorted before walking towards Cailin lest the other guards see what she was going to give him.
Seeing the young muscular man approach her and the other guards out of view, Cailin took out the stack of letters and handed it to him.
“My Lady’s letters. One for you and the rest for the store-owners. Can you deliver them?”
“Of course.” Huanshu smiled as he took the letters.
Not seeing his smile, Cailin bowed and hurried away. His smile fell as he looked at the stack of letters. This must mean that his mistress couldn’t even leave her room. Sighing, he got left through the doors, thinking about how he would get to the store-owners and back in two hours. Or maybe he didn’t have to come back?
Along with his thoughts, Huanshu started walking the long way to their homes.
Comments (0)
See all