Sinners | Taeny

02: The lion's den

Chapter 2

The lion's den

---

Three years later

Taeyeon brought her hair up into a bun and reached for the only hairpin she has to put her hair together. She stared into the tiny bronze mirror and smiled sadly when she saw her mother standing behind her with teary eyes. She patted her shirt so that everything was straightened before she stood up and faced her distressed mother.

"Mother, I'm going to be okay. You don't have to worry, your wrinkles are showing." She tried to joke but her mother's expression was grim. Taeyeon exhaled shakily and took hold of her mother's hand. She pulled her mom to the lying figure on the wooden bed. Taeyeon knelt beside the bedside and took her father's hand into hers.

"Father, I'm going to leave very soon and let's all hope that I pass the inspection to enter the royal palace. And if so, when I get my first allowance as a servant, I will send them to you so that you will be able to buy your medicine." She softly informed her sick father who was holding back his tears.

"Please take care of yourself. The palace is never a safe place for anyone. Be careful who you mess with and don't get into any trouble please Taeyeon." Her father said and squeezed her hands. She felt her mother's palm resting on her back and she tried to stop herself from crying.

This year, she will turn 18, the proper age to enter the palace for a servant position. Her parents didn't want her to enter the dangerous confinements of the Joseon palace. However, when her father fell ill, it narrowed Taeyeon's choice to this. She knew very well of the dire consequences of entering the "lion's den". However, she didn't have much of a choice for such a poor family like hers.

Endless rumors passed from the grapevines painted a horrendous picture for the palace where both servants and concubines were driven insane to the point of committing suicides. Where jealousy and foul play run extremely strong.

After sharing a few more words with her parents and her siblings, Taeyeon made way to the daunting palace where the inspection will occur.

She wasn't nervous but when she neared the tall gates of the palace and the hundreds of girls entered her sight, she started feeling sick. Bile rose up her throat but she forced it down. She stopped at the end of a long line and waited with huge beads of sweat. She kept her eyes set on the ground and gradually, she went up the line.

Finally, she set her first step into the confinements of the huge palace and went for her first inspection. She didn't dare speak nor ask for any type of information. The soldiers guarding the place were intimidating and the ones conducting the whole event don't look friendly either. They barked out orders and handled the candidates with roughness.

After a few long hours, Taeyeon managed to pass all of the inspections, in which she had to strip so that her body can be made sure that it is void of any blemishes. Her face was inspected and she was also thoroughly tested for any type of diseases.

Things went passed in a blur and she had a hard time taking everything in. However, one thing was made clear in her brain by an old strict-looking woman at the end of the day. It was that she had passed the inspection and was required to enter the palace as fast as tomorrow morning before the sun rises so she can be introduced to the quarter that she is assigned to.

With the news, she was supposed to feel relieved but instead she was dying in remorse. It has become a reality, the fact that she was going to be entering the lion's den. A place where her freedom will be a thing of the past. With a heavy heart, she made way to her house and informed her parents of the news.