"If you know the scent, you'll recognise who are among us..."
"So ,it's the scent I need to recognise...But, what scent? "
Knock! Knock!
"Your highness!"
Na-ri flutters her eyes open; her forehead damp and breathings heavy and unstable. Nothing has changed past few years. It's just as same as it happened back then. She sits up and finds herself on the bed. Her head hurts as if it'll explode. It's the hangover from last night. She drank too much. Something itching at the back of her throat irritates her more. A woman slides the curtains of the windows, to let the fresh air come in. Cold breeze touches her skin, the damp smell of greenery hits her nostrils. She feels like throwing up but holds back in.
"Your highness, I shall prepare a bath for you, " she smiles and bows.
The Princess nods. The feeling of vomiting out doesn't go away but returns again with a buzzing sound in her ears ; she covers her mouth and runs to the basin where she empties her stomach. What a sickening sight. The woman pats her back while she throws almost everything inside her, in the basin. After she's done, she sucks a deep breath in, rinsing her mouth and having some water to drink.
"It seems like you couldn't digest the alcohol, your highness." Two maidens chuckle secretively.
"Or is it what we are anticipating?!" The other maidens chuckles cheekily, elbowing one another. The Princess shoot a glare at their way resulting them to stop immediately, only for the fear of their life.
"It was your alcohol, cheap one if I say so myself. Huh!" Nari scoffs. It didn't please the maidens as they assume their signature poses- stiff with heads down, eyes fixated to the ground but, she could make that out--" These are loyal dogs of Daegu. They don't like a bad word against their nation. They take it as an insult to their own pride. " Seokjin said.
"Prepare me a fresh bath with milk and rose petals in it." Yes, that's what she needs right now.
The maidens look shocked as they pass a look amongst each other. Bewildered- if it must be put in certain sense. Nari frowns.
"What ? Did I demand for your both kidneys or hearts? Why are you all making such faces?" She starts to take her clothes off, piece by piece.
They drop on the floor and bow deep. "Your highness, I fear to break this to you but since our sailors have been looted by the 'pirates ' as they say , we have lost access to milk that was imported from far land and it's-... it's- ...it's really expensive. I don't think we have enough milk to even feed the Royalty. Your highness , please forgive me!"
Nari assumes an indifferent look and just lifts her brows upward. "I see. Daegu is going through so much. " It comes out rather sarcastically but the women dare not to even look at her. "Go get some petals at least ." She turns around and wears her bathing robe - a see through, white, soft fabric, that tightly hugs her body perfectly in such a way that her intimate body parts are hidden for even the maiden to see. The maidens prepare a lukewarm bath with refreshing essence of lavender, rose petals , and rich fragrant oils with the goodnesses. It didn't seem any less than the Royal bath been prepared for Nari back in her homeland but she doesn't show the excitement of how she didn't expect them to prepare a similar one for her, here, in Daegu.
The Princess feels more at ease now that she's in her right mind, she feels relaxed and energetic. She turns towards the court lady and asks as the curiosity kicks her bladder.
"Who are pirates? Do they loot often?" The court lady startles at her unexpected questions.
The court lady sighs.
"As per my knowledge, they are foreign sailors who loot in our trading routes, whether they're importers or exporters to this nation. " She feeds the Princess's curiosity.
"I've even heard that the officials are beating their heads together to find a solution for this. No one knows from where they come and to where they go. It's like they evaporate or something!" One of the young maidens slides into the conversation with enthusiasm, her voice pitched as the highest octave. The unbearable pitch voice irritates the Princess but she smiles instead. After all she's found a big mouth.
"So they come from the sea side? " "YES!" Again, she screams like a screeching wheel or a broken glass on the concrete floor or that of an old door. In short, the sound could be used as a weapon to torture the criminals while they are interrogated.
"Hmm... interesting..." the Princess twists the side of her lips and smiles endearingly and nods knowingly.
"Shush!! Keep your enthusiasm low, young lady!" The court lady side eyes while glaring at the young maiden. "Apologises for her sin, your highness." The lady apologises on behalf of the young girl for her misbehaviour.
"Don't. " Nari chuckles and waves her hand infront of her face dismissing the idea. "Her enthusiasm amuses me. Go on, keep speaking. At least it's a subject that distractes me from last day's occurrence and lets me relax for a while." She laughs again but in a little dramatic way. "To be honest, I like when my maidens gossip and tell me stories. Although, many are rumours and most of them I don't believe in. But it creates an atmosphere...a light hearted atmosphere." The Princess smiles cheekily. It amuses the maidens but the court lady. She's a hard one to impress, the Princess presumes.
"A lady shouldn't be interested in gossips, your highness, " the lady is courteous but her words are blunt." Gossips may become the reason of unnecessary conflicts."
"Correct! But I'm the Crown Prince's wife and soon to be the Queen of this Kingdom. I should have the knowledge of what's going around in the Palace to be able to relate to my subjects. Don't you think so, court lady? Hmm?" She believes in 'if not impressed then suppress ' policy. She smirks while anticipating an answer. She's ready for an argument, it'll be fun to break her. Nari did not come to Daegu to take lessons on mannerisms and etiquettes, she's learned a lot of that back in her maternal land ; that too from a middle aged court lady. She's had enough of the act of Royalty, not now, it's not time for that here in bathroom, she wants to relax not reflect on herself. But, she must play safe.
The Princess is a Royalty. She knows how to mingle and when to show the others their places. Of course, she has a higher position and will not hesitate to use it. But, since she's in a foreign land she must have allies than enemies. She has a lot of time to make some but, right now she needs acquaintances, who serves her. Even her court lady should be on her side. "Oh, I was being rude, wasn't I?" Nari covers her mouth faking the realization of her own mistake. "You are much elderly to me and just wanted to help me. Yet, me being dumb just lash out my anger and irritation on anyone and everyone including..." she takes a brief pause, her gaze settling down right before her bust, "...You. I should just keep my mouth shut. " The Princess hides her face in her palm like a stressed child do.
The court lady is thrown off guard as to no Royalty has ever talked to her nicely let alone being apologised. "Is she crying? For me?" - Are all the questions which run through her mind. "It's okay, your highness. Please don't be upset for such low-life like me. I understand it must be so pressurizing to come to a foreign nation and take the responsibilities as important as the role of a wife of our Crown Prince. " The court lady's features soften than usual, she reassures her . The Princess sniffs softly.
"He sure is a hard one but know that he has a warmer personality than he seems to have," the mid-aged smiles warmly. The Princess shuffles in the water and steps closer to where the court lady is standing. She grabs the tile and leans on it, hovering them, assuming a long face, distress all over her features.
"He might have a nice personality but it nonetheless becames hard when he already has a woman in his heart to warm his bed." The Princess breaks down. She's crying, not because she has to share her husband, it's pretty normal for a Royalty to have concubines but, she cries out because of her distress and maybe broken heart. She saw her brother injured badly, she saw 'that man' being dragged and whipped infront of herself the other day and many more. She's seen so much scarlet, she hates the colour, she hates the people who wear scarlet- the King of Daegu,she hates him too. She cries harder choking on her own tears.
The court lady and other maidens hurried reassures the Princess and tries their best to calm her down but little did they knew her. Little did they knew anything about her... how she cannot stop crying when she starts once and it takes her a while to assume herself as she shows up infront of people.
"Please, leave. Everyone. I'd like to spend some time alone. " She sniffs and tries to calm herself. She knows what is bothering her too much and what she needs to do. "And, please, *hiccups * prepare my attire and ornaments for the day. I'll go around the Palace. " The maidens bow and obey.
But before they leave the Princess reminds them something: to keep their mouth shut about her crying.
They bow quickly and leave her alone in the bathing room.