Friendly Relations

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The king's interpreter greeted us and brought us to the queen. It was so awkward sitting quietly and waiting for her to speak. What would we talk about? Would she approve of us? The interpreter stayed by her side but almost became part of the room. He was excellent at his job. I was in awe of the queen's intricate hairstyle. Her dress was elaborate. She was calm. Reserved.

"Thank you for coming. It is rare for me to get to meet the wives of ambassadors. Most wives stay back in their native land."

"We are deeply honored to have been invited, Your Majesty," my mother replied.

"And I am especially surprised to see a daughter. I shall look forward to being your guide in the ways of our people."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I replied.

"You will find that my daughter is quite a fast learner. She is obedient and works hard in her lessons."

Mother was right--almost. I planned on changing "is obedient" to "was obedient" as soon as I could.

The queen asked about the meaning of my name. Apparently, the meaning of names was quite important in their culture. When my mother explained it meant "flower", the queen replied that it was a fitting name. She then said that she wished to talk with my mother in private. She invited me to tour her garden. I obliged, and the interpreter asked one of the ladies accompanying her to escort me to the garden and bring me back when my mother and the queen were done talking.

The bright sun beat down on my face, forcing me to squint. I promptly opened my parasol to protect my skin and provide some relief for my eyes. The glorious sights, sounds, and smells filled my senses as I slowly made my way along the garden path. My curiosity was piqued when I saw what looked like a bridge off in the distance. I casually worked my way toward it and as I got closer I realized there was a beautiful stream that was lined by trees and wildflowers. The sound of my footsteps on the wooden bridge brought a warm feeling to me. It was quaint. Peaceful. Nothing like the crazy port we had worked our way through on our first day. Nothing like the elaborate, ornate palace. Nothing like the cold, hard city I had grown up in that was lined with brick and stone or the perfectly manicured parks I had visited as a child. I had never seen anything so beautiful.

I closed my eyes and listened to the songs of the birds and the rustle of the leaves through the light breeze. My imagination led me to believe that this must be what heaven looked like. As I listened to the sounds, I suddenly heard the sloshing of water. My eyes immediately popped open in search of the source. Was it a large fish? Or something wilder--more dangerous? It was a wild and dangerous animal. The wildest I had ever seen.

"Oh!" I blurted out in shock, immediately turning around. It was Crown Prince Namjoon. He was shirtless--perhaps fully naked--and was standing in the water, only his lower half hidden from my view. While I had turned around quickly, I could not erase the image from my mind. Water dripped down his tan skin, finding its path back into the stream by traveling down through the crevices his muscles formed on his well-defined chest and abdomen. Holy mother! I felt a tingling down below. My heart thumped in my chest. I wanted nothing more than to touch his wet skin. To feel it pressed against me.

Then I heard a voice. "I am sorry. I did not see you on the bridge. I thought I was alone. Give me a minute to put my clothes back on."

I was stunned. He spoke English. I listened to the sound of him exiting the water.

"You-you speak English, Your Highness!" I commented, keeping my eyes closed and back turned to him.

"My father insisted I learn other languages in order to prepare for my future role as king. He told me he dislikes having to rely on someone else to do his talking for him when it comes to foreign matters. He has trust issues, you see."

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