Crowned Prince | hendery

11: Pleas

The tea that the countess was serving her was a lot more fruity. It was unexpected how she was able to get her hands on these even if she lived in such a cold environment. The travel fees must have been pretty hefty for it to even reach this place. Other than that, the glass garden, filled with plants that thrive in a warmer climate sat as an additional wing to the fairly small dwelling place. This was probably another hefty sum that they had to pay for.

“I must say tea in a freezing temperature is all the more flavorful.” She smells the strong aroma of the tea, one that contrasts the near foul smell of frozen manure scattered around the northern part of the kingdom and of the continent.

“The queen does not spare a dime when it comes to me and my children.” She admits.

“I see,” she nods her head, “the queen is a generous leader.”

Guanxi smiles before sipping the tea that she had by her mouth.

“How has your life been, countess?” Taeha glances over at the crib placed inside the glass garden, with some housemaids attending both to the toddler and the baby.

“As a mother,” even Guanxi turns her head towards the two children, “it truly feels exhilarating. It is all I have ever wanted to become.”

Taeha has doubted it a number of times, women who actually want to have children. Maybe it was her inherent desire not to have children of her own that she couldn’t understand why some women make it a dead end goal to bear children. However, the smile on the countess' face hits her straight down with the evidence that she truly was happy to have children.

“My eldest son has entered a stage where it has qualming him has been such a difficult task.” She smiles to herself as she lifts the cup of tea to her lips once again. “It appears that when you have a child, time passes by all too quickly. It won’t be long until I see my younger son walk and run.”

Taeha nods her head.

Guanxi lifts her head to look at the princess after taking a sip out of her tea. “How have you been dealing with your move to Hwei?” She decides to change the subject.

“Ease would not be the best term to describe it, but it has not been all too gruesome on me either.” It was as if she could not explain the reason behind her lack of want to go back to Sui. Or maybe she did have her answer, and it was the expectation that Hendery had built up for his plans.

“That is pleasant to hear about,” Guanxi nods her head.

Then the two go quiet.

Maybe because in a group gossip they would think of various people to talk about and use it as a way to talk about themselves, however, the two who avoided talking about themselves the most were now sitting in front of each other. They know rumors that surround their names, of what is being said in the gatherings when they do not attend. They both know that their stories are the most popular topics, maybe that is why they’re sharing silence.

“I do not dwell on the past, countess.”

“You may call me Guanxi, your highness.”

Taeha nods her head. “I do not dwell, however,” she turns to look the countess in the eye as she understands that this was the talk which she has feared to share with the princess, “several letters that I have sent to you about your sudden marriage were never responded to.”

Indeed, Guanxi remembers it clearly. The two recount it so clearly, the days leading up to her marriage, the countless numbers of letters coming through from Sui. Taeha’s ignored pleas and cries are so clearly seen in the messed up letters that she sent to the then princess in hopes that she does not marry Illia.