𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀. . . nishimura riki ✔

𝟬𝟭𝟯; a good deed

PEOPLE WATCHED AS THE CARRIAGE GOT PULLED FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE CASTLE AND DEEPER INTO THE SLUMS OF THE CITY OF FIRESTONE. Stone streets had turned to hardened mud, the tall and proud houses had now turned to huts made from clay and a makeshift roof of hay. A foul stench of dead and waste reeked throughout the Rat's Den and children played with old rags tied into balls. They looked happy enough, their naive minds stopping them from realising how awful their world was.

Ever since the Good Queen Mei Li died, Jieun's visits to the Rat's Den became more frequent. She knew the place well now. Separating the Rat's Den from the rest of the city was the Road of Red, a road where many pleasure houses were. Men would often travel there and Jieun had heard terrible stories about sickness travelling between those who wished to engage in sinful activities. She often cast her eyes to the floor of the carriage when they rode through the Road of Red. She knew women with barely any clothes would walk the streets, hair tangled in a mess, and legs wobbly from the abuse people put them through. No, even women went to enjoy the Road of Red, just like men. Mean people came in all forms.

Jieun never visited the Rat's Den because she wished for the people to adore her. No, she did it in the name of her brother. Every donation she had done to the orphanages, everything that had been done for the people in the city was in the name of her brother. When he was to be king, he would need a strong claim to the throne.

Or perhaps because of her own pleasure. Because of the fact that when he did ascend the throne and the people cheered for him, it was because she had put him there.

Behind her carriage, two guards were carrying sacks of toys that they had picked up from the toy-maker.

Looking through the glass-less window of the carriage, she saw the faces of the people. Ragged clothes, dirty and ripped hung to their skeletal bodies.

'Stop here,' she said as the carriage came to a halt by her word.

Silently, Jay opened the door, putting a hand out for her to take. A thankful smile made its way to Jieun's lips as she took hold of his hand, her other, gripping hold of her dress so as to not trip over it. She looked severely out of place in her gowns made from the finest fabric.

Wet dirty water seeped into the hem of her dress, yet Jieun paid no attention to it. This was the lives of many, and just like her, they were human.

'Let us head to the orphanage. . .' Jieun said. 'I assume the owner got my raven?'

'She did,' Jay answered with a nod, walking beside her. Jake walked on the other side, and Sunghoon was walking behind her, covering her back from any danger.

'It reeks here. . .' Jake admitted under a cough.

With Jieun, he could be less professional.

The two were more friends than the classic guard-princess relationship.

He was only met with silence as Jieun turned her head to look at him, silently letting him know that his comment had not amused her.

'Forgive me,' Jake quickly uttered, bowing his head in shame. 'That was beneath me.'

'They are people just like us,' Jieun reminded him. 'We shall treat them as such. The gods have eyes, and they shun those who do not practise a modesty of respect.'

The orphanage was not far from where they had stopped. A house made of oak wood, clinging together by dried mud. If Jieun did not know better, she would have feared that the house would collapse on top of the children at any moment.

But she knew better, and she knew it was a miracle it had not collapsed already.

Jay stepped forward, knocking on the door twice in a firm manner. Jieun had been there many times prior. As a child, she would visit with her mother. All to show the people that the nobility did care about them, not just their free labour and their money. Slowly, the door peeled open, a sound that made Jieun slightly cringe. On the other side of the door was an elderly woman, crow's feet at the side of her eyes, a gentle smile gracing her old features. She had been smiling a lot throughout her days, Jieun could tell.

'Princess Jieun!' She gasped. 'It is always a pleasure to host you.'

'It is a pleasure to be here,' Jieun replied, a forced smile on her lips. 'Crown Prince Jungwon has sent some toys. . . I wanted to come along to make sure myself they got delivered.'

'My dearest girl,' the middle-aged woman said with a knowing smile. 'You needn't toil in service to men.' You do not need to donate in the name of your brother.

'Oh, but I do,' Jieun responded, heaving in a small sigh. 'The world has its order, I adapt to that order.'

'You have done so much work for us, we will forever be in your debt.' The woman placed a hand over her heart, giving Jieun a small nod of acknowledgment, as if she understood that Jieun was behind it all, not Jungwon, despite Jieun saying it was all from Jungwon.

'My brother needs support. His claim may not be weak but Jiho he. . . he was a strong heir and Jungwon has yet to━' Jieun cut herself, realising that the things she was about to say could end up with dire consequence. She might have been the princess of the realm, but even she could suffer consequences if she spoke ill of the heir.

'I understand, Princess.'

'You may not be able to bathe in golden coins. . . but you do have the freedom to choose your own path in life. Do not let anyone take that away from you,' Jieun told her, lips curling into the smallest of smiles. Turning her head over her shoulder, Jieun gave the guards a nod, one that let them know they should distribute the toys to the children.

With a gentle smile caressing her lips, she watched as the children were given their toys, screaming in happiness. A warmth bloomed inside her chest, knowing she had done something good. But her smile fell just as quickly when she realised that the realm would thank Jungwon for her deeds.

Not her.

Never her.