When Peony Blooms #AMBW

Chapter 3: Navigating Court Intrigues

"In the dance of courtly shadows, intrigue becomes the art of survival, as whispered words and sidelong glances reveal hidden intentions."

" Crown princess..." Lady Song said, as she and the crown princess, Ayodele, took a leisurely stroll.  A few song birds flew by paying no mind to the sulking faces.

The afternoon was filled with just a hint of a breeze, mirroring the carefree nature that Ayodele was attempting to project.

" The work... I don't think there are enough servants to handle all that work." She added, " Maybe it is time to ask the King to demand them back."

Ayodele shook her head and simply said " They will eventually come back. They have no reason to trust me Lady Song... but eventually, they will, and I should allow them to do so."

" Sejabinmama."

Ayodele shook her head. " How do I look, being a foreign princess, using their king against them, to force servitude on them, for me? For now, I will show gratitude for the ones that stayed and help them with some of their chores."

" Oh, absolutely not! Sejabinmama you are royalty too, you should live as one." Lady Song said out loud almost like she was about to cry. Ayodele sighed and in reaching out to hold her hand she guided them to a pavilion, where cushions had already been prepared. She could tell that her treatment was getting to Lady Song.

Sitting down with her head leaned into the shoulder of the woman beside her, Ayodele sighed once again.

" When we first met, what did you think of me?" She asked Lady Song breaking the silence.

Lady Song's watery eyes from tears slowly began to hide as she broke into a soft smile.

" When you were eleven, right?" She asked.

She felt the gesture of the crown princess nodding onto her shoulder.

" That you were one of the most beautiful, smart, and stubborn young women I have ever met. You would finish your Korean lessons early just to run out without me watching and become a muddy mess from playing with the servant children, by the river."

"You have been watching me develop for seven years now and you have helped keep me safe," Ayodele said forcefully. "They don't know me, they don't know if I can protect them from any of the other powers in this realm as my position here could be taken away at any moment, just like yesterday. But Lady Song, I must believe that things will work out well for me."

"You should not have to become a servant at the palace to do that; you are educated enough to take up leadership roles in both your kingdom and his. You should be rewarded," Lady Song declared, looking toward Ayodele.

Ayodele smiled as she gently wiped away a few tears trickling down the woman's face.

"You are right, I am still royalty, and nothing will change that even though I am trying to make life simpler for everyone else here. That is my duty; you taught me that and I owe you an everlasting debt of gratitude," Ayodele said.

" You aren't changing your mind, are you?" The older woman asked, knowing the answer.

With a short nod, Ayodele replied in the affirmative, and Lady Song heaved a sigh of resignation. Both of them settled into a comfortable silence as they looked out across the peaceful river.

Suddenly, Ayodele spoke again, "Do you think the Crown Prince will ever meet me?" Ayodele asked after some time of silence. Lady Song nodded her head, a knowing smile touching her face.

"Is that even a question? Of course. You are the crown princess of two powerful kingdoms, he can't stay hidden forever." Lady Song said as she adjusted Ayodele's afro lovingly. "When he meets you, he will fall hopelessly in love with you."