When Peony Blooms #AMBW

Chapter 5: "Painted Masks and Hidden Desires"

The night was unusually calm as the moon bathed the palace grounds in a soft, ethereal glow. As the world outside slumbered, the Crown Prince for the first time in a while, silently made his way through the dark corridors, his steps careful and delicate, as he walked by the palace garden taking in the scenery he use to once gaze upon with his mother.

Meanwhile, in her chamber, Concubine Sora sat at her vanity, brushing her long, ebony hair with delicate strokes. The flickering candlelight cast a mesmerizing dance of shadows on her face, accentuating the mixture of determination and longing in her eyes.

A gentle knock on her door interrupted Sora's thoughts, and she turned her gaze toward the entrance.

"Your Grace, the Crown Prince wanted me to return this to you," the servant said, holding out a bowl with reverence. "He expressed his gratitude for your kind gesture."

She arched a single brow. " Now what is this?

" Is this not yours? The crown prince ate from it and says he received your note, expecting its return."

Sora paused for a moment, her eyes tracing

the bowl before her. It was truly unique; crafted of porcelain with a soft pastel blue hue and decorated with meticulous floral designs. Its rim was highlighted with thin gold lines and finished off with a polished golden lid that glimmered in the candlelight.

" Hm.. looks rather rare," she whispered to herself before looking up as if she had made a decision.

" Yes..yes it is," she lied easily, accepting the bowl and dismissing the servant. " Very well.." she added.

Afterward, Concubine So-ra rested on her sleeping mat, surrounded by the familiar smell of incense and a gentle summer breeze that filtered through the paper-paned windows. Her mood was somber, a bridge between light and darkness, as she struggled to reconcile the fact that the Crown Prince, whom she truly wanted to wed, was betrothed to a foreign princess - a woman she had never seen, let alone met.

She tapped the bowl she received, looking at its patterns and confused at whole it might've been from.

So-ra's reverie was interrupted when one of the servants she sent out returned to the room. She sat up, propping her body on her left arm, as she asked the servant a question: "Has he and the Crown princess met yet?"

The servant shook his head. "Not that we know of."

So-ra sighed and nodded her head in resignation. "You know if it wasn't for this foreign princess he and I may have already been wed." The servant bowed his head in acknowledgment, seemingly too aware of the delicate situation to comment.

So-ra looked around her room, taking in the sumptuous details of the walls. She felt a scruple of sadness, sighing one last time, So-ra laid back and closed her eyes, allowing the gentle summer breeze to lull her into a state of peace. As her thoughts slowly quieted, she was interrupted by the arrival of Consort Ji-yun.

So-ra sat up in surprise, not expecting anyone else to visit her at this time. "Consort Ji-yun," she said, bowing her head respectfully.

Ji-yun smiled gently. "Please, there's no need for such formalities between us. We are both in the same situation, after all."

So-ra nodded in agreement. It wasn't exactly true - both of them were concubines, but Ji-yun was content with being the king's lover, while Sora was vying for the attention of the Crown Prince, but So-ra couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards Ji-yun. After all, Ji-yun seemed to have the upper hand she was living her goal. Sora felt that the title of being the king's concubine soiled her.