As the crown prince and Ayodele bid each other their goodbyes, they made their way back to their quarters Ayodele was still on Seo-jin's back. The night air was cold and breezy, and the stars shone brightly above them. Despite having had too much to drink, Ayodele could still feel a sense of contentment wash over her; " I can walk now." she said getting off him back.Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end. When they arrived at the palace gates, Ayodele saw two familiar figures waiting by the entrance. Afi and Lady Song were both staring disapprovingly in their direction; it was clear that they had both smelt the alcohol on her breath.
Seo-jin quickly stepped forward in an attempt to calm the situation. He bowed deeply before them then spoke in a gentle yet authoritative voice; "Ladies, Please forgive us for our tardiness - we only meant to enjoy ourselves this evening."
Afi responded warily but with a hint of understanding as she walked closer to them.
" We can take her from here." Lady Song said. " Thank you," Afi said afterward as Ayodele waved goodbye to Seo-jin.
As they walked back to the palace, Lady Song and Afi exchanged glances of concern. Finally, Lady Song spoke up, her voice low and stern. "Sejabinmama! Are you... Did you drink that much?" Afi asked, her voice filled with concern. Lady Song gestured for her to lower her voice as they led Ayodele back into bed.
Ayodele's cheeks flamed warm in embarrassment, and she quickly looked away from the two women. She tried to explain away her behavior, but Lady Song didn't buy it. With a heavy sigh, she gestured for them to keep walking.
Once they arrived at Ayodele's chambers, Afi and Lady Song helped her inside and onto her bed. The crown princess drunkenly grabbed onto only the two women as the alcohol settled even more.
Ayodele groaned, pulling the blanket over herself in an attempt to hide away from everyone's gaze and judgmental looks. "Shh, Afi," she muttered quietly. "Let me at least toast my freedom away... let me do.... at least that."
"You have a ceremony tomorrow," Lady Song reminded her sternly but kindly.
"None of this matters... I'm not the crown prince's type anyways." Ayodele closed her eyes, allowing the alcohol-induced haze to take over again as sleep took hold of her body.
Afi and Lady Song looked at each other with concern, then quickly set about the task of preparing for the morning's ceremony. As the night progressed, they helped pack her things and made sure that Ayodele was comfortable and well hidden away from view.
The morning sun crept into the room, its rays casting a warm glow on Ayodele's face. She groaned as she slowly opened her eyes, the throbbing in her head reminding her of last night's drunken escapade. Afi was already up and about, preparing for the upcoming ceremony.
Ayodele rubbed her temples, trying to clear the cloudiness in her mind.
She sat up on the bed, her eyes still adjusting to the light, and grabbed a glass of water from the table next to her bed. She took a sip and immediately regretted it as her stomach churned in protest. Ayodele groaned and dropped her head into her hands, trying to will away the headache.
Just then, Lady Song entered the room with a concerned expression on her face. "Good morning, Sejabinmama," she said softly. "How are you feeling?"
Ayodele looked up, her eyes still bleary. "Not great," she replied with a weak smile. "But I'll manage."
Lady Song raised an eyebrow in skepticism. "You shouldn't have drunk so much last night," she scolded gently. "Especially not before an important ceremony like this."
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When Peony Blooms #AMBW
Historical FictionAn Ewe princess named Ayodele finds herself entangled in a web of royal intrigue and forbidden romance. From the moment Ayodele sets foot in the Korean court, she knows she's in for a whirlwind of challenges. The Crown Prince, her betrothed since ch...