When Peony Blooms #AMBW

Chapter 17: "A Dance of Rivals"

One morning, with a slow exhale, the Crown Prince pushed open the embellished doors of the palace library. He stepped into the hushed ambiance, his entrance barely causing a ripple in the calm of the large room filled with scrolls and manuscripts. At the center, behind a low desk strewn with scrolls, sat Minister Kim, his face illuminated by the soft light of a flickering candle.

The older man looked up, surprise etching his lined features as he saw the Crown Prince standing before him. With a quick bow, he gestured for the prince to join him at the table.

"Jeonha," he began, a note of concern evident in his voice. "What brings you here at this late hour?"

The Crown Prince cleared his throat, unsure how to articulate the turmoil within him. But there was a certain comfort in the older man's presence, a paternal warmth he had often sought consolation in.

"I...I need your advice," he confessed, his voice barely audible. The very air around him felt heavy with his distress. He proceeded to recount the dream that had been haunting him, his voice steady, but the tremor in his hands gave away his unrest.

"I saw my mother," he said quietly. "I saw her...in pain, struggling...like she was caught in some nightmare. And the strange thing is, I don't recall ever witnessing this scene. It felt like a story... a story I overheard you sharing once."

A silence fell over them, Minister Kim staring at him, his expression unreadable. The older man's hand fluttered as if he was about to reach out to him, but he refrained. It was as if he was caught between a painful memory and the haunting reality that was confronting him.

"Jeonha," he finally spoke, his voice softer than a whisper, " I am assuming, you want to understand the story, behind that dream you had?"

The Crown Prince nodded, " Of course." he said as he sat down slowly.

A heavy sigh escaped Minister Kim's lips as if all the memories and secrets he had kept over his long years were being released with it. His gaze dropped to the worn desk in front of him, his fingers tracing the faded ink of a forgotten scroll. After a long moment, he began to speak, his voice hushed as though he was divulging sacred lore.

"Yes, I believe I mentioned it once...during a conversation with your mother, we were speaking, the day your father made Ji-Yun, consort. Maybe that is where you overheard it." Minister Kim said, his voice a mere breath above the rustle of scrolls on the table. " There was a woman that became family, very quickly for your mother. She adored her... so much so that she was there for her when she was injured, risking her status in the palace. This woman was trying to protect what was once lost."

The old man looked up at the crown prince, as he continued "Jeonha, what you saw... it happened many years ago, before your birth. It involves your mother, and an incident with a servant," he said slowly, choosing his words with care. His eyes flicked up to meet the Crown Prince's, his gaze earnest.

Minister Kim's gaze softened, his eyes appearing distant as he ventured deeper into the landscape of the past. "The servant was a woman of unparalleled kindness and wisdom. Her name was Sa-Wol, was more than a mere servant to your mother. She was a confidante and protector."

He paused, his eyes taking on a faraway look as if gazing at a scene from a bygone era only he could see. "Your mother, you see, was orphaned at a young age. She was introduced to this palace, a world so vast and complex, it could easily devour one's innocence. She was just a young woman, all wide-eyed and unversed in the harsh realities of palace life."

A subtle shift in his expression suggested a flicker of nostalgia. "Sa-wol, despite her status, became a surrogate of sorts to your mother, providing her with warmth and affection, lessons in strength and resilience. She stood by your mother's side, guiding her, offering counsel when the weight of her crown threatened to crush her."