𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗦, Go Won

➷(23) SONGRIM RECRUITS

After Da-hye and Maidservant Yang had returned to Songrim after hours of hoping to avoid the Crown Prince. Da-hye had heard that the Crown Prince had just left, he had visited Sejukwon and even asked if Da-hye had returned to Songrim.

Was he still injured? Should Da-hye have asked if he was still injured? Why was Da-hye caring for him? If he didn't like Da-hye why did he ask for her?

"Are you thinking about something?" Gu-hyo asked.

"When did you get here?" Da-hye hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings and had not noticed Gu-hyo.

"I have always been here." Gu-hyo said a little confused.

"Oh." Da-hye said.

"The Crown Prince left this for you." Gu-hyo gave her a white paper bag.

Da-hye took the bag inside, was strawberry taffy. That was Da-hye's favorite snack. How did the Crown Prince know that? And there was also honey biscuits. Da-hye started eating the strawberry taffy.

"Is it tasty?" Go-hyu asked.

Da-hye nodded and walked away with her snacks. She really could not stay mad at the Crown Prince, sometimes he really seemed thoughtful.

︵‿︵‿୨🤍୧‿︵‿︵

Today, Songrim was recruiting servants so it was filled with a lot of people. The Crown Prince had come to visit Sejukwon.

"Da-hye?" The Crown Prince saw Da-hye talking to a few mages. He expected her to ignore him.

Da-hye smiled. "Hello, Your Royal Highness." she bowed her head. "Are you going to Sejukwon? Are you still injured, Your Royal Highness?"

"No, I am not injured anymore." The Crown Prince said. "I just come to Sejukwon for supplements." The Crown Prince explained. "Did you like the snacks I brought you? The mage did give the to you, right?"

"Yes." Da-hye answered. "Strawberry taffy is my favorite snack."

"I like strawberry taffy as well." The Crown Prince said. "Well, I hope to see you after I visit Master Heo."

"Yes." Da-hye answered. Then she continued walking.

Da-hye met up with Dang-gu and Yul where they told her that Mu-deok had entered the contest to be a Songrim servant. Dang-gu and Da-hye had found a test paper. "Yul." Dang-gu said running towards him.

"We found the test papers." Da-hye held the paper, Dang-gu and Yul stood next to her to see it.

"They are many questions. Even short-answer ones." Yul said as the three of them looked through the questions.

"Mu-deok is smart." Dang-gu said. "But will she get them all right?"

"This is pretty difficult." Da-hye heard the Crown Prince's voice. "Eunuch Oh, what do you need to wash clothes that have ink on them?" The Crown Prince asked getting Yul, Dang-gu, and Da-hye's attention. "That is a question here."

"Rice paste does the trick." Eunuch Oh answered.

"What do you do with it?" The Crown Prince asked still not noticing them.

"First, you apply it on...." Eunuch Oh stopped talking when he saw the three of them. This made the Crown Prince notice them.

They decided to fill out the test together.

"You invited 20 individuals from 3 different families." Yul read. " One table can seat four people. How many tables do you need?"

"Twenty individuals from three families mean sixty in total." Dang-gu said. "Since one table can fit four of them, it is fifteen."

"No." The Crown Prince said. "They said "three families" on purpose. Those from the same family must sit together. We need more table as they will be placed together."

"Then each family would need nine tables." Da-hye said.

"That is 27 in total." The Crown Prince smiled. Just as Dang-gu was about to write, Yul stopped him.

"This was an invitation." Yul said. "The host needs a table as well. Twenty-eight in total."

"Oh." The Crown Prince and Dang-gu both said.

"You are right." Dang-gu said.

"Next question is about running errands and not getting lost." Yul said.

"Let me get a map of the capital." Dang-gu said. After Dang-gu got the map, they finished the question.

"What should you do if there is ink on the clothes?" The Crown Prince asked. "Should you not dispose of them? Eunuch Oh."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness?" Eunuch Oh said.

"How do you wash clothes that have ink on them again?" The Crown Prince asked.

"You need some warm rice paste." Eunuch Oh responded. "Smear it on the..." Eunuch Oh was interrupted.

"That is right." The Crown Prince said. "Write it." He told Dang-gu. "Warm rice paste."

Minutes later, they had finished answering all of the questions. "We probably got all of them right." Yul said.

"I did not expect to do this with you, but it was fun." The Crown Prince admitted. "I can assure you Mu-deok will fail." The three of them looked at the Crown Prince, a little confused. Dang-gu laughed awkwardly.

"That is why we should deliver the test paper to her." Da-hye suggested. It was not Mu-deok's fault that the Crown Prince had feelings for her. Da-hye did not hold a grudge against her. Mu-deok obviously had feelings for either Uk or Yul.

"But how can we do that?" Dang-gu asked. "It will look too obvious if we do it."

"Perhaps someone who is more conspicuous will avoid suspicious." Yul said. The Crown Prince would be perfect for that. Yul, Dang-gu and Da-hye looked at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince saw them looking at him and pointed towards himself. He would deliver the test paper to Mu-deok.

The Crown Prince returned and the four of them waited impatiently for Eunuch Oh to let them know if Mu-deok passed.

"Your Royal Highness!" Eunuch Oh said excitedly. "She got in!"

"Yes!" Dang-gu shouted.

"What is the next test?" Da-hye asked Eunuch Oh.

"The practical test." Eunuch Oh responded. "The practical test will evaluate them on their duties." Eunuch Oh explained. "They will prepare ingredients, clean and wash clothes. Lastly, there will be a fitness test."

"The practical test, Mu-deok will pass easily." Da-hye said. "The fitness, test I am not so sure."

About an hour later, Eunuch Oh had come to tell them that Mu-deok had passed the practical test.

"Gosh, Mu-deok is really impressive." Dang-gu said as they walked. "Now, it is the fitness test. We should go and cheer for her."

"I saw many fit individuals back there." The Crown Prince said. "I highly doubt she will make it to the last five."

"Your Royal Highness, thank you for helping us." Yul said. "Goodbye." Was this Yul's way of saying that His Royal Highness should leave? The three of the bowed their head to the Crown Prince.

"Let us go." Yul said.

"All right." Dang-gu said. "Let us go." He grabbed Da-hye by her arm and took her along with him.

𝗢𝗵 𝗺𝘆𝘆. 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄. 𝗦𝗼, 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. (𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴.) 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘄.