The Princess' Handmaiden

Chapter 7

"Humiliation? What do you mean?" Nayeon asked, confused. She wasn't sure how the name 'Myōi' caused that, much less why Mina needed to be humiliated.

"Mina is only my half-sister. It is common for kings to have mistresses, and I suppose our father isn't any different." As Sana spoke, Nayeon was listening attentively. "He pursued a woman, who ended up giving in to him. Huge mistake on her part. They accidentally had a baby, and our father was quick to blame the woman for everything. He lied and said that she seduced him using her witchcraft." The princess rolled her eyes. "The lady was executed soon after she gave birth to my sister. Mina."

"So, I'm guessing the woman's surname was Myōi, so they made Princess Mina keep her name?" The princess nodded. "But why? Why did they do that to Princess Mina?"

"Throughout her life, our parents have made it clear that Mina was a mistake. They constantly belittled her for no reason, until they stopped talking to her. They spoke their first words to her in two years a few days ago." She saw Nayeon's slightly confused expression, so she continued. "I know everything that I've just said about Mina's mother from Momo's sister, Hana. She was already working by that time, and learned a lot of dirty secrets."

Nayeon frowned. She didn't understand what Mina did for her parents to act that way, and from what she'd heard, she wasn't surprised that the princess stopped smiling. All of the questions she had about Mina were cleared up, other than what was truly happening to her throughout those eleven years.

"But what about you?"

Sana seemed taken aback by this question.

"What do you mean?"

"You were crying when I came in, Princess. Is it something you can talk about?" Nayeon clarified, and she could tell that Sana was debating with herself.

"Alright. Just don't tell Mina." She sighed in relief when Nayeon nodded. "Our parents want to me to attend some prince's marriage interview. He's about ten years older than me, and I really don't want to do it." Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them away. 

"I'm sure everything will work out, Princess. I don't think you should stress too much about it, okay?" Nayeon smiled reassuringly. Sana hesitantly nodded, before taking a deep breath.

"Thank you for listening. I'm really happy that Mina has you, and believe me, she's happy as well."

🐧👑🐧

Mina was leaning against the windowsill once again, staring out of her window. It was summer, so she knew that all the pretty flowers had bloomed already and children would be playing outside. Staying inside was suffocating the princess, so when her handmaiden returned, they immediately went on a walk in the gardens.                

"Is anything bothering you, Princess?" Nayeon questioned, desperately trying to catch up with the princess' fast pace. She was holding onto her parasol, and wouldn't appreciate it if Mina kept practically running.

"No, why would anything be bothering me?" The handmaiden had never heard the princess so aggressive. She sighed and internally rolled her eyes.

"Princess. In case you've failed to notice, I am a seventeen year-old girl. I can easily tell that that was a lie."

Mina muttered something under her breath before coming to an abrupt stop. 

"I want to leave. Leave the grounds. I have never once seen the outside world, and it's torturing me." Mina sighed. "I'm sixteen years-old, and I don't have permission yet. I don't think I ever will, to be completely honest."

Nayeon scowled as she crossed her arms, accidentally dropping the parasol. She hastily apologised, placing it back over Mina's head. Her face lit up when she came up with an idea.

"Why don't I sneak you out?"

Mina whipped her head around to Nayeon.

"Are you insane?"

"It'll be okay. I can buy you clothes, and once we're out of the grounds nobody will be able to tell who you are." The handmaiden looked around. "This is a huge palace. Surely there's at least one trap door?"

Mina's face was grim.

"There is. In the basement. But it's locked, and even if it weren't, there is no way in hell that I'm going in there." She swallowed thickly. "Not again."

Nayeon decided not to ask anymore about the subject. The princess' eyes were filled with fear, and the handmaiden knew it was best not to press her about it.

"Alright. Let's forget that idea. Why don't we do it like that prince in Rapunzel? You know, using silk or something." She suggested.

"Didn't he end up getting blinded by thorns?"

"Well sure, but it had a happy ending!"

Was it bad that the princess was seriously contemplating this decision? She knew it was stupid, but she did want to leave, even for just a minute. Also, since nobody dared enter her part of the palace unnecessarily, nobody entered the section of the gardens that her window overlooked.

"Fine. I just need clothes, I have everything else." Mina eventually spoke.

"You have a bunch of pieces of silk?"

"No, you simpleton. I have a rope." Nayeon gritted her teeth from the harsh words of the princess. She was curious about one thing, however.

"Why do you have a rope?"

There was a long pause as an uncomfortable silence fell upon them.

"That is unimportant."