“Why isn’t it raining yet?”
Chaeyoung sat under the pear blossom tree, basking in the sun with Jennie. Hearing the question, she almost grinned from ear to ear. “Miss, how could you be so muddle-headed? The weather is perfect, with the sun shining brightly. Why would you want rain?”
After laughing, her expression suddenly changed. She lifted her arm, intending to touch Jennie’s forehead, but then thought better of it, feeling it might be too improper. With a worried look, she said, “Miss, don’t let your mind wander to such nonsense.”
She was convinced that Jennie’s recent high fever had affected her brain. Otherwise, why had she been ‘staring’ at that wall since yesterday? Could it be that the Miss no longer wanted to be a caged bird and was contemplating ending her suffering?
Fear can be paralyzing, and Chaeyoung had scared herself silly, turning into a trembling little dove. In a low, cautious voice, she advised, “Take my word for it, Miss. It’s better to live miserably than to die. As long as you’re alive, there’s still hope. If you were to die, the people in the North Courtyard would laugh themselves awake from their dreams.”
Jennie tilted her head, looking at her blankly. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I…”
Chaeyoung touched her nose, thinking to herself that she was speaking from the heart.
Despite being born of the same mother, the Miss and the ladies in the mansion were more like enemies than sisters. If something happened to the Miss, not only would they laugh awake, but Jessica might even laugh herself to death.
Some people’s eyes may be blind, but their hearts are not. Chaeyoung, with her full faculties, couldn’t bring herself to speak the harsh truth.
She sighed, lamenting her fate of serving a miss who was constantly bullied. Pretending to slap herself, she added, “Oh, it was just my nonsense, Miss. Don’t take it to heart.”
“What about the nest of rabbits we raised? Go and secretly release them.”
“Release them?” Chaeyoung’s eyes widened as she imagined the delicious roasted rabbits slipping away. “Why do we need to release them?”
Because in a couple of days, Jessica’s people would come, and those rabbits would be tortured to death.
Missing limbs, blood everywhere—Jessica would describe it to her while ordering people to twist the rabbits’ heads off, big and small, none would escape her cruelty.
“Alright, alright, I’ll release them!” Seeing Jennie’s pale face and clenched fists, Chaeyoung dared not ask any further. She got up and headed towards the rabbit cage.
Jennie’s tense back slowly relaxed. Pear blossoms, blown by the spring wind, fell onto her thin shoulders.
Her thick, ink-black hair flowed down, contrasting with her pale face. The white gauze covering her eyes only highlighted her inherent calmness and gentleness.
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On the Wedding Night - JENLISA
Historical FictionJennie kim is a blind woman who has grown up with the constant mistreatment and belittlement from her parents and servants. They take pleasure in laughing at her expense. However, her life takes a sudden and unexpected turn when she is welcomed into...
