MHA watching The Apothecary Diaries

The Curse of the Inner Court

        "What is an apothecary anyway," asked Izuku.

       "An apothecary is what doctors were called at one point," said Recovery Girl.

      "I have to wonder what this world will be about and like as well," said Toga.

      "We are about to find out. The timer is done you all," said Mr. Compress.

      [-The Curse of the Inner Court-
      'Gosh, I could sure go for some street-stall meat skewers right now,' thought Maomao.
      <Maidservant of the inner court: Maomao>
      'One day, when I was out in the forest picking medicinal herbs...I was made off with most inconveniently by kidnappers. It's already been three months since then...dad...I hope you're eating properly....The stifling reek of cosmetics...beautiful robes, fake smiles...the palace and the pleasure district...are not all that different. A garden of women to bear the emperor's children...the inner court is separated from the rest of the palace. Men are explicitly forbidden to enter. The only exceptions to the rule are the emperor himself, his blood relations...and the eunuchs...those who, having lost a certain "treasure," are no longer considered men,' thought Maomao.]

      "So, it looks like this is our main character for this world though we don't know her name yet. And it looks like that she was kidnapped and taken a royal palace as a working servant now," said Nezu.

       "I'm thinking that this might be in a different country then ours as well. At least that is what I'm getting from the outfits," said Momo.

      "Then, where would this be taking place," asked Twice.

      "Possibly China but we may never really know," said AFO.

      ['It just had to happen when I'd finally become an apothecary too...whether I was sold into servitude or sent in the place of another, I know not...but I'd hoped to live out my years never once getting involved with inner court. The next one is for that low-ranking concubine who's always cooped up in her chambers, hmm?' thought Maomao.
      "Psst, this tag...can you tell me which chamber it's for?" asked another maidservant.
     "...mm. It has Wisteria and a nine, so...it's that way," said Maomao.
     "Oh, over there! You're a lifesaver!" said the other maidservant.
     'Like her, most of the women here can't read. In preparation to work at the palace, etiquette is drilled into everyone beforehand...but education is a whole other story. Teaching even half of these country girls to read would be quite the achievement. Despite this, maids like myself have, on rare occasions...gone onto becoming low-ranking concubines,' thought Maomao.]

       "This must be a time where most women didn't learn to read unless they are from nobility, high class families," said Midnight.

      "But it looks like she can read so why is she hiding it though," asked Kirishima.

     "We will probably learn the reason soon," said Aizawa.

     ['All you need...is a pretty face...you can count me out,' thought Maomao.
     <Freckled face a skinny frame>
     'Even if you can read, it just means there's more work waiting for you...when all's said and done. So...I'm fine sticking with what I'm doing now. An increase in my wages...would only serve to further line the pockets of my abductors, after all. If I keep my head down and so my work...I'll get out of here sooner or later. Unfortunately, however...one might call this prediction naive,' thought Maomao.
      "For forward thinking 17-year old Maomao...with her insatiable thirst for knowledge and over whelming curiosity...not to mention...a budding sense of justice...there is not telling what fate has in store," said the Narrator.
      "So do you think it really is a curse?!" asked Xiaolan.
     <Maidservant of the inner court: Xialoan>]