TREACHERY IN BLOOM

2. The Moonlit Escape

Hanamura Estate, Jeju, February, 1823

The sun had dipped beneath the horizon. The light of the day bled into purples and blues of early night. The estate was silent with the whispers of nature sounds whispering gently in air. My heart was thrumming wildly. For the past days, Otousan's words kept ringing in my ears; but today, ending with this week, the word of caution sounded more faded and far away from being a whisper in between my other thoughts.

"Hanae-Sama, are you sure?" Ren's voice rang across my thoughts as he tied up my hanbok. His brow had pinched into an agonised frown but he quickly suppressed a tell of quivering lips as nervous anxiety took its course "I was specifically ordered by Miyamoto-San—"

"I know, I know," I quickly interrupt, pulling the sash tighter about my waist as Satoshi tends to my hair, fidgeting in a series of tense yet gentle motions about my scalp. "Days have passed and I am beside myself. I need to come out. It won't be for long. Few minutes, please?"

Keiko was almost bouncing by the door in her eagerness. "Hanae-Sama, I want to take you everywhere! It's so vibrant at night, and the food stalls—oh my goodness, they smell heavenly!"

Satoshi gave her a stern look. "Keiko-Chan, stop that. If something bad happens tonight, you'll be the first one I turn to."

I laughed at her, but my fingers fumbled with the folds of my hanbok as I realized how brightly I was dressed. "Oh no, I should have worn something more discreet." I looked down to see the elegant attire before me: a deep lavender one embroidered with golden flowers. Not exactly the best choice for sneaking out.

"It's too late to change now," Ren sighed, shaking his head. "We're already behind schedule and all your hanboks would gather some attention regardless because of how extravagant they are. And if we don't make it back before the guards change shifts, we'll all be in trouble especially if Maiko-San gets a whip of this."

With a sigh of my own, I nodded. "Alright, let's go, then. I don't want to waste any more time."

I caught on that Keiko's face slightly paled at the name of Maiko and how Satoshi went rigid, but I needed him the most. He was the shrewdest of all those that accompanied me.

Turning around, I glance at Ayame and Yumi who would cover for us while we are away and they were nervous too but they were willingly doing this and I could never want anybody better.

I love all my maids and Eunuchs, and how much they do for me, even at the risk of facing Otousan's and Maiko's wrath.

I hug them one last time before I leave. I pull back, smiling at them, and say clearly, "if Maiko or anyone comes asking for me—I highly doubt—just tell them that I sneaked out and none of you were aware of it. Okay?"

They immediately shake their heads in disbelief, their expressions a mix of apprehension and defiance.

But one look from me—one of stern authority and unspoken understanding—and they change their demeanour and nod in acceptance. The worried frowns still, however warmed my heart. We start moving along and Ren, Satoshi and Keiko fall in stride with me, echoing footsteps on the cobblestone path. Taking a deep breath, we creep slowly towards the back gates; at least far less patrolled than the enormous main gates, where tight security and watchfulness were notorious. "Ren, do you think we're going to get caught?" I glance at him, crouched low behind a tree, watching Keiko work her magic on the guards.

"Such little faith in me, Hanae-Sama, I'm wounded! Though I am still angry with you for thinking of this idea. I know very well the time of the patrol of guards at each and every gate of our estate. I'm sure, we will be safe—WHAT IS IT, SATOSHI-KUN? "He was whispering but it became a hiss of pain as Satoshi smacked his back, putting a finger to his lips, pointedly looking over to our left where a guard just walked by, close enough to have us with its back as it used two darker-clad friends to keep me hidden.".