One-Two Millennia Isn't Very Different than Before

Chapter 19: The Mysterious Letter

Jessica's POV

We spent a few days at Ik-su's helping around the hut. Today I was tasked with visiting the Wind Tribe to get more supplies (there was only so much we could get around Ik-su's). Since I was a well known priestess, I could get information and supplies, plus I was practically aligned with the Wind Tribe (although unofficially).

So, that's where I was, "Hello, Lady Jessica!"

"Hello, ma'am!" I was only considered 'lady' by anyone who wasn't close to me, or, in this case, persistent people who refused to listen and call me without honorifics.

Our exchange lead to a crowd of people surrounding me. Luckily, Tae-woo saw me and calmed the crowd, "Okay, everyone! I'm sure Miss Jessica has something she needs to do here. Miss Jessica?"

I nodded, surprised he could control the crowd, "I just came to buy supplies and to talk to Elder Mundok."

The crowd was about to come back talking about how good their deals were, but Tae-woo beat them and dragged me by the arm to where the elder was staying, "To Mundok first then!"

"A-ah!"

~~

Tae-woo knocked on the door then announced, "It's just me, Master. I've brought the priestess, Miss Jessica. She wanted to see you."

A gruff voice came from the other side of the door, "Come in."

We entered and sat in front of the desk Mundok was sitting behind, "It's nice to see you again, Master Mundok." He flinched at the honorific.

Then, he smiled, "And you as well, Lady," it was now my turn to flinch, "Jessica." We stared down each other until he broke the silence once more, "If you don't want me to refer to you as 'lady', then please refer to me as Mundok."

"Fine, Mundok," I said putting emphasis on his name.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Jessica?"

I smiled taking out a letter, "Yona was sure I would be able to see you, so she gave me this letter for you." I handed over the letter and continued as he began to read it, "Hak on the other hand believed I couldn't."

Mundok laughed, "So you took it as a challenge?"

"More or less," I said shrugging. "I've got to get supplies as well, but I was being crowded, so we came here first. I should probably get going before Yoon packs up camp and comes himself."

"Wait," Mundok said as I approached the door, "a letter came for you as well."

"That's weird. Letters for me are usually sent through the shrine."

The old man looked down, "Well, considering who it was from, I'm pretty sure the shrine wouldn't have let him on the grounds." I looked up.

There was only one person who wouldn't be allowed because of his sin radiating off of him, "King Soo-won."

"Precisely," he handed the sealed letter to me.

I looked down at the letter in my hands. I silently broke the seal and read its contents, "He wants me to attend a meeting with him in the Earth tribe's capital."

Mundok was shocked, "That's not possible! How would he know you'd get this?"

I bit my lip, "I don't know, but I have to go now." Mundok's eyes widened, "Even if I try to reseal it, it's obvious it's been open, and then I'd make myself an enemy of the country!"

"When?" Mundok asked almost inaudibly.

"A week. I have to go through the capital and travel with the king to the Earth tribe's capital," I said looking down at the paper in my hands.

"You'll have to tell them," Mundok spoke. "They will understand why you need to go."

"Right."

~~

I had gotten back to Ik-su's almost by dusk. I had talked with Mundok longer than expected and then was crowded by the villagers again while buying Yoon's needed supplies. Speaking of the little ginger, he's mad right now, "What do you mean you have to travel different from us?!"

Yona teared up, "You're leaving?"

"Only for a little bit," I said quickly, "I was 'invited' to a festival in the earth tribe by 'his highness'. I have to go or I'll become an enemy to the country and those associated with me will suffer, and I don't want that!"

Yona looked down, "You'll come back?"

A soft smile made its way across my lips, "Of course. Always."