Olives, Wine and Honey at the river

Chapter 1

Two days after the Empress moved with six hundred servants and 110 soldiers from the palace, Eunyeong moved into the head of state's private apartment within the Palace. The place was decorated with silver, bronze, brass and pure golden objects. There were also many sculptures from the Ainu, Korea, China and Manchuria The carpets were colourful and the apartment had several desks where the Empress used to work. One of the rooms had a bath in it. The bath had many perfume bottles, wine bottles and scrolls (which the Empress and the ones invited inside) could read for entertainment. Most of it were old news messages there came from all parts of the Empire. In the palace the other 600 personal servants of the Empress remained behind, together with an additional 2000 servants (of whom the majority was female). Men were not permitted inside the palace, unless they were invited. Several men who tried to enter anyway - to seduce some of the girl servants - were brutally executed and their heads impaled into the capital. Every week supplies would be brought into the Palace complex, together with reports from all over the Empire. Wa had many chiefdoms which had a large degree of autonomy, they were like city states. Many chiefdoms were into confederations which were led by local kings. And the local kings of diverse regions were united under the Great King (Emperor), in this case a Great Queen (Empress), which symbolised the unity of the archipelago. Tensions would arise frequently within the confederations. The local Kings, which were client kings under the Empress, would often function as civil and criminal judges to maintain order. There was no effective taxation system within Wa, because of this scamming and corruption [by the leaders] were often committed. The military of Wa consisted out of hired men from all the client kingdoms, which were loyal first to their local kings and secondly to the Imperial seat. This sometimes led to conflict of interest. The Imperial capital had its own defense also. But they also hired men from mainland Asia (Korea and Eastern China) or from the Ainu, to defend the capital region. These men would return after several months. Poverty was common in the villages and small towns around the capital, this because they were exploited by the state. Many of the women serving at the palace would frequently return home, monthly, to visit their home villages. When doing this they would bring gifts and some money with them. But most of the servants were locked into the palace and they never permitted to leave. At the court a strict etiquette was installed. The smallest transgression would bring severe punishments. The noble families in the capital are obliged to pay huge taxes to maintain the palace and other properties where the Great Queen would reside. The biggest sum of the money goes to military security. Many nobles in both the Capital as in the other urban regions of Wa display harsh criticism towards the lifestyle of the Empress. Also because the people, this includes the governing authority, never sees her outside of the official public ceremonies (which are only a few each year). But.. her policy does bring employment for the young men - in the military - and this is something that benefits Wa's economy. Despite the weak state system, Wa has a respected position in Eastern Asia and they have good ties with the Korean states, especially with Baekje. Eunyeong is from Silla and she was permitted to return after three years at the Roman embassy in Silla. The military dominance of Wa on Silla is complicated. This complicity, nevertheless, empowers transactions and trade between both countries. It is mutually beneficial, even though Wa benefits the most.

Eunyeong, whom they also call Emiko (a feminine first name that's common in Wa), dined on one of the carpets, while Woohyoun was cleaning the room. Woohyoun's real name is Wattan, but Eunyeong gave her a Korean name for convenience. Five years back, Eunyeong received special privileges above all the other's at the court. She was permitted to have her own ''personal staff'' and she received a small personal room and she was permitted to use 800 coins a month for her personal delight. Nine other slaves became her personal staff: Wattan, Oki, Ai, Machiko, Mamiko, Midori, Masako, Chika and Nagisa. They would dress her, cook for her, clean after her, walk with her in the palace gardens and they always accompanied her when she was permitted to leave the palace and visit the market in the capital.

Wattan came from the countryside on a large Wa island, across the shores of Naniwa (Osaka, the capital). Her parents were unable to pay their taxes unto their landlord, which was also the head of their confederation. The solution was to 'rent' themselves as slaves until the debt was paid. Both parents ended into a border town while their daughter was sold to the Palace. Her parents were permitted to visit her once. She often writes them letters. The other women were daughters of noble men whom were ordained, by their families, to join the female priesthood for life. Marriage was excluded unto them and sexual relationships with men were taboo. They were expected to labour ''for the community'' and they received no wages nor compensation at all. Their needs were taken care of by the state. Their relatives would 'donate' money to the Palace administration who would provide for them. They are thought in choreography, calligraphy, meditation, playing of instruments, singing, dressmaking, cuisine and religion. When Eunyeong left her spot in Silla her ''old crew'' was given back to her again, together with her privileges. Only now she wasn't permitted to leave the country any more. Within those three years she re-visited them 8 times. Eunyeong spoke Korean with them, a language they all mastered due to the common rituals together with sect members from Baekje. Also, Korean was the spoken language within commerce and government.

After Eunyeong finished eating, Machiko took the leftovers. At this moment Wattan finished cleaning.