The Royal Concubine (please read edited version)

Royal Scribes

   *This story is discontinued on this book. HOWEVER, there is a revised version with the same name. Please go to the new story to read. Thank you!*
The minute I presented myself in front of Ajumni, she scowled at me. "Don't complain wench, it's an honor to serve the King."

She had already known why I had come to her. I respectfully bowed to my knees in front of her, "Ajumni, I am shaming you and Ajussi when I plead for mercy, but I cannot become the Kings," I spit the last part out, "concubine." I can't mange to look at her so I stay bowed.

    "Yes you will, you ungrateful brat! I took you in instead of leaving you to die and this is how you repay me?" Ajumni jerks my face in her cold claws, "Now listen, you're going to wear your lavender Han Bok and you're going to style your hair accordingly. No complaining, understand?" She spoke in an icy whisper, one of her nails pressed dangerously into my skin. I was furious enough to do what I did next, I swiftly  moved my cheek more into her pointy nail until I felt blood. I know it isn't going to get me out of meeting the royal scribe, but any imperfection could disqualify me from a concubine position.

    My Ajumni took a second before exploding, "YOU WENCH, LOOK WHAT YOU DID! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS COULD COST US?" Maids quickly ran into the room with cloths and healing medicines. My Ajumni looked closer into the scratch and I swear I could see the tiniest glimpse of care in her eyes before fury took over. "Quickly! Before it scars!" she roared at the quivering maids. The hand maids cleaned the tiny scratch and laid a layer of crème before dragging me away to my room. My aunt had instructed them to lock me in my room.
    Once I was in my sheltered space, Shilla, my personal maid, spoke up. "Miss, you shouldn't have done that. You know madame is angered easily." I walk past her and head towards the mirror. I study the red mark on my face and am utterly disappointed when finding that it could be easily covered by rice powder. Most of the household had probably already known about the upcoming visit of the royal scribe; they were sworn to secrecy and usually never told me anything.

    I frown back at my long face and turn to Shilla. "Yes, I know she has a temper, but it was worth a try to battle my way out of this," I retract pins from my hair "I don't want to be a marrying bid to anyone." Shilla gasped out loud, "Miss, don't say that! King Min is sent from the gods himself to rule our nation. He needs heirs that you could provide to continue his lead."
    I swallowed my disgust and let myself be led to the vanity by Shilla. It was useless to argue with anyone in this household. As a proper young lady I should listen but something tells me to run away as fast as I can.

     Shilla spent a good while adorning my hair into an intricate design. She lathered layers of rice powder, hiding the scratch and then proceeding to color my cheeks with a deep rose rouge. I changed into the lilac Han Bok as told and now awaited the scribe.
    My uncle had tried to talk to me earlier but my aunt had somehow warded him off. Nothing was going to get in her way.
      Time seemed to drag and I focused on my silk shoes as a distraction. My posture was stiff and I'm sure the Emperor himself could feel my nervousness from the palace. What if he was cruel? Would I even be chosen? Did I have a chance? I surely hoped not.

"Is this her?"
    I glanced to the doorway where not one, but two royal scribes looked at drank my appearance in. They both wore the royal family crest, but both looked completely different. One was rounder and shorter, he had a kind expression. The other scribe was tall and lanky and wore a hard glare.

   I immediately dropped to my knees in respect. "Yes this is Mo Hye-Rin, lady of the Mo household" my Ajumni  said encouragingly. I could almost taste her earnest desire to send me away. It was repulsive.

    "Stand up girl," the tall scribe ordered. His voice cut through the air and struck me sharply. I held back a wince and quickly stood up. "My name is Chae-Won" he said.
     The shorter scribe pushed to the front of Sir Chae-Won and continued to introduce himself, "I'm Do-Yun." He gave me a sympathetic smile, almost as if he could sense how I felt. If only he really could.
     "Let's commence" they both said, sitting down on satin pillows after my aunt guided them to do so.

    For hours and hours on end, they inquired and reviewed everything about me. From questions about my health to questions on things that not so subtlety made me blush to my roots. My Ajumni managed to assure them that I was the perfect possible Concubine for his majesty. At last, the major questioning was over and I felt like I could take a breath.

     "Mo Hye-Rin," Do-Yun, the nicer scribe gushed to me, "You have a striking resemblance to Queen Min, you could even be a doppelganger to her highness." Chae-Won quirked an eyebrow at such thought. Scribe Do-Yun certainly was bold so say that, especially in an other royal scribe's presence. I simply nodded and bowed my head, it wasn't proper to speak so freely between scribes.  Do-Yun stood to meet me gaze, "Why do you think you should be a Concubine?" My aunt quickly tried to intercede and answer for me like she had been doing so far, but he cut her off "No, let the girl answer."

    I lowered my gaze. I knew this was a test and it could either grant me access to the palace or shame my Ajussi and Ajumni. I raised my eyes once again and faced him "I believe that a Concubine position is a great honor and would be in service to the king. Anyone granted such a privilege is aiding towards a successful nation." From the corner of my eye I saw my aunt sigh in relief. Had I passed?

    Chae-Won stood too, "Is that really what you think? Is that your opinion or someone else's?" He glanced to my aunt who had a fake smile on her face. Do-Yun tried to protest but he was also cut off.  I knew how to answer accordingly, but once again I held back from doing the expected. I took one, then two moments of dreaded hesitation. I mentally pleaded for him to give me any sign on what he thought. In a few milliseconds I realized that if I wasn't given this task, I would be forced to marry someone who was much more elderly than me. At the end of it all I was still a pawn.

     "Yes!" I blurt amidst my thoughts. "I honestly believe that becoming a Concubine would be the utmost honor" I'm lying but I can't go back now. Chae-Won honestly looks disappointingly at me and my heart plummets.
     Do-Yun has an opposite reaction and smiles even more widely. "She's definitely is going to be the Concubine, don't you agree?" he asks Chae-Won.

     Chae Won turns back into stone, "Yes, she has met all qualifications." My aunt grins evilly before profusely thanking the scribes. She guides them out and for hours later,  she still smiles. I have never seen her do that since living in this household.

   The rest of the evening is a flushed blur. My uncle laughs earnestly, really believing my lies about change of heart. I am not capable of ruining his happiness.
  That night after washed and covered in beauty remedies, I fall into a slumber where my deceased sisters dance at my red wedding to King Min. In all of my nightmares, I have never screamed so loudly...

A/N: Hello everybody,
Thank you to everyone who has decided to give this story a chance! Paige and I co-write this story and we will usually say who wrote majority of every chapter. Chapter one was mostly composed by the talented Paige and today's chapter was written my myself, Lori. When creating this story, we discovered that most of what we had come up with had actually happened in history! Oddly enough there's even an actual Queen Min in the Josean Era (which this takes place in) and most of the story line is actually based on real events. Next chapter, willful Hye-Rin will finally meet the powerful Min Yoongi...