The Royal Concubine (please read edited version)

Contagious Laughter

 "My lady?" 

 "Yes?"

"There seems to be a problem..."

"In what?"         

 The young maid takes the measuring tape away from my revealed stomach, "There is no change.""None?" Another maid interjects.

"None..." The first woman repeats.     

    I stare at the plain wall in front of me. My emotions were  as bare as my surroundings. Not even a stroke of sadness played on my child like face. It had been two months since my first examination. And it that time period, my stomach had not grown an inch. It was still as flat as it had been the first day. 

"Maybe lady Hye-Rin just needs more time?" The maid suggests, but I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

          There was nothing they could say to change it, or change the minds of the woman in my room. I wasn't pregnant. The Queen's warning was firm in my mind. But I wasn't pregnant. There was no baby within me to save me from the unknown dangers of the future. 

          I turn to the mirror beside my head. A child stared back at me, only 16 I viewed myself as one. I failed at the one job I had.

          I caught a glimpse of dark hair as a figure stood beside my doorway. It quickly moved out of sight as our eyes locked. His stone, dark eyes pierced my soul, and the image stayed etched into my mind.

          He was again a blank canvas. Nothing more than a figure with memories, memories that I was shortly apart of. 

          What I didn't realize was that blood from my monthly cycle had soaked my sheets. When I turned to sit down, the image of the red stains deepened the fact I was not pregnant. It was like the world was torturing me, telling me I needed to feel the pain of lost. But still nothing. My lips did not quiver, nor did my eyes water. I remained silent, as did everyone else.

         "There's always a next time..." The maid beside me bit her lip. 

          I nodded in agreement. But I silently wish that there won't be a next time, at least not with that man whom doesn't want to be with me. I didn't want to experience the same agony as I did that night. But I serve the Emperor, and I will obey his command to perform the duties of a concubine.

          As I met with ladies of the court that day, I didn't see the soft features that once laid on there faces. I see worn eyes, ones that had betrayed hope. I didn't blame them, I didn't blame anyone. I kept my eyes down and tried to sink into the shadows, just like I did before I obtained the title of the concubine. 

          I didn't mind it as much as I did back then. It felt peaceful, relaxing. I remained watching as the people around me take care of matters while I stayed hidden, just a pretty face in a lively painting. 

          The meeting room's doors opened as scribe Hoseok strolled in towards me. His pale face was colored with a shade of pink from the afternoon sun. Hoseok raised an eyebrow at me, wondering why I was tugged into the corner of the room. I silently watched him until he stood in front of me.

         "Emperor Min requests your presence in the Royal garden," He holds out an arm for me to take.

          The room became quite as the news was heard by the few people near us. Not even whispers could be heard. Everyone stayed in their spot, no one moved to look at my blazing blushing face.