Decisions

Advice from a King

It had been a couple of days, and so far Soo hadn't heard anything from So. She should have felt relieved, that he had not made any attempt to contact her after their meeting last time, but why did she feel so empty? For the past year, she had been living this same life: wake up, wash laundry, eat, wash more laundry, eat, and go to bed. But after seeing So again, she felt something stir inside of her. She couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly. She felt, alive? She recalled him telling her that she was surviving, but not living. She supposed he was right. After her demotion, she had no reason to live, other than to just stay alive day by day. Somehow, she made it for the past year. But now? She wasn't sure about anything anymore.

"Ya, did you hear? The 4th prince returned to the palace yesterday."

The other musuris were gossiping again, and usually whenever she heard any of the princes mentioned, Soo would tune them out. However, this time her ears perked up at the mention of So.

"Did he? It has been a year, has it not? Since he was sent away as an ambassador to Khitan?"

"Yes, and listen to this: he was wearing his mask again!"

"Ehh? But I thought he removed it. Apparently people say he did not have any horrible scar after the rain ritual."

"Exactly! So why was he wearing the mask again? Do you think he got another scar on his face?"

Soo held in a scoff and finished drying her last garment before putting it into her basket. She stood up and heaved her basket, walking past the gossiping maids and back towards the Gyobang. There was a reason why she never listened to the gossip. But then again, if she had not met the 4th prince yesterday, she would have been curious as to why he wore the mask again as well.

When she arrived at the clotheslines, memories of So surfaced again. She remembered how warm she felt when he hugged her, and how gentle he had been when he caressed her hand. It was to the point where every time she saw the sheets blow in the wind, she'd look over to see if he was hiding behind it again. Of course, he wasn't there, and she shook her head at her paranoia. He wouldn't be here, especially after what she told him last time.

When she arrived back at her room, she simply felt tired. Why was she so hung up over about him, especially now? It wasn't like she ever had feelings for him, right? She was in love with Wook, not So. Yet, why was she feeling this way? Her heart fluttered as she remembered the tender look her gave her yesterday, when he told her she was beautiful. She looked up from her place on the floor and glanced briefly at the mirror on the wall.

She saw a girl who looked like she had aged years beyond her actual age. Her hair was limp and stringy, held back by old pieces of cloth. Her skin looked pale, and the bags under her eyes had seen better days. Looking at her hands, she pursed her lips and crossed her arms to hide them. They were dry and cracked, yet So held them as if he was holding something so precious. Putting her head on her arms, she closed her eyes and let out a sigh. What did he see in her, really? She simply helped him cover up a scar, and he saw her now as if she was his whole world.

She was so immersed in her thoughts that she didn't hear the door open and close. It was only after she saw the tips of someone's boots under the space of her arms that she looked up.

"Ji Mong?"

"Lady Soo," he said before bowing to her.

She gave a wry smile.

"I am no longer a lady, Ji Mong."

"You may not be one now, but you will always be a lady to me," he said with a small smile.

"Thank you, Ji Mong...but what brought you here? Has something happened?"

Ji Mong's face grew somber, and he averted his eyes before he looked at her again.