Suitors and Strangers

Chapter Six (Yeom)

    Yeom huffed extremely loud, as she stared down towards the clothes she had been beating clean. It had almost been a week since Yeom's return to the palace, and she had already got into trouble for being in a fight, which is why she is currently working her butt off.  This being the 7th task Lady Oh has demanded Yeom to finish, and it was only the morning.  She could only imagine what Lady Oh would have planned for her later, and the thought of it made Yeom's arms ache.

It could be said there was some satisfaction in all the work Yeom had been doing. Firstly, it kept her away from the other ladies and their piercing eyes. More specifically Lady Min who seemed to be the leader of it all, and the one person who had a personal vendetta out for Yeom. Secondly, the constant training reminded her of working on the market with her father. Although she argued a lot with her father about not wanting to follow in his foot steps by working at the market, she truly missed being by his side, and the familiar smell of his herbal teas.

Trying not to think about home, Yeom grabbed the last bit of dirty cloths she had to clean. She needed to finish this so she could take a small break before Lady Oh assigned the next task. Mercilessly beating out the dirt, Yeom was able to finish, and she immediately dropped to the ground in relief.

Now that Yeom was hands-free,  it was probably best to take that break,  but as she looked up towards the clouds,  she got a sense of loneliness. She really needed a friend to talk to.  She needed to find Princess Pil. If only she could talk to Prince Jung as well,  but that was completely out of the question.  Rubbing her hands dry , Yeom stood up,  so she could search for Pil.

Yeom also wanted to check on Pil,  because ever since the king had announced    that he would marry her off to any suitor,  her mind could not rest.  There were to many corrupt people involved with the palace,  and just any suitor could put Pil in serious danger.

Without a second thought,  Yeom set her cloths in a basket with other clean materials,  and preceded to sneak past the other ladies and into the main hall.  Though Yeom felt she deserved to be free to go as she pleased like before, she was still afraid to get caught by Lady Oh. Luckily she was a pro sneaker, and as long as she stayed down and close to the wall she would not get caught.

"What are you doing?" A low voice had called out. Yeom jumped but she was relieved to not hear the familiar sound of a women's voice, but when she turned towards the voice that relief disappeared and instead she froze in place.  At the other end of the hall stood the person she wanted to avoid more than Lady Oh.

9th Prince Won.

The Prince could not help but smile at Yeom's reaction. He loved any reaction he got out of her, but the reaction he loved the most about Yeom was that she never fleeted when he approached her, instead she always stood strong ready to glare him down.

Yeom had no time to play more games with the 9th Prince. Their last meeting was something she wish never happened, and she knew it was best not to mix with him any further, especially since what happened years before. 

"I asked what are you doing," Won said interrupting Yeom's thoughts, as he slowly inched closer. 

Ignoring his closeness Yeom pulled the first lie she could think of to get her out of this situation. "I was on my way to assist Lady Oh, so I will not be able to stay to keep you company." Yeom attempted to slip past the Prince's constantly approaching figure, but he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her against the wall.  Yeom wanted so bad to wince at the pain, but instead she held it in and instead glared at Prince Won.  "I must leave now your Highness."

Won simply chuckled and raised his hand to brush hair off Yeom's neck, but she swiped his hand away.  "Prince Won I will say this once so listen well. I am not like any of the other ladies. Your title holds no power over me, so if you want to keep what little bit of pride you have left please keep your hands away from me."

Prince Won looked  Yeom directly in the eyes. "Your still the same girl I met in the streets." He smiled as those words slipped his mouth. "And like any street girl with spunk you will eventually fall begging at my feet."

"Won," a voice called out. Both Yeom and Prince Won turned towards the voice. There stood before them was Prince Jung.  His face looked stern, and Yeom was embarrassed to be against the wall with Prince Won in front of her while he stared.

Won turned back towards Yeom and leaned towards her ear. "Since you seem so eager to leave me, I will let you go this once, but just know when I bump into you again it will not be so easy to run away. " He then stepped away from Yeom pivoted on his foot and towards Jung.

Yeom gritted her teeth at the fleeting figure. The palace was truly a cursed place.

"Lady Yeom, " called a familiar female voice.

Yeom dropped her head. She couldn't catch a break. "I might be more cursed than this palace," Yeom mumbled, as she turned towards Lady Oh. 

Lady Oh stood there, her usual ladies who follow where behind her, their heads down. Lady Oh never really shows emotion, but her stare still left an impact on Yeom. "Before you get mad at me, I just want to say I finished everything you asked. I just simply wanted to see Princess Pil. I am worried for  my friend, and my job is to be by her side, and how can I do that if you keep me working."

Lady Oh was actually relieved Yeom spoke up. Lady Oh's actual first lesson for Yeom is to always be focused on her true task, and it seemed she finally passed it. She gave a light smile towards Yeom. "Then it's time for you to be by Pil's side."

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As the morning turned to afternoon, Lady Oh was preparing Yeom for Pil's birthday.  The Prince's were all waiting as well for the event to begin.

Prince Jung was looking out towards the Palace grounds. There was only one person he wanted to see, and he had hoped he would see her passing by.  And not a few minutes  late Jung saw Yeom following behind Lady Oh. She was such a different flower among the others that surrounded Jung and he adored her.

A few feet away Prince Won was also watching Yeom.  His face casted a crooked smile. He wanted nothing but to rip Yeom apart, and turn her into a woman that would idolize him, and listen to anything he said. He needed to crush that rebellious girl. He was going to use Princess Pil's birthday party as his announcement to marry Yeom. She would not be able to run.