A Tale About A: Forgotten Princess [Part 2]

Chapter 13: Princess Yue-Hwa Yeon

"Mother?" I weakly mumbled as I stared at the fine woman's face. 

You were an orphan when I adopted you in to our family. 

Father's words floated in my mind and I got confused. Wasn't I an orphan?

"Yes...A-Yeon ah." Tears trickled down her face as she continued to caress my cheeks. 

What's the meaning of this?

"I will tell you the truth once you're fully recovered. Don't worry my child, you are safe with me now." She smiled gently as she assured me calmly.

With the help of the physicians in the palace,  my body was finally out of danger and I could sit up with some help from time to time. The injuries from my body had yet to recover and I highly doubt a few more months would be needed. My mind was still fuzzy some times but I know I was clear in my heart.

That woman...she claimed to my mother. If that is true, why did father said that I am an orphan?

The door to my resting area opened and the woman stepped in quietly. When she saw me sitting on the bed, she greeted happily. "You're finally out of danger."

I stared at her for as long as I could, trying to find resembling traits that we might have. My heart got nervous all of the sudden as she sat down beside me. My breathing got heavier and I avoided her gaze when our eyes met.

There was a moment of silence and I saw her hand reaching out to mine hesitantly, finally holding on to mine after a few moments. However, unfamiliar to her touch, I shrink my hand back. 

"I know you must be feeling confused and foreign to the sudden change of events. I totally understand what you're feeling. It's all my fault." The woman said right after my rejection. "I had no other choice but to ask Jongsuk oppa's help to get you out of the palace when you're just a newborn. It was despicable of me to abandon my infant to someone else's hands." 

"A-Yeon ah...I'm sorry." She gave me an apologetic look but somehow, I was fuming. 

I was disgusted by the woman who claimed to my mother, who had abandoned me to survive outside and yet to bring me in again as and when she wanted to. How could she make me suffer with her selfish choices?! And she claimed that, that was to keep me safe.

"I am an orphan." I declared firmly.

"That golden ring...the King gave it to me before I was pregnant with you. He promised to marry me but because of difficult circumstances, we could not be together. I asked Jongsuk oppa to give it to you so that I could recognise you when you enter the palace. Hoping that one day we will be reunited." She continued and my mind felt heavy. 

I can't stand this.

"STOP! I don't want to listen to any of this! I am an orphan and I have no mother! I am adopted by my father and that is that!" I bursted as my emotions got away. 

"A-Yeon ah! Please accept the reality! Don't you know how long I've waited, how long I've missed to hug you in my arms all this while?! You are my daughter and that's the truth!" She embraces me fiercely in to herself as tears kept flowing down both of our faces. 

"Please. Forgive me. Some one attempted to feed me poison just so I could be miscarriage with you. But from today onwards, I will make them pay. I will make them kneel down in front of the both of us, for making our lives miserable for the past 17 years." 

I felt defenceless and helpless as I cried in her arms. Reality dawning down on me that I am no longer an orphan. I never was. 

"Omma..." I cried as I weeped miserably.