Suitors and Strangers

Chapter Ten (Yeom)

"The Lady has come with your tea," Queen Yoo stated looking towards her husband the king. The King himself was trying to stop a horrible cough, as he waved Yeom to bring the tea.

Yeom slowly stepped in with her head down, avoiding eye contact with both the Queen and King. Her eyes was focused on the many bowls of tea leaves, and herbal liquids, but more specifically her eyes was focused on the Daphne Odora sap in one of the bowls. Keeping her heart calm she set the tray down and began preparing tea. The King's cough finally subsided, but his breaths were very heavy.

"The tea I am preparing for you today is one my 'father' would make for me when I got very ill as a child. It will heal you right up, as well as leave you with a pleasant scent." Yeom finishes mixing the basic leaves, when she takes one last look up at the King. He gives her a light smile, and Yeom quickly looks back down to the tea. Grabbing the Bowl of Daphne Odora, and began to mix it into the tea. The King began to cough again and Yeom tensed up. She was beginning to have second thoughts.

"Hurry up and give the King his medicine," Queen Yoo shouted from behind Yeom. With that Yeom knew she would be going through with the plan after all. Setting the stirring stick down, Yeom handed the King the tea. She did not bother to look up at him as he grabbed the cup. All she could see was his thin, shaking hands. Once the cup had completely left her hands, Yeom grabbed the tray and stood up.

It was in that moment, that she had froze, and watched as the king brought the cup to his lips. She could feel the word "Stop" at the tip of her tongue, but she never said it. She just stood there as the king ingested the poison.

-o-o-o-o-o-o

The crunching of a twig put Yeom back into reality. Her palms were damp with sweat, and her heart was beating at a million paces. Ever since the run in with Lady Rena, Yeom has had random flashes of events. The last couple all leading up to the death of the King.

It's been a long time since Yeom has had weird day visions like this. The last one she could remember was when she had met Prince Jung for the first time. Another twig broke behind Yeom, causing her to turn to the noise. "Who's there," she asked. She could tell someone was behind her, but it was to early to know if it was another attack or the princess returning. Yeom placed her hand on her blade and secured it between her fingers. "I said who's there?"

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, " The queen's voice yelled, as she leaned over the king's pale body.

Yeom had completely closed her eyes shut as tears began to roll down her face.

"Sa Ra calm down," a shaky voice said. Yeom slowly opened her eyes to see she had her blade held up to Princess Pil's throat. She quickly dropped her blade as the Prince Wang So reached towards her.

Yeom squeezed her fist at her side as she stayed staring towards the ground,"I am a monster," she whispered to herself. Without looking back towards the princess Yeom ran towards the palace. She could hear the voices calling for her to return, but she did not look back, she was to afraid to see that scared face of the princess again.

-o-o-o-o-o-o

It had been almost a half of a week since the incident and Yeom had refused to leave her room, Lady Oh was informed about the incident so she was giving Yeom her space, but she could hear the young lady crying to herself that it became unbearable to sit on the side.

Lady Oh opened the door and did not say a word, as she saw the young lady turn towards her with swollen eyes. Slowly she closed the door and prepared her words. "Don't say anything, and just listen to me Sa Ra," Lady Oh did not look at Yeom as she continued. "I had spoke with king and requested he send you home. I informed him that you are in no condition to continue your duty, and you shall return once your head is clear. Collect your things, and I would give you the advice to leave discreetly and let no one know." With that Lady Oh left the room.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Jung are you here with us," 13th Prince Wang Wook said to his younger brother.

Jung turned towards his brother and nods his head. His father the king had put together a small event for the Princes and Princesses in plans to make an announcement, but Jung could not keep focus, as he was worried since had not seen Yeom in a few days.

The King cleared his throat, making all the eyes turn to him. "It feels like it has been a long time since we all could meet like this, and I am pleased to bring amazing news to this meeting."

Jung saw Lady Oh step into the room and tried to look to see if Yeom was trailing behind, but he was disappointed that she was not.

"Prince Jung is arranged to be married."

"What," Jung exclaimed his attention was pulled fully towards the king now.

"A noble friend of mine has come to me and asked for one of my sons to take his daughter in as their wife, seeing as your at a ripe age and have not married yet you were my best pick."

"I refuse this," Jung said. He kept his head down as his siblings turned to him. Out of all the Princes, Jung was least likely to ever refuse the king. "I cannot accept this marriage."

The king's face had wrinkled in anger. "You WILL marry, and I will see that you follow through completely with my request. You may be one of my sons, but you have no voice over me." The king calmed his tone as began to stand up. "You are to be married in two days, this will bring great strength to our family." With those last words the king left.

Jung knew the king would not change his stance, and his brothers even if they wanted to help they could do nothing to help him. He could not believe he would not be able to give his heart to the person he really loved.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Just give me three of your coins and I won't bust you for stealing," Yeom said to a young boy as she held onto his arm.

The boy continued to thrash around as he held on to some of the leaves he stole from Yeom's father's booth.

"Hey you little thief stop moving and just pay up." The boy did not give up in his fight to be set free. The leaves seemed to be of some importance to him.

"Yeom let the boy go." Yeom's father slowly crept from behind and put a hand on Yeom and the boy. "This here is Jin, and a regular helper of mine when you were gone. The leaves he has in his hand are the ones I let him have as payment," he releases Yeom's grip on the boy. "They are also for his sick mother." Yeom's father turned towards Jin and smiled. "Run quickly to your mother, I am sure she is worried about you."

The young boy bowed and quickly ran off, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

"Why didn't he just tell me that," Yeom asked.

Her father chuckled at her question. "That boy has a sickness that takes away his voice."

Yeom lowered her head and rubbed her neck, she kind of felt bad now for yelling at the boy, but she did not know of his condition. "I'm sorry I didn't know.'

Her father simply smiled at her reply," Since you are scaring people how about we call it a night.'

Yeom nodded her head in agreement as she began to help her father grab things. There house was not far, but she was not really picking up her pace. She had hoped that the market would help her return to her old self, since the palace meltdown, but it has not.

"What's on your mind," her father asked as they entered there house and began to put things away.

Yeom stopped in their entrance and looked at her father's back. "If I make a request will you answer truthfully."

Her father stopped what he was doing and looked at his daughter sincerely. It seemed the conversation he avoided for 15 years has finally come. "Yes sweetheart anything."

"I want to know the truth about my mom and the king, my real father"