“The king has finally arrived” I muttered to myself. Dreading this day I looked at Chae Won who has the same stunned expression. We know that the little time that we had has already come to an end.
“There will be a celebration this evening for the king’s return, and he has specially requested your presence tonight, Suk Yong Chae Won.” Jin Kyung said. Chae Won only managed to bow in response.
“Jeul Ki, please prepare her for tonight’s event” and finally Jin Kyung left us. We were silent for what seemed like years, until Chae Won faced me with impending tears in her eyes.
“Ottoeoke?” she worriedly uttered, and I immediately gathered her in an embrace absentmindedly thinking if anyone would see us. Neither of us said a word, but we knew exactly what the other felt – fear. I distanced myself from her and looked intently into her now tear-stricken eyes.
“Tonight. We will elope tonight” I told her.
“But how? Did not you hear what Jin Kyung said? The king is requesting for me. They will surely look for me first.” Chae Won has a point. I honestly still do not how to pursue the plan, but I have to elope with her at all costs.
“I will make a way. For now stay in your room until I return, understand?” Chae Won nodded and embraced me once more before retreating to her room. “Be careful, my love” was her parting words.
I made my way to the hallway in deep thought of how to carry out our escape until I heard a faint voice.
“I saw you” to my horror it was Hyo Joo, I was about to answer her when she said, “I saw you with Suk Yong Chae Won, in the woods and earlier outside her room. Tell me the truth Jeul Ki, how long are you planning on betraying the kind like this?” her eyes were piercing through my very being.
Brought by instincts I dragged her into on corner and covered her mouth with my hand. “Hyo Joo-sshi, it’s not like what you are thinking. We are not betraying the king, Chae Won and I, we have been together even before coming here in the palace. Hyo Joo-sshi, please do not tell this to anyone.” I pleaded her and kept myself from breaking into tears. She managed to release herself from my grip.
“Now isn’t it easier to speak in your real tone huh? You easily fooled us from being a woman, now, how I will trust you in this situation?” she said in an accusing tone.
“I only did all of these for Chae Won. Haven’t you loved someone that you will do everything for that person?” Hyo Joo was taken aback with my question. Gungnyeos are not allowed to fall in love more so enter into a romantic relationship because they are raised and trained to be servants in the palace. I took her reaction to my advantage.
“So I believe your silence means a ‘yes’. Is it anyone here in the palace? A seongsangnim, a solider, or perhaps the king?” she gasped upon hearing my latter statement.
I smirked, “By sending your reaction, you are in love with the king.”
“And what is it to you if I am?” she battled back.
“Is that why you want to confront me? You are jealous of Chae Won because she has the king’s favor, while you have been serving him all your life?” She might have felt insulted by my words as I felt her cringe with every word that I said.
“I’m very sorry Hyo Joo-sshi, I did not mean to offend you. It’s just that I’m desperate. I was a fool not to have taken the chance to escape with Chae Won, but I do not know if it is too late now.”
“What do I get in return?” she blatantly said. My brows furrows in confusion.
“I mean, what do I get if I help you and your lover elope from the palace?” She gave me a grin.
