Common Sense (taegi)

1+1

I cannot read yet ironically I love books. I love the feeling of the paper between my fingers and the musty scent permanently engraved into the bindings. In this world being able to read and write is a privilege reserved for the royal and noble families.

Only the rich of us can afford school. I've been working as the man of the house for as long as I can remember. It's just me my mum and my four sisters. My mom is far too sick to work and well my sisters, putting it nicely, they are a bunch of bitches.

With my lack of any type of skill handling a job has proved to be rather challenging, but I believe I have finally found one.

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"Jimin, do you think the royal family would mind if I took a book from the library?"

Jimin, another palace maid, halted his swift movements around the kitchen. The place was completely cleared out at this hour of night. The exact reason why it was the best time to catch up on missed meals. When your rushing about all day tending to someone else's needs you often forget about your own.

"What on earth for? You can't even read. None of us can."

By 'us' he referred to the rest of the help. I grumble , resting my cheek on my palm. Jimin dug about in a few cupboards before returning to the table with jams and bread. " well it's not like they read them, all those words are just going to waste!" I say

"And it would be made useful in your care?" He asks shoving a jar of strawberry jam towards me. I gratefully took the jar, popping it open and spreading a hefty amount on my bread.

"Sure" I squeak around a mouthful of mush " before I came here I did a lot of self study"

Jimin made a face. His own cheeks stuffed "Taehyung! don't talk with your mouth full." He scolds

"But you're talking with your mouth full!"

"So what!? Don't follow in my footsteps. Be civilized."

I swallowed my bread and jam. Civilized? What did that mean?

Jimin must have caught on to my confusion. He pushed back from the table with his signature eye smile on display. Walking to the middle of the room he faced me , placing his hands on his hips.

"Civilized!" He declares " you know all those damsels who have been showing up to court the prince lately?"

I nodded. A lot of beautiful young women have been stopping by the castle to try their luck in catching the young masters interests. Though all the time I've been working the palace I've only ever glimpsed the prince. I spend all my time looking after the the queen . The rumors about the boy have not been pleasant though.

"What about them?" I ask

Jimin rolls his eyes at me" they are civilized." He slicks his hips out swaying back and forth in some sort of waltz "elegance . Beauty . Pride . Ambition. "

I should be focusing on whatever the elder is trying to teach me but all I'm wondering is where he learned the word ambition?