"I will do my best to serve you, Your Majesty." Cha Eunmin bowed before Joy.
Joy looked at her donned the palace attendant's attire and smiled. "Please take good care of me, Eunmin" She teased.
"Ah?" Eunmin looked up at Joy, surprised, but quickly lowered her head again. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Joy exchanged glances with Little Choi. Little Choi stood near Joy and watches Eunmin remained in her bowing position. "You can relax a little." She said to Eunmin.
Joy nodded. "You can follow Little Choi and address me as 'Agassi' when we are alone."
"But..." Eunmin looked a little uneasy. "How can I, a lowly servant, be so insolent and addressed Your Majesty as 'Agassi'?"
"Are you calling me insolent?" Little Choi narrowed her eyes at Eunmin in a joking manner.
But Eunmin took it way too seriously. "No, I didn't mean it that way!" she quickly exclaimed out loud and apologised, drawing laughter from Joy and Little Choi.
"Well, should I tell you a little secret?" Joy said. She signalled Eunmin to come closer to her. Though scared, Eunmin obeyed and quietly moved closer to Joy. With a table separating them, Joy leaned a little closer to Eunmin and whispered. "I never really like how others address me so formally." Joy then straightened herself and spoke in her usual tone. "I can't interfere with the royal rules, but at least within my own quarters, I can change that."
Eunmin looked at Joy, her eyebrows still raised.
"Take it as a privilege." Little Choi smiled. "Only the two of us in the entire nation can refer to the Queen as 'Agassi'. You should be honoured."
Eunmin glanced at Little Choi then looked at Joy. "Yes, Your Majesty-- I mean, Agassi."
Joy smiled and nodded. "From now on, you will assist Little Choi. If you need help with anything, just find Little Choi. And if she dares to bully you, report to me immediately."
"Agassi!" Little Choi exclaimed. "Why would I bully her?"
Joy shrugged and make a face at Little Choi. She then turned to Eunmin and mouthed: "Be careful of her. She bites!"
Eunmin laughed.
Looking at the relationship between Joy and Little Choi, Eunmin had a whole new perception on a master-servant relationship. She had never thought that a master and a servant can have such a close relationship-- even up to the point that they are more like a family or friends. For the first time, Eunmin felt like home because of the warm welcome from Joy and Little Choi. They had never once belittled her. They treated her sincerely like a true friend. Because of this, Eunmin made up her mind at that point in time -- she will always be loyal to Joy and will always treat Joy and Little Choi as her family. She will stand by them no matter what happens.
"Alright, I guess it's time we should go prepare for the departments' inspection," Little Choi said. "Agassi, get yourself ready. Eunmin, follow me."
Eunmin nodded and followed Little Choi out. Joy looked at both of them from where she is and smiled.
**********
"Let's go to the embroidery department for inspection first." Joy informed Little Choi as she walked.
"Yes, Agassi." Little Choi replied, walking a step behind Joy with Eunmin. They made their way to the embroidery department with a trail of attendants following behind Joy closely. Suddenly, Joy stopped abruptly.
YOU ARE READING
1681
Historical FictionSixteen-Eighty-One. After a moment, she finally found her voice. But her words came out more like a whisper. "Who...who did you just say I am?" "Min Inhyeon, daughter of Lord Min YuJung." "And what year is it now?" "1681, Agassi." She turned and sto...