The soft silk of the dress slipped easily over your head, the fabric only making your hair float up slightly. You sat down in front of the mirror at the makeup desk, waiting as your maid fixed your hair up into a simple but elegant bun on the top of your head.
Eventually, your makeup up was finished too and you made your way to the carriage waiting outside, the white horses being fed sugar cubes by the stable boy as they waited. You nodded towards the younger boy with a smile before taking the hand of your advisor and climbing into the carriage, your passive mask sliding on immediately.
You glance out the window occasionally at the passing scenery as you wait for the dreadful trip to the king's palace, Versailles.
Song Minho, better known by the kingdom as Mino, was a ruthless ruler. He killed people that were against him, he had agents he sent through the cities, listening among the people, and even treated the nobles as if they were the dirt even the lowest peasants walked on.
He was the reason you were now on this carriage ride to the castle. For the past month, your closest friend and advisor, now sitting beside you, had been living in the palace in your place. Every morning she woke up at 7:30 and stood outside "his highness'" door to wait and hope to get at least a glance or a nod, anything, from him. After all, these small gestures determined whether a noble succeeded or failed. And your advisor, had received none of these gestures.
You placed your hand on top of hers as reassurance and gave her a smile before tucking a stray hair back into your bun and standing up to get out of the carriage. You held up the skirt of your dress as you stepped down alone, nodding at the others that had come with you before following the flow of nobles entering the palace before you. The sun still hadn't risen.
—
You stood against the wall outside of his room, you being the fifth person down from his door. You stood straight in your spot, putting on your face that seemed to have no feeling. Many believed a woman at the times should have always been smiling and doing as much as she could for the menfolk. But, you couldn't do that. When you rose to power in your family and became a noble, you took the opportunity. Just by that step, you had shattered so many "rules" of a woman and were looked down upon by others of your gender although you were looked up to by the men that aspired to be nobles themselves.
You snapped out of your thoughts as the king's royal advisor walked out and introduced the king's awakening. You straightened and brushed off your skirt just in case before taking a deep breath. Your act today could possibly decide your future.
You looked to the door as he walked out. He had on a simple blue coat with gold lining and gold buttons, his black, tight pants showing off his toned legs and the red cuffs bringing out the tan-ness of his skin. He slicked his hair back with a hand before walking. You saw him glance at some of the other nobles and nod at others. You were the only woman there.
You couldn't help but glance down the long row of nobles to look for another of your gender but failing to find one. You let out a sigh that you extinguished just as the king stopped in front of you. You froze for a moment before taking a slow breath and relaxing, bending your legs into a slight curtsy as he still stared straight ahead. You bit the inside of your cheek slightly, hoping he'd give you something, anything. You almost jumped out of your skin when your green eyes met his warm hazel ones. His eyes searched your face before he turned to his advisor.
"Arrange a dinner for everyone, save an extra seat beside my spot for this woman here." he stated before continuing down the line quickly, leaving his advisor scribbling in his notebook quickly and you frozen in your spot. Your mind couldn't help but go to the worst case scenarios but you decided to not trouble yourself yet and slipped back into your passive mask.
You all followed the king's back with your eyes before he turned a corner and the nobles fell out of their spots and started to go to their rooms. You felt the eyes of the other nobles on you as you went to your room. Many met you head on and you stared right back at them, thanking whoever gave you the gene that helped you intimidate the nobles with only your stare.
You threw yourself onto the bed with a groan and let out an even louder groan into the pillow at everything that happened the last few hours.
—
You jumped at the sudden knock at your door but yelled, "come in!" before finishing the last part of your makeup as the advisor from the morning walked in. You stood up and gave him a curtsy, "What brings you here?" you asked, hoping the innocent question hadn't come across cold as it usually did in your voice. He gave you a small smile at your fidgeting before touching your arm slightly in reassurance,
"Don't worry Princess, you're not in trouble. The king just wanted me to escort you to the dining room. He didn't exactly trust the other nobles enough with the only female among them," he said with a small smile, letting your link your arm in his and lead you out of the room. You nodded in response, "Would you possibly know why..." you paused as you fought for words that wouldn't get you killed.
"Why he asked me to give you a seat at the table right beside him?" he finished as if reading your thoughts. You hesitated before slowly nodding. He flashed you another smile before answering, "It could mean many things, with the king you may never know unless he tells you, even if you've known him for years. If you think about it, he's almost like you," he finished, giving your hand a squeeze before opening the doors to the dining room for you.
