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Scroll 34 ⚠️

 ⚠️ WARNING: SOME PARTS OF THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SEXUAL LANGUAGE AND CONTENT. IT MAY ALSO CONTAIN DEPICTION OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING VERBAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.

Joy looked up at the sky while she takes a break from the washing of her clothes. The light breeze tousled Joy's hair. She held up her right hand and tucked away a strand of hair.

Early this morning, she went to the nearby stream to gather water just so that she can do the washing of her laundry. It's have been a month since she left the palace. Compared to when she first steps into the palace, Joy finds it easier to adapt to life here. She looked at the clear blue sky, listening to little birds chirping on a tree branch. Out of the hanok and in the yard, the air is warmer and fresher.

"Agassi, leave those to me. I will wash them after I cleaned up." Eunmin came up next to her. Joy turned to see Eunmin's unsettled expression.

"It's okay," she said. "You continue cleaning while I continue."

Unlike in the palace, she had no attendants to help her wash her clothes. As a result, she has to wash them by herself so here she is, in the small yard, washing her own clothes. Not that she minds, but Eunmin seems to mind a lot.

On her first few days outside the palace, Eunmin refused to let Joy do any household chores. Joy knew that it is because Eunmin had the mindset that with her noble status, she should not do household chores, but Joy begs to differ. Hence, instead of letting Eunmin do every household chores, she suggested to split up the work. After much negotiation and persuasion, Eunmin finally agreed. Still, Eunmin being Eunmin, she is still worried.

Joy smiled as Eunmin as a form of assurance. "The sky is turning dark soon. It will be faster if we split works."

Eunmin hesitated.

"Go on." Joy said, giving her a little push. Eunmin nodded reluctantly before she heads back to the house to clean up.

Joy looked down at her damp clothes. She can't help but missed the washing machine in her 21st-century home. If only there's one here ...

Knowing that what she is yearning now is impossible, Joy squatted down and begin washing her clothes again.

Pieces by pieces, she is finally done with her laundry. Joy slowly hang them on a clothesline neatly. By the time she is done, the sky greeted her with a sunset. Joy walked back to the hanok. Just as she was about to step in, someone called her.

"Agassi!"

Joy turned, recognizing the voice that is calling her.

"Little Choi!" she called out.

Little Choi stood outside, smiling at her. Joy smiled and walked to the small gate that separated the hanok and the main road. Eunmin popped her head out when she heard someone called Joy. Seeing that it's Little Choi, she stopped her things and went to welcome Little Choi too.

"What are you doing here?" Joy smiled, missing her dear old friend. She gestured Little Choi to enter the hanok. They took a seat in the living room while Eunmin lit up a small candle before joining them.

"I am actually here to keep you up-to-date on what's going on in the palace," Little Choi said. "I thought that there are some things that you should know."