When The Cherry Blossom Fades

Mt Keun

"Left the palace early again?" Mr Son exclaimed from behind the counter, "Suppose you want some mochi?"

Mr Son, the owner of Lucky Son, was an old man in his 50's. He and his wife had been observing Han Aeng's escapades since she blatantly ditched her duties and jumped security the past few years. The truth of that story is that after finding out no one could put a tab on her, the King ultimately let her do what she wanted.

Han Aeng gave a cheerful nod in response, sinking onto a table with her hands stretched out comfortably. "You know me too well. I'll take some of Ajumma's candles too."

Chuckling, Mr. Son headed to the back of the store, playfully ruffling Han Aeng's hair along the way. "Who would have thought a wild girl like you would have such refined taste?"

"Ajumma, your husband's bullying me again," Han Aeng whined, brushing out her hair to fall more naturally.

Mrs Son set out a bowl of japchae and carefully patted Han Aeng on her head. "Did he lie, though? Yer nearin' the age to get married, and yer still act like a babe."

"Tsk, like husband, like wife." Han Aeng pouted at the older woman before digging into her food.

As expected, nothing beats food when you're tired from being pretentious all day long.

Mr. and Mrs. Son sat down next to Han Aeng, engaging in conversation about their day. They watched her eat with affectionate gazes, treating her as if she were their own daughter. Han Aeng's innocent charms had endeared her to the Son couple, and they felt a sense of responsibility towards her.

They belonged to the more significant portion of the people who considered Han Aeng an angel, a cute little girl who has not even a single strand of evil in her. The other, minority portion would rip their clothes and cry blasphemy on the streets if they heard Han Aeng's innocent characteristic. For one, Minister Jang's daughter would justify that Han Aeng was the devil's reincarnation—a wolf in sheep's clothing. In saying that, no one has believed her - rather, no one could; she was just too adorable.

"Here you are, Young Miss." Mr. Son winked playfully, handing Han Aeng a bag filled with mochi and candles after she finished her meal.

Han Aeng returned the gesture and waved goodbye to the old couple.

Typically, she would stop by at her manor on a full stomach to pester her dear nanny, but she knew that no one would be home at this point.

Instead, she skipped her way to Mt Keun, the great big mountain east of the capital, Han Aeng's secret haven.

Mt Keun was the primary source of freshwater for the capital, and very seldom people would come here to pick wild herbs and such. For the most part, it was empty and void of humans, making it the best place to hide from responsibilities. Ever since she figured out no one could stop her from leaving the palace when she felt like it, she would come here to eat, sleep, and be a living log.

Today was meant to be a rest day for our nosey lady, Han Aeng. Still, when she noticed some of Minister Jang's servants and a few guards at Mt Keun's base, she curiously follow behind as they climbed up the mountain.

"Remember to only take what I assigned you, and nothing more. Stay close and don't get lost or try to run away. If you do, the cold or the wildlife will kill you!" the maid in charge sternly warned, and the younger maids hurriedly formed groups to collect the designated items. "Remember, this will be the last time we come at this time. Starting tomorrow, we're coming early in the morning."

The younger maids complied immediately and rushed off in little groups to pick whatever they needed.

From a distance, Han Aeng observed as the servants hurriedly gathered wildflowers, herbs, and roots. Although they were not collecting anything suspicious, it unsettled her that Minister Jang would send his maids to retrieve common goods. Everything the maids collected seemed like things supplied by local merchants and doctors, so why did Minister Jang need to go out of his way to collect them from Mt Keun.

"Maybe the old geezer has run out of money," Han Aeng speculated, but she didn't dwell on the thought for long and decided to continue on her own path, leaving Minister Jang's servants behind.

She took a slight detour and headed to a small cave where she stored her secret stash of blackberries before reaching her final destination. Every step she took made her mouth water, and she could practically taste the delicious juice trickling down her lips.

Just the thought of indulging in the berries under the bamboo forest brought her immense joy. But she never expected what awaited her.

Never in a hundred years did she expect this.