WHEN THE FLOWERS BLOOM IN MARCH ~ INCHEON~ PART ONE

12.

It is a long string; a rectangular table, where all the palace maidens have been arranged. There are four of you on one end.

Your table is the shortest.
Your hand is tracing the coral reef on your cheek. Your finger pads are throbbing from so much embroidery.

The examination is fast ending. It is time for every maiden seated to be assigned to a department or sent out.

It is already obvious by the way, of arrangement as well as the colours of the tables; who is going where. You glance at the girl at the other end of your table.

She does not seem to smile much. She looks ahead at nothing. Her gaze is far away.

‘Her Majesty the dowager queen’ the eunuch announces.
You all slide up gracefully as the dowager queen breezes in. Her golden skirt is like bronze silk and her approach is like pillaging. She reaches the head of the table, which is just by your table.

You feel nervous.

For one, she could recognize you as Inhyeong and because you are, where she can keep a watchful eye on you. She indicates with the flick of the hand after settling down that you should all sit.

Her eyes are a hawk’s brown gaze. It dwells longer on you, leaving you briefly to pin the others one at a time.
‘Bring the tea’ she instructs. Your heart feels heavy.

You are remembering your morning bows by yourself after Seiichi refused to see you for several weeks. You are thinking about Seiichi.

You are thinking; why did you fail him as a wife? You are remembering your first night and you giggle.
‘What is so funny?’ the queen dowager voices distastefully, beckoning you with her jade ringed index.

You shake your head. Your eyes are touching the ground, gliding like a kite to gaze upon her and then flung back to the ground, watching her feet; thinking about the shoes you wore as soon as you left the Kim mansion and entered the palanquin to go to the palace.

This pair is old, not like your wedding shoes.

She sighs in frustration.

The girls behind are giggling. You blink. Your eyes are searching the blank thinking you have failed before you have begun.

‘I said take a step closer and look at me.’ She repeats. Her voice is patient and comforting.

You feel guilty.

You feel sorry because you were not a filial daughter-in-law. Your eyes carry all this emotion looking up at her. Her stoic face relaxes.

Her almond eyes widen and return like an imagination. Her outstretched arm trembles. Her hands touch your face, caressing your coral burn.

She gasps.

You are scared because you do not know if she will tell on you or if she would embrace you. You take a hurried step back, looking around at the roofs.

Dae min leans unseen on the roof, an arrow in one hand, a bow in the next. He will shoot you if you fail. You fling yourself to the ground.

‘Forgive me, queen dowager. I deserve a thousand deaths!’

She watches this display intelligently, eyes dancing in mischief.

‘What exactly have you done that has to be forgiven?’ she mocks.

‘I am incompetent, forgive me, your majesty.’

‘Don’t sweet tongue me.’ She snaps.
You feel another presence crashing beside you. ‘Forgive us, queen dowager, we deserve a thousand deaths.’

You look up in surprise to see the girl at the other end of your table.

‘Hm,’ the queen dowager glides up, obviously displeased by everything. She does not seem to be able to bear it any longer. She steps over you and leaves.

You burst into tears. The girl is still bowed as you are. She raises her eyes to the empty seat. Her gaze is furious and then sad. You share a glance.

You are even, but you succeeded in throwing you both out of the palace; her for the second time; you, for the second time.

You both are ignored as a court lady walks in accompanied by palace maids. The teacups and the tea were placed before each girl was asked to serve the tea.

It seems like forever when the court lady goes around making sure every girl is doing the right thing. The court lady is Yoon.

Your head is bowed all the while.
‘Come with me, all of you.’ Yoon instructs.

Every girl glides up.

The girl from the other end of the table tries to help you up. Your eyes are red-rimmed. You have not stopped crying.

‘Not you two. Stay there.’ She snaps and the entourage leaves until they are a speck and then they are not there anymore.

You stay like that until it is night. Your knees ache and you are thirsty. The tables have been cleared so that the patio is empty.

The eunuchs have come to light the lamps and have gone. You are terrified to sleep, thinking about whether Dae min will fire the arrow.
‘Hi,’ the girl whispers.

You look up at her, cracking a skeletal smile. You do not feel like talking. You are sure that if you did it would come out hoarse. She smiles thinly as if in understanding.

‘Thank you for saving me the other time. My name is Myung-Ok.’ She says kindly. You admire her patience.
‘In – Jang! Jang Ok Jung’ you say.

‘Hm,’ she withholds a giggle. ‘In Jang-Jang Ok Jung – what a lengthy name’ she sniggers.

You glare at her. ‘I wish I could laugh like you then’ you huff, turning your shoulders to ignore her. She places a tentative hand upon your shoulders. ‘Sorry sister’ she whispers.

You sigh. ‘Forgiven, but we are done for.’ You say in finality.

You both sit in silence for a while seeing as you might be here the whole night.

‘Why do you lie about your name?’ she finally asks.

You shrug. ‘Are you going to tell on me?’

She shakes her head. ‘No, we are now sisters. I have saved you twice. Are you not Inhyeong?’ she says.

Your eyes widen. ‘You are the one that saved me that night.’ You say.

‘Yes, but why are you with the man who tried to kill you?’ she demands.
You notice the burn on her hand. You grab her hand and look at the ugly burn. She retracts it. ‘I’m sorry’ you apologize.

She rubs it. ‘Two years’ she says. ‘It will pass as a birthmark – and it is on my hand, not my face.’ She points out. ‘I can take it away for you.’

‘No thank you. It is now who I am.’ You say.

‘But why are you with that man?’ she demands again.

You shrug. ‘Will you teach me the water technique? I finally did find you.’ You say.

‘I see you are on the path to revenge.’ She says.

‘And how come you were thrown out? What did you do?’ you ask curiously.
‘I will tell you one day as soon as you explain to me why you are with Dae min.’

‘I guess your reason for being thrown out is not my concern as we are leaving the palace tomorrow anyway.’