That was the first time I was going to an occidental court. I felt particularly nervous since I landed in France. Everything was just so different from where I used to live. I still couldn’t believe I managed to get into that boat and make it until here. And that Lord hasn’t even scolded me for running away. He knew who I was: nothing but a servant’s child,born and  raised to become a servant myself  too. I was nothing. No one would miss me. Not even my parents. I was a burden to them. Among their 7 children, I was the one they preferred the less.

That Sheffield Lord was kind to me. He was in his mid 50’s and had himself no child. When he found me on his boat, hiding and starving, he pitied me and took me under his care. He also said I would interest a lot of people out there, in France, where Asian people could hardly be seen around.

That’s how, somehow, I ended up here, in this room full of people richly dressed and loud with music and laughers. I hardly took the time to register what was happening. I couldn’t even figure who was who. Lord Sheffield told me that in the bottom of the room were the thrones of the King and the Queen. I think I lost my master while being dumbfounded by so much luxury. The light from the numerous candles set a shining light on the splendid buffet spread across the room. People were dancing. It was the first time no one paid attention to me when walking into a room for the first time because of the colour of my skin, and the shape of my eyes. It actually felt good to be back to anonymity. It felt as if I was back to the Choson court. Well, that is, in the disguise of a Lord, not as a servant.

As I managed to spot my master on the other side of the room, looking as if he were himself looking for me, I tried to make my way to him through the dancing crowd. That’s when my eyes got caught by others. He was incredibly beautiful and something about him seemed kind of out of reach. His figure was noble and I instantly felt my heart skip a beat.