III

 

Seulgi had been attending the royal council the whole week; the big and the smaller ones. Fortunately today, her father had a smaller one so the time passed comparably faster and also, the concerns over the towns and cities lessened, which makes it all better. “…aside from the fire incident at the capital’s stable, is there anything else the court would like to add?” The King inquired, looking at the rest of the council members. The Baron, who was in charge of the kingdom’s financial matter stood up and bowed at The King and her. “I would just like to remind that His Majesty’s Jubilee Ball is in fifteen days and necessary preparations within the castle should be readily prepared.” “Are letters already sent to other respective kingdoms?” “If I am not mistaken, Sire, yes it has.” The King nodded and turned to her, “Anything to add?” Seulgi thought for a moment. “…How much gold are we spending for this event?” There were a few murmurings here and there from the court. Did they find it outrageous for her to ask. “I am just generally curious on how much we are spending on the ball. I also believe we should invest more on the burned stables as well as other affected houses.” “Affected houses, Your Highness?” “I had paid a visit at the disastrous scene yesterday. It was rather an upsetting sight to see small houses nearby burned down to ashes as well. The villagers there aren’t exactly wealthy.” Seulgi pointed out. The Baron appeared rather wordless and The King then announced, “Well you should add that to the list as well. Deduct as ample gold sufficient enough for the restoration of both the stable and the affected houses.” “…Very well, Sire.” The King turned to her, a slight approval smile on his lips before he concluded the council meeting for today. He then muttered something that was only for her ears, “This council meeting can be quite unbearable sometimes don’t you think?” “Very.” She grinned. Both her and The King walk away from the small drawing room, heading back to their respective schedule but not before her father started to ask. “So how is the fare between you and your matchmaker?” “I suppose you have to ask Joohyun regarding the matter,” Seulgi disdainfully answered, “According to you, she is the expert in love.” “You do know that if I have confidence in your pursuits, I would’ve never resort for her aid. I would’ve consulted you prior hiring their services.” They took a right turn, nodding at their subjects along the way before her father stated, “However you and I…rarely see things eye to eye these days.” “Yes, so it seems.” “I know you would come to embrace her presence soon.”  Seulgi argued, “To be frank father, I think she is over in her head.” “She is a deliberate young woman who takes her duties very seriously.” They stopped in front of one of the King’s solar. Her father then added, “And I expect you to give her the respect and consideration that she deserves.” “Indeed….”   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~♥♥♥~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Seungwan had been searching for a certain someone all morning. She politely inquired several nobles and knights along the way on the whereabouts of the lady-in-waiting but mostly answered that she is with the Princess, although no one knew where exactly Her Highness is. They did not have a council today nor did the Princess left the castles ground (she had checked with the guard). So much walking was done and Seungwan had to leaned her back on the castle wall for a moment before she journeyed to the other end of the castle. And thankfully, she saw someone familiar coming out from the bakehouse. “Lady Yeri,” She called out. The girl had a warm croissant held on one hand. “…Seungwan?” “I apologise for my disturbance, but I was hoping you would know where Lady Sooyoung is?” The girl took a bite out of the pastry in her hand, chewing and she pondered, “The biggest solar in the east tower perhaps?” “I’ve searched. The room is unoccupied.” The girl took another bite, “….check the stables then.” “The stables?” “Yes, the stables? Where the horses are kept?” Seungwan came to her senses, “Ah yes, surely why did I not think of it. The Princess loves horse-riding doesn’t she…” “Mm-hmm…” “Thank you very much, Lady Yeri.” Seungwan bowed slightly, “Its best for me to get along n -” “Wait-!” The girl held a hand, preventing her from walking away, “Promise you won’t say anything to Lady Sooyoung of your meeting here with me. She wouldn’t like it.” “Very well. I’ll keep my lips tight shut.” Seungwan motioned. The girl snickered and let her go. Seungwan quickly made her way to the stables where the smell of the horses was prominent as she walked closer. The doors were wide open and there were two guardsmen securing at both ends. One of the guards who had a scar on his eyebrow queried her purpose before he trudge in and walk back out a few minutes later, nodding for her to walk inside. There were huge stallions; most probably war-horses on both sides of the stables but the deeper she went in the horses appeared tamer and smaller in size and she could spot Sooyoung crouching her body while brushing the mane of an angelic looking horse. “Lady Sooyoung…?” The woman was not in her dresses or cloak, instead she was wearing one of those tunics like the Princess often so wear with ankle boots. “Are you searching for me or Her Highness?” Seungwan spoke, “No, you’re just the person I have been looking for.” The woman stopped her grooming movements, placing the brush on one of the baskets before turning to her. And oh, how Seungwan felt rather small at the towering stature of the lady in waiting. “What is it?” “I… was hoping you and I could find a common ground and have a conversation about the Princess…” There was a small frown growing between the woman’s eyebrows, “I’m afraid my loyalty to the Princess prevents me from divulging into personal details.” “I am not telling you to kiss and tell. Or asking you who the princess has kissed…” Seungwan mumbled, “It’s just…in order for us to do our job, we really need more information than what the rumours are telling us.” “Well, the picture they paint can be further from the truth.” “That is what we have been suspecting all along!” Seungwan burst, rather enthusiastically, “But with how the way it is at the moment, we might have been sending her more I don’t’s instead of I do…which is not going to help any confidence instil in the princess because she is already feeling sceptical.” Sooyoung still appeared uncertain, “So you are asking me to betray the confidence of a woman to whom I have sworn my allegiance…?” “Lady Sooyoung…I am not asking you for jewels and golds, I just need a little indication of Princess Seulgi’s true personality…” The tall woman remained silence for a few seconds, and then she spoke, “There is a fine line between being helpful and being deceitful…” Seungwan’s face fell at those words, ready to part away from the stern lady-in-waiting but then, “…but…it is one that I will gladly navigate if it means getting the Princess a chance of happiness..” A huge smile plastered on her face at the words of the lady, “…you really care about the Princess don’t you?” “I was there when she lost her mother…” Sooyung reminiscence, “and she was there when I lost mines too. Those bonds run deep…”  Seungwan nodded, empathised with the situation before the lady-in waiting excused herself and left the stables.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~♥♥♥~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Joohyun was once again in her working solar, sitting on the ground along with the maps and parchments and parchments of the profiles of other nobles suited to be the candidates for Seulgi. The room was obviously a mess and Joohyun wasn’t in her most graceful state either. “Ser Jimin goes here…” Joohyun took one profile and add it into another pile, “And this one…this one has to be excluded….” There was a few gentle knocks on the door – most probably Seungwan so she just said, “Come in!” with her head still burying deep with the organising of candidates. The door opened and for a moment Joohyun thought why Seungwan had not spoken a word and looked up only to see Princess Seulgi in a night blue cotton tunic and a leather belt tucked in the middle, standing in between the opened door. Her hair was damp, making a few strands plastered on her forehead and Joohyun had to inwardly gulp at the sight. “Your Highness!” “I hope I’m not disturbing you…” “No, not at all.” Joohyun quickly stood up, straightening her dress. “I apologised for this chaotic mess. It’s just…we have been busy sorting things here so…” Seulgi unsurely nodded, “May I come in?” “P-Please…” Joohyun stood there awkwardly, seeing Seulgi shutting the door behind close. “Good Lords…” Seulgi slowly paced about the solar, eyeing the clutters on the floor, “You really turned this place like a war…and, which is why I am here.” The woman turned to face her, looking somewhat tense and edgy. “I…was hoping we could start fresh. I realised I may have come