"What reputation? Why would everyone be scared of him? I don't see him as a scary person," I questioned them. Prince Jung removed Leo's hand and looked at me with wide eyes.
"You're not aware of his reputation?!" I shook my head at him. Before he could say another word, Prince Jihan stopped him but not in a serious way.
"It's Egon's story to tell, Jung," Jihan said before he sipped his white tea.
"Everyone knows it except for her. Egon's courting her so she has the right to know.
*sips his tea and makes a slightly sour face*
He's known for his viciousness towards his enemies and his unforgiving personality, he doesn't hesitate to kill. The most important thing that you should know is he's been with countless number of ladies and he often visits br--" Prince Leo covered his mouth, again.
"I think she heard enough, Jung. So, Laurana, which tea do you like more?" Leo, then, changed our discussion.
"Uhm.. the white tea has a sweet and gentle taste while the magnolia berry tea is different because it has lots of flavor-- there's sourness, bitterness and sweetness. I liked them, both."
"It actually has five different flavors--," he was cut off by someone outside the sliding doors.
"May we bring your snacks inside?" I quickly wore my veil and hood with the help of Jihan, as Prince Jung answered them.
"Come in."
...
After they have served our snacks, all of them left the room except for the manager looking at my direction. Then, Prince Jihan block his line of sight by using his body to hide me.
"Forgive me for looking, this old man was just curious to know who this young lady is. Please enjoy your stay and the performances later," the manager bowed to us before he left. I removed my veil and hood, again, as I looked at the snacks in front of me.
"Waaaaah, so many foods~" There's this traditional honey cookies, dried persimmons filled with nuts, rice cakes made with green herbs, brownies made with glutinous rice and some fried sweet dessert made from a mixture of grain, honey and sesame (similar to yumilgwa). I knew all of that, not because I had those on Earth, which I didn't; but, because the princes told me what those snacks are. I've always wanted to try these traditional snacks, paired with tea and in a tea house with people all wearing traditional clothings like its the normal thing to do.
"The teas and these snacks really do complement each other, this is really good! Don't you all agree?" The princes nodded their heads while chuckling at me.
"Jihan, incase you didn't know, this is Laurana's first teahouse experience, she's never been to one and that's why she's so excited." Jung informed him while looking at me with his eyes smiling.
"Wow, it's a pleasure to be here with you, Laurana. I hope that we'll be able to make this a memorable experience for you," he genuinely smiled at me, after.
"You already did! Thank you-- the three of you, for being here with me. I really appreciate it," with all sincerity, I expressed my gratitude to them.
Leo suddenly leaned forward and ruffled my hair and gently said, "You really are a thankful person, huh?"
"Yah! I was about to ruffle her hair, too!!" Then, Jung removed Leo's hand and replaced him.
"Yaaah, you're messing my hair, don't do this to.. me.." Jihan made me lose it when he patted my head, gently. I feel like my cheeks are burning!! For a moment, I just let him unconsciously, then, I shook my head hard.
"Don't you tease me, you annoying princes!" I glared at the three of them.
All of a sudden, Jihan slightly touched my cheek with the back of his hand, "Why is your face flushed with red?"
"Urgh!" I wore my hood and pulled it hard to hide my face; I wore my veil, also. Then, walked towards the windows and sit on one of the pillows there. While, the three princes were laughing because of me.
I heard some instrument playing outside, so I opened the sliding windows and looked at the first floor. I saw the platform in the middle of the room where a man was testing his instrument, a zither with twelve silk strings. I noticed some people turned to my direction, then, all of them when someone loud sat at my left side.
"What are you looking at?" That was Jung, the second loudest prince after Henri.
"Lower your voice, they're all looking at us," I whispered to him. When I looked at my right side, there's Jihan giving me a cup of white tea.
After I accepted the cup, he leaned a little closer to me and whispered, "Peace offering?"
I nodded at him and looked back at the first floor, only to see people whispering so I just sipped my tea without paying them any attention. Just before the performance started, there was a commotion at the front entrance which can be heard all the way up to the second floor especially because our windows were open.
"My lady says she only wants to stay at the private room she always used!"
"That's right, Lady Wei deserve the best view for the performance!"
"Who dares challenge my lady's family power?!"
"Look, up there, the windows are open, Lady Wei!"
"You, get out! Lady Wei wants that room!"
It's so noisy, it's a waste that I can't enjoy this refreshing tea so I asked the princes in a voice only they could hear, "Is it always noisy at a teahouse, isn't it supposed to be more peaceful?"
The princes laughed at my I'm-not-paying-attention-to-them attitude and Jung whispered to me, "This is the room that they want, should I mention Egon's name again?"
The four of us laughed at his suggestion, meanwhile the people that weren't receiving any attention from us were all fuming in anger especially their lady who's suppressing her anger to maintain her innocent facade.