Chapter Fifteen: Will to live
Wangmin laughed merrily. "That was called a 'goodbye kiss'. Doesn't sister know?"
Feeling her forehead, she turned around to Wangmin and scowled, "I know, you silly child. However, it was the first time Wangchul did that."
Wangmin pfft-ed and shrugged. He long noticed that after Haneul changed her way of thinking, Wangchul also started to took interest and has taken a liking to the once silent and shy Empress. It seems like Wangchul can't handle his emotions well and abruptly showed it by kissing Haneul's forehead. It was a move that made her perforcedly question his gesture.
Seconds after the silence of both parties, Kyung Mi showed up. "Your majesty, everyone is already gathered. Furthermore, a letter from the Fiefdom of Myung has arrived," she said and handed Haneul an envelope sealed with their family emblem.
Before leisurely taking a fresh air at her garden, Haneul asked Kyung Mi to gather all the concubines for a short meeting.
Haneul sipped her tea before reaching it out and opened it to avoid confusion.
The original Haneul was a spoiled child before coming to the Imperial Palace, she loves her family dearly that she would be anticipating an everyday letter from them even though it was obviously impossible.
If she were the real Haneul, she would be reading a letter from them as soon as she could lay a hand on their letter. But she was not. It was quite awkward to receive something from a family that you did not grow up with.
Haneul was about to empty her cup of tea by lifting it but paused halfway as she read the body of the letter. It was full of anxiety, longing, and worry about her well-being. She felt a slight pang on her chest as if it was being pierced by a thin needle that's long been used. She pursed her lips as she felt a lump on her throat.
Regardless of how she felt that time, Haneul dimmed as to why she felt that way when in the first place it was not the parents she used to have. Maybe it's because she could see her past family at them. She was also loved and pampered because she was the only child. She dismissed her thoughts and continued to empty her cup of tea.
Haneul nodded and looked at Wangmin with an apologetic smile. "Wangmin-ah, I'm afraid I also need to take my leave. I have a meeting with the concubines."
Wangmin lightly shook his head and smiled gently, "I can accompany sister. Can I come along?"
His brother strictly ordered him to watch over Haneul that is why he wished to come along. Even so, without his brother's orders, he would still look over Haneul for she had just recovered until recently.
"You are busy, are you not?" Haneul asked. Wangmin is only seventeen years of age yet his schedule is packed every day with only an hour or two of taking a breather.
She almost forgot that Wangmin's coming-of-age ceremony was also fast approaching. It was the time he will be having his first dance with his love interest. Moreover, it was almost the last week of February, it was also around that time Wangmin first met his partner.
Haneul's mind wandered for a bit but was then snapped out of reality when Wangmin answered, "I don't have that much on my plate, sister. I want to accompany sister, am I not allowed to?" He said in a pleasing voice as if a puppy asking for a walk.
Haneul chuckled seeing how Wangmin pleaded her in a cute way, she started walking and stopped when she reached the exit. Haneul turned her head and smiled, "Of course, why not? Come along now."
Wangmin smiled and rushed towards the exit; keeping up with Haneul's walking pace. They then both summoned themselves at the Queen's Pavilion.
***
"Blessings and Glory upon the Empire of Han, her Imperial Majesty, the Empress, his Imperial Highness, the Prince." everyone said in chorus.
Wangmin pulled her chair and lend a hand when she was about to take a seat, he then stood behind her. It was a pleasant picture, a charming prince standing beside a beautiful Empress both screaming with elegance in one frame.
It was common etiquette for a man to stand beside their lady companion and to not sit together during a lady's meeting or tea time. Lady's time are for ladies only and Lord's time are for lords only as they say.
Everyone's eyes are on them, Haneul smiled and started, "I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the job well done during the preparation of the hunting competition. All of you carried out your tasks well."
She paused for a bit and looked at Dana, "Especially Concubine Dana and her company. They really impressed me with the arrangements during the Hunting Competition. Especially the Winter flame, it made an impression on everyone who watched me light it up." she showed off a business smile.
Dana gave her a fake smile while clenching her fist underneath the table. "We don't deserve such praise. We are happy to be at her Majesty's service."
Dana looked at Haneul and let out a fake laugh, "Also, my apologies for not gathering everyone. I neglected my duties however Concubine Yeona was said to be together with the Emperor as of the moment. I do not wish to snatch her away for the meeting."
Dana is the second rank concubine and whenever Yeona is away, she is in charge.
It seems like Dana was anticipating for Haneul to waver and show a sad face just like the old times but Haneul just looked at her and smiled; unaffected, "I am well aware of the Emperor's affairs. You do not need to worry about me, worry about yourself."
'I really didn't know but if I act like I don't know then I will be Dana's laughing stock for a month! Who would've known that the matter Wangchul is attending right now is my cousin? Dang! They got side story to tell!'
Hearing Haneul's comeback, Dana's left brow twitched. Myunghee pfft-ed and looked away immediately when Dana glared at her.
The harem was not much of a trouble, it's not like everyone was plotting something to kill her every single day. Dana was also easy to handle with, aside from her open hostility, she could not lay a hand on her.
Having those thoughts made her quite bored. Her initial plan was to avoid all her love interests and she made it. As far as she knows, Myung Haneul has three love interests; An Jiho, Yoon Yungsoo, and Han Wangchul. Every one of them has already been settled outside her -love interest zone- and clearly drawn a line. It looks like she doesn't have a purpose from this point, it was like losing a will to live.
Not too long after she dismissed the Concubines, Wangchul showed up.