All eyes were now on DoHyun, she had tried to keep her mouth shut but the Empress was making it seem like they wanted to live as Kisaengs.
"DoHyun.." whispered Jie Lan helplessly.
The Empress caught on, with a gesture, DoHyun was struggled out of her sitting position by some female guards.
She was brought to kneel before the Empress. The woman held a playful smirk, no one had dared to speak back at her and live to see the next moment.
"You're a gutsy little one, daring to talk back to your Empress". DoHyun's eyes were fixated on the smile that danced on the woman's face.
"Who is this child?" She asked,
the caretaker woman quickly stepped out, she slightly bowed before replying "your grace, she is Kora DoHyun, peach flower "
"Kora.." she said softly, "what an interesting name".
The Empress reached out to DoHyun's brown hair, her smile widened "I see, you're yet to bloom"
DoHyun couldn't help but glare, the Empress doesn't remember her at all. She was the one who ordered the killing of her parents, DoHyun would never forget her face.
"What did you say, child? That you didn't ask to be born this way, as a flower maiden. It's a shame you still are, nothing but lowlives, forever without a cause. All you're good at is taking men to bed. Prostitutes!"
"We deserve a life too!" DoHyun roared at the brink of tears. Gasps laced with disbelief filled the entire room.
Everyone was taken aback by her courage to speak to the Empress despite being a flower maiden.
The caretaker woman grabbed DoHyun's head and forced it to the ground.
"Keep your head low when speaking to her grace" she commanded.
DoHyun bit her lower lip, trying hard to suppress the pain she felt from her head colliding with the cold ground. Her eyes were eager to shed tears but she refused to give the Empress satisfaction from her suffering.
The Empress looked down on her with cold eyes and a mocking smile. "It seems this child is yet to learn the etiquettes of a maiden, has she been having her lessons?" She asked
Reluctantly, the caretaker answered "we try our best to educate her but she's always running from lessons and feigning sickness"
The Empress nodded, "hmm I see, so that's why she's so ill-mannered".
She paused a bit before asking, "when is this child's bloom?"
"If the statistics are correct, it should be in three days your grace"
The Empress placed her hand on her chin "hmm that is good". She analyzed DoHyun who was still bowing with her head low to the ground.
"I feel like I know this child, why do I feel that way?" She aired her thoughts.
The caretaker quickly answered "you know her your grace, she's the child whose parents selfishly hid from the imperial family and kept her a secret against the goddess' words"
The Empress had an epiphany, her eyes widened in realization.
DoHyun on the other hand cursed under her breath, her parents were protecting her! They weren't selfish, they were good innocent people.
"Oh poor thing", she said to DoHyun.
"Look up child" she urged her
DoHyun slowly lifted her head, the Empress' eyes held no remorse whatsoever.
With a smile, she placed her hand underneath DoHyun's chin.
"My child, you're wrong. A Kisaeng has no life, you are all a gift from the goddess for pleasure. Your parents must have brainwashed you but dear it's who you are, it's who you'll ever be"
"Tch!" DoHyun fought the urge to spit in her face, her hunger for freedom just increased.
"Peach blossom is a delicate flower, darling DoHyun, you're a Kisaeng, a tool for pleasure, that's what you are and that's all you'll ever be till the day you die. Do you understand?" She asked, retrieving her fingers.
DoHyun nodded slowly, her eyes inflicted with emotions of hate towards the Empress.
"If you understand, say my words for yourself" instructed the Empress
Gritting her teeth, DoHyun voiced "I am a Kisaeng, a tool for pleasure, that is all I am and that's all I'll be till the day I die". She tried to hold a straight expression.
Her escape was tonight, she had already decided and she would live this hell of a life. She tied her tongue and controlled her emotions,
She couldn't afford to upset the Empress, she already knows about her secret passageway. She would just keep it cool till when her opportunity comes.
To solidify her feigned humility, DoHyun bowed once again with her forehead on the ground.
"I candidly apologize for speaking out of context to her grace. I understand now my status and I'll never dare again to speak directly to her grace"
The Empress smiled.
"Very good, soon you'll become a woman. I understand that you avoid your education, in a few days your hair color will change and you'll become a full Kisaeng"
She paused, then continued "running away from lessons simply won't do", she turned to the caretaker woman "lock this child up" she instructed.
DoHyun's eyes widened and her heart dropped. Wait! Why!? She had already apologized!
"Your grace?" Said the caretaker
"Do you not understand? Lock this child up. Give her still her rations of food and give her her lessons there, she won't run away if she's locked up"
She instructed
DoHyun stuttered "b..but Empress", her plan had been foiled.
"Do not speak child", the guards came and carried her up.
"B..but" DoHyun was still in shock
"You're a precious jewel DoHyun, the king from the neighboring village is sure to accept our proposal once he has had a taste of one of our fresh blood"
What!? DoHyun's mind was in jeopardy, her eyes widened and her mouth searched for words "no!, no no no" She whispered
While they dragged DoHyun away, she never stopped struggling, all that the others could do was watch as she acted pathetically against the guards' strength.
The Empress reminded in a loud voice "make sure she is fed plenty, after all, her first shall be a man of importance.."