Searching for Covers

Lady Jang told her husband about the meeting with the Queen, as soon as she got back, that day. She told him about the interest that Her Majesty has shown about Hana and about how she mentioned the upcoming selection for a bride for the Crown Prince.

"Did she say when the wedding might happen?" asked Minister Jang, thinking deep and staring at the floor.

"She said that she checked a fortune teller and she recommended the wedding to be done before Chuseok for good luck and a happy marriage." answered Lady Jang.

"Aham! So the selection will be announced soon as there is not much time left. There are less than 2 months left till Chuseok. Make sure you prepare Hana well for this upcoming selection!", said Minister Jang with a tough tone.

"Very well, my lord. Only that… you know about that thing…" talked Lady Jang with a timid voice.

Minister Jang frowned and looked at her.

"She will enter the Court no matter what!" he spoke, slamming his palm on the table, making his wife startle.

A week after he last spoke to Madam Moon, he went back to the brothel. He marched straight to her office and asked to see her immediately.

"Minister Jang, welcome back! I hear you wish to talk to me." welcomed him Madam Moon.

"Did you prepare what I asked you for?" he asked nervously.

"Yes, Mister. I have a girl ready for you. She will come to your room as soon as possible. Just let me take you there and then I will bring her to you." answered the woman.

"You remember what I said, no tattoos. Cover them!", he demanded and turned to the door, going straight to his usual room.

Madam Moon followed him and after he sat down, she made a sign for the girl outside to enter.

"This is the girl I have prepared for you. You do not ask for any girl usually when you are here so I did not know what kind you would like. She is well enough, I'd say." spoke Madam Moon introducing the girl like promoting a product from a shelf.

The girl was standing next to her employer, with a head bowed, rubbing her hands as she was scared or as she was still new in this occupation. She seemed very young with pleasant features. She had fair skin and a full body. Her transparent top showed full white breasts, with a long blue silky skirt, tied around a curvy waist, that ended just above her rounded ankles covered by white short socks. She was wearing red lipstick and her face was powdered with white, with round face and big almond eyes contoured with kohl.

Minister Jang looked at her and made a sign to the matron to leave. Madam Moon took a short look at the girl and left the room, closing the doors.

"What is your name?" asked Minister Jang.

"Minah, Sir!", responded to the girl with a tremble in her voice.

"Look at me, Minah! I want to see your face!" demanded the man.

The girl raised her head and looked at the man in front of her. An old man around his 60s, with gray hair and a gray beard. Laid on the side of his bed on the floor, she noticed the round fat stomach. He had an aquiline nose and small eyes, under two thick gray eyebrows.

"When did you enter this house, young lady?" asked Minister Jang.

"Almost a year ago, Sir." replied the girl.

"How old are you? You seem very young." asked the nobleman.

"I am 17, Sir. I will turn 18 in December this year." she replied.

Minister Jang looked at her starring. "She is the age of Hana. Perfect!" he told himself.

"Come have a seat next to me!" he said, tapping the place next to him.

Minah moved forward and sat down alongside him, leaning across the wall behind her.

Minister Jang measured her from head to toe, observing the plenitude of her body. He was not easily distracted by women or any pleasures that most of the men in this place run for. Sitting like this on a side, leaning on his elbow, he could see her full breasts and made him smack his lips. He started to pull the ribbon of the bow that tied her top and opened it and he could see better her rounded breasts and pink nipples trembling, as all her body started to shiver.

"Turn around! I want to see you back."

The girl was used to please any kind of customers and any requests. During this year since she had been here she was asked numerous things. She turned, showing her nacked upper body to this old man.

Minister Jang moved to sit normally and stared at the girl's shoulders. He started to move his hand on her right shoulder, down to her clavicular bone.

"How did you make this? How do you cover it?" he suddenly asked.

Minah turned and looked at him surprised.

"I was told you do not want to see it…"

"I want to know what you use to cover that!" he said. "Look, young lady, I do not want you to do anything for me. I will tell you now I do not want to get out of this room. Do you understand?" the man said with a serious tone.

"Yes, Sir." Minah said.

"I will take good care of you and I will pay you good money. Nobody should know what we are talking about now and what you will tell me. Speak now! What way did you use to cover your tattoo? I know you have one. All the girls working here get a tattoo when they enter the house. spoke Minister Jang.

The girl pulled the top back over her shoulder and looked towards the door, gulped and said.

"There is a way that all the girls here use. We learn this process once he joins the house. You are right, as soon as we join the house, we get a tattoo on the right shoulder and a sign of our occupation. Sometimes there are customers, men, who do not want to see that and we learnt how to cover it so it won't show whatever it happens and no matter how we move." she spoke.

"I'm listening." Minister Jang said with interest.

"We have 3 ways to conceal any imperfection girls can have on their skin. Some have to cover the tattoo, some have burns or birthmarks. We use a specific type of makeup, but this one is not long lasting and we use it on areas where we will not sweat or be touched or shown much. Then if we have to cover part of our skin for a long time we use either cadaver skin or pig skin. The first one does not last very long, so we use it for a short time. Then the pig skin is the best one for concealing for a long term. ", she informed him.

"I see. And how do you put it on your skin?" he asked, absorbed in information.

"We use a specific type of glue that will stick the pig skin to our skin. Also we use a solution that we apply over the edges of the pig skin where it meets our skin to make them blend and conceal and look as one. It needs almost a week and to apply daily, 3 times a day. Once done, nobody can see a difference."

"Sure there is no way for someone to see the difference? What if you rub over it?" asked the man.

"Nothing will happen even if you rub over it or scrub. It won't peel off. The only thing that can affect it is the hot water. The person should avoid bathing in hot water. Only lukewarm. To not affect the skin texture and the glue underneath." Minah added.

"Well, do you know how to apply this?", asked Minister Jang, whispering.

"We all have to know and we all have access to the storage room where we kept all the materials." answered Minah.

"You seem like a very wise girl, you know. I will keep you in mind and I will take care of you if you do as I tell you. Do not speak to anyone about what you told me! ANYONE! Understand? If Madam Moon asks something, tell her we just did what you had to do. Also, prepare those things you told me and have them ready as I will call you to meet outside of this place. Soon." said the nobleman.

Very well, Sir. I won't speak and I will get things ready for you." answered the girl.

Minister Jang stood up and the girls followed him immediately. He put a sac of gold coins in her hand and left the room.

Right after, Madam Moon entered the room and found Minah ready to leave, holding her hands under her skirt and moaning like she was in pain.

"He was like an animal, Madam!"she screeched, running through the door with a sly smile.