20 Nonsensical Whims

"Your highness, are you sure about this? There are a lot of imperial guards patrolling!" The worried court lady of first princess Shinrae said.

"Even so. I had a pact with 'him', and I just could not just brush it off." Princess Shinrae said.

"Then how about the second imperial princess, mistress?" consulted the court lady.

"I might not be able to see her just yet, but I had taken care of it already. Now is not the time to worry about 'that' Ye Beom. It seems like we're being suspected of, who knows what they might think about us. Either way, this should not turn out, out-favoring us." She explained to her court lady.

"Han Cheonyu, prepare me a tea. My head is aching so badly." Shinrae said as she caress her forehead.

"Yes, your highness." Head lady Cheonyu obediently replied.

"Now then, again, Soorin, I have an errand for you to do. It's about some business of mine. He hasn't reported back to me for quite a while now. By the evening, make sure that you make him remember what his true task is. Play dirty, it's up to you. I don't care what method you'll do." She commanded with a stern look on her face.

"I understand, your highness." With that, Soorin exited the room.

Three days before the accusation to the second princess .

"You." The princess Shinrae pointed at her subordinate.

"Yes your highness?" replied the female subordinate.

"Call in two of my guard." Shinrae ordered her.

"Yes, your highness." then, she carried out the first princess's order.

After a while, two imperial guards that are working under the first imperial princess has arrived, just as she has ordered the female subordinate. The two male guards stood straight up with their big and muscular physique as the other one has rather, a well-toned body, as they both greeted the first princess.

"A pleasant evening first imperial princess. This subject dares to ask, what service may I offer to the princess?" The guard with a big and muscular physique asked. His brown hooded eyes focused on the ground.

Examining his looks, he has a mustache and a long scar near his left ear down to below his lips, near his chin, but is partially non-visible as his beard slightly covers the scar near his lips.

"Junho is it?" The princess asked to confirm the muscular guard's name.

The guard simply nodded at the princess as an answer, as he places his right hand that is curled into a fist, up to his chest before he kneels.

"Keep a close eye over my younger sister's consort from the shadows. Be sure to watch him from a certain distance. He has a keen sense which is why he is very intellectually alert at all times, so it might be tough on you to remain unnoticed." She commanded fiercely, as her determination is reflected on her eyes.

Imperial guard Junho's eye widened, as it was filled with terror.

'No, it is impossible to remain unnoticed from the consort Taejoo. Just like the first princess said, the second princess's consort has a very unique sense, and I have very much seen it. I fought alongside him when we were sent to Bukgye to give support to the falling platoon of soldiers in Seogyeong three weeks ago, and I witness his unmatchable skill. From how he can tell where his enemy is, when and where they will strike and attack next, and his swiftness. You can even tell that he surpasses the crown prince's ability, and he contributed on the battle highly. Even so, I must carry on this task that has been given to me by her highness, the first imperial princess.'

He took a deep breath before he answer the princess, and said: "I'm at your service, your highness."

After receiving Junho's response, the princess swiftly turn her gaze to the other guard. "And you. You're one of the new soldiers, aren't you? Why and how are you stationed here at my palace as my guard?" She questioned.

Princess Shinrae stared at the lad, whom looks like at his approximately twentieth years of age. With his white complexion and a black hair that complimented his looks. A man with a v-shape chin, a pointy eyes, a flushed peach bow shaped lips, and a perfectly straight nose. A handsome lad he is.

"Yes your highness." He simply replied, ignoring the second question.

"State your identification." Shinrae commanded.

"I am Min Wangyu, a soldier from blue wolves, appointed by the vice captain Nam Rowon, to be her highness's, the first princess's guard." He said with conviction, as he did the same thing that Junho did.

'I see... So brother decided to keep a close eyes on me.' Princess Shinrae said to her thoughts.

"Very well then...

I need you to be my eyes and ears on my younger sister Ye Beom's whereabouts. This includes everything she does for every second she breathes. Do you understand?"

First princess Shinrae asked, tilting her head, anticipating for the lad's response.

"Yes your highness. This subject understands very well." Min Wangyu replied immediately.

"Every time that the two of you comes back with a useful and interesting information, I shall grant you a silver ingot." She stated, which brought the two soldier's eye widened as if it will pop out of it's sockets.

'Silver ingot?! Just for an information about the couples? That's a large sum! A silver ingot is equal to 600 silver coins!' Junho exclaimed in his thoughts.

'Just what is the princess thinking?' Doubted Min Wangyu.

"You two may leave now." Then she waved her right hand, signalling them to leave her drawing room.

The following day, as per the first princess's command, Kim Junho and Min Wangyu carried on the task that they were given.

"Thank you mother, the empress, for granting me an audience." Ye Beom greeted.

"Oh my! My dear child, stand up, stand up. You do not need to be formal, my dear. Pay them no attention." The empress laughed.

"But mother..."

"Men, all of you, leave the us two, until I say so to come back inside.

"Yes, your majesty." Those men that has been guarding her room said in unison.

"So... say my child, what could be the reason for you to be here?" Her Majesty the empress asked in such a lovely voice, with her soothing gaze.

"No, it's nothing important really, mother. I just thought of paying you, the empress a visit." Princess Ye Beom reasoned out, as she kept her hand from scratching her head.

The empress stayed silent as she examines Ye Beom before she utter a word; "My, my... if you say it like that, then I would get even more curious, my dear child." She giggles.

"Now, now, tell me. What is it my dear? Does my child need me to do her a favor?"

"Mother!!— H-How could I?! I... I mean it's not like it is not right, but... Haaaah...Can I really? Mother?" Princess Ye Beom asked the empress with such an anxious expression.

The empress just stared at Ye Beom and did not spoke a word after Ye Beom asked her a question. She was sitting there, across her, and staring back at her blankly. Ye Beom felt like there was a big lump in her throat when she noticed that the light atmosphere from earlier, have turned into this gloomy one's.

"Mother? The thing is... I would like to meet brother the day after tomorrow... ah no actually it would really be great if tomorrow. What I truly want is, can I access the imperial beuok*?"

*Beuok is a korean term of kitchen.

"Is that all my dear? However, may I ask why you plan to meet the crown prince?" The empress consulted in her calmed and soothing expression, but a contradiction with her displeased tone.

The anxiousness from within Ye Beom, kept on growing. She asked herself,

'Did I do something wrong? Did I offended the mother empress in some ways?' Her brows draw a line in between. She took a deep breath before she uttered, "Yes mother, that is all. And the reason why I have decided to pay brother Eunhyun a visit is that, he have been quite busy." She paused.

"I'm afraid that, brother Eunhyun might be skipping his meals and instead, continues to do his works. Although it is just right as it is his duty and his obligation. But still... his health is-"

" -is the top priority." The empress interrupted as she smiled brightly. "I get it my child. Please do take good care of your brother. He only listens to you and your whims." The empress laughed merrily.

"Mother?! When did I ever do that?" Ye Beom exclaimed. Her eyes widened.

"Oh dear. Hahaha, have you forgotten? You've always been throwing nonsensical whims at your brother before. Then he will scold you, but will be doing it in the end. Hahaha. Ahhh the old times, how I wish to go out with the both of you." The empress mumbled the last sentence, with her eyes softening.

"...mother." Princess Ye Beom murmured.

The mother empress immediately turn her gaze to the second imperial princess as she heard her murmured. "Come, my child." She said as she opens her arms.

Ye Beom stood up from where she is sitting, across the empress. She then, sat in front of the empress.

"It has been so long, since the last time we talked this joyful. I... missed you dearly, my child." The empress said with her soothing voice as she envelopes Ye Beom into a warm, and big hug.

Ye Beom hugged the mother empress, Cheng Hyo Rim back. "I too, missed you, mother." Ye Beom said in a lovely manner as she hugged the empress tighter.

So this is how it feels like when you have a caring mother. Hwang Minrae... I guess your life as my main character is not that bad? You've got a caring mother, while I've got an abusive one. A doting brother, while I've got my hateful twin.

The only similarities we have is a workaholic father. A father with a very high status, that no one can ever dare to touch, nor screw with you.

Ye Beom let out a big sigh. "Mother, I think I should retire now."

"Are you perhaps tired already my child?" Worries the empress Hyo Rim.

"No, mother. But I do think you are the one who's tired." Ye Beom giggled.

"Oh dear! Does it really shows?" Mother empress asked.

"Not really, mother. I just could feel that you are tired... or more like, exhausted." Ye Beom explained.

The empress gasped as she pat carefully her cheeks. " My, oh my! I really should take care of myself too! I'm getting all rusty. What if the emperor-"

"Mother! Hahaha, father won't do something like that anymore. He loves you." Ye Beom consoled her mother.

"Hmph, that father of yours." The empress mumbled like a teenager.

"Oh mother, hahaha. What I speak is the truth. I know he won't make the same mistake." She reassures the empress.

"I do hope so, my dear. But I know that he still must. Still, I'm grateful to your father, that up until now, he have not yet taken another concubine in." Empress Hyo Rim smiles.

"So do I, mother." Princess Ye Beom said as she held the empress' hands.

"You should keep going now my dear." The empress said, then she caress the second princess's cheek. "I should hand you one of my subject to help you for the food you'll be preparing for tomorrow." Empress Hyo Rim offered.

"Mother, n-no need f-for that!" The startled Ye Beom declined.

"I insist. This is just one in a while, go on take her in just for that day, and let her help you." Empress Hyo Rim insisted, grinning widely.

"Mother..."

"Ahn Ji, come in!" Empress Hyo Rim shouted so suddenly. And as fast as a blink of an eye, a court lady came in rushing.

"Yes, your majesty, the empress?" Ahn Ji asked in a formal manner.

"You shall accompany the second imperial princess with preparing all of she needs, especially with the ingredients. Ahn Ji, you know... what to do, correct?" The Empress asked her.

"Yes your majesty. This subject knows what to do. Princess Ye Beom, please do kindly take me in." Ahn Ji said.

"But... mother. Sighs, I guess I have no any other option from the start. I shall take you in then. Thank you, mother empress." Ye Beom gave her thanks to the empress as she bows.

"Off you go now my child." The empress smiled.

Then, the second imperial princess Ye Beom does retire from the empress's drawing room, along with the empress' court lady, Ahn Ji,... And so the man in black that remains unnoticed, followed them from a distance.