Chapter 5 - Gratitude.

Having explained her purpose for coming, Rei respectfully bowed ninety degrees to the King before reciting a series of poems typically used to express gratitude. Although he didn't fully comprehend the poem she recited, the King listened attentively and smiled. At that moment, he felt as if he was inside an ancient painting, with the beauty within reciting poetry to him, filling the atmosphere with tranquillity and peace. Despite not fully trusting Rei, he found himself enjoying the peaceful moment and did not harbour any ill will towards her. After three minutes, Rei finished her recitation, bringing the King back to reality.

"You like poetry?" He asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty, my late parents used to recite poems for me when I was a kid," said Rei, in a formal tone.

"I see. It's quite nice. But you don't really need to thank me for anything, I just happened to pass by that place and helped you along with the other two ladies. Anyway, how do you feel right now? Satoshi told me that you have been sick for the past few days, getting better now?" the King asked, in a caring tone.

"Thanks for the concern, Your Majesty. My fever has fully recovered thanks to Dr Ben's treatment and medicine." She replied.

"I see… Good to know that…*cough*…" The King coughed a bit.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Rei asked, slightly concerned.

The King did not answer her question, he smiled a bit before starting to flip through some letters and reports on a table at his right side, leaving Rei in an awkward silence again.

With that awkward silence, Rei decided to take her leave, she bowed at the King once again before starting to step away. However, before she could leave the room, the King called out for her.

"Come again any time you want, if you didn't see me here, I will be in the building over there, second room from the left. But it's better if you ask Satoshi to accompany you next time." said the King while pointing at another building that is on the opposite side.

"Oh, and omit the kneeling, you are not my servant." He added.

Rei nodded before sheepishly leaving the room.

***

Once again, Rei found herself suffering from insomnia that night. She lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind replaying the events of the day.

"Is the man I met really the rumoured evil tyrant? I didn't sense any of the characteristics associated with such a figure."

"Was my decision this morning the right one, or was I too impulsive?"

"When he said 'come again any time', did he truly mean it? Should I pay him another visit?"

"He said I was not his servant. Has he discovered something about me?"

"And why did he throw that porcelain cup on the floor? The remnants inside didn't resemble tea. Could it have been some form of medicine?"

As Rei pondered over these questions, there came a knock at her door. It was Satoshi, carrying a stack of gorgeous new clothes along with more than ten jars of high-quality tea leaves.

"Good evening, Lady Rei. I hope you had a pleasant day," greeted Satoshi, his tone noticeably altered from before.

"Good evening, Satoshi. What brings you here at this hour?" Rei inquired, taken aback by Satoshi's sudden change in demeanour and his formal salutation.

"Lady Rei, I am here to confess my immature deed this morning, I lied about the emergencies and purposely ditched you alone near the King's Palace, please forgive me, from the bottom of my heart, for my unacceptable behaviour this morning. I am utterly ashamed of myself for treating you so poorly. I know I have been rude to you, and I can't even begin to express how sorry I am. When I found out about your true identity, I was in doubt and uncertain."

Out of Rei's expectations, Satoshi confessed his deed and apologised to Rei.

"But upon knowing how His Majesty put his trust in you this morning, I realized that I might be wrong to doubt you. I should have known better than to judge you without giving you a chance to prove yourself. Supposedly, you are a remarkable person, and I am honoured to have met you. Please accept my sincere apologies, and know that I will do everything in my power to make it up to you. You have my word. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

Satoshi's voice was filled with genuine remorse, and his eyes were pleading for forgiveness. However, Rei somehow caught a slight sarcasm from his tone.

Despite that, Rei nodded slowly, accepting his apology, after all, she was unharmed by that slightly exaggerated joke from Satoshi in the morning.

"My dearest Lady Rei, it brings me great joy to present to you the most exquisite gifts from His Majesty. His Majesty could not bear to see such a fine lady as yourself in plain attire. Therefore, he has commissioned the most skilled tailors in the castle to create these stunning new garments just for you."

"But that is not all, my lady. His Majesty has also taken note of your love for poetry, thus he assumes that you might well like tea. And so, he has carefully selected the first flush tea leaves of all variations for the year, so that you may savour the most delicate and flavorful brews."

"And finally, my lady, this is the most precious gift of all. His Majesty has entrusted to you a golden leaf, engraved with the most elegant calligraphy. This golden leaf is a universal pass that grants you access to most parts castle. Simply show it to the palace guards, and they will usher you through. My lady, please accept these gifts with the utmost reverence and appreciation. They are a testament to His Majesty's admiration for you and his desire to make you feel at home in his grand palace. Use them wisely and cherish them always." Satoshi then presented the box with the golden leaf to Rei, bowing deeply before taking his leave.

Rei gazed at the assorted gifts laid out before her, her attention caught by the glint of the golden leaf. Her confusion deepened, and she pondered the situation.

"Perhaps I should show my gratitude more generously," Rei murmured to herself, as she made her way back to her bed. Her maids bustled about, busily taking in all the presents that Satoshi had brought.

With a deft hand, Rei withdrew a stunning white porcelain bottle from beneath her pillow and carefully uncorked it. Delicate pink petals, dried to perfection, spilt forth from within. She remembered that this precious gift had been bestowed upon her by the Empress of the Qin's Empire and could effectively soothe mild coughs.

As her gaze drifted to a jar of honey resting on a nearby shelf, Rei's mind turned to the unfortunate incident that had occurred earlier that morning: the King's cup had shattered, spilling his medicine all over the floor.

A sly grin spread across her face as a bold idea took hold...