17 Drew Consciousness (3)

"This isn't great at all, Chun," Sungho muttered behind his breath while the maidservants proceeded on washing his back, including his court lady who was preoccupied with pouring the strong smell of rose essence bath oil to the water of the tub where he was soaking his body.

"What is it, Your Highness? I think I heard you calling my name," Chun innocently asked as she stopped from pouring the contents of the silver basin in her hands.

Sungho could hear her voice composed of excitement while she was looking at him, bringing the basin on her chest.

With a deep sigh, he simply told the clueless court lady, "I said, perhaps you are putting too much rose oil."

"Oh, right. I need to save some when I wash your hair." On her realization, she immediately placed it on the table located beside her.

Was it just him or were the efforts of grooming him increased than the last one they did yesterday?

The one previously performed routine was to soak him in his bath, hydrate his hair, and dress him up, progressed on to clean his nails and toes, apply a mask on his face, and dab a decent amount of powder on his face.

Hence, the length of time to the preparation almost doubled that Sungho was not allowed to eat his first meal that morning and he was solely permitted to barely drink a half glass of water.

Despite the non-ending preparation, Sungho found the procedure satisfying yet wearying at the same time since he did not take his breakfast.

As his grunts coincided with the grumbling of his stomach, Sungho heard someone click its tongue. "Don't get high expectations," one of the maidservants mumbled in a barely audible voice behind his ear.

Sungho pretended he did not catch her mutters and concentrated soaking his body in the tub. However, just a minute before they finished washing his back, they started rubbing the cloth on his bareback roughly.

"You stop that!" he scolded when he could not contain the pain any longer, he shifted his body from the maidservants behind him, bringing a hand to the place where he felt the soreness on his back.

"What is it, Your Highness?" one of them said in a respectful manner.

Sungho could barely manage to hold himself as they immediately pulled out the innocent act. The maidservants did not stop just by Sungho telling them to; even after he became conscious of their actions, they proceeded to continue doing it while they were clothing him.

'These women are cunning,' he commented eventually, seeing them walk outside the room when they had finished dressing him.

Certainly, he wanted to beat their asses; however, doing so would endanger him since these maidservants were working under the managing director of the residence, which simply turned out to be the woman who very much despised him, none other than the grand concubine.

"Your Highness, I will be using this hair ornament today as well." Chun placed the same white jade hairpin with the lotus decoration on her palm and showed it to him.

"No, not today. Use this gray one," was his request as he handed over the one he randomly picked on the jewelry box; the gray jadeite hair ornament with coral decorations, which he examined before presenting to his court lady.

Sungho proceeded to glance at the blurry figure, which he could scarcely identify, reflecting in the mirror placed on top of the vanity table while he watched the other person behind the figure finishing off the hair with adding accessories on. "I have placed the ornament, Your Highness."

"Thank you for your greatest efforts today too, Chun." He turned back to Chun who was standing behind him and delivered a smile.

"Then we shall be escorting you out now, Your Highness."

"We?" was his confused question.

"Yes, His Majesty desired to specially accompany you around his residence. He should be waiting for us outside by now." Chun clasped her hands and placed it on one side of her face and squealed, "Doesn't that sound charming? His Majesty wanted to personally escort Her Highness!"

'That doesn't sound charming at all!' Her words instantly showered him with terror and apprehension, which caused his face to become drained and turn white as a sheet of paper.