Invitation

Chapter 3:

In the early morning, Eun Won was walking around her court looking for stuff to do. She knelt down and looked at the flowers. She plucked a few out of the ground and put them in a basket. Strolling around the court, her mother was sitting on a chair busy washing clothes in the palace. Her mother looked up at the sound of small footsteps. She realized that her daughter was coming towards her.

"Mother, do you need any help with washing the clothes?" asked Eun Won. "No dear, you can put the flowers in a vase and start to help the others in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Eun Won washes the vegetables and passes them on to the plate where they are cut and cooked. Her whole body is covered with a layer of sweat and her forehead is slightly frowned as she focuses on washing the vegetables.

In the distance, horse hoofs and wheels can be heard. It stops right in front of the servants' court and the doors of the court are opened by the eunuch. 

 Kang Mi-Ri called all the servants and her daughter over, and they all bowed to the eunuch. The eunuch opens a scroll and reads the words out loud. "All the servants' daughters are invited by the king to attend the birthday of Prince Yu-Jun and must wear a mask because he is looking for a girl." 

He then closed the scroll, handed it over to Kang Mi-Ri, and walked back to the carriage. Everyone squealed an audible gasp. Questions about whom the girl is and what she looks like. One girl in particular was looking down so that no one could see her, and wondered if Yu-Jun was the prince.

A grip on her arm, shook her out of her thoughts. Looking up, she saw her enemy, Jasmine, the daughter of the servant who serves the royals, who looked almost exactly like Eun Won. "I'm definitely the one that Prince Yu-Jun has been looking for, and you will tell me everything about him" All Eun Won could do was obey. 

As the evening rises, all the servant daughters are getting ready. Buckets full of water are ready for washing their bodies to be cleaned. Dresses are flying in the wind as their mothers try on which dresses would fit best on their daughters. Even those who don't wear makeup are getting their faces caked with makeup. Shoes fly as they are trying to get the right fit. Their hair is in all shapes and sizes, from long to short. 

In Eun Won's room, her mother is helping her bath and wash her hair. Her mother dried her off and helped her to put on a beautiful light pink dress. 

"How would you like your hair, my dear daughter ?" asked her mother in a soft voice. "I like to have my hair down and two braids around my head" said Eun Won in a gentle voice to her mother.

In the palace, Prince Yu-Jun was wearing a golden robe with the empire emblem on it and his mask was the same color as his robe. Walking out of his chamber, he looked at the court where his birthday would be held. A slight smile appeared on his face as he remembered the girl who stole his heart. He wondered what she would wear and how he would know if it was her under the mask, what her expression would be if she found out that he was a prince that would one day rule as king of the land. So many thoughts occupied his mind. 

"My dear son, are you doing well?" asked his mother, rapping an arm around his shoulder. "Yes mother, I just can't wait to see her again" said Yu-Jun. "Well, I do hope you see her again because I want to see who stole my son's heart" said his mother. "Mother don't do that" said Yu-Jun. "Do what my dear am I making you blush" said his mother. Yu-Jun hides his face in his hands, as his mother couldn't stop laughing at her son. 

"Mother, what types of food will be served on my birthday," he asked, changing the subject. His mother not bothering him further, she said, "different kinds of dessert and food just for your birthday." 

In the servants' court, the daughters are getting in the carriage that was sent by the king himself. Chattering can be heard among the servants. Some sound nervous and others excited. 

Eun Won was sitting next to someone she didn't know at all. All she could think was, why did she tell Jasmine about Yu-Jun? She was angry and frustrated at herself for not being able to say no to Jasmine.

What if he didn't recognizer her? What if he didn't know that she was being forced not to get close to him? Would he be angry if he found out? How would she explain it to him?  She didn't want to be alone. She wanted him to know that she was there. What would her mother say if she was there? She wanted to be with him. She wanted her mother's comfort and calmness. 

These thoughts pestered her mind over and over. She was trying her best to keep herself calm. She was trying to keep herself grounded and find an anchor. 

The carriage held still, she knew she was there. The carriage doors opened, and the servant climbed off elegantly.

As the doors opened to the royal court, every royal glance was met with a smile's worth of thousands. 

The eunuch started to call the names of each servant as Prince Yu-Jun's eyes fell on each of them. Observing them, the servants squealed lightly as their eyes met. 

Eun Won couldn't keep her eyes off him. She was mesmerized by him. Everything about him was so beautiful, elegant, gentle, and he was so handsome for his age. She couldn't believe Yu-Jun was actually a prince.  

The air was friendly and full of excitement but two of those who were there were also experiencing nervousness.

As time passed, Yu-Jun selected three young women who could likely be Kang Eun Won to spend time with him in the palace. Kang Mi-Ri and Kang Eun Won were part of his choice.