The Outcast (2)

He savored the meal, inhaled it to its last drop. Its rice was soft, easily digestible, and flavored like chicken. The bits, yes, the chicken bits were much tender. And he could not forget the sticky soup of the healing porridge. Sungho swore he still could taste the gingery dish in his mouth.

However, just as Sungho perceived, the delicious company delivered by his court lady was temporary. The container filled with tasty, delicate porridge was now an empty bowl sitting on his desk, waiting for someone to be cleaned up.

After he consumed the chicken rice porridge, he craved for some company once again. Sungho told his court lady that he wanted to take a short stroll and rest under the same tree, which he hadn't visited for weeks. But sipping tea, seeing the flowers wither while he watched beneath its shade didn't match his liking.