Chapter 29 (1/2)

Kyosul blushed her face a bit. When the concubine spoke to Oran, her voice was sharp and stern, but she spoke to Kyosul in a soft and meek voice, which reminded Kyosul of her mother Queen Yo in the Hwa Kingdom and made her eyes wet with tears. When Kyosul’s eyes were welled with tears, Sassi held the Crown Princess’s hands kindly, recalling that she came from another kingdom, and said, “If you don’t mind, Your Highness, would you come with me to my residence in the main palace and share tea and cookies?”

Kyosul nodded at her soft words.

After they got out of the flower garden, Kyosul and First Concubine Sassi had tea and cookies at the latter’s residence. Considerate of Kyosul’s position, Sassi kindly led the conversation, asking her the type of questions that might attract her attention and listening to her story.

Kyosul opened her heart to this kind woman.

Sipping tea with sweet fragrance, Kyosul said, “Well….”

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When she hesitated a bit, Sassi nodded, signaling to her that she could feel free to talk.

Seeing Sassi’s warm smile, Kyosul blushed gently and opened her mouth again, “I’m afraid I might be discourteous to you in our first meeting like this, but….”

“Not at all, Your Highness. There is nobody who can stop you from talking as you’re the Crown Princess. Please make yourself at home and talk to me.”

“Well, may I get along with you well in the future?”

“Pardon?” Sassi asked back, surprised at Kyosul’s unexpected remarks.

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Feeling shy about her response, Kyosul covered her lips with sleeves slightly and said, “What I mean is I would like to come over and share tea and cookies with you if you don’t mind. When I see you, I feel so comfortable as if I am seeing my mother face to face in the Hwa Kingdom.”

In the end, Kyosul shed tears. These days she has felt so homesick and lonely. As she missed her mother Queen Yo of the Hwa Kingdom so much and couldn’t see her, she immediately expressed her pent-up longing for her mother when she saw Sassi who kindly treated her.

“How pitiful you are!”

Embarrassed by her shedding tears, Sassi put aside the tea table and came closer to her. After hesitating for a moment, she hugged Kyosul.

Though Kyosul was the Crown Princess, she was still young. Sassi heard she just came of age and though she must have grown up showered with her parents’ affection in the Hwa Kingdom ruled by a benevolent king. Recalling her old mother in a private home outside the palace, Sassi also shed tears.

Wrapped in her arms, Kyosul smelled her light makeup, which reminded her of Queen Yo and made her feel at ease again.

“I have two daughters. They are really shrewd and smart, but I regret to say that I’ve never seen them doing cute things as they don’t have amiable characters. Your Highness, you’re so cute. How can I refuse your wishes to get along with me?”

“Concubine Sassi….”

“If you don’t mind, I would like to take side with you in this tough palace. If Princess Oran shows disrespectful behavior again to you, please let me know. I’m going to have her punished severely.”

When Sassi said that, Kyosu, who was shedding tears, suddenly giggled.

“Thanks, Concubine Sassi. By the way, I feel it awkward to call you Concubine Sassi as you’re much older than me.”

Touching her lips gently, she went on, “If you don’t mind, can I just call you Sassi Mom?”

Kyosul asked, tilting her head to one side. But Sassi was stunned to hear that.

“You want to call me mom? If somebody hears it, you’re in big trouble.”

“Isn’t it okay if I call you Sassi Mom when I’m with you only?”

Kyosul casually leaned her head on her, who was embarrassed for fear someone might overhear their conservation.

“Pardon?” Sassi asked back in surprise.

When she lived in the Hwa Kingdom, she used to act cutely before her parents and brothers at their request. Blushing at Kyosuls’ cute request, Sassi barely nodded and said, “Oh, I get it, Your Highness. If you feel comfortable about calling me like that, that’s fine with me.”

“Sassi Mom, please don’t use honorifics to me.”

When Kyosul said it so cutely, hanging on her arm, Sassi was at a loss for words, but nodded again.

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“I get it. I really can’t stop you,” she said, smiling at Kyosul, who in turn smiled at her.

“As you say you haven’t seen your children acting cutely to you, let me take their place. So, be ready, Sassi Mom!”