We finally entered a large, airy suite. The furnishings were ornate and lavish, yet not overly done. The main room opened up to a garden which looked green and inviting. The overall effect was so lovely that I couldn't stop myself from gasping and rushing to explore my temporary home like a little child. As my eye fell on a large, well-stocked bookcase in the corner of the room, my reaction was enough to send Ayura and Tetora running.
"Are you alright, Lady Lily?" Ayura asked in concern.
"Yes, yes I'm fine," I responded in a breath, "more importantly, am I allowed to read these?" I gestured to the books.
They looked a bit taken aback by my question, but Ayura replied kindly, "Why of course, Lady Lily. You may read anything that you would like, and if you ask Emperor Soo-Won I'm certain he would let you look through the books in the palace library as well."
I couldn't believe my good fortune. I was eagerly scanning the shelves, when my stomach grumbled and Ayura suggested that I get something to eat first. I agreed somewhat reluctantly, and Tetora was sent off to get some tea and pastries.
She eventually came back with a tray heaped up with enough food to feed an army. "The cook insisted that only the best would do for the new lady of the house," she explained shyly.
Everything was delicious, even more so when compared to the plain fare I had been having for the past five years. The tea was also incredible, and when I said so, Ayura smiled and told me that they imported the leaves all the way from the country of Sei.
"That's amazing," I said as I looked down at my cup.
"Would you like some more?" She turned to Tetora. "Will you pour Lady Lily some more tea, please?"
"Yes ma'am." Tetora's voice was very soft and small, and her hand shook as she lifted the teapot.
I had poured enough tea in my lifetime to see what was about to happen, but I didn't act quickly enough. Her trembling caused a splash of the steaming tea to miss the cup, landing on my wrist. I won't say that it didn't hurt, but Tetora acted as if she had stabbed me with a knife. She stared at me in horror for a second, and then prostrated herself on the ground, apologizing over and over as her voice shook with sobs. I tried to assure her that it was not serious, but it didn't help. Ayura finally went to her after giving me a cold cloth for my arm, and gently asked her to go get the medical supplies kit. With a final bow and apology, she left the room, still weeping uncontrollably.
Sighing deeply, Ayura began to clean up the dishes as she spoke, "Tetora is still only a girl and has much to learn. As I am the one who is in charge of training her, I am responsible for this incident as well." She paused for a moment and then bowed, "I am truly sorry, Lady Lily."
"You don't need to apologize," I assured her. "I'm really fine, and it was just an accident, so please tell me, why is Tetora so upset?"
She hesitated for a moment and then answered, "Injuring a member of the royal family, even by accident, is a serious crime. The penalty could be imprisonment or even execution."
I must have looked as horrified as I felt because she hastily added, "You don't need to worry though, dear. Emperor Soo-Won is the type of person who prefers to avoid making decisions about such things, after all."
In other words, he's a lazy, pampered good-for-nothing, I thought wryly.
Aloud I said, "You seem to know him quite well."
She smiled, "Well, I have been taking care of him since he was thirteen. He may be a bit eccentric and fun-loving, but he is a good boy and definitely not a killer."
"I see," I said slowly, then, "Has he always been that way? Eccentric and fun-loving, I mean?"
"He has been for the five years that I've known him. Before that time, I really couldn't say since he didn't live here."
As she finished speaking, a strange look crossed her face. Almost as if she had said something that she hadn't meant to. I was about to ask why Soo-Won hadn't lived at the castle when he was younger, but she abruptly changed the subject.
"Well then," she said briskly, "now that you've finished eating, perhaps you would like to take a short rest before dinner?"
"Oh, no," I replied, my eyes resting on the bookcase, "I would much rather read, if that's alright."
Completely forgetting my curiosity about Soo-Won, I flew over to the corner of the room and resumed my search for my first book. I intended to get through as many as I could before I left. After a moment, I selected a thick novel filled with old folklore and plopped down on the plush canopy bed. I was just starting when Tetora entered with the medical kit. She moved across the room and handed it to Ayura without a word. I took in her flushed face and red puffy eyes, and felt a surge of pity rush through me. The terrifying feeling of thinking you were going to die was still fresh in my mind, and I couldn't help but empathize with the poor girl. I immediately set aside my book and started towards her.
I took her hands in mine and said gently, "Tetora, please look at me." Once she had looked up from the floor, I continued, "You don't need to worry. I won't tell Emperor Soo-Won about this, even though it was just an accident and I'm really fine. It will stay just between us three."
Her eyes were pleading, "You really won't say anything about it, Lady Lily?"
"I promise."
She threw herself down at my feet. "Thank you very much, Lady Lily! I am forever indebted to you!"
"There, there," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "That's enough bowing for today, I think."
Ayura intervened at that moment to bandage my arm and then I settled down to finally start reading. However, my body had other ideas, and I only made it a few sentences in before I found myself drifting off to sleep.