I eventually woke up and looked groggily around. Ayura was coming out of the powder room and smiled brightly when she saw me. "This is perfect timing Lady Lily. I was just about to wake you. It's time to start preparing for dinner."

For the next hour, Ayura and Tetora worked painstakingly on my hair, makeup, and dress. I went through the same elaborate process that I had helped Ayami through countless times. It still didn't quite feel real to me. Like this was all a dream that I would wake up from at any moment.

"There," Ayura said with satisfaction, "we're finished."

"You look beautiful, Lady Lily," Tetora added softly.

I smiled my thanks then turned to look at my reflection. The person in the mirror was almost a stranger to me. My hair, which I usually pinned up to keep out of my face, hung like a long smooth piece of black satin down my back. A stunning comb sparkled like a jewel in my hair, and a sapphire necklace was draped around my neck. Solemn azure eyes looked back at me from a pale face covered in exquisitely done makeup.

I look like a woman, I thought in astonishment. A wave of sadness washed over me as I thought of my parents who had missed seeing their little girl grow up. Mother, father, if only you could see me now. Even though you are not here with me, I promise I will become a woman that you would have been proud of.

I followed Ayura and Tetora to the dining room. It was breathtaking, as you would expect from the imperial palace, but I still couldn't help being awestruck by the grandeur of it. Soo-Won was already seated at the head of the table. He smiled and beckoned for me to sit by him. Yanking the sleeve of my robe down to cover the bandage, I obeyed.

"Good evening, Lily," he said pleasantly.

"Good evening, your majesty," I said, feeling suddenly shy.

"Please call me Soo-Won," he smiled congenially. "We are pledged to be married after all."

I merely nodded, unable to think of anything to say in reply that wouldn't sound foolish.

He then signaled to a nearby servant, who bowed and vanished out the door. I guess that that was the sign for dinner to start, because before I knew it tray after tray of food was being brought out and placed before us. There was so much that I thought there must be more guests coming. I waited under this pretense until Soo-Won finally encouraged me to start eating. A heavy silence fell over the room as we ate. I wondered if I was supposed to say something, but decided that if Soo-Won wanted to talk he could start the conversation. However, he seemed to be content with simply staring at me. His eyes were kind, but I still couldn't help feeling a bit uncomfortable as I gingerly ate the delicacies before me with my uninjured hand.

Finally he spoke. "Lily, would you do me the honor of serving the tea?"

I thought it odd that he wouldn't have a servant do it, but I had no choice but to comply. I may have had an injured arm and been nervous, but my years of training didn't fail me. I poured it perfectly, but as soon as I set the teapot down, Soo-Won suddenly reached out and grabbed my bad wrist. Instinctively, I cried out. Before I could stop him, he pulled up my sleeve revealing the bandage.

"This wasn't here earlier. What happened?" he asked in the sternest tone I had yet heard him use.

"Please let go," I said in a panic, "you're hurting me!"

He released me, and I immediately cradled my arm and backed away. He was still looking at me with eyes that demanded an answer. I stole a glance at Tetora, who was standing in the corner of the room, staring steadfastly at the floor. Even her downcast face couldn't hide her expression of terror. My decision made, I replied in as nonchalant voice as I could muster, "I spilled some tea on myself earlier. I got too excited, and made a foolish mistake. It's not serious though, so you don't need to worry."

He stared at me for what seemed like an eternity, and then finally said in his usual cheerful voice, "I see. I'm glad that you seem to be alright, but I will have the royal doctor check on you after dinner just to be safe."

I opened my mouth to protest, but thought better of it, and nodded quietly in submission.

We continued eating in silence until the doors opened and the tall, handsome man that I had seen earlier entered the room and strode over to Soo-Won. He handed him a letter and was about to leave when Soo-Won stopped him. Clearing his throat, he said, "I think now is as good a time as any to introduce you two. Lily, this is Son Hak, my personal bodyguard. And Hak, I believe you already know Miss Lily."

The man I now knew was called Hak bowed nobly and kissed my hand. It was silly, but I couldn't help feeling flattered by his attention, even though I knew he was just being polite. Upon further inspection, he really was very good-looking. He had strong rugged features, piercing dark eyes, and was almost ridiculously tall and well-built.

Soo-Won seemed to read my thoughts because he said in a pouty, childlike voice, "Why are you always so popular with the ladies, Hak? It's no fair." He crossed his arms to emphasize his words, then continued with a playful smile, "Well, it doesn't matter anymore, because the only girl I want is already mine."

He laughed and pulled me towards him. I was momentarily taken aback by his words, but managed to pull myself together enough to release myself from his embrace and reply coyly, "I don't belong to you just yet. Remember our deal?"

At this, Hak burst into uproarious laughter. Patting my head, he said, "I think you'll be good for this egotistical king of ours." Then with a final bow, he turned on his heel and exited before either of us had time to say another word.

I glanced nervously at Soo-Won to see how he would respond to Hak's bold comment, but he appeared unperturbed.

"I'm sorry about Hak," he said with an apologetic smile, "he never has cared much for etiquette and such, and he has no qualms whatsoever with insulting me constantly."

Relieved, I giggled and shook my head. "You don't have to apologize." After a long pause, I continued, "I'm glad that you have someone like him by your side."

I looked up quickly, afraid that I had said too much, but he simply replied absently, "Yes, Hak has been my bodyguard and closest friend for five years now. Ever since we were boys."

I gazed curiously at him, wondering if perhaps there was more to this strange man than met the eye, but after that he changed the topic back to trivial things such as food and the weather. As I smiled and answered politely, I quickly rejected my previous notion. No matter how smooth he was, I couldn't lose sight of the fact that he was just a lazy, spoiled king, and that the sooner I left the better. I didn't approve of gossip, but I had learned that it was rarely wrong.

Finally, I remembered the library, and at the next lull in the conversation, asked, "Your ma…I mean Soo-Won?" He nodded, encouraging me to continue. "I was wondering if it would be alright if I looked through your library sometime."

He looked surprised, and thinking that I had overstepped my bounds, I began to hastily apologize.

"No, no, it's not that," he amended quickly. "It's just…you can read?"

Now it was my turn to look surprised. "Of course I can," I said a bit indignantly. "I wasn't always a ladies' maid, you know. I was born into a family of respected scholars, and only took the position due to…certain circumstances," I finished lamely, unwilling to tell him about my parent's death.

"Oh, I see! I should've known by your manner of speech that you've been educated. I apologize if I offended you."

I assured him that it was quite alright, and shifted uncomfortably in my chair, bracing myself for the probing questions that were sure to follow. How did you become a servant? What happened to your family? But they never came. I didn't know whether he had noticed my discomfort and considerately refrained from asking, or if he simply wasn't interested—probably the latter—but soon after that he excused himself and left. I, too, was ushered out of the room and taken to my suite.

I sighed loudly and fell onto my bed. Tetora instantly rushed to my side like a devoted puppy. "Are you alright, Lady Lily?" she asked in sincere concern. "Thank you very much for earlier, but you really shouldn't have lied for me like that. You could've been killed too if he found out."

"Well he didn't, so it's alright isn't it?" I replied teasingly.

She gave me a small grateful smile then went to assist Ayura with preparing my bath. The doctor came as promised and after checking my wrist briefly, re-bandaged it and gave me some ointment.

Then I soaked in my first hot bath in five years and was given a luxurious silk robe and nightdress to wear to bed. When I asked where they were getting all of these clothes for me, Ayura explained that they had belonged to the previous queen.

"So these belonged to Soo-Won's mother? Amazing…," I said as I looked in the mirror and admired the intricate embroidery and beading. The strange look crossed Ayura's face again, but she said nothing.

Finally, I was all ready to snuggle into bed and read to my heart's content. I was in the midst of a fascinating story when a knock on my door and Soo-Won's voice interrupted me midsentence.

"Lily? Is now a good time?"

My initial frustration was replaced by panic. Why was Soo-Won here at this time of night? Could it be that he was going to ignore our deal? I should've known that he wouldn't keep his word, but it was too late now. Resisting would be futile. He was the emperor after all. I sat frozen in my bed as these thoughts raced through my head.

The door opened a bit and Soo-Won peered in. "Miss Lily? Are you all right?"

I nodded numbly, bracing myself for what was sure to come.

"Good," he smiled, "I just came to say good night, and to invite you to a walk in the garden tomorrow morning at ten o'clock."

I was too panicked to fully grasp his words, and merely stared at him in reply.

After an awkward pause, he tried again, "So what do you say? Will you do me the pleasure of joining me?"

Finally, it hit me. He didn't intend to break our promise. He was simply asking me to go on a walk. Maybe I've misjudged him a bit, I thought with a pang of guilt. Intensely relieved, I hastily thanked him for the generous invitation and agreed to come along. After setting a meeting place, he once again bid me goodnight and then left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

As soon as he was gone, I exhaled and collapsed against my pillows, clutching my mother's necklace to my pounding chest. Holding it near my heart always calmed me down, almost as if my mother herself was there comforting me. The reality of the day had not yet sunk in, and I chuckled to myself as I thought about what my parents would say if they knew that I was currently engaged to the emperor of Kouka. I could hardly believe it myself. As I ran over the day's crazy events in my mind, I thought for certain that I would be up all night, but after a few minutes, all the excitement caught up to me and I fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.