Her Poison His cure: Behind The Mask

Na jihye went down on her knees sitting in front of me.

“About the information Your Highness asks for.” She said and my mind drifted back to when I snapped at her earlier.

You make enemies of people but people are not the only victims of hatred. Some tangible things are also not an exception. Things like Wind, thunder, storm and other nature. There are different reasons for making an enemy. Some because of personal gain, and for some people under a situation they found themselves in but there is this one thing people can’t make enemies of and that is food and it’s father’s water, which is also important for the people, since that’s the essential thing and most important in our life.

You can use this powerful tool to turn many people around as you wish whether the one you hurt or the one who hurt you.

That’s exactly what I am going to do with Na ji hye. Since I am feeling guilty about how I snapped at her and I am pretty sure she is angry at me about that. Since the word sorry is like a taboo for me. I will use this human savior to lift off her anger and quench my own guilt.

“Before that, have this” I offered, putting some bulgogi in her mouth.

She looked at me strangely but opened up when she saw I am not going to give up unless she took it from me. She chewed on it for a few seconds and immediately I added a steamed egg with it. I continued feeding her until I saw she was satisfied and made her gulp down some water.

“Thanks Your Highness” she smiled and I cleaned her mouth with a wiper.

Mission accomplished.

“So what did you find out? Who are these maids” I asked and poised my hand on the table carefully so as not to knock the food on it away.

“They are three. I heard they just take food to the guard and vacate immediately after they finish eating” came the explanation from her.

“What’s their names and did you know how we can contact them” I asked

Sucking in breath Na ji hye rubs her palm nervously

“Yes. apparently Your highness might be familiar with one of them”

My brow sloped back “Familiar with one of them? What did you mean?”

“One of them is the maid I fought with back then in the laundry room. I don’t think she will be willing to help Your highness”

“I don’t care if she is willing to help or not. She had no choice but to obey my order anyway” my voice sounded pinched like it was squeezed through a straw.

“I remember punishing you guys then. What is her punishment?” I added using my finger to poke my cheek, trying to remember the punishment I gave her.

“Your highness has given out order not to give her salary for a whole year”

That too harsh, I sometimes wonder if I truly was the one who passed out an order when I heard some decisions I made in regards to punishment. I only do things as I see it right at that moment. I don’t think of the consequences it will cause for me or the person later on.

“Is that so? Bring the three of them to me immediately” I ordered and Na ji hye immediately stood up and left the room to carry out the order.

……

My eyes go forth and back as I stare at trembling maids kneeling in front of me. Na ji hye stood next to them silently, and gave me a look urging me to start talking at least to ease their nervousness.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I cleared my voice.”No need to be scared. I just have some questions to ask and I need a favour from you guys”

I saw them sighed in relief.

“Since we are not wise enough. I am not sure if we can answer your question, Your highness” one of the maids said courteously.

I have never done this before. Asking for someone’s help, I mean I got everything I want, so this is a problem for me but the situation is different this time as I am left with no choice but to ask for their help.

I sighed deeply. “It’s about something you know very well. The palace prison”

They all look at each other’s faces. I guessed they didn’t expect me to ask that, they must be thinking what was a princess like me going to do at the palace prison.

“I will just go straight to the point. Actually I need your help to get inside the prison.” I dropped the bombshell.

“We are not allowed to pass less than the prison entrance. there is no help we can render your highness on that, I suggest Your highness should drop the idea of going to the prison because you might end up coming out in half” one of the maids blurted, less concerned in a rude tone and that earned her a glare from Na jihye.

The other two maids gasped loudly at the way she talked to me. Judging from Na jihye’s reaction, I think I already know who she is.

The gut of this lady. How dare she talk to me like that. What gives her the liver to talk like that to me. It is an offence to disrespect any of the royal family. Will she claim not to know?. I guess her hatred for me has clouded her sense of reasoning or else why would she address me like that. Does she want to die?

I laughed silently.”You are the maid from the laundry right”

“Yes Your highness” she replied calmly but I can still detect hatred from her voice.

“What’s your name?” I quizzed standing up and walking around them in a circle, and stopped in front of her.

“Soha Your highness,” she stared at me blankly, locking gaze with me.

I chuckle dryly, “No head or tail?”

“Ku Soha Your highness”

I nodded my head slowly

“Ku Soha. I must comment on you for your courage” her brow creased in confusion waiting for me to elaborate. “It’s an offense to look at the royal family directly in the eyes but you don’t seem to care and you seem pretty bold when talking. I am really impressed.”

Her gaze dropped down.

“I am not sure of what you are saying Your highness” She said but we could clearly hear her voice shaking. Her face went up and dropped down anxiously. She kind of looked scared but she is trying to hide it.

The two other maids beside her look at Na ji hye with pleading eyes. They Know the punishment that comes to anyone that disrespect the royal family.

Na ji hye looked away sighing as a way of telling them there’s nothing she can do and they both kept their gaze back to the floor in disappointment.

“Wow! Just wow!” I was simply awed by her rudeness. She is still proving to be bold.

“Help?” I scoffed loudly.

“Did you just say there’s no help you can render to me on that”.

I rolled my eyes.

“What kind of help can you actually render to me in the first place?. Actually I was going to make a deal with you, and trust me it was definitely going to benefit you but your sharp mouth and arrogant behavior left you at disadvantage”

I let out a deep breath.

“If you give the less privileged a slight opportunity to go on a power trip, they start misbehaving and abusing the privilege given to them blindly. They actually forget that the power was given to them out of unforeseen circumstances” I said rhetorically tilting my head.

My eyes hardened and narrowed into slits.

“It’s well though. Since there is no help you can render to me then I think I should render you a help then.”

There was still no sign of remorse or guilt on her face.

“Court lady Chun, are you there?” I said, making sure my voice was loud enough to reach outside.

The door opened and Court lady Chun entered. She bow courteously, her eyes scanning the maids that are kneeling on the floor.

“This court maid here needs the help of discipline and you know me to be a very generous person. Since what she need is within my reach, I will do her the honor of rendering her with it”

“Take her out right now and floged her with a bamboo strip. Do not hand her over to the inspector court lady, I want you to do it yourself and make sure I am hearing her voice from outside” I pointed at Soha and that seemed to do the work because her eyes suddenly widened in fear but that didn’t stop me from giving her punishment.

“Do not stop until I tell you to, and after I order you to stop, make sure she is brought back to me to apologize” I snapped mercilessly.

“Yes Your Highness” and like that she was dragged out by my court lady.