x. winter

Months have passed by quick. The once red, yellow and orange leaves are now falling on the ground and snow started to fall from the skies.

I had just finished memorizing new medicinal herbs when I found Lady Hae burning some cloth until she started coughing. What caught my attention was that blood came out from her mouth when she coughed.

"Lady Hae!" I came rushing to her side. "Are you alright? You should lay down and get some rest. I will bring medicine and tea for you!" I spoke. As I was about to turn from where I went, she took hold of my hand.

"Uh...Lady Hae, is something wrong?" I asked her. She looked at me as if she wanted to stop me. Her eyes said the same.

"Instead of bringing me tea and medicine, please make me pretty. I want Wook to remember me being pretty." Is what Lady Hae asked for instead.

Then it hit me. Prince Wook married Lady Hae in history. I started to feel ashamed. Ashamed that the fact that I was falling for a married man. If I knew that he was married before, I would have stopped my feelings before they could even deepen.

I helped Lady Hae back inside the place and organized the cosmetics on the table. Lady Hae still had the same look on her face until she started to speak again.

"I see the way Wook looks at you. It's not hard to deny that he has feelings for you too." Lady Hae spoke while I press the powder on her face. I couldn't bring myself to look at Lady Hae.

"I told him that, he should marry again, and that it is fine by me if he did that. I haven't done anything as his wife." She continued. After applying the powder, I started to focus on her eyebrows.

"If ever Wook decides to marry you, you should always cook meals for him. He tends to forget his meals when he is busy. When he is stressed, you should make pillows for him. Also, give him a child. Boy or girl. Wook will be very much happy." A single tear slowly slid down Lady Hae's eye. My eyes started to brim down with tears. I bit my inner lip and continued to make her pretty.

The snow had stopped falling. And Wook returned into the household. I was also finished in making Lady Hae look pretty in the eyes of Wook.

"You should rest." Wook told her. But Lady Hae shook her head slowly.

"Let's take a walk." She spoke softly.

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I accompanied them in their walk. I stood meters away from them. Lady Hae was already too weak to walk that Wook had to assist her. But now, Wook crouched down on infront of her and carried her on his back.

As I continued to watch them, I could feel cold tears slipping past out of my eyes. And as soon as I saw how Lady Hae's arm slipped down from Wook's neck, that's when I let all the tears out.

"Eunha, don't cry so loud." Wook spoke. "Lady Hae is resting. We shouldn't wake her up." Even though he had instructed me, I covered my mouth and continued to let all the tears out.

Now that Lady Hae is gone, will that mean that Wook will turn to marry me after?

Everything happened so fast. It felt like it was only yesterday that I was brought in this time and now this happened. It was as if the time was ticking so fast.

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Later that night, Queen Hwangbo and Princess Yeon Hwa were informed by Wook about the death of Lady Hae. The princes and the whole people in the palace were all informed by the happening. The King announced that at the end of winter, they will be cremating Lady Hae's body.

And while everyone gathered to have a feast in honor for Lady Hae, I stayed behind in my room. Crying myself.

It was until the sliding doors opened.

"My Lady, you haven't eaten anything yet. The King was worried about you. That's why I was ordered to bring food for you." Ji-ae spoke, slowly she stepped inside and laid the food beside me.

"My Lady, you shouldn't hide yourself here. Court Lady Oh will be worried if she knew about you not eating. Besides, there are alot of foods that I brought for you!" Ji-ae smiled, I gave up and sat up and saw that only on the tray was a bowl of porridge, tteok and a cup of tea.

"I was only kidding. But still, my arm hurts from grinding all the pine nuts into making pine nut porridge. Please eat up my lady!" I smiled softly and ate the food in silence. I was thankful that Ji-ae was here. The thought of Ji-ae doing all these was what it counted.