"Young lady, we have to hurry up. Your mother is ready to go and everyone is waiting for you. Plus, we do not want to be late. It is not appropriate and your father..." "I know, I know, Nara...he will get mad and make a scene when he will be back home. Yeah, yeah, yeah.", said Hana to her maiden while taking a last look at herself in the tall mirror. "I am ready. Don't forget to take the fan decorated with peonies. It matches my dressing. Ugh, it will be hot today." added with a large hand gesture and she exhaled while opening the sliding door, holding her chin up and a straight back. "All right, my lady. I have it!," responded Nara while running to catch her for helping to put on her pink, embroidered shoes. "Oh, Hana, you look beautiful! Your presence resembles a fresh bouquet of peonies. I am sure that Her Majesty, the Queen, will adore you.", spoke her mother, moving towards her and grabbing her arm. "Of course she will adore me. I'm all pink, mother. Who does not love pink?", said Hana while rolling her eyes and smiling with the corner of her pink mouth. The two noble ladies, accompanied by their maids, stepped in their palanquins with covered windows and went straight to the Palace. Four men were holding each carrier with their hands and started walking at a steady pace trying to not shake too much the ladies seated inside. The maids were walking, silently, beside each palanquin, holding their heads slightly bowed. They were wearing the same clothing style: a beige long-sleeved top and a dark blue skirt. A typical outfit for the maidens in that house. "Ugh, why is it so hot today? "asked Hana, in a very annoyed manner, while opening the curtains and waving, aggressively, her small fan. "Please have just a little more patience, my lady. We are almost there and we will get refreshments.", tried to comfort Nara. "Hana, put down the curtains!", shouted her mother from her palanquin when she saw her face. "You cannot let anyone see your face. Not suitable for a noble young lady as you are. We do not want these peasant hooligans to drool over your beauty." , continued her mother in a very arrogant way. Nara helped to put down the curtains and the convoy continued its way to the Palace. Nobleman Jang, the father of Hana, who is the Minister of Finances at the Palace, told his wife to take their daughter and pay a visit to the Queen. Every year, at the beginning of July, the Mother Queen celebrates her birthday. Although Minister Jang is a very respected, well positioned man at the Court, he doesn't miss any opportunity to tighten his relationship with the royal family. He loves power, he loves wealth and having the right connections is essential for a long and successful career inside the Palace. As every year, he gave the task to his wife to get the most expensive presents and visit the Queen to show their respects and get closer to her. Just the fact that his family visits Her Majesty will give envious looks from the other noblemen as it is not an easy thing to meet a royal member. However, he has the right strings and he knows how to pull them to get the things he wants closer to him. Arriving in front of the large wooden gate of the Palace entrance, the men put down the two palanquins and flipped upward the front curtains to let the two ladies get out. With the help of their maids, Lady Jang stepped out, followed by her 17 years old daughter Hana. A tall, slim young lady, with an oval shaped face and fair skin. Slim lips, dabbed in a light pink shade of lipstick, and a sharp nose, with black, brazen eyes, made her look noble, but spoiled. A long black, braid was going down her back and her hips, tied up with a pink bow. To visit the Queen required the best garments and, as every year, she gets new clothes special for this event. Wearing a faded pink colored long sleeved silk top, tied with a red bow and a long bright pink skirt made also of silk. Her flat shoes were embroidered with pink peony flowers and red borders. It was a pink reverie to watch her and it made you even love her doll-like aspect or to throw up from all this. Arranging their skirts and tops, and accompanied by their maidens, a step behind them, the Jang ladies made their entrance in the Palace. Holding their heads up and their hands one over another, left over right, they walked confidently and proud towards the Queens quarters. Nara, was a step behind Hana, holding two big boxes, wrapped in pink silk covers. Holding her head slightly bowed down, she was hiding a round face, fair skin, with the most rare and captivating hazel eyes, framed by dark long eyelashes, under two black curved eyebrows. Her full lips had a natural pink tone and her nose was small and round were perfect, making the most balanced face. A black hair, tied in a thick braid, was reaching her lower back. She was a beauty beyond her social status. The four women arrived in front of the sliding doors of the Queen's room. On each side there were court ladies, dressed in dark green garments, and in the middle was the Queen's lady-in-waiting, Lady Kim, an older woman, in her fifties, with gray hair gathered in a bun at the back, with her long green skirts and green top. All were keeping their heads bowed, all the time, as the protocol required inside the Palace. "We are here to see Her Majesty, the Queen. I am Lady Jang, the wife of Minister Jang and she is my daughter, Hana. We wish to give her our presen..." , she didn't get to introduce herself well, as shouting and loud talks came from inside the chambers, interrupting her. Suddenly the doors, covered in rice paper, slid open and a man burst through, fuming with rage. "Crown Prince! Crown Price! Listen to me!" said an old woman from inside. On his way out of that room, he didn't see the waiting women outside and he bumped into them, hitting two of them. He stormed into Hana and she fell over Queen's court ladies and almost stepped over Nara, who fell down dropping the boxes all around the floor. Lee Sun was boiling from madness, after another fight with his mother, the Queen, who told him that he has to marry as soon as possible to secure his throne. After his father's death, a year ago, he took over the ruling over the whole Joseon and most of the Court men and nobles were giving him a hard time, trying to find any mistake to dismiss him and put his younger brother in his place, who was a just boy of 6 years old, and the son of a concubine. This way the Ministers could control the country and keep draining the resources of the nation into their pockets. To secure his place as future king and to rule independent from his mother, he was required to marry as soon as possible with a noble lady and get a son in less than a year. Since he was a boy, Lee Sun was preparing himself to become a king. He focused on his studying and military training and followed his father all over the place to learn everything about leading a nation. The corruption started to grow since his father got sick and his power diminished and the ministers started to control and take decisions behind him. Low qualified people started to get higher positions at the Court and more people were suffering from poverty outside the Court walls. Lee Sun knew that the only way to secure his throne was marriage and he hated it. However, he had to make a decision for the sake of his kingdom and of his loyal people. His mother was right, but the pressure on this topic was annoying because she kept insisting on it on every visit to her. Today, while he went to her to wish her happy birthday and spend time with her for her birthday, she had mentioned again the marriage requesting to find a bride and to complete the marriage before Chuseok, the harvesting celebration. "Crown Prince, this is not a request. This is an order!", said the queen before he stood up and left the room furious, hitting the ladies outside the door. He saw the group of women waiting in front of his mother's room and he noticed he strongly pushed one of them who fell down, dropping some packages. He turned around and picked up the two boxes and stretched his arm to help the maiden stand up. Nara blushed seeing her skirts raised above her ankles, showing the white skin above her socks and got to stand up fast when saw the wide hand and the arm covered in the red large sleeve waiting for her to grab it. Clumsy and almost tripping, she stood up alone, arranging her skirts. He remembers the packages with gifts and got to look around her on the floor to get them, but she saw them in his arms. Lee Sun looked at this embarrassed girl trying to get up, refusing his arm and smiled inside him. "I am sorry. I didn't see you.", he said she pushed the boxes toward her to pass them on. Nara raised her face and looked at him, even though she knew it's forbidden, but for a second she forgot. She saw the tall man with broad shoulders slightly bent above her. His deep black eyes were protruding any soul, full lips and a sharp nose gave him a sweet, yet strong look. A sharp jawline and a slightly olive complexion made him seem exotic and different from the ordinary man. She took the packages and put her face down, ashamed. "I am sorry, Your Highness. I was in your way....", she said out of breath. Lee Sun witnessed, for a second, the most charming eyes, the milky skin blushing like blooming cherry flowers on her cheeks and the most moist red full lips that made his heart stop. For a second. "I apologize for our clumsy maid's disaster, Your Highness. Please forgive us for being in your way!", said Lady Jang, bowing her head gently and grabbing her daughter forward. "My daughter will take care of this and make her maiden to pay for this embarrassment." , she added. "It's all because of me. Nobody pays for this anything. Tell your daughter to watch where SHE is walking", replied Lee Sun with a sharp sight towards Lady Jang. "And who is wearing all this pink? It's annoying! "completed Lee Sun looking at Hana with the tail of his eye, while turning around and leaving followed by a large crowd of maids and eunuchs. Hana was left baffled and annoyed. He looked at her skirt and hit it with her hands, stomping her feet. "Don't throw a fist now! We have to enter the Queen's room. Smile and greet her in the most exquisite way. We will fix all this later on. Straighten your back, smile and walk confidently", said Lady Jang while pushing and pulling the back and shoulder of her annoyed daughter. Hana glared at Nara, then put her hands together and followed her mother. "Let's go. Watch your steps, this time.", she said, moving towards the door. Lady Kim, the court lady of the Queen, announced the guests and opened the sliding doors after the Queens gave her approval. With small steps and slightly bowed heads they walked silently towards where the Queen was sitting. At the end of a well lit room, sitting on her cushions and sitting mats on the floor, behind a little table, was Her Majesty, staring at the women waiting to perform their bows. Each of them made a bow, holding their palms face down, in front of their foreheads and then sat on the cushions in front of the Queen's table. Lady Jang took the two packages and put them on the table in front of the queen. "This is for congratulating your Highness for her birthday. Our family is wishing you many blessings and a happy birthday", said Lady Jang spreading her arms while holding the packages and performing a bow . Hana followed her in performing the same bowing and away, behind them, Nara copied them too. Then everyone sat down. "Thank you, Lady Jang! I appreciate your gift and you coming today to congratulate me!", replied the Queen, turning her face towards Hana." And this must be your daughter, I believe. She grew up a lot. She became a fine young lady.", continued smiling. "Yes, Your Majesty, she is my daughter Hana, my only child. Thank you for your kind compliments, Your Majesty!", answered the mother, "How old are you, young lady?", asked the Queen looking and measuring Hana with her eyes, "I am 17, Your Majesty. I will turn 18 in December.", replied Hana with a smile and a bow. "And she is your only child, you said?", said the Queens curious, "Yes, Your Majesty, she is our only child. We raised her to become a good wife and to show how to lead a household.", answered the mother, getting this discussion in the direction she wanted. The queen smiled, pleased and put her hand together. " Lady Jang, she is at the age to get married. Your family is a nodule, a very decent and respectful family. What do you think if I recommend her for the upcoming selection for a bride and future queens for my son, the Crown Prince? "asked the Queen excitedly. Lady Jane smiled and bowed shyly, jumping of happiness inside her. "Your Majesty is too generous and kind. Minister Jang, myself and Hana, of course, we will be pleased to show our respect and dedication for the well-being of the country and the Palace. Thank you for thinking of Hana as a potential bride for His Highness. We are only your loyal servant, Your Majesty.", replied Lady Jang with a sly smile. 'That will be my pleasure to support your daughter to become the future Queen. I can see she is suitable for this position. The application process will check if she is suitable for being the mother of the future king.", said the Queens with a cunning smile towards Hana. "I was just telling my son to get ready for the upcoming marriage. Did you meet him outside, while he was leaving?" "Yes, Your Majesty. I have just had a glimpse of him." , answered Hana with a wicked look in her eyes.