Sakura's Petals
The Crown Princess
The PALACE GATE
The selection of the crown princess was attended by all the noble girls from different regions. When the Hwa Ryong attains the gate of the palace, there are five other gama who are lowering their nona there simultaneously.
The Crown Prince extended his hand, helping Hwa Ryong out of the gama. Hwa Ryong looks nervous. He looked towards other religions. He saw that the girls who came out of the gama were nobles who were much prettier than him. He swallowed his saliva. The Crown Prince who saw the doubt in Hwa Ryong's eyes clasped Hwa Ryong's hand and squeezed her slowly. Hwa Ryong immediately turned his head towards the Crown Prince and tried to take off his hand. “There are people here.” The Crown Prince smiled.
“Do not worry. You'll be chosen, I can assure you. You are the girl most deserving of the position of crown princess. My choice will never be wrong. So, relax.”
Hwa Ryong fell silent, then nodded. The Crown Prince then left with his entourage, entering into the palace first.
Hwa Ryong took a deep breath, saw how magnificent the palace was, tried to imagine being its owner, being the wife of the Crown Prince, and imagined that her life outside the palace would end here if she were elected. Then it let out a quick breath, focusing its steps past the gate.
MEANWHILE
Behind him, a handsome-looking girl with a small mule on her right cheek, came out from her luxurious gamma. His two servants instantly saluted as soon as his nona was out. “May success, Miss.”
The lady smiled, then her smile disappeared along with her former memories.
When she was seven years old, she was separated from her caretaker, in the woods, to collect wildflowers. He ran for hours to find his nanny and then he fell down and got hurt. Then, he met a boy who was slightly older than him.
The boy helped her get up and met her with her nanny. What he later learned was that the boy was the Crown Prince. The man he has loved since then.
The miss stepped in with graceful steps, full of confidence. He has been waiting for this moment for years. Diligently study the Book of Wife Preference, regularly drink beauty potions from healers, and also always find out information about the Crown Prince. He even knew the habit of the Crown Prince who always did not eat beans in all the dishes given to him.
ELECTING
The first and second rounds successfully passed Hwa Ryong without a hitch. Hwa Ryong who has intelligence and also beauty obviously can not be defeated by others. The third round will begin soon.
Hwa Ryong was standing with the other two candidates in front of a room door, where the third round would begin. He flashed a nervous smile at the other participants. A sweet-faced girl and a handsome girl with a mule on her right cheek. The sweet-faced girl returned her smile, while the other beautiful girl only smiled slightly and then turned away from her.
“What's your name?” ask the sweet-faced girl.
“Shim Hwa Ryong.”
The sweet-faced girl and the handsome-looking girl immediately turned their heads. “You mean, you are the only daughter of Lord Shim, the Minister of Defense, who has a close relationship with Emperor Qing? How lucky I am to meet you at a time like this. My name is Kim Wol Hee, daughter of the Head of the Music Bureau.”
“It's nice to meet you too.”
The three of them walked through various doors, until they reached a room with His Majesty the King and Queen in the middle of the room. They immediately bowed respectfully.
“The girls of the Crown Princess candidate are indeed beautiful as said lady-dayang.” said the Queen as soon as they finished greeting.
“Please introduce yourself.” said Dayang Kepala who was next to them.
“Honor to His Majesty. I'm Kim Wol Hee, the first daughter of the Head of the Music Bureau.”
“I Eo Mi Kyung, the only daughter of the Minister of Finance.”
“I Shim Hwa Ryong, the only daughter of the Minister of Defense.”
His Majesty the King and Queen smiled. “Then, we start. I'll give you all the same questions. Answer as best you can. Your Majesty the King who will judge and select one of you directly.”
The girls simultaneously gulped, nervous.
THE PALACE GARDEN
“Did the third round have started?” ask the Crown Prince in the palace garden.
Eunuch Hyun who had just arrived answered while gasping. “Newly, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince fed the koi fish half-heartedly while reflecting. “I don't know what to do if it turns out Hwa Ryong wasn't selected. No, I have to be sure that he gets elected."
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" If you believe in yourself, everything will become real. "
- NN
The Queen's Dress :