Warnings: None.
Author's note: Sorry for the short
chapter :( I've written a really really long chapter and wanted to split it into two but will only be able to post the next one tomorrow in the evening:((
As always, remember to vote and comment <3
╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗

It's like you never forgot how beautiful you were, because it was a younger version of your grandmother looking back at you.

── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Your Majesty, you should really leave. You cannot keep the Crown Prince waiting."  Jina said as a bead of sweat ran down her face. You got up, smoothing out your skirt and walked towards her. "Good luck! The guard is outside and will escort you to the royal gardens." You forced yourself to smile back at her, grimacing a bit, as she opened the heavy, imposing oak doors. You walked through them, and they banged shut. The wooden face of a roaring lion stared back at you. You shuddered.

Turning around, you were met with the veiled face of the guard. You wondered if it was the same mean, old, fart that had pushed you around and out of the dungeon, and swore at you with curse words even your grandmother wouldn't be able to understand. But of course you couldn't tell because of the straw hat about 3 sizes too big that covered his face.

Feeling a bit bold, you decided to taunt him. "How do you even see with that thing on?"

His white goatee twitched angrily, as you muffled a snicker. He grabbed your ridiculously long sleeve, the poppy coloured silk matching his blood red hanbok, and marched forward.

                ── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Without a blindfold and being half drugged, you could properly appreciate the intricacy of the palace decor.

Beside you, there were massive jade pillars, cool to the touch. They were printed with various depictions of the daily activities in the palace. You ran your hand along a portrait of a kindly woman, dressed in a simple white Garot- the peasants clothing, smiling mischievously while pinching the cheeks of a cheerful young man, dressed extravagantly in a bright yellow hanbok and jewels of various colours, while onlookers- both peasants and the rich- smiled indulgently at the lovestruck couple.

"Who's that?" you asked the almost insufferable guard, who seemed intent upon keeping a close eye on you and watched your every movement like a hawk. "The late Empress with the Emperor." His voice sounded wistful. "Ha! So you can see behind that unnecessarily large hat!"You blurted out, a bit too loudly. A group of tense looking women in front of you,
who were dressed in the same dull blue hanbok as Jina, jumped slightly before scurrying away through one of the numerous corridors.

The guard tightened his grip on you, dragging you through the hallway once more.
                 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝