Chapter 23

But the ladies did not succeed in the small talk, because the alarmed Mimi begged the Princess to move away for a very personal conversation. Bowing apologetically to Chenghuan, who was slightly surprised by this behavior, Heonui and Mimi retired to the corridors for a conversation.

"What's wrong with you, honey? You pulled off my entire sleeve with your hints," Heonui lamented, finding herself with her in a place far from the ears of strangers.

"Ah, Your Royal Highness, I conjure you with all the heavens, let us return to the count's house as soon as possible! Do not stay with Mr. Wang Han any longer, oh, I beg you, dear Heonui!" Mimi pleaded, flying into the Princess with an embrace and shivering. Her young face was distorted by vague emotions, and her pale little hands seemed to be completely white now to Heonui. She was seriously worried about the young lady.

"What happened to you? Where is this fear? Do you know something I am not aware of?" Heonui asked, looking for the helper's eyes, but she, burrowing into Heonui's collars, did not want to let go.

"I beg you, Your Royal Highness, let us get out of here, this damned place! Here, you lost your spouse, and here, evil is everywhere. Let us leave now, for I am afraid for you!" she continued to mutter, not letting go of the Princess, and her voice betrayed the wheezes of rising tears.

"Mimi, you're scaring me! What a dire speech!"

"Mimi is upset by Wang Tae's death. Like all of us." A man's voice was heard at the end of the corridor.

The young ladies turned around in fear. Wang Han, pale —how his happy face had changed dramatically compared to moments earlier in Chenghuan's company!—was standing with volumes of literature in his hands.

Mimi covered her face with her hands in horror.

"I believe it is best Mimi return to King Lee Song's house. For a while," Wang Han said, his eyes twinkling, "for she doesn't look well. Time in the usual places and without the heavy responsibilities of constant care for you, Heonui, will go to her on the mend."

Heonui turned to Mimi.

"You are ill?? Mimi!"

The young lady grabbed the Princess's hand and shook her head negatively.

"I am fine, Your Royal Highness! Please let us leave!"

"Send Mimi home," snapped Wang Han, looking into Heonui's eyes. She went cold.

"No! No, Your Royal Highness, I want to be here with you then!" murmured Mimi, anticipating the irreparable.

Heonui looked incomprehensibly from Wang Han to her assistant.

"I think you have worn her out, poor thing," Wang Han added sadly. "It is not easy to take care of a person without a second of rest."

Heonui's lips trembled. A sharp, lightning-fast prick of conscience cut into her very heart, cutting through everything in its path. She glanced at Mimi — beautiful Mimi, instead of attending only to dinners for the Queen and the King and sneaking out on secret walks with the stove-maker Matthew, for a month already, only has been busy with Heonui's breakfasts, lunches and dinners, her clothes and toilet, her walks and letters, her illnesses and tantrums. And this fair-haired, charming young lady did not have a second for herself ever, sacrificing her best years to the service of the nobility.

Heonui swallowed. Ignoring the desperate protests of her help, she commented reservedly, eyes fixed on the Prince:

"Dear Wang Han, will you please arrange a carriage for my Mimi. I want her safely delivered to my parents' house. I myself will stay in your company for a little while longer, as promised. But I want to be assured that Mimi is well."

Mimi screamed in horror.

Wang Han, coming close to the young ladies, took Mimi, who was starting to cry quietly, by the hand and answered:

"I will do everything to make our dear Mimi okay. Heonui, see you later in the reading room."

With these words, he went out, also holding Mimi's hand, leaving Heonui in a dark corridor, at the end of which, hiding behind a wall, stood Lady Chenghuan.