The Opposite Princesses

[Jess Buck]

Jessica nodded "That's nice" She said, cutting Victoria off mid sentence. The air in the room became tense, and to lighten the mood, Anna smiled and cleared her throat.


"So, Ji Hyo, Im having my dress maker come today for a fitting. Would you and Victoria care to join Jessica and I?" Jessica sent her mother a wide eyed glare, but Anna ignored her.

 

[Soul Eu Min]

Ji Hyo smiled happily, " That sounds wonderful, doesn't it, Victoria? ", she asked her, slightly tense daughter. Victoria ave her mother a grim smile, " Of course, mother. We will gladly join you, your majesty ", she said to Anna with a polite bow. Gary perked up, " Does this allow me to go out and play some sports? ", he asked Ji Hyo with hopeful eyes. Although reluctant, his wife smiled and nodded her head which earned her a tight hug from him and a deep kiss on the lips. " Mother, father. The children ", Hime teased her parents while her children were sticking their tongues out or scrunching up their faces.


" I'll see you later, Zhang Pai ", Fang Hua said after giving Zhang Pau a tight hug and begun making her way through the village. Zhang Pai watched as she walked away with sad eyes. He didn't think it was fair anymore, he wanted to throw in the towel, cry and give up, but he couldn't. He wanted to scream and eat up Kenji, but that would make Fang Hua upset. With a deep sigh of melancholy, he spun around and made his way back into the castle.


Meanwhile, Fang Hua was skipping around the village, making sure to keep track of time so that she would be able to meet with Kenji in front of the inn for their lunch date. A giggle escaped her lips as she thought about her boyfriend. To her, he was perfect in every way and she just adored him to no end. As she walked around, she decided to help Victor for a little bit, since he looked a tad lonely without Hime and his kids being around him. " Why not go visit them? ", Fang Hua suggested, " I can handle the shop for now ". Victor looked at her with surprise, " B...But ", he then smiled and shook his head, " It's fine, Fang Hua. Besides, it's not all the time Hime gets to see her family ".


Clapping her hands together, Lilly gained the attention of the soldiers, " All right! Get to your posts and keep an eye out for Commander Jung and his squad. They should be arriving either today or tomorrow ". With that being said, Lilly began to grab her equipment and prepare to set out to her post, which she was secretly ecstatic about but forcing it back since she assumed he didn't like her, was with Chin Ho. Lu Chu waved bye to Lilly before leaving the soldiers' rooms and heading towards the dining hall.


Lu Xun, Tai, and Chun Hei were walking around the village while they waited for it to be near 12 pm. While they walked around, the three took notice of a a small street performing group and it caused Lu Xun to smile broadly. Almost instantly, he rushed over to the group and took out his violin, which was strapped on his back in a case. Tai and Chun Hei stood in the crowd, watching as he joined in with the playing of music. While the group consisted of only drums, a guitar, and a flute, Lu Xun gladly played his violin with such grace and expertise that it caused an entire crowd to surround the street performing group.

 

[Jess Buck]

Marcus smiled


"Do you mind If I join you Gary?" He asked.


Chin Ho sighed and picked up his weapons and headed to his post, witch was with Lilly. This was going to be an interesting post day.

 

[Soul Eu Min]

" Heck yeah! The more the merrier, Marcus ", Gary said with an excited smile on his face, " I invited a couple of other people too, we can have a full on game! ". Ji Hyo smiled at her husband before pulling a smiling Sunmi into her lap and cuddling with her youngest granddaughter.


Lilly sighed deeply while she was standing at the top of the castle's roof, overlooking the entire village. She smiled at the sight of the villagers dancing and laughing, distinctly, she could see the street performers happily playing their music. Something she hadn't seen in a while.

 

[Jess Buck]

Marcus smiled


"Wonderful." He said happily. He smiled at Anna and Anna smiled at Jessica. Jessica ignored her parents' looks. She was angry with them, and they knew it.


Chin Ho sighed as he paced around the roof. Wondering what he would say to Lilly.

 

[Soul Eu Min]

Hime could feel the tension within the dining hall. Himiko, being smart for her age, could also sense how cold the air had suddenly become. Victoria withheld the urge to let out a deep sigh at her father's enthusiasm and her mother's plans. Honestly, she couldn't figure out what the point of this was.


' Is that... ', she thought while staring intensely at Lu Xun's happily playing figure. ' It's probably not... ', she told herself before standing up straight and continued to overlook the entire village.


Lu Xun bowed politely. " Thank you for allowing me to play with you ", he said to the street musicians before waving bye while he walked off with Chun Hei and Tai.

 

[Jess Buck]

Jessica cleared her throat, finishing her food.


"Well I'm off. I'll see you later Mother, Father" She said to her parents. She then turned to the others. "It was nice to see you Hime. Good day Gary, Ji Hyo......Victoria..." She said Victoria's name venomously before heading out of the castle, Caitlyn behind her.


Chin Ho cleared his throat.


"Um....Lilly?"

 

[Soul Eu Min]

" What time is it? ", Ji Hyo suddenly asked, " When are we suppose to be giving audience to the people? ".


" Hm? ", Lilly asked as she turned around to face Chin Ho. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she leaned against the wall with a bored, but curious look on her face.


Chun Hei smiled at Lu Xun, " Brother, it's almost time to see the royal family. Lets start making our way there ", she told him. Lu Xun looked over at a music shop with longing eyes. He looked at Chun Hei and Tai as he said, " I'll meet you both there. I want to see what instruments I can buy here. Hopefully there have a gayageum ". While rolling his eyes, Tai told him, " The last twenty villages that we went to didn't have the gayageum. What makes you think they have it here? ". Lu Xun smiled optimistically at Tai, " I have a good feeling about this village ". Chun Hei and Tai rolled their eyes before continuing their way to the castle while Lu Xun happily walked over to the music shop.

 

[Jess Buck]

Marcus looked down at his watch.


"Oh goodness. It's 11:00, we are supposed to give an audience at 12. We better get going." He said, standing and escorting Anna to their room. Levi and Cho following behind.


Chin Ho sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.


"Im sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean for it to come out like that...." He apologized.

 

[Soul Eu Min]

Ji Hyo, Gary, Hime, Sunmi, Shen, and Himiko finished eating before standing up and choosing to take a stroll around the garden.


" It's fine ", Lilly assured him, " Don't worry about it ". She then turned her back to him once more and survey the area in case there was any dangers around them.


After looking around the music shop, Lu Xun left. He didn't see what he wanted to find, so he chose to begin making his way towards the castle to meet up with Tai and Chun Hei. As he walked down the streets, the village women were giggling and smiling brightly at him. In return, he would politely smile back and wave like a gentleman. Of course, his parents sent him off to find a wife, but he was more interested in aiding the village people due to the war that is ongoing.


Mika was packing a small lunch for Ji Hyo, Gary, Hime, and Victoria. Even though she was only Ji Hyo's personal maid, she still insisted on packing them small lunches. She had another boxed lunch prepared for Bae in case he would get hungry later on in the day. " Zhang Pai, are you okay? ", she asked a sullen looking Zhang Pai as he walked into the kitchen. He sighed deeply and gave her a small smile with a nod, " Yeah. I'll take those boxes to Gary and Ji Hyo, Lu Chu will probably come in and give the other lunch boxes to Victoria and Hime ". Mika gave him an appreciative smile and a comforting hug before picking up Bae's boxed lunch and began making her way through the castle to find him.