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Yun was feeling much better the next day.  She was ready to join Jimin in getting Taehyung ready for the day once again.

“Yun!  Yun!”

Yun turned around to find Jimin running to catch up with her.

“What is it, Jimin?”

“You’ve been reassigned.”

“I. . .what?”

“You’ve been reassigned,” Jimin repeated as he caught up to her. “Yesterday, His Majesty chose a fiancé.  They’ve reassigned you to be her personal assistant.”

“What?  But. . .”

Jimin shook his head. “Duri will show you to her quarters.  I have to head up to His Majesty’s quarters quickly.  I’m already late.”

Yun watched as he rushed off.  She supposed she should have expected this.  It wasn’t the best course of action to have the King have a female personal assistant.  And, of course, the King needed a wife.  She sighed.  She needed to hurry and find Duri so she wouldn’t be late to her new mistress’s quarters.  Yun hoped she was at least nice.

——————–

“Her Highness hasn’t woken yet,” Duri stated as she polished a silver pot. “Would you like to help me until she wakes?  The sooner this is done, the better.”

Yun joined Duri in polishing the pots and silverware. “Is Her Highness moving in?”

“Oh?  You didn’t hear?”

“No. . .I was out yesterday.  I got caught in the rain the night of the coronation and got sick.”

“Ah. . .  Well, she’s the second princess of Chaeseo.  His Majesty chose her as his fiancé yesterday.  I’m surprised how fast they move.  He’s been the king for two days, and he already has a fiancé.”

“Well, most princes are married before they ascend the throne.  His Majesty is just a different case since his parents died when he was so young.”

Duri sighed, “I suppose you’re right.” There was a long pause before she spoke again. “So. . .I heard you were friends with His Majesty when you were young.  Is it true?”

“To an extent, yes.  But after his parents died. . .he changed.”

“Oh.” Duri frowned.

“It’s all right.  I was never an ideal friend for him.  He was the prince, and I was a lowly servant girl.  His parents always thought I just hung around him for his money.  Especially after my mom passed.  It wasn’t true, but there wasn’t much I could do about it.  It didn’t matter anyway.  They died not too long afterwards, and he pulled away from me.”

“Duri!  Oh–”

Duri and Yun both looked up at the source of the voice.

“Oh!  Your Highness!” Duri curtsied.  Yun followed suit.

“Ah. . .don’t do that.  Please stand up.”

Both girls straightened upon hearing that.  Yun took notice of the fact that Ahseong was already dressed in her day clothes.

“Ahm. . .I was wondering when I can get breakfast?” Ahseong asked cautiously.

“Oh!  I can go make you whatever you’d like!” Duri responded.

“I don’t really care what you make. . .I’m just hungry.  His Majesty expects me in the court at eight, so. . .”

“Oh!  Right!  I’ll be back in a few minutes with your breakfast!”  Duri ran off.

“Do. . .do you not need my help with anything?” Yun asked. “They assigned me as your personal assistant.”

Ahseong shook her head and smiled. “No, not right now.  I can get myself ready in the mornings.  I’m accustomed to doing so.  Just show up around seven thirty.  You can join me for breakfast, and then you can help me with whatever I’m doing each day.”

Yun nodded. “If you don’t mind me asking. . .when are you getting married?”

“Actually, I’m not sure.  But we just got engaged yesterday.  I don’t know when we’ll set the date.  I don’t think His Majesty is in much of a hurry to get married,” Ahseong laughed.

“You don’t seem too disappointed that you aren’t getting married soon,” Yun asserted.

Ahseong shrugged. “I’m just happy to not be at home.  My parents are very. . .overprotective.”

Yun nodded slowly.

“You were His Majesty’s personal assistant, right?”

Yun’s eyes widened. “Um. . .yes. . .”

“Tell me: what is he like?  He was quite the gentleman when we last met five years ago.  But it seems he’s changed.”

“Ah.  Well.  He hasn’t shown much emotion since his parents died.  He used to be the kindest person I’d ever known.  I think having the throne suddenly thrown on him put a lot of pressure on him.  He knows he can’t show weakness as a leader.  I think. . .under all of it. . .he still has the same compassionate heart.” Yun paused. “I hope he isn’t hard on you.  I don’t think he liked the idea of getting married so suddenly.  His royal adviser has been trying to talk him into getting married for years.  It got even worse after his parents died.

“His cousin has also been after the throne.  He’s second in line.  He’s been trying to get rid of His Majesty.  He knows if he succeeds before His Majesty has an heir, the throne will be his without any competition.  We haven’t found any evidence that he has such intentions, though.”

Ahseong stared at Yun with wide eyes. “I’ve always wondered something.  May I ask it?”

“Your Highness, you don’t need permission to ask me anything.”

“Why does His Majesty not have any siblings?  This is the first kingdom I’ve been in that has only one full-blood heir to the throne.  And. . .there are no children of concubines either.  I find it very odd.  I have more half-siblings than I can count.”

“I think the queen was mostly infertile.  My mother was the queen’s personal assistant.  She told me that the queen miscarried at least three times before she had His Majesty.  As for half siblings. . .the king didn’t believe in letting peasants have his children.  So. . .even though they were pretty sure the queen couldn’t have children, he would never let anyone else have his children.  It was very strange, honestly.” Yun shrugged.

Just then, Duri returned with breakfast.  It was now the start of a very busy day.