My Stubborn Mistress

Madison and Elisa pretended to hand a present from the Queen which they only allowed them to enter the s.h.i.+p and see Marivella for a reasonable reason.

With this, Madison takes these chances to count the soldiers guarded on the deck: they were over 20, not including the s.h.i.+p workers hanging around. She a.s.sumed that below this s.h.i.+p is more than a hundred soldiers.

She wondered if she could defeat each one of them. May they already have a bright plan prepared to commence, but it was different in actual work, later.

She heard, the Prince granted those driven away from the country and wanted to go back to the kingdom after for so long years hiding elsewhere. Now they had their own family here in France; like her parents.

Even those who commit a crime, they were granted a pardon by serving the prince, soon to crown as the next King of Joseon.

The Korean Imperial s.h.i.+p escorted by two Imperial Naval s.h.i.+ps. It also includes two trader"s s.h.i.+ps back to Korea with imported goods to deliver. The voyage composes of five s.h.i.+ps in total. But they cannot wait for another day. They must get Marivella, no matter what happens tonight.

She must secure her safety while they haven"t Back to the Future yet. She"s afraid that they would suddenly disappear before everything taking place, turns out their plan got to waste. She"s uncertain might be tomorrow or tonight they vanish from this era.

Madison felt someone"s presence. Their eyes meet and the princes giving her an unfriendly gaze. She still shows respect. She and Elisa bend their knees and partly nod. The Prince did not move, remain standing on the bridge of the s.h.i.+p, keenly staring at them. Particularly at her, she knows that the Prince is eyeing at her.

The soldier gestured to follow him. They taking a staircase, south, headed down one level of this s.h.i.+p and trail a hallway toward the stern part of this s.h.i.+p where the room of the guests and the Prince"s located.

The soldier halted at one door. They a.s.sume that it is where Marivella stayed. The door opens, and they stride inside. Gladly, the soldier remained outside.

"Carlene! What are you doing here? And-- Lady Grace?"

"We have a present from the Queen and ours," said Lisa who glanced at Madison and then s.h.i.+fted back her gaze to Marivella. "I heard that you have to leave sooner and so, I requested to see you one more time. We haven"t had a tea party, you know!" Lisa stated cheerfully.

"Don"t forget to send us a letter!" Madison seconded.

"Carlene is right. We want you to send us a letter, even if you become the Queen of Korea. You can address the mail to me And I will deliver it to Carlene."

"And I will pick them up once we came back to this city," her voice a bit trembling as she is holding her tears. How if that truly happens? How if they will separate from here, and then, Marivella sent her letters?

"Carlene—" Sadly, she smiled. "Okay, I will…"

While Elisa and Madison speak out, Marivella read the letter written by Carlisle and Charles.

She first read Charles"s letter. It was about the plan of saving her. The s.h.i.+p will leave at midnight, and Charles told her that there is a fis.h.i.+ng boat that will anchor near St. Anne Island. The voyager will pa.s.s that channel, it is the best chance to escape if she will agree on cooperating with them.

Charles mentions that someone will knock on her door once they were near that channel. The clothes that Carlene and Elisa brought to her are the clothes she must wear. It was a man"s clothes hidden under a French fas.h.i.+on dress that said a present from Queen Mary.

Marivella lifted her head and looked at the two women standing in front of her, then Carlene nodded.

She then read next is Carlisle"s letter. Her tears flowing down her cheeks. Carrying a weight on her chest, she still can"t decide who to choose.

She has been hearing a crisis going on in the provinces of Korea. She wanted to help the people, that is why she wishes to have a friendly relations.h.i.+p with the Queen, and this monarchy. They needed the medical knowledge that France has been studying with and researching through these years. They had a breakthrough, and she could trade something once she steps on that land and has a position in the palace.

She did not aim to be a Queen. She knew she was going to face a punishment once she changes her mind, refuses to marry the prince who is the next king since the Royal family a.s.sa.s.sinated, left the Mother Queen alive but no heir to the throne except him; Prince Yoo Joon.

But she"s determined. She loved to help her people. The blood rus.h.i.+ng in her veins still from the Korean genealogy: even if she was born in a foreign land, her parents love their country. May they run away in the past, it cannot be taken away who they are.

Now she has this realization. Maybe the prince willing to pardon anyone for the sake of her parents. She could presume it would be like that.

* * *

Madison and Lisa now left the s.h.i.+p.

She remained in her cabin and refused when the Prince summons her to have dinner together. She was separated from her family because the prince boarded them in one of those naval vessels, which she doesn"t know which one of that s.h.i.+p.

A knock on her door and her attendants entered her cabin, carrying a tray with food. She quietly bowed then turn around. Facing the window, she"s giving a cold shoulder, hinting she doesn"t need any company. After the maids left, she heaves a long sighed.

It"s just two hours before they will leave to begin sailing the ocean.

She quietly sat on her bed, staring at the food while having debate inside her head. Maybe it is better to have eaten a little, for her to get energy she could use later. She stood on her feet and headed to the table and begin eating. At first, she only took a small portion of the food, and slowly put it in her mouth. It was delicious, and she doesn"t taste any suspicious flavor.

There is a tea that also serves, but she is keen to drink it. Later on, she takes a sip, just a tiny volume from the teacup.

She stared at the tray. She"d noticed how they were using French table etiquette. The plates and the utensils were arranged accordingly.

Her attendant said it was the prince who prepares and arranges the tray by himself.

Now she even has more doubts.

Who was he in the future?