The Red Moon

Ali looked around and raised her eyebrows. "You're a prince?" She asked in surprise. "I'm sorry... Uh... I didn't know." She said, nodding her head in apoloigy. "That seems kind of sad. To be here until you're married." She said softly.

---

She nodded. "Servants are needed here in the princes housing. I will ask my mistress if that is okay. We also have a physician who might need an apprentice." She explained. "I can also ask about that as well."

"Thank you," she said to her softly and smile weakly before sighing a little then moved to lay down on the thin pad, "Thank you for your help, without you I'd be lost," she murmured gently as she chewed on her lip.

---

"No apology needed," he smiled a little as he shrugged, "It's not to bad, I study and then do what I want but I manage the property as well," he said to her.

She nodded and smiled. "Of course, Miss. I have a few jobs that need to be finished but I will bring you some food later. Feel free to walk around here."

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"Right." She nodded, looking around the room. "So... I cant go outside, can I?" She asked curiously. "Will you be in trouble for keeping me here?"

He shook his head, "Not alone, I can take you as my ward and you will have protection, you will get nicer clothing," he said to her smiling a little then offered her a cup of tea.

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She nodded a little, "Of course, don't let me get in your way," she said to her gently, "and please call me Lily,"

Mi Chang nodded and headed back to collect her work basket, going around to finish what she needed to do. She was very confused, but she was happy to help her in whatever she needed.

Wang So sat out by the fields, his eyes closed. This was a place he spent a lot of time as a child, but he rarely got to be here alone. He was always surrounded by people at the time.

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"What would happen if you hadn't found me?" She asked him, taking the cup of tea and drinking it. It was scary to say the least, to suddenly need protection and not be able to go outside alone.

Lily woke up hours later, she didn't know what time it was but she assumed it was a little after four in the afternoon. She slowly climbed onto her feet then slid on the slippers that were made available to her. Walking down the hall she looked around making sure she didn't walk into anyone.

"Mi chang?" she spoke as she looked for the other girl. When she couldn't find her she walked to the front of the house looking around.

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"You might have been killed or worse," he said to her lightly as he looked at her.

She nodded and sighed. "Great." She murmured, setting down the tea. "What can I do while I'm here? If I cant go outside, and I know you'll have to go sometimes. What can i do during the day?"

---

Wang So walked down the hall, on his way to his room. He was a girl in the hall but didn't stop to speak to her, narrowly knocking her over.

Mi Chang came out of a hallway hearing her name before ducking back into the room she came in, not expecting to see Prince So in the halls.

She grunted when she bumped into her again and scowled, "what the hell is your problem?" she said as she turned to look in his direction. He didn't have the right to be rude and knock her over twice in one day.

---

He looked at her, "Anything within the house, we have painting and art equipment, music, we have plenty of instruments," he said smiling a little, "and if you'd like to cook they always need help in the kitchens - but only if you want to,"

He turned to look at her and scoffed, continuing to walk down the hall. He didn't care what people said to him.

---

She shook her head. "I want to help. If I can work then I'd like to. I'm not a great cook... but I can clean and I'm willing to learn."

"Rude man," she murmured softly as she rolled her eyes a little as she scowled then peeked around to see Mi Chang, "whats his problem? He is rude and has bumped into me twice today - maybe he should have his eye sight checked,"

---

He nodded a little, "If you want to, I'm not going to expect anything of you - you're free to stay here as long as you like..."

She sighed as she looked at him. "I don't want to be a burden to you to support. But I also don't think that I have anywhere to go." She said to him. "Of course, if you decide that you dont want me here I can figure something else out. But you said my options are limited, and if I can stay here I'd like to. I just dont want to not contribute while I'm here. If that means working for you, then I would like to do that."

---

"Lily! That's the Prince!" She exclaimed, pulling her into a room. "Prince So. Hes... not the kindest. He's always been this way. Dont take it personally." She explained to her, before smiling. "I spoke to my mistress. You can assist me in my daily work. As for making medicine, I can introduce you to the physician but he's currently visiting with the emperor."

Lily nodded a little and smiled, "thank you for helping me, I don't know what I'd do without you," she said to her as she let out a long sigh. "I am a quick learner, so you won't have to teach me a whole lot, but there are customs here I'm unused to - could you help me understand your culture?" she asked her gently, "the last thing I want to do is offend someone,"

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He shook his head a little, "I like company, not many people talk to me because of my status, so it's nice to have someone else to talk to,"

She nodded and smiled. "I can help... I also play instruments so I can be entertainment as well." She said and looked around the room. "What do you like to do?"

---

She nodded. "Of course. Prince So is very cold, but most of us do well to stay out of his way. He stays to himself unless the other princes are meeting."

"I like the fine arts," he said to her smiling a little, "I am very talented in them actually, I practice daily,"

---

She nodded a little and smiled, "Okay, where I come from women are very outspoken, we do and say as we please... men do not make the rules for us...I may have a hard time accepting a position beneath a man just because of my gender," she said to her lightly as she thought about it. She would 100% not allow a man to dominate her in a primal way, especially if the times were what she assumed.

"Elder women can be higher than men, but in Prince So's case...he is a prince and that is why we speak politely to him. Men or women he doesn't discriminate who he's dismissive of." Mi Chang explained.
q

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She nodded. "I played a lot of instruments where I am from, if I can be used in that way then I would like to contribute."

"What about social customs in general, just basic curtesy to the public," she asked her lightly as she chewed on her bottom lip then sighed.

---

He nodded a little, "Perhaps we could play together then?"

"Bows for us, we bow to anyone above us. We bow upon meeting but it is not necessary to our equals. Speak in honorifics until told otherwise unless to an equal or minor." She explained and sighed. "Just be polite, especially to the Prince no matter what."

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She nodded. "I'm pretty good, I can play several instruments well." She said to him. "My best is a violin... but that may be difficult to find unless you trade with western countries."

It all seemed like a lot to remember but she'd do her best, but she'd be damned if anyone was going to walk all over her. She'd do her job with pride and dignity - hell she'd make sure she was the best at it because that was how she raised herself. Do better than anyone else - if you have to do a job... make sure you do it well.

"Seems easy enough....is my speaking okay? I studied for a long time before coming here," she murmured gently as she looked at her.

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"We're going to start sailing west soon to explore new lands," he smiled a little, "It's exciting,"

"I can tell that you're not fluent, but for someone who's first language is not Korean, you speak very well." She smiled a little. "And if you make any mistakes, you should be fine. Just dont make a mistake in front of the princes. Or the emperor."

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She nodded a little, remembering what she learned in history and wondering what was going to happen. "It is exciting." She nodded, looking around the room and sighing. "Would I be able to go find some food? Do I need you to come with me for this as well?" She asked curiously

Lily smiled a little, "I'll do my best," she said to her gently, "tomorrow I'll start helping you, do you need help with dinner? I'm not very good with the cultural dishes here so I might need some practice,"

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He nodded, "You can go into the kitchen any time you like, if we're to leave the house I should accompany you for safety reasons," he told her.