The Red Moon

"That is a possibility, I wouldn't know for sure, sir," she said to him honestly as she felt a bit more comfortable speaking with him. It was strange, at first she had deemed him rude and hard to understand but his curiosity was something she could understand more than anything.

He nodded a little. "Where are you currently housed?" He asked curiously

"I live in the house with Mi Chang, sir - we've been sharing a room," she explained as she refilled his glass then moved back again the walk wasn't too bad but it was a bit dark when she'd made the walk this morning making it ultra creepy in her opinion.

"You'll move in here," He said to her. "You will have a room in servants quarters, especially since you like to follow me. I figured giving you a job and new sleeping arrangements will help in your quest to be near me often."

It took every ounce of her self control not to roll her eyes at his words, "Whatever pleases you, sir," she said but a laugh almost bubbled out of her mouth but she stopped it - those words would be the death of her. She'd end up laughing way to hard in front of him or something else equally as stupid, it wasn't her fault she'd been transported her - and certainly not her fault that he happened to be everywhere she was.

He raised his eyebrows. "Something amusing?" He asked her, turning to face her.

She shook her head, "No sir," she said but closed her eyes - of course he heard her, he was very observant she noticed - even if she was hard to miss she figured he'd dismissed the thought of her when he saw her - seeing as he'd almost ran her over on his way into town.

"You like to stand in the way of moving objects," He pointed out, laughing a bit. "Since you like to stand in my way, I figured I would just let you follow me instead."

She wasn't sure of what to say then sighed - follow him? Why would he want her to do that, she could be quite annoying if he let her be, "I'll try to not make it a habit, sir I'm still gaining my bearings," she said to him gently then looked down. It had dawned on her that while she wasn't alone technically - she was alone in the sense that she had no one to talk to. Everyone looked at her strangely because of how she looked or how she spoke; even in the city no one would talk to her unless she was with Mi Chang.

He sighed. "Yes well, you'll need to keep out of the way of horses, don't want you to ger hit. I want my horse saddled up and waiting for me at the gates, see to it that it's done. Then I want you moved into the residence I'll have made ready for you."

---

Ali sat in the room, wondering when Baek Ah would come back. She wanted to go outside, or have someone to play with. She had seen a stray puppy outside, and she wanted to play with it but didn't in fear of going or alone.

"Yes, sir - it will be done," she said to him and she thanked her lucky stars she had lived a couple summers on a farm with her uncle as a teen - though she wasn't too sure how saddles from this era worked but she'd make due.

---

When he finished his studies for the day he climbed the stairs to his room then walked in, "I have returned, argh - so boring, I feel like my brain is melting from my ears," he said to her shaking his head, the old man droned on for thirty minutes making him want to jump out the nearest window.

"What did you learn about?" She asked curiously, setting down the instrument. "Also, could we go outside? There is a puppy out there that I would like to rescue," She smiled a little. "I don't know if he belongs to anyone."

---

He nodded a little and finished his food. "In 20 minutes then," He said, standing and heading out of the room.

She set the water down then waited for him to exit then made her way outside to saddle up his horse, she didn't know exactly what she was doing but she saw someone else saddling their horse and copied the motions then sighed,"there, that should do it," she murmured softly.

---

He sighed a little,"Map reading and battles of our ancestors," he said to her lightly and looked up when he heard her speak, "the stablemans dog had puppies a could weeks ago," he noted.

"Oh," She smiled a little. "Then he must not need a home," She laughed. "Id hate to take him from his mother." She said, setting it aside. "You should be an excellent map reader by now," She added. "is that everything you'll need to learn?"

---

He came out and sighed, climbing on and looking to her. "I want lunch in the same place around noon, enough for three people," He told her. "Then," He said, beginning to ride away.

Mi Chang ran over out of breath. "Lily, there's a woman here to see Prince So," She said as she watched him ride away.

"Right now?" she said as she looked at her furrowing her brow, "but he's just gone - what do I do?" she said to her lightly, "I have things to do, I'm meant to be moving my things he wants me in the house there, I'm so overwhelmed," she said to her softly. "Walk me through this?" she asked her softly, "When I am given my allowance I will buy you dinner," she said smiling a little.

---

"Martial arts are important, I've been studying them since I was young," he told her honestly, "It's important for a potential king to be able to defend his country and home, despite the guards I could probably hold my own in a hand to hand combat," he explained.

She sighed, looking over her shoulder. "She is a princess, you need to greet her first, then I can come and wait on her until you finish what you need. Order another servant to prepare lunch so all it needs is to be delivered." She told her. "He's made you head of his servants, use the others at your disposal."

---

She nodded. "Could you teach me?" She asked curiously. "I don't think it would be bad for me to know to protect myself," She said to him

Lily had been on her feet all day, she had met with Mi Chang several times throughout the day to learn different things, but she thought she was doing pretty well at this point. He hadn't complained about her or called her out on anything; so she'd take no news as good news. She sat down in the small room that was now her own - she didn't have much in the way of clothes but she would worry about that once she got her weekly pay. A part of her hoped she could afford at least three or four different outfits, she had just washed the one she had worn today and it was drying in front of a fire now so they could be worn the next day.

She had went to the market and grabbed a few things to eat - nothing too crazy but enough to tide her over till the next day, she made sure to mostly fill herself up on water to keep herself from feeling too hungry - it was times like this where she wished she could have gum or something to curve her appetite.

Wang So walked into the room he had given to Lily and knocked, waiting until she answered the door. "We are going to The emperors residence," He told her. "The trip is half a day, and we are leaving in the morning," He said, looking around the room. "Is there anything you need before we leave."

---

Ali sat on the bed, her knees to her chest as she tried to paint the posts of the bed. They were beautiful but she wanted to try to add color to it. She looked up as Baek Ah walked in and smiled a little. "I feel like I should bow when you walk in," She said to him. "It's pretty rude of me to not."

She was wrapped in a robe as she turned to look at him not having expected him to show up in her room, "Oh, uhm no - I should be fine for the time we're there, sir," she said gently even if she had anticipated having more clothes before going on major trips if she happened to go on any.

---

He smiled a little,"Ah, no need we're friends - just so long as you bow when we're infront of others, they get all worked up over that stuff," he told her.

She nodded a little and gestured for him to come over to her side of the room. "I overheard that something happened with the emperor," She said, looking at him. "Is everything alright?"

---

"You will need better clothes before we go, I will have clothes sent for you. You will meet me as your normally do, with your bags ready." He told her.