Chapter 12: Chapter 12
"Your Royal Highness, Heonui, my pie, my sufferer…" came the distant voice of Mimi.
Heonui opened her eyes. Everything was the same as she had seen the day before — the royally furnished room, sofas, poufs, mirrors — all was the same indeed. Only the most beautiful face was looking at her now — her beautiful helper, her only friend in the world.
"Mimi…" the Princess muttered in disbelief. "I died yesterday, and you resurrected me, Mimi. Swamp slime was dirty, and the demons were my end, and your angelic image pulled me out of the underworld, where it was destined for me to die... "
Mimi screamed and covered her mouth with her ruddy hand.
"Oh, Your Ladyship, dear Heonui, what horrors, what darkness you speak with your holy voice! Please, no more words! I am all trembling with fear from your speeches! I do not have the strength to live like that from everything that happened!"
Heonui, drenched in the sweat of her mad dream, jumped up and almost ran into the already dumbfounded Mimi.
"Tell me, is it all true? Do not lie to me! Where is my husband? Answer this instant!"
Mimi grabbed her in her arms and hugged her so that the pale Heonui's ribs cracked.
"My poor! Yes, that is so! What was it like for you, dear? They sent for me only the day before yesterday, but the journey took many hours; the rains had not passed since your ceremony, and besides, I was later sent to care for the Queen. I was there, Your Royal Highness, because she, too, fell ill from the news. Everyone saw it, but not everyone could endure and accept it without a trace. And the count, too, has been sitting, locked up in his office for a week now, and smoking his pipe. He refuses to eat, refuses to go to see folks. What a grief!"
Heonui was dumbfounded. Her body still felt like an icy swamp mud on itself; her eyes saw so weakly, as if in a veil. And now, the worst thing that she was afraid to think and believe was confirmed. Mimi could not deceive like those bad servants. Was that so?
Heonui swallowed and asked, coughing:
"Wang Tae, my husband, is indeed dead?"
Mimi, who, until now, had a lump in her throat with an effort of will, burst into tears.
"The Prince is dead, Heonui Your Ladyship. Collapsed dead in the garden."
Heonui let out a heart-rending cry.
"His Grace, Mr. Wang Han Wang Han, begged your father to let me go here and be near you. We received letters from him with a messenger that you lost your memory when Wang Tae died. I read them to your Mother and papa, but they forbade me to go to you because the Queen fell ill, dear. But His Grace came personally, yes, because on the eve, he was convinced that you had come to your senses and was convinced that only my presence would help you cope, for he himself does not know how to approach you, I am afraid to say."
"And my Wang Tae…When…did he… die?"
"It has been three weeks already, Your Royal Highness," Mimi replied, bowing her head.
"And there was a funeral, was not?"
"Grand and so plaintive, so mournful. Mr. Wang Han took over everything, and sent notes to everyone so that they could come to the memorial service. And even some overseas holy man, whom Wang Tae, they say, adored, was brought in by two carriages with luggage, and stayed at the estate for several days, for the funeral service of the deceased and coaxing his grieving brother. Hmm."
"And Mother was?"
"The Queen Mother fell ill immediately after the news. She is still sick to this day."
"What about Father? Did he attend?"
"He was at the funeral ceremony, and I was with him, but he did not allow me to be with you, because you had to take care of your mother. He did not have the strength and skills. He was in despair. But know that — the funeral procession was serious, so many people gathered! There were not only high-ranking courtiers but also ordinary people."
"But I remember everything, Mimi! Everything that the servants told me, that Wang Han told me. How is this…"
"That was yesterday night, Your Royal Highness, night it was. But there were many such nights with the same conversations. The Prince wrote constantly. I brought letters, because I think they will help, hope so." And the young lady, with trembling hands, handed Heonui a stack of letters neatly tied with a jute rope, addressed to the house of the Counts of the House Li-en. "Here, dear Heonui. We will take care of you."
Heonui, swaying in bed, took the letters.
"Leave me, Mimi. I wish to be alone," she said in a weak voice.
"Surely," the young lady nodded and hurried out of the room.
Wang Han was waiting for her in the corridor.
"Y-you're here, Your Royal Highness…" Mimi whispered, blushing and bowing.
"How is she?" he asked with a doubting excitement in his voice.
"I am sure she won't forget anything else. I will do everything to prevent that."
Wang Han smiled bitterly.
"What an arrogant woman you are. The whole court could not make her remember ... Or maybe the truth will be of use to you if you are near. I believe in you, then. I have no other hope."
Mimi bowed again. "For the sake of this faith, I…" She coughed. "…I… will go down to the kitchen to bring the Princess something to eat. She is weak."
"Go," he nodded, and Mimi hurried away.
Did Wang Han just notice how her young eyes glistened?
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