Chapter 13: Chapter 13
After the forcibly taken breakfast, Heonui, accompanied by a retinue from Wang Han's house and Mimi, was taken out of her parents' house, actually on the orders of Wang Han himself, to the carriage in the yard. It was expected that a short trip to the sea would benefit the Princess, and communication with Mimi would fix the events in her memory.
Wang Han Wang Han watched the ladies from the window of the guest lounge. Heonui has changed almost beyond recognition — once her cheeks full of youth and passion were now white as snow; his forehead was dotted with lines of gloom and suffering, new, gray ones hid in his hair; shoulders drooped; hands trembled; eyes had lost their former brilliance, and now looked sick and empty; the corners of her mouth fell; and in general, the whole expression of her once happy face took on a gloomy and repulsive shadow. She was dressed in all black, as befits a widow, but only her gloomy mourning outfit made of crepe, a bombazine and silk cape, and a veil on her face made everything around her seem to be dead too.
Heonui ordered the whole estate to be plunged into repeated mourning, and all morning, the servants were busy hanging mirrors with black crepe, redoing the menu, and helping the hungry poor in the street with a request for remembrance of the deceased.
"I am still a Princess," Heonui announced in a cold voice when she and Wang Han were alone in the hall.
"I do not take away your title, Heonui," he answered, avoiding her half-dead look, "but I refuse your request to take you to the cemetery right now."
"On what grounds, you may say? How much longer will I hear stories about my husband and not see him with my own eyes?" Heonui flushed, her lip quivering.
"I promise, you will certainly see the grave, but I want you to be completely healthy for this moment. I will not bear to see you again thrashing in grief, as soon as you look where he lies."
"Take me to Wang Tae! Now!" Heonui screamed in a frenzy and rushed with her fists at Wang Han.
He immediately squeezed her weak hands and, looking directly into her tear-stained eyes, pacified her, saying:
"You and Mimi are now staying on the coast to return healthy. Wang Tae or not, you now have a new title, and with it, new responsibilities. I promised now that you will be at the cemetery, and I will certainly take you there. But when I see the mind in your eyes. Until now, I have protected you, Heonui, and have done everything to make it easier for you. So, be more prudent and go with your retinue in a carriage. We won't fight. You are not alone in losing a loved one. Your Mightiness."
He let go of her hands and went to the window. Heonui fell to her knees, her head bowed. Suddenly, she seemed to shudder from some memory.
The coachman entered the hall, bowing endlessly. "C-carriage is s-s-served, Your G-g-g-lory-mss," muttered the young man, stuttering either from a haze or from excitement.
"Go on, shall you," said Wang Han, not looking at the Princess.
Heonui rose and bowed.
"As you say, Your Royal Highness," she only replied and slowly walked out of the hall.
As soon as her carriage left the territory of Wang Han, Heonui, with new and terrible eyes, shouted to the coachman:
"Stop the carriage! Now!"
The ladies, all as one in dark robes, were alarmed, and Mimi, rounding her eyes, muttered:
"What happened, Heonui, Your Royal Highness? You feel bad?"
"Take me by all means to the cemetery. I want to see my diseased husband. And just dare to disobey!" instead of answering, Heonui shouted at the embarrassed cabman.
The ladies screamed. Mimi turned so pale.
"I remembered, Mimi," said the Princess in a hoarse voice, "I remembered the night of the wedding."
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