The carriage was turning towards the estate. The coachman constantly spat curses to the unfortunate horses, who were already so exhausted by many-day trips, either to Wang Han himself, or to one of his retinue on various assignments, and here, almost a day long, was a new road — to Wang Han's estate on the coast. The Prince hardly came here, forcing numerous servants to constantly keep the house clean (for fear that one unfortunate day, he would show up and find a speck of dust — and then, no one would be happy anymore).
It was a magnificent building in the Baroque style, with some bizarre statues from an unfamiliar sculptor that gave the place an atmosphere of grandeur and power. To build this residence, Wang Tae and Wang Han hired the most famous (and, therefore, highly uplifted) architects who knew how to make not just a building, but a luxurious estate, the rumour about which would be passed down from generation to generation. Mind-boggling scenery, arches and vaults, "living" walls of climbing plants carried anyone into a fairy tale, and a park with waterfalls and wonderful fantasy iron structures cast by Wang Tae himself, who, if he should give his due, was engaged in the external decoration of the estate, which captivated all visitors.
The entrance road was strewn with flowers and purposely lined with several rows of lush green trees. The carriage stopped, and the coach servant, still snapping at the mares, hastily opened the doors so that the ladies, who were pretty nervous and tired, could get out after many hours of driving over bumps and ravines, finally onto solid ground.
Mimi held Heonui by the elbow. She had never seen the hostess in this state before — it seemed that she had left her very soul there in the crypt. Her eyes looked, without blinking, somewhere in the distance, her whole body went haggard. She seemed to be speechless and deaf at the same time. Lamenting endlessly, the maids hurried to help Mimi see the widow to the estate and make her a bed.
"It is only for her to sleep. She needs a good rest — rest, rest and again rest. Otherwise, she will wither, I am afraid so," one of the servants murmured in a half-whisper, hurrying to enter inside.
"Poor thing, at such a young age to be a widow without a child," the maids from the estate shook their heads, meeting the silent Princess with sadness on their faces.
She did not answer anyone, did not bow, did not respond to appeals. Only when they helped her undress and put her to bed did she say with pain in her voice:
"Why am I here? I desire to be with my husband!"
Veronica, a young cook, bursting out in apologies as she walked, timidly reported that she had seen a rider from the hills and suspected that Wang Han himself had decided to come, sir. So, all anxiety and alerts are to be on, as they said in the land.
"Your Royal Highness, I will go and see what they say. Will you be all right?" asked Mimi, in her heart not expecting an answer, but therefore, nodding, walking towards the exit from the bedroom, but Heonui raised herself on her elbows and answered:
"Come back soon, Mimi… Please…"
With sadness and suffering, the Princess looked at her helper in such a way that Mimi's heart sank. Assuring that she would return this very minute, the young lady left the room.
It started raining again.
When Mimi returned to inform the Princess that Mr. Wang Han really deigned to come in to inquire about her well-being and not make decisions on public affairs in this state of family affairs, Heonui could no longer hear her — she fell into a long, deep sleep without memory, when grief was so strong that not a single nightmare could pass to the tormented consciousness with its terrifying visions.
Mimi exhaled. This was hard for everyone.