Veiled Love - Chapter 6 Please Step Back..

The palanquin carrying made Soo Jin uncomfortable as she was used to riding her own horse. Every time she left the Han household, she would disguised herself as a man using a banggat ‘straw hat’ to hide her face. While sitting in the palanquin, it suddenly dawned on her that she will lose the freedom she had for the past 16 years.

The sudden jolt of the palanquin revived her back to reality, she peeked through the curtains and realised that the carriage has reached big walls of the palace. After some small security checks, the palanquin started to moving, going through the big gates to the inside wall.

“Baby, Are you okay in there.” She heard her father say as she peaked through the curtains to see him riding beside her.

“Yes father, I am fine thank you for asking.” She answered back smiling with her eyes.

The palanquin had stopped when it has reached the palace. A guard stepped forward to help out the young mistress, however stern voice spoke up “She doesn’t need your assistance” followed by a different voice “We can manage, please step back.”

The main curtain which covered the entrance of the palanquin was lifted and a hand reach in. Soo Jin was grinning ear to ear and she recognised her two older brothers Han Joon and Han So.

Han Soo Jin, stepped out of the palanquin with help of her two brothers. Once steady, she quietly whispered “Oraboni, what are you two doing here?”

Joon smiled at her surprised expression and said “to protect you from wolves of course”.

While smiling, she slowly looked up and was startled by the all guards and maids eyes that were on her. She unintentionally hid behind her brothers, at that very moment she was glad that she was wearing a veil. She felt untouchable and reachable.

Stepping forward an Eunuch in his late forties said while bowing at each Han family member present “Miss Han, this maid will show the way.”

“Thank you, please lead the way” replied Soo Jin, as she stepped out from hiding and slowly started to follow with her father and brothers right behind her.

While walking through the palace, Soo Jin started to notice the architecture of the palace, she was truly mesmerised. She looked right, left and centre, she saw ponds and gardens with different types of flowers. Looking into the distance, she could see the mountains from where she stood, if she didn’t know better she would believe that the sky and mountains were merged together.

Even while looking around, Soo Jin managed to keep pace with the eunuch. She was keeping close attention to the sound of his footsteps, finally she saw the eunuch stop in front of door with a dragon carved on it.

The eunuch walked up to another eunuch and whispered something, then the other eunuch said with a clear voice while facing the dragon carved door “Your Majesty, Great general Han and his daughter Han Soo Jin are here to greet.”

The voice inside said with much authority, ” see them in.”

The eunuch turned around and told my father and I to go in. When Soo Jin went inside the room, she saw a man who was around the same age as her father wearing a red royal robe with a golden dragon sewn on. He looked majestic, high on life and surprisingly handsome. He had sharp dark eyebrows with deep black eyes, a lot like hers, however his eyes told a different story to hers. From his eyes, you could he went through a lot to get to where he was.

” This servant greets you, Your majesty Soo Jin said as she bowed down on her knees. Her elegant, soft behaviour caught the eye of the king and the servants in the room.

“Rise up my child, let this old man have a look at you.” the king commanded as he gestured for the father and daughter to take a seat. Soo Jin slowly adjusted the skirt of handbook before sitting like lady.

” Great general, I feel like I have you didn’t treasure our friendship the way I have. You have hidden this gem from me until now.” chuckled the king as he teased his friend.

“Your majesty” answered Soo Jin’s father as he felt embarrassed by the king’s teasing.

“Right, right. Everyone out. Leave us alone” said the king as commanded his servants to leave. Everyone slowly left as they stole glances of the veiled maiden.

Once the room was vacated, the king heard the general says ” baby take off your veil, don’t be shy.” As he was busy looking at the general doting on his daughter and feeling a little jealous of not having his daughter, he had not noticed Soo Jin take her veil.

The king slowly turned his face to look at Soo Jin, he froze. He was taken back and he was not expecting to see what he saw. He was shocked by her snow white skin, her almond shaped eyes which were teary like a doll. He was overall fascinated by her beauty.