Deokhye smiled gently as she bowed, greeting everyone she came across on her way to the courses, finding reassurance in going back to the routine she had previous the red wedding and truthfully, the young woman enjoyed such lessons of embroidery, tea ceremony, and flower arranging, though the lessons in manners were a little more strict, Deokhye still was greateful for them especially since she had no trouble nor ill fated relationship between her and the one teaching them.
The day was beautiful and the warmness of the sun was making it’s way through the cold winter clouds and the youngest Choi was taking her time admiring it, making sure to keep it in her mind to make a painting out of it for her home. It was only a couple of seconds though, before making her way to the courses not wanting to be late.
After she arrived, she greeted the person in charge of their lessons with a bow and the proper etiquette she had been sure to teach them during the previous sesions, though Deokhye had mastered that art long before thanks to her mother. “Oh Lady Bae” She smiled as she approached her, “Good day, my Lady” Deokhye greeted politely bowing to her. “Is my Lady excited for today’s lesson?” She asked while looking at the flowers and the vases beautifully painted for they use.
瑞菡 、 ━ her mother warns her to tread carefully -- it’s almost a command at this point. she hears it every other day when the maids help her with her robes ; on and off. when the day wilts and the snow melts, when the sun rises and the day breathes life into the air. she knows her mother means well, she had always done so but as the winter fades and the spring is on their tails, she wonders just why her mother says the things she does.
the wonder doesn’t stop, not when the days of spending time at home, holed up in various rooms of their estate, painting, sewing and playing are now moved to a classroom filled with other girls, some her age ; some older, some even younger than she. she repeats what she’s done in the years of solace before woman she’s unfamiliar with, whispering a tongue she’s still intermediate, at best.
and while naivety is her best suit, she can feel the scorn pelt onto her facade. where doe eyes meet those of ambition and fire and she immediately wilts, like a flower in fall. pelts falling away from the beautiful foundation seasons prior had built for it. they all vie for someone she can’t understand -- a hand of someone they may not love, but want nonetheless.
( it can’t help that the one they want was a man boy she knows in a way she understands very few do and she wonders, off-handedly if this was why he did what he did, as well )
she goes home in these days, curiouser and curiouser. confused when the day ends and her mother offers her tea in passing, and they’re folded and primed in one of the tea rooms.
“ why must i go, mother? ” she asks, knowing that nothing would really come of her efforts.
it was all for naught, right? ruihan may not know many things, but this she can feel in her bones.
her mother’s hand, soft and pale, fold over one another as the porcelain in her hands meet her lips and a smile melts beneath the ivory. it’s a smile ruihan has seen many times and much like her brothers’ before her, she knows it’s a smile to fear.
( a hidden agenda lies between lips that are far too brutal to be honest ; that love a man who is beneath her and vies in desperation for a life she was robbed of. he had promised many things only to sail across the ocean and fail to live up to them -- empty promises, she abhorred )
“ do you hate them, my dear? ”
ruihan shakes her head, “ of course not, mother. i am just curious as to wh -- ”
the stare her mother steels on her is one she knows and her lips immediately fall close ; in time for her mother’s smile to return.
“ you know, a girl like you would be much more beautiful if you weren’t as curious. ” she says, at first ; hand raises to brace ruihan’s chin, a soft touch, graceful as it runs along the stray hairs that had come undone from ruihan’s hairline. “ do not worry about that, my love. just do as mother says, and everything should be fine. ” the hand that lingers at her shoulder is heavy and the weight of it has ruihan shrinking,
the words fade and the smile is but a faint line -- ruihan doesn’t understand now,
The courses of etiquette were a common topic of conversation between the noble ladies but it was the main topic between the mothers of them, or that was what Deokhye believed after hearing her mother and Lady Song whom had called her into the room after seen a piece of her embroidery, Deokhye was happy to know that she had liked the doe she had been working on for weeks but after the nice words came a favor which Deokhye could not reject for it involved helping someone.
And so that is how Deokhye found herself staring at the door while improving her needlework, a happy smile decorating her gracefull features as she looked away from time to time hoping for the young lady to arrive. Hearing the door open again, Deokhye looked up and there she was, Lady Song Jiyoung had arrived and in her excitement, the young girl stuck her finger with her needle. “Ouch” She muttered to herself before ignoring the feeling, getting up leaving her work on her chair and walking towards her. “Good evening Lady Song” She greeted with a small bow, “I took the liberty of reserving a place for my Lady next to me” Deokhye smiled, she was told to look for her but that didn’t mean they couldn’t become friends in the process. “If that is alright”
The news about the etiquette courses with the head court lady reached Deokhye’s ears by her father, who had announced it with a bright proud smile on his face knowing fully well that it wasn’t only courses but the begining of crown princess selection though he left that detail behind as he saw the bright smile on his daughters face as she listened to him. She was excited for the new lessons and for being able to interact with the lovely young ladies she had met during the Queen mother birthday celebration.
Soon the courses began and Deokhye found herself on her way to the place where they ware being held. Her hands clasped in the front, her fingers intertwined as she was about to reach the room for the lessons her brown orbs landed on a familiar figure. “Lady Ruihan” She greeted happily with a smile as she walked towards her. “What a lovely day” Deokhye spoke while looking around, even in the winter you could feel the warmth of the sun. “It is almost a shame that we have to spend it inside the room when there is so much inspiration in this beautiful garden, isn’t it right my lady?”
