Chapter 1

Sybil Park's POV

A few years have passed. My daughter, Maximaze, and I have lived peacefully. She’s an enthusiastic child and with an innocent personality. It wasn’t her birthday but I wanted to give her a gift I knew she would like.

“Mother! Mother! Mother! “ I heard my daughter’s voice, coming from outside our house. I automatically went out to greet her. She was breathless and obviously spent her energy playing. “Mother. . .“ she stuttered while gasping for breath.

“Maze? Obviously you have poured energy into your play. You are out of breath,” I laughed at my daughter. I rubbed her back, it was sweaty.

“Mom, I didn't play.” What does my child mean? Does that mean she chased the dogs? This kid . . . argh.

“Maze, did you have some sort of fun that might put you in danger if ever?” I said angrily to her.

“It’s not like that, Mom. I am from Xida palace.” She sighed but then she looked at me with her mesmerizing eyes. “ Mother, the noble consort in charge there is very wise! She is teaching young people to read and write!“

So what they said is true. The consort in charge of Xida Palace was kind. Previously, I didn’t believe because of the belief, wealth and power were the only pursuit of consorts in marrying the dear Emperor, but now, it has come right out of my daughter’s mouth so I immediately believed. Maze would never lie to me, I know her.

“Mother?” Maze called me.

I presented her to me after I wiped her. “What's that, Maze?” my tender response to it.

“I want to learn how to read and write, Mother. Can you teach me?” its request.

I was immediately stunned because I knew I couldn’t afford to teach Maze. I can't even read, how can I write? I grew up in the lowest level of civilization in the Empire, and those among the lowest level had no right to study because someone owned us. Let's call him Baron or Baroness. Unless someone in authority allowed us to study. It is one of  the greatest blessings but I wonder why others wasted that opportunity.

“Mother, is there a problem?” I didn’t think I would be in such deep thoughts for a moment. When I heard her angelic voice, it made me came back to reality.

I shouldn't tell her that I can't read and write because like her, I also want her to learn how to read and write, because it will surely help her in the future.

“N-no, son.” I forced a beautiful smile in front of her. I don't want her to worry about me.

“Mother,” it called me again.

I caressed her dirty face and smiled. “What is it?” As before, I responded in a melodious tone.

“Can you teach me the—ugh, what is that again? That language, the language . . .” He looked at the sky and pondered.

“Normesian?” I asked. Normessian is one of the official languages of our region.

“Yes, Mother! I want to learn that language so that I can talk to the consort at Xida Palace. Her speech was strange. I didn't understand any of what she had said earlier!” Maze said enthusiastically.

“I want to teach you that language, but my knowledge isn’t enough. I'm not an expert in speaking Normesian,” I said here.

She gave me a slack-jawed expression. “Oh, that's okay, mother. I believe that one day I will achieve everything I want, I will learn everything I want to learn, and I know that it’s impossible to happen now.” She looked down and smiled. “I'm still young, but I'll make sure before I die I get what I want to achieve.” It was fun to listen to what she had to say. Her heart was full of hope. It made me not want her to get to the point where she will give up, weaken, and hurt.

As a mother, I will do everything for my child. I’ll do my utmost best for her. “But I will try to teach you the Normesian Language. Just for you, daughter, I will do everything.” I smiled.

“R-really? Thank you so much, Mom! Thanks a lot!” It was as if an abundance of grace had been poured out on her at this moment. He jumped and clapped—full of energy and hope.

I chuckled. “Did you know that the word ‘thank you’ is vashda in Normesian?” The word I shared was from someone I trust the most, not Vishton, but someone. I wonder . . . where is he right now?

“Vashda? Vashda? Ahh, vashda—vashda . . . Vashda, Mother! “ She’s fun to watch now. I hope we are always like this and we will not separate, but even wishes or stars can’t do anything to make us stay like this. One day, we have to choose different paths. It’s either peace or violence, life or death, luxury or sufferings. There are way too many paths for her to take. I’m afraid that she’ll lose herself in the process once she reached adulthood.

I grinned. “I think you need to take a bath, Maximaze. Dirty ones are not allowed to enter the Xida Palace. Do you want that?” I pretended to threaten my daughter. I pinched her cheek and laughed softly.

“My cheeks! I'm going to take a bath in the river, Mom—just don’t pinch my cheeks.“ After she said those words, she ran away to go to the river. She almost fell to the ground, but she just laughed.

“Maze! Be careful, the land is rocky!“ I reminded her as I saw her almost fall to the ground.

“I'll follow, Mother!” She waved her left hand and continued running.

I went inside our house. I already cooked our lunch. I looked at my little gift for her. Hope she will appreciate this gift of mine.

Vashda, Maximaze . . .

“Mother, I just finished bathing in the river! I'm home! “For another time, a beautiful voice entered my ears. I couldn’t ask anything except from hearing her voice over and over again as I make sure she is safe. “Mother! I’m—what is that, Mom?“

I automatically turned to her when she asked for the little gift in front of me. “This is a gift for you, Maxe.” I gave her a sweet and beautiful smile as if it was the happiest moment of all.

“A gift for me? But it's not even my birthday today, Mother.” When I gazed at her, she looked so naïve while saying those words.

I chuckled. “Even if it's not your birthday, I'll always give you a gift. Don't gifts make you happy?” I gave her the gift and she immediately opened it.

“It can, but . . . nevermind.” She sighed. “A hanbok, mother? I can say it's beautiful!” Maximaze was beaming while holding the gift I gave to her.

“I embroidered that hanbok you are holding, Maze. I'm glad you liked my work.”

She was a bit surprised. “Really? I want to learn to embroider like you then! This hanbok is just so beautiful! I want to try to do something like this my mother!“

I chuckled. Maximaze have dreams and those dreams made her enthusiastic. However, instead of being happy because of her current state, I’m . . . worried. I’m worried when the day will come that she’ll finally realize that she can’t achieve most of her dreams, because dreams won’t change the fact that we belong to the lowest level of civilization in this world. Unless, luck is with her.

I want to learn to read and write like them, mother!

I remembered my daughter's request again. Even if it is impossible, I will still try to find a way for my child to study. I’ll send a request to the baron, hoping for a little mercy left in his heart.

“Mother, I would like to ask you something. Where is father? “ I was shocked when she asked that. I still can’t tell him where her father, Vishton, is. Vishton remained in jail and we did not have permission to visit him. Guards kept asking for money if I tried to pay my husband a visit.

“H-he’s on a journey over the seven rivers.” It is difficult for me to tell her the truth. It’s painful for me to think about the possibility that people will judge and hurt Maximaze once she found out the truth behind the lies I imprinted in her mind. Not just that, she might change too, because of pain. She might think that I betrayed her.

I don’t want to go to that point, but this is also a way to protect her. I don’t care if she’ll discard me in the future, as long as she’s away from judgements. I must keep her youth and fragile innocence safe and she must be in peace. That’s what I could only do for now. I still have a lot of time to protect her while her eyes are still closed in this world full of cruelty and violence.

Hours passed and Maximaze was already asleep. I heard the Baron will be here in the barrio. This is the best time for me to fulfill my child’s request.

The Baron arrived while wearing the expensive hanbok. The royal symbol is engraved on the dress.

The people here in the barrio were getting ready when they saw the Baron. Some of them were formal while others trembled and feared that they might commit such horrible mistakes and be punished by the treyhovia.

The people paid homage to the Baron as well as me by bowing before him. As a slave, I still have to respect him because he is superior and our master.

As expected, he went into my house so I prepared him something to eat and seated him in the freshest and most comfortable place.

“I heard your plea. You can write a letter and send it to me instead,” the Baron spoke so sternly and formally.

I clenched my fist secretly. Is he serious? He knows that slaves don’t have the right to study. I’ll take this as an insult. However, I can’t just yell or disrespect him. He’s still the master after all. Who would know what would happen if I said a single destructive word in front of his face?

To be continued . . .