Ada : ( The Untold Story )

by Zola Tau

  The guards tightened adjusted their stances, dressed in a red gapsa attire. Their huge handmade swords overlapping one another forming an "X " they looked at Princess Ada and gave the nod to one another allowing entrance for both her and Nari. Once inside to Ada’s amazement the internal aspect of the palace was far beyond more spacious than the outside itself. Upon her very first arrival into the new land, her fear and the darkness of the night took away from her focus on the palace. Only within her current moment did she realize its magnificence. Everything shined so brightly as if it were never touched. One would feel guilt for even walking on the marble floors. Portrait paintings of past kings and queens hung on the walls and beside each portrait sat a tall white clear vase with a small opening that curved into a broad base. The vases held white lilies that fed into the minimalistic aspect that was being played. While admiring the innocent look of the flowers Ada reached out her left hand to touch the petals.

  "I wouldn't touch that if I were you. " Nari called out to Ada once more, after her statement she bowed.

  Ada gave a slow side glance at Nari before she scoffed a bit and reluctantly made an effort to obey. The young woman was a special girl, for her age she acted well as a mother, yet to spoke sweetly in tone, rather than words therefore it was a hassle to become angered with her.

  "She's worse than my mother was. " Ada whispered to herself, as she put her disappointed hands to use now that they couldn't complete their task of touching the vase.

  She carried her hanbok skirt up and walked at a quick pace; all to make it to the golden door at the end of the hall, as well as to avoid the motherly glare that Nari gave of judgment. Behind the majestic golden door sat the king and her father. It seemed she stared down the door for some time before finally allowing herself inside. Once Ada found her way in Nari stood by the door waiting for the hope that Ada would find her way back out with a smile on her face, in hopes that she wouldn't offend the kings with her densities of miscommunication. The trouble she had was the lack of skill to say what she needed confidently as well as explain to a method worth understanding. She often lost assuredness in herself rather quickly when it came to being outside, Nari, and her father. It wasn't Ada’s father Nari was worried about as much as she was about King Wook; that man would hold grudges and exile even his own family if he needed to from what she heard upon working here, and no one would be an exception.

  Walking into the grand room Ada observed as the king sat on a golden throne, and her father, stood upright with his side to the door as he conversed and laughed with the king. They seemed to have no trouble getting along, yet here she was uncertain of everything that was planned to occur. Ada kept her head down, to seem as respectful as possible. In that process she caught the king's eye, the king took in a glimpse of the young, bewildered woman and smiled:

  "Ahh, Princess Ada how honored I am with this visit " he said with a charming smile.

  His thin gray beard with its length ending at the base of his neck swayed back and forth, as he nodded his head in approval at how Ada was dressed, presenting herself before him. By observation it was fascinating to look at the old king, he had less color in his skin than a majority of his people, maybe it was because he stayed inside daily and never had to work in the sun, or it may have been because of his old age. Whatever the reason may have been, for his lack of pigment the king's colorful personality made up for the lack of color he obtained. From his open mindset to his heartwarming laugh. His hair was raised up high into a ponytail and clipped with a golden clip, being old as he was his face still carried great features that implied that in his youth he was someone that was attractive and blessed with a happy heart.

  Ada bowed towards the king and bowed at her father. "The honor resided with me your highness.” she said. With a heavy chuckle, the king waved his hand, towards himself insinuating that she should come closer. Ada did just that and stopped about a short ribbon's length behind where her father stood. She stood there awkwardly looking about unsure what to say or do till a voice spoke.

  "How, dare you not give your Father a hug.” Ada's father barked as he glanced at his side to see his daughter.

  With a slight jump of surprise Ada gave a muffled and innocent laugh."My apologies, Father." she softly said walking towards him, she bowed, then he called out: “rise, love.” As Ada rose up, she then walked forward and embraced her father. The king smiled in admiration at the bond Ada, and her father displayed, while he sighed and shook his head.

  "Stubborn girl" her father teased as Ada went back to her placement in the center after giving him an embrace. She gave a baby's wily grin towards her father's words and looked down as if a shy girl.

  "She is a beautiful one. " the king complimented. “Don’t fall for her cunning ways King Wook, and it is by that way she is most persuasive." Ada's father interjected.

  "Oh, father!" Ada said childishly once more in reaction to her father’s teasing words. The foreign king hid his smile, causing King Wook to entertain himself to a chuckle. After some time Ada regains her composure and gave attention away the King's past words, and announced: "I'd like to thank you for my hanbok, your majesty, it truly is beautiful." Ada said with a bow once more.

  Her fingers gripped onto a part of the hanbok underneath her fingertip’s reach as she stood. she grabbed a small hold of the hanbok as she smiled genuinely reexamining the material that felt so smooth between her fingers.

  The king laughed with his belly-grown strength of sound indicating joy and nodded as a take in of her gratitude. "It pleases me to see your response, and your father is lucky to have a daughter as grateful as you if my own were only the same way. Even so, Princess what pleased me most of all was your visit. In the while that you have been here so far it seemed as if you were reluctant to meet when everyone else did so, or rather be around anyone other than your assigned guide, I am beyond pleased that you have come out today, of all days." He trailed on for a moment, then his smile saddened, and his words seemed to place more weight onto Ada, she for a reason beyond her own knowledge felt for him.

  With her ability to effortlessly read people she observed the king who seemed to feel as if he wasn't doing enough, there must have been guilt he felt, an illusion that He wasn't doing enough; therefore, he didn't deserve the thanks that he wanted, as casual as the thought was Ada allowed it to linger in her mind. "Nevertheless, I hope to see you soon for the celebration for our prince." The king sighed, trying to regain the brave and powerful mural that he a King should always uphold always.

  Ada bowed once more after another glance at the king "Of course; I am honored to be given a chance." With the last bow and both Kings’ nods of approval, she had received a dismissal.

  Ada waved an extra goodbye to her father, then proceeded to walk towards the doors with a smile on her face reflecting the appreciation she felt internally, feeling satisfied with her visit with the King. When she opened the door, Nari was standing outside the door awaiting her return as she promised. Ada looked at Nari closely, as she was getting ready to thank her for her patience. After some staring it was brought to her attention that her servant's face lacked sleep though still, it displayed a warm and welcoming smile, it unmistakably needed rest.

  "They do over work you servants." Ada whispered softly, she thought for a bit and concluded "Nari go rest, you've stayed watch over me all night, go to rest." Ada commanded.

  Nari gave a smile and shook her head no " I'm well, princess, I'm fine." Ada stared at her and rolled her eyes in annoyance "Nonsense, and I command you to go to rest if you follow me as a guide and not go rest I will surely see you get punished. " Ada barked before Nari could refuse she turned around and strutted elegantly towards the palace doors to see her way out. "I'll wait for you later by the entrance pillars when the celebration begins" Ada shouted, still walking towards the doors.

  "Yes Princess" Nari smiled in gratitude towards Ada's absurdly sensitive threat and went on her way to the servant's quarters.

  Wh
en Ada left Nari behind, she explored the palace and to her amusement servants and court women circled with decoration for the event that was to take place later in the evening. Ada strolled about smiling at everyone as they looked at her, whispers and false smiles being put to show at the expense of Ada, circled her; a few bowed, but the moment they stood back up they looked towards one another and would give a chuckle of mockery, whispered before smiling falsely at the curious Princess. Ada wrinkled her brows and proceeded to walk away, as she shook her head and gave a heavy sigh "Just remember we will be going home soon" She kept saying to herself as she walked away. "After all, I can't expect them to like me when this has been the longest I've left my room, to even be seen. I haven't even met the Crown Prince, What kind of guest does that make me?" Ada went on in thought as she held her hands elegantly in front of herself.

  "Pay them no mind." A refreshing voice suddenly said breaking Ada from her thoughts. "But I do believe speaking to yourself might be part of the problem, Princess." The voice continued to articulate, it was a voice that was both mysterious and recharging to anyone that had the blessing of hearing it.

  Meddlesome as she could be, Ada turned around to come face to face with a young man, his face similar to the king's in structure; he had a strong jaw line carved so smoothly it was implied that it was envied by many. As for his most attractive feature; his lips, they were flushed pink and just slightly full, still not distracting from his dark, silky and long hair. Half of his hair was held up to keep out of his face, bits of baby hair still decorated his hairline and the rest brushed down softly hovering over his shoulder.

  The blue hanbok he wore paired up well with his skin because the abyss sea tint it carried brought out the soft pink hue in his white skin making him appear healthy and full of energy unlike his father "Ah, thank you" Ada finally said with a bow to take away the awkwardness that was in the air because of her prolonged stare.

  She was so deviously lost in the sight of his beauty that unintentionally she grew even more awkward. "You must be our little visitor...does this mean if I ever decide to seek refuge I can make your land my home?" The prince tried to tease. Even at the effort, he made, as unworthy of even a soft smile as his teasing was, because of its lack in the humor he attempted, Ada was still too lost in his sight to respond. "Can I help you? The prince asked tapping on Ada's forehead with his pointer finger gently. The simple action in itself left the mesmerized Princess flustered.

  "I'm... I'm sorry for staring; we are almost the same age how can you call me little. I am of alliance age as you are. “Ada said with a soft stutter followed by many bows, which only engraved more embarrassment than she already felt.

  The young man laughed innocently "Don't you have a line of Princes back in your land? Am I just that attractive, or do you not close and open your eyes like others do? Even so, for a royal, you bow more than the servants do to the king." He chuckled teasing Ada as he stood amused by the discomfort he gave her. Ada wrinkled her nose in distaste after he spoke because in an instant the golden light of appeal that once surrounded him grew dim.

  “Do you always go about judging and mocking others for putting forth respect, because it offends you or because you don't know how to be respectful ?" Ada bluntly asked while staring into the Prince's eyes. The young man's face became blank, for he was taken aback by her bluntness having it be the first time a woman aside from his mother was so frank with him.

  “I must admit, I found you to be attractive, yet once you opened your mouth to speak…” Ada looked at him up and down before she continued to give her speech. “I could say, the attraction itself seemed to disappear.” Ada lifted a brow and prepared to turn around and walk away, as her heart began its run quickly out of nervousness because of the manner in which she just spoke to the prince.

  The crown prince quickly grabbed hold of her hand, and pulled her into a turn, to return to facing him as she was prior to her attempt to race away.

  "You are so bold with your words towards a prince." The Prince stated as he was staring observantly at Ada. "And out of all places in his land?" The young man finished with his back straighten, and his hands held behind him, looking down on Ada with his eyes squinted as if there was something out of the ordinary he was waiting to capture. Ada twitched her upper lip and rolled her eyes, causing a similar reaction from the prince as he; with annoyance and aggravation at her lack of care of who he was, he sighed, kissed his teeth, as he then proceeded to walk away. Ada raced after him and grabbed his hanbok to pull him back. The prince froze and turned to look at her hand placement, on his garment than at her. Ada quickly released the sleeve being that she was in just as much shock as the prince was in and looked at the prince.

  "I...I didn't appreciate your mockery!" She gathered the strength to say. She paused for a moment then stared at him with a blackened face. “ I would apologize but I wouldn't even dare to lower myself in such a way. It is okay for you to grab onto my hand to stop me from going about my way, but for me to touch you sleeve you look so coldly towards me. Aren’t I just as much of a noble as you are?”

  “Do you want to be exiled?” The prince asked with a glare in his eyes, now that he had begun to get irritated with the young woman. "You should consider apologizing." she murmured with a bit of less power in her voice, the confidence she once had, had begun to disappear as usual. The prince scoffed then shook his head, after a moment of studying Ada. He proceeded to pat off his hanbok where Ada's hands grabbed as if there was dust all about his sleeve before he walked off.

  "He was intriguing until he started to tease.” Ada said to herself, rolling her eyes, as he stared towards his back while he walked away. She quickly began to walk opposite to his direction, yet her anger soon transformed into self-interrogation, as she questioned whether she was making a big deal out of nothing. With the evidence she thought on it was concluded that she was in every right to receive and apology no matter what. So she stomped her foot like a spoiled child and turned her head to look for an invisible trail that the prince had left behind. She made an effort to follow his path, but the unknown path, like it should lead her nowhere. Through the lesson of taking the wrong path, and ending up in the middle of the woods, she finally came to a realization that she was walking in circles for the past while or so.

  She was ready to give up and decided it was best to pay another visit to the roses as unintelligent as the idea sounded even to her; it was near the roses she felt most calm especially when neither Nari nor her Father was present to be a source of comfort. She looked about, then found her direction towards the roses. She stopped for a short moment, as her hand had begun to ache a bit. She raised it up slowly and shook it slightly. “ It must be falling asleep.” she mumbled to herself, then she carried on her way.

  [제 3장]

  “Sometimes the prevention of danger

  Is the danger you’ve been trying to avoid all along.”

  Ada found her way back to the rose garden where she was earlier that day, while in her little world of self-pity; which resulted from her failed mission of finding the prince, she started to hear whispers being spoken from over the wall. She pressed her small ears on the wall, by a result of a search for the whereabouts of the voices. Ada stayed close to the rose bushes as an attempt to stay hidden. In the process of doing so something suddenly grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her back behind the white wall that separated the rose garden from the outside wilderness. As soon as she could, she looked up only to come face to face with the young man from earlier. Her eyes widened, and she was ready to scream, but her scream was put to a stop when the prince quickly placed his hands over her mouth, causing her to stay silent. The Prince positioned his finger perpendicular to his lips and stared her down authorizing his action, their bodies resided closely beside one another, and he grabbed onto her shoulder with his hands without words it was as if he was reassuring and threatening her to stay silent all within the same realm of time.

  "Did you hear something?
" One of the voices over the wall asked as they turned around in search for the source of the noises. By cause of a lack of security in their surrounding a high pitched sound of a female voice replied: "We will carry on tomorrow for the meantime I need to get to the celebration for our young prince."After the statement was said, a scatter of feet could be heard rushing from behind the wall and the shadows of a female approached the Prince and Ada while the owner to the shadow young woman was running away.

  The young Prince pushed himself and Ada into the arms of the wall, just enough to so covered by the bush so that they may stay veiled, and so they managed to remain hidden and as silent as they could be. After the event had surpassed, Ada turned her head, stared at the young man both admiring his face and glaring in aggravation. The minute the young woman was gone the Prince let go of Ada's face and murmured the words. "You never stay put." Once more the already shattered glass of admiration that was building itself back up was damaged and fallen by his aggressive tone and annoyance.

  "I didn't ask you to grab me" Ada responded as she turned away dusting herself off. The young man stared at her, studying her demeanor.

  "So, you'd rather if you had gotten caught instead?" He asked while glaring his eyes towards Ada waiting for her answer. Ada was looking down and sighed unsure how to respond.

  What if they were up to mischief and you caught them you think they'd not make an effort to hurt you?" The young man said as he shook his head no longer expecting a response.

  He patted himself down, getting rid of the dirt he collected and started to walk away once more. Ada with her head hung low walked inaudibly behind him with her hands held together in the front like an obedient child. She began to play with her thumbs as a distraction from the silence, but every step she took was now starting to seem harder and harder.