As much as every Empire had their differences, it was common belief in each that every living being—from the hardworking ants to the near godly rulers of the land—had three lives until they’d pass into the eternal realm of ease.

  First life said to be for learning.

  Second life for the mistakes.

  And third for the desired prosperity.

  Suyi wondered had she reached the other side, and if so, why on earth did her afterlife smell of the stuffy storage room they shared as a sleeping chamber. But then again, the room had been the most comfortable, safest place she’d been to in her entire life. It would make sense why her afterlife chose the shape and form of it. But if the life she suffered had been her third life of prosperity, she couldn’t help but wonder what it was exactly that she accomplished during those years of struggle. Her willingness to sacrifice her life for a man who never paid attention nor cared for her presence? Which, of course, Suyi did not mind at all. Quite the opposite—the less she was seen and paid attention to the better. But enough to gift her prosperity to finally enter the afterlife? Not a single good reason came in mind.

  Suyi’s eyelashes flickered as she first tried moving her fingers, squirming underneath a thin blanket placed over her.

  ’’Is she awake?’’

  Suyi heard someone speak, bursting the bubble of her finding peace. If she had found her eternal afterlife, she’d prefer to be left alone, thus raising valid questions of how. She had, after all, clearly began to suffer the effects of the poison very quickly before losing consciousness. Suyi opened her eyes and was met with the two maids who’d always escort here there and back—still not knowing their names. A testimony of how distant they kept themselves from one another despite the shared daily routines.

  ’’I cannot believe you’d be stupid enough to eat the meal of a Royal. You crazy lunatic! And right in front of him with no shame, no matter how hungry you might’ve been!’’ The other one hissed directly at Suyi which was surprising, but Suyi kept her expressions unwavering. Not wanting them to notice those spiteful words reaching her loud and clear, ’’Do you have any idea of what you’ve done?’’

  ’’It doesn’t matter if she does or not. Who knows how many of those dishes were poisonous, and she happened to be greedy on her most unluckiest day possible. I do not know whether I should laugh or be impressed.’’ The other maid sighed heavily.

  ’’Your hunger might’ve unexpectedly ended up saving The Third Prince, but you are not off the hook for your actions.’’ The first maid wetted a cloth and used her thumb to open Suyi’s mouth ever so slightly as she squeezed the cloth letting drops of water in her mouth. At first, Suyi flinched from the fear of having anything going down her throat, not keen on possibly having the same experience twice. That evening by the shadowy kitchen she had seen the shapes of the maids and heard their whispers, but avoided getting a better look of their appearances in fear of being questioned. What if these two were the culprits, Suyi first thought, coming there to finish the job before she’d be able to fully recover. While the water flowed down inside her body, each part of her throat exposed a painful burning sensation along the way, though not quite the same as before. The pain a result of her body being damaged by the earlier poison, which should’ve killed her instead of causing such unnecessary inconvenience.

  ’’It is a miracle that The Third Prince forced you to vomit your guts out. He never touches anyone, nor does he acknowledge those around him. Living in his own world. He must’ve learned to do that from the unfortunate past incident.’’ The maid lowered the cloth in a wooden vat of clean water, ’’You ought to brace yourself.’’ She sounded calm, and Suyi still wasn’t sure whether she was merely disappointed, or perhaps suppressing more malevolent thoughts. Though one thing remained clear. The maid was truly displeased by the situation. Was it for Suyi’s actions, or because she unexpectedly survived the poisoned pears? What was the maid so unhappy about, Suyi wondered on her own. It wasn’t her who’d suffer the consequences, thus why bother wasting such emotions on the little, insignificant Suyi.

  But then again, Suyi had no idea of what was to come, though knew it wouldn’t be a joyous celebration for her sacrifice. She doubted anything would surprise her at that point, and thus before she could even do as much as get up on her own, she was forcefully dragged outside by two palace guards. Taken behind the building, thrown on the muddy ground, her mocking white robe stretched open from the neck as water splashed over her body. She hugged herself tight, forehead against the wetted ground as she was given five, hard blows of a leathery whip against the tender skin of her back, forcing her to realize right then, that the water had contained salt. How it stung, and how it kept stinging for the rest of the day, then burning the next.

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  The maids had waited until the palace guards had finished their assigned task before coming from the corner of their hiding place, and carried Suyi by the commoners washroom, bathed her and cleaned the sharp wounds with alcohol. Luckily, the palace guard must’ve pitied her for at least some amount, for the force he used had not quite broken the skin all too much. Leaving mostly long, red and bruised lines on her back for many days to come.

  That day, Suyi was allowed to rest inside the chamber. She spent the whole day lying on her stomach, feeling her face getting puffy from the unmoving horizontal position. She did not expect a physician to come and examine her, but one did arrive by the evening. The man held her wrist and closed his eyes. Feeling closely. He checked her mouth and ears which seemed rather thorough for a poisoned patient. The physician determined that Suyi wouldn’t be able to eat anything solid for at least a month until those parts inside of her touched by the poison had completely healed, but she didn’t mind much about that either. After all, she loved warm broth and now she’d be allowed to have it daily.

  ’’I was ordered to give you this, Lady Suyi.’’ The physician moved his long thin beard on the side and reached inside his robe to find the clever pocket. Suyi would’ve concentrated more on what she was about to receive if it wasn’t for how the old man chose to address her. Miss and Missus were words plain enough for any commoner, but no one had ever in her whole entire life used even those regarding her, ’’What I have for you is tea made out of blossomed lotuses. It will calm you and be good for your internal organs while you heal.’’ The man placed the light pink pouch with a golden yarn closing it shut beside her shoulder on the thin mattress.

  Suyi wanted to ask who’d gifted the tea, but couldn’t. She only stared at the old physician as he then got up and bowed respectfully, ’’The dust in this room is not good for your health, either. I shall talk with His Highness and suggest a deep cleaning.’’ He added before leaving the stuffy chamber. Suyi doubted The Third Prince would even hear him if he went to him with such suggestions.

  After no one else returned, Suyi turned on her side to inspect the pouch. She stared at it with a squinted hesitance. Not even The Emperor himself could convince her to prepare the tea. It was clearly poisoned, sent there to be another sweet trap to take her down. There were no notes, no instructions on how to prepare the tea nor even her name written.

  Do they truly think I’d be that stupid? To voluntarily drink what they hand me— Suyi hid the pouch inside the pillowcase although she doubted anyone would risk having what was hers to keep after what they’d come to witness.

  Once she returned to her daily unchanged routine of there and back, nothing had changed. No buzzing whispers of conspiracies, scandalous gasps hidden behind silk sleeves. Now, had it been any other Prince, the entire line of Dynasty from their graves would’ve been gathering spears to begin the hunt for those responsible. They said The Third Prince was disabled. That he lived a life inside his head away from the real world. Considering the world in its current state, Suyi couldn’t blame him for that. In her mind he might’ve been the smartest one doing so.

  Suyi arrived beside the usual table inside Moon Dae’s chamber. She kneeled down and stared on the familiar circular shape on the surface of the polished hardwood. One which looked like an eye staring back at her. Not one to judge. It looked almost compassionate, in her silly imagination.

  The Third Prince worked on his painting as usual. This time, it seemed to be one of the birds, jumping here and there on the wooden floor outside the opened sliding door revealing all the bright pomegranate trees’ beneath the blazing morning sun.

  As Suyi returned her icy gaze down towards the eye— she saw a corner of Moon Dae’s paper slowly sliding in front of her. Surprised, she raised her perplexed glance up towards Moon Dae who finished by holding the long sleeve of his pastel blue robe, and returned to his usual position, familiar mannerisms, swaying tenderly from one side to the other while holding the precious ink brush yet again.

  Suyi hadn’t seen him initiate any contact before during those many weeks of each others company. Curious, she took ahold of the upper edge of the thick expensive paper, and her whole entire world filled with instant warmth of anything better than yesterday’s beef bone broth. And it was the highest of praises she could ever offer to another soul. On the paper, Suyi saw herself. Precise and sharp yet simultaneously soft and airy brushes of ink.

  Is this truly what I look like?— Suyi held the paper with gentle fingertips afraid she’d ruin it somehow.

  Her lower lip tightened, small lines appearing on her sharp chin. Not once in her life had she ever received a gift. Not a single one. Not on any special occasion nor regular day. She had never experienced the joy of being surprised with something so very thoughtful. And a self portrait at that. Something usually those wealthy enough would be able to immortalize.

  But above all— what surprised her perhaps the second most was the expression portrayed on the painting. The black hair half up, styled by the golden ornament with dangling rocks of polished jade, the white undecorated robe and the bliss on her gaze towards the sight of The Third Prince’s courtyard. The soft smile on the corners of her lips.

  Had she forgotten a moment as such?

  Or was it a moment which The Third Prince had simply captured on a regular day?

  A token of gratitude for saving his life.

  ’’Thank you, Your Highness.’’ Suyi whispered quietly, not getting a response nor expecting one either, as she pressed the very first gift ever given over her curved up smile. The ocean eyes crescent with the utmost appreciation from the depths of her slowly healing heart.

  At last. She had found someone to truly consider a friend.

  ─?~???~?─