Ada_The Untold Story

by Zola Tau

  "She has a way of making people feel. She is a dangerous princess." Nari whispered to herself as she folded her hands trying to not accept her feelings, of how grateful she felt for being placed in a position where she felt so valued by someone other than her own reflection. The three made it home safely that evening each feeling something new that they returned with while getting into the palace with Ada still fast asleep the eldest prince carried her on his back wrapping her legs and arms around himself as he carried her towards her room.

  "I could take her, Prince; it is my duty" Nari added "What strength do you have to carry her when we are all so exhausted? Anyways it is fine I'm headed over, towards the royal quarters anyways." the eldest prince replied.

  So Nari agreed as she followed them both. On the way towards Ada's room, Nari and the eldest prince crossed paths with the crown prince and his fiancé on the bridge speaking awkwardly. The moment his eyes glanced at a sleeping Ada the crown prince rushed over leaving his fiancé behind ready to get a hold of Ada.

  "Is she hurt?" he asked his elder brother before the eldest prince could respond he asked another question "Where were you three all day?" He asked pointing at them individually.

  "She's not hurt, and we took a trip into town, she was wishing to relax for a bit, something in the palace was preventing her from finding an ease of mind, time away did her good." he said narrowing his eyes at the crown prince.

  " On the way back she grew tired and fell asleep on my shoulder and I didn't wish to wake her being this was the first time she's comfortably slept since she first came here it seems…if you would excuse me I should go lay her down " the eldest prince finished.

  " I'll go with you " the crown prince added is a haste, before he could his fiancé came about and said: " I should head back now " she whispered shyly as she watched what was occurring. The crown prince nodded dismissing her.

  "Do you leave your fiancé to walk alone in the dark like that? What would her father say?" the eldest prince asked. The crown prince's fiancé softly smiled as she looked at the eldest prince with thankful eyes before turning to leave.

  [제 11장]

  “ Like a rose’s thorn, the feeling of love caters deeply into one’s side

  Whether denial or acceptance, depends on whether the rose blooms, or dies . ”

  The crown prince a little angered by what was brought to attention, reluctantly gave way for his brother to go lay Ada down. Nari shook her head and smiled to herself as she followed the eldest prince into Ada's room and the crown prince raced to catch up with his, soon to be bride.

  At last the eldest prince lied Ada down and tucked her in soundly, Ada's hair twisted and curled all about, yet, rather than her hair fall down to her shoulder it spread flat on the bed. The eldest prince looked at her, taking it into himself he thought how Ada, in her fullness wasn't just different in her anatomy and demeanor. From her nose to her full lips, her face shape, she was attractive in the sense of uniqueness, what she saw as her biggest flaw was actually her most appealing feature.

  He took his hand and traced across her face with his fingers falling for the unbalanced woman before him, who was stuck in a dream, of a day that she didn't lose anyone. "What a good way to say goodnight to the world." the eldest prince said.

  As she watched everything, at a point Nari kept clearing her throat as if she was a toad. "Would you like water or something? The noise you are releasing is uncomfortable." The eldest prince commented not turning around to see her. " No, prince it's j-" Nari started but before she could finish she was interrupted by another.

  "What are you doing?" A voice asked. The frazzled prince quickly he removed his hands and turned around to see the crown prince walking forward towards him and Ada.

  Ada was in a land of dreams unaware of the commotion going on around her.

  The crown prince reached for his eldest brother and pulled him outside as if it was he who knew the world first, Nari followed them both by the command of the eldest brother as he called for a witness.

  Nari stood awkwardly as the brothers tried to fight the instinct to fight. " All you had to do was lay her down and come back out, there was no need for all that touching. " the crown prince started as he was frantically pointing towards Ada's room.

  " What is it to you, my friendship with her? Was it not you that said, right over there by that tree that said " I don't care what it is you do, I don't see her romantically " the eldest prince replied as he looked at his brother. " Don't be so selfish, she's not an item to be bought, especially one you are so unsure of how much she means to you.

  " Don't you dare compare the past with the present, if I tell you now that I have feelings towards her would you leave her be? " the crown prince asked as he glared at his brother.

  The eldest prince stayed silent and looked at the crown prince unsure how to answer. "Exactly you wouldn't now I have not been clear with my feeling for her but I can tell you now I do not plan on letting you have the chance to make her laugh, I will not allow it!" The crown prince shouted.

  Nari boldly walked into the middle of the two separating them, "If I may ever be so bold, it's not my position to be here, as much as I serve under you both, I serve the princess first. I am in no position to speak to her but being that the princess is a being and not a sword that you feel you need in one moment and then disregard the next, I hope you consider her feelings as well as her position and try to avoid giving her any more pain than what she has already endured.

  Your highness if only you were there to see the happiness in her eyes today when she was outside these walls, you would see her in a light unworthy to be diminished. I see you care for her but as her servant, I ask that you be honest with yourself first and not let your feelings be ignited because the eldest Prince now has her." Closing her eyes she waited to be screamed at, for stepping over her line of advising but instead, the two princes sighed and just stood there.

  Taking advantage of the situation she bowed and excused herself, and she walked back into Ada's room.

  As for the brothers who were angered with one another, they stayed silent for just a second till the crown prince spoke. "If you respect me you will stop trying to sway her heart." the crown prince said in a way with a sound of a plea.

  The eldest prince bowed and then stood upright and looked forward at his brother "If you don't see her fit to be your queen then I'll do my best to make her my woman. I don't require a queen; my options are not as limited. I may respect you, but I have still aged four years ahead, no matter the size of your crown, I was born before you, I've experienced wisdom that you are only now starting to gain. I can care for her as she deserves if she lets me, she would suffer less with Me." the eldest prince replied.

  " Yet, you weren't deemed fit to be a crown prince, and gain throne after our father, you are clearly not wise enough to know that you aren't the one she wants." the crown prince replied out of spite.

  "The only reason you are in line for the throne is that; Father, the king favored your mother, among the many women he called wife. As you insult me about my wisdom, you forget every single moment you ignore her; you've caused her to seek another. No matter what it is she told you, she did it for her people, just as you have a duty to your people she has to her own no matter where she is, yet you push her away as if she committed treason. I may not be the one she has in her heart right now, but I don't see you lasting long, I'm going to take my leave now... your highness." The eldest prince voiced in mockery as he walked away.

  The crown prince called for his attention but his brother ignored him if it was just anyone maybe he would have called the guards but because it was his brother, he just cursed to himself and walked away.

  Nari watched from the doorstep what took place with the brothers and when they both disappeared into the night, she called out to Ada. "You can open your eyes now, Princess."

  Ada opened one eye and closed it quickly when she made eye contact with Nari. "I know you're awake." Nari said wal
king towards Ada. "When you heard the commotion you should've come out and put an end to it not leave it to your servant, princess." Nari said as she smiled while taking a bow.

  "I don't know what you're talking about; your heavy breathing woke me just now." Ada replied as she sat upright in the bed.

  "Ah, yes was it also that breathing that leads you to look at the commotion from the doorway while the princes bickered?" Nari asked.

  Ada stayed silent because she wasn't, aware that she was seen sneaking up to the door to watch what was taking place in confusion. When she saw Nari heading towards the room, she assumed she raced back into bed in time to not be seen.

  "It's okay...I would love to be fought over by a few princes every now and then." Nari said playfully flipping her hair as she pretended to be a princess.

  "But, princess you should make a choice soon, about what your heart desires you to do. You'll be expected back home very soon in time or if you wish to stay here, and finish what your father had started." Nari said as she looked about.

  "Agh, that reminds me, I overheard the king speaking a few days ago about a visitor that's to come here for you soon, rather than you go alone. I believe they will just be arriving to stay and in time to fill you in on what your job is to be when you return home. I'm sure you'll be expected to return with whoever is sent here for you. I understand you have an obligation to your people, but trying to find happiness isn't at all selfish." Nari finished trying to seem as if she hadn't yet grown attached to the princess.

  Ada looked at Nari and asked, "Are you telling me I should stay?"

  "As much as I would love to be with you forever, however, the choice is yours and matters on what you define happiness to be, the source of guidance to your people, or the love and marriage to a man you actually love, and not just assigned to love. I know it is easier for me to say because I am not in a position deemed even close to being called a princess, but I believe things work out for the best when you are happiest. Even so, who says you can only serve people of your land to be called a true queen. A queen is a mother and a source of guidance to her people no one required it be by like relation before you can care for one another" Nari replied and soon just stood up and bowed, signaling she was to leave soon. She walked out of the room leaving Ada to be unsteady with her own thoughts and questions.

  " Why can't I have both " Ada mumbled to Nari's shadows, she couldn't help but to stop herself from asking aloud because even she felt it was too selfish to think, and even more selfish to say out loud.

  The palace went to sleep and woke repeatedly like normal, for five days and five nights. On the sixth morning, it woke to the sound of the princes bickering over every single thing and anything as always. "You shouldn't just break relations with her so suddenly" the eldest prince shouted.

  "What's done is done." The crown prince replied and walked away. Unsure of what it was that they were speaking of, a curious Ada listened from her doorway as she was watching the princes.

  Because of her adventurous spirit, Ada tried to follow the Crown prince who suddenly disappeared from where he just was, before his brother. The eldest prince caught Ada's glistening brown eyes looking his way and with a smile, he waved at her. A shy Ada smiled returning the smile and gave a soft wave before returning to looking for the Crown Prince.

  She looked side to side and about, oblivious to the fact that the eldest prince's attempt to speak to her, because she was too preoccupied, in that mindset she was surprised to feel a touch on her shoulder especially since she had assumed she was alone in her search. She slowly looked to her side and there stood the crown prince.

  "Did you sleep well?" He asked with a smile on his face as he studied Ada's reaction with each step he took forward. She shyly nodded yes, and she stared. Awkwardly looking at him and avoiding his attempts as he tried making eye contact.

  "Would it be too much for me to ask you, princess: to assist me on my adventures today?" He asked her as he outstretched his arm and lifted up her chin, so that her eyes may have met his.

  "I don't know I don't want to be of any trouble, I was assuming that the king wouldn't want to have me leave the castle twice without permission, " she said thinking of reasons to make herself sound as uninterested as possible.

  "I'll take that as a yes" the crown prince replied seeing past her plan. "I suggest you change and get set, I'll be ready when you are." The crown prince said as he took her hand and softly with his thumb caressed her hand, and so Ada agreed then excused herself to go do as she was told.

  For what felt like a while, the wait caused the crown prince to think Ada would not be showing up. Reluctantly he muttered words to himself of why she had right to do so, as he was looking down thinking of his own pity.

  A shadow soon overcrowded the Crown Prince as he was lost in thought, he looked up to see Ada dressed in a soft sea surface blue hanbok placing a smile on his face. His worry had been settled quickly because before him stood a beautiful woman that he finally came to an agreement that he would choose. Her hair was down and out, her hair… it structured to reach the skies because of how wide it was spread, as if a cloud, all on its own making her look even more like a heavenly dream.

  Ada avoided the prince's eyes as she touched her hair " I am so used to letting it out back home, but no one else here has this kind of hair since we are going out of the palace I thought it was okay, even if for just today to..." Ada started, but she was unable to finish her thought due to the Crown Prince, as he placed his hand on hers as she was touching her hair and said: " You look like a dream, don't be shy to let yourself be."

  In all, she looked appealing to anyone that would lay their eyes upon her, at least if not anyone to the Crown Prince she did.

  "Should we go?" He asked as he opened his left hand asking for Ada's. He guided her towards a cart, with a white horse in front elegantly waiting to carry the Princess and Crown Prince. It was all a sight warming to both the eyes and heart, even so without Ada's appreciation showed as she smiled. In the back of the cart was a basket, as the Prince was opening up the basket it took to surprise all that resided within it. It was decorated with baked bread, tea, and fruits of all sorts. Ada turned to the crown prince as he got in and she sat beside him.

  "What's the occasion? Why do we have so much food?" She asked him.

  The Prince looked at her and smiled, before he began to rant "Since our last meeting I gave it thought, and for a few mornings I've been asking father if he could allow for my division from my chosen fiancé, a request I asked of him even prior to our engagement, she too agreed and asked on my behalf. He didn't easily give in so I made a promise that my first charge as king would be to give him a grandson like he's wanted. Also, he agreed, only if I'm able to find a new one queen in a month's time. Though it may be an issue I could tell she didn't have eyes for me, nor did I have eyes for her, she seemed far more into the eldest brother and so I'm sure they will somehow make way but I just ..." and at random the Prince stopped speaking and looked over at Ada who was silent and looked a bit unsettled.

  "I still respect your choice of not being romantic, if that is what you truly want because you want to leave for home, with no attachment here, but if only for today make me feel like I made the right choice and that it is something I will not regret it later. Give me the memory of being in the phase of happiness so that I may have the moments to remember if I am later assigned to a woman I neither love nor know well.

  Ada smiled at him "It's only fair to you both" she said happily, to hear such words. As happy as Ada was on the inside it was nowhere near what she expressed but she couldn't give herself away too easily to the prince in an effort to avoid coming off as weak, s he thought to herself.

  As the cart moved along Ada and the prince stayed silent and soon came to a halt before a field of trees. As they got out the Prince held onto the basket of food as Ada followed him throughout the woods going in and out, avoiding branches and tree trunks.

  All the effort became
worth it when they reached a meadow taking Ada's breathe away. Right in the center of the trees was a wide space of Land, where the sun shined and yellow flowers danced about. A lake glistened crystal like sparkles and the crown prince and Ada walked closer.

  There was a large blanket on the ground beside a small cabin like home which Ada curiously went towards and looked inside. It was decorated so nicely, simple but elegant all in the same. The crown prince set the basket on the blanket outside and waited for Ada to come out.

  "Where are we?" She asked in the joy that overtook her. The crown prince smiled as he began to speak.

  "When I was young, whenever one of my brothers and I got in an argument my mother would bring me here to cool off. It soon became our little hideaway and refuge. She always told me to share it with someone special if not her. I am guilty of some of your struggles in the palace and I was blind of that, consider this a form of many apologies to come." the Prince replied.

  Ada smiled as she outstretched her hands holding the Prince's hands " When did your mother, pass away?" Ada asked. It was not that he said she did, but the pain that showed in his eyes when he said the word mother, mirrored a feeling she herself had felt several times.

  The prince just looked down at the basket and began to take out food. "I was young, " he said softly. Ada no longer wanting to make him uneasy, didn't want to continue pressing him for answers.

  The two ate and drank, speaking on the differences between their worlds, and the similarities, much to both of their surprise they had more alike than different, from the requirements to the set of government, the biggest differences were the physical identity of the two countries and the difference in language, even some of the food they ate were similar, and that came to light.

  The two searching souls ate, spoke, joked, and thought some more. They both favored one another's time so much they didn't see the time in the sun's descending hinting it was getting late soon as a problem to face. From morning till midday the two stayed in their hideaway, spoke and never once stepped inside the cabin neither physically, or emotionally.