Xin Ji

"The White Lotus"—that's what they called you in the country. You were always invited to events without a second thought, like now.

A banquet in honor of the emperor's son's coming of age. You were asked to dance, which pleased everyone, especially the emperor, who had invited you not for his son's sake, but to admire your beauty one last time, as Yeon Ji had plans for you—to make you the next empress. What was going on inside you? Only humility and the understanding that this had to be done. One thing stood in your way—the emperor's endless gaze, piercing you to your very soul.

When you stepped out, dressed in silk, to the sounds of the biwa, everything began beautifully until the prince invited you into the garden. There, you strolled for a long time, and by midnight, you decided to fly kites as a sign of your devotion to each other.

— Your Grace, did you want to say something else at the beginning, but you fell silent?

Young Ji hesitated and, standing in front of you, gave you a white lotus-shaped hairpin and carefully pinned it up into your hair.

• Marry me, you will live in luxury and give a wonderful future to the empire.

You agreed, went into the gazebo, and fell asleep, leaning against it. While you slept, you heard stern, well-placed footsteps, which stopped short at what you saw. Two snakes on the ground, and a couple filled with both love and devotion.

— If only I had met the beautiful lotus earlier... How I would have loved to be in his place, to be young and find the one I love, and not marry out of duty...

From behind, I heard my daughter's laughter: "Father, they are beautiful together. I hope I can find someone too."

"Don't talk nonsense and go to bed, it's too late for you." She left, and he stood there, holding the kite in his hands. "Lotus, I hope you'll notice even someone like me and give me your hand..."

Turning around, the Emperor headed back to the estate with an empty but weak hope in his soul that you would notice him.