The Other Side of the Mask

"Daughter YingYue, do you like the festival?" my mother asks.

I smile, truly, "Yes! It's amazing!"

Even the maids and servants smile. I had a good night's sleep that night in a comfy bed, not too hard, not too soft.

The next morning, the maids greet her in a good mood.

"Hello, I'm Ji and this is Zhe and Qu. We are your maids."

Their pleasant pure smiles warm me as they dress me and tell me about the kingdom. I reward them with some snacks after they tell me about my position.

First stop: the Royal Library. I walk in, swiftly and accidentally bump into someone.

"Oh, sorry…" I say automatically.

I glance up. It's an old lady.

"I- my apology, your highness, I was too careless," the old woman apologizes, kowtowing.

I stammer, not used to being addressed as 'highness', "N-no, it's fine, please get up."

She gets up and I realize she's the librarian from a tag on her shirt.

"You are the librarian?"

"Yes, how may I help your highness."

I flinch again, from being called 'highness'.

Finally, I can't take it anymore, "Please just call me YingYue, librarian. I would like some books about the history and politics of Ri Kingdom."

"A-alright…" She leads the way inside and finds some books to start.

At first there was awkwardness between us, but as time flew by, we became really close.

"So Yue and Ri Kingdoms are in close relations?" I ask warily.

"Yes, Princess," the librarian Lu responds, " It is because our kingdoms are so close and only separated by a measly river that could easily be crossed."

I frown a bit.

"Is there something wrong, Princess?"

"No, and I told you to call me YingYue, not princess."

"That I cannot do, it is already informal for me to call you princess."

I sigh. These people… I gaze around the library and pull some interesting books off the shelf. Ooooh! A romance novel!

"Ah, princess, that is a true story, about the past of the kingdom," Lu tells me wisely, "It might not be to your taste."

"A romance novel is a romance novel!" I squeal in delight.

Lu looks as if she wants to tell me something, but doesn't.

"I'd like to check these books out," I continue.

Lu writes them down and smiles.

"Thank you!" I say, respectfully.

"No, it is my job," Lu responds humbly.

Crunch!

"Who's there?" I immediately demand instinctively.

"Calm down it's me," It was Commander Yang, "I'm assigned as your personal guard until further announcement."