One More Step

The garden was on the other side of the huge park. While the maids teased the Lady Wang a little bit and were teased back, Kyra and Anna walked in a daze behind them.

Lady Wang turned around and saw their shocked expression and knew that she lost completely composture in front of these two children. But now she couldn't act like nothing happened so she suddenly stopped. She struggled for a moment and then came in front of them. ''You must be shocked to see me acting like this. Sorry.''

Kyra looked at her and then gave her the biggest smile ever. ''I am not shocked. I am happy.''

As Lady Wang looked at her in surprise she continued talking. ''Now I know why Lord Jung forgot many things and I am glad he did. Without you, as his sunshine, his life might have tuned differently. Now I am sure that after I leave here, the two of you can live happily. It was never my intention to intrude. Listening to your words about my mother's country I realize why the two of us have so much knowledge and surviving instincts. When I spoke to Anna I realized that even if she lived alone she would be able to survive. But we still need to learn many more things for everyday life. Even if we are not sent to wilderness, but even living in a different country and surviving under new circ.u.mstances I think that counts as well like a wilderness. Don't take my words wrong, please.''

Lady Wang started walking again while Kyra and Anna followed her. ''I am not going to take them wrong. This country is filled with all kinds of animals. Dragons, tigers, snakes, birds of all kinds of feathers, cats, dogs... and pigs. So living here could be considered a great wilderness as well. Wouldn't it?''

Everyone understood her words and had to agree with her words. While talking the got close to the vegetable garden.

Kyra was astonished by a variety of vegetables planted there. All those she loved existed already in their daily life so that means she can make all those delicious food. This was the most she was worried about. She knew that in olden times most of the vegetables couldn't be found until later. But as it seems, she hit gold.

Her various expressions made everyone laugh as she stared at vegetables with mouth agape.

''You really like it. '' Lady Wang was kind of curious as well.

She was forbidden to enter the garden as it was not appropriate. Later on, she was permitted to take care of a few elegant plants and flowers for the accessories. But she never saw the vegetables in their real form as she got them already prepared on her plate.

The maids opened the gate to the vegetable garden and called the gardener to them. An old man with old but clean clothes run towards them and bowed deeply. "Mylady, you should not go inside. If you dirty your clothes, I can't afford it to pay. ''

Lady Wang heard such words already at home and was quite annoyed. ''It seems the servants are my masters and I am forbidden to enter my own home.''

The old man paled hearing her words. ''It's not like that... SIgh. I was punished not long ago because one of the ladies on the other side of the main house dirtied her shoes from flower earth. I was hit until I fainted and just came back today. If I get hit again, I will lose my life. I have children to feed since my wife died. Please Mylady, don't kill this servant.''

Lady Wang's face became darker and darker. ''Ruthless. It seems I gave them too open hand lately and they forgot who the real master in this house is? You should just show us around the garden. These two girls will soon live on their own and they just want to have some basic knowledge. About my shoes, I have people that are paid to wash them. Giving them to do that is fine as well, and if it's impossible to wash I will just buy new ones. It is not like we are bankrupt and we can't buy me a new pair of shoes.''

He looked at already dirty shoes an sighed. Its already finished and hearing her assurance made him feel secure. He stood up and respectfully showed them the garden.

''In this corner, we have all kinds of green vegetables. From salads to cabbages to spinach and others. Then we have planted onions, eggplants, all kinds of beans, many different kinds of beets, radishes and root vegetables. Further on we have many kinds of peppers, tomatoes, squashes, cuc.u.mbers, carrots, lettuce, spices, potatoes and many other... Like you can see around the garden we put some corn and some sunflowers. And this is only a garden for the use of the kitchen. We actually have these on our field outside the town but it makes no sense to transport them here.''

Lady Wang nodded. ''What kind of plants we have outside?'' She knew that they had lots of lands but she had no idea what was planted.

He bowed slightly and with a smile recounted. ''Outside the city, we have fields with corn, potato, rice, wheat and rye. Then we have some vineyards and hills with fruits.''

She turned in interests at him. '' Hills filled with fruits?''

He nodded. ''Many scholars go there in spring to look from far and write some poetry and paint. It looks beautiful.''

Her face became sad. ''I wish I could see fruits in bloom.''

He turned to her and bowed with a smile. ''Mylady, I am happy you came at the right time. Our fruits bloom beautifully as well.''

The maids looked at each other. ''We have fruits hills?''

He shook his head. ''Not hills but we have nice orchard not far from here. It is a perfect time to look at the beautiful fruit flowers.''

Lady Wang smiled happily. ''Good, good. Let's go there. If I like the sight I will gift you handsomely.''

Kyra and Anna looked at each other and almost started sighing. -Does that mean he will be punished if she doesn't like it? -

They followed the old man a little further. They passed a very long walkway filled with all kinds of green walls and suddenly around the corner of the main house, a beautiful sight opened up in front of their eyes. In front of them was orchard with countless trees.

''Here we have peach, cherry, plum trees and further we have apples and pears. On the side, we have blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and other kinds of berries. At the end of the orchard, there are some oranges, mandarines, tangerines and such. In the corner we have as well some new seedlings of fruits we been given as a gift. We just wait if there is a chance that they survive our climate. On the field behind we have some water and honey melons.'' He recounted everything truthfully.

Lady Wang slowly walked towards trees, looking at beautiful little flowers that covered the tree and gave off a sweet smell. ''Ohhh, the smell.''

Kyra went forward as she smiled. ''If you want, I can make you some scented oils that you can use later on. Tomorrow I will prepare. I am leaving in a couple of days. I think I will have enough time. I will need some oil without scent and lots of glass containers. Is it possible?''

Lady Wang was perplexed as she looked at the little girl that shone with confidence. ''We usually wear bags with dried flowers. I even like flower teas but I never heard of this. ''

Kyra smiled at her. ''I will try my best to make some for you. I just need permission to enter the garden. ''

Lady wang nodded and gave the order. ''Old man. This child can come to the garden with my permission.''

He nodded and bowed respectfully. ''I understand. Don't worry Mylady, I will help her in her task.'' This strange-looking child seems to be in Lady Wang's favor. He definitely needs to help her.

Kyra happily bowed in front of the gardner that looked at her in astonishment. ''I will be in your hands for the next two days. Please help me.''

He clumsily bowed back, not knowing how to react.

As they slowly walked back to the main house Lady Wang chatted happily with her maids. Her face started having nice thinge of healthy glow so the maids were quite happy.

Kyra and Anna would sometimes talk to the little maid and laugh about her quirkiness. That child had just about 8-9 years and was quite good to understand rules but at the same time quite funny when she relaxed.

Kyra patted her head with a smile. ''If you have time later, come to visit us.''

She knew that servants in this household took shifts and had free time to spend on their own. The little girl was usually in the kitchen with her grandmother that was a cook. Or playing around with other servant children. But being invited into the room was something new. She looked carefully at Lady Wang that smiled at her. ''Just go and have fun.''

She nodded her head and smiled happily at Kyra and Anna.

After going back to her rooms Lady Wang's servants prepared a bath for the lady and a new set of clothes and shoes. She sat down and started feeling a bit hungry. ''Could you go and ask my Lord Jung will he be able to join me for dinner?''

Her main maid bowed and went with light steps towards Lord Jung's office. She saw two of his most trusted servants standing in front of the door and she bowed lightly. ''Our Lady Wang asks Lord Jung if it is possible to join her for dinner. I will wait for an answer.''

One of the servants bowed back and knocked on the door. After hearing the affirmative answer he entered and forwarded the message. Lord Jung's face at first was confused as he was deep in his paperwork but then suddenly stood up with shine in his eyes, scaring the servant. ''She asked me to go there?''

The servant nodded and waited for the answer.

He looked up and saw no one, then looked around again no one. How fast is his Lordship actually?

In the time between Lord Jung passed stunned servants with a big smile on his lips and walked quickly towards Lady Wang's doors. Even her main maid almost lost composture.

He arrived at the opening doors and saw her sitting on her chair while the maids slowly dried her open hair.

His eyes became hot as he looked at her and he loudly gulped.

She rose her eyes and bad premonition arose in her heart. This damnable man. Can't he at least control his expression?

Her eyes fell on the table filled with all kinds of food and looked back at him with big eyes. ''I am hungry. You better feed me.''

His eyes went between his wife, the table with food and the bed and suddenly a wicked idea came into his mind. ''I shall feed you. Don't worry. Everyone out the room, now.''

The maids bowed and left the room with their heads red. This Lord is truly like a wolf.

One of the maids felt worried. ''How many days will Lady this time be in bed?''

But the main maid hit her on the head and hissed. ''Lord's and Lady's private things, it's not our to worry. Go to the punishment room and get ten hits.''

She saw that the maid wanted to say something else and she sneered. ''Do you want 20?''

The maid paled and runoff. Everyone knew how ferocious this maid is. If she tells her to do 20 she might just be not able to stand up the next two months.

Inside the room, the Lord turned into charming wold that feeds little bit lady and ate her bit by bit. But this time he let her off when he saw her being exhausted and kissed her forehead.

''I promise I will try my best to control my passion from now on.''He saw her weakly giving him an angry face. He found it cute. ''After all, I want to keep my wife healthy.''

She scoffed and was about to push him when he kissed her. ''Stop moving around. I have a hard time controlling myself. If you roll to much I might lose this bit of control. Please.''

She looked at him with big eyes and saw his forehead beaded with perspiration. She looked at him with her eyes and with a small voice, she had to tell him the truth. ''Uhm. I need to go to refresh myself. Please let me go. I will be right back.''

he was stunned by her request and understood. So he let her go and saw her going to the side room running. Her beautiful back was hidden by the sheer of the black hair that glistened in the candlelight.

He breathed deeply as he tried to control his feelings.

Suddenly he heard water movements from another room, realizing that she went to wash herself, his imagination went wild again. His breath started to go faster and at the moment he was about to jump up and run into the side room the door opened and she came back.

He calmed down his emotions and took her in her arms. This time he didn't try anything, just held her in arms as they fell asleep blissfully...