Sybil Park
“Now, tell us. Why do you plan to poison the general?” Maximaze was gravely glaring at Leonardo. I couldn’t believe that Leo still managed to smile wickedly.
"What if I don't say?" He laughed. “I used young loquat leaves to poison the general because I don’t plan to kill him. I only need a moment to steal some of his wealth while he’s ill. Once the general found out that some of his wealth went missing, it will be a chance for me to blame it all on your mother.” My heart started to beat faster when he gazed at me with the sharp look in his eyes.
"So . . . you’ve chosen death—”
“Maze!” Cladius interrupted her.
“L-let her, My Lord. I deserve to die. The law says that one shall not accuse him of a sin he hadn’t committed, and I broke that law. Punish me, General.” His smile disappeared. “Noble Park, kindly look after my sister. She’s ill and I needed money. If she did any crimes, punish me instead. It’s my fault for not raising her properly.” He gazed at Maximaze without any emotions.
I was dumbfounded when he mentioned his sister. Now I see why, yet he shouldn’t commit such a crime! People indeed commit crimes when they have no other choice.
I can say that he’s sincere and he meant everything he said. I just didn’t know why he kept asking to punish him. Was that his method to escape punishment?
Instead of responding, Maze left the decision to the eunuch. She turned around to look at the students and teachers. She sighed and stepped a bit closer to them. “I heard that Hanneul is innocent. Leonardo said that one shan’t accuse him of a sin he never committed. And if one did, he must pay for what he has done.” Some of them started to tremble after hearing what she said.
I glanced at the general and we looked at each other. We both shrugged and watched again what was happening in front of us.
A student approached Maze and kneeled down. “N-noble Park! Forgive me! Forgive me! I admit I was guilty but Meizu just influenced me to do it! She forced me, My Lady!” She did nothing wrong to Maze yet she was that desperate to be forgiven to kneel and cry.
Another woman approached Maze and kneeled. “N-noble Park! Don't believe Chunhua! I am not the mastermind! M-mingxhiu is! She is so jealous of Hanneul and super annoyed with Shin! So she called us to join forces! Don’t punish me, I’m also forced by her! ” She touched Maze’s dress.
Another woman approached Maze and kneeled again. “I-I'm guilty—yes! But it was because I’m suspicious of Hanneul when Meizu and Chunhua reported to me that Hanneul came from the room where we were embroidering so I thought perhaps she stole or lost the thread we would use for the general's hanbok and his guest. But, Noble Park! It's their fault! They shouldn’t tell such false news!”
These women repeatedly begged my daughter and they also grabbed the hanbok that Maze was wearing. Maze was just a mere child who had the support of her uncle and yet they were banishing their dignity just to be forgiven. Why don’t they apologize to Hanneul instead?
"You should’ve thought of it first," Maze said.
The culprits stopped touching Maximaze’s dress and lowered their gazes.
Maze spoke, “Mingxhiu, many could die because of delusion and suspicion. Meizu, you’re also guilty and when all of us found out the truth, you tried to drag down someone as well and blame it all on her. Chunhua, it is wrong to give fake news.” She sighed. “I know you’re all aware about that before you make such mistakes. Did you know that simple fake news can ruin a person's life?! You must use your brains!”
The three girls did not speak and simply sobbed. They were ashamed of themselves.
“I have no right to judge you. Eunuch, I know that you know the best for them. I’ll hand this over to you.” Then, she turned around and went back beside me.
I wanted to say something yet what she did left me speechless. Maze, how could you . . . do that?
“Hmm. Mother, I’m hungry,” Maze uttered.
“A-a-ahh, Noble Park, ehe. There’s a lot of food in the kitchen. I’ll escort you.” A male servant approached and escorted her in the kitchen.
The general and I followed Maze to Twaechon’s kitchen. Now I just realize that Twaechon was a large place. It looked like it’s a nobleman’s palace.
"Sybil, Maze inherited her traits from her father," the general said.
“How did you say that, General? “
“Maze’s actions and movements were almost similar to her father, especially the way they speak. Maze reminds me of Vishton. Young Vishton rather.” He sighed. “Sybil, do you still remember the times when we were still young?
~*~
“Your story is really interesting, Cladius. How come a tiger talks and becomes a coward?” Vishton laughed. “It’s impossible!”
"It's really impossible." Cladius laughed. “Let’s go to my hut but we have to run because my hut is too far away. Let's go!" Cladius ran. Vishton followed but I was left behind. When I regained consciousness, I followed them.
“Let's race! Whoever wins gets—” Vishton suddenly fell to the ground when he bumped into a man wearing black outfit.
"Look where are you going!" the man yelled at Vishton.
"Hey! Come back here, thief! ” The Imperial Guards appeared in my sight and ran to where the man was.
I immediately approached Vishton. "Are you all right, Vishton?" I asked.
"Yes. You alright? That man is shameless!” Cladius uttered.
"I'm fine, but we have something important to do now,” Vishton said.
"What is that?" I looked at Cladius when I heard his voice. We spoke together.
"Fuji tactics?" Argh, here we go again.
"No, not again—"
“Fuji tactics! Stop acting, Sybil. You know we will be rewarded with food. It is bad to refuse grace, Sybil! So let's go!” Cladius patted my shoulder.
Vishton nodded and we immediately did ‘that’ Fuji tactic.
Few minutes later, I saw the man earlier running towards our trap.
"Aahh!" the man shouted as he fell into our trap.
“Yah! If you are a thief, make sure you don't run into the three of us, because by the time you fall into our trap, this will be your end. ” Vishton glared at the thief. He threatened it. Cladius smiled but I had no choice but to watch them.
The trap is not obvious but if he pays attention to the way he’s taking, he can avoid it by running or walking in another direction.
To be continued . . .
Sybil ParkThis was just a part of our so-called Fuji tactic. Only the three of us knew about the Fuji tactic. The tactic was effective especially when it’s snowing or perhaps it’s fall season. The trap was invisible because it was covered with snow.The guards immediately arrived. All of them were breathless and were drenched in sweat. One of them groaned. “That thief is so fast!”“Sir, the thief you are after fell in this pit. We can help you lift him up to punish him,” I said.They were relieved after hearing what I said. Of course, the three of us helped the guards to lift up the culprit because the guards were obviously tired. Few minutes later, the culprit was finally in the hands of the guards and the eunuch finall
Sybil Park“I’m hungry, Vishton!” Cladius interrupted Vishton. “So now, let’s go to my hut and eat!” He ran away, and so did Vishton.While they were running away, I was left behind, so Cladius yelled at me, "hey! Hurry up, Sybil! The one who’ll be last to enter the hut will treat the squad a delicious ramen!” I had no choice but to run. I don’t want to treat these two boys especially when I had no money with me!“YES, I still remember . . .” I lowered the tone of my voice, while smiling and looking at nowhere. It’s quite fun to reminisce nice memories from the past, especially if Vishton and Cladius was part of that memory. “. . . and until now, I can still remember that absurd tactic we invented when we were young.”Cladius chuckled. “As far as I can remember, it’s the Fuji tactic you’re saying isn’t it?” He sighed. “I wo
Sybil Park“I said . . .” Shin’s voice was trembling. She flinched at Maximaze and grinned.Someone hit her on her head. "That’s a kid, Shin. Control your temper." I realized that it was Hanneul who hit Shin. “Let’s talk somewhere else. I have tea for you. ” Then the two of them left.I glanced at Cladius. He watched the two of them walk away with that strange look in his eyes. I felt like he’s wary about the two of them.I watched Maximaze eat hamburgers. Her mouth was full but she still managed to smile.“Mother, do you like to eat some?" Maze asked.I shook my head. She smiled. I stroked her hair.
Maximaze ParkAfter we visited Twaechon, we headed straight to my uncle’s manor.Uncle immediately ordered the servants to get dinner ready. I went up to my room and changed my clothes then I went down to eat.“Oh, Maze. Sit down,” Mother said. I followed what she said and ate."We're going to do something tomorrow, Maze," said my uncle."General, what are we going to do?" I asked."We will have training starting tomorrow..""For what, General?"“It’s a rehearsal that will surely help you in the future. Running fast is one of the things we’ll do tomorrow.
Maximaze ParkHe raised an eyebrow at me. “Noble, can you let me finish my statement first?”"Oh, pardon me, Sir.” I lowered my gaze.“He wants you to go to a certain place where you can start your training.”I gazed at him and frowned. “Huh? Where? Will you escort me there, Sir?”“I’m afraid I cannot escort you there, Noble.”I frowned even more. “Then how could I get there?”“The general ordered me to give this to you.” He handed me a paper. I looked at it and realized that it’s a map. “Since you received enough lessons and bee
Maximaze ParkAs soon as I got the map, I immediately left the town. I was about to eat earlier in the town before leaving but I became wary thinking that I’m surrounded by fools and they might steal my ramen. So, maybe if I finally reach the training place, I’ll eat immediately.I stopped walking when I saw a gate. Perhaps I’m here already, so I knocked.Someone opened it. That someone was the general. "Good afternoon, Maze!" he welcomed me. I just raised my left hand, wasted no time to gaze at him, and continued walking in.“You must be too busy to travel, Maze. I’ll tell you something, have a seat.” He pointed the chair beside me. I obeyed his order.I put my basket down on the table fir
Maximaze Park“What I am going to teach you today is the use of a sword, but we’ll use a stick first since this is just training.” He sighed. “First, hold the sword.”I held the sword as he said. “Your grip is wrong, Maze. Do not touch the sword to the very end. Raise your grip a little.”I raised my grip on the sword a little.“Now, this is a simple attack. You attack from the top on the right and then from the top again but on the left. ”I followed what he said.“Then attack again on the lower right and then on the lower left. Right, left, right, left. It’s that simple. Repeat that. ”
Maximaze ParkWhile preparing for aim, darkness conquered my vision. Hence, I lost consciousness again. I was here again in a dark place where all I could see was . . . a tree. My heart’s beats became slower, its pulses were loud and I could hear it, but I was not frightened. Despite knowing my condition, I fired three arrows. I could hear the sharp sound of them flying towards the tree. All the arrows I fired hit the target and the first two arrows were torn as they landed on the same coordinates."That’s amazing!" Uncle complimented me.My eyes widened when I saw the general's fist so close to my face. He almost hit me. "You must always be wary, Maze. Keep your guard up so that you can protect or defend yourself as well," he taught. Perhaps he will teach me self-defense. "I will teach you self-defense