hell in heaven
episode one: a special one
genre: fluff (?)
pairing: mina x fem!reader (ft. hwang yeji)
setting: ancient japan
content warnings: mentions of abandonment, child labor
your hands shook at you stood in front of the gates of one of the most known empresses ever to be alive.
saying you were nervous was an understatement, your anxiety rising to a t.
you would’ve never thought you’d be hand chosen to be a maid by a glorious woman who had so much power in her hands.
you’ve been told you’re the most beautiful in the land of japan. although you think far from it, it’s clear someone else thought differently.
and all of japan? that’s a bit of an exaggeration, you thought.
a guard walks you up to the doors, and you carefully follow behind, your stomach filling with butterflies.
“now, miss, there is one thing you mustn’t do,” he pauses.
you tilt your head, “mustn’t do what, sir?”
“look the empress in the eyes. in advance, never look at her without her permission to do so.” he explains further.
great. great to add onto the nervous of first day jitters, ass.
you nod slowly before he opens the door for you, holding it open as you enter and he follows behind.
you were definitely amazed. you have never been in the palace of an empress before, let alone outside of your home village. the sights amazed you, and you couldn’t help but stare.
until the guard clears his throat, catching your attention as you look at him.
“this way, m’lady.”
you follow him to where the empress sits on her throne, your gaze instantly onto the floor. you watch your feet carry you onto the carpet and closer to the empress whom you didn’t know was watching you with dark eyes.
“your highness, i bring you the girl, l/n y/n.” the guard announces, where you instantly bow.
your mouth is dry but you still manage to form a proper greeting for higher status.
“hello, you’re highness.” you say showing your respect.
a few seconds of silence before you stand straight up again, but only to find yourself making eye contact with the empress.
you curse yourself mentally with wide eyes and quickly shift your gaze to something else other than the empress who was staring you down.
“so the rumors are true; the most beautiful in the land.”
you felt heat rush to your face as you look down.
“look at me,” you didn’t dare disobey her commands, so you did as you were told.
now face to face with empress myoui mina.
she wasn’t disappointed; not in the slightest.
her eyes were roaming you. your worn out dress that you’ve been meaning to clean, your hair that you kept healthy despite not having much money to handle it, your politeness in which you always kept your hands behind your back.
all this time watching you was definitely worth it in her opinion.
“one of my maids will show you around my palace. she will show where you sleep, eat, and bathe.” with a snap of her fingers you hear footsteps coming from behind.
you turn your head to see a girl about your age, long dark brown hair, eyes like a cat, a white dress that has surely been worn down, and a small smile.
“this is hwang yeji, one of the maids you will be rooming with. yeji, please show our new maid, y/n around.” mina demands.
“yes, you’re highness,” yeji bows before taking your wrist gently and taking you out of the throne room.
~
“my name is yeji, as you heard her highness say.”
you nod, “i’m y/n. how long have you been working with her highness?” you ask.
“for about five years now. i began working for her when i was seventeen.”
your eyes go wide hearing this. you’re only a year younger than yeji, you’re twenty one. and now, you’re sure yeji is twenty two.
that means five years of working with the empress.
“i’m sorry if this may offend you, but you don’t look like you’re from here?”
yeji chuckles, “you’re right, actually. i am from south korea.”
your eyes go wide, “oh wow. how did you come here? if i may ask?”
“my family and i moved here from korea to earn a better living. i was thirteen when we had moved here. then, i was offered to work with the empress as a maid, and my parents sent me off to make more money for the both of them,” she explains as you listen and continue walking.
“i was making good earnings, giving some to my parents for necessities, only for them to take it and just…leave me here…”
your heart dropped at that feeling of abandonment. your heart felt for yeji. she was so young, still so young.
“but, there was nothing i could do. besides, i’m still making my way through.”
“i’m so sorry about that yeji.” you sigh.
“it’s okay, y/n.” she pauses as you both make it to the maids’ quarters.
“here is where we will sleep. it’s a good thing her highness assigned us both to sleep in the same room! that way i can help you out even more.”
you nod, “yes, i suppose.”
“now, later tonight, we will all be having dinner in the maids’ dining room. we have to help cook and clean of course. but since this is your first day, i’ll convince the other women to let you off the hook.” yeji smiles.
you chuckle at the girl’s silliness.
while you are off to meet the rest of the maids, the empress sits in her chambers, thinking.
her mind just couldn’t seem to be taken off you, no matter how much she tried.
“l/n y/n…” she sighs feeling a rush of excitement after repeating your name that rolled experimentally off her tongue.
she chuckles darkly thinking about how well you’d fit in working under her.
145 notes
·
View notes