Work Text:
⌘
Minnie has always been inquisitive for as long as she can remember.
It concerned everything: the lives of ordinary subjects at her court, new hobbies or observations of others — how someone performed duties, healed people or generally listened to all the whims of the father - there were also such people who could take the blows, so to speak — and sometimes even the mother.
By the way, Minnie had a special craving for healing. Not to say that she was interested in healing or something remotely similar to it, but the girl often caught herself thinking that watching someone else's work for hours, like, say, someone would put bandages on or do acupuncture, brought her soul the right peace of mind.
It was as if she was part of a huge system, especially when a new healer appeared at court, and he was a young girl brought from one of the provinces of Taiwan. Her name was Shuhua, and her beauty was already legendary. Minnie just couldn't pass by, so one day her secret visits to the healer became quite noticeable.
"I want to visit our healer", on one of the early sunny days, Nisha expressed a desire to tell the servant about her intentions, and to inform her parents so as not to block any family plans.
The servant bowed gently in front of the young girl and invited her to follow him. A closed stretcher was already ready for her, in which the aristocracy of Thailand usually moved, so the young lady quickly dived into the vehicle and with great expectation imagined the first meeting with Shuhua.
The healer's chambers were located not so far from the main palace — you literally had to walk several streets to get to the right place. But even for simple transportation to the neighboring house, Minnie had to use a stretcher.
"Madam, we have arrived", they gave her a hand, helping her to descend and feel the ground under her feet.
Nisha began to look around her; the floral scent in someone else's chambers was endearing, and Minnie also realized that she really liked him. It reminded me of the smell of a blooming rose that Grandma Minnie used to plant. There were all kinds of essential oils and dried herbs in jars everywhere on the shelves, and Nisha was so carried away by looking at them that she did not notice Shuhua in front of her.
She was waiting expectantly for someone to address her. Despite the difference in cultures, Shu has already managed to soak up the spirit of Thailand and, as it should, completely fell in love with it.
"Is something bothering you, Mistress?" the Taiwanese woman said softly and invited Minnie to lie down on the floor, because that's what everyone did at the healer's.
"Recently I thought about acupuncture, and a little later I read about their healing properties", he took a recumbent position, but her gaze was strictly directed exclusively at Shuhua.
It didn't press, but at the same time it was so piercing, as if Nisha wanted to penetrate into the very soul of the healer.
"That's right", Hua nodded her head and straightened a strand of hair that had slipped out of her voluminous hairstyle, immediately hiding it behind her ear. "Acupuncture also brings all points and chakras back to normal", she believed the Lady, and now they were silent together.
This silence did not escalate or aggravate the situation, just Minnie could watch on while Shuhua took care and cared for her. The healer's movements were so graceful that Minnie did not immediately realize that she was completely pierced with needles. It took a long time for Nisha's body to return to its previous sitting position, and the sensations that surged after acupuncture covered her head a little later.
Shuhua even brought the Lady green tea with thyme and raspberries, continuing to take care of her earlier, and decided to share some of her observations. "You know, Madam, when you came, I thought that I would lose my duties".
Nisha froze in amazement with a cup of tea in her hands and looked at the elder. Shuhua smiled meekly and lowered her gaze, not daring to look at the Niche anymore.
"Why is that?"
"I randomly saw you earlier, as you were watching me. I thought you wanted to get rid of or punish me for the mistakes I made".
Minnie sighed heavily, but smiled. "No one in this palace will hurt you or punish you, because I won't let that happen".
Minnie's words deeply touched Shuhua's heart, and she even automatically bowed to the youngest. And only then did she feel strangers touching her palms. "Come to my chambers before going to bed, the servants will let you in without any problems".
"Should I take something with me?"
"Just come", Minnie replied, smiling, and continued to squeeze someone else's palm in her own. It was so warm. "You can, however, bring tea with you. He's wonderful, just like you", she added and got to her feet.
Minnie left behind a trail of pink ginseng fragrance, red cheeks at Shuhua and a feeling that today's embarrassment is trifles, before the fact that Nisha will be waiting for the healer in her chambers late in the evening.
Exciting, but so tempting.
⌘