Palace or Playground? (Song Jae-ha)

Looking up at the stairs to the palace, Aradessa could have sworn it was silently saying "KEEP OUT".

It had been three days since her first meeting with Song Jae-ha, a palace kitchen boy who didn't seem quite like one at all. As such, it had also been three days since she began working on his commission--a device to help him move around his own room, apparently, although Aradessa didn't have a name for it yet. Maybe she should consult Jae-ha again?

She briefly wondered if there was a shortcut somewhere--someplace that was easier to traverse than this...this monstrosity. If there wasn't, then she sure as heck would invent one herself. How could the palace residents possibly go up and down these things, day by day, carrying more than their own body weight? Aradessa's mind already had a logical amswer (determination, endurance over time, all the good things), but her emotions were saying otherwise.

Her emotions were saying "AAAAAH--".

Jae-ha, and every other palace-goer by extension, definitely had to be applauded for conquering the stairs. Aradessa briefly grunted as she took her fifty-third step, tiny drops of sweat beginning to trickle down despite the cool breeze of Haru. Who in the world thought it was a good idea to make the palace stairs this long?

Her mind answered with yet again a logical response, until eventually it culminated to Aradessa arguing with herself over the purpose of a long stairway.

Oh, well, it was a good distraction. Aradessa almost never noticed the fact that she'd reached her destination.

It was almost tempting to lie down and kiss the ground but Aradessa knew there was something more important to do: product delivery. Thus, she found herself summoning as much poise and dignity as she can as she quietly walked towards the palace entrance. Expectedly, there were guards posted on each side, eyeing her as warily as one might look at a potential troublemaker.

It was probably how they looked at everyone--the only problem was that Aradessa was a legit potential troublemaker.

"Um, good day! The name's Aradessa, I conduct daily explosions on my workshop down there." this just made the guards' eyes narrow even more. Oops. "Ahem...anywho, I'm looking for Song Jae-ha?"

Song Jae-ha