"Sara!"  Prime Minister Nawa shouted at his daughter.  How could she call the woman that Prince Asano had chosen to sit next to him during his birthday party.  Her unladylike behavior had caused him to loose face among his peers.  Even if Miss Hongmo was a slut, it was not good manners to call her that in front of her face, especially in front of Prince Asano who seems to have a good impression on her. "Apologize right now!"  

"I will not!"  Sara cried out.  How could she apologize to the slut who had taken Prince Asano's attention away from her?  How could she apologize to the slut who took her present that she wanted to gift to him?  How could she apologize to the slut who shamed her in front of everyone in the tea house?  How could she apologize to the slut who had attracted the whole room into silence to behold her beauty!  How could she, a girl of noble birth, the legitimized first young miss of Prime Minister Nawa ever apologize to a nobody girl who claims to be a Godly Poison Expert!  "You cannot make me!"  

Prime Minister Nawa looked at his daughter then back at Prince Asano.  He did not look happy which caused Prime Minister Nawa to panic.  He forcefully pulled Sara down so she would kneel and as she cried out in pain and injustice.  

"Apologize to Prince Asano!" Prime Minister Nawa shouted again as he squeezed Sara's shoulder as he held her down.  

"I-I'm s-sorry!"  Sara cried out.  

"For what?"  Prime Minister Nawa asked.  

"F-for....f-for."  Sara couldn't think about the reason why she was sorry.  "F-for causing a disturbance to y-your b-birthday party."  

Hongmo's smile widen and she wanted to laugh at Sara's stupidity.  

"It is not this Prince that you have to apologize to."  Prince Asano said sternly.  "It is this Prince's guest, Miss Hongmo that you need to apologize to."  

Sara's face flushed red with embarrassment and anger.  She would rather get punished with 20 paddle hits from a guard rather than apologize to the slut.  Sara's lips tighten with displeasure and her face grimace in pain as she apologized to Hongmo.  

"I'm sorry for calling you a slut."  Sara said through her clenched teeth.  

"It seems to me that you don't really mean what you say."  Hongmo said as she sat back into her chair.  Her head had lifted up in arrogance as she made Sara apologize again.  "Or is it because you don't know how to apologize properly?  Did I not already lecture you on your behavior at the Crimson Lightning Tea House? And yet here you are shouting and pouting at Prince Asano's Birthday Party?  If you wanted to get Prince Asano's attention, well congratulations, you have it now."  

Prime Minister Nawa wanted to shout at the presumptuous woman for lecturing his daughter.  Although he knew his daughter's behavior was inexcusable, how dare she, a commoner lecture his daughter, a noble lady, about her behavior.  Especially in front of his peers!  But he knew who Miss Hongmo is.  What she was capable of.  What kind of benefit he would have should he make connections with Miss Hongmo.  So instead he kept quiet.  Letting the young woman talk.

"Did your mother not teach you anything?"  Hongmo said, her cutting words were like a blade stabbing her pride deeper and deeper with every criticism.  Now she was smearing her mother's name in the mud along with Sara's.  "I asked you before at the tea house if she taught you anything and again you now act the same way as you did at the tea house.  You obviously are a slow learner seeing how the last lesson I taught you didn't help you improve you behavior." 

Sara's mother, Cammy stood behind Prime Minister Nawa with her fists and her lips tightened with anger.  She was smart enough not to make a move without her husband making one.  Should her husband say one word against Miss Hongmo, she would put Miss Hongmo in her place as quickly as Miss Hongmo criticized her daughter.  

The ladies laughed under hushed tones behind opened fans as the men coughed into their sleeves.  No one dared lecture or criticize Prime Minister Nawa before, but to hear it so publicly, was a like a cleansing of the soul and made them secretly happy.  

"Seeing how they are here now, why don't they show you how to properly apologize to me." Hongmo said as she sat up straight.  

Prime Minister Nawa and Lady Cammy stilled with horror as the realization of the situation finally processed through them.  Miss Hongmo wanted them to apologize on behalf of their daughter.  Asking an apology from them was like her asking for a miracle.  However, miracles do happen as Prime Minister Nawa, followed by Lady Cammy, bowed and apologized.  

"Please forgive my daughter, Lady Sara for calling you a slut and embarrassing you in front of everyone as well as causing a scene at Prince Asano's birthday party.  It was done due to jealousy and the foolishness of her youth.  It is my fault along with my wife's fault for not teaching her better. Please find it in your heart to forgive my young, foolish daughter for her actions and words.  Should she cause such a scene in the future, please look after her and teach her so she would learn from her mistakes and become a lady of her birth right."  

Sara was so angry she wanted to rip the smile off the sluts face.  Hongmo stood up slowly as if challenging Sara to say something.  And to Prime Minister Nawa and Lady Cammy's horror, Sara stepped into the trap and bit the bait.  

"How dare you make my parents bow down to you and apologize!  Who the hell are you to make them do so and in front of everyone!  You're nothing but a lying slut!"