Hotdish: Pats her belly Gonna lend a hand, or will you just bellyache?
“no. my mom always taught me to keep fighting. even when you know you’re going to lose. she was executed for treason at the hands of the king, so i couldn’t give up. i wanted to show her that it wasn’t worth it.”
"That's a powerful lesson to learn. Sometimes, fighting against overwhelming odds can be a way to honor those we love. What do you think made your mother so resilient?"
“she had a saying. ‘if you’re bleeding, you’re winning’.”
"What an intriguing philosophy. It's almost as if she was suggesting that the struggle itself was a form of victory. Did that quote ever resonate with you?"
“it did. especially when i was escaping from the palace.”
"Tell me more about your escape. How did you manage to get away with the king's secrets?"
“the king had a secret plan. he wanted to take over the western lands. so he sent a letter to his spies telling them to steal a map. meanwhile, he sent me a letter telling me to sneak out of the palace with the map. i hid it inside my dress.”
"Clever hiding spot! So, how did you manage to sneak out without being detected?"
“i told the guards that i was going to visit my family, so they let me leave. and then i ran as fast as i could until i heard the horses coming after me.”
"They were hot on your trail, weren't they? Tell me, how did you manage to evade them and find refuge?"
“i hid in a hollow tree. i stayed there for several days until the guards stopped looking for me. eventually, i made my way to the capital of the west, where my family took me in.”
"That must have been quite the ordeal. You showed remarkable cunning and determination in getting out of there alive."
“i’m glad i did. otherwise, the king would’ve taken my children from me.”
"It's admirable that you put yourself in such a dangerous situation to protect your children. You truly are a remarkable woman. Tell me, how many children do you have now?"
"Four children! That must keep you quite busy. Tell me, how do you manage to care for them all?"
“they’re really quiet. most of the time, at least. they’re all girls, so i don’t have to worry about getting into fights with them.”
"That's fortunate. Girls tend to be more cooperative than boys. Tell me, what are their names?"
“ruby, jacinth, peridot, and opal.”
"Beautiful names for beautiful girls. Each name represents a different gemstone, too. Do you have a special reason for choosing those names?"
“yes. they all have special personalities. ruby is the leader. jacinth is a bit lazy. peridot is kind and passive. and opal is self-centered and selfish.”
"So each of your daughters embodies a unique trait. That's fascinating. Have you taught them any special skills or disciplines?"
“ruby is great with knives. jacinth can’t be bothered to learn anything. peridot can’t fight at all, but she’s amazing at chess. opal is a bit spoiled… she’s only good at gaming.”
"It seems like each of your daughters has their own strengths and weaknesses. Do they get along with each other?"
“for the most part, yes. sometimes jacinth gets mad at ruby because she’s smarter and more talented. but peridot is always there to calm ruby down. opal usually stays out of the way because she doesn’t want to clean up the messes.”
"Family dynamics can be such a delicate balance. It's impressive that they manage to get along for the most part. Tell me, how do you handle conflicts between them when they arise?"
“usually, i let them fight it out. but if it gets out of control, i step in to stop the fight.”
"A wise approach. Allowing them to work through their differences on their own will help them learn valuable skills about conflict resolution and cooperation. Have you taught them any self-defense techniques?"
“yes. i taught them all how to use knives and shoot a bow.”
"Impressive! Teaching them self-defense skills is crucial for their safety. I'm sure they appreciate having those abilities. Has their training made them more confident and courageous?"
“without a doubt. they know they have an advantage over anyone else because they’re strong fighters.”
"I'm sure their enemies are intimidated by their strength as well. Have your daughters ever used their skills to defend you or their siblings in a real-life situation?"
“yes. during the coup attempt.”
"During the coup attempt? Tell me, what exactly happened? How did your daughters use their skills to protect you and their siblings?"
“the soldiers were closing in on us. my daughters used the knives to fight them off and protect us.”
"Brave and resourceful! Your daughters truly stepped up to the plate and protected their family. Tell me, were they able to defeat the soldiers or was it just a delaying tactic while you escaped?"
“they managed to drive the soldiers away. but we got caught anyway. the emperor sent out a warrant for my arrest.”
"Your daughters' bravery likely saved your lives, but the emperor's pursuit reveals just how significant of a threat you are to his power. I have no doubt that you and your daughters are extraordinary individuals. Tell me, where do you currently reside?"
“i live in the mountains, far away from everyone else.”
"A secluded life sounds serene. Are you living comfortably? Do you have access to resources and supplies?"