I gently followed whosoever was leading me as I heard the sound of doors being opened and immediately I could tell that it was those massive doors I saw. My hopes rose higher as I believed they were taking me to their Leader, so I mentally prepared myself for what was to come.

When the pulling stopped, I knew we had arrived. I was about to yank the cloth off myself when “Let’s see this proof of divinity you’ve have for us, General Yin Sun Shin.” an elderly voice expectantly called. “Your Majesty...” Majesty?! The King and the General are two different persons, great. “...nd hounoured Ministers I bring you something beyond the seas and mountains that no man or woman has ever seen, heard or told of. Behold, the evidence of heaven’s presence, a glimpse of heaven's mysteries, the Lady of the evening sun, the daughter the of heavens, the stranger fr...!”

“General Yin Sun Shin! His Majesty hasn’t gotten all day, either you do this quickly or you get out.” the previous voice said impatiently, obviously the owner wasn't interested in the way too fake intro which also made me curious about who was being so magnificently and gloriously introduced. “Ok, the General is the punk who kept me in that good-for-nothing sorry excuse of a prison, nice to meet ya'. Gathering his initial momentum, the General continued, “Ha... yes, yes, yes, yes, hmm hmm (clearing his throat), behold the stranger from the sun!” he introduced with pride as the cloth used to cover me, came off at the same time and I guess he did it.

Wait! Oh, the el magnifico was me?! Well, not to brag but the General Punkie is kinda right. With the clothes off, I was able to view the surrounding and the people in it with their attires and the way they assembled, the fine structure of this place with just one door positioned far behind me, the gold painted pillars and pinnacles, or are they gold for real? Without being told, you'd know this is a palace. I realized that among all these men of influencial statuses, nobody was taking him seriously because no reactions was been given. The General turned around expecting some little side talks however none was offered, disappointedly, because the place became silent like a graveyard.

“General Yin Sun Shin what insolence, you had the galls to use your honorary time with the King for jokes?” the voice I first heard sounded from a man I assumed to be the top minster because he was closer to the throne, spat. “Did the war affect your sanity?” the minister next to him mocked. “Should we start making preparation for a new general?” another behind requested. “Could we recommend?” asked the one beside him and just like that, their voices rose to criticize General Yin Sun Shin until, “I didn’t know I have barbarians for Ministers.”

A voice so bold and full of authority hissed making me return my eyes to the first place I saw when I opened them. Immediately, the noise died down with everyone looking like cat got their tongues and me seeing the scenario, I kept my eyes on where the voice came from. Though I was standing in front of him with top most authority, I couldn’t see his face properly because he sat behind the falls of black transparent linen that was hanged before him, solely for the reason unknown to me but if it was to conceal his face, I had to admit it was fulfilling its purpose well. That was the guy I wanted to complain to about everything his General has wronged me for.

General Yin Sun Shin?” he called, “Yes, your Majesty” The General answered respectfully with his bowed in reference, “Why don’t you explain further, nnng?” the voice requested yet it sounded more like a command. “Yes, your Majesty, please listen honoured high court Ministers, during the heated battle between our soldiers and the barbarian’s battalions, we were almost at a loss in the battle when suddenly, the sun darkened and I saw something I never believed I would see in my life. A light fell on the battlefield with the impact so strong that it swept us all off our feet...” he paused and looked around to validate the reception of his story by his listeners and after authentication he continued.

“... under the impact we fell like statues flat on our faces, and for the first time in my entire life, I witness a raging battlefield become silent as everyone was stood still surprised especially the barbarians and I used the opportunity to quickly shoot an arrow that struck into the head of the Barbarian Commander, pheww (imitating the sound of an arrow shot).” he raised the hand with a proud look in his eye as confidence oozed off him which made me unconsciously stare with a scrunched up nose.

“At the realization of their Commander's demise, the heat of the battle rose to the sky once again however this time, in our favour. Then all by myself, I went to have a look and I found her, the one whose shadow could darken the Sun.” he said finally pointing to me. “Your Majesty, I give you the stranger from the sun!” he bowed so low that I feared his waist would suffer. The figure behind the curtain stood up, walked through the right side between his table and throne.

Away from the curtains, I could fully see why they hung them there and I wondered how pumped God must have felt after breathing life into his nostrils, for this was a pure work of Divinity. He walked straight to me until he towered over me like a giant. Slowly, a smile crept onto his face and I watched in ectasy how his cheeks gave way to the dimples that formed on them oh boy. Being so sure that heaven hid its map in there became my breaking point. I feel ashamed to say this however I guess I have to for the sake of the story; I bled invisibly through my nose, for the man standing in front of me was too beautiful to behold.

He held my gaze and stared into my eyes; pulled closer and lifted my face with his pointer and held it in place with his thumb studying every detail of my face like he wanted them imprinted on his mind. My breath snagged as I stared without moving an inch because I was internally screaming for help for I was whore-refied, get it? His features could make him a runway model and that face got me wondering why he wasn't in the fashion magazines or in one of those blogs that talked about stunning royalty, thrice in a role. He just kept staring at me the way I always stared at my credit alerts before his eyes moved to the chains that covered my hands and the 'debit alert' look replaced it.

“General Yin Sun Shin, is this the way you show gratitude to the stranger?” He said with his eyes back on mine. “I remember you saying she helped distract the Barbarian General and this (Caressing my hands) is how you treat her?! How do you want her to think of us? To see us like ungrateful people?” he suddenly turned away from me to the General as rage radiated from him like an over heated oven making every man in the room face down trembling in fear especially the General. Wait, why is he angry? Trying to play innocent, are we? “I deserve death your Majesty!” General Yin visibly shivering shouted out of fear as he quickly fell on his knees, head bowed in pleas.

I watched this man in front of me wield supremacy and power in his feat and terms and I marvelled as he turned to me taking my hands, smiling with his dimples all over my mind, as if he didn't just make a man beg for death. “I apologize for my General’s attitude, he’s a man of honour and valour but please, see his attitude today as the result of exhaustion from the battlefield... are we forgiven?”

He pleaded with sincerity and though I was taken aback by his actions, I couldn’t say a word because of the close proximity of his face to mine and how his eyes moved from all over my face to back my eyes, in appreciation. I averted my eyes quickly as the chains fell off my hands after been unlocked by a guard ordered by the General. I retracted it to massage my wrist but the beautiful man pulled my hands to himself and massaged it carefully with his eyes pinned to mine. I do have to admit that his way of flirting was appealing however as much as I liked him primitively flirting with me in front of his whole court, I had to withdraw them gently.

After dragging my wrists with me, he reluctantly let go before walking steps away from me and with a loud voice filled with authority, “This is a royal decree, she shall be seen and treated as the my guest and the west wing of the palace shall be her dwelling. She shall be given equal amount of respect as any member of my household and any disrespect shown to her is directly at me and the offender will be punished. She shall be addressed as ‘Your Grace', am I understood?” With his long and firm stare digging out the colour of my soul. “Yes, Your Majesty!!” the court shook with the voices of the Ministers as he smiled at me. I could hear his dimples call my attention to the sincerity that lingered on his face as I let them blend with the confusion on mine.

Seon Jo.

Today was coming to an end just like yesterday and the days before it. I had gotten the news of my Army's victory yesterday when all hope had been lost. The Barbarian Commander Vladimir Putin was a man like none we've ever encountered, even his ancestors never matched to his strategies and blood lust.

He proved all our efforts, useless and made our always winning ways and counters, worthless but when I heard they won, It was unbelievable and I declared a welcome feast. When I heard they had entered the capital, I quickly sent a message that the soldiers could go home to their families and get ready for a feast like never before but I requested for my General because he had written to me that he found something that would pique my interest.

"General Yin Sun Shin, Your Majesty! ” Eunuch Gun announced “My General is back home, let him in. ” I affirmed and immediately the doors opened and I saw him again after 1 year of an almost futile war. The whole court clapped, rejoiced and welcomed him as he walked before me and dropped to his knees “Your Majesty, we won!” he bowed and honored as I stood from my throne to where he bowed and lifted him to his feet.

“Well done General Yin, you've made not just me but the whole nation proud, Welcome home.” I praised as I patted him on his shoulder with that smile that assured him, I was pleased with him. He bowed “Thank you, Your Majesty...” I knew this whole appreciation ceremony was not going to stop any time soon unless I stop it with my own hands. “You have done well, I want to hear all about it but first let me see this surprise you have for me, because I have been waiting and thinking about what gift you can get from a battle??” I said with sarcasm while trying to hide my expectations beneath it with charisma.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” he answered bowing as I returned to my throne and fall the curtains to hide my expectations. “Permit me, Your Majesty to bring in the surprise inside..” he requested with the expression of Show Master that I waved aside because the excitement in voice heightened. “Yes, yes, go ahead.” I permitted as he signals for the surprise to be carried in and I could see on the faces of everyman in the room that I wasn't the only one waiting.

As they brought it inside, first, I was surprised this treasure wasn't carried in like every others that I know of, however I was disappointed it walked on two feet but my hopes grew just thinking it must be unique and I wanted to open it myself but a word, as the King, was all I need for them to obey. When Young Pil pulled the veil rather roughly, I lost my sense of royalty until I met with the pair of brown eyes that were bright like honey and even with the linen over my face, I could clearly see a life of spontanity in those eyes that tried to see through to my face.

Her black and thick hair like sheep’s wool, stood strong like a thousand black horses in a hill as they gathered around her head almost covering her face. Even with the twigs and dust on them, unique was all that radiated from her. My thoughts hanged from her brown lips that blended with her skin, which reminded me of dates. My imagination explictly began discussing with my heart how beautiful it would be if I held her walnut colour skin between my pale ones.

I wondered how the heaven made such a woman, what kind of person she was and where the language she would speak originated.

Laughter filled my thoughts as I watched her facial expressions from surprise and disagreement to unimpressed as General Yin showed off his strength saying something about how useful it was during the battle not that it was necessary to know. Yet, all I could think of, was her standing in front of me.

I wanted to know is what her skin felt like, how beautiful and how exciting the spontaneous life in her eyes be when I get closer, would they drown me or hide my darkness away? The pressure to touch this woman’s skin and roll my fingers in her hair began to overwhelm me and I felt the air become thinner and thinner as I continued to let my imagination run ahead of me. When I became short of breath and couldn’t take it any longer, I stood up to the reason that I was almost choking for and I could swear by the heavens that it was worth it as I felt a new wave of air flow into my lungs. I decided to follow this new air and it lead me right under the gaze of this stranger.

Her eyes held surprise as she saw me, I guess the praises of the people on my magnificence paid off but it was not giving me the amount of joy that standing in front of this woman did. This stranger I was staring at and courageously touching was different from everything and everyone I have ever seen. The brown hue of her skin added rhythm to the beauty in her face that was smooth as linen, her nose like a little avocado pear, her eyes were like... they were like... how would I describe it or with what would I compare it when I have never seen anything like it? They were so crystal clear that I could see everything in it. However, what I did not like was the chains that held her.

“General Yin Sun Shin, is this the way you show gratitude to a stranger?” I said as I looked at the strange woman hoping she was not already finding me repulsive along with my General. “I remember you saying her appearance distracted the enemy’s General and this is how you treat her? How do you want her to think of us? To see us like the ungrateful barbarians?” I turned to General Yin with disappointment that anyone who might have seen it would misinterpreted as anger because every man in the room was on their knees in fear especially the General but only her stood upright.

“I deserve death your Majesty!” General Yin Sun Shin pleaded visibly shivering in fear while bowed. Why would I kill my general in this time of unannounced wars? I looked at him surprised at how quickly he could go on his knees. I did not want to spoil the fun by laughing at the general so I turned to her hoping that I was doing a good job impressing her with the height of supremacy and influence I displayed.

“I apologize for my General’s attitude, he’s a man of honour and valour but please, see his attitude today as the result of exhaustion from the war... are we forgiven?” I apologized for the scared man and I meant it since I did not want her to hate it here and it worked because I noticed in her expression loosen, I guessed she was not expecting it as she kept staring at me. I think this is the part where she says thank you, Nnng?

However, she said nothing and turned away from her gaze I did not realize I held until she looked away. I could not help but watch her, a woman that would melt away troubles. As the heavy chains fell off her wrist, which was painful by the way she tried to massage her wrist. I had to find a way to make her realize I am on her side, I caught it and massaged them carefully at my best, but I guess I was terrible that is why she had to withdraw her hands. When the look of displeasure had faded from her face, I saw the final opportunity to impress the displeasure that might be lingering in her, I and took it.

I stood in front of my throne with authority and made the decision that changed our lives forever. . “This is a royal verdict, she shall be seen and treated as my guest and the west wing of the palace shall be her residence, she shall be given equivalent quantity of reverence as any affiliate of my house. Any impertinence revealed to her, is to me and it will allocate the same retribution as insubordination. She shall be addressed as ‘Your Grace', am I understood?” I assured her with my smile even though she does not understand that she is accepted. Although I think it confused her, she still was more beautiful when she looking right at me.