Her lips on his made every pain and hurt disappear, and truly they were what he dreamt of but it was softer than the clouds and sweeter than the best wine he had ever tasted.

He pulled her close by the waist with his other hand on her neck so afraid that she would pull away or run away from him before he could show her that he really needed and missed her.

How could she refuse to go home with him after making him go crazier and lonelier without her? How could she leave him alone with those predators who only hungered for power and position? Didn't she miss him too?

He moved his lips to the side of her mouth placing a kiss and dragged it to her cheek, leaving another before he moved from her ear to the hair above it then, from her head to her forehead, leading to her eye and nose, before her mouth side and back to her lips again..

Did she know what she was doing to him? Her kisses did hit every pressure points and he could feel sparks and butterfly right in his heart.

Not able to contain the pleasures of his lips on her skin unlocking feelings she'd never knew he could, she released a low growl that told Seon Jo, he was leavening the lump.

She kissed, he caressed and they were both going crazy! This wasn't suppose to happen and yet no one was stopping or even thought of it.

She gave in to what he was bringing on and what he would let go off and she would take in. Like cocaine he was becoming and she wouldn't resist it any longer because she could taste every emotion, every desire and could tell she peaked them all.

As her heart beat against his chest, all his question on how much she misses him were being answered. How much he affected her... how much was he wanted, all these, her heart beats answered while still sounding like music to his ears.

His lips on her’s, his hands on her skin, the heat from his calm breath mixing with her's and his taste on her tongue surpasses every sweetness she had tasted and it wasn't enough because, she wanted it all, every single portion of him that he had to offer, his heart, his body and soul, even his mind and his home...

'Home' where the Queen lived and the people who wanted me gone so bad that they left me for wolves to devour and were surely still waiting for me to return so they would make life terrible for me and everyone that I cared about with the King now included.

No! I didn't want that no matter how much I wanted or I thought I needed his love, I couldn't darn these consequences, they were too heavy to think of, talkless of bearing.

He was still kissing me, hanging onto my upper lip like a cliff for dear life when I stopped but he still kissed like I would be gone forever in the next second, there I knew that this man had fallen too far and couldn't be helped because he wouldn't want to be helped.

I held his face away from mine and looked into his eyes that held questions and satisfaction before hugging him to let go after wards.

I left the room - after taking one last look that would sink into my memory - to meet with Young Pil, so he could take me back home. I tried as much as I could not to look behind, but when I did, I saw he wasn't out yet.

I guessed he was still nursing his disappointment and hurt. I turned and walked forward to the waiting Young Pil to take me back home before Yeong Su arrived.

She left him, she didn't want to go back with him, she chose to live far away from him, to stay away from his reach. He looked as she left with Young Pil, he couldn't bear the thought that they could finally turn her against him by making her afraid to be by his side.

Even when he saw it and felt it that she wanted him like he did her, she missed him like he did and wanted to stay by his side like he wanted her to but was scared of his family, who should looking up to him, obeying his every order, respecting, reverencing him like they did his Uncle but they chose to follow his grandmother.

He was King, it was he they should reverend not her. As he caught her looking back, he promised to come back for her no matter when or where and no one would bother her or make her scared of anything.

But first, he needed to deal with those who thought that they could rule a King that ruled over them and by that he needed to start from the weakest link in the chain..

I nod to Young Pil who bowed before leaving. He dropped me five minutes away from the house and retreated. After he left, I entered inside and my heart missed a beat when i saw Yeong Su sitting by the fire place skinning a kill.

How could he be back by this time? I smiled at him after our eyes met before returning to what he was doing.

"When did you come back? " I asked,

"A while ago, but I didn't see you. " not taking his eyes off the kill,

"Nnng, I went for a walk." I averted my eyes to the floor instead of staring at him.

"What is for dinner? " I walked to stand where he was,

"Meat.... and meat." He said cutting up the skinned animal, and I let out a loud laugh before I joined him to make lunch.

I watched as Yeong Su waved good bye before, entering the forest. He worked as a blacksmith which had always been his getaway since Yeong Suk's death but recently he didn't go frequently like he used to.

I remembered one night he had asked me if I wanted to go back to where I came from, I admitted to had always wanted that but didn't know how and he suggested that I could stay with him until I found my way home. So now, we were house mates.. well... more like hut mates.

The night mares still continued but for some time Yeong Su would wake and stay up with me till I would fall asleep, yeah you can say we really did build a bridge the past days.

The closer I was becoming to Yeong Su the farther my mind thrived from the King. Some days I would even doubt missing him because Yeong Su kept me company and occupied most times so I wouldn't feel bored when he was around and when he was not.... The King lived.

As I decided to wash Yeong Su's work clothes, I remembered that day I saw Young Pil enter the hut on my way from the lake and I happily embraced him, which surprised him, though.

He told me he came to take me back to the palace, which I blatantly refused, but after much persuasion and pleading to at least meet the person who was worried to death mostly and had made him go searching for me, I agreed and that person turned out to be the least person I expected.

Two weeks had passed since we kissed... Sorry we met and I still missed my little cupid and the loud house, if only I could see them one more time. But how?

"Your Majesty!!!!" The court room sounded with the voices of the ministers, but I wasn't interested in their shallow greeting.

I sat, resting on the throne before I proceeded to ask Eunuch Park to hand over the scroll. I felt the tension in the room when they saw unhappiness and anger hanging over my head. I opened the scroll and read it silently before throwing it on the floor to the ministers shaking in fear of been hit by anger.

"Guards!!!! " I called at the tip of my voice, and immediately a score of guards rushed into the room, bowing and awaiting order,

"Your Majesty, what... " the Prime Minister Nam tried to inquire what was about to unveil but I didn't let him finish before raising my hand to stop him,

I collected another scroll and raised it in the air out of anger that raged through me,

"Who am I?? " I asked already aware of the answer but because I just wanted know how little they think of me.

'Silence'

"Have you all suddenly gone dumb? " I looked at them. I could just order for their heads and every head of their families and friends home and away, their neighbors, in-laws, every one they had greeted on the their way here, their servants and anyone they love and treasure...

"You are His Royal Majesty, King of Joseon..." Prime Minister Nam Go hailed and it would be only a fool that would believe this jester,

"Who am I to all of you? " I dropped my hand as I posed. This time, I lowered my voice so that they would be sincere enough to tell me the truth, so I decided to suggest Incase they couldn't find the right words...

"...A figure head, a child, a toy or a puppet?? " While walking to where they all cowered like rats before a cat,

"You're the great King of this nation, His Royal Majesty, King Seon Jo of Joseon..." the prime Minister Nam hailed again looking like he meant it, like he wasn't the main mole for the Queen Dowager,

"If I am your King, why are my ministers not loyal to me?..." I saw them looking at each other with that look that told me "you are on your own" and they refused to answer.

Disappointedly, I opened the scroll in my hand and read out the names written therein. "Park Lee Sun, Choi Wol Ryung, Hwang Yeong Min, Byung Ho, Shin Oh, Kang Dae Jung, Shin Gi Tae, Go Min Ki!!! " the men that were called rushed out to the front and stood trembling.

"You all, where does your loyalty lie? " I stood among tall before them,

"With...his.. Ma... jesty," Noron Minister Choi Wol Ryung began with a murmur before the others joined in to finish the blantant lie that just need a scoff as finishing touch.

"Really? Then make me believe you... where were you on the night the Royal Guest was abducted? No, from who did you take orders from??" I looked at him from where I stood over his kneeling figure.

"Your M...Mmm. Ma.. " he tried squeezing out from his lying tongue and I was already getting impatient.

"Answer me or should I get rid of your tongue? " I spat

"We deserve death your Majesty!!" they all chorused on their knees,

I become overriden with disappointment and weakness because these men would rather die than spill a drop of truth, as a result my anger began like an earthquake.

I am their King, they should fear and be loyal to me not another. If they don't, how do I make this palace better before bringing Hye Jin back.

I needed their corporation so I offered, "If you say where loyalty lies I'll spare you, but if you don't I'll make life a living hell for you, your families, neighbors, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and their extended families.. Or I might just wipe them all from the earth.... " dark pleasures from those words filled the room...

"YOUR MAJESTY!!!!!!! Please your Majesty spare our family, your Majesty have mercy, punish us instead, punish u.... "

"Guards! " I called and they stepped forward,

"Your Majesty " their loyalty crowned their answer,

"Every family member extended and immediate, maternal and paternal, home and away, friends and neighbors dead or alive, anyone who related to these men you've seen or heard of, arrest and burn them alive along with their houses, properties and...."

"The Queen, your Majesty, the... queen!! "Minister Byung Oh screamed and the hall went silent as a grave yard.

I smiled as joy filled my heart, I should have started with the threat, if it could work this quick and as I expected, the Queen was involved...

"Choi Dong Yi, your Majesty" she said as she entered, bowing to the King.

"Arise, child..." I permitted as I helped her stand upright.

"Choi Dong Yi, I thank you for your assistance to the throne. I'm grateful " I appreciated the young child who didn't just serve but honoured Hye Jin.

"I live to serve your Majesty " she bowed again but I stopped her since she couldn't look at me.

Only Hye Jin had that courage to look staright at me on the first meet, such boldness..

"Choi Dong Yi, tell me anything you want and I shall give it to you as long as it is in my power..." I said waiting patiently for a response,

"I have nothing to ask of your Majesty, I only did what was right for my Mistress." She said bowing with enthusiasm and sincerity that filled me with genuine joy.

"Another reason I want you to ask anything..." I assured her lifting face enough to look straight while assuring her that was OK to ask.

Seeing the sincerity in which the King gave her an open cheque, she decided to ask one thing she had always,

"If it pleases the King, send me to serve my Mistress where she is. My Mistress would need my help and I know she misses the presence of the little boy, Min Soo, your Majesty. " she requested as I nod in appreciation and approval.

"Granted, Young Pil will take you there but you'll have to do something very important for me...".