Her Poison His cure: Behind The Mask

In the chamber of princess Suk. She was pacing around the room. She had worn a white Hanbok dress with a pink flower pattern on it. The dress says the opposite about her today, both her expression and mood is not pleasing at all.

“Your highness, please calm down. It is not confirmed yet that the crown prince has agreed to the marriage” Na ji hye pronounced trying to calm her down.

Suk look at Na ji hye not satisfied with what she say. She knows his brother will be left with no choice but to accept the marriage Alliance. After all, they are talking about the great Emperor of Goguryeo Yangmeong. The youngest king ever, who was crowned overnight. Rumours had it that he wasn’t the original crown prince of goguryeo. He just showed up suddenly. It was still a mystery to the people why the late king crowned him as the crown prince after dethroning the original crown prince from his position. He was blessed with power which made every other nation tremble at the mention of Gugoryeo.

“Her Highness and His Royal Highness are here” One of the maids at the door announced.

Suk bowed her head in respect as the crown prince and their mother entered her chamber.

“Leave us,” The crown prince ordered. Na ji hye and the maids scurried out of the room upon hearing the order.

“Mother-Brother” Suk called as she walked to them. There is a worried expression on her face.

“I heard the king of goguryeo sent a messenger for my hand in marriage” Suk inquired. His eyes filled with curiosity.

“Suk. Come sit here first” Queen Bu young told her daughter as she made her sit on the laid cover on the floor. “It is true. Your brother received the message but it was declined. We are sure the Emperor of Gugoryeo won’t give up but you don’t have to worry everything will be resolved soon” The queen stated as tears formed in her eyes and we’re threatened to fall on her cheek soon.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Mother. Just like you have said that he won’t give up. He certainly is going to send another envoy and this time around it might turn aggressively” The prince said and sat beside his sister. “Moreover She won’t be his legal wife but a concubine” The crown prince added in a broken voice.

“I Know that. She won’t only be a concubine but the fourth concubine of the Emperor of Goguryeo.”

After hearing what his mother said. The crown prince’s blood boiled in anger. There would be no way he will let his sister be a concubine not to talk of the fourth one. There is no way he is accepting this marriage. He doesn’t care if it results in War and if it is war they would fight as it may be.

Seeing her brother’s tense state Suk placed her hand on his shoulder. ” You don’t worry brother. Eventually if I get married to him there will be no problem. Remember I am trained in martial arts.”

“I promise you. You won’t become his concubine” The prince said confidently, holding her sister’s hand tightly while looking into her brown eyes. The princess nodded and smiled at his brother; A reassuring smile she could mustered on her lip

The tears the queen had been trying to hold back rolled down her cheek. She hugged her children and wept on their back as they tried to calm her down by rubbing her back soothingly.

~~~~~

Imperial Hall of Goguryeo.

The royal hall was deadly quiet with no sound heard. Everyone had their heads bowed to the ground. Who would dare raise their gaze at this moment, when their king is in rage. Sitting on the throne is an elegant figure whose face is covered in a mask. He was dressed in a red robe and his hair was tied up in a bun and at the top of the hair is a golden hair tie jewelry used to hold the hair in place. Even though one can’t see his face it was certain he was incredibly handsome with his manly body.

In Front of him are the messengers he had sent to the Buyeo kingdom. They were kneeling on the floor with their heads bowed after delivering t the crown prince of Buyeo reply to their emperor. Emperor Yangmeong’s cheek flushed and then drained of colour when he heard the reply. “Incredible,” he smiles chirpily. “Did the crown prince of Buyeo really decline my offer and disgrace me?.” His cold voice came up again sending a bone shattering chill through everyone present in the throne room.

“Yes… Your…Your Majesty” The leader of the envoy stuttered with his gaze directed to the ground.

A dry chuckle escaped his lips. His knuckle whitened due to clutching it tightly against the metal handle of the throne chair. Her eyes darkened behind the mask covering his face. The silence soon turned into tension as everybody in the room could feel the heat of rage radiating from him. All that his brain was telling him is to wage war against the petty kingdom that dares humiliate him and stain the dignity of the Goguryeo Empire. His stoic expression behind his mask couldn’t not be read by the minister but without trying to read his expression they already knew what was going on in his mind. They make sure to lower their gaze down invariably than before. They know one slight mistake could get them all killed. He was a devil who found peace in the chaos of battle.

“Why are they asking for death?.” He asked rhetorically and stared into space.

“Your Majesty. I am sure they made a slip of tongue. Please forgive them and go only with the peace settlement”

The prime minister of the dynasty was over 50 years old with a black hair which was hauled up inside his metal sangtugwan ( A small cap worn by men especially ministers of court over their topknots). He had gathered his entire courage before saying this but the cold look on his face didn’t change.

Yangmeong swept past with cold eyes unto the man. ” What is your true agenda?.” he asked

Gulping convulsively he went down on his knee “I didn’t have any moti….” He was saying when he heard him click his finger and without being told he shut his mouth immediately leaving his words uncompleted.

The prime minister being the emperor’s father in-law is a cunning man. Knowing if the buyeo kingdom accepts the marriage proposal that would mean another rival for her daughter who was the Empress. The other royal concubine already dishes his daughter enough stress and headache. He had hide under the motive of trying to help the Goguryeo kingdom and speak in their favour, but it was all for his daughter.

But the emperor couldn’t be fooled by his fake enthusiasm, he knew what his father in-law was trying to do. His marriage to the Empress was as a result of the late king who had forced him to marry her. He had taken the three other royal concubines to make her stew in misery and jealous. As the Emperor of Gugoryeo he is entitled to take as many concubines as he desires and he isn’t going to back down with the princess of Buyeo.

“I don’t give a second chance. The Buyeo kingdom will be annihilated and the princess will become my concubine” the brewing rage I’m his eyes remain there.

The prime minister not backing down quickly moved to kneel in front Yangmeong , down the throne seat and said “But Your Majesty. Complete annihilation isn’t too much…it will only result in….”

An invisible slap landed on his cheek cutting him off whatever he was spouting from his mouth. A low gasp spread around the hall while the prime minister held his cheek in pain. He didn’t need to look for who did it when the person was staring at him from the throne seat.

He stood up and shouted fulminating. “Anybody else to argue with me!. Who want to plead for mercy against Buyeo kingdom will not be spare by me!. There is no forgiveness for anyone! So be warned.” He pointed savagely at the ministers.

After dropping this words. he walk out of the room elegantly like a gentle soul.

At that time all the minister gritted their teeth but there is nothing they could do. Nothing at all but accept his declaration to wage a war against the kingdom of Buyeo.

Silence with a stoic expression is one of the minister who kept staring at the place Yangmeong walk through. Being the disposed crown prince he always had a wizened soul of wickedness inside his figure toward Yangmeong. One that bastard will surely die in his hand and he will regain his throne which was sbatch from him.

Soon. Everything will go back to where it belongs.