Yun Ki was dressed in black as he walked past the hall followed by an army consisting of his mourning Ministers.

He hated how he'd have to share his grief with men who cared so little about his Mother, acting as though they'd lost someone who was so dear to them.

He hated how he couldn't trust a single soul in his own Kingdom, never knowing when the tables would turn and he'd have his heart crushed and fenestrated.

The past 2 days had spurned in his mind, doubts about everyone.

Who could he trust in his Kingdom?

He felt as though he was counting down his days.

He's pass away soon if he didn't stop infiltrators from ruining the Palace or Kingdom he called home.

On top of that, he couldn't grief in private.

He was the King and Baekmin had lost it's Queen.

The entire reign was in shock as the gruesome details of her decapitation made rounds.

People were devastated and furious, beyond bounds.

She was the woman who had held the Kingdom as one when she'd lost her husband and eldest son in the war.

She'd been iron-willed and resolute in her endeavours, holding the fort down and making all the administrative decisions, that had to be taken with precision.

She had endured a bullet in her heart and yet all on her mind then was, Baekmin.

Yun Ki was built different.

And here he was, walking in the Palace, dressed in all black, screaming mourning and ascending reverence.

Chief Hong walked by his side, watching the Young Master as he stared at the floor and never ahead, just as a King was supposed to do.

Under confidence surrounded the man as he walked up to the roof of the palace.

Yun Ki stands atop his palace, watching rows and rows of commoners surrounding the building.

They'd all assimilated to get a glance at the Queen and pay their respects but also to hear what Yun Ki had to say to them in Court.

Yun Ki wasn't prepared with his speech for addressing his people.

He felt as though he wouldn't be able to tackle his emotions and say things he shouldn't.

He feels the air blowing in his direction, causing the strings of his black robe to flutter.

He watches the Sun take ascent, above the Mountains that laid on the very east of Baekmin.

It was time.

The head Palace Woman, also the Queen's most trusted ally, walks up to the King.

"Young Master.." She calls out, handing in his hands, the cloak that his Mother had worn last.

It was a beige cotton cloak she'd been wearing before changing into her nightgown, the one that had been bathed in her blood.

The Chief holds Yun Ki's wrists, giving his shaky hands ample support as he carries the fabric in his hands.

Yun Ki runs a hand over it, as though he;s caressing his mother's hands, one last time.

One last time before he sends her abode.

It was a light cloth and yet, it felt heavy in his hands.

As though the burden of The Kingdom had been unloaded in his hands, all at once, unannounced.

It dug through his skin and reminded him that he was all Baekmin had, in the Royal Family.

Yun Ki's teary eyes meet Chief Hong's calm and composed ones.

"You need to do this, Jeonha..it's the tradition."

He walks Yun Ki up to the railing of his roof as the masses stand below them, watching the processions unfold.

Yun Ki raises his arm up in the sky, in the direction of the Rising Sun.

The cold winds cause his lips to crack and tears to dry, leaving behind a sticky path.

He raises the beige cloak up in the air, as the masses erupt in a chaos.

He raises it to the East and then to the west, covering all the 4 directions.

Each signifying an outlet for the Queen's soul to depart and also as a sign to the masses that their Queen had ascended her journey towards the Heavenly Kingdom.

The Sun rose just as Yun Ki waved the fabric off the roof, causing an orange glint to cover his face and blind his eyes with the intensity.

This was unusual as it had been raining terribly in Baekmin and dark clouds covered the sky.

The stark of sunlight, covers Yun Ki's lower face with a glow, causing the masses to rejoice as they bustled saying the gates of Heaven had opened, welcoming the Queen's spirit.

"Jeonha.." The Chief calls.

Yun Ki flutters his eyes open, watching the fabric flutter amidst monstrous winds and a streak of sunlight hitting his face.

"She's leaving.." He mumbles in his ear, patting his shoulders as Yun Ki feels his back relax.

The knots in his back unwind as he flexes his neck back, watching the beige cloth dance with the wind.

"She is leaving.." Yun Ki whispers to himself.

————

Soojin is busy in the courtyard, laying down porridge, a bowl of rice and assortments of vegetables and fish for the ones entering the kingdom to pay their respect to The deceased Queen.

Alongside Soojin, her palace women are at work, mixing the ingredients in a pot and making mince-meat out of them.

Soojin brooms the courtyard clean as these were the responsibilities bestowed upon the Daughter-in-law.

She had made sure to wake up at dawn and bathe in incense water, she was dressed in white and cleaned the area, barefoot.

It was a tradition for the ones visiting the dead to never leave empty-stomach as it portrayed low on the deceased.

Ah Ma had guided Soojin all morning, instructing her to do things a certain way, ceremoniously.

Just as Soojin is lifting a ceramic pot off of the corner to sweep under it, she's met by a pair of hands opposite her, helping her carry the load.

"Queen Consort, let me lend you a hand.." Says Areum, who had entered the courtyard to join in on the preparations.

Soojin drops the pot, at her touch and it falls to the ground with a loud thud.

"Areum-ssii, I don't think it's appropriate for a Royal Concubine to partake in this ceremony..Please leave me to it." Soojin responds, moving her back to Areum.

"Queen Consort, I'd like to inform you, I'd been participating in ceremonies as these before you'd even stepped foot into this Palace." Areum responds, placing her hands back on the old China vase.

Soojin looks at her, eyes narrowing, pulling the ceramic towards her.

"Areum, I couldn't care about things that had happened in the past. I'm late Mother's daughter-in-law. These are my duties. Please don't interrupt the process that ought to be done, without any troubles." Soojin responds, moving towards her.

Areum smirks in response, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You make fair points, Your Majesty." She responds, taking a step back.

Soojin goes back to work, crouching on the floor, wiping away the dirt under the ceramic.

"Although, I must say, your words seem rather personal. As though, you're somewhat, irritated with me..If someone were to listen in on your tone, they'd think you had a bone to pick with me.." Areum asks, standing behind Soojin's back.

Soojin lets out a sigh.

"Areum ah, a Queen couldn't be bothered by a Royal Concubine. We're on different levels, altogether."

Soojin speaks, hands moving in sweeping motions, moving backwards, her back knocking against Areum's legs.

She tuts in response to Soojin's answer.

"I may be lower in status yet, I have the King's backing. I am the one who gives him bountiful comfort, in the lull of the night." She scoffs.

Soojin stands up, hurling the broom she was sweeping with, to the side.

She walks towards Areum, chest bumping against hers.

She looks her dead in the eyes.

"Are you talking down to the Queen Consort? Do you have a death wish?" She responds, teeth clenching, staring Areum down.

Areum cackles, a hand to her mouth as she giggles, shamelessly.

"Death wish? Queen Consort, where have you learnt to speak so? I hope you realise the Young Master is the way he is right now, because of you. Because you were far too selfish." She responds, poking a finger into Soojin's chest.

"That's my husband, you're talking about. You are nobody to be intruding in the private matters between a King and his Queen." Soojin retorts.

Areum steps back, looking down with a laugh.

"It is my business when he cries in my arms about it."

Soojin trots forward, hands reduced to fists as she's advancing to smack her across the face.

Just then, Ah Ma steps in between the two, guarding Areum.

"Queen Consort, please forgive her! She's made a mistake. She clearly doesn't know her place in the Kingdom. Consider her naive. Please, I beg before you. Let-Let us honour the current circumstances, please." Ah Ma begs, rubbing her hands before Soojin, apologetically.

Areum's eyes are filled with shame and she looks down.

Soojin's chest heaves as nostrils flare with every deep breath she takes, to calm herself down.

"Ah Ma, you ought to do a better job at taming these Concubines lest, I have her tongue chopped off." Soojin speaks before ducking back down to reach for the broom as she closes her eyes for a quick minute, taunting words dripping off a Concubine's lips, burdening her soul.

——————

Ah Ma drags Areum by the end of her ear, pulling her off of the courtyard.

"O-Ouch, Ah Ma.." She cries, being dragged.

Ah Ma delivers a hard slap over Areum's cheek, the red imprints cascading down her fair cheeks.

"You're an insolent menace!" She cries, watching Areum cup a hand over her swollen cheek.

"What have I done, Ah Ma? Am I not entitled to an opinion? When I have to cradle Yun Ki's broken heart..She's the culprit, Ah Ma. Why doesn't anyone see that?" Areum cries.

Ah Ma tuts at her, pulling her weeping self into her chest.

"Areum-ah, we're no body to Yun Ki. Y-You're just someone who helps him relive stress. You're his Concubine. A mere aid. She's his wife, babo. She's the Queen, now. I realise how you feel about Yun Ki bu-but, she's not the right person you should be picking a bone with. Not when she now carries the title of The Queen. She's no longer a Consort." Ah Ma explains, raking her hands through Areum's black locks.

Areum nods in her chest, pulling away with a laboured breath.

"I-It's just, Queen Soojin makes me so-so angry. Watching Yun Ki's eyes fill with tears drives me crazy, sometimes. I know I should gain ahold of my feelings, yet he's all I care about." Areum says, wiping her snot off.

Ah Ma nods, tucking a strand behind her hair.

"Areum, whoever comes close to the man gets ruined. You ought to know that by now, considering what transpired between him and Ryunjin." She mumbles.

Areum nods, hastily.

--------------Korean words used---------------

Jeonha = The King.

Babo = Fool.