Soojin's body encases Yun Ki's in a tight embrace, small hands curling themselves against his back.

She has her head in his neck as her chest heaves from his Sandalwood odour.

Her eyes are peered shut as she's holding Yun Ki against her beating heart, embracing him with a feeling of remorse.

Remorse for all the humiliation he's had to bear because of her.

Remorse for all the times she'd run away from his arms, just to find comfort in the arms of the man who'd been trying to get under her skin, the whole time.

He's unresponsive in her grasp, his hands are around her waist and yet, they don't hold her back.

His heart is thumping, to the point that he can feel blood gushing into his ear as his ear drums do a small 'lub dub' on their own.

The fire that was burning in his chest was now replaced with butterflies as he felt somewhat light and ticklish in her arms.

She was hugging him.

The love of his life was initiating contact and Yun Ki wishes he could wrap his muscular arms around her, giving her the warmth she was lending him, when all he had was her.

He had to fend for her, protect her and never let anything harm her.

She was his responsibility, now.

She was his, to shield.

He drops the Jasmine in his hand as it falls onto the grass behind her.

His arms are shaky and yet he stabilises his hyped nerves, placing the flat of his palm over her back, rendering the gap between their chests negligible as he pulls her flush against him.

She lets out a small squeak as he holds her against him, head nuzzling in her hair.

"T-Thank you for this..I really needed it.." He murmurs, breath hitting the back of her head as she flutters open her eyes.

"I thought so.." Soojin murmurs as the winds cease to blow and light cascades over their intertwined form and they stay seated under the barren Cherry Blossom Tree, with flowers springing in their own chests.

—————

"I don't care what you need to do, just publicise his face in all the villages." Yun Ki says, staring at the hand painted portrait of the Chief Guard, who'd been missing since that night.

"Sire, is it right to make this public?" Chief Hong asks, staring at the scroll that bears the Chief Guard's face over it as the Royal Painter stands behind him in his Chamber.

Yun Ki snarls in response, getting up from his seated position as he walks towards the balcony, past the auspicious red curtains.

"Of course it is." He mutters, looking out.

He breathes out a laboured breath.

"If he has the audacity to betray his Master, he's worthy of being dragged by the collar back into the Palace. How long will Yong Sun Hyu— I meant, Yong Sun keep him hidden? He'll have to be caught and executed for treachery." Yun Ki explains, picking on the concrete coating his railings.

Chief Hong nods in response, patting his back.

"How much bounty should we place over him?" He asks, walking over to the painter.

Yun Ki smiles in response.

"Put in the highest amount, one so that it causes the People to get desperate. I want him in this Palace by tomorrow and I want him on his knees, before I chop him to pieces and feed his carcass to my pet Boar. It's been a while since he's had rich meat." Yun Ki responds, watching Casper's shed, positioned right before his Chamber.

Chief Hong lets out an affirmative.

"Let's put a bounty of 5 gold coins." Chief Hong instructs the Painter.

"— Oh and don't forget to mention the reason for him being wanted desperately. Label it under The Queen's murder. That'll get their blood boiling." Yun Ki speaks, watching the night creep in, as parts of the Palace is lit in Spirit lamps, conferring a solemn appearance.

"Young Master, I���ll leave you to it. Shall I bring you the regular Sikhye or Makgeolli, this night?" He asks, watching the painter leave.

Yun Ki steps back in, holding his robe closer to his exposed chest.

"None, I believe alcohol alters my sub conscience, clouding my decisions. Perhaps, I should rest out on it, for tonight."

He lays back on his bed, head falling over the feather stuffed sac, he called a pillow.

"Well then, I'll be taking your leave, Jeonha." Chief Hong stands at the foot of his bed, bowing before him as Yun Ki signals for him to leave, pressing the pads of his thumbs into his eyes, that were sore.

He needed sleep and he hadn't slept well in ages, yet how could he?

Knowing someone could creep right into his room and suffocate him to death.

Of course, he'd doubled security.

Men from the Village were opting to become soldiers and guard the Kingdom, whose Royal Family was being targeted.

Just as he is resting under the light graze of wind flowing in from the window, he hears a knock on his door.

It irritates him beyond bounds and he tries hard to ignore it thinking, a guard would ask whoever it is, to leave but the incessant knocks just don't stop.

Yun Ki hears mumbles from he other side.

"You can't stop me! He's my nephew and he needs someone of his own."

Great, he thinks to himself.

If it isn't his too-wise-for-his-own-good Uncle.

Out of respect for the elderly, Yun Ki climbs off of his bed, tightening the strings of the robe he's loosened to sleep comfortably.

Yun Ki takes tired strides towards the door, unlocking it to be met by his Paternal Uncle, Minister Choi, who is in the midst of a heated argument with the guard, intoxicated.

Behind him stands his maidservant with a platter carrying a pot of Makgeolli.

Just as he spots Yun Ki, he steps forward, engulfing him in his arms in a forced hug.

"My poor Nephew!" He cries, patting Yun Ki's disheveled hair, whilst tugging him into his chest.

Yun Ki pushes the drunk man's chest, breaking the embrace.

"What brings you here at this hour, Jageun abeoji?" Yun Ki asks, holding him by his shoulders as the short and hefty man waddles on his feet, feeling dizzy.

"Where else do you expect me to be if not comforting my dear Nephew!?" He questions, poking a finger into Yun Ki's chest.

"Won't you let jageun abeoji in? There were times you and I stayed up all night discussing how we'd ruined the petals of a women's flower, together. Have you forgotten?" He slurs, laughing to himself.

Yun Ki swats a hand in the air, the ethanol-rich fumes escaping past the man's lips, were noxious.

"Please don't embarrass me, come in.." He speaks, guiding him on a mattress, against a bolster.

"You! You pretty darling, place the pot before us men!!" He pulls at the woman before she places the tray between a very irritated looking Yun Ki and the cherry red Minister who was swaying to a folklore only he knew.

"Give me a kiss, come!" He forces the girl, pulling her by the elbow, planting a wet kiss over her cheek.

She scrambles out of the Chamber, in haste, causing Minister Choi to fall on his face, into the mattress.

"Jageun abeoji, please control yourself." He speaks, arms crossing themselves above his chest.

The drunk Minister peeps up the table, eyes blood shot red and glossy.

His shaky hands reach forward to pour himself a cup, but he ends up spilling some wine, causing Yun Ki to tut and assist him.

"Aigoo…" He sing-songs.

"I'm old now, aren't I? Yun Ki-ssi, please pour yourself a cup as well. Won't you drink with your uncle?"

Yun Ki places his hand back on his folded knee, refusing blatantly.

"Unfortunately, I'm not in the mood to indulge in some liquor. Besides, it's not alright for me to drink whilst I'm mourning." He responds, watching Minister Choi's brows furrow.

"Son, your mother would've wanted you to drink. Hell, she drank the night her husband passed away." He slurs.

Yun Ki counters his statement.

"She drank to erase her sorrow, to forget the pain that was plaguing her so terribly, that night. W-We're different. We cope in ways different from others. I wished to remember her, this night, which is why I won't be consuming something that gets me out of control. It's time I got serious."

Minister Choi's face twists in an emotion he can't really vocalise.

"But we always drank even when things were going bad. This is disrespectful to me!" He responds, slamming his cup on the glass counter, white liquid pouring out.

"I don't mean to disrespect you. I-It's just you haven't given me the advice I'd expect from a Minister as wise as you. You've made me look bad, one too many times and you were controlling, using your years of experience as leverage." He responds, biting his tongue.

Minister Choi stands to his feet.

"What might you mean?" He thunders.

Yun Ki sits on his knees, respectfully.

"At Mother's final rites, I'd decided I'd be someone who ran their reign as per their own whims and jurisdiction. I promised her I'd speak my mind. In all due regard, I believe you should retire. I've seen the way you operate, I know all about what you were trying to do with Ryunjin and I. I don't need you to feed me with alcohol, just so I'll turn out to be a scheming slob like you."

Minister Choi runs a hand over his eyes, wiping them clean as he stares at Yun Ki, mouth half open.

"I always knew who my enemies were, Mother just persuaded me to keep you close, not wanting to offend you and yet, I don't owe you any such benefits anymore as both my parent's are dead and I'm an Orphan. I hope you'll understand why I'm being so blunt. It's because my attitude over the years has made Baekmin somewhat lethargic. It's time I start replacing the old rusty motors of my Reign." Yun Ki spits fire, staring right at his Uncle's distraught face.

The elder man struggles for words.

"Y-You…You're a menace, I was saving your face with what had happened with Ryunjin, you-you're a scoundrel.." He repeats.

Yun Ki calls for his guards.

"Please escort him to his room. He's intoxicated beyond bounds." Yun Ki waves him off, watching as the pudgy man is carried away by his guards, who drag him by the ends of his arm as loud echoes of curses are hurled at him, echoing past the corridor.

Yun Ki stands up from his seat, popping a head out from his chamber, just to watch Soojin staring out of her own Chamber, at the man who was sweeping the floor with him, being dragged to his own room.

He should look at the Minister rolling on the white marble and yet, his eyes are trained on her, the one who glows in the orange hue of the spirit lamps, decorating the hallways.

She looks back at Yun Ki's chamber and meets his eyes, her own dripping in confusion.

She's dressed in a violet nightgown, hair undone as her 2 maidservants try and usher her in.

Yun Ki smiles at her, waving with a hand, asking her not to be bothered.

"Gwaenchana.." He mouthes, before he watches her nod at him, stepping back to her chamber.

Yun Ki smiles to himself.

Feeling liberated.

———————Korean Words Used—————————

Jageun abeoji = Father's younger brother/ Uncle.

Gwaenchana = It's okay.