"Did you sleep with him, Soojin-ah?" Yun Ki asks.

He knows he's asked a sensitive question.

One that doesn't permit him to look into the eyes of the one he's interrogated.

He's looking at his fabric clad leg, picking on the silk.

He wishes he could look up at her but that'd be awkward for both him and her.

The question was, rather racy.

He knew well that a part of Soojin would be taken aback upon hearing the words 'sleep' trip down his lips.

However, it was a question that was integral to him.

Hell, every time he even looked at Soojin, he wondered what she'd let the worse part of his duo do to her, behind sealed doors, doors of his own God-forsaken palace.

Scoundrel, he thought, clenching his fists, to the point that the stitches that had been embedded in his skin would crawl out from his risen blood pressure.

The moment when she'd leaped into his arms mistaking him for his brother, was something that had crushed him.

Crushed all of his dreams of having her hands in his, as they walked along the freshly cut grass in his garden, watching the Sun set.

He'd imagined himself wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her in, towards him, against the orange backdrop as his lips met her soft ones in a passionate kiss, one that has her hand tugging at the nape of his head as he squeezes her love handles with every affectionate suck he'd land on her lips.

One that has her toes curling and leg popping.

One that'd catch her off guard, coating her lips in an endearing smile.

He was a plain man who desired plain things, as he grew older.

Stability, romance and happiness were some of them.

He'd imagined it all with Soojin.

However, she'd ruined the lovey-lovey image, forever.

Once she'd pranced into his arms, leveraging herself on her tippy toes, landing a wet kiss over his lips, he knew they'd been intimate.

For, intimacy required comfort and confidence.

Both of which had been established in Soojin's mind by that son-of-a-bitch.

Hence, the disgusting visual hadn't left his mind, since that day.

It remained active in a part of his sub conscience.

Soojin, on the other hand, feels petrified.

The collar of her Hanbok dug into the skin of her throat, much like a noose, tightening with every tug.

She felt as though she'd been put in a tight spot, with the eyes of The Kingdom, over her.

She felt as though Yun Ki would be disappointed.

Disappointed in her and just how easy it was to entice and sway her.

Did she sleep with him? Absolutely not.

But.

Did she want to, at some point?

Soojin would be lying through her teeth if she said she hadn't dreamt about Yong Sun.

She'd be lying if she said she'd never imagined how his veiny hands and bony long fingers looked around her and inside her.

She'd be lying if she said she hadn't touched herself at the thought of all that the man could do.

He'd leave her knees bucking, tongue rolled out and eyes blown out with lust.

She'd rub her inner thighs against each other, every night, at the thought of him.

She'd imagine his tongue running a stripe along the nape of her neck, coating her in the slick of his saliva, so she smelled like him.

Her panties would cling to her swollen aching core every time he kissed her, with so much force, that she felt as though her soul was being sucked out of her, piece by piece, every time.

She'd cream her white panties, in the lull of the night, dreaming of the sinister ways he'd shut her up, hands stuffed in her mouth as his angry cock stretched out her virgin pussy, to the point her abdomen would swell up, stuffed with his cum.

A part of her loved being corrupted.

Loved having to think out scenarios where she'd sneak him into her Chamber.

The one that lay 7 feet away from her husbands and tore his robe off, scratching the honey coated skin of his chest in the moonlight as she sank down on him and jumped his bones with every bounce of her wet core over his angry red tip.

She'd imagine him placing his rough and greasy hands on her waist before holding her to him as he rut into her uterus, hitting the thick bundle of nerves her small feeble fingers could never reach.

She'd dreamt of being the medium that allowed her Bohoja to take over the throne, as they made love in Yun Ki's chamber, as King and Queen.

She thought of all that, then and yet now, her eyes were filled with shame.

Every crevice of her body needed to be cleansed with holy water after the terrible thoughts she'd had involving the man who was out to get her.

She'd slapped herself when she got back that night.

She wet her pillow, kneeled before her window, praying before the Gods that she'd sinned.

She'd sullied her husband's honour.

She wasn't the fountain of unadulterated innocence as with the man she called her shield, she grew into a scheming minx, with her hormones raging and dirty thoughts clouding her mind.

He'd manoeuvred her into becoming his little pet, who'd soil her panties at a simple graze of his lips over her neck.

Her nipples would stand tall, would grow pebbled, with a caress over her clothed bust.

He knew what he was doing to her, rutting his clothed erection over her fabric clad ass.

She felt like a dirty girl.

A girl who'd done dirty things with her body for, intimacy was chaste.

It was meant to make you feel happy and yet, with every caress of his, she felt as though she was being coated in muck.

Her instincts were kicking in, the last few times she'd met him.

She felt polluted, filthy and more than any other emotion, guilt bore down her heart.

She felt a sharp sense of betrayal every time she coddled into his arms.

But, he was the only one who'd called her things she wanted to hear, who kissed her ear off with praises and ran his fingers through her hair, promising her of a better future.

A future where she'd be his Queen and he'd be the King of her heart.

Alas, all of that was his honey coated bullshit.

She'd had enough of him.

She'd crack his skull the next time she caught sight of him.

She'd trample over his manhood.

He'd poisoned her mind and tainted her soul.

He deserved death, she thought, fingers digging into the palm of her hand as she snaps out of her thoughts and stares ahead at Jeonha.

He's waiting on an answer and every passing minute is making him feel as though he's to hear something that'd change the way he saw Soojin, forever.

She clears her throat.

"Jeonha, I didn't sleep with him. I-I'm a virgin, pure and tamed." She responds, watching him let out a deep breath, one that had restricted his chest.

"However.." She mutters.

Yun Ki's eyes look back at her, worried.

But Soojin needs to bare her soul, free herself of the burden that had been weighing her down.

"I hadn't given him my virginal blood however, he's tasted my lips." She responds, head hanging low.

Yun Ki instantly runs the pad of his index finger over his chapped lips.

He obviously knew they'd kissed.

"If I'm telling you the truth, I may as well be honest with you and tell you everything…I've fantasised about him. I've written him love letters, yearning for him and mentioning what I wanted him to d-do to me.." Soojin confessed, lips reduced to a straight line.

Yun Ki feels a pang of hurt in his chest.

Feels as though something that belonged to him had been run through mud and returned back to his hands.

However, was he himself a saint?

He owned dozens of concubines, he was sexually active.

But, in his world, a Patriarchal one, women couldn't dream or think of men, who weren't their husband.

He was orthodox in his thoughts.

It took a heavy toll on his ego to envision whatever Soojin, his wife, was revealing before him.

Sure, he was young.

He'd seen women, of all shapes and sizes bare before him, on their knees for him.

He'd never however, imagined his own Wife doing that to a man who wasn't him.

Was this what people called 'Hypocrisy'?

If such was Hypocrisy, Yun Ki was a hypocrite.

All because the ego he'd pet hadn't allowed him to be a cuckold.

Min Yun Ki was the man who gave women a run for their money, he wasn't the one watching them please other men, helplessly.

His brows were furrowed at her confession and his eyes narrowed down, judging her.

Imagining her twisting and turning in her Chamber, weaving a letter to that imbecile, stating how she'd want to be eaten out.

It caused the milk in his stomach to gurgle and he could feel as though if he heard any longer of whatever she'd done, he could barf and empty contents of his abdomen, right on the table.

What was he expecting, though?

He'd asked her the question, in the first place, hadn't he?

He was going to have to listen to the answers she gave him.

Besides, she was being honest.

A little too much for his liking as now he felt as though, perhaps, he wasn't her first.

And not being first wasn't something Min Yun Ki's fragile ego could handle, especially now.

However, he'd need to be calm and composed.

He let out calming breaths, thought of the leisurely walks he'd take with his Father when they visited Gyonju.

He closed his eyes, fingers tapping over his knees.

Zen, Yun Ki.

Think Zen, he pep-talked himself.

It was his destructive ego that had led him to this, that had driven Soojin away from him.

Now wasn't the time to think from the mind.

It was Soojin, he thought.

Words and thoughts must stem from the heart.

He responds to her bold confession.

"Uh-I, I respect your honesty. I-It's worth a—" Yun Ki's throaty words are interrupted by a knock over his door.

He looks at the mahogany wood, with an irritated look, being interrupted.

"Who is it?" He screams, causing Soojin to flinch in her seat.

The doors of his Chamber open with a sweaty Chief Hong, who runs in, foot slipping through the wooden tiles..

"Je-Jeonha, it's about the Chief Guard..Hurry over to The Royal Court, this instant!!" He delivers, stuttering and running out of the Chamber in haste, causing Yun Ki's eyes to meet Soojin's as they get up in an instant.

Yun Ki reaches for his Jute mask, adorning his face, being watched by a nervous-wreck Soojin.

He hisses as he feels his newly sown shut scar dig against the material of the mask.

He takes determined strides out of his Chamber, followed by her and looks back.

"Go back to your Chamber." He instructs, pointing to her Chamber door as he's antsy, his own self.

Soojin shakes a head no, running up to catch him.

"I-I'm coming with you.." She words, in a whisper as he lets out an irritated huff, heading to The Royal Court.

——————

Yun Ki seats on his throne, next to Soojin, for whom he had a gold studded seat made, right next to his own.

She eyes it in awe, seating down over it, carefully.

The court is filled with rows of Ministers and Palace Women.

All who've moved to the side to leave a long stride of path clear.

"What news might you have?" Yun Ki thunders, seating upright.

One of the Ministers, steps forward, head bowed as he speaks boldly.

"Jeonha! The man who stabbed us in the back, has been found!" He exclaims, clapping his hand twice.

Yun Ki watches the heavy iron encrusted doors to his Court open.

Two soldiers carry a body, by its arms, like they're dragging someone who's fainted.

Yun Ki's eyes narrow to get a better look and everyone in the court gasps in horror.

Screams from delicate women are heard as the man is dragged and placed before the King.

The man is none other than the Chief Guard.

Who lays before him, stark naked and deceased.

His eyes have been gouged out as the onlookers are met with bloodied empty sockets.

His mouth hangs open and his cheeks look sucked in and blue.

His body is rotting and his limbs have gone rigid.

The imprints of his ribs over his skin give him the look of a man who has been starved, with purple-blue petechiae covering his pale white skin, with lashes and gashes made with a sharp knife, over his lower stomach, the ones that have his intestines pooling out to the surface, the pebbled appearance of his flesh causing a rotten meat stench to fill the closed room as Women in the front faint and others drag them out.

Yun Ki looks up at the Palace women going pale in horror for what lies before them is terrifying and gruesome.

He looks back at the corpse, getting a closer view of his, just to find him castrated.

His thighs are turning dark black from the haemoglobin that's rotting, as a result of his ceased blood supply.

Yun Ki rubs a hand over his face, frustratedly.

The man was the key to Yong Sun.

The key had been abolished, poorly.

Yun Ki looks over at Soojin, who has a palm flat over her lips, tears pooling her eyes as she goes pale.

She stands up from her seated position, meeting Yun Ki's concerned eyes before she rushes out, sounds of gagging following her heavy footsteps.

"Ssibal.." He cusses, in rage.

———————

Soojin's mother had been worried sick when she found Soojin's bed empty, the day Yun Ki took her away.

However, one of the maidservants had informed her that she'd been summoned by The King, who'd stopped by, himself.

She was under the impression that her daughter had been called post the news of Yun Ki's mother passing.

She even wanted to pay her respect to the Late Queen however, Joon Ki's situation had worsened.

Her Mother had been in awe of Yun Ki for he had treated not only Soojin, but her maternal side, with selfless affection.

Things were going well for them.

Her Son was healing, she had food on the table and clothes to wrap herself in, as Winter seemed to be approaching, in full swing.

The Doctor who'd been assigned to Joon Ki hadn't visited him in 2 days.

Soojin's mother was growing worried as the nurse he had left Joon Ki under, knew very little about his condition.

Joon Ki had had a seizure since his trusted doctor, Dr. Oliver Jones, had been away.

She was starting to grow worried about just that.

Just when she was washing an aubergine in her kitchen sink, she hears fervent knocks.

They sounded urgent.

She wrings her wet arms in the newly installed marble sink and prods towards her front door.

She opens it to be met by an odd-looking man.

A man who has neck-length black hair, gelled to the back, exposing his wide forehead, a sharp nose, kind brown eyes but a scar running down his right eye.

It looks rather old however, he's dressed nobly, indicating he was well-to-do.

A noble man in rank.

He bears a kind smile as he has his hands clasped together, around a brown leather briefcase, one that looks rather heavy.

"Annyeonghasimnikka, Ahjumma!" He greets, cheerfully.

Soojin's mother bows in response.

"Are you, The Queen of Baekmin, Min Soojin's Eomeoni?" He asks, a smile adorning his lips.

She nods in response.

"Yes, but who are you?" She enquires, holding the wooden front door, tighter before the stranger.

He watches her nails digging into the wood and laughs.

"Don't be worried, I've been sent in by Jeonha himself." He mutters, watching her grasp loosen.

He continues, "I've been sent in as the replacement for the Former Practitioner. He's left Baekmin due to family commitments. I will be tending after Kim Joon Ki-ssi, henceforth!" The man chimes, flashing his pearly white teeth.

Soojin's mother's creases release as she lets out a content sight, returning his smile.

"Oh! Thank you so much for coming! Joon Ki hasn't been keeping well!" She voices her concern, rambling about his health.

The man nods in response.

"The Crowned Head cares about you so much. Especially after his Dear Mother passed away..He sees you as his mother, which is why he sent me!" He explains as the elder Lady's chest puffs in confidence and pride.

She steps aside, holding the door open for the man to step in.

He looks around the house, marvelling over how it's been furnished since the last time he saw it.

A sly smirk coats his lips as he lets out a small scoff.

He walks towards the portrait hanging off the wall, in the seating area.

His eyes scan the painting, hatred pooling in his gut as he clenches his teeth in disgust, yet manages to manoeuvre a forced smile.

"Oh forgetful old me! I forgot to ask your name, Kind Sir.." Soojin's mother beams, handing him a cup of Jasmine Tea.

He raises the expensive looking cup to his nose, sniffing in the smell of Jasmine, the one that reminds him of a certain someone and the sweet aroma, that has his eyes rolling to the back of his head in arousal.

His pupils constrict in dark lust.

He retreats the cup away from his nose, looking her way.

"I'm Min Yong Sun..Doctor Min Yong Sun. You however, can call me Bohoja, affectionately.." He murmurs, lips curling around the teacup, eyes trained on the portrait of his brother and the current Ruling King, Min Yun Ki sat next to his Wife, the one who'd been dancing in his arms, days ago.

This was getting fun, he thinks to himself.

---------Korean Words Used---------

Annyeonghasimnikka= Formal way of saying Hello

Ahjumma = Calling an elderly lady, respectfully.