"The King and Queen of Baekmin have arrived!"

Loud cheers were heard from a distance as the royal Carriage passed the Capitol.

Children chased the Carriage, all in search of one look of the couple.

Yun Ki had worn back his mask, covering half of his face and yet his hand remained tight in Soojin's who was now awake and basking in the air Baekmin had to offer.

"I realise they're all so thrilled to have us back.." Soojin murmurs, watching the commoners bow over to their passing procession.

Yun Ki hums in agreement.

"As much as it relieves me to be back, a part of me will always be lost amidst the firefly field in Goryeo." He hums, in Soojin's ear.

Faint enough for Soojin to perceive the softness of his lips over her outer ear, causing rouge to take over her milky white skin.

She's taken back to the confrontational heated night they'd spent in the balcony of their room, on their first night in Goryeo.

"The air back there was different, it was more..romantic, if that makes sense?" Yun Ki asks.

Soojin smiles back at him.

"You won't change, will you?" She questions, watching his expressions dull down.

"Why would you ask me that?" His worried eyes run past her face.

Soojin breaks eye contact, staring out of the Carriage.

"I-It's just, we don't have any fond memories in Baekmin. It's always just been a constant reminder of the fact that we've lived as two strangers in our own Kingdom.." She expresses.

Yun Ki takes a minute to process what she'd meant all this while.

Surely, they'd lived as a married couple and yet, behind closed doors, there was this looming feeling of alienation and anxiety that the two felt with regards to each other.

Never once had they felt as though they belonged to one another, completely.

"I'm sorry, Soojin." Yun Ki whispers to her, having her look back at him, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry that you're still having to worry whether I'll be all that you've seen of me in the past 3 days..I want you to trust me. The way I feel for you right now, it's unmatched. I won't change. You won't change. Soojin-ah, we won't change. Let's walk into our Kingdom, with our heads held high, together. Let's show them what a King and Queen in love look like. Let's put an end to hatred, let's spread love."

Soojin's heart thumps as she watches Yun Ki's heart bare open.

She looks around to watch Chief Hong deep in slumber and she pulls Yun Ki by the collar of his Hanbok, towards her.

He stares at her wide-eyed as she plants her lips over his, in an affectionate kiss.

Soojin cherishes the feeling of his lips over hers as her eyes are flushed shut, fingers curled around the material of his Hanbok as she holds him close to her.

She pulls back, watching Yun Ki's lips puckered, eyes wide open.

"T-That's all I needed to hear. To know that I'd be okay." She completes, letting go of the silk of Yun Ki's clothing.

Yun Ki watches her shocked, before he's advancing a palm on the back of her neck, pulling her in, noses clashing, until he's tilting his head to mesh their lips together, passionately.

He sucks in her lower lip, suckling on it as Soojin taps his chest, asking him to release the grip he had on the back of her neck, one that'd squished the two of them together.

Yun Ki leaves gives in to her protests, letting go with a loud pop.

Soojin smacks his chest, causing him to grasp onto her hand, tightly.

"You started it.." He hums, watching her plump lower lip, all swollen from his suck.

Soojin rests her head back on the seat, watching around to see if Chief Hong witnessed this incredibly private moment.

They were safe.

"If this is how handy you're going to be for the rest of our life, I'm going to have to prepare myself.." Soojin hums, wiping her lips with the back of her unheld hand.

Yun Ki laughs at her confession.

"You're going to have to prepare yourself to deliver us close to 10 children, considering the rate at which were advancing.." He winks, causing Soojin's mouth to fall wide open.

She can't help but let a little giggle leave past her lips, as she looks out of the Carriage, realising they're a lot more closer.

"4 should be more than enough." She scolds.

Yun Ki leans into her ear, teasingly.

"I want 10."

---------------

"Baekmin has been blessed again! The King and Queen are back from their retreat!" Ah Ma cries, running to the front gate, to welcome the famous trio.

Yun Ki jumps off of the Carriage, extending a hand out to help Soojin alight.

The three of them bow before the working staff, that had gathered to welcome them.

"Jeonha, we hope that your trip had gone by rather smooth!" Ah Ma gushes, watching the delightful smile over Yun Ki's lips.

Areum on the other hand, watches the intertwined hands.

The way Yun Ki had locked his palm in Soojin's.

She smiles a little, knowing that this bond would be short-lived and it would be her palm in his.

It would be her, bearing the title of The Queen.

Albeit his second wife, but his one and only.

Yun Ki looks over at Areum.

"Have you been well, Areum-ah?" He asks, a simple smile taking over his lips and a look of earnest filling his eyes.

Areum's eyes well up, the globules coating her eyes flicker for a while as she looks up at her supposed world.

A part of her pulls and tugs at her heart for she had sold her soul to The Devil.

She had made negotiations with the man who had promised to send her back the Yun Ki she had missed, so dearly.

The one who'd have her cooped up in his room for days, engaging her in laughs and poetry.

Kissing her with love and a burning passion.

She watches Yun Ki's concern and she feels warm.

"I-I'm all well, Jeonha..I hope you and Daebi-Mama had a wonderful time.." She manages to choke out, blocking out Soojin who was cooped up in a conversation with Ah Ma.

"I'm glad, Areum-ah." He completes, walking away, into The Palace.

Leaving Areum who stands at the gate, watching him hold onto Soojin, with his all.

She feels the cold winds fill her up in a chilly feeling.

She feels goosebumps take over her expanse, having her realise that she was not the one he'd held on to or brought into the palace.

He was unrecognisable, happy and smiley.

Of course she never wanted him to be the miserable mess she'd seen him be.

All she wanted was him to herself.

Grief overtakes her being as she realises the compromises she's made.

As she realises that Yun Ki could loose what he'd been holding onto with so much strength, all in one tug.

And all Areum can say now is, "I'm sorry, Yun Ki. I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to you."

-----------Korean Terms Used-------

Daebi-Mama = The Queen.

Jeonha = The King.