11 Pride.

The Lunar Harvest Festival.

It was a yearly event that held a lot of value to the people of Baekmin.

Martyred King Min II stressed heavily on how he wished for his Kingdom and People to be self sufficient, independent and headstrong.

He believed that Baekmin grew origin from each and every person who contributed to it's nourishment.

The Crowned King refused to rely on any of their neighbouring Kingdoms, albeit how closely situated they were.

Help from a foreign ally was a sign of weakness and Min Il refused to look inferior before just about anyone who wasn't his own.

"That's how it starts.." He'd say to his eldest son, Seokmin.

"…You bow down before them for help and they gradually adapt to catch onto your tweaks, the shortcomings in your kingdom and before you know it, they've infiltrated your territory, planted their people in your land and you start loosing the reins over your own realm. Never let that happen. Bear your hands, squeeze out your soul, lay down all you own, need be, but son, never let foreign powers strangulate the empire we've build and harboured with our ancestors. We are born warriors, Seokmin-ah. Our Pride is as important to us as our Crown. Remember that."

Of all the ideologies Yun Ki had grown to resent, this was one he firmly believed in.

Self-reliance was imperative for a Kingdom as vast and bountiful as Baekmin.

His father hadn't grown it to be ' The Land of Opportunities' to have it weakened internally by enemies who despised the power that resided in the chokehold of Baekmin.

It's People bore a heart of gold, believed in perseverance and toiled all day in order to make ends meet for their families.

They held their pride higher than any other moral.

That's also why Soojin was the way she was, today.

Prideful, bearing a strong sense of self-identity, individuality and a strong willed mind that just refused to say no.

Seated in the royal palanquin, carried by 4 Guards, all bearing significant titles in the military, Soojin was carried all the way over to the outskirts Gyonju, the embodiment of Marshy Lands and fields that bore the crop that Baekmin produced.

Gyonju lay on the other side of the capital, past the revered river of Giljo.

It was known as the Prime producer of Rice.

It had also contributed to the greatest number of noble men in the war, in times when Baekmin had fallen short of Manpower.

With the forthcoming monsoons, this festival was integral in pleasing the Rain Gods in garnering their blessings and abundance over the farmers who toiled hard through the next half of the year.

The Rain God hadn't been pleased for the past 7 years under Min Yun Ki's reign and his Monarchy had received scanty rainfall.

An Ominous Monarchy, was now the title that Baekmin had earned under their current Ruler, who was far too restless and arrogant for his own good.

Soojin was guarded by 5 guards who held swords, Dang Pa's and blades close to their bodies, some hidden under their thick green vests.

"Queen Consort Min Soojin, has arrived!" The Chief Commander spoke as soon as the Palanquin set base on the foothill of Gyonju.

Having the curtains pushed to one side, Soojin straightened out the wrinkles that adorned her Silk, while seated.

Setting foot out of her vehicle, she's met by star struck eyes and gaping mouths of the natives of the Marshes, who were ready to ceremoniously worship the land she walked on.

The excited giggles of young girls, the loud gasps of Women and Men filled the air.

Soojin's eyes scanned the sincere faces of her People.

They ranged from tear struck glossy eyes to beet red faces of Men and Women as they came to terms with the fact that their Queen indeed bore integrity and was a woman of her words.

"She's here, Our Queen is here!" The head of Gyonju spoke up, met with fervent nodding from his fellow supporters.

Of all the eyes she met in the crowd, a pair of eyes stood out before her.

The same pair of eyes she hadn't met with in over a week.

The pair of eyes she'd been yearning to meet.

His eyes.