chapter seven

The kingdom of Goguryeo was situated in the far northwest side of Balhae kingdom. As the territorial expansion by the Balhae Kingdom started many kingdoms accepted the suzerainty of the great emperor of Balhae, Yang Joo Sung.

After the suzerainty of the other kingdoms, the only kingdom able to stand against the mighty Balhae Kingdom is Goguryeo kingdom for the last thirty years.

With the continuous war against Balhae Kingdom. The Kingdom of Goguryeo grew weak and the people suffered great damage. 

Not able to withstand his people's suffering anymore, Crown prince of Goguryeo Kim Yoon jung asked for the hand of Princess of Balhae Yang min seol in marriage as his future wife and crown princess.

Both Kingdom came to an agreement after a long hesitation and argument race. They eventually accepted the royal marriage between their crown prince and princess and had since then formed an alliance.

Meanwhile Kim Yoo Jung accepted Yang min seol as his future companion but realistically he merely saw her as a tool to protect his people.

Now that his marriage with the princess of Balhae is drawing near, an unexpected incident has befallen his future wife; she was attacked by some unknown assassin's on her way coming back from Goguryeo his kingdom.

~~~~

The autumn wind swing the atmosphere enralding a cold bloated sky.

In a chamber on the eastern side of Goguryeo royal palace. The light candles placed on the hallway flicked like it was on the verge of losing its light.

In his dim light quiet room Kim Yoo Jung sat on a wooden chair inside his inner chamber. His cold eyes stare into the lantern in front of him that aid with the candle flicking gently as a result of the wind.

His finger drew an invisible line on the table while staring into darkness but his mind was occupied with that one person. The person that bloomed his heart with anger, pain, hatred…Call it whatever you want. The person is none other than Yang so Young, his bride-to -be.

She was involved in an accident with some unidentified assassin and hasn't regained consciousness yet. He wasn't surprised by the sign of bad luck as his wedding day approached because the lady is a bad omen herself.

But regardless he was determined to have Yang So Young as his wife, no matter what obstacles had to be overcome. She must become his wife no matter the sacrifice he must make.

If any harm should befall her. His people will have to face deadly consequences from her kingdom even though they didn't have anything to do with her accident. 

The thought of that alone made his blood boil in great anger. He was patiently biding his time before unleashing his wrath on the kingdom of Balhae, especially their princess who was soon coming to become his wife but before that she needed to be protected by him for the meantime. 

Should she die now, how will he get his revenge for all the pain her kingdom had caused his family and people.

"Jang han" He called the name effortless. His voice was deep enough to be heard by anyone at a close range and knowing the person he was calling is right next to his door he didn't have to stress his voice.

Almost Immediately a young man dressed in a black attire walked inside the room. He bowed his head when he came to a stop in front of him. "Did you call for me?."

Silence dwells for a second but what seemed like an hour before Kim Yoo Jung stood up. His gaze still on the lantern as he replied. "I am going to the Balhae kingdom. You will come with me"

"As you wish, Your royal highness" He bowed courteously, his eyes lowered to the ground.

Kim Yoo Jung with his hand crossed behind his back, his long black robe swept the floor as he walked out elegantly, followed by Jang han.

~~~~

The early morning sun pierced into the room, straight into Princess Yang Min Seol's face. Her brow creased in confusion with her eyes still tightly closed as she felt the bed with her hand. 

She had to know if she was still alive or dead like she was thinking. Feeling the warm layer of the bed, it is clear to her that she is alive. 

Then what the hell happened to her earlier when she disappeared from the hospital hallway. 

She slowly dragged her eyes open but immediately closed them back as a result of the ray of the sunshine. 

A frown marred her forehead. "Why is it so bright in here?" She mumbled as she sat up from the bed slowly untangling the blanket used to cover her body. 

Min Seol's eyes scoured around the room and she found herself in something that looked like a parlour. 

The light from the sun filtered through the tall oak tree beside the yard into the wooden windows made from hanji paper, and Min Seol sat still, waiting until her eyes adjusted to the bright light. 

Where is this?. This isn't her room?.

Her eyes moved around the room, checking it out. Elegant and rich in colour, it was a perfect update to a classic early Nineteen-century style. 

The wall had been painted with a dark brown color below the chair rail and a mellow gold above, the gold painting is part of the reason the room was shining bright. It was as if one was in the Inca, empire of gold.

Something else nagged at her at that moment. Where she was sleeping on or more likely sitting on, it wasn't her precious bed with the headboard but something that looked like a blanket. 

It was like those bedding she used to see while watching historical drama.

Looking at the shelf beside the window, compiling different books, and carved in a cherry tree, she knew something was wrong or what all this that she was seeing.

A swivel sound at the shelf suddenly caught her attention_ a man was standing behind it. Tall with broad shoulders that could fit into a flexible black shirt and a black tuxedo suit, but the man in front of her isn't 

anywhere near all that she mentioned.

He was clad in a black Attire from head to toe. His hair wrapped in a bun, entrapping it with a binyeo (hair tie/pin) at the edge. He looks completely different from her expectations. Yet all she could see was his back view. His face in shadow, until he turned his face to her.

The light penetrating through the window gave details to the man who had only been in a shadow. His face had a pitilessness of that of a devil; void of sympathy and mercy. She is sure that beneath his black robe his bicep bulges and his eyes were the most beautiful deep, rich dark brown she had ever seen.

She gasped at the realization of whom she was staring at. "You"

This was the man who she had seen with her parents in the hospital hallway. The man in the sleeveless brown T-shirt coupled with a black jacket. The man she had thought had made her parents cried.

But the man staring back at her had a complete blank look in his eyes as though he didn't know her as she did. 

Come to think of it, the man isn't acquainted with her that well but What the hell is that look?. He must have certainly seen her body when she was assumed dead.

Is he pretending not to know her at all?.

The strange man sauntered around the shelf toward Na Young. Coming to a stop in front of her he squatted next to her. 

"Finally you decided to wake up. It's good having you back" He gritted out like he meant the opposite of what he had said to her.

Why is his voice so harsh?. 

His voice isn't as gentle and soothing as the voice she had heard at the hospital hallway. Or is his concern for her parents just a facade.

Her spine stiffened as he deliberately squatted too close to her, invading her personal space, which made her want to back down but she quickly controlled herself. held her head up confidently.

"It's so nice to see you again too. I imagined the gentleman was a good person and sympathetic soul" She looked him right in those beautiful eyes and asked crisply, "Isn't that what you want me to think?"

Kim Yoon Jung chuckled softly and nodded. As expected of her, she seemed hostile toward him. 

When he arrived at Balhae Royal Palace earlier, he was ushered to the Princess room immediately. Though Goguryeo is the allied country of Emperor Yang ju sung, he always shows him his due respect. Maybe it was because he was going to his daughter's husband but here is his daughter looking down on him with disdain.

He laughed, a brief bark of amusement. "It is so nice to know that you catch on real quick and finally you have taken off that fake mask of pretending you always have on."

Dry chuckled escape his mouth and he added. "Yes. It's so nice seeing your real self"

"What do you mean?." The cloud of confusion that marred her face from what he had said couldn't be missed by him.

What is he talking about?. 

This is her first, No second time precisely that she is seeing this man and they have never known each other before, for them to be so close to an extent of pretending to be kind to him like he had claimed. Is this man playing a joke on her?.

"I don't know what you are talking about but the least you could do is show concern for someone who just returned from the hand of death" She snapped at him and rolled her eyes simultaneously.

What an annoying jerk. Even if he dislikes her, how can he be so indifferent to her and act like an angel to her parents?. What a manipulative bastard he is.

"Well about that, I really worried a lot." He said nonchalantly.

A sourness rose in the depth of her throat at the ridiculous concern he claimed to have shown "Yeah. I can feel the sincerity"

"After all, even if I didn't want to. You and your kingdom made it possible that I will be left with no choice but to care"

She blinked and huffed loudly, fanning her face with her hand. What nonsense is he spouting from his mouth again. What kingdom is he talking about?. 

"You are always spouting rubbish from your mouth" she mumbled under her breath but she was sure he heard her sound and clear.

Kim Yoon Jung growled at her statement, expressing that he doesn't like her rude tune.

"I can't be intimidated by you. It…." Min Seol didn't finish her word of protest because as soon as she opened her mouth, Kim Yoon Jung held her tighter, grabbed her jaw and invaded her mouth. He massages his tongue with her and explores every corner of her sweet abode.

Min Seol was stunned at the sweet lip devouring her mouth. He tastes like strawberry cake, her favourite cake. His kiss was burning her from inside like a hot fire. Her lip waggle with his as it fights for dominance.

Kim Yoon Jung deepened the kiss in her response. She grabbed on his shoulder as they shared the kiss deeper until she was out of breath and pushed him away from her. Kim Yoon let her go. His eyes met with her embarrassed face and his lip dropped into a smirk at it.

Min Seol couldn't believe what had happened. She won't deny she had kissed him back and felt a sensual sensation between them during the kiss but this bastard just stole her first kiss.

What she had been saving for her boyfriend. Her precious first kiss.

"You asshole. How dare you?." She fulminate as her eyes darkened with rage.