Chapter hundred and eighteen:Reminisce

Shooing away would be the right term to describe Daejong's action to health officials whom he sent to the suburbs on an official duty.

While he was gone, Myung OK observed her entire environment for the first time.

The emperor's dwelling place was truly a marvel and a feast to the eye. The mirth in her eyes couldn't be hidden as she gazed over the dragon's chamber, she admired the huge painting of lily flowers which somewhat drew someone in with it's beauty; the artistry was truly a wonder .

The room itself was hexagonal in shape, there was a flower wreath hung visibly above the dragon seat which was laid proudly at the east side of the room on an elevated platform with stairs, the wreath gave a childish feeling which could attest it was done by a child. Behind the armchair was a sword hanger where his swords laid neatly. Opposite this seat was a rectangular well-polished wooden table which bore the still sizzling dishes and jugs of wine. Rows of short chairs laid on the east and west side of room for visitors .

On its windows was draped the most expensive blue brocade she had even seen, she moved closer to feel it's texture and affirmed her judgement was right. The color suited the yellow paint of the room.

She moved closer to the flower vases and found its cupboard another piece of art . It had the workmanship of a great wood carver who knew his job well, she picked a vase up and sniffed the fragrance of the flower. On the west side of the room was a small shelf painted in metallic white, on its top was an elaborated sculpture of a child. The livid coloring of the ceiling complimented the nude color of the floor and gave a cool feeling to the room while the south and north sides had doors adjoining to appropriate locations, though, the north door was hidden within the huge painting hanging on a supposedly wall.

Myung OK sat down on the bare floor in the middle of the room as it was rude to sit without invitation, though Daejong adored her truly, she would never forget the difference in status and the true respect of a ruling monarch. Enticing aroma of the food sieved into her nose upsetting her hungry tummy but the temptation of food didn't overwhelm her reasoning.

He was out one minute and back but it was enough for Myung OK to make a vivid observation of her entire surrounding .

He arrived to a scene that would have delighted an artist. The girl was so beautiful as she scrambled to her feet to pay her respects due to his sudden but noisy emergence.

She was like a comic muse, vibrant with splendor, fair of face, and filled with sunshine which magnified her beauty. He saw her as the goddess of love and beauty and could see the gaze glanced upon him.

"I hate it when you bow before me, can you not do it when it's just the both of us?" he said contemptuously as though he had never been bowed before.

An expression of amusement came over herself but she agreed nonetheless. She spoke gently and carefully to him as she needed to head back but found him walking towards her with the same wanton desires in his eyes. She shrank from him with face full of sternness and hurriedly scampered away but was caught.

"You are a fine wine filled with intoxication, I have never had this type of desire towards any other living woman, I don't even know what's wrong with me so forgive me each time I seem to lose myself," her face grew ghastly at this information. Daejong has really been celibate after his princess birth?

At her thoughtful silence, he took her slowly and indulgently towards the table full of food. She tried resisting but found him not budging.

"Sit," he said as she tried getting up again, "Please?," when he found her frowning.

Dutifully, he served her some foods on the table, she found the table kinda familiar and remembered the first and only meal they had together. The tables had same menu, same way she placed the napkins and chopsticks, same way the dishes were divided and same way her meals were dished. Nostalgic memories assaulted her bringing back old memories. Watching her all the while, he noticed her change in feeling and reaction and smiled at realising his goal. This will be a new beginning, previous memories would be recreated to have good feelings, old sad things shall be replaced with new memories. He might not turn back time but he can change his future.

"You remembered?" she whimpered quietly and he nodded as he wrapped his hands with hers.

"Every single day," was his reply . "Memories of us was what kept me going. I would have given up long ago but I couldn't give you up and I swear you will be my most precious gift,"

Quietude filled the room, she picked up her chopsticks, sniffed in and graced her pallette with the delicacies. Truthfully, she found the dishes tasty and mouthwatering. After savouring each piece of meal, she found him staring intently at her, her ears became slightly red and her cheeks rosy. Looking for a way out, she heaped food on his plate and urged him to eat but he insisted being fed by her hands.

Steadily but slowly, the meal went down their tummy and was washed down with the white wine. Myung OK looked out through the window to find it's almost noon and panicked.

"Don't worry, you called in sick and won't perform any duties for the whole week," her eyes widened with confusion but was shocked with Daejong's explanation.

"You attended to the emperor, went back because you are not feeling too well and called in sick."

But I'm here, she thought in her mind.

"What I meant to say is spies saw you come in, got out and went to your house; you are no longer here," he assured .

Awestruck by him, an unoriginal fear held her; a man that can create such illusion is to be feared, for the first time since her arrival, it dawned on her there is really someone to be feared.

He called his servants to take away the used dishes which got him a questioning look.

"Don't worry, all my people are well trained and do not see what they shouldn't see neither do they say what's inappropriate," she relaxed but remained awestruck.

"Yoona?" he suddenly called her first name which sent chills down her spine.

"Is it deep?,"

Her brown eyes met his in surprise. He knew? She acted innocent and asked him what he meant. He didn't speak, got up which made her swallow a lump and drew her up. He touched the outer part of her thigh without lifting her garment.

"I meant this, here," she chuckled embarrassedly and pushed his hands away.

"It's nothing, I've actually taken care of it,"

He retrieved his hands and released his weak grip on her, went to his cupboard, took out a non scaring balm and handed it over to her.

"A woman shouldn't be scarred, especially a good woman like you," he paused. "Never you hide anything from me again. I deserve to know everything about you, OK?"

She smiled, nodded and agreed to abide , but deep down, she knew there were secrets she would never tell him...now.

He lightly perked her forehead and held her close to his chest.

...

In a desolated mountain, a man stood expressionless watching the ruins of what used to be his campground. The men littered on the ground didn't evoke pity not sympathy from him, instead anger for the loss of his fine men came over him.

"You couldn't handle a simple job?" he asked a man who knelt fearfully before him. In a state of anger, his master has always butchered men for as little as making eye contact with him.

"Forgive me master, the emperor was stronger than we knew. Men of high martial dexterity ambushed and disrupted our plans and they were his"

Empty words fell on deaf ears, he wanted results not excuses.

"Did you at least manage to negotiate with him on our freedom of operation?" the silence that followed suit answered his question.

He turned to leave the spineless men but stopped at a thought. "Who was the woman that claimed to be his empress?"

"We have no information on her" the man said but saw a ray of hope. Happy at the chance of redemption, he begged his master to allow him sketch the lady's portrait.

"No need, you didn't kill her as ordered," he coldly stared daggers at him but heard him mutter she was really beautiful.

"Sketch it," he ordered abruptly. He wondered what type of woman Daejong allowed to claim the title, whether she is his plaything or just a situational woman he wants to be sure of which.

Few minutes later, a painting he would never forget in his life surfaced. The master who had never shown any element of surprise was seen with whirling ripples in his eyes, at the moment he was almost lost in the strange feeling, a voice brought him out.

"Young master, the old lord is said to be on his way home!"

He turned to his right-hand man with his strange and incomprehensible expression and gave him a task.

" I want every information about this woman. Search around Daejong and the whole capital, she will surface!." He ordered for another sketch as he folded the first one in his sleeve and commanded the lady be brought once found.

The man nodded vigorously and wondered how the young lady had offended the young master, but something didn't augur well with him, why did it seem like his young master was in love?

He shook his head like one shaking off toxic thought. "It's impossible for a brutal and bloodthirsty beast to fall in love, especially one starved of love himself," he defended himself.

He turned around to glance at the master one more time to confirm his suspicion but found him expressionless.

Was it all an illusion?