Chapter 134: Seo Yeon/ Seon-Ho

There was soon to be a Royal Banquet for the Prince's Bang-Gan's birthday...and of course he wanted a lavish birthday party...which I was put in charge of putting together. He had been very laced with me since I started working for him, only calling me when I was needed and even then it was only for small chores...but I had a feeling that both princes were watching my every move. Whenever my man was busy I would always coincidentally notice hi hanging around me although he again spoke a word to me since my brother punched him. But it had been few a few months already since I had started working and I had found out enough of what I needed to know...and decided to put my own plan into motion after my wedding so I would seem less suspicious if anything was to happen to me...

It was the courting period for newlyweds after their engagements but Seon-Ho had nothing to do with the Kang siblings unless they came to the palace and he couldn't avoid them then. There were numerous occasions where she would be waiting for him but he always had one of Hwi's friends accompany him in the Palace to look like he was busy, or sending him gifts but he just gave them to me instead. She had even managed to figure out his days off and would wait fully dolled up in the market but we would either stay in his home and remodel it together or we were out with my brother like old times or we would all even hang out in Ihwaru together just to avoid her. She had began stalking all of us but even Hui-Jee had enough when she had to continuously send out her women to the Kang's mansion for the men who just interrogated them as much as they could about me.

There was one time when we were both in the market together and she wasn't even trying to conceal the fact that she was following us. Our men went off somewhere together so it was only the two of us and Hwa-Wol; Moon-Bok's wife and Hui-Jee's friend who I was starting to become close to. The girls obviously had more experience in dealing with other women than me, growing up in a brothel. At first we were all uncomfortable but the girls had shorter tempers than myself. I didn't even have to say anything. They started messing with her and I loved it...and I loved them more for it. At first it started with addressing her arrogance loud enough for her to hear; Hui-Jee had worked for the Queen before so she started bragging about how close they were, putting Nam-Kyu and why wouldn't she be? The Queen was her and her family's only life line, their source of false pride and financial income. The conversation then went to her brother's inability to keep a job despite all the concubines and children he kept locked up in his room, to the mother's affairs with the servants whilst the father had racked up a gambling debt so high and that's why they had their eyes on MY husband as they were always addressing him from now on. This enraged her so much that she bang charging at us but not before she started exchanging blows with Hui-Jee but she locked her arms before we all took a hold of her and threw her into the river in front of all the men to see who were too stunned to do anything.

We were both reprimanded a lot by the Queen who was very obviously trying to get me out of the way but suddenly both prince's would intercede on my behalf. More than once I found myself ambushed my place maids, set up by superiors and even whipped for things I didn't even do. I tried to hide it from everyone as much as I could but I my brother and lover had known me for so long that lying was useless to them. But strangely...they didn't say anything about it anymore, they would just look at each other before having Hui-Jee tend to my wounds. I knew they were up to something but I was usually too tired or upset to ask them about it, not that they would tell me anyways. And Seon-Ho could only inform the King so many times before his patience wore thin before probably disallowing the marriage.

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There was going to be another Royal Banquet; an annual party where all members of the Royal family met up in the midst of their busy schedules, a party that Bang-Gan put Yeon in charge of. I knew that Bang-Won couldn't get out of this one so I had to act fast; I ordered my servants to steal some of her materials she had no choice to beg me for them back in public making sure it reached the ears of the right people. And sure enough, she turned up at my office beyond furious. I gave her an innocent look before she tried to strangle me in anger but I held her arms in mind and straddled her on my lap until she calmed down "everything is just a big joke to you isn't it? Are you really having fun with this? Are you that bored that you need this kind of amusement?" I held her face in my hands to make sure her eyes were on me the whole time "what did you expect? Until I secure you, this is how it will be. You should be grateful that I'm taking your investigation seriously...if I didn't, I would make sure you were living in hell until you surrender yourself to me" and with that I bent down for a kiss that distracted us from real life for a few precious moments, I hadn't had her to myself for such a long time...

After a while I felt her pushing me away; something was definitely wrong I could tell "Will...will your fiancé be attending the banquet with you?" She asked with her eyes peeled to the floor. Every time Nam-Kyu was brought up I felt myself squirm with discomfort. I looked a her and took her in my arms "I have no choice my love" I replied sadly "You know I've done all I can to keep her as far away from myself as possible...but the King chose her himself." "I know" she replied just as morosely as I felt the sincerity of there words. I felt my ptsd rushing back, turning me into a much darker version of myself. Yeon...she definitely had some idea of what was gong on although I hadn't discussed it with her yet, but I'm pretty sure she felt me change in that moment. I felt her tremble a little but she backed up slowly and looked me in the eyes...before she barricaded my door and wrapped herded around me "its ok...do what you need to do..."

She was in my room for more than an hour in total, much longer than I planned on keeping her there. I apologised to her after we finished but she gave me my favourite look; the one where she completely understood. I kissed her again and sent her on her way with the materials I stole off of her...and I began to panic as soon as she left. I couldn't believe I let myself get out of control like this, especially when we were at work together in the palace. I couldn't let this go on, especially in the condition she was in...thankfully she had such a small frame, her swollen belly wasn't showing yet...tonight had to absolutely go as planned, despite both Bang-Won's presence...and 'my wife'...

It was a stressful week for sure; I had to personally check that she wasn't straining herself too much a few times causing even more whispers and rumors do to their work. 'Someone' had apparently seen her coming out of my room after a long time and before lunchtime the damage was done. I had stupid notes sent through my door making up ugly things about her which I kept and had my men investigate. I only had one chance of getting things right...and I needed everything I could get to help my case. Of course my 'in-laws' got wind of this but I had managed to avoid their letters and meetings about the topic...and they didn't dare to ambush me as I was with the King a lot of the time. By the time the banquet had rolled around, I was tied to Yeon with rumours of our relationship for another 2-3 months.