27 The Truth Untold.

"Areum-ah, get my robe please." Yun Ki asks as Areum gets up the bed, dressing herself.

She walks near the King's vanity, picking up the discarded robe and handing it to his scantily clad self, sprawled on the bed.

"This is the third jeogori you've torn this week, Your Majesty." Areum exclaims, pointing at the shreds of clothes hanging off of her sleeves as she attempts to dress herself.

Yun Ki ties on the strings of his red silk robe, smiling at Areum's annoyed expressions.

He loved getting cheeky with her and an irritated Areum was a fun one to mock, playfully.

"Areum, I guess you'll need to stitch it back, then." Yun Ki exclaims, turning away from her as she wears back the skirt part of her attire.

"Min Yun Ki! Might you get so cheeky with me right after the heavy petting session we just had?" Areum responds, hooking up the long purple skirt.

"Alright, alright. I'll have a new one delivered to the Concubine Outhouse. Ah Ma will have a brand new one made. Does that sound okay?" Yun Ki asks, seated at the foot of the bed, gathering his ash grey mane to tie up.

Areum walks over to him, leaning down to plant a kiss over his lips, smiling at him.

"You don't put up a fair fight, Yun Ki. But, thank you." She sing-songs, wearing back her sandals.

Yun Ki stands up, walking over to his dressing table and wearing back his wedding band, the red sapphire being discarded whenever he was intimate with his concubines.

He stares at his reflection in the mirror.

The mask adorning half his face.

The rich red silk robe tied only halfway, his pale chest in view.

Areum walks up behind him, hugging his waist and digging her head in the crook of his vast shoulders.

"Ahh Yun Ki, the metaphorical and philosophical aura is back. I should really learn to wrap up as soon as you finish. Lingering in your chamber post our session exposes me to your brooding looks. What's the matter?" Areum speaks, fingers caressing the soft skin over his exposed pecs, petting him lovingly.

Yun Ki grabs a hold of her hands and detaches them from his body, walking back to sit on the futon, leaning his weight on bolsters as he twirls the wedding band adorning his fingers.

She looks at him, confused and a little offended after being shrugged away so rudely.

Yun Ki clears his throat and speaks.

"I believe you had news to deliver before me. Have you come with answers, Areum?" Yun Ki asks.

Areum nods in response, seating before Yun Ki on the carpeted floor, grasping his hand in hers, thumb caressing his palm.

"I have news for you, Master." She responds staring at his hands.

"Well tell me then, won't you? What's caused you to delay this any further?" He asks her, pitch falling by a note, which meant Yun Ki was starting to get serious.

"A-Actually, I don't know how to tell you this. You're not going to be very pleased." She responds, lips sealing in a straight line.

"Areum-ah, I didn't call you here to waste my time so you could keep rambling in circles. I need a name, Areum. It's really not that difficult." He speaks, grasp over her hand, tightening.

Areum tenses up, heart beating fast as she knows this isn't going to end well for Yun Ki.

"I-It's Ryunjin, Master. Kim Ryunjin. Your first concubine." Areum reveals.

Yun Ki glitches.

He stares down at Areum, swallowing the viscous saliva caught up in his throat.

"R-Ryunjin?" Yun Ki stutters and he was not a man who fumbled over words.

Areum nods in response, Yun Ki's grip on her hand tightening as though he's squeezing pulp.

If he didn't stop now, she'd end up with a fractured wrist.

"Y-Yun Ki!! It hurts!" Areum screams and Yun Ki picks her up by the collar of her jacket, so she's eye level to him, their noses almost touching and Areum's eyes becoming glossy at Yun Ki's aggressive manhandling.

"This can't be true, Areum. Tell me you're lying." Yun Ki's teeth clench and his face turns red with rage whilst Areum grows blue by the minute.

"I-I would never lie to you, Y-You Majes—..Please l-let go.." Areum begs, Yun Ki's tight grip over her collar was chaffing her throat and suffocating her.

He lets go, hearing Areum's body flop down over the carpet as she breathes loudly.

Yun Ki stands up from his seated position, pacing the expanse of his chamber, twirling the strands of his hair, that had escaped the makeshift bun he'd made for himself.

"Outrageous, Impossible…" He thinks, out loud.

"It couldn't be…My luck can't betray me so poorly." He stomps his foot in anger, kicking the vase of tiger lilies decorating the entrance to his sleeping chamber, the gravel pouring out of the cracked ceramic.

"Y-Yun Ki-ssi, you need to stop this havoc!" Areum screams.

"I agree, the two of you have had a rough patch. Everyone knows that Ryunjin is the way she is right now, because of you but you needn't address this issue so sever—"

Areum is interjected by Yun Ki sitting down before her on the carpet and clasping her cheeks.

"Areum-ah, promise me you won't tell this to anyone. This can't go out. This news cannot go public." He exasperates, coddling the face he'd abused seconds ago.

Areum's eyes will fill tears as she feels the warmth his palm confers to her and nods, hysterically.

"I-I won't tell a soul. It's me, Yun Ki. Your Areum! You can trust me." She responds, grasping Yun Ki's hands in hers.

Yun Ki leans in, joining his forehead with hers.

"You're all I trust, Areum."

He kisses Areum, before engulfing her shaky body in his embrace.

'Soojin must never find out.' He thought to himself.

'She could never find out that her sister is the mother of his illegitimate son.'

Ryunjin hadn't had the abortion done, in the very first place.