THE KING’S ARRIVAL

In the evening, Lady Baek had instructed the other attendants to prepare everything necessary for the king's arrival. The girls prepared a nice and warm bath for their mistress and applied a lot of skin soothing lotion, powerful enough to intoxicate the father of the nation. They washed her hair and dried it gently allowing the long and very silky hair loose without hair pins or hair dress. On her face, they applied just a facial lotion, it's night already, she doesn't need any makeover. Her beauty alone is enough to do the magic.

Aside preparing the royal noble consort, they prepared the bed with the best materials, they also prepared good food, snacks and nice drinks.

The king always loved to play chess game, but Suk-bin instructed them not to make it available. She wanted him to give her the full attention she urged for before the storm comes to sweep him off his mind.

Immediately Lady Baek sights the king, she runs in the her lady's chambers with a lot of happiness and excitement. "Your majesty, the King is here." She says with a lot of excitement.

"Really?" Suk-bin asks and stands. "Let's go out to receive him." She says but unfortunately, the king walks in just in time. "Your majesty." She says with a bow.

"The king your majesty." Lady Baek greets with a lot of bows and smiles.

"Lady Baek, it's nice to see you again." The king says with a broad smile.

"Your grace are immeasurable your majesty." Lady Baek says with a bow and smiles.

The king looks round the chambers. "It's feels so good to be here again, it hasn't changed much."

"Yes, your majesty." Suk-bin replies. "Have a seat your majesty."

"Alright." The king accepts the offer and takes his seat as the eldest in the room.

"I will go now your majesty, please let me know if you need anything." Lady Baek says and bows.

"I don't think there will be a need for that, I trust you to have made the preparations of all I might need."

"You flatter me so much with your kind words your majesty." Lady Baek bows and walks out slowly.

Suk-bin sits opposite the king and she feels shy being in the king's presence. Instead of looking at her visitor, she decides to look at the food and drinks her attendants had prepared. The food items were served in various plates and placed on a very large stool.

The king notices his mistress is somehow shy, maybe because they haven't been in that manner for a while. He gently shifts the stool of food which was the only thing between them to the side and drags her closely to him, close enough that she can actually feel his breath and hear his heartbeat. The father of the nation locks eyes with his heart owner and he smiles. "Sulhee."

It sounded like magic to her ears, after a while. The king is looking straight to her eyes and calling her her name. She has always loved that and told the king to refer to her as Sulhee whenever they were alone. "Your majesty." She replies with a smile.

"It's been so long, isn't it?" The king asks as he runs his lovely fingers through her hair.

"Yes." Suk-bin nods. "You have claimed to be busy but I have a feeling that you are avoiding me on purpose."

The king closes his eyes and sighs. "I am sorry about that."

"It's fine your majesty, I know you are doing it all for my sake. You are avoiding me on purpose to stop me having issues with the queen and queen dowager alongside their supporters."

"I am glad you do, you are so smart and considerate. I deeply apologize for making you pass through all these things. I am sincerely sorry about that."

Suk-bin gently stretch forth her palm and places it on the king's face. "You are most welcome your majesty. Will you like to fast the food and drinks I have prepared earlier for you?"

"No." The king replies and shakes his head. "Instead, I will like to have a taste of you." He says and turns off the light which is very close to him.

"My lady, look!!! The lights are off now." One of the attendants says calling the attention of Lady Baek.

Lady Baek nods and smiles. "Yes, let them enjoy themselves. It's been a while already."

******************

About a dozen of men lines up in front of the prime minister Lord Yoon.

One of them steps to the front and bows to him. "My lord, we are set to go."

"I will not give room for any failures, make sure you kill Suk-bin Choi and get that letter, is that clear?" He asks sternly.

"Yes, my lord." The men choruses and bows.

"There is nothing to be afraid of, we have the queen dowager's support and protection, no one can punish us even the king his majesty himself." Lord Yoon sighs. "Just like we have discussed earlier, I have informed my men at each gate you are going to pass through, they will let you in immediately you get there. All you have to do is to fight the guards at Suk-bins chambers and kill Suk-bin herself then get the letter." He smiles. "After that, I will reward you handsomely."

"Yes, my lord." The man who stepped forward earlier replies with a bow. "How many guards do you predict will be at her chambers?"

"Not more than six,another fun thing is that I am sure they aren't prepared for anything, so it will be so easy to take them out."

"But." One of the men standing in the line with the other men cuts in with a little bit of fear. "What if we are caught?"

Lord Yoon moves to the man who just asked the question standing opposite him. "Are you sacred?"

"Yes." The man nods with fear.

Lord Yoon quickly grabs the sword from one of the men and stabs the naive looking man. "You don't deserve to be a warrior then." He says after stabbing him to the death and twisting the sword in his stomach gently.