The Royal Concubine (please read edited version)

"His Royal Majesty"

   *This story is discontinued on this book. HOWEVER, there is a revised version with the same name. Please go to the new story to read. Thank you!*

         All the blood rushed to my head. He was absolutely beautiful. The man on top of the throne was undeniably made my the gods themselves. Hair as dark as coal matched his equally dark eyes. Eyes that now pierced through the room in a rapid anguish to meet mine. They turned hard as stone when catching my gaze. His dominancy was suffocating the room, filling it with lethal power. He really was one hell of an emperor.

His stare became too much to hold and I gave in. Cowardly, I not so gracefully dropped on my knees. I reached my arms to a point in the ground, bowing in the most vulnerable way. "Presenting Concubine Mo Hye-Rin, a present for Your Majesty" a scribe bellowed. I breathed sharply. Since when was I labeled as the shiny new toy for the Emperor? I stilled, hoping no one had heard my protest. I stayed bowed in uncertainty in what to do next. Footsteps were echoed across the throne room and they slowly moved closer to me. I shut my eyes, praying he wasn't going to take me to his chambers just yet.

"Rise" a deep melodious voice rang right above me. I froze once more, I wasn't ready to meet his dominating eyes again. The whole room gasped in disbelief once my disobedience was noticed. What was I thinking? I should stand as instructed but I stubbornly didn't listen. I opened my eyes in fear and noticed his gold covered feet, shoes fit only for the noble. Would his feet kick me in the face now that I wasn't listening to the king?

"I said RISE" he raised his voice in a powerful roar. This time my learned instinct took over and I wobbled onto my feet. I was weak and disgraced. Luckily I had enough sense to keep my head bowed and kept silent. His hand shot to my hair and he gently made me look into his eyes once again. He observed my face carefully for a minute and it took everything I had to not flinch from the storm he was. My heart rattled in its cage when he spoke.

"Scribe Jung Hoseok"
"Yes Your Majesty?"
"Take Lady Hye-Rin to her room."
"Of course Emperor."

The Emperor let go of my face only to graze my sleeve. The heat from his hand was unnerving but I managed to keep looking straight into his eyes. What was he going to do to me? He looked me once over before basically pushing me away and turning towards his throne at the front. I should've felt relieved but instead felt cold rejection. "Make sure she takes off all of that makeup on her face, she doesn't look normal" the Emperor continues.

Tears gathered but I shoved them down, now wasn't the time for that. I gathered the grace I had left and bowed one last time. The scribe who had presented me walked over and took me to the doors.
I felt the heated glare of "His Royal Majesty" on my back the whole time.

I felt like my insides were flushed and the world was a blur. A numbing ring sounded in my ears and I struggled to walk. The humiliation the king had made me go through was nauseating. The scribe kept looking at me sideways, curiosity filled his bright eyes. I looked forward, trying to regain my senses and at least look decent in front of the scribe. The akward air enveloped around us, filling my lungs with claustrophobia. The young scribe spoke up in an earnest tone noticing my fidgeting, "Don't take the Emperor's words too harshly, Lad Hye-Rin. His personality isn't always appealing."

I'm taken back in surprise, "Who are you to interpret the Emperor?" My response sounded harsher than what I meant and I felt a little guilty. Still the king is a king and it's not common for anyone, especially a mere scribe, to critique him. The scribe simply smiles in my directions and stops midway between the pear trees and lily ponds.

"I apologize Lady Hye-Rin, I am not the one to talk so freely but I wanted to offer you some comfort madam." He chuckles and sweeps his gaze over the pavilion, "I've been alongside the Emperor since he was young, I know him to a strong extent and I have seen him go through hard and joyful times. He's the way he is for a reason, and I dare ask you to give him a chance. Maybe you'll see past the fire."

Once again I'm surprised. I didn't expect his response and I didn't know how to reply. For a few minutes we sway in the wind, watching the exquisite work of the royal garden. I knew I had to give myself up to the beast that was the king, but I didn't know if I could one day care for him. I was a concubine, nothing more. I wasn't even going to get a formal wedding, I'd be lucky to have a ceremony before being taken. I would never wear the bride's traditional red gown. Is that what this scribe was proposing? That I actually feel for the king? Unsure of what he's asking, I decide to nod in response. "You'll see" is all he says before delivering me to my chambers.

My chambers are a classically adorned in royal colors. Deep reds and rich golds imprint the kingdom's crest, a reminder that I now belong to the crown. Maids upon the request of the king's passed request, rid my face from the heavy powder and paste. I walk into my tea room refreshed and with normal skin. I learn that the scribe's name is Jung Hoseok and he had actually in fact grown close with the king, enough to the point that they were labeled as friends. Apparently his royal majesty confided in Hoseok the most. The palace maids, unlike the ones at my household, were more open to gossip. I spent tea hour thinking about the bold scribe and his unnerving question.

By the time the sun set, I was polished once again. The maids bathed me in almond milk and rinsed me with orchid infused water. They kneaded my skin thoroughly with an assortment of soft smelling crèmes until I was as smooth as satin. In difference to this morning, I was less proactive and was innocent in appearance. My hair was unusually let in my soft waves, no court lady wore her hair down, even to bed. It was puzzling but the maids convinced me to let my hair down.

The maids finally left me to my racing heartbeat and my nervous thoughts. I knew what my job was as a concubine but I was unsure if I could complete my task. Tears fell as soon as I was left alone but I quickly wiped those away. I wasn't going to be shown as weak anymore. The nation's success lays on my shoulders and I couldn't afford to let myself feel. The hours seemed to drag on but my mind didn't. I laid on the expensive layers of fabric and clutched the flowy curtains. I was finally becoming a little afraid of the outcome of this night.

After hours of tossing and turning, I finally gave into relief. It looked like the Emperor had more important matters to attend to. I sighed and tugged cold silk sheets over myself. It looked like tonight was safe.

"Rin! Look it's a jewel." I was dreaming and my deceased sister Lida shouted in my ear, shoving a cut jade piece into my palm. I couldn't move and I realized smoke was forming my sister and fire red orbs were her eyes. My controlled body pet her smoke cheek and watched as she dissolved into ashes, the jade turning into fire. This was only the beginning of my dream and I found myself in a flame-made maze. Looking down at my arms, I saw scorch marks mark my skin. For what seemed like eternities, I yelled my sisters names losing myself in the impossible maze.

"Mo Hye-Rin" a sultry voice yelled, waking me from my mind traps. I immediately sit up and open my sleepy eyes. It takes me a second to acknowledge the shadowy figure in the corner. The shadow steps under the moonlight and I immediately see the king. Am I delirious?

He beckons me to him and without thought I do so. This must me a dream since the king hadn't commanded me and I had obeyed without complaint. As I join him under nature's spotlight, I'm thrust into a steel embrace. Panic seizes me when the Emperor ducks his head into my neck. I push him away just like he had done to me this morning but I'm not successful. This only encourages the Emperor to hold me tighter until I fold like a butterfly into him. Seconds pass and we're both breathing hard. He throws my hands over his neck and I brush my palm over his soft hair. My eyes widen when he reaches towards my robe strings. One calloused hand digs into my loose hair and he breathes against my neck. I make no move and remain a coward as the king pushes the top of my robe back. When I'm partially exposed and air makes me shiver, is when I finally break. I close my eyes as tears for the third time that day, spill through my lashes. I push harder until he locks an arm over my back. In that moment I felt like broken glass and all I can do is pray that it's quick.

Emperor Min-Yoongi does the unexpected when he catches a tear on his finger. I open my eyes even larger when his hazy eyes sharpen. His pupils widen, "Such a pretty rose, too bad there are thorns." I don't have time to think, just as he had arrived, he had also left. A blink later and the king was gone.

I faintly remember tying my top tighter than normal and laying back in bed. Sleep never took over but the Emperor's words replayed all through the night...

A/N:
I hope this left you a little confused
Love Lori :)