The Royal Concubine (please read edited version)

Putting The Past Behind Us

          "When I joined Park Jimin's regement, I had a quite interesting first meeting with the Captain," Taehyung starts.

         "Yeah, this fool didn't show up to the recruitment ceremony and walked into a private officals' meeting so he could meet me," Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung walk beside the Emperor and I on our stroll through the gorgeous forest.

          Taehyung's laughter radiates off him, "He pulled me out of the meeting room by my ear. After we got outside, he lectured me for quite awhile. I felt like I was getting yelled at by a squawking duck!" His insolence left the Emperor and I shocked. Jimin's face grew red with fury, and he opened his mouth to protest when loud chuckles broke the silence.    

          The Emperor leaned over to bend in a squatting position on the forest floor where I joined him soon enough in our near-to-tears laughter. Jimin quickly closed his lips to form a tight judging face but soon smiles along with us.

          "I haven't laughed like that in some time." I wipe a tear from my glistening eyes. 

         "I'm glad we could have amused you my lady," Taehyung says with a small bow as Min Yoongi and I stood up together. 

         "Please, tell us more about your eventful times," Emperor Min encourages Taehyung on with his ridiculously funny stories.

          "Of couse your Majesty. So, the first time I lines up with the other recruits the next day, the Captain had me stand in the front so he could watch me closely. He than told the story on how one of the recruits was disobedient and walked into the officials' meeting and that he would punish anyone who got out of line," Taehyung told us with wild emotions displaying on his lively face, " After that, we started calling him Swan because the women would swoon over him but he is very aggressive." 

            "Ladies do not swoon over me! I have never heard such a thing." The Captain goes rose red.

          "You both seem to bring a lot of attention to yourselves," I chuckle.

          "Well, I am the captain, it is my duty to execute the desires of his Majesty." Jimin folds his hands behind his back.

          "And you have done an excellent job of that, Captain." The Emperor smiles over to him.

          "It's been my pleaser, your Majesty." Jimin hides an embarrassed grin.

          A sweet wind livens up the trees and makes the fallen leaves dance around our feet. Black birds swim above my head, laughing at how we are stuck on the ground. The other animals calmly stay hidden from our peering eyes, but I catch a glimpse of a mother deer and her fawn prancing through the greens. My brown hair sways in the wind then settles back down on the small of my back. I push a strand behind my ear as it attempted to block my vision. 

          I shift my eyes to see Yoongi diligently watching my form. I was forever safe under his gaze. I sped up my pace to catch his hand in mine, I needed to feel his skin. I wish it could always be like this. But I know it can't. I can only pretend I am the princess walking with her prince. 

          "Would you like to head back now, I suppose they are about done packing by now," The emperor whispers into my ear.

           I give a small pause, " It would be a mistake to want to stay here forever, I guess." He smiles sadly, nodding. 

          Emperor Min called over the Captain and Sergeant Major before we turned back towards the cabin. Yoongi's hair was unbrushed by the forest breeze so I pat it down with a free hand. Not too far from where the trees broke off were maids rushing to prep and ready the cargo to then be returned to the Imperial Palace. Our little private bubble that we had been staying in had to be diminished. For sure there was an enraged, worried court waiting for Min Yoongi back home.

       Though we hadn't enjoyed much time together, I treasured the carefree moments with Yoongi. Smiling shyly towards the ground, I started to walk to the cabin. But before I could move much, Min Yoongi's large hand clasped mine and held me back.

         He twirls me into his arm, hugging me tightly.

         "I was scared Hye-Rin, I was honestly really afraid of what was going to happen to you. You don't seem to understand how much pain you put me through." The Emperor's firm arms bound me like chains. I was a slave to my heart, only wanting to stay locked in his arms. 

          "I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere," I whisper. 

          "Please... please don't leave me again," He asks in my ear.

        "Never again, I promise." 

       The king and I returned home in the same palanquin due to the fact the Emperor followed us here on horseback. He was scolded by the Captain because of how unprepared his journey through the dangerous woodland was. He just looked down at his feet, keeping his mouth shut. I was the only one who knew his eyes twinkled with amusement.

          As I looked up into the clear summer sky, hope grew within me. This time at the cabin was just an obstacle I had overcome. Maybe fate was on my side. 

          I turn to see Yoongi shift closer beside me, his eyes on mine. What I would give to never have to see them hurt again. But sadly, even the Emperor, who was chosen by the gods to rule over this vast land, was human. And like every other human, he will have to go through life knowing there could be a darkness lurking beyond the bend. 

AN- we promise not to kill you like we did the last few chapters for awhile, but we did say this story was a roller-coaster 😉 -Paige and Lori