Your Majesty {NamJin}

six

Taehyung made his way towards the palace gates, squinting a bit. He was trying to make out from a distance a train of horses and men approaching the entrance. Anticipating a report from the northern magistrate, Taehyung broke into a fast jog when he saw the men coming in, only stopping right outside the palace gate.

One of the men, fully armored in  battle gear, jumped off his horse and bowed before Taehyung.

"Lord Kim," he said, pulling out a roll of paper with the shiny wax seal of the magistrate.

"My good man, what news from the north?" Taehyung smiled, clasping his hands.

"Magistrate Choi commends you. The groups have been terminated and the people live in peace."

Relieved and happy about the results of the plan, he bowed towards the man and patted his iron clad shoulder. "Choi honors me with this news. Thank you."

The man gave Taehyung the letter from the north and began to walk again towards his horse, when Taehyung stopped him.

"Wait, my friend. Why don't you stay here for a spell? Your men must be very tired to have come all the way from the north. Rest here, I know a place where you can water the horses. On my honor," he said, smiling.

The male took off his helmet and knelt to the ground. "You are very thoughtful, my lord. Please accept our service as a token of our thanks."

"It's absolutely my pleasure. Now come, come, out of the hot sun."

Taehyung led the procession towards the stables, where a harem woman was tending to her horse while singing a cheerful melody. At this point, the men had almost completely stripped themselves of their armor -- the iron got very hot under the sunlight. Bowing towards the woman, Taehyung rested his hands on the low stable door.

"Where did you learn to sing like that?" he asked, petting the horse.

The woman immediately stopped and blushed, looking away from Taehyung.

"Please, keep going. Don't stop on my accord."

"My voice is not at all pleasant to hear, my lord. I thought I was alone here."

Taehyung smiled and looked back at the men, settling their horses in the stables. "Well...I'll just have to get you alone with me so you can sing more for me, then."

The woman gasped, and immediately looked away, blushing and stumbling over what she would say next. This was a new feeling for her, a new tug on her heart she had never felt before. She had spent all this time chasing the top spot in the harem that she had never experienced being chased by someone else.

It was a refreshing change of pace.

"I would like that, my lord," she said, looking back up at Taehyung.

Smiling, he tapped on the stable door. "Meet me here again before evening. I'd like to ride with you."

"You have my word, my lord."

With a nod, Taehyung left her at her stable, and led the men to the kitchens.

Pinning half her hair into a simple topknot and letting the rest fall to her shoulders, Seonbi took off all her jewelry except a single silver ring dangling off a chain on her neck. She was kneeling before a mirror in her room, pulling up her riding pants before smoothing out the violet robe she wore over it. She wanted to look perfect for Taehyung, not really knowing why. Something inside her pushed her along, making her pull back any stray hair and make herself look presentable.