The Royal Concubine (please read edited version)

Protect

          The Queen hovers over the baby in my arms, but he isn't here. Both my son and I have been cleaned and dressed, but he still isn't here. The crying has stopped, but the king has not come yet.

My son is so warm and small. His tiny hands are mindlessly groping at my hair and clothes. He was the perfect image of a healthy baby.

"My lady, it's time," The head nurse says to me. Her face looks pained, but I didn't know why.

"Time for what?" I question frantically.

She reaches her hands around my son and takes him from me. I am too shocked to protest until she starts to walk out of the room.

"Hey! How dare you take my son away from me," I call to her.

"A wet nurse will be of use now, you do not need to worry about it anymore." She doesn't even turn around.

"I order you to give her back the child; a mother is best for these kind of things," the queen commands.

I stay quiet, no one would disrespect the queen and refuse her. Even if my words weren't powerful enough, surely her's were.

"I am sorry, Lady Hye-Rin, but you are nothing more than a concubine. If this child will be the future king, he should not be a associated with anyone but royalty. This is just how-"

"Enough." The voice I so wanted to hear all day finally spoke.

So calm. So powerful.

His demand is law, the king will not be questioned.

Soon my son is back in my arms and the nurse lowers her head to the ground. "I am sorry Your Majesty, my judgement was flawed."

'Yes it was,' I smugly think.

Yoongi then looks over to me and the child. I suddenly feel cheerful. One minute I'm lonely and sad and the next I'm delighted, all because of this man. I feel like a youth all over again, though I am now in my early 20s.

I was such a naive girl when I met Yoongi. I hated the thought of marrying someone I didn't love. I guess when you're young you feel like you make all the decisions in your life. I now know that isn't true, some things just happen whether you want them or not.

"Come meet your son," I say.

Yoongi seems a bit awkward and stands there a bit longer before coming to my side. He looks down at the fragile body in my hands. Unsurely, he picks up the newborn and holds carefully. The baby doesn't squirm at the kings touch and relaxes in his arms.

I laugh, "It's almost like you have never seen a newborn before."

He seems a little alarmed by my comment, "Well the palace is no place for a young child other than of royal blood."

"I was right?" I exclaim in shock.

"Well it's not my first time," the queen says as the comes over to the other side of the bed. She looks genuinely happy to see the child. It's too bad she can't have any of her own. "May I hold him?"

"As you wish." Emperor Min holds up our child cautiously.

For some reason I feel as though I was reborn. I didn't notice how little energy I had while I was pregnant before now. I'm just glad my life seems to be back on track.

I stay in the nurse's room for a few more days until they feel I am ready to leave, even though I feel fine. The queen visits me a lot; I strangely enjoy her company.