A difficult decision
No relationship is all sunshine,
but two people can share one umbrella
and survive the storm together.
anonym author
Greenish eyes, a delicate face with a virtreous complexion; characteristics that would have complimented him, if he was a woman.
His blonde hair was much longer than it had been before, braided in a plait falling down his back. This person still tended to wear white clothes with barely any kind of jewellery. She was glad, though, that he was not that kind of king, decorating himself with the work of his subordinates.
Still even after all this time, she considered his face to be looking like tofu!
Other men at his age were sharp-featured faces gave them an alluring masculine air. In comparison to these splendid specimen, Soo Won didn t look much different than before.
His delicately chiselled features and his tendency to smile in a very graceful manner unfortunately didn t provoke the effect Lily wished to see in a male.
He…of course…He must have been different in his youth. Even now complicated feelings resurfaced in her belly, when she thought of that man.
General Geuntae. Her first love. About 2 years ago….Everything changed then.
Lily would have laughed at herself, if it had not been an all too dramatic reaction. After all General Geuntae, the attractive, masculine Geuntae…the one man, she had wished to marry, had been already been taken from her before she had had even the chance to gain his love.
Already married. To a beautiful, cute, nice apart from her beloved friend, the nicest woman, Lily had ever met.
If she had been a man, then she would have been interested in that kind of fine lady with such a lovely face and even lovelier character. Yes, she would have chased after her as a man and even would have been a rival to the man she loved! loved? Did she still love him? Even now?
Two years ago, Lady Yunho, the most beautiful lady in Geuntae s eyes, had born a sweet princess. A girl with Geuntae s dark complexion and her mother s eyes.
Eun, meaning "kindness, charity, mercy" combined with Ji, meaning "earth, soil, ground."
Eun-Ji, the sweet daughter of the Earth Tribe. Lily had expected Geuntae to be a little shaken. Not a boy after all.
But no. This person, her beloved man, had had tears in his eyes, when his glance had met for the first time the sweet figure of his new-born daughter.
In her eyes had been tears as well, when she had heard the women in her father s house talking about that event.
"Can you believe it…A guy this big in tears! Now, I remember him in his youth. Wow. I can tell you, that guy had a couple of affairs!", the old Dora had told Gyeong, a new apprentice.
"And now?" the other woman had asked.
"And now? He just has only eyes for one woman. The sweet lady Yunho."
"So,she has cured him?" In Gyeong s eyes had been sparkles, in her eyes had been tears.
"You can say that!" had been the commentary of the old Dora.
It had been the end. Lily had known that. But the end of what? There has been never anything between them and most likely won't ever be.
Still…talking in the present form, Lily? Aren t you already done with him? Get over it, Lily!
Approximately 2 years ago, at his birthday party, yes, in the night of King Soo Won s 23 th birthday.
That was the moment her fate had begun.
The Night 2 years ago, Soo Won s 23 th birthday
Lights were sparkling like the stars in the sky. Fine garments and jewelry adorned the nobels, the elites of Kouka, standing together in groups. A banquet for his 23 th birthday..it was not just a simple event, it was also a possibility.
The king has been unmarried for many years. The reason for that was unknown, but als not important. To be the Queen of Kouka, the wife of the king, that was the aim of the daughters of many nobles.
In many cases it was merely their fathers wish, but Tetora had told Lily, in fact, there were many women, who desired him as their husband.
Lily was not one of them. She has never had the dream to be a queen, nor did she wish to marry that man.
Her father was determined. Just like the current of water...sooner or later, he would achieve his goal.
Shaken...if it hadn t been for Geuntae, she most likely would not have been there. However, that man s child changed everything and nothing.
That man had never been hers. But all those years, Lily had dreamt of it. Of her marriage with Geuntae. But that child had changed everything. The bubble of her dream exploded in her face.
That was why she was shaken and her father knew, when there was a chance, so he brought her with him. To the capital. To Hiryuu Castle, where the banquet for Soo Won s 23 th birthday was held.
Lily didn t like the atmosphere. These fine ladies in her splendid dresses, giggling frivously and gazing at the king, ready to take a part of the meal presented before them. Literally and metaphorically.
King Soo Won merely wore his official royal robes and the crown. Once a year or during other special occasions, the royal treasure was brought out, to be gazed upon.
Keishuk, this spider! She had heard from Yona, what this deadly snake had done. However, he was still the silent brother of the king. Yu hon s first born son.
This person still attended the birthday party, though he rarely was allowed to visit the palace. On the birthday of his little brother, he was still present.
Yona and Hak weren t there. Lily knew that, that is why, she spared herself the trouble to look for her best friend in the groups of people.
Though Lily had been graced with a glance at the Yellow Dragon, passing by and disappearing in the next instant. The Green Dragon was also present, talking with a lady, Lily had met once before. Though the others were not to be seen.
Her father was standing at her side, looking for an opportunity to speak with the king. Lily was also waiting, but for an opportunity to escape her father and his expectations.
She got her chance, when a noble of the Water Tribe was approaching her father, wishing to speak with im about a delicate matter. Lily didn t knew, what they talked about, but she was glad to miss the honor to marry the king.
However, she was alone. Apart from Yona, Lily had no other girls, she could call her friends. Luckily or unluckily, one doesn t know, what of the two estimations would be correct in that situation, she met Tao.
The princess of Xing, has just turned 24 years of age. Still delicate, petite, gifted with a sweet face. She wore a blue, splendid dress for that special event.
Kindly she took Lilies hands in hers.
"You are Lily, aren t you? A friend of Yona, the princess of Kouka?"
Startled Lily looked at the second princess of Xing. She didn t expect to be remembered. They barely had met.
"Yes. Yona is my friend." Lily had to hide, how proud she was to call Yona her friend.
"Oh. How are you? I ve just recently visited Yona in the Wind Tribe. They both are well. I ve also got to see their daughter. Bora."
Lily s cheeks turned pink. Thinking about that cute daughter of Yona and Hak! She was genuinely happy for her friend.
She was so glad about the happiness of her friend, she nearly overlooked her father, searching the room for his swift daughter.
Luckily or unluckily, she ducked down in time, before he could have descried her.
"Are you being followed?" The kind face of Tao turned serious from one moment to the other.
"Well...kind of.."Lily remembered her manners just in time,"My father wishes me to marry to the king."
A smile appeared in the princess face.
"So you are one of those girls, chasing the king?"
"Ah..Mmm." Lily couldn t tell Tao, that she would rather never marry a guy, than him. Not to speak about the topic, that she was not very interested in the position of the queen.
Both would be a little bit to hard on her.
" I would rather say, that is the wish of my father."
"Your rather forced formal speech again, Miss Lily?"
Surprised Lily turned around. She knew that voice and of course. It was him!
"King Soo Won!," both Tao and Lily were startled by his sudden appearance.
" Princess of Xing, Tao, It is my pleasure, to meet you again."
"It is my pleasure to meet you, King Soo Won. I wish to speak with you, about a matter concerning the military of Xing. My sister sent me in her stead."
"Very well, when the banquet will be over, there is a time for it," was the answer of that king.
"So Lady Tao, didn t come to marry his Majesty?" Lily worded her thoughts before actually thinking about it.
First, both of them were startled, but then started to laugh nearly simultaneously.
Shaking his head, King Soo Won declared:"No, Lady Tao here is already married for a couple of years. Look," the king was pointing with his head to to handsome man.
The one at the right, was a lean, blonde guy with pale blue eyes. The supposed husband of Tao. His clothes were exquisite. The one on the left, however, was the one that caught Lilie´´s eye.
He was a black haired man with blue eyes, sharp features, a broad chest. The counterpart of General Geuntae in his youth.
He was clearly older than Lily, maybe already over 30, who knew? His eyes had a dangerous sparkle to them.
"Who?..." The other two people were looking at her...their expressions were surprised.
"Who is that guy, beside the husband of lady Tao?"
Lily had to know. The name of that man.
"That is a trusted friend of my husband. His name is Dong-Geun. Apparently they know each other for a very long time. They both are Generals of our troops. He accompanied me with my husband.
When he first looked her in the eye, Lily knew, that he was also interested in her.
Dong-Geun. Her fate. The reason she should be attending the banquet to Soo Won s birthday two years from that day. Lily is torn between the love to this man and the fate of all the people she loves.
Torn between ther own happiness and the one of the people of Kouka. She will lose the one she loves and will be cast out by the society she lives in. That is what she brought upon herself.
Fiery passion and love had driven her to walk that path. Now she wishes to change it. If not, it will be the ruin of Kouka!
That is why, she had to talk with King Soo Won.
The man she loved, desired to start a revolt. She had already tried to talk with the Queen of Xing, Queen Kouren, but unfortunately, someone had prevented it. She was not able to meet the queen there.
In addition she had been a foreigner in Xing, and the people of Xing still remember Yu hon and didn t trust the woman and men of Kouka.
The year, she had spent in Xing, had been quite difficult. The moment she had eloped with her lover. It had been a scandal and that might come to haunt her now.