My Ultimate Ambition

The dazzling snow had freshly fallen; cold and powdery ice went up to her knees. As they navigated through the forest, she tried to remember whether to turn right or left when she returns to destroy that place. Prince Song also took note because he would like to investigate the hideout.

"Yoona?" he broke their undiluted silence as he reached to hold her shoulder. "What were you doing in that hideout?" She stopped in her tracks, her gaze unwaveringly fixed on him.

"You weren't there to save me? How did you find me if it wasn't the emperor who sent you?"

The absurdity of the unexpected question unsettled her as she thought he was sent specifically to find her.

"The emperor? why would my brother send me to find you?" he paused as realization dawned on him, fear and disbelief battled fiercely in his mind. It can't be, right?

"Do you know my brother?" his heart pulsated feverishly in his chest, his palms sweaty as he hoped she was not the Yoona his brother sent him to find?

"Yes, I do. We're set to marry on my return." Song hoped his heart had bursted sending him to the great beyond. How can everything he ever wanted fall easily to other people's hand, yet he struggles to have them?

She saw his struggle, wonders filled her heart as she didn't understand his defeated looks, shouldn't he be happy he found his brother's woman for him?

Song grabbed her fiercely on her shoulders shaking it vigorously. "Not you too, you shouldn't belong to him. You'll suffer terrible consequences if you choose to be his wife."

She experienced vertigo from his vigorous exercise and shrugged off weakly.

"You think I don't deserve to be his wife because I have mixed blood and not worthy of his love?

Song shook his head at her misunderstanding, coming closer to her so that his sincerity be felt he mellowed down, " Not that, you're most worthy to be an emperor's woman, but you're not cut out for fierce and bloody competition. Palace is rife with strife, jealousy and evil people whose hand is filled with bloodshed. You're too innocent, naive and precious to me."

"I belong to the emperor alone. Prince Song, I appreciate your concern but I wish to return to where I belong right now!" she walked briskly past him but she was held back.

"Would you have chosen me if I was the emperor?" and she responded automatically killing off his last succor . She will choose the emperor not because of his title, but because it's him.

"Why can't it be me?" he asked dejectedly.

"In this lifetime, I'm destined to one man alone."

He found his poor heart a little excited, "Will you choose me in your next lifetime?"

She smiled nonchalantly at him but every word from her were serious, "I'll choose him over again."

She left him behind as she found her paths to her beloved. He who was rejected found himself abandoned by heavens, again.

She made a stop somewhere, a place she always wanted to visit before continuing the journey to her beloved.

...

,

Emperor Daejong sat in his chambers reminiscing on all the events that has happened so far in his life. When they chose a day for her wedding, he thought it would be a day they remembered forever. He imagined a decade of anniversaries and lifetime of love.

Nonetheless, the day they would have officially become husband and wife, he was struggling with the thought of making another woman his wife so as to save her. Now, the day he expected to celebrate for the rest of his life became an ordinary day he would choose a tricky woman.

"Chief eunuch, summon the dowager empress and the officials, today, I must make a decision."

He didn't even smile nor cried as his chief eunuch bowed to receive his royal command. He won't even regret this decision because she has always been his top priority.

As he stood up to leave for council meeting, he clutched his chest as an inexplicable pain razed at his heart. Dismissing his panicky servants, he marched off for the pain passed in a split minute.

Lady Seo-yun heard the news of the emperor's new resolution and ran out of her palace against better judgement. She deduced whatever decision he makes should be firsthand received directly by her. As she marched out to stay close to the council room, she saw the emperor passing by with his full entourage. The sudden encounter made her fall back behind the pillar, her entourage doing the same. It wouldn't bode well for her if he saw her and decides to take unfavourable action against her. It might seem she's winning but it's best not to provoke him.

From behind the pillar, she peeped out to admire his moving back like she had always done but never expected him to stand still in his tracks, his gaze focused faraway. She dragged her eyes to the direction of his sight to see her nemesis and nightmare in full flesh and blood, bittersweet smile gracing her lovely face.

Colors drained from her face as she witnessed the emperor striding in all majesty towards her. Like a dream, he enveloped her in a bear hug as he lifted her up her feet, kissing and pecking her.

Freshly manicured nails dug into her palm as she rushed towards them to disentangle them. Heaven can't be cruel to her for she had staked everything she got on being the empress.

"Hwangje!" she turned to see the dowager striding with anger towards them. It seemed the battle wasn't over yet so she remained transfixed to watch the drama.

"What are you doing in broad daylight? Hugging a mere courtmaid in the presence of all? Hwangje, have you no shame?" she bellowed.

The emperor gently laid his lost but found woman on her feet as he turned to address his mother, but reacted sharply as the dowager raised her hand to hit Yoona.

"Mother , what are you up to?" he growled at her but Yoona threw herself heavily at him, both of them rolling on the ground and an arrow swishing past them.