My Ultimate Ambition

Her newfound stardom is still surreal yet as she sits in royal gowns and make-up, she realized she's beginning to feel like a real royal. The glam squad had worked their magic so beautifully she was ready to make her royal debut.

Spring had arrived, bud of the first flower had bloomed. The other seasons were at constant odd __ a hectic transition of power when summer thwarted spring, fall interrupted summer and winter extinguished autumn. Spring and winter, however, had a special relationship: one that was more like an embrace than a struggle for authority. They pass the baton freely, a reminder that fresh starts can be positive for everyone involved.

She was glamorous in her trail as she appeared like a genie out of a lamp. The heads of soon to be servants, which were turned towards the ground pivoted to face her, with a wave of the hand all the followers knelt before her.

For a few days now, she hadn't gone out much but still accessorized her look every morning. For her, it's not a destination or who will see her in them; it's about what they make her feel . When she caresses her necklace she feels delicate and sophisticated, when she looks down at her bangle she feels bold and daring, for her it's a reminder of who she is and wants to be. Daejong visited just once in two days but she wasn't perturbed as she understood the plight he was in, though he customized her wardrobe to have colourful clothes and jewelleries, he still was yet to convince his mother to give her a crown.

There are certain limits to an emperor's power, though very powerful but not as much to overturn the elders of the harem regarding the next mistress of the inner court. If he should overlook protocols, Yoona would suffer consequences and he wasn't ready to let her as he has vowed to never make her suffer.

In the side temporary palace as she was without title, she was particularly lost in a dream of rain and falling leaves when she was awoken by a light tap of a rock hitting her bedroom window. Pulling the curtains aside, she saw him below without his entourage, the grin on his face wider than the crescent moon. In response to his excitement and so unladylike, she hurried into his arms from the window, eager to know his cause of excitement and plan for the evening.

"I've missed you my darling!" they screamed at each simultaneously like teenagers bitten by their first love. In the safe and calming arms of each other, they inhaled the first air of freedom for it was only in each other's presence they felt really vunerable and safe.

"You've lost some weight, they treat you poorly?" he asked with voice pitched high, an indication of a rising anger.

"No my darling, they treat me more than I deserve." She hugged him tighter, extracted herself then twirled around him.

"See? I look like royalty!"

"You're royalty, you don't look like it!"

"You're my woman and mother of my unborn son, everything I have is yours. You deserve more than what I can offer". It sounded more like a vow than a mere promise and he meant every word.

She blushed into her hands as he drew her closer in his embrace.

"You smell so good. Rose, is it? Since when has rose been your favourite fragrance?" he asked, surprised but not annoyed.

"The late empress made me wear it often and I fell in love with it!"

From her waist she removed a sash. "See? It was personally embroidered by her."

A thick knot formed in his throat at the nostalgic feeling of remembrance. His last empress was so innocent, pure, a little sweet creature who did him no wrong, yet...

"Hey, replace it with this, I brought you lavender."

Affected by this conversation, yes! He wants every trace of her gone. Not that he hated her, but he owed her way too much and the guilt was overwhelming.

Yoona smiled in appreciation as she replaced her sash and perfume pouch. Whatever Daejong wants, Daejong would get.

That evening, Daejong had come bearing news and gifts. It had been an evening with a glorious blur, with her man by her side and palace maids treating her like an absolute queen. Cozying up to him with dazzling beaming smile, she let him recount his encounter with his mother and the news of the day.

...

Dowager's palace was spun into mayhem when she arrived in a carriage after ending her son's party unceremoniously. She scrambled to her feet and held unto him screaming and throwing tantrums at him.

"No Hwanje, you mustn't let the witch into the palace. She'll ruin you and our nation and suck out our nectar dry!" Holding unto his shoulders, she let her tears flow down fervently yet his cold heart wavered not.

"Listen to mama for the last time and crown Seo-yun, I promise not to demand anything from you till I die, " she held unto his shoulders her lips cracking up in tremor.

"Royal mother, why do you hate Yoona?" he said softly, his hands disentangling from her fierce grip.

"She's a leech, a low class and a witch!"

Her mouth clammed up when she realized his mood soured but wasn't deterred from making more offensive but carefully carved remarks.

"There's something about her that scares me, maybe it's her tenacity or her boldness for wanting something beyond her reach, maybe it's her eyes filled with pride or her ravishing beauty. I feel like she would destroy our nation. Listen to mother ok? That girl is bad news!"

Daejong huffed as he stared squarely at his mother, "Do you mean to say I'll rule our nation from a woman's skirt?"

"No! that's not what I meant, I..." Daejong cut her off without warning.

"I'll come back tomorrow for this discussion when you're sober. Another thing, prepare the seal, appointment letter and crown, I'll write down the name of one more deserving of it."

He left at the piercing cry of his mother.

"Hwanje! I'll never let her be the empress! Over my dead body would she rule as the harem mistress!" Fat tears rolled off her cheeks as she felt herself losing the battle. She vowed to never let Yoona or whatever she was named become an empress when pure and deserving aristocrat ladies surrounded them. She would make sure of that, and it wasn't just her, other people were on the brink of desperation as the tides turned against their favour.

That night, people saw the legendary fairy with glistening silver wings drop at the heart of the palace. A sombre air fell over the throne as the fairy relayed a chilling message; a dark warning suggesting that an evil presence wasn't just coming to destroy their kingdom but that it had already arrived. After the message, people saw it engulf in flames and it's ashes flying away, leaving no evidence.

That night, Daejong was taught a huge lesson; he shouldn't underestimate his enemies as they would sell their soul to the devil if need be to get their desires. He was skeptical about the manipulator behind the scenes but was more wowed at the level of creativity, how were they able to pull off such illusions?

Narrowing down on those who were vehemently against his union with Yoona, he scratched out his mother from the list. She was opposed to them but she would never use such dark means to get what she wants. She was quite evil but was only up to women's trick not something that would send a wave across the nation as this was purely politics; using the heart of the people and base of his power to disrupt his plans. He realized the few people that might be responsible but chose not to investigate and pursue the matter, at the right time, he would expose them all.

That same night, a message arrived from Yoona's palace urging him to be calm and collected. At that moment, his resolution was reinforced as providence has shown him they think alike and together. A woman able to read his mind was truly the best choice for his nation, why are people so against him?!