Competition.
Endless rows of commoners had huddled up on the outskirts of the arena.
Families brought along with them jute mats that they placed on the gravel, by the fences.
Children running around, catching glimpses of the race horses, admiring the set of saddles, hoof covers and brushes kept aside the stables.
Today was an integral day for King Min Yun Ki.
Something he'd been preparing for, for the past 8 months.
The Inter-Kingdom Horse Racing.
He'd invited Royalty from out and about Baekmin, to a congenial match.
The Royal Families had been summoned into Baekmin and pride was at stake.
Yun Ki saw this initiative as a PR move, to whitewash the image that his Subjects had painted of him, which was that of a ruthless Tyrant.
They'd see today, how Yun Ki could be the perfect sportsman, extending a hand towards the ones he'd excused as his foe.
Of all the Royalty that had entered the vast Kingdom of Baekmin, Yun Ki was most concerned about The King of Silkim, Lee Min Hyuk.
The man he'd sent back decapitated heads of his citizens and spurned the hand of friendship extended to him years ago.
Yun Ki was well aware of how Lee Min Hyuk was - extravagant, ignorant, egoistic and if he thought about it more, he was a lot like Yun Ki himself.
That's what he hated most and that is exactly what made Lee Min Hyuk so easy to read and predict.
This wasn't the first time they'd met.
Yun Ki had partaken in the Royal Horse Race the previous year, held in Goryeo Kingdom and had lost, terribly.
Lucky for him, he'd been practicing night and day with Casper.
His hands were calloused and rough but Areum loved how they felt against her neck, anyway.
Yun Ki had shipped in leather saddles from England and reigns from Germany, just for this event.
He'd adorned Casper's hooves in the most comfortable hoof boots, ones that were both durable and comfortable.
He made sure to groom Casper's ash grey forelocks with brushes made from the the finest synthetic fibres.
He had masseurs give Casper's hind legs and back massages and essential oil baths.
If one thought Min Yun Ki was spoilt, they hadn't seen his Casper.
Most importantly, they hadn't seen Yun Ki with Casper.
It'd leave them dumbstruck.
Yun Ki was focused.
Today was about him and he'd let nothing get in his way this afternoon.
It was him and the finish line.
So when he walked into the Arena dressed in Breeches (Horse riding pants), eggshell white made of the best Lycra and a black cotton vest, that hugged his body and sleeves cut off mid arm, exposing his pale white skin and the blue vessels gaining a prominence over his expanse, he had heads turning.
His ash grey hair were tied into a tight sangtu (top knot).
His face was adorned in a golden mask, blue and red rhinestones adorning the sides of the mask, forming an arc under his eyes.
He looked like quite a sight and the young unmarried women lined up by the fences, pushing each other, just to catch a sight of the Young King and his bewitching physique, his streamlined body tapering down to his thin waist and the Breeches clinging onto his thick thighs, the muscular outline for everyone to gawk at.
Since he'd usually be dressed in oversized Hanbok, no one knew what lay beneath the layers of thick clothing.
Yun Ki steps out into the arena, walking along the perimeter of the circular fencing, bowing and shaking hands of the commoners who'd come to see the gathering of royalty.
They were star struck, watching how intimately their King met with them and touched their bare hands with those of his own.
Once Yun Ki was done gathering the blessings of his Subjects, he walked to the his stable, to tend to Casper and check his condition.
The announcers welcomed and ushered in the Kings from various Kingdoms and districts.
"Seonsaengnim, all okay with Casper?" He asks, scratching the back of his horse's head.
The instructor gives him an all clear, patting Casper's back, enthusiastically.
Just as Yun Ki is gathering some last minute pointers from the instructor, he hears the waiting room open and guards from Silkim walk in, with no prior intimation whatsoever.
"Min Yun Ki or should I say, His Majesty Min Yun Ki." A gruff voice spoke, causing Yun Ki to scoff.
It was none other than Lee Min Hyuk.
"If it isn't the most obnoxious, Lee Min Hyuk-ah." Yun Ki responds, hands crossed over his inflated chest.
"Oh c'mon Yun Ki, I'm older to you. Can't allow you to drop the honorific, yet. Besides that, I am the guest of Baekmin, aren't I?"
Yun Ki tucks the loose strand of his hair that had fallen atop his knot, behind his ear.
"Honourifics are earned, Hyuk-ah. In Baekmin, we respect actions and duties. I wouldn't know what happens in Silkim, of course." Yun Ki mocks.
"You wish you knew Silkim. Oh, we did happen to see a lot of shanties and huts on the way. Ah, good old poverty stricken Baekmin. They're down to their bones yet won't extend their arms out for alms. What a pity. Don't worry though, I'm sure this event will garner enough attention and you might just stack up some revenue from us Kings. We're always open to charity." Min Hyuk responds, a sly smirk adorning his lips, his perfectly sculpted hawk eyes, staring down at Yun Ki.
"Hyuk-ah, you needn't worry about Baekmin. You could try and work on your concubines. They've been trying to migrate to Baekmin ever since I've took to the throne. Something about their King not being enough of a man, I've heard.." Yun Ki fires.
Min Hyuk lets out a laugh, staggering over to Yun Ki and whispering into his ear.
"I heard your wife refuses to sleep with you. Something about you being an absolute douche. At least I have 7 wives, full and engorged with heirs for the Kingdom. You however, just as barren as I remember. Pathetic, really..Besides…" He twirls Yun Ki's loose strand around his index finger.
"-Besides, what would happen to Baekmin if I beheaded you this instant, Yun Ki-ah?"
He mocks, Hyuk's breath hitting Yun Ki's face and in an instant Yun Ki pulls out a blade from his vest, causing Min Hyuk to retreat back, hands raised in defence.
"Lee Min Hyuk, don't deliver threats that you can't stick to. Your father was just like you, never stuck to his word. A certified all-star backstabber. At least he had balls of steel. You however, just a man who stirs up false claims and threats. Haven't you heard, Wolves don't loose sleep over the opinions of Sheep." Yun Ki retaliates, running a thumb over the keen edge of the blade, drawing blood out of his thumb and raising the thumb adorned with the open wound gushing out rouge, before Hyuk's wide eyes.
Hyuk lets out a nervous wheeze.
"I knew you were deranged, just wasn't sure of the extent. I've seen it with my own eyes, today. You're just trouble, Min Yun Ki." Min Hyuk says, walking out of the tent.
Yun Ki laughs hysterically, "Don't run away just because you're intimidated. Bloody coward."
Sucking in his thumb, the iron tinge coats his tongue.
——
Now that Min Hyuk had brought up Soojin into their conversation, Min Yun Ki knew all too well that he wouldn't let this go.
Besides, how did he know that Soojin and him weren't in a consummated marriage?
Hyuk would try and talk to Soojin and well, she was an open book.
He'd read through her in a second.
Yun Ki couldn't let his weakness show before that rascal of a man.
He sent out a maidservant to summon Soojin into the tent.
He had instructions to give out.
Soojin was in her chamber, being dressed in red.
She would be playing the role of the supportive wife, this afternoon.
She smiled at the reflection before her, as a gold studded neck piece was embellished around her neck.
"Queen, what's this red mark on the crook of your neck?" One maidservant asks, as she's feeling over the bumpy contusion.
Soojin knew all too well what it was and just having it probed by her helper was sufficient to have blush creep over her cheeks.
It was Bohoja's mark over her.
The way he'd pinned her hands down to her sides, shoving her frail body against the bark of The Cherry Blossom tree that night, nipping biting and sucking into her skin with unwavering love.
It was a keepsake from her lover, a sign of infidelity.
God, she wished she could flaunt it in Yun Ki's face.
"U-Uh, It's a rash from the pendant I wore 2 days ago." Soojin replies as her maidservant covers it up with pressed powder, overlooking it.
Just as the pearl studded pins were being dug into her hair, a maidservant excuses her presence in her chamber.
"Your Majesty, Crowned Head has requested your presence in the waiting tent. He's ordered of me to accompany you to him." She says, hands folded in gratitude, head bowed.
Soojin looks at her help through the mirror, signalling her to work faster.
She wondered what he wanted of her, just before the event commenced.
She knew what she had to do, act affectionately, fool him.
She had to have him wrapped around his finger, just as instructed by Bohoja.