CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, So brought the makeups kit just as early as it was needed. One after the other, Baek-Hyun concealed the scars on the three girl's body. One had it on her shoulder, the other on her knee and the last on her elbow. "where did you learn this?". A girl asked Baek-Hyun. "my sister has many of these on her body and so to keep her out of trouble with our parents, I just do this all the time to conceal the scar and thankfully, it usually worked a lot". "We don't know how to thank you enough So". Baek-Hyun said with a deep smile on her face. "it's my pleasure to serve you my Ladies". "and you too Baek-Hyun. We are so grateful". One of the girls said on the behalf of the others. "But do you think it will work?". Another girl asked Baek-Hyun with fear in her eyes. "I trust it would". Baek-Hyun replied with an overwhelming confidents that swallowed the doubts on the other girls' minds.

Just as So predicted, they were checked for scars and no girl from Ji-Seok fortress was disqualified. But others were even though it was few. That incidence left the other girls wondering if the Ji-Seok girls were that lazy or the scar bearing ones were already disqualified in their last class. They stared at the Ji-Seok girls weirdly but that wasn't their problem. The kept rehearsing on book balancing and the Ji-Seok girls did quite impressive because they put their minds to it and no one wanted to be disqualified. At the end of the class, Baek-Hyun walked straight to Lady Ki and apologized for her excesses on the previous day. "I totally understand my Lady; first day here could be really overwhelming". The woman had replied and had taken liking to Baek-Hyun immediately firstly because she thought she was beautiful and secondly because no other girls had gone to apologize to her and she didn't expect it though.

It was a happy day for the Ji-Seok girls. For once they decided to think less of anything that would ruin their euphoria. That night, Baek-Hyun tried going to her brother again but she failed. It was dawn on them that they were never going to see their families again. But thankfully, Baek-Hyun came up with an idea. "I don't think we are going to make it in the night. What if we try going in the day time? Nobody guards the door during the day time." Baek-Hyun suggested and the rest of the girls agreed. The next day after their training, another girl with the name Bo-Bae was sent to try. Baek-Hyun gave her a pep talk on what to do and she was really good at it. She went to the guard and purported to be lost. Through her shamming ways, she got the soldier to show her the way to the dungeon but at last, she didn't make it to the dungeon. Little did they know that Lady Ki was watching them and she discovered them. "looking for something?". She asked the terrified girls who jumped with utmost shock. "No Lady Ki, we are just on our way going to the chamber". Baek-Hyun lied. "I can see that". Lady Ki said in a way that made and few other girls know that they have been discovered. They started walking away to the direction of their chamber but Baek-Hyun stopped. She wanted to confined in the woman. "Lady Ki, we were in search of the dungeon. We would like to visit our people before we are declared as the Emperor's property". She said in a reluctant yet confining manner to the woman. "Baek-Hyun". Lady Ki called. She wanted to get her full attention, so the other girls can listen as well. She was quite an observer; she had noticed that the other girls in Ji-Seok followed Baek-Hyun's footsteps carefully and she did wish to know why. "you don't have to put yourselves at such risk. If you are caught down there, you will be punished severely for defiling the Emperor's warning". Lady Ki said to them in a very kind and convincing manner. "But you know what? you would be permitted to see your families five to four days before your marriage with the Emperor, just be patient". Lady Ki said to lighten their mood when she noticed the sudden mood swing. "Thank you Lady Ki". Baek-Hyun said calmly. She had always been able to have her mood in check. "it's my pleasure to help my Ladies". Lady Ki replied. "Why are you helping us?". Maya asked the woman. "Because I hate it when something bad happens to my students". Lady Ki replied, bowed slightly and walked away. "I don't like her very much, she looks cunning". A girl said. "yeah me too, I feel same about her". Another girl said. "do you think that perhaps, she is hiding something from us?" Bo-Bae asked Baek-Hyun but another girl answered. Baek-Hyun never intended to join the conversation so she just stood quietly to hear their opinions about the woman. They all gave hate comments about her except Maya who was always liking anyone that smiled sweetly at her.

A week later in Gi kingdom, things are going as usual in the dungeon. The Ji-Seok people were scared of what might have become the fate of the young girls that were taken. Man-Chun had constantly told them that they were going to be wedded to the wicked Emperor, but the older people refused to accept it and kept forbidding the idea. As for Kyong, he knew that he might probably never see his sister again but he hoped that she lived fine. None of them made an attempt to escape because the last person that tried was killed in the same spot which he was caught. The man was not a Ji-Seok citizen but all the people in the dungeon had become one. After all, they were all from Seok. It was only the fortresses that differed. The great kingdom of Seok had many fortresses, under the leadership of their king, they were mighty and exercised togetherness. But after their King was killed, Yong-Sun, the next in command took over the reign immediately and labelled Chi-Yang, the young commander a killer because the King died in a war when he sent reinforcement to Ji-Seok fortress. He abandoned the fortress and many other fortresses to the ruins of other greater nations, because when other nations discovered that the fortresses were abandoned, they would go to war so as to take over the land. That was why the other fortresses had refused to join forces with Ji-Seok fortress to fight Gi.

On the other hand, the Ji-Seok girls were now near perfect in their movements. They walked elegantly, talked less and when they did, in a queenly manner, they got used to not running and they looked to adorable in their dresses when the seamstresses had returned them. even though Baek-Hyun had asked for only white dresses, she ended up having black hanboks as well. When their measurements were taken again, she asked for red dresses. All the girls in her chamber had red dresses, so why would she not, and she didn't want to look odd.

The wedding ceremony was fast approaching and all the girls were nervous once again just as Lady Ki had warned them earlier. Constantly, the Ji-Seok girls were unhappy, but getting close to the wedding meant getting close to seeing their families so that alone pushed them to be stronger. "tomorrow, we are going to see our families, then next tomorrow, we are going to meet the Emperor and then get married to him and none of us wants that". Baek-Hyun said to the girls and they all nodded in agreement. "I know what we must do, we must hang ourselves by our legs and slit our throats". A girl said and it elicited so much laughter. "no, it's simple, we are all going to get our scars on that day". Baek-Hyun said with a very serious face. "wait, you are quite serious about that? So we are just going wound ourselves so not to marry the Emperor?". A girls asked frightfully, "what else do you intend to do?". Another fired at her and everywhere fell quiet. "Don't you think that when all the Ji-Seok girls comes out with scars on the same day, we would be discovered and who knows what will befall us?". A girl suggested, "but not doing it will get us married to the Emperor". Baek-Hyun pointed out. "if marrying the Emperor means getting to live fine without trauma and pains, then I'm not inflicting such pain on my body and still end up being killed". Bo-Bae said and walked away. "me too, after all, I have no family to live or fight for, so why the struggle?". Another girl said and walked away as well. Then another and another and another. Till all the girls left remaining Maya. She was frightened but she wanted to do what the multitude did so she joined them. Baek-Hyun stood her ground. "and here I was thinking that Ji-Seok would sacrifice anything for their family. If I had stayed with mine, maybe I wouldn't lose any". She said and walked out of the chamber. That night was a quiet one and the next morning too. There was no training the next day. Just breakfast and then nothing. They were all waiting to be called upon to meet their families, but nothing happened. Then midday came, then afternoon, but nothing happened. Baek-Hyun was so disappointed that tears were about to drop from her eyes that evening but there came a knock on the door. It was time. Baek-Hyun smiled to herself because if they hadn't come to get them, she would have given up. She was tired of fighting, fighting for unseen things and things that just refused to happen. She was so happy to finally see her sister, she looked so thin and her brother too, the tears that she was holding back finally dropped. She didn't only cry for her brother and sister, she cried about everything. Later, she saw a man at the corner having no family or anyone to talk to. She walked to the man and was shocked about who it was. "you are alive!". She exclaimed half happily and half sad. "should I be dead?" Man-Chun asked her back with his usual serious face. "so what, you are just going to remain here, won't you do something to get yourself out of here?" Baek-Hyun asked him. "the last man that tried died". Man-Chun replied simply. "How is your paebaek (a Goryeon wedding) with the Emperor going?" Man-Chun jeered her. "How is your stay in the dungeon going?" Baek-Hyun jeered back. "it's going really great". Man-Chun replied. "well, I guess we are even" Baek-Hyun said as well. "I remember you told the commander you don't want to get married, now you are marrying a person worse than the rich merchants that came to seek your hand in marriage". Man-Chun said to piss Baek-Hyun but it didn't even flare her talk less of piss her off. "I can't believe he's dead". Baek-Hyun voiced out and Man-Chun fell quiet. "he left without saying goodbye". Baek-Hyun said again and Man-Chun stared at her before replying with a flare. "that is how they always leave without saying goodbye, it's a norm". Baek-Hyun stared at him in surprise. "Who left you that way?" she asked. "Kid, get out of here, go plan how to get yourself out of that marrying shit". Man-Chun said sounding agitated at her. He didn't like the feeling that she made him feel. She was bringing to the surface pasts that he had buried and cemented deep in his heart and he didn't like the feeling, he hated it that the young girl could bring tears to his eyes. "I'm getting married in two days-time, there's no time to plan because tomorrow, we are pre-meeting the Emperor so that he would demarcate his wives and his concubines and the after day is my paebaek. I almost got myself killed thrice just to come to this dungeon and now I have, you can't give me a solution". Baek-Hyun said to Man-Chun. "everyone knows that the Emperor doesn't marry a girl with a scar". He said but Baek-Hyun pretended as if she hadn't heard it before. She knew that hearing it from Man-Chun would give her more ideas because he is more familiar with such royal culture. "Tell me more". Baek-Hyun said and sat beside him again…

The next day came pretty quickly. The girls were all dressed in prepossessing gowns. All the girls put on their best gowns to impress the Emperor, nobody wanted to be chosen as concubines, so they wore blinding flashing dresses. Baek-Hyun thought it was the right time to put on her white hanbok. She didn't dare dream of being a concubine. The Emperor was already in seat awaiting his brides. With Lady Ki leading the way, the girls walked elegantly and majestically into the hall which was also designed to be the best most of them had ever seen. They all bowed in respect to the Emperor and the rest of the council. "Well done Ki, you have done exceptionally well, I hope they taste as sweet as they look". The Emperor said to Lady Ki with clear lust in his voice and eyes. "It's my pleasure Emperor Woong, to prepare your brides and the future queens of our Great kingdom". Lady Ki said with a pretentious smile. Actually, all the smiles that she posed each time she was training the Emperor's bride and handing them over to him were all fake, she hated Gi with all her heart especially when she remembered how everything was taken from her by that very Emperor, everything she knew, they took it all away. It was soon time for the selection to begin and the Emperor stood up from his royal seat. He walked gently directly to Maya who immediately shrunk at his touch. "Are you afraid of me?". He asked her with a dimmed face. But Maya without thinking twice ran to Baek-Hyun and stood behind her for refuge. "What are you doing?" Baek-Hyun asked in a terrified whisper. "I don't want to get married to him". Maya said in fear. She was too young to be married but the soldiers had already selected her. In fact, Maya shouldn't even be there because she was just in the middle of her teenage age. "Maya come on, he won't bite you". Baek-Hyun assured her but Maya wasn't moved. The Emperor was now staring at Baek-Hyun with a surprised admiration "What is your name?". he asked her. "my name is Baek-Hyun oh Benevolent Emperor, your reign shall never cease". Baek-Hyun said as she genuflected and bowed simultaneously. She hoped to be impressive enough to save Maya of what will befall her. "Baek-Hyun". The Emperor repeated with pensiveness and a smile. Lady Ki was nervous because that has never happened and she feared for Maya and until now, Baek-Hyun. This was a bad omen. The Emperor then said "Baek-Hyun, you seem to be the oldest in …" "In Ji-Seok fortress my Lord" Baek-Hyun completed but Maya sneered at the Emperor. "Not the oldest, she's the strongest and bravest and for that, the most respected among Ji-Seok girls". "Maya". Baek-Hyun called her to order. "I'm so sorry Great Emperor on behalf of Maya, she is but a child". Baek-Hyun apologised sincerely. The Emperor didn't for once take his eyes off Baek-Hyun. He loved her already with passion. He loved the way she showered him with praises and it appeased his heart. But everyone feared for Maya because she had just gave out herself to death. Lady Ki couldn't help but feel impressed with Baek-Hyun. She didn't know that she had that side in her. The Emperor stared angrily as Lady Ki who became immediately alerted and intense. "Ki, how dare you include a child as my bride?". The Emperor yelled and Lady Ki went immediately on her knees with her head bent low "I'm sorry Emperor Woong, I had no idea". "you dare give excuse for your insubordination? Royal guard seize her". The Emperor ordered and immediately, Lady Ki was seized. "great Emperor, Lady Ki didn't make that selection, it was the soldiers that took captive of us, they selected us before we even arrived the capital". Baek-Hyun said out in fright. Everyone stared at her in shock. This has indeed never happened in Gi. Lady Ki stared at Baek-Hyun in outmost dismay. She didn't know why Baek-Hyun was saving her. "are you sure of what you are telling me Baek-Hyun?" The Emperor asked Baek-Hyun in distress. "oh yes my great Emperor". Baek-Hyun answered a bit jaunty than before. "bring me the royal soldier that were put in charge of the operation". The Emperor commanded and immediately a soldier was dragged into the hall and made to kneel before the Emperor, "you select my brides?" the Emperor asked with rage. "take my head at once great Emperor for I do not deserve your mercy". The soldier said as he took out his sword and held it out to the Emperor hoping to be pardoned but the Emperor took the sword and cut off his head immediately. Everyone stared at the headless man in shock. Baek-Hyun felt terrible, that was not what she wanted, but if that was what Lady Ki was going to pass through, then she didn't regret her actions. After all, those people raided Ji-Seok, killed their families and their Commander and burnt down their fortress to the ground. Most of the other royal soldiers stared at Baek-Hyun with pure hatred while the rest with fear. "Let Ki live". The Emperor ordered and immediately, Lady Ki was freed. The dead body was taken out and the place was being cleaned up by the maids. The Emperor returned Maya but with Baek-Hyun's pleading, Maya was sent to be a royal maid instead of being thrown into the dungeon. He began his selection but when it reached Baek-Hyun's turn, he refused to make her a bride or a concubine, he said he will make his choice on their wedding day which was a day away.

Soon, everyone left the hall and the Emperor was alone with his right hand man, Bayan. "Bayan, which kingdom is left to be conquered?". The Emperor asked Bayan. "the Hak-Kun Kingdom your highness". Bayan replied. "we need to conquer it as quick as we can so we would have some peace". The Emperor said then he asked again "what can we do to win without stress?" "your highness, I think we should do it the way we usually do it, get them from inside, it will be easy to take them down when their General is down." Bayan suggested. "what must be done to take down their commander and if possible, their King?" the Emperor asked "I suggest we sent a spy into the Kingdom then he can do the job quietly, Great Emperor." "we have done that a lot of time over." The Emperor roared. "we kept sending the male soldiers, we have not tried our beautiful enchanting ladies, they have the way to a man's heart so why should Chi-Mae be an exception". Bayan said and the Emperor stared at him "why didn't you say this since? You are such a fool." The Emperor said with euphoria. "that is indeed a brilliant idea but our people sent will die." The Emperor complained "that is why I suggest that we should sent spies from among the slaves we have, long live the Emperor but I think we should send the girls from among your concubines, they are not Gi people and their death is not a concern to us". Bayan said. "did I not hear the Ji-Seok child say that the Lady Baek-Hyun is the bravest amongst them, girls like her are rear, we can make use of her". Bayan suggested again but the Emperor became furious with him. "see not thee that my heart is merry with her? I love the way she showers me with all those praises, she is the one true bride that I love." The Emperor said now with a lustful smile. "I apologize great Emperor Woong". Bayan said with sincerity. "I want her to be my queen and to sit beside me Bayan, but just as you have said, we can make her more useful than to just appease me, so I will keep her as my concubine to make proper use of her". The Emperor said thoughtfully "yes your highness, power first and she seems to be very loyal to your great leadership, she will make a great vessel". "you have spoken well Bayan". The Emperor said and stood up. ""Long live our great Emperor; Long live our great Emperor; Long live our great Emperor Woong". Bayan hailed.

After what happened that day, not just other fortress girls that hated Baek-Hyun, even her fellow Ji-Seok girls hated her. They wondered what it was about her that made just anyone like her, some even started acting like her; trying to find solutions to problems but their solutions were always void. "did you see, everyone even wore colourful gowns but she chooses to look unique by wearing a white hanbok and then that Maya of a child even added to her glory when she told the Emperor that Baek-Hyun is the strongest and bravest amongst us. I don't know why she places herself higher than everyone else". Baek-Hyun could hear some girls saying as she walked into the chamber. When they noticed her presence they immediately changed the conversation.

The next day, Lady Ki visited their chamber for the first time. She went to thank Baek-Hyun for saving her and also warned her that she might not be that lucky before the Emperor next time. "I think you should dress in a red Wonsam (a very expensive gown worn by wealthy Goryeon for their wedding) tomorrow, you looked blinding in that white dress yesterday". Lady Ki teased before leaving the chamber. The next day, they were woken up really early but not as early as their regular training days. Baek-Hyun didn't speak much to the girls as she always did and they felt the impact of her silence. They were not allowed to do anything for themselves as they always did and they were all obedient. They were dressed up and it was time for makeup. Makeup was a butt souring exercise that was carried out for hours. Baek-Hyun decided to dress in white that day. Baek-Hyun walked elegantly behind all the Ji-Seok girls. They were the last fortress to walk. The girls that were selected as brides sat beautifully on well-designed seats while the concubines stood at each side of them. Baek-Hyun was made to sit because no one knew where she would later fall in. unknown to them that wasn't Baek-Hyun's problem, all she wanted was to not get married. The Emperor looked impressively at them as he walked in and took his seats. It was only the most influential people in the Capital that could attend the paebeak and they couldn't help but wonder how he would be able to cope with over twenty wives; his former wives not included and his concubines, oh my... But he was an Emperor and he was wealthy enough for even a thousand wives and trillions of concubines. Man-Chun stared at Baek-Hyun supportively and nodded to her from his hideout, she nodded back but Kyong didn't miss that. He turned to Man-Chun and asked "what did you ask my sister to do?". "that is not the question kid, it's more like, will she succeed in what she is planning to do?". Man-Chun said and Kyong turned from looking at him to staring at his sister. He wondered what she was going to do, if only she always listened. The girls looked magnificent. Their looks made the Emperor yawn to have them all to himself as soon as possible. Soon the opening speech was given by the Emperor's right hand man, Bayan and the feast begun. The wealthy merchants drunk themselves to stupor and begun hitting on the girls which were taken from amongst the girls that were disqualified. Baek-Hyun was disgusted and angered by what was happening. Soon it was time, Lady Ki called upon the girls to line up before the Emperor. Once again, Baek-Hyun asked the Ji-Seok girls if they were in but they all disagreed and left her. One after the other, the wedding oaths were being taken from the girls in other fortresses. Baek-Hyun needed to move quick and she knew it, she was just waiting for the right time. Soon, the Ji-Seok girls were performing the wedding oaths and vows. The line was moving quickly and steadily. There was one more girl before it was Baek-Hyun's turn. She was looking for the right moment and it was there. One of the Emperor's older wives was walking past her, she took the chance, she knew she would implicate the woman but she did it anyway. Baek-Hyun took a glass of wine, just when the woman was going to brush past her, Baek-Hyun left the glass and it smashed to pieces, luckily for her, the woman's hand hit her slightly, she took the chance to move, she purposely stepped on her long wonsam and she tripped. She fell directly on the shattered glass. Everyone gasped and starred at the woman accusingly, Lady Ki quickly rushed to her and helped her stand. The woman was shocked and seemed dazed. "What? It's a smear your highness". She quickly started saying to the Emperor instead of apologizing though she wasn't at fault. But it was too late the harm had already been done, since the woman was known to be wicked, everyone that knew her thought that she did it purposely to stop the wedding or to simply cause harm. Baek-Hyun sustained severe injury at the right corner of her forehead. She also had a pieces of the broken cup stocked inside her body on her left arm. She was losing much blood and nobody was tending to it. Everyone looked as if they had been paused for a moment then all of a sudden, they were all buzzing around in full speed. "Get the healer". Bayan yelled at the equally shocked soldiers. Then to the Emperor, he said "Great Emperor, this seems like a bad omen for this has never happened". "seize Lady Bitna". The Emperor shouted in anger and immediately, the woman that was thought to be responsible for Baek-Hyun's predicament was seized by the royal guards. Baek-Hyun did feel sorry for her but the woman looked wicked and truly, she was wicked for she was a giant pain in the ass for all the other older wives. Before the healer arrived, Baek-Hyun had passed out due to excess blood loss. She was taken to another royal chamber that was way more expensive than the one she was in before. the wedding ceremony stopped but no one dared left, they were all waiting for the Emperor's command but none came. Kyong and Man-Chun sneaked away the same way they had sneaked in. They were in such distress when they got back to the dungeon. "Did you know she would do that?" Kyong asked Man-Chun who just stared at him quietly. "she doesn't want to marry the old man. She had once come to Commander Chi-Yang to make an appeal. She said your father wanted to give her out to any wealthy merchant but she didn't want to marry, she said she want to be a warrior." Man-Chun said to Kyong who remained quiet afterwards. After a while, the healer came out and reported Baek-Hyun's health status to the Emperor. "your Highness, the wound is deep and will leave a scar, you cannot marry her". The healer said but the Emperor became furious. "do you now choose who I can marry and who I cannot?" the Emperor roared scornfully at the healer. "No your Highness, but it is a taboo to marry a girl with scars". The healer said but Emperor turned to Bayan and asked "Is there any other gifted healer in Gi?". "Yes Great Emperor, there are many other more talented healers in Gi kingdom". Bayan answered. "Seize him and do unto him what is done to one who defiles my orders". The Emperor said and the healer begun begging for his life at once but the order had already been given. Everyone stared at the Emperor with fear in their eyes. "Scar or no scar, Baek-Hyun shall be mine for she pleases my heart". The Emperor said and left. "Long live our great Emperor; Long live our great Emperor; Long live our great Emperor Woong". The people hailed. "Shit!". Lady Ki cursed under her breath and also took her leave. In the evening, the people were back in the large hall to witness the paebaek of the Emperor with the captive girls. They all looked forward to the Emperor rejecting Baek-Hyun but after they gathered and Baek-Hyun was confirmed strong enough to complete the paebaek vows by the new healer. But Baek-Hyun tried everything possible to avoid the wedding. "No one chooses my bride or who I decide to make a concubine, so today, I stand before the great Gi people who has become this great all thanks to my undeniable great leadership, and I declare that Baek-Hyun shall be my concubine". The Emperor said to the shock of every including Baek-Hyun and Lady Ki. "That is a taboo, you cannot have an affair with a girl with a scars". A council member countered but the Emperor ordered his death immediately. Every other person fell quiet. "I believe there is no one else who would like to oppose my decision". The Emperor said and the whole audience looked around to see if there was anyone who would dare speak against their Emperor's decision. Baek-Hyun almost fell unconscious if not for Lady Ki who gave her support, she would have crashed. She tried so much not to burst into tears. She just nearly killed herself but there was that nincompoop of an Emperor ruining all her effort and no one was doing anything to stop him. "come forward my darling". The Emperor said to Baek-Hyun who was as frightened as one who just saw the true form of death. "Go on My Lady". Lady Ki said to her in whispers and she started walking as slow as ever to the Emperor. "seat beside me". The Emperor said to Baek-Hyun who immediately pushed away all her emotions into void and replied. "oh thank you great Emperor, this kingdom is indeed great because of your exceptionally humble leadership". Baek-Hyun said with an unbelievable smile. It was as if controlling her emotions were her super power because she was so good at it. The Emperor looked at her with much love and admiration. Her truly loved the way she showered him with those praises. The merriments begun but no one was in particular feeling for it. All the girls stared at Baek-Hyun scornfully. "she finally got what she wanted". Bo-Bae said with a jeer to the other girls. "a beloved place in the heart of our husband and a special seat beside him. We are his wives, yet he keeps a mistress beside him". Bo-Bae said again with more scorn in her voice. She now seemed to be the leader. The other older wives didn't know what to think of Baek-Hyun. But they wouldn't say they hate her because she had taken down their biggest problem, Lady Bitna. Lady Bitna was a giant pain in the ass for the older wives and she would have also been one for the new ones.