"Jeonha…"
Old Eunuch Minsoo, said slowly from the other side of the sliding door, his tone deliberate and laced with reverence.
"The Queen requests an audience with you urgently" he continued, his body lowered in a deep bow as the door slid open. The two women at the king's side paused, as he signaled them off. The king was having one of his restorative bath he took occasionally and the women came with the bath experience.
"I wish to see no one, till it's time for the royal court session, he said to old Eunuch hinting at him to dismiss the Queen, with any good excuse he could come up with. Immersing himself into the water again, the women strode towards him to continue their job.
"Of course_But Jeonha, you might want to reconsider as she is with the imperial seal of five."
An expression of surprise flashed across the king's face, having not heard about the seal for a long time since he gifted it to her.
"The seal, what could be so important she uses it, he murmurs to himself.
"What should I tell her, the Eunuch asked knowing the obvious answer, he couldn't refuse the imperial seal of five.
"Let her in" the king stood up from the bath, as the maids who stood at the door robed him.
"Yes, Jeonha", Eunuch Minsoo said as he exited the room.
....
In the king's hall ,Seol Na had settled to a game of Go as she waited for the king.
Few minutes into the game, she heard the familiar voice.
"Vicious as ever Seol Na",the king praised from behind her, settling down at the other side of the small board. Joining her game as both played to dominate the other off the board.
Seol Na spoke first, breaking the silence that defined their intense game.
"Who are you ruling in favour of ?" She asked her voice calm, probing for an answer.
Pausing his hands on the board, he stifled a short laugh.
"You will find out soon anyway, the session is just a few hours away" , he said brushing her off.
"I totally disagree with burning down the village for any reason Seon Tae Ho, we can curb this plague, we just need to recall more forces…."
"Did the Minister of War put you up to this, Seol Na. The king asked in a dry tone.
"He didn't do anything except for being rational..."
"RATIONAL!" he yelled at her.
"Do you really think you and your father are the rational ones. I won't lose anymore resources or soldiers to that damn plague. End of discussion. He said firmly, clearly annoyed.
"Ooooh!. Don't give me that Tae Ho ,you justify your actions as rationality" she let out a dry laugh shaking her head in disbelief.
"It's very disappointing of you and inhuman to burn down those villages. I don't care what you say.
The atmosphere was very intense and bone chilling as a soft thud sounded on the Go board, she had dropped the bottle.
"I want the truth and I want it now, explain yourself"!, she demanded . Her eyes flashed with anger, daring him to speak.
Seon Tae Ho eyes narrowed at the bottle on the Go board, his jaw clenched.
"How on earth did she get a bottle" he thought to himself.
His brow furrowed as a frown rested on his face in annoyance.
In a cold voice, she heard him say
"How did you get your hands on this?" His voice almost in a whisper.
She flashed him an unimpressed smile.