Men in love are strange creatures.

Weirdos is the quantifying adjective for them.

Empress palace had never been his favorite place but here he was, singing happily in it and dancing few lovely steps.

As an emperor, he had seen every inch of the palace but wherever she is and would be, is his favorite place.

Utensils, beddings, furniture and every other household materials had been arranged waiting to serve their master.

Standing on his toes with an air of being carefree,he gracefully lifted the curtains in a dramatic way as he would when he performs his first dance for her. As he played further, he couldn't help but chuckle loudly as the feeling of happiness surged through his heart.

The wait, the trials and tribulations are over and soon he believed, happiness shall be their portion till death does them part.

Servants had been dismissed to the outermost part of the palace so as to have moment of peace and quiet, no one knew their powerful emperor's moment of peace was singing and dancing like a maniac, testing out different rooms, infusing his lovely fragrance with the beddings, warming up the bed and checking out different coitus styles and daydreaming.

The chief eunuch whom everyone revered as a reserved man had not only sneaked in some wanton pictures of l.u.s.tful men in compromising positions and actions with women of night life, but had also graduated to a love coach in the matters of bedroom.

Daejong couldn't help envisaging how his wedding night would be, how the subsequent days would be and how he would lovingly cripple his beloved on the bed.

He had endured enough loneliness as he respected her truly, but from then onwards, she would be in trouble; his trouble.

While he was having an alone time, a servant informed him of Seo-yun's audience which craved for an indulgence. He wouldn't have a woman other than his Myung OK grace their wedding room before them, so he stepped out to listen to whatever she had to say.

"Your Majesty, honour it is to be graced by your presence!" she bowed respectfully and lovingly stood to gaze at his eyes, but the aloof expression on his face made her fearful.

Without even acknowledging her greetings, he threw out one emotionless sentence at her.

"What is it?"

For a while, she stood still barely looking at him.

What has she done to him?

From the first moment she saw him, she loved him for himself. His handsome face, his humility and gracefulness, his good manners and whatever qualities that made him an attractive man.

She had vowed to have him, win him over and make him fall at her feet.

She was a proud woman yet she gave up her heart, soul and coldness at his feet and she hoped her beauty, her skill, her sincerity and her identity as his consort would help accomplish this ends. It shouldn't be difficult as her father taught her, given an opportunity any woman could make any man fall in love with her. She would give her best shot.

Daejong is a full-blooded man, right?

"Your Majesty, there would be no love between us if you push me away so badly without realising my worth. I know I may not be the best of woman for you but I can make a very good empress. My father told me all that transpired while I was so young and he's regretful of everything and hopes your Majesty forgives him,"

He raised his eyes to assess her properly, she was really dressed beautiful and in Myung OK's favorite color but it didn't appeal to him as it was worn by another.

"Minister Choi told you he's sorry? are you drunk this afternoon?"

Seo-yun shuddered at his coldness but wasn't deterred by her mission.

"All I'm asking for, is for you not to drag my father's feud between us. I am my father's daughter, yes, but I'm still your Majesty's woman whether you acknowledge it or not. I just want your Majesty to treat me warmly and not as an enemy!"

Her tears fell pitifully making his heart soft. He doesn't know if it's because she's wearing Myung OK's color or because what she said had an atom of truth, but he really didn't like her crying so openly in the presence of the servants.

Seo-yun, the only daughter of Choi sang-min was a very proud woman according to what he had seen.

"What do you want me to do for you?" he said at last but it wasn't in such cold voice he used earlier on.

She didn't know if he had fallen for her plan so she decided to test him. After all, men are really unpredictable.

"I want to sing for you in your garden, your Majesty!"

She dared not ask to sing in the empress palace as he would think she has ulterior motive or even her own palace as he might take it literally as an act of seduction.

"My royal mother told me once you had the best voice in the whole of Shu, I would like to confirm," she looked up at him with bright eyes, one that evoked compassion and beamed happily.

"Really? what would you like to listen to, old classic, folktale or ballad?" she rambled on.

He laughed surprisingly.

"Sing whatever that pleases you!"

"Then, I shall sing something that shall touch your soul!"

He smiled silently, then walked towards his palace by which she followed suit with her maids and musical instrument.

The garden had a perfect ambiance for the occasion so only refreshments were brought for the emperor.

A pleased expression overspread on her face as she saw his sincerity.

"I only have one request my lord, may I come nearer so I can get enough inspiration to fulfill my promise by looking closely at your face?"

He didn't think much of the situation and just nodded nonchalantly.

She came nearer, positioned her white fingers which shined on her zither so that he can see, her eyes were filled with passion and her long neck was in perfect symmetry with her shoulders, her beautiful face seemed to be reflected by the golden ring on fingers which was stroke by the soft glow of the sun. It was picturesque that his heart softened but not to anything close to love.

Then her voice rang melodiously, so magical, so beautiful, so sweet and lovely; such a voice was what was ascribed to angels and he listened, charmed even against his will.

She sang one touching ballad after another until tears formed in his eyes. She sang of everlasting love, a love that stood true to time, a faith that was never broken and the love of a man to a woman who stood almost forgotten by time. She also sang of a promise of a man to his beloved wife vowing never to love another even in death.

The songs took him all through his life journey and his experiences, his world turned to remember all he had promised her and the renewal of the promise, 'Till death do us part'.

You have earned my respect Seo-yun, thanks for reminding of everything I love.

"Your Majesty, there is an intruder!"

Then the spell was broken, it was as if cold water doused out a fire. She turned towards the entrance and wondered which bastard dared disrupt her moment.

Seo-yun's face flushed in slight anger and she stood up, but the sudden emergence of a man who had kicked down the guards sent her running to Daejong for safety.

He didn't budge, he just pushed her gently away from his crotch and turned to face the intruder as he was backing the entrance, but what happened next surprised both Seo-yun and the backup soldiers and shadows.

The emperor smiled so widely at the man and called him friend.

Jae joon knelt before him in supplication and cried.

"They refused to grant me audience so I had no choice as it was urgent!"

Daejong was too overwhelmed to mind such trivialities so he asked him a happy question.

"So you've been with Yoona all this time, hope she has arrived safely?"

"She's been missing for sixteen hours!"

Daejong pushed Seo-yun totally away from him and grabbed him fiercely.

"Missing, how, where is Yoona?"

"Taken by strange men!"

He bit down his lips as he listened to Jae joon roughly narrate what happened.

"Chief eunuch! call my army commander and deploy all the soldiers, every single one of them shall go for a search party!"

Chief eunuch stood like a mule without budging. "Your Majesty, our nation's security shall crumble if every soldier is deployed, I suggest we use only '04 batch' and the police! Daejong was almost mad with fury for being ignored but knew he was right. It's better to use his secret force but it would expose him too as it might be a trap. What if they were headed towards the direction the kidnappers wanted?

But for her, if necessary he will cut out his limbs.

"Jae joon!"

"Yes , your Majesty!"

"We ride for the scene!"

And they truly ran out, forgetting the day's activities and Seo-yun whose nails had been broken by pressure.

She tried wobbling after him to stop him, but somehow knew it was futile. She was with him, yet another woman resided in his heart!

...

In a well furnished room which had the best antiques and collectibles in the world, a man sat crossed-leg over an unconscious woman whose legs were on casts.

She seemed to be having nightmares as her face contorted sometimes, making the non-scaring herb rubbed on her bruised face crack.

He gently wiped off her cold sweats, washed the handkerchief and squeezed it dry before wiping her hands. His heart fluttered with each action he did, he touched her forehead to feel her temperature and frowned.

"Hey old man, you said the fever would be gone by now!" he barked at the man standing quietly in one corner but regretted as she winced.

Holding her face, he wiped off the tears flowing out of the corner of her eyes. He felt her beautiful lips tremble and came closer to hear what she mumbled.

"Soon... Soon... Soon..." she continued in her unconsciousness.

He got quite upset with it and tried standing but found her hands holding his tightly. She looked so vulnerable his heart melted aspirating every anger he felt earlier.

He sat closer to her, used his free hands to retrieve her portrait, the real thing looked more legit than the portrait.

"Baby, I might get really angry if you keep mentioning another man's name before me."

She winced again making his heart bleed. "It hurts."

"I know baby, I will spill their blood for you. All those who made you cry a river shall cry ocean of tears, I promise!"

A man hurriedly walked in and whispered to him, then left.

Excitedly, he held her beautiful face like a fragile porcelain doll.

"Baby, I have your man's news which shall delight you. I know you've been itching to hear from him!"

He raised her head gently and pecked her cheeks. "They say he's coming to get you and he's coming with very bad people. You know, I have trying to know his true power but he's been elusive. Thanks baby for giving me an opportunity to get my desires!"

He tried to kiss her lips but stopped, what's the fun in kissing an unconscious woman even if she's attractive?

"I shall let you kiss me when you're up, for now let's make do with pecks and hugs, OK?"

He grinned evilly, then adjusted her lying position to make her more comfortable.

He stood up to leave and in that moment, his eyes were transformed to evil itself.

"Daejong, you took my bait because of a woman? Do you know you've made yourself vulnerable and my ambition easy?"

He replaced his mask as he made his way out, Daejong has really offered an opportunity he cannot miss.

For once, heavens are on his side