After months of harsh winter and rambunctious spies who dared to break into her home, Yoona was able to finally piece her life together. The last months of her return, the estate had grown deteriorated, plethora of scary stories circling it. Having heard the scary stories of how her beloved father had disappeared with only a left leg of his shoes found beneath the hill, she was surprised so many things had happened in her long absence.

In her room with her little maidservant Seohwa, a surprising invitation to the emperor's cousin birthday gala arrived with another note attached. The stage had been set for her and only missing was her, the main protagonist.

Surely she was excited but was undeniably nervous. News of Daejong was blocked out leaving her in the dark. She figured she didn't need to wait for him any longer, she would find him this time around and if he's still asleep, she would wake him herself.

A knock came in ushering in her beloved brother. "Orabeoni" she cooed as she rose to lay in his embrace.

"It's finally here. I'm finally about to take my destiny in my hands."

He smiled confidently at her as he stroke her hair one last time, a gesture he would never perform in his lifetime as she would leave their house that day and only visit as a high and mighty royal family, probably as the highest ranking woman of their land.

"I've always known you as one hell of an ambitious woman. Strong and powerful in all ramifications, you're a woman undeserving of any mere mortal as only the one at the highest seat could march your wits and grace."

Yoona playfully jabbed his lower ribs as she smiled bashfully, "You described an immortal being not me!"

Jae-hyuk pretended to stumble on his knees as he replied playfully, "I don't have a sister, I only have a goddess you buffoon!" They laughed to their heart content and soon it was time for her to finally leave.

Once outside, four bearer palanquin awaited her with few unknown palace maids. Grand dowager really left no stone unturned as her arrival would be subtle yet grand in it's way.

With her beauty outshined only by her intelligence, Yoona used her good looks and personality to charm her way into the heart of those who came to serve her. She was skilled at getting people love her and this she had made the bedrock of her politics games. She had only relied on Daejong all this while yet she was disgracefully flung out of the palace, this time around, she would rely on her prowess and build an unchallengeable power base with Daejong's power as an extra toppings in a well prepared pizza!

"Depart!" she heard the chief bearer announce as she was lifted up in the air, her journey uncertain. Pulling her curtain a little bit, she saw her mother wipe at the corner of her eyes and her lovely brother's solemn face yet it deterred her not from embarking on this journey.

....

Airs of festivities filled the air, trumpets, drums, bass, zithers all made harmonious music. Dancers all dr.a.p.ed in colorful garbs gallivanted around the palace, musicians weren't left out in the fun, drummers paraded themselves, kitchen staff were almost overworked and so many other departments weren't left out in the fun.

The palace itself oozed of opulence, extravagance, grandeur and splendor. Every single thing seemed sparkling with shiny l.u.s.tres, flowers weren't left out in the fun, every single part of the whole palaces seemed to have received a quantitative care and pampering. Truly, celebration was rife in the air and why not? The emperor was up from coma and almost healed from his injuries, the empress would finally be appointed that day, dowager was celebrating long life and prosperity of her family and lastly, it was prince Yang's birthday. The day was so auspicious nothing could go wrong.

...

The palanquin already arrived the palace and made it through the gate with less ceremony. Yoona was starting to relax as they headed straight for the grand dowager's palace when they ran into a disastrous hiccup.

"Who's in the palanquin?" a nonchalant voice asked. Her fingers froze as she knew too well whose voice it was.

"Greetings your highness," they all chorused and the palanquin was lowered.

Lady Seo-yun smiled good naturedly at them and elegantly walked a bit closer with her sweeping gown and entourage. "At ease," she said enjoying the moment as she was overly excited about the day.

"You still haven't answered," her gentle voice reminded but was met with an awkward silence.

"Insolence! how dare you keep my mistress waiting!" her chief and favorite courtmaid bellowed at them. Seo-yun was getting worried and almost apprehensive, why was the situation giving her an ominous feelings. Bile rose in her stomach pit as she tried to slide the curtain herself to view who was inside.

"It's my younger grand niece, Consort Suk" a voice arose from behind revealing the grand dowager empress all glammed up in her robe. Her emphasis on lady Seo-yun's title warned her to mind her level.

Seo-yun smiled at the old lady as she unfastened her fist. "No cause for alarm, your majesty. I only cared to investigate the identity of this person for security reasons."

"You're no guard, Consort Suk. I'm sure they already did their job at the gate, " she bit spitefully at Seo-yun.

"I'll take my leave then since your majesty can vouch for this person," and off she took with a low bow.

At a faraway distance as the palanquin departed with the old lady, she looked back and couldn't shake off her ominous thought as the grand dowager's defensive stance and the unknown identity of the guest perturbed her.

"Don't let her actions bother you, my lady. After today, she would never dare speak to you in that manner." Seo-yun smiled at her chief maid and off they zoomed to the birthday gala, the unhappy event shoved at the back of their mind.

...

Grand dowager's palace became frantic as they all got to work on her command. They dared not slack off in their duty as she wanted perfection, Yoona was almost thrown into a bathing tub as rose and herbs simmered in the tub and emitted fragrance. Her body was scrubbed and massaged for her, her hair was washed thoroughly, dried and combed to perfection. The maids worked like ant batches as groups were created for each task and each moved as the other completed their tasks. Her fabric was of the highest fabrics befitting her skin color, her jewelleries were top grade. Grand dowager spent a fortune just to ensure success of this mission. Yoona's make up was done to perfection her beauty was almost dripping. Ladies were shamed a follow female could drip with grace, men were awed at the descent of an angel, truly, no words could quantify her beauty and grace.

"It's time , your majesty," Yoona said as she let her behold all that she is; a true paragon of beauty.

"Yes, my child," grand dowager cried in joy. She never birthed a child but her feeling of euphoria and pride were on par with a real mother. She was grateful to Yoona for making her experience the joy, it felt as if she dolled up her daughter and was about giving her away.

"Yes, child. Let's show them how this things are done."

Their fingers interlocked like real mother and child as they took their first step but an unexpected event befell them.

"Your majesty!" a maid breezed in, "Report has it that soldiers are headed this way. The dowager gave order that you should be confined till an empress is named by his majesty!"

"Min Hee!!!" the old lady screamed, her hand lacing on her neck to suppress a sharp knot. Was everything she did going down the drain before she even placed her chess?

Yoona caught and held unto her as she led her to lay in her bedchambers. In the thick of the moment, she already sent a secret missive to maid she turned spy.

"Myung-ok, she has ruined everything," the grand dowager lamented with bitterness.

Yoona smiled calmly unsettling the lady with her unperturbeness. She wondered why she looked so confident but was yet to find out Yoona didn't come to play.

"My first official name is Kim Yoona. Myung-ok is my professional name but I prefer to be referred to as Yoona from now onwards."

Grand dowager nodded weakly.

"I would also like to inform your majesty, I wouldn't let all your efforts be fruitless. Somehow, I will find a way to meet with the emperor today, I assure you."

Old lady smiled in gratitude she got a powerful ally and though they were at the edge of losing everything, she still was satisfied the lady was too good and confident.

Half an hour after they were surrounded by soldiers, a long awaited message came in for Yoona as the soldiers allowed people to come in but not out.

Yoona tucked in the weak lady and left behind her maids as she met Jae-joon whom her earlier message was for.

"How is the security?" she asked him.

"Very lax. Probably because she knew the old lady won't resist."

She nodded and left to change her clothes. She wouldn't dare ruin the beautiful garment as she would have to climb the garden wall to escape.

...

At the birthday party, dowager empress raised her glasses and proposed a toast, while still toasting, she announced to the emperor and guests of lady Seo-yun's intended performance which she has practiced while taking care of the emperor during his ill health.

He nodded with lackl.u.s.ter as an approval.

Shyly, Seo-yun came up the stage and apologised for any mistakes as she hadn't properly practiced due to her busy schedule. He cared less as he wanted the performance over so he could officially appoint her as his mother suggested. He wouldn't deny the fact she suffered sleepless nights and emaciated while taking care of him, he wouldn't also overturn his mother's emergency appointment in his place and if Seo-yun hadn't vowed to officially become the empress when he announces it himself, she would already be adorned in red and sitting besides him as his official wife. In all, the party was just a charade to confer her with the title.

As soon as she walked on stage of the grand hall, a warm melodic tune wafted through the crowd. From behind someone played zither with such fervour that the weight of the melody became thick in the air. From then onward, Daejong who looked invincible became transformative , an act that was recorded by the royal historians. They wrote, "The emperor's expression was like a dead wood in the desert till a sunshine-like melody sprout a leaf in his body and transformed into oasis of happiness."

Seo-yun was dumbfounded as her zither was yet to be strung, who would dare steal her limelight! Her eyes roamed around for the culprit and could only find her when the melody stopped and the stunned crowds parted way to reveal her nemesis. Seizure almost possessed her as she regretted not taking precautions against moments like this but she was rendered helpless.

Daejong's eyes never left her as she strode through the crowd to the centre. She was brilliant to look at; from head to toe, she appeared to have been carefully crafted out of clay. Her skin glistened in the evening sun, and the way she moved with such grace and poise was utterly captivating. Her statuesque beauty radiated perfection and he did what any man would have done in that situation; he stood to receive her.

Seo-yun felt so small as she stood side by side with her, her striking pose was nothing compared to hers and at that juncture, she regretted not accepting the title earlier on. Yoona never looked her way once as her gaze rested on the emperor as though the stage was made for her.

"Hwangje!" the dowager screamed pleadingly to shake him out but he was determined.

"Guards seize that woman!" she frantically cried.

"Stand down!" he growled and she knew the battle was lost before it even started.

In desperation, she could only play a dirty politics so as to salvage the situation and disrupt him from conferring the title on the bitch.

"Arrrrrgggghhhhhh!" she fell in a pretentious faint and ended the party as her maids whisked her off with the emperor on their heels as a filial son. Nonetheless, his hands were deeply interlocked with his woman as they both raced to save the dowager empress.

The party ended abruptly as guests dispersed home with tales to tell the world and Seo-yun, poor sweet Seo-yun wept on her father's shoulders in regret.