"Hwanje! I concede defeat. I'll accept her as your concubine but definitely not the empress."

The dowager empress had woken that morning to degrading accusations of upsetting the peace of the palace and of course, the nation. Vehemently, she rebutted the accusations but the fiercer she defended herself, the deeper she dug a hole for herself.

It's been a flurry of emotion for her as the temperature around the room dropped with the fact her son threw allegations at her without warning. To take the sting out of the chill she accepted to take in a woman she loathes so much.

The emperor hung on his lips a fearful smile which spoke unknown volume as he walked closer to her to whisper and watched triumphantly as the dowager's shoulder slouched down in surrender, a defeated look on her face. He knew she was innocent but she still held key to power;power to usurp his hidden enemies' power, his mother held that which he could exploit and he wasn't sorry he did.

He returned to his customized seat, his tapping feet resumed it's rythmicity as he smiled gleefully.

Hung up on his last whispered sentence of a kinda reminder; a promise to pay of her debt on drugging him with the last empress which begot a princess, a stray tear cascaded down her cheeks but she won't make it easy.

"Then your majesty, let's make it fair for both of them. Seo-yun... sorry... consort suk has been accepted by the inner palace as the master though unofficial, so it would create chaos if another woman who hasn't lived in the harem become it's master on a flimsy whim."

"Done," and he left abruptly his Dragon robe sweeping after him majestically, not giving her another chance to get out words in-between. He foretold this victory though it didn't really play out as planned, still, he was satisfied. Victory is assured!

While she, slumped in tears as she would end up ordaining a wench as the master of the harem. What a cruel fate!

...

Spies! best descriptions for them would be fast, efficient, effective, stealth and of course accuracy.

News kept tightly under locks made its way to her before the actual broadcast.

She, Kim Yoona would compete for the seat her heart desires. She, who has nothing but the emperor behind would go against one whose wealthy and powerful clan were staunchly behind her.

As the painter arrived on royal command to make a portrait of her, she smoothed out her robes and delicately touched her hands to her jewel as she sat elegantly before him, mesmerizing all that laid eyes on her with a dazzling smile.

Inspired, he put brush to his canvas and captured her stylish silhouette, silky gown and regal features outshining the rest. He didn't need much colours as her beauty was simply outstanding with no constraints at all. He needn't highlight any features as her physique was truly topnotch. If there was a word to describe her , it would be the word 'perfect'.

Elegantly, she sat through the session as her mind swirled with emotions. Soon, her portrait would be hung in the royal family's hallowed hall, alongside the emperor's dignified portrait and she can't wait any longer!

"You're truly beautiful, my lady." The final touch of color was added as he smiled in satisfaction at his work, yet, the portrait paled in comparison to the real antique.

Soon he was done and gone.

Some old ladies trooped in afterwards with piles of long scrolls and notebooks bedecked on their arms.

"Greetings, my lady" and Yoona returned the bow with a curt bow of hers.

"Empress dowager has ordered for introduction of classes on palace etiquettes and rules. Henceforth, we would educate you on how to conduct yourself as a palace woman."

Yoona smiled in spite of their hidden hateful glares, seems they were the dowager's lackeys which meant her journey would be a bit thorny.

Evening came and they still weren't through with the classes much to the chagrin of Yoona. Luckily, the emperor interrupted the class with an uninvited visit to her relief, and of course disappointment of her tutors.

Days rolled into weeks as her hectic classes and brainstorming continued. The emperor became her solace and comfort through the difficult days. She always looked forward to his glitz and glam dinner dates when he was free from state affairs, a magical evening of dazzling company, a decadent feast and a lively comedy show organized on his command to steal a hearty laugh from her lips. She always dressed up for the occasion in glittering robe of deep sweet hues which always messed up his fragile heart. Truly, he was a man before he was an emperor!

The palace was quiet for a while despite the impending storm of another selection. South faction were expectant of good results as the emperor's open affection towards their candidates assured them of victory.

West faction waited in penury of the impending doom. They had run out of options as Yoona was well-guarded an ant can't crawl in, poison was ruled out as the emperor announced in court every meal of his beloved would be tasted first-hand by him to wade off enemies. Expectedly, dowager frowned at such act but wasn't successful in convincing him. With the well-known fact of this, no one dared play with poison as treason would wipe out a whole generation and clan of defaulters.

Daejong was able to protect his beloved jealously, so, they could only wait for providence to help them and seo-yun to scale through.

Seo-yun? Yes, Seo-yun. In the midst of all these chaos, only her remained silent and composed. Brewing storm has always fazed her out but this storm she will weather unfazed.

"Your highness, why are you so calm despite the dangers ahead. Wait! have you given up without a fight?"

Minister Choi voiced out his concern and fears on observing his daughter's relaxed poise as she delicately spooned food into her mouth unperturbed. In few days time, it would be the D-day, yet, seo-yun remained comfortable and calm. Every effort to learn of her strategy against her rival proved abortive as she clamoured for peace and silence alone.

"Father, what will be would be. What's the point in fidgeting over an obvious unknown? At this point in my life, I seek peace and solitude." She resumed her mechanical eating as the distressed look of Minister Choi deepened.

"Seo-yun darling, father is scared. Can't you show more enthusiasm towards this matter? Your silence is killing me!".

Like one possessed, Seo-yun kept her chopsticks on the napkin, wiped her mouth and robotically stood up as she paced towards the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked in panic as he sprout up with the energy of adrenaline. Seo-yun before him looks different.

She seriously said as she turned to him, "I'm trying to show my enthusiasm to you," he ran after her and stood between her and their exit.

"What do you plan on doing?" he asked with mistrust.

"I'm heading to Sukwon' s palace to scratch her face and tear her hairs off so that everyone in the palace would label me a mad woman hungry for power; power of an empress!"

Minister Choi slapped his forehead for almost believing his daughter's folly. Here he's dying of the outcome, yet, she's able to make a joke out of it.

"Seo-yun you win. Father won't ask you anything from now henceforth, I'll trust that you have plans that can't be shared with anyone, including your own biological father."

Seo-yun smiled widely at his facial change and couldn't help but fall into laughter. Her father looked silly and hilarious at the same time, who knew the almighty prime minister had his fears, weal and woes?

Still laughing, she returned back to her seat and resumed eating. Minister witnessing her lackl.u.s.ter attitude had no other choice than to excuse himself. But while at the door, seo-yun said incomprehensible statement that left him baffled.

"The truth shall win at last."

What does that mean? He couldn't ask her as her uninterested eyes gazed solely at her food as she munched away heartily.

The truth shall win at last spoke volumes and sounded complicated,but what exactly does it refer to?

Whose truth shall win?

What exactly is the truth?

Silence greeted his mind as rhetorical questions swarm through, making a mockery of his limited knowledge. Truth always win but whose exactly?

"The truth shall win at last!" echoed in his mind till the beginning of the long awaited selection.