That's a wrap! They had been writing calligraphy for a long time, a deep chill present in her bone that she couldn't help but ignore due to the adrenaline rush pushing through her bones came crashing down on her. She had written mammoth of calligraphy in the past and perhaps this was her biggest work, yet.

The roar of the crowd radiated from every corner of the hall; her adrenaline rising with every round of applause. Compared to Seo-yun's, her work was astonishing; astonishingly ugly. Providence blessed her with almost everything but her writing skill was lacking. Daejong had taken it upon himself to tutor her himself, he had, in their free time cajoled the royal master calligrapher to give out pointers, yet she never really captured the lessons.

As both works were exposed on the board for all to see, there was no doubt on the winner as the blind would see Seo-yun leaped by bounds. West faction weren't particularly happy as they had hoped Seo-yun would win the first two stages and snag the seat unchallenged. Third and final stage was specifically a test of knowledge and left to the emperor as judge. They all knew who would be chosen.

Daejong was amused as he watched Yoona pout her mouth childishly at the outcome of the second competition. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he mused over in thought, "She has forgotten who has the final say."

He would always choose her and he couldn't wait to announce he had found a wife in her.

Ministers segmented themselves into smaller factions to converse on the next strategy on how to win final stage. While the emperor maybe biased towards a favorite candidate, he would never overturn a result so as to push through his desire, the way forward was to victorious and let them have legitimate reason to fight against the emperor. Albeit an outstanding result and yet discarded, emperor has to be dethroned or in worst case scenario; assassinated.

A brief moment of respite were accorded the court for some solitude as the competition seemed to weigh down on everyone.

"Sukwon!" Yoona heard someone call out to her as she stepped out of the grand hall and saw her rival marching leisurely towards her.

"Sukeui?" she returned with a slight courtesy bow of hers.

"Let's take a walk," but Yoona vehemently turned against such gesture.

"Sukeui, the emperor granted us a leisure break for ourselves so as to freshen up, not for some chitchats which may directly or indirectly be related to our selection!" She smiled with some incomprehensible boredom and took few steps away from Seo-yun.

"Sukwon, you'll regret this if some moments with you are not granted to me!"

That stopped her in her tracks as she twirled around to gaze at her face, there, she saw her gaze malevolent and deduced Seo-yun spelled doom. An unknown fear crept up her heart, squashing and squeezing her breath as Seo-yun walked majestically towards the royal library causing her to fall in.

"We're here now, spill it out"Yoona impatiently said after Seo-yun took a seat and beckoned on her to do same.

"Well well. Lady Sukwon has always struck me as a patient woman, don't want to believe you're losing patience already," she adjusted her dress sleeves, touched her jewels slowly as she gazed up to glare at Yoona.

"Sit!" her voice precise and sharp.

Yoona chuckled and did sit so as to shorten time wastage as Seo-yun looked hellbound on causing delays.

"Boycott this stage and I'll make no troubles for you" she lazyly said, her left hand massaging her temples.

Yoona almost choked on her tongue on Seo-yun's audacity but most annoyingly her nonchalance after spewing such nonsense. She knew Seo-yun was daring and importantly a worthy competitor but desperation had never been associated with her. She wondered what could have cajoled her into making such atrocious statement and could only arrive at one person; Minister Choi.

"Why should I give up a life changing opportunity, Sukeui, you should give up and I'll let you serve at his majesty's side as level one consort" She stood up to leave but Seo-yun stopped her once more with a bang on the table. As her attention was gotten, she raised herself up like a crane, leisurely walked up to her and in whisper bent her head towards her lips.

"A scarred woman can never be an empress in Shu!"

Boisterously, she laughed and sat down to enjoy Yoona's plight.

Yoona froze in her heart as she wondered why Seo-yun would confidently say something of that nature to her. But while her heart thumped erratically, her face never gave her away.

"I know, " she responded, "But why would you say such to me, I already know the rules!"

Uncannily, Seo-yun wasn't satisfied with this outcome and reaction from her but wasn't deterred from her mission as she had placed all her bets on this moment. If there's only her in the final stage, the emperor would have no choice but to choose her.

"If lady Seo-yun is done conversing, I would take my leave now."

Seo-yun huffed at the stable sound of her voice as not one emotion cracked from it. An emotion that bothered her.

"I wanted things done quietly, Sukwon, but as you've chosen the hard way, don't blame me for the consequences of your own actions!"

Smirking satisfactorily, she waltzed out the library. With the shutting down of the door came crumbling down Yoona who had barely held up herself in Seo-yun's presence. One question begged an urgent answer in her mind. "How? How did Seo-yun come to know of her scars?" then she paused as a thought though in tiniest time swiped through her mind, "could it be?..."

A strangled scream escaped her throat as her assertion seemed confirmed as correlations between the past few months events seemed to have an answer now. "Please let it not be or I'll not only take everything you desire from you but strangle you to death!"

Then her back hunched down as violent sobs took over her.

Afterwards, she stood up and left. Where she went, no one knew. Was she really giving up? Fate only had answer to the question.

...

The clock was ticking, she only had few more minutes to stall time and the crown would be hers. Her joy was beginning to leap, her gaze as she solely stood unchallenged while smiling softly like lily of the valley was smug. She saw the emperor signal his guard to leave and witnessed him return with a disappointing wave of the head. Grand dowager empress sent out all her palace except one who poured tea for her to calm her nerves. West and South faction turned rowdy, but while one faction was giddy with excitement, the other was filled with fears and resignation.

Time was up yet Yoona wasn't back to the hall, kidnapping attempts were ruled out as Lady Song, a chief courtmaid assured them of her safety as her mistress strictly warned them not to follow her and left with her official guard, Jae Joon.

The west faction took the opportunity to pressure the emperor into making hasty decisions, and if by chance made cannot be overturned as his words were synonymous to his authority. Daejong helplessly kept mute while his trained gaze on the door hoped she would come in soon. Bolting out of the hall would make things more complicated so he had to painfully sit still while expecting the door to burst open revealing his beloved.

A West faction leader stepped out to petition the ruler into crowning the available and worthy lady as it was obvious the other lady took the section lightly, if she didn't, why would she boycott it without prior notice.

In opposition, a South faction leader at the signal of grand dowager opposed the motion but rather petitioned for fifteen minutes more and if by chance Yoona didn't return, Seo-yun should be crowned ceremoniously. Daejong readily agreed to allotting more time in hope his Yoona would be present.

"Where in heaven's name did you go? Don't tell me you've given up the honor of being my official wife... Where are you, my love?" he mused dejectedly while praying she was safe wherever she was.

Like a roaring wind, fifteen minutes was almost up yet Yoona was yet to return. Seo-yun whose heart beeped with joy gazed lovingly at the helpless ruler. Maybe, this was how she was destined to get that which was rightfully hers. Maybe, heaven really helped those who helped themselves. As she felt the hateful glares returned to her by her beloved, she couldn't help but smile widely at him. She can't remember when it started, but she just realized she was no longer affected by his gazes. 'Hate me all you want my love, I'll still be your wife and mother of your kids. That bitch will only be your concubine, that is if I let her be !"

When she felt time was almost up, she stepped closer to his throne and knelt.

"It's time to crown me, your majesty."

"Why would I? Fifteen minutes hasn't elapsed yet," he retorted hatefully and vowed to buy as much time as possible even if his courtiers hated him for it.

"Actually your majesty, lady Sukwon met with me and in confidence let me in on some secrets of hers, she told me..."

"I told you what, Sukeui?" and in slow motion, the grand hall gate threw open as a drop dead gorgeous woman stepped into the hall, her steps unhurried as she walked to stand by Seo-yun leaving the hall silent. Seo-yun who had already stood up as shock of her appearance unsettled her, looked in disbelief as Yoona brushed past her and curtsied before the emperor. Her agape lips hastily shut down but her dilated eyes refused to be subjected into a lockdown. Yoona smiled brightly at her with an underlying threatening gaze warning her of impending storm.

"Pardon me my Lord, something urgent came up which demanded my attention" Yoona smiled lovingly her gaze craving indulgence from him.

"Apology accepted!" he smiled in relief as his throbbing heart calmed abruptly. For a moment, he had helplessly thought he would choose a woman he had no feelings for the second time.

The court, "..."

Dowager empress, "..."

Seo-yun almost fell in seizure as she never predicted this outcome. Yoona was never in the picture and emperor should have held her hand as he announces to the court she had become his wife. Why has luck desists from shinning on her despite all her efforts?

Seemingly, the South faction, grand empress dowager and of course the emperor looked ectatic while the rest mourned silently.

The game is still on!