The desperateness in Joohyun’s voice had Seulgi feeling a mixture of grief and arousal at the same time. She wonder how such two strong emotions can stir inside her. The way Joohyun clutches her collar of her tunic and the way her light brown eyes glistens with tears mirroring her own. Seulgi wanted her – seven hells she does – and she was really about to succumb to Joohyun’s wishes but something keep probing at the back of her mind about how all of this is supposingly wrong.    “Seulgi…” Joohyun’s voice was now barely a whisper. Her warm breath hitting her lips, “Please?”   To hell with it, her mind finally decides as she wraps her arm around Joohyun’s small frame before their lips crashed together, not innocently, but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. She felt Joohyun moving backwards as they kiss, leading behind to her own bed and later Seulgi found herself on top of the Princess as they break apart to stare at each other’s eyes, with their chest heaving.   “Do you really want this?” Seulgi ask, having the need to confirm though she knew both of them were mutual about this.   “I love you so much Seulgi. I do.” Joohyun reach out a hand to cup her face, “I really do want this. And you?”   “I badly do.”   Seulgi lean down once more for another kiss and the world fell away. It was soft and sensuous, comforting in ways that words would never be. Joohyun’s encircles her arm behind her neck, her thumb caressing the back of her head as their breaths mingled. Seulgi then drag her lips lower, softly grazing and nipping the tender area of her neck. She felt Joohyun’s body became rigid with surprise as trembles shook her body and the euphoric warmth blossomed within her once more. The Princess was breathless with delight as Seulgi showers her with gentle, soft kisses, each with its own flicker of warmth before Joohyun cups her face and melded their lips ardently, as if to convey a meaning that only the two of them knew. Seulgi felt the chill touches on her body as Joohyun glides her hand through, under her tunic, feeling and caressing her skin with gentle touches like an innocent child though what they were doing is seemingly far from it. Her hands slides up to both sides of Joohyun’s nightgown and she searches her eyes, to gain permission to untie the knots, which Joohyun answers her with a tiny nod before she shuts her eyes as Seulgi trails kisses on the base of her neck while her hands tremble ever so slightly as she undo the ties. Her arousal risens as she comes to sight with the Princess exposed chest. It was her second time seeing Joohyun’s bare front and she thanked the Old Gods for creating such a beautiful physique. Seulgi thought she did something wrong when Joohyun arches her body with a low groan as her lips clamped over one of the the rosy buds but the girl keeps tugging her closer to her chest, so she continues with her ministration. The Princess kept chanting her name like a prayer every time her tongue flicks and her kisses hardens, and it certainly made Seulgi feel a tingling sensation on her lower region every time Joohyun whimpers in pleasure. Joohyun kept squirming from time to time, her body trembles and her waist kept arching with need. She knew the Princess was close to her euphoria while she slides her fingers on her milky thigh, pushing the night gown above in a bunch, before facing the most aching part of the latter’s body. Joohyun pulls her up once more, kissing her for the final time before she delicately demands, “Finish me.” That night, in the dim lit bedchamber, heavily coated with want, need and an ardent desperate love, Seulgi had compelled to Joohyun’s wishes and her own. They were with one mind with one goal, each utterly drunk with love for each other. And love, Seulgi thought, as they settle down for sleep after making love for the first time, one, either won or lost in love, there was no bridge in between, and that night, she decided she had lost, lost to herself, if not to her.                                                                ***     Sometime in noon, a day before the wedding, Seulgi’s father had sent Steward Lee for her. The man had grown a scraggy beard like raggedy vines with his wild hair appearing more untameable. It was a surprised for Seulgi since she last met the Steward many months ago back in Quintas – and he was supposed to be at Quintas, with her mother and Jaebum.   “Why are you here?” Seulgi could not hide the worriedness in her tone, as they walk towards her father’s room. “Is there a problem in Quintas?”   “Not quite so, My Lady.” The man answered though his voice sounded vague. “Lord Kang asked of me here and here I am.”   “And why are you here?”   “The reason only remains between Lord Kang and I.” Steward Lee glances at her with an apologetic smile.   “How is mother? And Jaebum?” It’s been a while since Seulgi last sent letters to her mother, after the woman insisted her to returned back to Quintas since the killings occurred. She knew her mom was persistent and so was her, in staying in the castle. Therefore, Seulgi had not sent any replies back to her mother after the last one.   “Lady Kang is well,” Steward Lee pauses for a moment, as if thinking what to say regarding her brother, “Lord Jaebum is doing well too…although he might have form a habit on visiting the pleasure house at some nights. Your mother isn’t fond of it.”   Seulgi was not surprised at the news, though she was slightly upset that her brother is gradually tarnishing their household name but alas – men will be men. “A boaster he is!” She spats, “Especially with all those girls praising him – probably wanting his gold more than his .”   Seulgi did not notice the stifled smile coming from the man beside her as she kept ranting on about her brother. She could go a whole day if it meant to give a go at Jaebum, especially when he always thinks so high of himself in terms of his looks and skills. The latter made her internally scoff along the way as she was reminded of her brother’s archery skills compared to her. He was better with swords, Seulgi admits, but maybe her handiness might have progressed with her stay in the castle. When they reached her father’s working room, the door was half ajar and Seulgi saw between the cracks, the castle official scriber, Maester Jung with his necklace hung on his robes and his close proximity with her father as they discuss of things in low voices. Seulgi was curious on why the man was here and it was truly one of her first time she spotted the scriber anywhere outside the library. Often when Seulgi visits the library, Maester Jung would usually cope up at the corner of the room or between the shelves with his helper scurrying about with his commands.   “My Lord, I have brought your daughter.” Steward Lee announced outside the door.   The conversation inside abruptly ends when her father paces towards them, opening the door wide for them to enter. Maester Jung eyes her for a moment before speaking, “Why Lady Seulgi, you have not visit the library for the past few days I believe.”   “You noticed?”   “Well I do.” The scriber releases a raspy chuckle, before proceeding, “I might be slightly old of age, but I still do noticed what’s going about – at the library for the least.”   Seulgi scratches her cheek and smiles, “I still haven’t finished going through the books I lend. But I will try and finish it as soon as I can.”   Maester Jung nods before he mumbled something to her father and excused himself from the room. Her father stood watching the man go before returning his gaze to Seulgi. Lord Kang is wearing a clad in a white linen doublet with the grizzly bear of the House of Kang on the ; his black wool cloak was fastened at the collar and by the looks of it, her father might have just done dealing at the occasional council meeting.   “You sure you don’t want to wear a dress to visit the King?” Her father spoke before rearranging papers on the table in a hasty manner and glancing at her once more. “I guess not.”   “We’re visiting the King?” Seulgi ask aloud, “I heard that he’s in a very weak state. He can barely even talk.”   “The Princess told you that?”   Seulgi nods, though it was actually Ser Jongin who told her, because she hasn’t meet with the Princess till last night and during the time when they were together in each other’s arms, they did not even spoke one word of the King. Afraid that both will get more wounded on the subject.   “Well the King is awake at the moment and he seems to be physically stronger as for today.” Her father came to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, “Which is why he has inquired of us to see him.”   “The King inquires us? Not you alone?”   “Yes, the both of us.” Her father nods towards Steward Lee and he opens the door for them to leave, “We must go now. His Grace is wait