Okay another update so fast, awesome right? Well, your comments compelled me to update so soon, so if you want more... keep commenting! And upvoting!! Chapter three. The next morning Sooyeon woke up with a start. She hadn’t expected to fall asleep or to sleep that soundly. It was bright daylight and the attendants were walking around tidying her chambers. She could hear some of them whispering between themselves, most likely about how she was still in her wedding attire, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Turning around she noticed that the general wasn’t there either. Standing up she walked over to the window and lifted the curtains up just in time to see a party of soldiers riding away on horseback. “Who is that?” The princess asked one of the attendants near her. “That was the general.” The attendant responded politely. “Where is she going?” She asked curiously. “She is leaving for Yangdong on some urgent business.” The attendant excused herself afterwards seeing as the Princess hadn’t responded back. Sooyeon didn’t know what to think. It hadn’t even been a day since their wedding and the general was already avoiding her, not that she could blame her. She hadn’t exactly been the most welcoming of people. With a deep sigh she set out to bathe and prepare herself for their eventual departure. They were set to leave for the south palace today and she was only bringing along a handful of her attendants that she trusted. The south palace was the chambers of the late king, her father and his father before him, she has no idea why her mother, the queen would want them to stay there, it's a little far away from the main palace where she and her mother stayed and maybe the general, who is supposedly the husband would have a concubine or two just like a king would. Was her mother trying to make Taeyeon a regent or something? ~~~ “My dear Sooyeon, I know you may think of me as a terrible mother, but just know that I have your best interest at heart, always. At first it was to save our throne, but after getting to know more about the general I’ve realized that she’s not as scary as people make her out to be.” The queen tried to reassure her daughter when she saw her sulking around. “I don’t really blame you for wanting to do what’s best for me or my people, but as far as the general is concerned I’d like to be my own judge.” Sooyeon wasn’t going to be swayed that easily. She’d spent years listening to people say scary things about the general and now all of a sudden she’s a saint? So instead of listening to anyone else, she’d rather figure it out on her own. "Umma." The princess called her mother's attention. "Yes, dear." "Why are we relocating to the south palace? Are you trying to make her a regent?" She asked but her mother didn't reply, and by the look on her face, she knew the empyress is up to something. "I don't know what you are thinking but that would be absurd, she's not even of royalty blood, you'll be reckless if you do that." The princess warned. "Well my dear, your wife is the only person I can trust with the throne, if anything were to happen to me..." "No mother please, don't say that. Nothing will happen to you." "But if something does happen, I know you're too weak hearted to rule and the throne can not be in the hands of your cousins, they're causing too much trouble as it is, I have no son, but Taeyeon can rule the nation and can take care of you, she's indeed going to be a regent, and she's of royalty now that she's married to you." "But mother..." "No buts, Sooyeon. Trust me I know what I'm doing, just trust me, okay?" "Okay." "Good. Now go, your wife will be back in a day or two, I sent her on a business, I'm sorry for taking her away from you so sudden." The queen noticed the blush creeping from her daughter's neck all the way to her cheek and smiled cheekily. "No, I'm actually glad you sent her away, it was awkward between us." "Don't push her away so far, I tell you Taeyeon would give you all the happiness is there in the world." "Yeah, but she can't give me a child." The princess blushed after saying that. The queen smirked. "I won't say that if I were you. Her grandfather was a great half wizard, I'm sure he'll find a way for the both you. Besides, I know my daughter is more interested in the fairer , you think all men are violent since you were a kid, I know you'd prefer women when you grow up." The queen's smile widened further and the princess blushed even harder. How did her mother figured that out is a mystery, she can't begin to solve. After saying goodbye to her mother the princess and her attendants were off. All along the way the princess kept thinking about what it would be like to be alone with the general as her life partner. She wasn’t going to get her hopes up too high because she didn’t want to get burned. "Welcome to your palace princess, Sooyeon.” A woman greeted with a wide smile on her face, but before she could respond the woman continued, “I’m Yoon ah and I’m the head of the attendants in this palace. And I'm also very close with the general, so If you ever want to know more about her, don’t hesitate to ask me! I will try my best to give you all the information you need.” the princess looked on amused at how quickly this woman seemed to be talking and it didn’t look like there would be an end anytime soon. Well that is until an older woman standing behind the young woman – Yoon ah – clears much too loudly to not be on purpose, “Yoon ah…” the woman called politely and Yoon ah seemed to catch herself. The older woman shook her head with a fond smile before directing her smile towards the princess. “Oh dear! My apologies, I got carried away.” Yoon ah exclaimed abruptly and gestures towards the older woman behind her, “This is the general's mother.” Yoon ah introduced with a respectable bow. Sooyeon smiled warmly and curtsied low and gracefully, but the woman just shook it off and held onto her arms instead, “Welcome to the family my dear. Here let me get a good look at you, never got the chance to.” The general's mother inspected her kindly and her expression shifts into awe, “My dear, you are as radiant as the rising sun, words that expressed your beauty didn't do any justice to you, may the gods protect you from evil eye and keep you well and happy.” The woman seemed to not be able to hold in her excitement and Sooyeon blushed at the compliment. She had been complimented before but this just seemed so genuine. With a mother who raised Taeyeon, like this, Sooyeon feels stupid for being afraid of the general. ~~~ Two days had passed since her marriage to the general and there was still no news from the general. The princess wouldn’t say that she was beginning to get worried, but it was somewhat bothering her. Luckily the company of Yoon ah didn’t afford her the time to dwell on such things. Surprisingly enough Yoon ah was a wonderful companion to talk to. She had read nearly all the books the princess had and even had some recommendations of her own. Speaking to her about history, scientific research and much more was oddly fun. Even if she was a strange character, she was at least genuine. The princess had been curious, so she asked Yoon ah to tell her about the general and how close they were. Yoon ah was sold as a slave at the age of 6, and her master was an abusive psychopath, until Taeyeon rescued her and took her into the Kim's house like a sister. Taeyeon had rescued many slaves, especially girls. Sooyeon's heart clenched tightly in her chest at the story of the abuse Yoon ah went through before getting saved by the general. She felt grateful to the general for rescuing all of those people. And, once again a strange feeling about the general gripped her, but this seemed slightly different. ~~~ It had been two days and she was ecstatic to be home. Taeyeon had been visiting the head of Yangdong by the queen's order demanding to know his reason for not attending her daughter's wedding. He was a sleazy man who really should not be in power. At one point he had offered his attendants to her as bedmates, “I’d rather not. I’m a married woman.” She had said firmly, but the fool just grinned and told her that if the attendants weren’t up to her statute he would gladly warm her bed. She had half a mind to chop his arm off. Thankfully, she did her job as the queen asked to appoint a new village head by the order of the empress. He had been troublesome and dealing with him had taken everything in her. All she needed now was a warm bath and an even warmer meal. She hadn’t told anyone about her arrival, because she didn’t want to get bombarded with attention or questions. Taeyeon was steadily making her way through the palace halls when she heard loud laughter coming from the gardens. She could recognize Yoon ah's but there was another she had never heard before. For a minute she was shocked and thought it to be some guy, Yoon ah was fli