The pavilion by the lake was buzzing with preparations for the evening meal. Maids set up the table and cushions while eunuchs lit up and hung lanterns. The dark purple hue of the evening sky signalized that the day was almost over and the lake’s surface shined reflecting the sunset’s beautiful color palette. And once the last rays of the sun disappear, the moon with stars would become visible finalizing a lovely picture of the day.
Continue readingMrQueen
Chapter 7: Building New Beginnings
Soyong methodically put one stitch after another creating a beautiful colorful embroidery. Her hand with the needle raised, pulled the blue string and then moved back, over and over again, shaping the bird’s wing.
The pavilion she had chosen for her embroidery session was in complete silence despite being rather crowded with three concubines joining her each with the company of maids.
Continue readingChapter 6: The King’s Broken Heart
A blissful feeling of waking up after a full and healthy sleep was graced upon Wonbeom in the morning. After years and years of suffering from nightmares, it felt like a nice change to slowly come to consciousness instead of feeling restless all of sudden and waking up abruptly sitting in his bed. Nor special Arabic jasmine tea nor the complete tiredness after exhausting training could accomplish this. Nothing felt better than happiness and Wonbeom hadn’t felt that hopeful and joyful in a long time.
Continue readingChapter 5: Fond Memories
The throbbing feeling of nostalgia gripped Soyong’s heart as she walked through the hallway of her home. She missed this place so much that it appeared in her dreams repeatedly. Soyong knows every tree or bushe in the courtyard, every brick on the wall surrounding their estate, and every creaky floorboard inside the house. She knew how to sneak out without being caught to watch the stars. Or where to hide when she and her cousins played hide-and-seek.
Continue readingChapter 4: A Face to Remember
The palace was always crowded with countless faces: eunuchs in their emerald-colored robes with black headpieces and maids with braids tied on top of their heads in strictly one hairstyle. There were also various court officials whose attire colors and embroideries differed based on rank.
Those faces could change every day, and Wonbeom didn’t care because the personalities behind them didn’t matter. All of them were someone’s spies. How he slept, what he ate, every book he read, every sideways glance – all were reported to someone.
Continue readingChapter 3: The Night Out
The morning greeted Soyong with a horrible headache and regrets. Her memories of last night were blurry but she remembered just enough to understand that she made a terrible mistake agreeing to the drinks. She thought she could manage it: leading the King to drink more than her and end the night early. But to her disappointment, the King refused to fall for her tricks.
Continue readingChapter 2: A Wish on a Star
Wonbeom’s hideout from the heavy rain reminded him of Kim Soyong. Their first meeting could be described as an accidental encounter from a typical romance novel with long stares and a surprising connection formed between the two.
Now Wonbeom was stuck under the same roof however the woman who stood by his side only appeared as Soyong but in fact was someone else entirely. Wonbeom used to be a powerless puppet King, now he reigns in full strength yet he can’t bring Soyong back. Some things even the Kings cannot do. That led him to make a wish at one starry night when the skies looked like falling:
“I wish Soyong could find her way home”
Continue readingChapter 1: Lost and Found
Soyong dreamed of warm summer nights. The paper lanterns were hung around the gazebo with a great view of the mountains against the starry night sky. She sat on the cushion with her gayageum on her lap playing her father’s favorite melody. Her dad as always proudly praised her skills and her orabeoni Kim Byeong-in smiled nodding in agreement. The next melody Soyong has chosen to play is for him, something very difficult so she can impress him even more.
Continue readingThe Royal Tango
AU where Kim Soyong comes back to Joseon from the 21st century and discovers that everyone knew she was away, her family is punished for their bad deeds and her father is under home arrest. Facing new challenges, Soyong must find a way to save herself and her father from the King’s vengeance. But she doesn’t know that the King’s perception of her also changed.
Continue readingChapter 33: Mr. Jang
When Jang Bong Hwan woke up in his own body at the peak of the critical moment, he couldn’t believe fate decided to joke with him in that way. First, when he slipped into the Joseon era against his will. And the second time, when he was yanked out of there, once again against his will.
Nothing regarding Joseon ever went his way and coming home felt like a real curse.
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