Meet Me Halfway

Chapter 28: This is our first day (again)

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The nights in Wonbeom’s life had been painted in horrors of his countless nightmares and fears which only grew worse when he stepped foot on the inner palace grounds for the first time.

The following mornings started with headaches Wonbeom had to soothe with calming jasmine tea.

His days were full of humiliation from the people who executed his whole family under false accusations of treason. Those horrible people sincerely thought he must be grateful to them for becoming their puppet King.

Plotting against the people in power who led Joseon to poverty and destruction was a challenging task, but Wonbeom did not give up. From a boy who had to run away, he grew into a man who stayed and fought.

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Chapter 27: Misbehaved royals

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When Soyong hears “His Majesty” and “training field” in one sentence, a mix of worry and anger rises in her.

It is too soon for any training activities… What is Wonbeom thinking?

Considering how her friend is concerned too, it must be very serious, but Soyong doesn’t bother to hear the end of the sentence. She runs across the palace yard, between various hanoks1Hanok – a house., taking the shortcut to the training field. She used to spy on Wonbeom’s training all the time, and she knows the shortest path there by heart.

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    Hanok – a house.

Chapter 26: Thorns on the delicate flower

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Inner court business keeps Soyong busy the whole morning and by noon she already feels completely exhausted.

Her day started with waking up next to Wonbeom, and as a worried wife, the first thing she did was carefully check his heartbeat and whether he had a fever or not. Only after making sure he was alright could she peacefully observe his sleeping features, which she could not resist as a woman in love. Time passed slowly and Soyong wished to wait until he woke up; however, she had too many plans and she reasoned that the sooner she started, the sooner she would be finished and able to meet her husband again. Giving him the sleep he needed, Soyong briefly kissed his cheek before she quietly left his chambers to attend to her plans for the day.

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Chapter 25: My strange wife

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Wonbeom’s dream is a mix of pain and confusion. His heavy chest suddenly struggles to breathe, and every movement echoes painfully through his whole body. As time passes, even more dizziness comes, but the pain mercifully slowly dulls down.

In his dream, Wonbeom sees his future wife, the Destined Highness, tenderly taking care of his wounds. Her kind voice softly assures him everything will be alright soon.

She is plotting something, he initially thinks. Probably trying to win his affection to help her clan claim complete control over him.

Wonbeom wonders if he has gone mad for wanting her constant presence beside him even if it is a part of her cunning scheme.

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Chapter 4 Not an ordinary lady

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There were days in Wonbeom’s life when he avoided his future wife under any excuse he could come up with. The reason did not matter as long as he could be away from the one woman who made him feel so confused about his own feelings.

Being from the Kim clan, Soyong was the incarnation of everything he despised: a corrupt and spoiled woman. Just like her whole family, she didn’t hesitate to bribe the eunuchs to gain more information about the King.

Wonbeom doubted she had ever faced rejection in her life. And he knew his refusal to meet with her probably left her questioning what was wrong with him.

Many things were wrong with Wonbeom: his deceased family, his brokenness and nightmares, his weakness in the eyes of the whole palace… and his dark secret. The one he hid deep down. A secret that could have destroyed him completely: Wonbeom liked that spoiled, cruel woman.

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Chapter 24: The chaos of the day

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Red has always been one of Soyong’s favorite colors and she loves to use different tones in her clothes and makeup, and even in embroidery with bright flowers or a beautiful sunset. And of course, her dreams of the King were filled with a beautiful scarlet Gonryongpo1Gonryongpo – Scarlett dragon robe..

Now Soyong rejects the red jeogori2Jeogori – is an upper garment. Also could be named dangui. Court Lady Choi offers for the royal conference. Instead, Soyong uses a matte green one with a pastel yellow chima3Chima – a skirt. and jewelry inspired by the forest leaves. It’s not her usual fierce look when she goes to battle, but the blood from her nightmare doesn’t let go and she doesn’t need an extra source of anxiety.

“How do I look?” Soyong asks her friends once Yeon finishes applying an intense pink balm on her lips.

“Like a fairy,” Hong Yeon quickly responds, causing Soyong’s shy smile.

People rarely called her that because of her bad temper in the past. “Harpy” was the word servants in the palace liked the most. Her father used to refer to her as a quivering doe for her delicate and obeying nature when she was still living in her natal home. Her orabeoni4Orabeoni – how sister refers to her brother in the family. loved nothing more than to tease her, calling her a stubborn mule.

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    Gonryongpo – Scarlett dragon robe.
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    Jeogori – is an upper garment. Also could be named dangui.
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    Chima – a skirt.
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    Orabeoni – how sister refers to her brother in the family.

Chapter 22: As the world caves in

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Soyong felt death’s cold presence ever since she was young.

She was born in exchange for her mother’s life and the guilt over that never left her. Every single birthday she was reminded about her family’s loss.

Instead of celebrating growing older, she had memorial day rituals and her usually cheerful dad wishing her a happy birthday in a sorrowful tone. On those days she always felt miserable and thought about death more than a young lady should.

The emptiness in her heart and constant desire to prove her worth to the family and her father led Soyong to her breaking point. She wanted to meet her mother so desperately, and when she was the most vulnerable, Soyong heard the solution: death could reunite her with her late mother.

Reading the book her mother once owned wasn’t enough for Soyong anymore and she decided to take that radical piece of advice.

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Chapter 3: Happy together

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Wonbeom never dreamed of being the King or leading a rebellion.

But ever since his days in exile, when he survived as a commoner, he did always dream of having a family of his own. It was the purest wish he had in his heart, something to keep him going in life. He might not have been a part of the royal family at the time, but the simple woodcutter and water carrier still had a dream.

A King and woodcutter live different lives, but they have one thing in common: both can start a family. Wonbeom always wanted a big one to fill the void in his heart after losing most of his relatives.

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