My Ultimate Ambition

In a dilapidated building, three people laid on the ground in high ecstasy and apparently gasping for breath due to excitement. A fight that took not less than fifteen minutes not only kept the spectators entertained but also revealed the true prowess of a seemingly weak girl.

"Ah yea, Yoona, Who taught you Kung fu? Those moves are so cool!". The young girl besides them perked up and flashed her hero her brightest smile in anticipation and admiration.

"That should be me!", a gruff voice answered as a shadow appeared before them revealing his true selves, the girl shrieked as she saw what seemed like phantom appear before her.

"It's OK", Yoona consoled her before turning to her bodyguard slash master... Kung fu master.

"Wow! teach me too, Jae joon!", Jae hyuk exclaimed in pure admiration and joy.

"You are too weak", a rude voice cut him off, dashing his last bit of hope against a solid rock.

"What's up?". Yoona turned to her unexpected visitor. She saw his eyes at the strange girl and assured him. "It's alright, go ahead!".

"The wedding is in two day's time ... The crown princess should be on her way home".

"Is that so?", she asked absent-mindedly more to herself.

He looked at the young girl staring at him in awe and smiled, "How old are you dear?"

"8 ", she replied on the subtle approval of a young lady she has come to trust wholeheartedly.

"So young, what's your name?", he asked again.

"Seohwa!".

For a moment, there was a pin-drop silence, no one moved. A name they have been trying to forget suddenly popped out and shook them hard.

"You are Seohwa?", Yoona asked, a tear left unbridled. Seohwa looked at the shocked expressions of everyone but couldn't pinpoint what she said wrong.

"Of all the names why Seohwa?", the young man who seemed to hate her lamented. She turned to see the ajusshi that popped out suddenly gazing at her intently, almost boring her soul.He extracted his gaze and returned back to his cool self.

"No wonder we had such strong affinity".

"Seohwa, will you go home with this unnie?". She nodded hesitatingly which didn't escape the hawk-like scrutiny of Yoona.

"What about your parents and siblings?". Something seemed to pass through her mind as she saw the girl's hesitation.

"They are no more, it's just me!", she answered in a sad tone, a fleeting pain visible in her eyes.

"It's OK, we will be your family".

Alas, the ajusshi that scared her finally spoke, "There will always be a Seohwa".

...

Prime minister's low-key house, not his extravagant manor.

Two ladies sat across each other sipping their chrysanthemum tea. One was dressed exquisitely, the other was in plain clothes worn at home. One had a sombre face antagonizing the rather cherry face of the other.

"It seems strange, does it not?",the one with the happy face spoke.

"What seems strange?", the other asked impatiently. It was torture to hear to her to hear this girl discuss that which to her she could hardly admit.

"That the crown prince chose me, we all thought we were there to be your bridesmaids".

The innocent teacup was gripped firmly before the noose in the form of fingers and palms relaxed finally. "That merely shows you all are wanting in penetration. Please my dearest crown princess, do not let us discuss the matter of the past, it does not interest me".

She knew the shrewd eyes were were fixed upon her face , she knew the insatiable gossip would be only too delighted to note any change there and to tell afterwards how 'Poor Seo-yun' looked like. Albeit the rashes that still persists, she was almost fully recovered. No one should have that triumph over her.

"To tell the truth", she continued, laughing. "I am glad you are the one, you will make the most excellent and noble empress. One filled with innocence and of good heart, an empress that will be remembered by all".

"Hey! You are exaggerating", she blushed at her friend. Thank God she's not against her, it would have been troublesome. Seeing her relaxed face, she felt strange. Their role should have been reversed. Would she have been this peaceful if she hadn't been selected?

"I'm sorry you won't be at the wedding, you know...". Seo-yun silently nodded, she knows the unspoken part and she's grateful for the omissions.

All through the day, though each hour seemed to her an age, Princess Eun-hye was brilliant, gay and beautiful. She spoke of many things and they both enjoyed their discussion, especially as that would be the longest they will ever spend with each other.

But when night came she was exhausted and left with her servants. The strain upon her nerves had been too great, she had overtaxed her strength. Alone in her own room, after she had excused from the dinner table, the mask she had worn fell from herself, even as the rouges washed from her face.

"How long will I bear this?", she asked herself, "Will I spend years in this manner? Will I pass through my life in this manner? Pretending to be strong while am not?".

"No", was the answer of her own heart.

The time would soon come when she would be tired of playing this part, a month hadn't passed yet the pallor of her face has shown. A time will come when the passionate nature and despairing love will arise in hot rebellion, and what... she asked herself in despair... will become of her then.

She did not know... suddenly her own words recurred to her. "Much might happen before he finds her!"

She repeated the words over and over again, she had no particular meaning ascribed to them in her own mind.

"I've got the wedding night... much might happen", but she did not say to herself what the meaning might comprise.

"Men have changed their mind before now in less time than that... and women too. Crown prince may change... a thousand thing may happen. I'm still his first wife after all".

And that was the first whispering of the evil spirit to her, the first temptation.

The same night, lady Sora found herself by her husband's side. She was looking anxious. "Why would the crown prince choose our daughter?", she asked in low voice.

"Our daughter is a good and capable girl, she was found worthy", he said.

"I hope so, but maybe it's my woman's instincts... things doesn't look as they seem"

"Why?", asked the man.

And the strangeness of her reply did not strike him until long afterward.

"Because... Eun-hye... loves him, I believe... but the crown prince will exploit that weakness".

"No", replied Minister Jang gently. "It is not so. I found that we were both kept in the dark. The crown prince is madly in love with our daughter and I have ample proof of that".

"Enlighten me".

"They have been meeting in secret right before our baby girl was chosen".

"Oh?", she said indifferently.