章 17: Eunji and Areum.
"The King can have us at any time of the day." Eunji, the elder of the two concubines speaks as she rattles between Yun Ki's parted legs, running her pointy nails through the hair that coats his bare legs.
"We were tailor made for His Majesty." Areum, the younger and mischievous one speaks, head rested on Yun Ki's chest that heaves up and down from exertion.
Yun Ki's hands lie on Areum's buttocks, clenching and unclenching his fist to tug at the flesh coating her backside.
"We'll keep The Crowned Monarch happy, till the very end." Areum adds, raising her head to drop a kiss over Yun Ki's parted lips, which he dodges and turns his head left, the kiss being planted over his strained neck, instead.
She pouts but decides to rest by his side as Yun Ki enters one of his many introspective dilemmas.
That's how Yun Ki would get after intercourse.
Silent, lethargic, reflective and sluggish.
He smacks her Areum's backside, the sound of his flat palm over her mounds echoing in his chamber causing Eunji to break into a laugh, while Areum winces, kicking Eunji's arm with her foot.
"Crowned Head, we have news for you." Eunji comments, raising herself from the position at his foot, to sit over his bare thighs, alongside Areum who's curled up into his right pectoris.
She winces from the touch of her sensitive raw geniatlia over his strained thighs, until she composes herself, eyes glossy and hands resting over his abdomen, drawing circles.
Yun Ki looks her way, straightening his posture as his unoccupied hand runs along her thighs, that rest on either side of his own.
"Word on the run is, that a close member of The Queen Consort's family lies in the pack of us concubines." Eunji speaks, eyes trailing over the thick shaft of hair that covers Yun Ki's lower abdomen.
Yun Ki looks over at Areum who nods at the confused expressions his eyes hold.
"It's true, Master. Soojin-I mean, Queen Consort Soojin's kinfolk is one of your concubines.." Areum stutters, mentally slapping herself for calling the Queen by her first name.
Yun Ki's hand trails up Eunji's propped up body, his fingers dancing along her navel, crossing the valley between her breasts and finding their way around the circumference of her neck, wrapping around them.
His eyes are filled with rage and confusion, unsure of whether he could take their words seriously.
But then again, the two concubines had never delivered incorrect news.
"Speak the truth or I will have you slandered in the courtroom, for the wild Jackals to feed on." Yun Ki threatens, grasp over Eunji's throat tightening.
Blood rushes to her eyes as she bobs her head, frantically.
"I-I promise, M-Master. I'd never lie t-to you." She chokes out until he leaves his chokehold, causing her to fall sideways, grasping her throat and coughing.
Areum straightens up, cupping Yun Ki's jaw in one of her feeble hands, making him face her.
"I'll find out who she is, Master and I'll bring her to you." She whispers against his lips, eyes locked with his, caressing the jute mask that rests on his face before he runs a thumb over her quivering lips, pulling her in for a quick peck.
"That's why you're my favourite of the lot, Areum-ah." He speaks, caressing her swollen lips in his fingers as she nods in response, sly smile taking over her lips.
——
Areum and Eunji dress themselves back to their purple Hanbok.
Purple was the official colour of concubines.
They were only permitted to wear Purple when in The Kingdom.
It was a rank based system that Yun Ki ran.
Red and white for his Queen Consort.
Golden for his Mother.
Dark Blue and Golden for him.
White, yellow and pink for The Ministers.
Black for the Guardsmen.
Those were the only colours that meant just about anything to Min Yun Ki.
Areum and Eunji were the few of the commoners who were delighted to step into The Kingdom adorned in purple, delighted to be one of the King's private play thing, his Concubines.
That was until they grew selfish.
Spending quite the time in Yun Ki's arms, rustling through his royal red linen, being showered with diamonds and pearls in return of his pleasures, was something they were getting used to.
They were under the impression that they were irreplaceable.
They noticed the way Yun Ki's eyes would tender up for them.
The three of them shared an incredibly congenial rapport, informal at that.
Yun Ki often bore his mind to the two Concubines, as he dawned down from his highs.
They too, listened.
That's what their mother's, the maidservants to The Revered Late Min Il, had taught them.
There was abundant competition between the two, as well.
But once inside Yun Ki's chamber, the two were attached at the hip, sisters in arms, mistresses to their King, who they thought was rather foolish.
Foolish to trust 2 Mistresses, who wore their mouths on their sleeves, unfiltered.
Areum was closer to Yun Ki.
She was the naughty minx that kept him up all night, riling him.
She was overly-affectionate, taking pride in being the only concubine Yun Ki had kissed.
She was special to him and there was a time, when her and Yun Ki lived as a couple for 2 months before rumours of Yun Ki impregnating a Concubine spread like wild-fire and the Queen ordered an image cleansing for The King, who was unaware of how he was supposed to behave.
Areum was in love with Yun Ki.
She'd fallen for the playful game of chess they'd play in his chamber in the wee hours of the night.
The hands that ran through her golden brown locks, massaging her scalp.
She fell for the innocence that'd come through to her in the mornings as Yun Ki would caress her cheeks, peppering kisses over her lips, waking her up.
So when he'd brought in a commoner, lower in rank to her, as The Queen Consort dressed in Royal Red, she felt betrayed.
She saw Soojin as competition.
She wanted to destroy the commoner, who was giving her Yunki such a hard time.
Eunji on the other hand, saw her position being The Royal Concubine, as a profession, only.
She'd go to him, when called, finish what he'd ask of her and walk back out, adorned in diamonds.
She knew Yun Ki's body like the back of her hand.
She was skilled.
Yun Ki admired Eunji for her professionalism and dedication to the role.
She was older in age and closer to Yun Ki's mentality.
She was resilient enough to withstand his rage whereas Areum, fell short in that department.
Eunji, smarter of the two, driven by greed for the riches, kept her ears and eyes open to any news that could be beneficial to The King, whose insecurity lay in his lack of knowledge of His People.
She'd feed him on gossip, lather him up in information that was valid.
Much like the one she delivered, today.
She'd heard one of the senior concubines mentioning that a member of Soojin's bloodline served as a Mistress to Yun Ki.
She just had to have him know what was being talked about, behind his back.
——
On the other hand, Yun Ki was terribly disturbed by the thought of having used one of Soojin's blood.
Sure, it wouldn't amount to much in his conscience but it was a news that he wasn't sure Soojin was aware of.
The Devil in his mind was thirsty for the name of the Concubine as he could use her to manipulate Soojin.
The Angel in his heart mocked him for his corrupt ministrations, asking him to immediately let go of The Concubine, for hurting her meant hurting Soojin, who had done nothing fallacious to him.
However, the dilemma was short lived as Yun Ki ran a hand over his face agitatedly, fingers coming in contact with the fibrosed rough skin over his right cheek, and he was once again reminded of the fact that his heart was never in the right.
He had a crown to handle, a reign to run and decisions of Ruling were never taken by the Heart.
The Mind would always gain prominence over The Heart.
The Mind would always triumph.
-- 贈り物
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