Taehyung made his way towards the palace gates, squinting a bit. He was trying to make out from a distance a train of horses and men approaching the entrance. Anticipating a report from the northern magistrate, Taehyung broke into a fast jog when he saw the men coming in, only stopping right outside the palace gate.

One of the men, fully armored in  battle gear, jumped off his horse and bowed before Taehyung.

"Lord Kim," he said, pulling out a roll of paper with the shiny wax seal of the magistrate.

"My good man, what news from the north?" Taehyung smiled, clasping his hands.

"Magistrate Choi commends you. The groups have been terminated and the people live in peace."

Relieved and happy about the results of the plan, he bowed towards the man and patted his iron clad shoulder. "Choi honors me with this news. Thank you."

The man gave Taehyung the letter from the north and began to walk again towards his horse, when Taehyung stopped him.

"Wait, my friend. Why don't you stay here for a spell? Your men must be very tired to have come all the way from the north. Rest here, I know a place where you can water the horses. On my honor," he said, smiling.

The male took off his helmet and knelt to the ground. "You are very thoughtful, my lord. Please accept our service as a token of our thanks."

"It's absolutely my pleasure. Now come, come, out of the hot sun."

Taehyung led the procession towards the stables, where a harem woman was tending to her horse while singing a cheerful melody. At this point, the men had almost completely stripped themselves of their armor -- the iron got very hot under the sunlight. Bowing towards the woman, Taehyung rested his hands on the low stable door.

"Where did you learn to sing like that?" he asked, petting the horse.

The woman immediately stopped and blushed, looking away from Taehyung.

"Please, keep going. Don't stop on my accord."

"My voice is not at all pleasant to hear, my lord. I thought I was alone here."

Taehyung smiled and looked back at the men, settling their horses in the stables. "Well...I'll just have to get you alone with me so you can sing more for me, then."

The woman gasped, and immediately looked away, blushing and stumbling over what she would say next. This was a new feeling for her, a new tug on her heart she had never felt before. She had spent all this time chasing the top spot in the harem that she had never experienced being chased by someone else.

It was a refreshing change of pace.

"I would like that, my lord," she said, looking back up at Taehyung.

Smiling, he tapped on the stable door. "Meet me here again before evening. I'd like to ride with you."

"You have my word, my lord."

With a nod, Taehyung left her at her stable, and led the men to the kitchens.

Pinning half her hair into a simple topknot and letting the rest fall to her shoulders, Seonbi took off all her jewelry except a single silver ring dangling off a chain on her neck. She was kneeling before a mirror in her room, pulling up her riding pants before smoothing out the violet robe she wore over it. She wanted to look perfect for Taehyung, not really knowing why. Something inside her pushed her along, making her pull back any stray hair and make herself look presentable.

Once she was finally ready, she put her riding boots on and quickly made her way to the stables.

Already there in midnight blue robes and gloves, tied with a cyan belt and almost competing with the sky for beauty was Kim Taehyung of the North.

"You've come at a perfect time," he said, pulling his horse out of the stables. The chestnut creature neighed, happy to see his master.  Tied to his saddle were two water canteens and a bag with presumably two boxes in it. Seonbi smiled, pulling her horse out of the stable and hopping onto it.

"Let's ride," Taehyung said, putting his horse to a steady trot. Keeping up that pace next to him, Seonbi rode with hin out of the palace gates and towards the mountains.

After a quiet five minutes or so, Taehyung looked over at Seonbi. "What's your horse's name?" he asked.

"Areum," Seonbi replied, rubbing her horse's long, untamed black mane. "She's indeed a beauty."

"A fitting name for a beautiful horse," Taehyung said, with a hint of approval. "So what's your name?"

"Hae Seonbi, my lord," Seonbi whispered, almost wanting to keep the peace of the quiet evening. All that was heard was the horse's feet on the soft ground, and the occasional whinny from Areum.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. It's amazing how the world works."

Seonbi blushed yet again. "I am not worthy of your compliments, my lord. If you knew my past..."

"Your past does not determine your present, nor does it determine your future, Seonbi," Taehyung said, gently laying the words on the wind to be carried throughout the wood. "I only care about who you are now."

At that, a tear fell silently from Seonbi's eye. She had once been an active role in the corruption, malice, and unrest of the harem. She had not been honest in many of her decisions. All this time, she had thought of herself and herself alone. She thought there was worth in the luxury, the makeup, the material things. The more she put on, the more she was worth. That was what she lived by ever since she stepped foot in the palace.

But with those words, all of it vanished.

Wiping the tear from her eye, she swallowed the lump in her throat, and her pride along with it.

"What's your horse's name, my lord?"

"Miso," Taehyung said, scratching behind the horse's ear. "She's a feisty girl, but she's a golden one."

Smiling at Miso, Seonbi looked ahead. "Let's pick up the pace, shall we?" she said, smiling at Taehyung.

"As you wish, Seonbi."

After settling in a cave at the foot of a mountain, Taehyung tied the horses to a nearby tree and untied the bag that Miso carried. Pulling out two boxes from the bag, Taehyung presented a small meal before Seonbi.

"You're too kind, my lord," Seonbi said, smiling.

"I do hope it's enough, Seonbi," Taehyung said, smiling at the girl.

"It's perfect, my lord," Seonbi said, bowing in thanks to him.

After finishing a quick repast, Taehyung put the boxes aside.

"My lord, I'm curious about you," Seonbi said, laying her hands in her lap.

"Ask anything of me, Seonbi," Taehyung replied. "I am an open book."

"You're from the north, correct? What was life like there?"

"Ah, life treated me kindly. I had a great childhood. I remember fishing with my friends and having contests to see who could catch the most, or the biggest one," Taehyung said, smiling widely as he remembered his childhood.

"I remember a childhood friend of mine pushed me into the water and splashed me. I pulled him in as well, and we splashed each other. We came home wet, and we were scolded by our parents, but it was the most fun day ever. I cherish it to this day."

A grin spread across Seonbi's face. "What a beautiful memory to keep."

"What about you? What was your life like?"

"W-Well..." Seonbi began, looking away. "I came from a wealthy family in the south. My father died before I was born, and my mother was a bit overprotective of me. She spoiled me a lot...and I became..."

"You became what, Seonbi?"

"...Lord Taehyung...may I confess something to you..."

"What is it?" Taehyung said, taking Seonbi's hand and looking into her glossy, teary eyes.

"...I'm not...I'm not the person you think I am...I've done so many things to hurt people. I've deliberately made others cry, I've caused pain. I've stepped on others to advance my own place...and it wasn't until you spoke to me that I realized the gravity of what I've done. I wish I could change"--

Taehyung silenced Seonbi, pulling her into his arms.

His embrace...his scent...it feels so safe...

"Again, I don't care who you were. I don't care who you were a year ago. I don't care who you were a month ago. I don't care who you were a week ago, I don't care who you were yesterday. I only care about who you are now."

"Lord...Taehyung..."

"Right now, you're the one I want."