Members of the martial arts world are still expected to follow the laws of the countries outside of the martial arts world when they are inside those countries and not their own territory. Military personnel are trained in their countries own martial arts in order to ensure the law is upheld by those of the martial arts world.

  Despite his best efforts, Min could not keep himself from fidgeting. It was unlike him to be nervous like this. Yet he couldn’t seem to help it. His mother and Jae had teamed up against him. That meant he was also against his father and brother. There was no way he could have won against those odds. Four versus one, and since it was people he cared about, he could not use the tactics he would have against an enemy to win. They even brought in the reinforcements. He’d faced a battle he had no way of winning and then before he could even offer up surrender, Seo and Nari had chimed in. He’d slumped in defeat and told Jae to send the invitation.

  Now he waited for Tae’s arrival. HaJoon was on the lookout, and Min had sent Tae a separate message asking him to meet him first. Min was not going to subject Tae to dealing with his family by himself. He hadn’t been able to stop this from happening, but he was not letting Tae walk into that alone.

  He probably didn’t need to worry about it as much as he did. Tae had gotten along exceedingly well with his mother. Min hadn’t expected the two to get along that well. He knew his mother would like Tae, but he hadn’t anticipated the two of them teaming up on him like that to tease him. He’d lost count of the times he’d blushed before there’d been an opening to suggest they leave. The two of them had laughed at him as he’d done so too. Thankfully despite laughing at him, Tae had agreed to leave and even taken his side on the matter.

  It was Tae meeting the Dowager Empress that sparked this whole situation. Sena had talked to Jae and mentioned meeting Min’s lover. Min hadn’t told Jae or even Hanseul anything about Tae yet. His mother, Sena, was the only one he’d talked about Tae to so far. Sena mentioned not only that Min had a lover, but that she’d met him… Hanseul and Jae had been understandably upset that Min hadn’t said anything and they’d had to find out through Sena.

  There was a knock at the door to his study and DoYun entered. He was not carrying his usual stack of papers that would mean Min had more work to do. Min quickly finished dealing with the paper in front of him and set it to the side. As they were alone he didn’t bother to wear his cold indifferent mask and let his anticipation show.

  “Do you want him to meet you here or your rooms?” DoYun asked. Not needing to specify who.

  “My rooms.” Min said. He put the paper on the tray to be sent back and hurried from the room. DoYun would deal with it. If he didn’t hurry, Tae would trace him to his office instead of his rooms. Not that there was a problem with that, but Min was hoping to have enough time to change before he arrived.

  YeJun was just behind him and the two swiftly made their way through the palace paths until they reached Min’s palace. Min heard his servants begin to flurry about as he crossed the gate. He went directly into his quarters. He dropped his robe and hurriedly untied the sash-like belt around his waist. A maid gathered up the fallen garments, while a eunuch helped him out of the remainder of his outer clothing. Another maid was to the side holding the clothing he had chosen this morning. The eunuch stepped away, he and one of the maids hurried off with his clothing so it could be washed.

  Another eunuch helped him dress. Once he was in the fresh garments another maid approached with the case for the head piece for his official garb. The eunuch placed the golden head piece in the case and waved for another maid to hurry over. She complied. She carried the ribbons, pins, and hair-sticks he preferred to use for his hair whenever he wasn’t being the chief advisor or official in another capacity. The eunuch redid Min’s hair. The eunuch finished, he and the maids bowed before hurrying from the room.

  There was barely a moment of quiet before there was a knock on his door. The eunuch that had remained behind with Min answered it. When the eunuch smiled and opened the door without saying anything, Min quickly stood. Tae entered and the sight of him made Min almost need to grab something for support.

  The gruff bear-like man was gone. Min barely kept his jaw from dropping in surprise. Tae’s black hair draped elegantly down his back, his hair was done in the noble fashion, with only the top half done up. His clothing was of the finest quality. Black silk trimmed with grey and brown embroidery. The sword at his side was a clear indication of who he was, as it had been a gift from Min’s father for the great dragon general, the war hero. He was one of very few allowed to carry weapons inside the palace. A right given to him by the former emperor. But Tae officially declaring who he was wasn’t even the most surprising part. He had shaved his beard.

  Min had always thought Tae was frustratingly handsome. People were always flirting with him. The lack of beard might stop at least some of that, but only because people would be too awed to approach him. He was by far the most handsome man Min had ever seen. He didn’t seem human. If someone told him that Tae was descended from a deity and not a human at all, Min would believe them.

  Tae, his love, didn’t hesitate a moment in the doorway. He hurried to Min’s side. Min didn’t bother to greet him with words. He grabbed Tae by the lapels of his robes and kissed him. Tae returned his kiss enthusiastically, and Min melted against his lover. His arms wrapping around Tae’s neck. He felt Tae wrap his arms around his waist pulling him so close that not even the thinnest of threads could fit between them. Min felt completely secure for the first time in his life. The feeling lasted until Tae pulled away slightly. Min released his lover begrudgingly.

  “If we didn’t have an appointment,” Tae whispered, his lips brushing against Min’s ear. “I would be undressing you about now.”

  Min felt a shiver of excitement run through him. He bit his lip. If they had been going to meet anyone else, he’d have let himself give in to his impulses. Besides, there was always afterwards. Min had cleared the entirety of his schedule for the rest of the day.

  “You think I wouldn’t have already started on that lovely outfit of yours?” Min countered. Tae grinned and the two stepped slightly away from each other. Min snagged Tae’s hand, disliking the feeling of his lover moving away after that surprisingly intimate moment.

  “Since neither of us have any makeup that could have been smudged, we should head out.” Tae said. “Being in the confines of your room is giving me too many ideas.”

  Min laughed as he led Tae from the room. The two walked hand in hand through the palace pathways towards the Empress’ Palace. Jae had been the one to send the invitation, so they’d all agreed that her palace garden is where they would gather. It was also easier for the children that way, as they both lived in that palace as well.

  ***

  Tae was incredibly grateful for the hand holding his own as they crossed the gate into the empress’ palace. For the first time in so very many years, he was not hiding who he was. Min’s reaction to him shaving his beard had helped calm him some. He’d donned clothing appropriate to his rank, he was a high general and war hero. He was equal to or above most other nobles based on that fact alone. He was the foster son of the chief of the Seong clan, so even without his titles gained in the war, he was counted among the nobility.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  While the Seong clan didn’t generally participate in politics they were considered among the high ranking nobility. The other nobles had made fun of them for their peaceful ways right up until the last war. It’d then become clear to the rest of the nation that though they may act peaceful and truly love art, music, and above all, food and cooking, they were not to be trifled with.

  Min led him around the main building towards the back. A beautiful garden stretched out before them. Tae immediately spotted Min’s family. They were waiting for them in a pavilion over the small pond. Two small figures raced across the bridge to meet them. Laughter was the only response from the adults still seated in the pavilion.

  “Uncle Min, Uncle Min!” The two children sang out, almost in unison with each other.

  As they approached Tae nearly tripped over his own feet. The children flung themselves at Min’s legs. Both children looked shockingly like their uncle. It was the eyes of the older one, the boy, that had caused him to stumble. They were identical to Min’s, the eyes Min had inherited from his mother. Tae turned to meet Min’s eyes, letting his surprise show for a moment before quickly masking it. Min nodded and Tae knew they’d talk about it later.

  “Seo, Nari,” Min said smiling. “There’s someone I’d like you two to meet.”

  Tae knelt down so he was at eye level with the children.

  “Uncle Min,” Seo said, tugging at his uncle’s robes. “Is this the man grandmother was talking about?”

  “Yes,” Min replied.

  “Dragon general Seok, Tae-Hwan, greets the little sun and moon of the empire.” Tae said, bowing to the young children. The little girl, princess Nari, giggled.

  “Han, SeoJun, little sun and imperial prince, returns the greeting of…” the boy trailed off. It was clear he’d practised very hard to get this right. Tae lifted his head and smiled gently. Min had knelt down as well, and whispered in his nephew’s ear. The sight of their faces next to each other made Tae question even more if their relationship was that simple. “...of the dragon general… and bid you rise.”

  “Thank you, your highness.” Tae said. Keeping his tone formal. The child had done a magnificent job considering his age. “May I carry your highness and the princess to the pavilion?”

  “Up, up!” Princess Nari squealed in response. Tae lifted her up onto his left shoulder, and held out his right arm for the prince. The boy didn’t hesitate before rushing forward to join his sister.

  Tae stood carefully so as not to jostle either child too much. They both squealed and giggled when he finished straightening up to his full height. Prince Seo held his hand and gripped his shoulder, while princess Nari had a fistful of hair in one hand and his left hand hers. Min was clearly trying very hard not to laugh at him when he winced as Nari pulled his hair a little. Tae rolled his eyes and gestured with his chin that Min should lead the way. Once inside the pavilion, Tae knelt again.

  “No!” Nari complained as Seo jumped down and tried to get her to do so as well.

  “My princess,” Tae said calmly, “would you be so kind as to allow me to greet the adults?”

  The complaints stopped. There was a sigh far too big for her small frame, and she slid off. She then turned to him with the biggest and brightest eyes. “Cwimb again aftwer?”

  “Yes.” Tae promised. Her entire face lit up in the brightest of smiles. One Tae was familiar with. His heart stopped for a moment as he recognized it. He and Min were going to have a very long talk later.

  “Dragon general Seok, Tae-Hwan, affiliate of the Seong clan, greets the suns, moons, and stars of the empire.” Tae said, bowing his head again.

  “Is he always like this?” a female voice asked.

  “It is his first time meeting you, my dear.” the empress dowager’s voice replied.

  “We accept the greetings of our greatest war hero, slayer of the demon dragon, and bid you rise and to do away with those damned formalities.” a familiar male voice said. There was a slight irritation in his voice and Tae hid a smile before rising. It seemed emperor Hanseul was just as frustrated and annoyed by formalities and protocol as Tae remembered him to be.

  “As you wish, your majesty.” Tae said, his lips twitching in the effort to keep from smiling.

  “I see that your personality hasn’t changed much.” Emperor Hanseul grumbled.

  “I feel like I’m missing something here.” Min complained. He practically pushed Tae into a seat before sitting beside him.

  “We met briefly during the war.” Tae told his lover. Min had grasped his hand, their fingers intertwined.

  “Brief my ass.” Hanseul said. “I wish it’d been brief.”

  “My humblest apologies if I offended you during that time, your majesty.” Tae replied. He didn’t bother to hide the smile anymore.

  “You…” Hanseul sputtered. “I thought I told you that when we saw each other next you were to greet me as a friend no matter our rankings!”

  “And when, during those six months, did I ever not tease, sass, or otherwise frustrate my friends that you saw?” Tae quipped.

  “Damn it.” Hanseul sighed. “You excelled at it to the point that even that musician boy gave you grief over it.”

  Tae winced.

  “My apologies.” Hanseul said quickly. “That was uncalled for, and entirely insensitive of me.”

  Tae just shook his head.

  “So, our Min’s partner is that boy you wrote to me about giving you constant grief?” another male voice asked. Tae glanced to see the former emperor Han, Juwon. He’d never met him while he’d been emperor, but Tae could see traces of both Hanseul and Min in the man. His eyes were lined with the aging that must have come from both the years he’d lived and the weight of the crown. His eyes were a warm brown like his eldest son’s, and his hair a brown so dark it was nearly black. His hair was streaked with grey, which only made it look darker. With him as their father it made complete sense why both men were as handsome as they were. Though Min did take more after his mother. Tae had never met the deposed empress so he wasn’t sure how much Hanseul took after his own mother. As things were, as far as Tae could tell, he was a nearly spitting image of his father.

  “It appears so.” Hanseul sighed dramatically before smiling.

  “Well, that’s a relief.” the woman seated beside Hanseul said. “You told me how trustworthy he was, despite how good he was at getting on your nerves. I believe you even stated that you’d trust him with the life of your beloved little Min if it ever came to it.”

  Tae froze in shock, before quickly covering his mouth to keep the laughter from spilling out. Hanseul had told him something very different. That was part of why he’d been so nervous for today and had decided to not even bother trying to hide who he was.

  “I…” Hanseul sputtered.

  “Is this the same beloved little brother you told me to keep my sodomite hands off of?” Tae asked. Tae had told Hanseul that if he ever did meet this brother he spoke so highly of, he’d be sure that Hanseul was buried in a rather deep trench of his own words. It was only fair that he kept his word.

  “You called him a what!?” Empress Jae, Sena, and Min all exclaimed. Jae elbowed Hanseul before swatting him upside the head. The dowager empress, who was seated between Hanseul and Juwon, got him upside the head again as he went to lift it back up. Min was positively bristling. Tae gripped the table as he tried not to fall out of his chair laughing.

  “You oversized evil monkey!” Hanseul cried out as he quickly covered his head before he could get smacked again.

  “Don’t be too hard on him.” Tae said, gasping for breath between bouts of laughter. Once he was able to stop laughing he explained. “I had gone out of my way to pester him rather mercilessly. He’d spent all day watching both men and women flirt with me, even though we were all covered in mud. He’d just watched me flirt a rather troublesome man into doing exactly what I wanted him to do, after he’d been arguing with Hanseul about it all day, making things far more difficult than they needed to be. Came to thank me for my help, only to find me coming out of another man’s tent, clean of mud, and not fully clothed.”

  “That’s not even the entirety of the story!” Hanseul complained. “I’d asked you just how many men you thought you could seduce without having it bite you in the ass and you looked me dead in the eye before telling me that if you wanted to you wouldn’t have any problem seducing even the brother I’d talked so highly of.”

  “It appears I wasn’t lying.” Tae said. There was a sputtering sound next to him and Tae turned to his lover. “Though, I’m not entirely sure who seduced who. If I remember correctly I believe he kissed me first.”

  Min had gone a deliciously rosy colour. Tae bit his lip at the sight of how flushed Min was. He then turned to Hanseul who was glaring at him and smirked.

  “This is far more entertaining than I could possibly have imagined.” Sena said. “Min dear, I wholeheartedly approve.”