There are four main faction categories to which martial artists belong. The righteous faction, the evil faction, the neutral faction, and the demonic faction. The neutral faction is a term for those not belonging to the other three factions.

  Min watched his lover’s sleeping form beside him. He’d already used Qi talk to tell the others that he’d be taking the day off. He didn’t want anyone coming in here. He’d included that when he’d told DoYun through Qi speech about not working today. He knew that DoYun would instruct the servants to be on standby.

  He didn’t think his lover had noticed, but Tae-Hwan had been crying by the time he’d stopped telling his story last night. Min wasn’t surprised by that, not with the contents of what he’d told him. Tae was so bright, caring, and compassionate, that Min hadn’t expected his lover’s past to be this dark. He’d known Tae had been through hell. Several of his scars were obvious signs of torture. But Min had thought it had happened during the war.

  Min remembered reading records of the Seong Clan’s involvement in the war. They’d signed up right at the beginning without being asked. It had shocked everyone that the food loving clan would be the first to take up arms. Then they’d shown very clearly why they were so respected among the martial arts alliance. Every member who’d joined was part of an elite force. Those kinds of forces often ended up behind enemy lines in war. So when he’d seen the scars he’d assumed that something had happened during the war that he hadn’t had clearance to know about at the time.

  Now it made sense why when he’d looked up the records he hadn’t found anything about Tae being captured. He hadn’t been. Those scars were from prior to the war. His blood boiled as he thought of what Tae had gone through. He’d shoved his anger down last night to avoid frightening Tae. Another thing he’d never imagined possible. Tae was not someone you would imagine being frightened by anger. But Min had seen the fear in Tae’s eyes. He’d known that one wrong move, and his lover would close himself off to him.

  Min quickly thought through the laws on people who assaulted or raped children. Rape was an offence punishable by death. That wasn’t enough though. He’d seen the wounds Tae still carried in his soul. From what Min guessed Tae’s current age was, they hadn’t actually talked about their ages yet oddly enough, the first time it would have happened would have been nearly twenty years ago. Min made a mental note to put a fund together for victims of such horrors. He knew there were some doctors in the capital who treated those victims. He’d have to send for one and see what measures could be taken to help them.

  Min dismissed the negative thoughts and focused on Tae’s sleeping face. The man looked so peaceful in sleep. Min propped himself up on an elbow so he’d have a better view. Tae’s long eyelashes were a bit lighter than his hair. Min resisted the urge to kiss the space between Tae’s eyebrows. As he admired the handsome face in front of him, he noticed that Tae’s hair seemed lighter than before. That was odd. He leaned in for a closer look and realized that the roots of Tae’s hair weren’t black. It was barely noticeable, as there was an almost imperceptible line, but it puzzled Min. Tae wasn’t nearly old enough to have gone grey. Before he could chase the thought any further Tae shifted, and Min was thoroughly distracted by those silver eyes.

  “Good morning,” Min said smiling.

  Tae mumbled a response and rolled over on his side. He then wrapped his arms around Min and pulled him into his chest. Min had zero complaints. Though he was having a hard time keeping certain body parts under control now that his face was against Tae’s firm chest.

  It took some time before they emerged from the bed. Glancing at Tae for permission first, Min pulled the rope to summon the servants. Two maids and two eunuchs entered almost immediately.

  “Ready the bath, some breakfast, and lay some clothes out for myself and my esteemed guest. We will serve ourselves, so once you have brought everything, you are dismissed.” Min ordered.

  To his surprise Tae didn't stay laying on the bed, but raised himself up with one arm and wrapped the other around Min. Min felt Tae’s bare chest against his back and a glance told him Tae had not bothered to cover himself at all. Not that he needed to. Palace servants were trained to aid in the bathing and dressing of the masters they served. Min did notice that the careful masks his servants usually wore cracked slightly at Tae’s clear display of affection and possessiveness. Min turned to Tae and kissed him. He then laughed as he watched his servants try to make heads or tails of the situation.

  “He is my lover, and you'll be seeing more of him.” Min told them. All four smiled with clear relief at this. They'd known him the majority of his life and been with him through his loss of Ari.

  “You should probably introduce me to your family before telling the servants more.” Tae said. “Not that I’d think for a moment that any of you aren’t trustworthy, but if what I’ve heard is correct, a certain mother will be incredibly put out if she doesn’t get to be introduced first.”

  Min knew his surprise was clearly visible on his face. He hadn’t expected that from Tae. The servants’ smiles were clear indications that they agreed with Tae. They bowed and hurried off to their assigned tasks.

  “Since you’re here, and you mentioned it, should we do that today?” Min asked as he stood up. Tae was right behind him and they walked to the bathing room together. The tub was filled and there was no sign of the servants.

  “Since you’ve already taken today off for me, I figured I could do that much for you.” Tae said. Min felt Tae kiss the top of his head before climbing into the tub. Min quickly followed. The hot water was soothing to his sore muscles. He’d never had a regular lover before, and never one with the level of endurance Tae had. His muscles were very much complaining. Min was just glad he was in as good of shape as he was, or he might not have been able to walk today at all.

  After their bath, Tae helped Min with his hair. Tae was very gentle, and Min found it surprisingly calming. He in turn helped Tae with his hair, and having overheard parts of that conversation between Tae and Shin months ago, Min knew just how much of an honour it was for Tae to let him help with his hair. While it took training to be trusted with hair, since it was associated with one’s honour, and was a privilege regardless, Min knew Tae was sensitive about his hair. While tying it up he noticed the almost imperceptible line of white at the roots again.

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  “Tae,” Min began after finishing with his lover’s hair. “You don’t need to answer this, and if you want to discuss it another time I completely understand, but, I noticed your hair is a little lighter today…”

  Min was trying to figure out how to bring up the white roots, and the lighter colouring of the hair seemed like a good place to start.

  “Ah.” Tae said. “I dye it. Seems the colour has started to fade again. Want to help me with it later?”

  Min’s brain scrambled to keep up. Tae’s hair wasn’t naturally black or dark brown… he dyed it. He was super selective about who could touch his hair, which was not naturally dark. He let Min touch it, and had now just asked Min to help him dye it.

  “I… yes.” Min half stuttered.

  “But that doesn’t answer your questions.” Tae said. The man stood, kissed Min’s head, and leaned in so close his lips brushed Min’s ears. “My hair is naturally white, a trait I inherited from my deceased father, according to what my mother told me. Her hair was a light brown, as far as I was aware, but her eyes were blue. I inherited her eyes and my father’s hair colour. My eyes now are the same colour my father’s were from the stories my mother told me.”

  Min leaned into Tae, but his mind raced with this new information. He realized why Tae had been a favourite toy of those bastards. He’d been unique, different. Light eyes and white hair. That was usually something only found among distant foreigners. But there was nothing that indicated Tae had mixed blood. There were clans outside the empire he’d heard of that were taller, like Tae was. Min knew he’d heard something somewhere about a group with odd colouring too. He kept that to himself though. They might not be related to Tae, even if they were Tae might want nothing to do with them as they left him and his mother in that hell hole. He filed that bit of information away to look into later. He could bring it up after he confirmed things.

  “I can see why you dye it.” Min replied. “It’s not exactly a combination conductive to concealing oneself. And you already stand out enough with your stature.”

  Tae laughed. “But now you’re curious as to what I’d look like with my natural hair colour.”

  “It would be strange if I wasn’t.” Min replied.

  Tae kissed his cheek. “I quite enjoy it when you’re curious about me. I know just how intelligent you are, and how fast that mind of yours works. It’s fun to watch.”

  “Do you ever let it go back to its natural colour before dying it again?” Min asked.

  “My hair is… strange.” Tae said after a moment. He’d pulled enough away to face Min. “My mother said there were some peculiarities about our family and that our hair was proof of that fact. My hair will completely shed the dye before I can add more again. Likely the next time I wash it.”

  Min has so many questions, but he knew that Tae did not have the answers to them. So he kept them to himself and decided he’d hunt for answers on his own later. Seems that after last night Tae was being far more open with him now. He filed away all this new information, including the fact that Tae’s eyes had not originally been the beautiful silvery grey colour they currently were.

  ***

  Tae fought the urge to straighten his robe. He knew nothing was wrong with it. He hadn't expected Min's servants to bring him one that fit so well. It wasn’t easy to find clothing in his size. The majority of his clothing was from the Seong clan and brought to him when they visited the capital. The few other articles of clothing he owned had costed quite a bit extra to have made to his measurements. He suspected that Min had ordered these some time ago. They were formal and incredibly well made.

  The servant opened the door and Tae followed Min inside. The servant did not enter, but closed the door before heading back the way they had come. The room was beautifully decorated in all the splendour that befitted a dowager empress, but still managed to feel warm. In a large, cushioned chair, on the opposite side of the room sat a small regal woman. One glance was more than enough for Tae to know without a doubt that this was Min’s mother.

  She looked so much like Min that there was no room for doubt. Age had barely touched her, and the ways it had only added to her beauty and elegance. Tae followed Min and knelt before her. She was the dowager empress and he was going to give her every ounce of respect owed to her.

  “Mother,” Min greeted her. His tone filled with warmth. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

  “I humbly greet the dowager empress.” Tae said.

  “Min dear,” a warm, bell-like voice replied. “I appreciate the display of decorum, but we’re alone here…”

  Tae looked up and met her warm smiling golden eyes. The same amber colour as Min’s. She motioned for him to rise, he stood and tried not to chuckle as her eyes widened at his height.

  “Oh.” She said quietly. It had been intended to be to herself, but Tae’s ears easily picked it up.

  “Mother, this is the man I told you about several months ago.” Min said.

  The dowager empress’ eyes lit up.

  Tae placed his fist over his heart and bowed again, but remained on his feet. “Seok, Tae-Hwan, your majesty.”

  “Wait…” she sputtered. “Min! You didn’t tell me that the Hwan you knew was the dragon general!”

  “I…” Min said, clearly at a loss. Tae hadn’t told his lover that he would be revealing his identity.

  “Apologies, your majesty. I have been going by the name Hwan during my stay in the imperial city and Han Lee, MinJun didn’t know my true identity at first either.”

  “MinJun…” Dowager empress Sena’s voice was layered with several emotions. “Did you know who he was when you told me about him months ago?”

  “Yes..” Min said quietly.

  “And you didn’t tell me!”

  “Mother,” Min’s voice had gone hard. “I love you, but only a few people knew he was in the imperial city. He was going by the name Hwan, and you raised me to keep the secrets of those I love.”

  Tae felt his face warm. Sena laughed.

  “Oh Min… yes, I absolutely did.” Sena said laughing. “Now, bring your lover here so I can get a good look at him.”

  Min led Tae up to the platform on which the dowager empress’ chair sat. Tae knelt again, but kept his head up. He didn’t want to tower over her, and since she’d said she’d wanted to get a look at him, being nearer her height would help.

  “Blessed gods you’re taller than the rumours let on.” She said.

  Tae laughed. “I thought the rumours were pretty close to reality on my height at least.”

  “The ones in the palace only had you a head taller than most men. Min is tall and you’re clearly at least a head taller than him.” She replied smiling. “Min, I approve, he’s quite handsome, even with the beard.”

  “Mother!”

  “I must say your majesty,” Tae said, “except for his height, Min very clearly takes after his mother. You are even more beautiful than the rumours say.”

  Sena blushed. Tae was quite enjoying how relaxed Min was here. The way Min behaved around his mother was encouraging. Tae had always had a soft spot for mothers. Likely due to his relationship with his own, and the loss of her so young. Knowing Min had such a good relationship with his mother made Tae much more at ease. He watched as the two bantered back and forth. Sena seemed to take great joy in teasing her son. It gave Tae an idea. There was something he’d been wanting to do for Min for his birthday but would need help with. He was beginning to think that Min’s family, or his mother at least, would be able to help him manage it after all.