What makes one outstanding? A prestigious family? Wealth? Looks? Talent?
I thought of myslef as someone who possessed all those qualities. People envied me. And I only thought it was natural.
As a member of the Baek Clan which was not the most imfluencial or high ranking but yet very affluent in wealth and gifted martial arts attribute, I Baek Hwi never had felt so utterly little like this.
The man with those sharp cold eyes staring slyly at me. It was a gaze unfamiliar to me, I had never been looked at like this. Those eyes were evaluating me, unimpressed.
I disliked this gaze. It made my blood boil. But all I could do at this moment was kneel Infront of that man.
Because aside from humiliation there was fear. The man was dangerous. I could feel it in every cell of my body. Especially as a martial artist, I could feel his immense spiritual energy. He was no one I could carelessly mess with, someone that shouldn't be provoked.
At this moment no matter how outstanding I thought myself it was nothing compared to the momentum of this man. I bowed my head.
Thinking about it how this whole situation came to, still makes me want curse out this bastard Jubok.
It started this morning I had just finished breakfast and was about to head to the training grounds. It was when a servant informed me that we would receive an important guest in the evening.
"How come father didn't tell me?" I asked the servant, who of course was clueless. He was merely doing his job in informing me.
"Do you know who it is?"
The servant shook his head. "I do not know, Young Master. I was only told that it was someone related to the palace."
"The Place? What could they probably want from us?" I waved my hand to dismiss the servant while wondering.
Not being able to come up with a reason I just pushed it to the back of my mind and continued heading to the training grounds.
When I arrived my sister was already there, fighting...well more like onesidely beating up her sparring partner.
"Hwi-hyung! Come quicky before your sister really ends up killing me." The man sparing with my sister was our younger cousin, Baek Chul.
I chuckled seeing the two of them. In a rather good mood I picked up a wooden sword from lying on the ground.
"Hana-ah come on spare with someone on the same level."
At my comment Hana let out a mocking sneer. "Sure."
Then within a second she was Infront of me swinging her wooden sword down on me without mercy.
But being familiar with her fighting style I immediately blocked her moves.
Like this the fight went on, I mostly defended while she attacked. But eventually after a 100 moves she defeated me. I carelessly showed an opening while trying to attack. I ended up falling down on my butt, while her sword pointed right between my eyes.
I raised my arms. "Damnit I surrender."
"Heh. On the same level you said? You lost even though I went easy on you." Her voice was full full cockinees.
Baek Hana, my twin sister was always like this. From a young age on we were trained in both martial arts and business related things. Our family placed education on a very high pedestal for both boys and girls of the clan.
Hana was always good at pretty much everything she tried. But it was in Martial Arts where she truly showed remarkable talent. Along with her talent came a hardworking passion for it, which made her one of the best in the clan among the younger generations.
As for myself? I also was good but not as a good as my sister. But that was okay. Rather than jealousy or envy I felt pride.
I took pride in the fact that my sister was so outstanding. More than that I thought it was only natural for my outstanding self to have an equally outstanding twin.
Me and her were blessed with good looks. We inherited the beauty of our mother, who was in her youth one of the most beautiful maidens of the kingdom.
"Hana-ah! You're amazing! I knew you would win again!"
The smile on my lips instantly vanished. The person calling out for my sister was the problem. If there was one thing that was a stain in my sister's prestige then it must be him, Seong Jubok, my sister's fiance.
He was way to ordinary to stand side to side with my sister. He was short and way too delicate. Even a gust of wind could whep his fragile self away. He had no talent in martial arts at all and a personality so annoying and rotton it put even demons to shame. His only redeeming quality would be that he didn't look horrible. He looked pretty, not manly at all.
"At least my nephews and nieces will look good." I murmured to myself.
Seeing him Hana's mocking face turned into a beautiful and bashful smile. "Juju-ah". She called him sweetly with his nickname.
"Nana-ah". Jubok blushed and shyly held her hands.
Seeing them being all lovely dovely made me shudder in disgust. "Hana-ah, why have you fallen for such an loser."
The worst thing of all was that although it was an arranged engagement both my sister and Jubok were actually in love with eachother. In my heart I hoped my sister would dislike him and then I would help her convince our parents to break of the engagement but sadly she liked him.
I approached them. "Jubok, aren't you shameless? Holding Hands? You aren't married to my sister yet? Do you think yourself already part of our Baek Clan? Or why is it that you enter our gates as you please?" I started attacking him with words, while hiding half of my face behind a fan.
At my words Jubok furrowed his brows. Just like I did not like him he didn't like me either. "Brother-in-law, it seems you are still the same as always. Loud and rude." He purposely stressed on the first address to provoke me.
"Who said it's you that will end up marrying my sister? You are merely just her fiancé. That means nothing!"
"You! Pun-" He then locked eyes with my sister and changed his words. "Please don't say things like this, Hwi-Hyung. It makes me sad." Then as if I insulted his whole family he started tearing up.
My sister the possessive and protective woman she was immidiantly glared at me. "Hwi-ah! Stop bullying him!" She embraced him with an protective stans while smoothing him.
While my face turned flushed red im anger. This bastard Jubok smirked while looked as if he was in heaven.
Feeling frustrated I turned around and made my ways to my chambers.
"Young Master! You finally returned!" My personal maid, Saha looked at me sternly. She pointed at a mountain of documents on my work desk.
"The Master told me to make sure you finish all your work before evening !" My maid Saha was just a few years older than me but her nagging could rival that of an old neighbourhood aunt.
Feeling even more annoyed I couldn't help but stomp with my feat. I threw my fan across the room and let out curses.
"That bastard! Jubok! Always messing with me! INSOLENT! Lowborn scum! My beautiful sister! How DARE HE!" I pulled at my hair in frustration. I even started tearing up from the pain and whined.
The servants of my courtyard just ignored my outbursts. Saha didn't even flinch and sighed instead. "Don't let Young Master Jubok get to you like this, Young Master. You always end up losing your temper."
"Saha! You don't understand. How can my beautiful sister marry someone like this. She's too good for him."
"But Young Master. He's from an respectable family. His sister is even a potential marriage candidate for one of the princes. Their family is related to the Mother Dowager. It's an excellent match."
"So what? That's his sister's and aunt's merit! He himself is the problem not his family!"
"Young Master, You need to calm down. Even if you are angry you still have to a lot of documents waiting for you."
I rolled my eyes but eventually gave in. I sat down at the desk and started working. When I finally finished, it already started getting dark outside.
"I even had to skip lunch." I growled.
I got up and stretched and undressed myself as I prepared to take the bath that was prepared to me a while ago.
Luckily it was still summer so the water was still hot. I sighed with relief as I felt my body soaking into the water.
"Today...ah!" I opened my drowsy eyes.
"Right. An important guest is coming today." Remembering this I urgently called for servants to assist me.
Servant came and massaged my body with special oils and scents. A maid combed my entangled my hair while putting in flower oil which made it soft and thick.
I always liked grooming myself. Being fashionable was something I enjoyed quite a bit. My father often called me flamboyant but I didn't care. All that mattered was that I looked good, which gave me satisfaction.
"What should I wear today? It's a special guest after all." I asked Saha for her opinion as she always knew the newest trends and gossip.
"I heard purple is the biggest hit nowadays. So you should wear this." She pointed at an newly purchased outer robe. It was a quite expensive one.
I nodded and changed into it. I looked at myself in the mirror with an satisfying smile. "I look great."
Then other maids approached me to do my hair. Normally I wore them losely but with an guest coming I had to wear them in a proper gown.
"Let's see which guest came all the way here."
It was strange that people from the palace would bother to come here. The main residence of the Beak Clan was deep into the mountains with a mid-size town bordering them. The distance from the capital to there was large so most of the times attendants were sent to the separate Baek Residence in the capital where a representative was stationed.
If only this bastard Jubok hadn't annoyed me so much then I wouldn't have been so impulsive that day. And all of what would come to be wouldn't have happened like they did.
Feeling still annoyed by Jubok I headed out to the banquet that would start soon in honour of our guest.
When I arrived everyone was already seated except for two seats. One which was mine and the other for the long awaited person from the palace.
"Nana-ah. You look so beautiful tonight~".
Jubok's greasy voice as he coyly flirted with Hana was annoying me. But feeling already a bit down I decided to just ignore it. There were currently more important things at hand.
"Father, do you really not know who this person may be?"
My father, Baek Jong-cha, was a vigorous and smart man who rarely showed such an nervous expression. He was outspoken and bold at times. So seeing him so silent in thoughts was a rather strange sight.
At my question, father just shook his head. He didn't know. He even let out a sigh, clearly showing his exhaustion.
Father and Mother were originally together on a travel but because of the sudden notice of such an important guest visiting, my father left my mother's side for a few days specially.
Without my mother at his side he was like a man with no joy in life. Looking less enthusiastic. While other men were amorous and brought in countless concubines, he was busy always clinged onto our mother.
"I don't know." His expression turned stoic." But it can't be anything good."
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned tense. It seemed like the situation was more serious than I had anticipated.
Seeing how tense everyone was my sister suddenly stood up and straightened her back. Her expression was determined, while she hugged Jubok's shoulder with her right arm.
"Father!".
At her sudden call as if she was to announce something big, Father, me,the clan elders ,the senior disciples and even the servants turned our attention to her.
"I have something to announce!" She exhaled for a moment before continuing. "Me and Jubok took our marriage oaths this afternoon!".
Silence lingered in the hall.
Only a few seconds later did everyone register the words of my sister and widened their eyes in shock.
My father even choked on the wine he was drinking. He coughed while pointing at Hana and Jubok.
"You! You! You!" He couldn't form other words than this accusingly.
But I could and I was furious. How did that bastard dare marrying my sister so slyly behind our especially my back!
Now seeing him with a flushed face and a shy expressions was driving me even madder.
"You uncouth BASTARD! How dare you mess with our family's honour like this! How dare you lay hands on my precious sister!"
I sprang from my seat and approached him maddened.
"Brother-in-law! Calm down! Father-in-law. Calm down too!"
Seeing him shamelessly call our names like this I felt like committing murder.
"This will be your last day breathing!".
Jubok sensing danger, quickly hid behind my sister. He cowardly snook his head out behind her to assess the situation, he grinned at me mischievously.
Seeing this mocking glint in his eyes I wanted to draw my sword. One clean cut would do.
"Hwi-ah! Stop! He and I were engaged already anyway. We just finalised it today. What's so wrong with that?!"
My sister, Hana firmly protected him. This sight worsened my already shitty mood to its peak.
I now not only was mad at Jubok but also at Hana.
"Baek Hana! You are still the daughter and disciple of the Baek Clan! Have you become arrogant enough to make your own rules now! Shameful! Marrying this good for nothing BASTARD with no achievements to talk about! Has our clan lost its honour?!"
I exploded in rage. I didn't care anymore and drew my sword. Even knowing I wouldn't be able to defeat my sister I still wanted to try.
"Today your brother is going to beat some sense into you and this bastard!"
Hana who never backed down from a fight immidiantly drew her sword too. With a sneer on her face and a raised brow she beckoned me with a wave of her hand to try.
"Hmpf! As if you had the ability to beat me!"
Just as our swords were about to clash a strong force stopped our moves.
It was our father. He was holding his forehead as if he had a headache and shook his head helplessly.
"Stop fighting already. It's not the time for that now. We will have a talk about it later. A honoured guest will arrive at any moment. Do you want to show him this shameful display?"
His voice was weary as if he would collapse from exhaustion at any moment, but behind it we all could feel the suppressed rage.
Coming to my senses I reluctantly stopped and was about to return to my seat. But just then this bastard, jerk, scum Jubok had to open his mouth.
"Understood, Father."
It was as if I heard something shatter in my mind. "BASTARD!" I jumped him.
"I don't care about this stupid guest anymore. Coming with such a short notice! Disturbing the peace of everyone! Seems like there's even rude people in the palace with no sense of etiquette." I said so while throwing punched at Jubok.
Strangely my sister didn't immidiantly stop my fists from landing on her newly betrothed. Father also didn't try to stop. In fact it was strangely silent.
I realised something was wrong. And just as I turned around I saw him. A man standing tall, having me to look up at him. Black boots, and dark blue attire hiding his broad shoulders and muscular body.
Paired with an handsome face that radiated an gloominess.
His eyes were deep set monoliths, with a slight bluish hue.
But what was most eye catching was the embroidery of his clothes, a silver dragon, a sign of royalty, the symbol of the crown prince.
I froze in shock as I met those eyes. They were staring at me coldly. At this moment the only thing in my mind was.
It's all this bastard Jubok's fault!!