Her Poison His cure: Behind The Mask

The early morning sun shone bright on Princess Kang Suk’s face , heralding her beauty. An epitome of beauty was standing proudly in the middle of the training ground wearing a simple gown but still looking as beautiful as ever, with a bow flicking in her hand begging to be used. Her dark brown hair glowed like the sunlight and her eyes were as brown as a chocolate mint.

The soldiers gathering at the training ground couldn’t stop staring and admiring her but all they could do is admire her. No one dares move closer to her.

At the back of the training ground is Prince Kang Sohyun sitting comfortably on a chair and at the other side of the training ground, her maids are standing upright awaiting any order from her.

This has been her daily routine for five years, practising her anchery and sword martial arts in the training ground.

She dropped the bow in her hand on the ground and grip her burnished oak longbow tightly in her left hand as she held it out in front of her torso. Reaching down by her right side, the thumb, index and middle finger tip readily grasp the feather end of the wooden arrow that is laying down on the wooden table beside her. With an ever so gently touch, the arrow lifts itself from the table as Suk raises the shaft up to the bow.

With a skill hand she notches the arrow and draws the bowstring back, her upper arm droops and strains against the natural might of the longbow, forcing the arrow back to her cheek. The oak bow screeched in objection as the leathery stiffen of the bowstring sizzled and creaked under the mammoth strain and force required to draw such an ethereal bow back to its full potential. The bowstring painfully bite into the fleshy part of the Suk index and middle finger tip.

Princess Suk arms bloat with her vein extending up as her arms begin to flutter from the tremendous force required to hold the bow ready. She mentally calculates her target, distance and elevates the aim to allow for the considered arch and drop of the arrow.

Finally she releases the arrow with a loud conspicuous freaking snap of the bowstring. The shaft streaks from the longbow with lightning speed, travelling through the air into the morning sun.

Suk brown eyes narrowed as he gaze at the Target, a board poised against the fence post waiting patiently to receive her arrow. The arrow streaks in with blinding speed landing on the boards instead of the bullseye.

“Damn it!” Snorted the disgruntled princess, reaching for another arrow.

She has been trying to hit the bullseye with the longbow for a long time but it is always unsuccessful. There isn’t any bow she can’t draw and it always hits her target which is the bullseye but this bow just won’t obey her. The target was only ten meter away, so this was much of a defeat.

From behind. Prince Kang Sohyun’s high clicking shoe resounded in the air as he marched toward his sister who was about to release another arrow into the Target.

“It is not that easy. I told you” he shrink from behind and she turned back to face him, releasing her hold on the bow.

“I have been trying this for a while now. Why can’t I just hit the bullseye” she pouted sadly to her brother.

He laughed and shrugged his shoulders as he neared.

“How about you practice swordsmanship with me?” A smirked playing at the corner of her lips.

“Don’t be too excited. you can’t defeat me” the prince said in a serious tone.

“Let’s give it a try then.”

Without being told. One of the guards quickly brought two wooden swords to them. He kneels on one knee, stretching the sword out with his head bow.

They both grabbed each of the swords from the guard and swung it swiftly ready to fight with each other.

The prince is known to be the best swordsman in buyeo kingdom and seeing the princess wanting to have a march with such a person confused all the maids and guards present in the training ground. On the other hand the princess isn’t to be underestimated because since she begins her swords practicing, none of the guards who contest with her ever defeat her, rather they all end up being defeated by her.

They both move to the middle of the training ground.

“Make your move” The prince said, eyeing the princess with a sly smile on his lips.

“Don’t go easy on me” she replied.

Princess Suk and Prince Sohyun bought their sword up instantly. They circle, watching each other carefully. Sohyun feinted at Suk several times, never intending to fight instead trying to lure Suk into an attack. Suk smiled and laughed lightly. Even though her brother is the best swordsman in buyeo and was older than she was and more experienced in the ways of the worlds, she could outwait him.

Figuring out that his sister isn’t falling for his trick and proving to be confident, In a lightning speed Sohyun moved forward to attack her.

She was right her brother attacked in earnest, thinking she was being over confident. Suk blocks his swing and dodge to the other side, wincing as the swords jarred against her sore hands sustain from the archery. She would have to be careful; her stiffness and the pain in her hand might get her killed if she wasn’t.

Only a lucky step saved her life as her brother lunged at her. She blocks Sohyun’s fake sword and thrust back, coming body to body with the prince. This was a mistake, the larger, stronger man used his strength to force her slowly to her knee.

Suk gasped and broke, dropping to the floor and rolling away in defence. Sohyun struck, cutting her shoulder as Suk came to her feet, she dodge back biting her lip angrily; he had changed his sword to his left hand!

She knows she asked him not to go easy on her and the prince was obeying her request without hesitation. She thanked the heavens the sword was not real or else she would have been cut deep down but she can’t help but groan at the impact of the wooden sword striking her shoulder.

Admiring her brother’s technique as she grimly blocked and thrust, lunged and dodge which her brother was avoiding swiftly without even raising his. She couldn’t help but praise his brother mentally for being such a fine swordsman.

Seizing that brief moment when Sohyun switched swords back to her right hand, Suk lunged in, slashing the prince’s right arm with her wooden sword. Sohyun yelled in fury as the sword ripped through his muscles, dodging back from her, the prince lunged back and struck. Suk stumbles upon the wooden table and crashes into it with the arrow placed on the table scattered over her.

Without warning he lunged at her, his sword raised. Suk blocked him and fought for her life. Sohyun attacks like a whirlwind, not giving her a chance to catch her breath.

She set her jaw grimly and wanted to release her hold on her swords but at the dye minutes she changed her mind and struck her brother in his arm with an arrow she picked up. Blood seeped from the wound.

It looks like time stood still for a while because everyone was quiet and shocked before his guards got out of their daze and ran to their prince.