#kristian kostov

[sparkles-oflight]

Before "Kris" became synonym with "Kris Guštin" to me, it used to be "Kristian Kostov" and I just need to say that I'm a Kristian Kostov girlie first and foremost (I'm starving for a new song and it's finally happening)

[guysofeurovision]

What happened to Kristian Kostov? Didn't see him for few years and now he looks like a different person.

You know what? I don't see that much of a difference... He's just left adolescence behind, but he's still pretty recognizable.

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #505:

When Kristian Kostov, Bulgaria's representative in 2017, was a child, he participated in Russia's version of The Voice Kids. While on the show, his coach was former Eurovision winner Dima Bilan.

[Source]

Participants of Kyiv 2017: Kristian Kostov, Eurovision.tv.

[outlying-hyppocrate]

planning to listen to lots of kristian kostov if that's anything

[french-pureblood-draws]

oh my god

[gaymer-hag-stan]

Good evening Europe!

It's that magical time of the year again when we all come together to trash each others' musical tastes!

The point system has changed many times over the years, and as various countries have come and gone, it is hard to determine who did "the best" based on the points they got alone as, since the maximum available points doubled with the jury and televote scores no longer being combined, post 2016 entries would have an obvious advantage and, likewise, the contests with 40+ participants would also have more maximum available points to give so a country getting 200 points in 2004 is not the same as another getting 200 points in 2009 or 2016.

But if we divide the points each entry got by the maximum available points for the respective year it competed, we get a percentage score that can easily be measured against entries from years with differing point systems.

So, for example, in 2009 42 countries participated. The maximum points each country can award is of course 12 and you can't vote for yourself. So 41 × 12 = 492. Let's then take Norway's total of 387 points and divide it by the 492 total of maximum available points. We get 78.6, meaning Norway and Alexander Rybak amassed 78.6% of the total points in 2009!

In the case of tie breaks the entry that placed higher in its respective year wins the tie break and if there's still a tie I used rules similar to the actual contest; the winner of a tie is the entry that received more points from televoting. If there are no split results available to the public, the entry that received points from more countries, then the country that received more 12 points, then 10 points all the way down to 1. If the tie cannot be broken in this way, the entry that performed earlier wins the tie break.

I've set 2004 as the "beginning of time", if you will, because that's when I started watching Eurovision and because there also had to be some sort of limit to how far back I would go with this 🤣

With that very long-winded explanation of my measuring tactics out of the way, shall we see our current Top 100 before new entries are added after the 2023 Grand Final is over?

100. Greece 🇬🇷 - 2010 - Giorgos Alkaios and Friends - Opa - 30.7%

99. Armenia 🇦🇲 - 2010 - Eva Rivas - Apricot Stone - 30.9%

98. Bulgaria 🇧🇬 - 2016 - Poli Genova - If Love Was a Crime - 31.1%

97. Belgium 🇧🇪 - 2010 - Tom Dice - Me and My Guitar - 31.3%

96. Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 - 2019 - Chingiz - Truth - 31.4%

95. North Macedonia 🇲🇰 - 2019 - Tamara Todevska - Proud - 31.7%

94. Serbia 🇷🇸 - 2008 - Jelena Tomasevic feat. Bora Duguc - Oro - 31.7%

93. Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 - 2010 - Safura - Drip Drop - 31.7%

92. Bulgaria 🇧🇬 - 2007 - Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov - Water - 31.7%

91. Moldova 🇲🇩 - 2005 - Zdob si Zdub - Boonika bate toba - 32.4%

90. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2006 - Tina Karol - Show Me Your Love - 32.6%

89. Denmark 🇩🇰 - 2010 - Chanée and N'evergreen - In a Moment like This - 32.6%

88. Finland 🇫🇮 - 2021 - Blind Channel - Dark Side - 33%

87. Hungary 🇭🇺 - 2014 - András Kállay-Saunders - Running - 33.1%

86. Turkey 🇹🇷 - 2007 - Kenan Dogulu - Shake It Up Sekerim - 33.1%

85 Greece 🇬🇷 - 2013 - Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis - Alcohol Is Free - 33.3%

84. Serbia 🇷🇸 - 2022 - Konstrakta - In corpore sano - 33.3%

83. Latvia 🇱🇻 - 2005 - Walters and Khaza - The War Is Not Over - 33.5%

82. Israel 🇮🇱 - 2005 - Shiri Maimon - HaSheket SheNish'ar - 33.7%

81. Germany 🇩🇪 - 2008 - Michael Schulte - You Let Me Walk Alone - 33.7%

80. Italy 🇮🇹 - 2017 - Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma - 33.9%

79. Austria 🇦🇹 - 2018 - Cesár Sampson - Nobody but You - 33.9%

78. Norway 🇳🇴 - 2019 - Keiino - Spirit in the Sky - 34.4%

77. Romania 🇷🇴 - 2007 - Luminita Anghel and Sistem - Let Me Try - 34.6%

76. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2019 - John Lundvik - Too Late for Love - 34.7%

75. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2011 - Mika Newton - Angel - 34.8%

74. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2017 - Robin Bengtsson - I Can't Go On - 34.9%

73. United Kingdom 🇬🇧 - 2009 - Jade Ewen - It's My Time - 35.1%

72. Romania 🇷🇴 - 2010 - Paula Seling and Ovi - Playing with Fire - 35.5%

71. Turkey 🇹🇷 - 2009 - Hadise - Düm Tek Tek - 35.9%

70. Norway 🇳🇴 - 2008 - Maria - Hold On Be Strong - 36.1%

69. Lithuania 🇱🇹 - 2006 - LT United - We Are the Winners - 36.4%

68. Belgium 🇧🇪 - 2017 - Blanche - City Lights - 36.8%

67. Turkey 🇹🇷 - 2010 - Manga - We Could Be the Same - 37.2%

66. Switzerland 🇨🇭 - 2019 - Luca Hänni - She Got Me - 37.9%

65. Moldova 🇲🇩 - 2017 - SunStroke Project - Hey Mamma - 38%

64. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2013 - Dina Garipova - What If - 38.1%

63. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2006 - Carola - Invincible - 38.2%

62. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2019 - Sergey Lazarev - Scream - 38.5%

61. Romania 🇷🇴 - 2006 - Mihai Traistariu - Tornerò - 38.7%

60. Armenia 🇦🇲 - 2008 - Sirusho - Qélé, Qélé - 39.4%

59. Latvia 🇱🇻 - 2015 - Aminata - Love Injected - 39.7%

58. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2021 - Go_A - Shum - 39.9%

57. Armenia 🇦🇲 - 2014 - Aram Mp3 - Not Alone - 40.3%

56. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2004 - Lena Philipsson - It Hurts - 40.4%

55. Cyprus 🇨🇾 - 2004 - Lisa Andreas - Stronger Every Minute - 40.4%

54. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2011 - Eric Saade - Popular - 40.5%

53. Iceland 🇮🇸 - 2021 - Dathi og Gagnamagnith - 10 Years - 41.4%

52. Italy 🇮🇹 - 2011 - Raphael Gualazzi - Madness of Love - 41.4%

51. Australia 🇦🇺 - 2015 - Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again - 41.8%

50. Norway 🇳🇴 - 2013 - Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love - 41.8%

49. Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 - 2009 - AySel and Arash - Always - 42%

48. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2007 - Serebro - Song #1 - 42%

47. Malta 🇲🇹 - 2005 - Chiara - Angel - 42.1%

46. Greece 🇬🇷 - 2008 - Kalomira - Secret Combination - 43.2%

45. Cyprus 🇨🇾 - 2018 - Eleni Foureira - Fuego - 43.2%

44. Serbia 🇷🇸 - 2012 - Zeljko Joksimovic - Nije ljubav stvar - 43.4%

43. Iceland 🇮🇸 - 2009 - Yohanna - Is It True? - 44.3%

42. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2008 - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady - 45.6%

41. Belgium 🇧🇪 - 2015 - Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside - 46.3%

40. Turkey 🇹🇷 - 2004 - Athena - For Real - 46.4%

39. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2022 - Cornelia Jakobs - Hold Me Closer - 46.7%

38. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2013 - Zlata Ognevich - Gravity - 46.9%

37. Switzerland 🇨🇭 - 2021 - Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers - 47.3%

36. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2007 - Verka Serduchka - Dancing Lasha Tumbai - 47.7%

35. Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 - 2011 - Ell and Nikki - Running Scared - 48.4%

34. Spain 🇪🇸 - 2022 - Chanel - SloMo - 49%

33. Italy 🇮🇹 - 2019 - Mahmood - Soldi - 49.1%

32. United Kingdom 🇬🇧 - 2022 - Sam Ryder - Space Man - 49.7%

31. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2016 Sergey Lazarev - You Are the Only One - 49.8%

30. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2014 - Sanna Nielsen - Undo 50.4%

29. Greece 🇬🇷 - 2005 - Helena Paparizou - My Number One - 50.4%

28. Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 - 2013 - Farid Mammadov - Hold Me - 51.3%

27. Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 - 2006 - Hari Mata Hari - Lejla - 51.5%

26. Netherlands 🇳🇱 - 2019 - Duncan Lawrence - Arcade - 51.8%

25. Australia 🇦🇺 - 2016 - Dami Im - Sound of Silence - 51.9%

24. Israel 🇮🇱 - 2018 - Netta - Toy - 52.4%

23. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2012 - Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for Everybody - 52.6%

22. Germany 🇩🇪 - 2010 - Lena - Satellite - 53.9%

21. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2008 - Dima Bilan - Believe - 53.9%

20. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2016 - Jamala - 1944 - 54.2%

19. Serbia 🇷🇸 - 2007 - Marija Serifovic - Molitva - 54.4%

18. France 🇫🇷 - 2021 - Barbara Pravi - Voilà - 54.7%

17. Netherlands 🇳🇱 - 2014 - The Common Linnets - Calm After the Storm - 55%

Honourable Mention. Turkey 🇹🇷 - 2003 - Sertab Erener - Everyway That I Can - 55.6%

16. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2006 - Dima Bilan - Never Let You Go - 55.8%

15. Italy 🇮🇹 - 2021 - Måneskin - Zitti e Buoni - 57.4%

14. Greece 🇬🇷 - 2004 - Sakis Rouvas - Shake It - 60%

13. Denmark 🇩🇰 - 2013 - Emmelie de Forest - Only Teardrops - 61.6%

12. Italy 🇮🇹 - 2015 - Il Volo - Grande amore - 62.3%

11. Bulgaria 🇧🇬 - 2017 - Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess - 62.5%

10. Serbia and Montenegro 🇷🇸 - 2004 - Zeljko Joksimovic and Ad-Hoc Orchestra - Lane Moje - 62.6%

9. Russia 🇷🇺 - 2015 - Polina Gagarina - A Million Voices - 64.7%

8. Finland 🇫🇮 - 2006 - Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah - 65.7%

7. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2004 - Ruslana - Wild Dances - 66.6%

6. Austria 🇦🇹 - 2014 - Conchita Wurst - Rise Like a Phoenix - 67.1%

5. Ukraine 🇺🇦 - 2022 - Kalush Orchestra - Stefania - 67.4%

4. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2012 - Loreen - Euphoria - 75.6%

3. Portugal 🇵🇹 - 2017 - Salvador Sobral - Amar pelos dois - 77%

2. Sweden 🇸🇪 - 2015 - Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes - 77.9%

1. Norway 🇳🇴 - 2009 - Alexander Rybak - Fairytale - 78.6%

And there it is! The 100 most successful Eurovision entries from 2004 to 2022?

Did your all time fave make the cut?

[tinyferalbeing]

[choiraugur]

eurovision song marathon kind of night

[madeleineengland]

Evgenia Medvedeva as Sophie

Michael Shev as Howl

Photography by Kristian Kostov 📷

[sparkles-oflight]

I finally decided to use slavic music as a way to help me with my russian classes and I'm now two lines in Kristian Kostov's Глубина  and I'm already understanding some random words and it feels soooo satisfying

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

Their Favorite Eurovision Songs 1956 - 2024 (Headcanons)

Rise!Turtles + Bonus!

A/N: I was just so hyped to see that Albania had chosen Shkodra Elektronike with Zjerm to represent them in Eurovision 2025, that I just HAD to write this. Two songs into 2025! Let’s see if it will get as chaotic this year like it did last year😂😅💚

Warnings: Flashing lights

Raphael:

1 points: TiTAN - Besa (Albania🇦🇱, 2024)

2 points: Ai Coração - Mimicat (Portugal🇵🇹, 2023)

3 points: Satellite - Lena (Germany🇩🇪, 2010)

4 points: Only Teardrops - Emmelie de Forest (Denmark🇩🇰, 2013)

5 points: Take Me to Your Heaven - Charlotte Nilsson (Sweden🇸🇪, 1999)

6 points: Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi - Céline Dion (Switzerland🇨🇭, 1988)

7 points: J’aime La Vie - Sandra Kim (Belgium🇧🇪, 1986)

8 points: We Will Rave - Kaleen (Austria🇦🇹, 2024)

10 points: Waterloo - ABBA (Sweden🇸🇪, 1974)

12 points: Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2012)

Leonardo:

1 points: Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz (United Kingdom🇬🇧, 1981)

2 points: Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2012)

3 points: Take Me to Your Heaven - Charlotte Nilsson (Sweden🇸🇪, 1999)

4 points: Zorra - Nebulossa (Spain🇪🇸, 2024)

5 points: La Noia - Angelina Mango (Italy🇮🇹, 2024)

6 points: Zitti E Buoni - Måneskin (Italy🇮🇹, 2021)

7 points: Waterloo - ABBA (Sweden🇸🇪, 1974)

8 points: Soldi - Mahmood (Italy🇮🇹, 2019)

10 points: SloMo - Chanel (Spain🇪🇸, 2022)

12 points: Fuego - Eleni Foureira (Cyprus🇨🇾, 2018)

Donatello:

1 points: Because Of You - Gustaph (Belgium🇧🇪, 2023)

2 points: Only Teardrops - Emmelie de Forest (Denmark🇩🇰, 2013)

3 points: Popular - Eric Saade (Sweden🇸🇪, 2011)

4 points: The Code - Nemo (Switzerland🇨🇭, 2024)

5 points: Tattoo - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2023)

6 points: Waterloo - ABBA (Sweden🇸🇪, 1974)

7 points: Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2012)

8 points: Before The Party Is Over - Mustii (Belgium🇧🇪, 2024)

10 points: Shum - Go_A (Ukraine🇺🇦, 2021)

12 points: Europapa - Joost Klein (Netherlands🇳🇱, 2024)

Michelangelo:

1 points: Puppet On A String - Sandie Shaw (United Kingdom🇬🇧, 1967)

2 points: 10 Years - Dadi og Gagnamagnid (Iceland🇮🇸, 2021)

3 points: Moustache - Twin Twin (France🇫🇷, 2014)

4 points: Give That Wolf A Banana - Subwoofer (Norway🇳🇴, 2022)

5 points: No Rules! - Windows95man (Finland🇫🇮, 2024)

6 points: Run Away - SunStroke Project and Olia Tira (Moldova🇲🇩, 2010)

7 points: Rim Tim Tagi Dim - Baby Lasagna (Croatia🇭🇷, 2024)

8 points: Dancing Lasha Tumbai - Verka Sandurchka (Ukraine🇺🇦, 2007)

10 points: Stefania - Kalush Orchestra (Ukraine🇺🇦, 2022)

12 points: Cha Cha Cha - Käärijä (Finland🇫🇮, 2023)

Bonus!

Splinter:

1 points: In A Moment Like This - Chanée and N’evergreen (Denmark🇩🇰, 2010)

2 points: Only Teardrops - Emmelie de Forest (Denmark🇩🇰, 2013)

3 points: Voila - Barbara Pravi (France🇫🇷, 2021)

4 points: Özülne Apar - Fahree (ft. Ilkin Dovletov) (Azerbaijan🇦🇿, 2024)

5 points: Refrain - Lys Assia (Switzerland🇨🇭, 1956)

6 points: Tout L'univers - Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland🇨🇭, 2021)

7 points: Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2012)

8 points: Fly On The Wings Of Love - Brødrene Olsen (Denmark🇩🇰, 2000)

10 points: Teresa & Maria - alyona alyona, Jerry Heil (Ukraine🇺🇦, 2024)

12 points: Waterloo - ABBA (Sweden🇸🇪, 1974)

Baron Draxum:

1 points: De Troubadour - Lenny Kuhr (Netherlands🇳🇱, 1969)

2 points: Rock Bottom - Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran (United Kingdom🇬🇧, 1977)

3 points: Tout L'univers - Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland🇨🇭, 2021)

4 points: Calm After The Storm - The Common Linnets (Netherlands🇳🇱, 2014)

5 points: Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids - Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan (Ireland🇮🇪, 1994)

6 points: Beautiful Mess - Kristian Kostov (Bulgaria🇧🇬, 2017)

7 points: Hold Me - Farid Mammadov (Azerbaijan🇦🇿, 2013)

8 points: Molitva - Marija Serifovic (Serbia🇷🇸, 2007)

10 points: 1944 - Jamala (Ukraine🇺🇦, 2016)

12 points: Amar Pelos Dois - Salvador Sobral (Portugal🇵🇹, 2017)

April:

1 points: Running Scared - Ell and Nikki (Azerbaijan🇦🇿, 2011)

2 points: Only Teardrops - Emmelie de Forest (Denmark🇩🇰, 2013)

3 points: La Noia - Angelina Mango (Italy🇮🇹, 2024)

4 points: Everyway That I Can - Sertab Erener (Turkey🇹🇷, 2003)

5 points: My Number One - Helena Paparizou (Greece🇬🇷, 2005)

6 points: Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2012)

7 points: Shady Lady - Ani Lorak (Ukraine🇺🇦, 2008)

8 points: Évidemment - La Zarra (France🇫🇷, 2023)

10 points: Rise Like A Phoenix - Conchita Wurst (Austria🇦🇹, 2014)

12 points: The Code - Nemo (Switzerland🇨🇭, 2024)

Cassandra:

1 points: Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2012)

2 points: Jezebel - The Rasmus (Finland🇫🇮, 2022)

3 points: Promise - Voyager (Australia🇦🇺, 2023)

4 points: Ulveham - Gåte (Norway🇳🇴, 2024)

5 points: Blood & Glitter - Lord Of The Lost (Germany🇩🇪, 2023)

6 points: Zitti E Buoni - Måneskin (Italy🇮🇹, 2021)

7 points: Dark Side - Blind Channel (Finland🇫🇮, 2021)

8 points: We Could Be The Same - Manga (Turkey🇹🇷, 2010)

10 points: Doomsday Blue - Bambie Thug (Ireland🇮🇪, 2024)

12 points: Hard Rock Hallelujah - Lordi (Finland🇫🇮, 2006)

Casey Jr:

1 points: Brividi - Mahmood and Blanco (Italy🇮🇹, 2022)

2 points: Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden🇸🇪, 2012)

3 points: The Code - Nemo (Switzerland🇨🇭, 2024)

4 points: Soldi - Mahmood (Italy🇮🇹, 2019)

5 points: Promise - Voyager (Australia🇦🇺, 2023)

6 points: Fairytale - Alexander Rybak (Norway🇳🇴, 2009)

7 points: What’s Another Year - Johnny Logan (Ireland🇮🇪, 1980)

8 points: Zitti E Buoni - Måneskin (Italy🇮🇹, 2021)

10 points: We Could Be The Same - Manga (Turkey🇹🇷, 2010)

12 points: Stefania - Kalush Orchestra (Ukraine🇺🇦, 2022)

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #523:

Bulgaria has historically not done well at the Eurovision Song Contest, only making it to the Grand Final five times in their 15-participation career.

However, when they make it to the Grand Final, they usually do fairly well:

The first time Bulgaria made it to the Grand Final in 2007, they placed 5th thanks to Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankulov's "Water."

Next, in 2016, Poli Genova's "If Love Was A Crime" placed 4th. The following year, Bulgaria got it's best result from "Beautiful Mess" by Kristian Kostov, which placed second.

Unfortunately, in the final two times Bulgaria made it to the final, they did not do as well, placing sub-tenth:

In 2018, EQUINOX's "Bones" placed 14th, and in 2021 VICTORIA's "Growing Up Is Getting Old" placed a respectable 11th.

[Sources]

Bulgaria, Eurovision.tv.

[thedeviousdo]

🎧🎶 Put your on repeat playlist on shuffle, add the first 5 songs that come up on a poll and ask your mutuals to choose which one represents you best! Thanks @his-mochi-cheeks

I'll tag @sooghostwriter @dazzlingkai @pajamas-lipstick @tattooyeol

[polaris101]

thinking about them again 🥲

[mi-rae07]

Kang Yeosang : Prince Of Hearts (Part 1/9)

Pairing : Kang Yeosang (Ateez) and named character (Moon Yena)

_______________________

Synopsis : Yeosang is a kind-hearted crown prince of a nation that is largely out of the spotlight and harmonious. Yena is the ruthless empress of an empire that is large and glorious, except it is about to go into war. And in order to win the war, yena requires certain minerals that only yeosang’s nation could provide her with. Except there are conditions. What is she going to have to do to win the heart of the crown prince? Or is she going to lead her empire into it’s own demise? 

__________________________

A/n : inspired by the song “Beautiful Mess - inspired by China By Kristian Kostov”

___________________________

Yena bent down to go under a twig, her blood-red cape flowing behind her freely. She looked around the unfamiliar surroundings, hating the fact that someone like her had gotten lost in a goddamn forest out of all places. She had just arrived in this island and she was already lost, fantastic. Yena paused as she heard a noise not far behind her, her senses heightening at the sound of leaves crunching. Someone was coming.

Yena turned around swiftly, letting out a grunt as she felt something pierce through her left shoulder as soon as she turned. She looked down and noticed that it was an arrow, one that did not belong to her country, which meant that the someone she had heard before was foe.

Yena heard the footsteps again, now coming closer to her. Except it was now behind her. She kept herself from turning behind, her hand grasping the handle of her royal sword that was currently sheathed to her waist band. As soon as she knew the person was right behind her, she swiftly turned around, unsheathing her sword in the process and holding it against the neck of the man standing in front of her.

The man's eyes widened as he let out a gasp, the edge of the arrow pierced into yena's shoulder now pressed against the man's chest. He looked at it, panic filling his eyes at the sight of blood dripping down his arrow.

??? : oh my god.

Yena : identify yourself, stranger.

The man flinched and looked at yena as he said

??? : w-what? Oh yes um, I am the…prince of Kedah, Kang Yeosang.

Yena : you're the future king of this island?

The man made a small humming noise before looking at the arrow

??? : I'm sorry. I was chasing a deer, trying to hunt it down for supper. I like hunting, you see. I heard your footsteps and thought it was the deer and shot you accidentally. Forgive me, my lady.

Yena : mm.

Yena moved her sword away from yeosang's neck before sheathing it back as yeosang said

Yeosang : I can take you to the palace and let the healers take care of your wound, if you do not mind that.

Yena : wonderful, the palace was where I intended to go until this…inconvenience you caused.

Yeosang : you were going to go to the palace? Why? Wait…who are you again?

Yena : Moon Yena.

She pulled out the arrow harshly from her shoulder, not making a sound of pain as she said

Yena : Empress of China.

____________________________________

Yeosang : what is the empress of China doing in our nation?

Yena avoided a sharp stone lying on the ground as the both of them walked through this forest to reach the palace, yeosang guiding the way as if he had built this place himself.

Yena : your nation is supposed to be rich in mineral content, prince kang, minerals that have high value in the mainland market. I would like to invest in some of them.

Yeosang : I don't think they're for sale, your majesty.

Yena : even if I offer all the money you require?

Yeosang : we have enough and more of that, we've ruled this country for centuries from here.

Yena : there's never too much money and power, prince kang.

Yeosang sighed and looked at the wound in yena's shoulder, blood still trickling down from it.

Yeosang : are you sure that doesn’t…hurt?

Yena : I've fought 3 wars within the span of my 8 years of ruling, an arrow wound like this is nothing.

Yeosang chuckled and said

Yeosang : I, on the other hand have killed 3 deers within the span of my 26 years of living. Isn't that an accomplishment!

Yeosang looked at yena, expecting her to at least smile. When he realized she wasn't the type to smile at jokes, he sighed and asked

Yeosang : do people accept you as their ruler? Since you know, you're a woman.

Yena : I've never really cared about their opinions, hence I'm not really sure. If they don't like me as their ruler, they've done quite a good job at hiding their feelings anyway.

Yeosang nodded and pointed forward as he said

Yeosang : well! We've reached the palace.

Yena looked forward as a huge stone carved building came into her view, gold lining it's walls and the walls having waterfalls flow down them. Yena stepped forward with huge eyes as she marveled silently at how beautiful and rich the palace was. Yeosang smiled and said

Yeosang : welcome to Malaya, empress.

_______________________________

Yena and yeosang walked down the throne room to where the king, yeosang's father was sitting on the throne, the other people in the room bowing down as the guard behind them said in a loud voice

Guard : His grace, Kang Yeosang, crown prince of Malaya and Her majesty, Moon Yena, empress of China, Japan and Korea.

Yeosang looked at yena with shocked eyes as he said

Yeosang : Japan and Korea too?

Yena : I told you I fought three wars.

Yeosang : I-I thought that was a joke.

Yena : I don't joke, prince kang.

Yena paused in front of the king as yeosang sighed and walked up the stairs, bowing at the subjects before sitting in his seat beside his father. Yena gave a small nod of respect at King Hwan as he said

Hwan : I hadn't expected you to reach us this fast, your grace. And I had expected you to arrive with your companions, not my son.

Yena looked to her right as she noticed that the people who had come along with her from Korea to this island had already reached. Of course they had.

Yena : well what can I say, our boats are quite faster now. And your son, led me out of the forest where I had gotten lost, thanks to some…people.

Yena looked at her guards standing in the side with their eyes to the floor, knowing they had messed it all up.

Hwan : well then, what does such a respectable empress like you have to do in our humble kingdom.

Yena : minerals, I wish to invest in the minerals that your kingdom has influence over.

Whispers arose between the subjects, some shocked and some angered.

Hwan : what do we get in return?

Yena : anything you wish for that I would be able to give you. Money, clothes, land, you name it.

Hwan : those are all things we have in abundance, tell me something you can give that we do not have and I will think about it.

Yena let out a light breath as she thought about what she could possibly offer in order to attain these minerals. She had to buy these minerals at any cost, it was crucial to the development of her nation, and to hold on to her dynasty. A war was coming, and she had to win it at any cost. Nobody except her family and herself knew about this and she wanted it to remain that way for now. But in the near future, it would be unavoidable. Winning the war meant using weapons the foe would not be aware of, and these minerals were the last step to the innovation of that weapon that could save her reign.

Yena's eyes fell on yeosang, who was looking at her intently. And the more she stared at him, all innocence and softness within those deep brown eyes, a strand of his long brown hair falling on his eyes as he brushed it back with a small frown, she realized what she could offer. There was only one way to save her empire, kang yeosang.

Yena : I offer your son, the crown prince, the position of being emperor. By my side, of course.

The king's eyes widened, just as yeosang's did as everyone in that room, including her own guards gasped in surprise. Yena knew how different this was, and how unexpected. She would probably be the first queen in history to offer to marry the king's son in order to attain something else. But she didn't care, and she didn't mind. She rather liked making history.

Hwan : you mean it?

Yena : I don't say things I don't mean, your majesty. I offer my hand in marriage to your son, and to make him emperor of my nations. In return for those minerals, how much ever it is that I require. That, is the deal I propose.

The king looked at yeosang who stood up and walked towards yena, anger filling his voice as he said

Yeosang : how could you, without even asking me.

Yena : well, your father didn't leave me much choice here, did he?

Yeosang : you-

Hwan : son.

Yeosang paused, looking at his father.

Hwan : we need to talk. Join me in my leisure room within 5 minutes. And you too, your grace, join us as well.

The king stood up as the subjects around him bowed. Hwan left the throne room as the other people in the throne room slowly started dispersing as well. A few maids walked towards yena and bowed before saying

Maid : would you like us to show you to your room, your majesty?

Yena : no, just take my baggage to the room and leave it there, tend to our horses as well. I'll come by later.

The maids nodded and left, taking yena's guards along with them as well. Yeosang let out a breath, his hands brushing his hair behind as he said

Yeosang : I can't believe this happened.

Yena : it's that exciting?

Yeosang : No, moon yena, it's that terrible. I do not wish to be a king, let alone an emperor!

Yena ignored that he had called her by her full name without any honorifics.

Yena : what were you going to do after your father died then? Flee?

Yeosang : I was going to name my cousin the king and live a life away from this palace in peace, yes. And now you've come here and destroyed everything.

Yena : we are rulers, lord prince, we do not get to choose the life we lead.

Yeosang : but we do get to choose the ones we marry, don't we? I can't marry someone I don't even know, let alone love!

Yena scoffed.

Yena : did you seriously think you were going to marry the person you love?

Yeosang : how else do people marry. Marriage is supposed to be something built out of love, sacrifice and promises-

Yena : you sound like a child, prince kang. There is no love in marriage, there is only understanding and a mutual sharing of power. Marriage is an economical proposition in order to achieve something external, there are no feelings involved in the process for people like us.

Yeosang looked at yena, not having words left to say.

Yena : you don't know how cruel the world outside is, prince kang. Your father has protected you from all the pain and hence you believe that the world is a good place. Leave this island and come with me and you'll understand that love, is far gone from this world.

Yeosang : you wouldn't be standing here, talking to me if it wasn't for love. You were born because of it, even if your parents married as a form of proposition, as you said before. Any sort of physical intimacy involves love and you're alive because of it.

Yena clenched her hands that were held behind her back, speechless for the first time.

Yeosang : and as for pain? My father never protected me from it, he only inflicted it on me.

Yeosang turned around and walked towards one of the exits of the throne room, pausing on his tracks to say

Yeosang : follow me if you do not wish to get lost a second time, empress.

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Hwan : son, you know we have to do this.

Yeosang : appa, I don't even know her.

Yena : you'll have years on end to know me after the wedding is done, prince kang.

Yeosang pressed his lips together and looked yena who was leaning against the corner of Hwan's leisure room with crossed arms, only adding minimal comments while yeosang tried talking his dad out of the deal.

Hwan : she's right, yeosang, you'll be emperor if you marry her. Do you know how big that is to our legacy? Our dynasty? Your heir is going to rule Malaya while being the emperor of 3 other powerful nations.

Yeosang : h-heir?? Appa I don't even wish to marry her-

Hwan : be rational, son. You're a prince, the kingdom should matter more to you than mere love.

Yena nodded in agreement.

Yeosang : appa!

Hwan : what? She's pretty too, you'll finally have a wife whose beauty can match yours.

Yeosang : what in the-what does beauty have to do with any of this!

Yena : are you saying you do not want a beautiful wife?

Yeosang : I'm saying I need a sensible one.

Yena : did you just call an empress insensible?

Yeosang : yeah, are you going to execute me for it?

Yena : that-

Hwan : you'd make such an amazing married couple.

Yeosang : god!

Hwan sighed and said

Hwan : yeosang-ah, listen to me. This proposition the empress has offered, we will never receive it again. You know our kingdom needs this, it's been in the dark for too long. Think about our people, how happy they would be if our nation would get united into an empire under your rule.

That seemed to shift something in yeosang. So he was a people's king, yena thought.

Hwan : look, your thoughts do matter to me, but so does this. Hence do something, I will give the both of you a month.

Hwan looked at yena and stood up before saying

Hwan : if you manage to make my son fall in love with you within this month, you can have him, the minerals and our nation. If not, I'm afraid you'd have to leave.

Yena looked at yeosang, her gaze burning into yeosang's eyes. He pressed his lips together at that stare, understanding how intimidating the woman in front of him could be. He was only used to ladies being kind, respectful and being…lady-like, always wearing long dresses and having flowers in their hairs. Yena was the exact opposite, she was a woman.

Yena : do you agree to this, prince kang?

Yeosang looked at his father, who only gave him a look. Yeosang sighed before nodding and said

Yeosang : yes, a month is all you'll get.

Yena nodded and stood straight, wrapping her hand behind her back and walked towards the door while saying to yeosang on the way

Yena : show me around then, lord prince.

Yeosang looked at his father as yena walked outside, her head held high and her voice nonchalant. His father smiled and gave a small nod at yeosang as he fast-walked out the door to join yena.

Yeosang : are you seriously going to go out like this?

Yena paused, looking at yeosang

Yena : are you seriously saying I should go and wear some gown before going out-

Yeosang : no! your wound, it needs dressing up.

Yena looked at yeosang, slightly shocked. No one ever cared about her when she got wounds, even her own parents believed that learning to live with wounds was the first thing an empress should learn. Even the king Hwan hadn't said anything, but here yeosang was.

Yena : it's fine, just let it be.

Yeosang : your grace, it's an open wound. Too much blood loss can cause you harm.

Yena rolled her eyes, knowing there was no way around this and said

Yena : where's the infirmary.

_______________________________________________

Yena : ask the nurses to leave, prince kang.

Yeosang looked at the nurses standing in the infirmary, eyeing yeosang and yena.

Yeosang : but if they leave who will-

Yena : I will take care of the wound myself. I don't like people touching me.

Yeosang : your grace, it would be better if they did it. The wound is-

Yena : do you not understand my point, I do not want people touching me so ask them to leave.

Yeosang sighed, not understanding why this woman was so difficult. He turned towards the nurses before saying

Yeosang : you may leave, her majesty wishes to tend to her own wounds.

Nurse : but the medicines?

Yeosang : I'll take it for her.

The nurses nodded and bowed before leaving yeosang and yena alone in the large infirmary that was decorated with plants and trees yena had never seen before. It was beautiful, just as the entire palace was.

Yena : and you? What are you doing here?

Yeosang walked towards the nearby shelf before picking up the necessary items as he said

Yeosang : staying, what else.

Yena : I just told you-

Yeosang : I'm sorry, I don't have to listen to you, do I? it's not like you listen to me anyways.

Yeosang sat on the bed with the supplies and motioned yena to sit next to him. She frowned.

Yeosang : weren't you planning to get us married? Don't you think you should at least be able to sit next to me?

Yena still didn't budge, her past not allowing her to move forward. Yeosang sighed and said softly

Yeosang : I won't hurt you, lady moon. Nothing's going to happen. And if you're so scared, unsheathe your sword and hold it against me while I treat you. If I do something, just kill me.

Yena let out a breath and walked towards the bed, sitting down next to yeosang and removing the top layer of her coat in order to treat the wound properly. Yeosang leaned forward and started applying the herbs, his finger lightly grazing yena's skin. Yena clenched her fists, trying hard to fight it.

Yeosang : why do you dislike people touching you?

Because it felt foreign to her, but she didn't say that.

Yena : it feels too personal.

Yeosang : then why are you letting me touch you right now?

Yena : because we're gonna get married soon enough and I'm going to have to get used to this.

Yeosang : me touching you?

Yena : your presence in all parts of my life.

Yeosang : and you're so sure I'll fall in love with you?

Yena : I suppose we'll just have to see.

Yeosang paused, looking up at yena since he was leaning down

Yeosang : what are you going to do to me, empress?

Yena : time, I'm going to give you time.

Yeosang : you think time will earn me?

Yena : doesn't time earn everyone?

Yeosang : your grace-

Yena : call me yena, let's start there.

Yeosang : w-what?

Yena : you done?

Yeosang cleared his throat and stood up, nodding his head

Yeosang : yes, your g-

He paused as yena looked at him. Yeosang sighed and said

Yeosang : yes, yena.

Yena nodded and stood up before wearing the upper layer of her dress that covered the bandage

Yena : good, now show me around.

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[masterblackoak]

Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess (Official HD)