...Flower of Evil ...

Crown Prince Seokjin was in his chambers that night. He was physically and mentally exhausted because of the recent events. His whole body was stiff. Even though his whole body was on the verge of collapsing,he was still checking various scrolls and books to find a solution to keep Iseul.

Luckily,Jungkook's mother was released from the prison after proving she was cursed. Royal siblings had to go beyond limits to safe her.

But Iseul's matter is not solved yet. She was still in dungeons and she had been refusing to eat no matter what. And she couldn't even attend her mother's funeral.

"Your highness, princess Ji-eun has come to pay a visit", outside the chamber,a servant announced.

Seokjin sighed. "Tell her to go back. I'm busy"

No sound came for five minutes.

But suddenly, the door was opened revealing the princess Ji-eun,crown Prince's wife.

Seokjin looked at her blankly. "Didn't you hear my order?"

Princess smiled sadly and bowed. "I did. But I still wanted to see you"

Seokjin sighed as he placed the scroll in his hands on the table. "What is it my lady wanted to say?"

Ji-eun turned around and signalled a maid to come closer. The maid had brought a small table with various snacks and a porcelain tea pot. Ji-eun took the table to her hand and approached her husband. She placed it on the ground and took a seat infront of Seokjin before removing his study table and placed the snack table infront of him. "Your highness, I know you are being very busy in these days. I don't know what's going on and I won't ask you to stop either. My only wish is to serve you as your wife like this. Let me atleast fulfill my duty as your wife. Your health is my health and your comfort is my comfort. Please,eat something",...."Sometimes taking a break would bring your spirit back. You will be able to work much harder if you eat something"

Seokjin looked at the osmantha cake on the tray. It was his favourite. But he had no apatite. He smiled bitterly. "My lady,how can I eat when my sister is starving? How dare I to stay healthy when she is inside the dungeons?"

Ji-eun sighed. "Your highness, you should eat for your sister's sake. To be able to protect her,you should be healthy",she poured a cup of tea and offered him. "This tea will give your highness energy. Please drink it"

Seokjin sighed and looked at his wife. He somehow felt relief. When he was not taking care of himself, there is someone by his side to take care of him. Is this the feeling of having a wife? Now he looked at his wife properly, he felt that she is beautiful. His wife has always been beautiful but he failed to notice.

He accepted the tea cup and drank it. Then he ate the cakes she made for him. He really felt lively after eating.

"Thank you,my lady", he smiled.

Ji-eun was pleased and smiled back. "It's my pleasure"

Ji-eun removed the snack table and placed his study table back to its position and sat by a corner.

Seokjin was confused. "Is there anything else,my lady?"

Ji-eun, "No. I'm planning to accompany, your highness. Don't let my presence bother you. Please,continue to work. And if there is anything you are confused, please ask me. I'll try to help"

Now Seokjin remembered. Princess Ji-eun isn't just a princess for the name. She had passed all the political and civil exams. She is a smart woman with passion. She had even once participated in a battle but she was ordered not to go to battles as she was the royal wife of the crown Prince. She might seem weak but she is beyond anyone's imagination. She is a powerful woman but she had decided to lay low for the sake of her husband.

Seokjin, "Then,come closer to me. Help me"

Ji-eun widened her eyes. She didn't expect him to ask her help. She was speechless for a moment before breaking into a hearty smile. "Yes", she stood up and went closer to him.

Meanwhile, Prince Taehyung was going to meet his mother to confront about the things that had been occurred. He had enough and wanted to lash out on her. He couldn't sit back when his sister is in dungeons.

As he entered the Queen Palace,the door servants were about to announce his entry to the Queen but the Prince stopped them seeing another pair of shoes outside. He silently walked towards the door and stopped.

He heard Queen's voice.

His phoenix eyes hardened hearing what she said. "Make sure to get rid of that brat Iseul after she was released. She wouldn't sit back when she was released and she will probably put the dagger to my throat. Get rid of both Iseul and Jungkook this time. And next,we need to focus on Princes Hoseok and Jimin. I'll get rid of every possible heir. Only my three sons should be the heirs to the throne"

Taehyung tensed as he heard his mother's words. He clenched his jaw and fists as his eyes turned red. Turning back,he left the Palace. He was a fool to think of confronting his mother. His mother is cruel and he knew it. But he never thought she would go as far as killing his siblings.

He stopped at the pavilion near the lake and stared at the lake in daze. His heart hurt. Big tears fell down from his eyes but he didn't cry soundly. He wouldn't be able to live if his mother killed his siblings for their sake. If something like that happens,he would slit his own throat.

"Taehyung!"

Prince Namjoon's voice came from behind.

Taehyung immediately wiped away his tears immediately and turned around to see a worried Namjoon running towards him.

"What is it? Why are you so tensed,brother?"

Namjoon panted heavily as he spoke. "Iseul had escaped! Go and meet brother Seokjin immediately!"

Taehyung widened his eyes. "Yes", he bowed and was about to leave but stopped and looked at Namjoon. "Brother,there is something I need to tell you too. Listen well,mother is plotting against Iseul again. She is going to kill her. Tell this to brother Yoongi. I'll assist brother Seokjin and find Iseul"

Namjoon's scalp went numb as he heard his brother's words. Trouble after trouble. He didn't know if they could hold on anymore. Their lives are crumbling into pieces infront of their eyes and they are useless.

Taehyung ran away to find Seokjin.

These two didn't notice the servant woman behind the pavilion who was listening to their conversation. It was the maid who served lady Hayoon. She gasped when she heard it. She somehow had an idea where Iseul would go and ran to the funeral hall to find her.

As she expected, Iseul was there to see her mother but to her disappointment, her mother was not there. Lady Hayoon's body didn't have the privilege to be in this funeral hall of concubines.

The servant confronted Iseul and tried to warn her. But she missed the timing to tell her who is plotting against her and the poor servant didn't know that Iseul had mistaken everything. In Iseul's heart,the people who are plotting against are her brothers.

_________

Seokjin was having a conference with ministers in the royal office hall since the King had gone to the Royal parade to meet the people.

The hall doors were burst opened as Prince Taehyung barged in. He didn't care if he is being insolence but right now,he has to meet the crown Prince.

Seokjin saw the panick in his eyes and immediately dismissed the meeting. The hall became empty as everyone walked out.

Seokjin came down from his seat and stood infront of Taehyung. "What is it? You look pale and tensed?"

Taehyung's chest was still going up and down as he was breathing heavily. "Brother,Iseul had escaped"

Seokjin widened his eyes. "What?!"

Taehyung, "Yes! And  we have to take her away from the palace immediately!"

Seokjin, "No,we have to lock her up —"

Taehyung, "No! We can't keep her in the palace anymore! There is a plot going on to kill her! It's our mother! We need to send both Jungkook and Iseul immediately away from the Palace. First,it should be Iseul"

Seokjin went pale. He almost stumbled back but he composed himself. He already had an idea that it should be his mother who is plotting everything but hearing it from Taehyung somehow pained his heart.

Seokjin closed his eyes and calmed his breathing. He reminded himself that his siblings and specially Iseul needed him. "How do we take Iseul out of the palace? If we take her out secretly, then it will cause a huge ruckus in the palace. How could Iseul disappear suddenly? This may give birth to many suspicions"

Taehyung, "Then let's take her out openly"

Seokjin, "Huh?"

Taehyung, "Banishment. If we find something we could use against Iseul to banish her,then we can ask father to banish her. Then on the way,let's take her to another secret place. This way,no one would be able to direct their suspicions"

Seokjin looked worried hearing his plan. He didn't seem pleased at all but is there any choice? To keep her safe,they need to put a facade now.

Taehyung, "Let's explain everything to her when we took her away. I'm sure she will understand"

Just then,a soldier came in. "Your highness!"

The two Princes looked at him.

"What's the matter?", Seokjin asked.

"My subordinates had seen general Iseul going towards the royal parade. What should we do? Should we catch her?"

Seokjin looked at Taehyung with an unreadable expression. He has to take an immediate decision. He had no thoughts about how to protect Iseul from the upcoming disaster. The timing is bad. Trouble after trouble, his head was about to burst. Since he couldn't think about another plan in the minute, he decided to go with Taehyung's plan.

"Let her. I'll go and arrest her", Seokjin said and ordered the soldier to go. He looked at Taehyung, "Let's wait until she make a move. It will be the reason for her banishment", his heart ached as he said this. He didn't want to but he has to. To keep her alive,he has to be the bad guy to Iseul. If it means,she would be able to lead a life without troubles,then he could do it.

"Iseul,I'm so sorry"

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