"Traitor!" somebody shouted, and all of a sudden the smell of fire caught Jungkook's nose. It smelled of hate and was getting nearer, making him snatch a sword from one of the royal guard's waist and defend against the stranger's attack.

⚠️ Violent Content ⚠️

This man dared attack the King's seating area. Who was crazy enough to do such a thing? An imminent threat to the crown was to be eliminated immediately, and the Crown Prince was most aware of his responsibilities when he skewered the stranger on his blade, mercilessly pulling it out again and letting him bleed on the floor of the balcony as the screams of the queens and princesses pierced his ears.

In the split of a second, Hoseok was guarding the King and escorting him out of the premises, while two other attackers jumped up to the platform, stubbornly picking a fight they surely wouldn't win.

"You bear the crest of another kingdom on your chest!" one man accused.

"You take our army to its doom to weaken Goryeo!" the other added.

"How dare you" Jungkook seethed, blocking their strikes with ease when his battle spirit took over. "How dare you put the royal family in danger, and bring a blade to their faces" he berated, slashing their limbs left and right to make them immobile.

"Hellhound" the man spat as he laid on the floor before Jungkook's sword pierced his throat.

✅ End of Violent Content ✅

"Jungkook!" Jimin screeched when he reached the top of the stairs, his hands covering his mouth while his eyes were horrified at the sight in front of him. "Heavens there are children in the crowd" he whisper-shouted, taking it upon himself to bind the man that was still alive and snatching the sword away from the Prince's tight grip.

The Theras below finally raised a wall to block any more attacks and cover what was happening on the balcony, although a bit too late if you ask everyone. The audience was quickly dispersing and families were returning home in fear of being caught in the storm, led by the civil security guards who were trying to keep order and avoid collateral damage due to panic.

"This is bad. This is the worst case scenario" Jimin mumbled, his behavior contrasting with his usually levelled one, watching as the guards took the live attacker and carried the dead bodies off of the platform.

They sat in silence for a while, trying to wrap their minds around this ordeal and make sense out of it if they could, but the questions were too many to keep quiet.

"Did people actually manage to get this worked up from a single glimpse at something they're not even sure of?" Jimin wondered puzzled.

"This was premeditated" Jungkook shook his head, "Which is why I had no mercy on them" he said, earning a stern glance from his pharmacist. "But I did wrong to execute them in front of the people I admit" he huffed before wiping the splattered blood from his eye.

"How do you know that? They sure sounded angry to me" Jimin disagreed.

"When you're genuinely angry, you are less likely to make loud and articulate accusations like those. They were putting on a show for everybody to see and hear" he explained.

Jimin palmed his face, "Let's clean you up" he sighed as he passed him a carafe of water from the buffet. "Excuse me if I'm too repulsed to help" he said, uncomfortable to even look at the dripping blood knowing where it came from.

"I wouldn't want you to" Jungkook shook his head and washed his face and hands, then splashed some more water on his armor.

"Just- did you have to go as far as killing that man..." the Liquis painfully pursed his lips.

"He was a threat"

"He was already disarmed and bleeding on the floor" Jimin corrected.

"And only thanks to my defence he wasn't able to hurt anybody" Jungkook defended.

"He couldn't have done anything more in that state" he argued, pointing at the blood pool where the attacker previously lied.

"I put him out of his misery if anything" Jungkook huffed.

"Oh how kind of you! His life was surely not worth living is that right?" he pried, triggering a look of astonishment on the Prince's face.

"What do you think was going to happen exactly? That he would be scolded and let free with wishes of recovery from his Majesty the next morning?" Jungkook scoffed, his chuckle dry and mocking.

"He would have the life of a criminal, but a life regardless" Jimin stated, boring his eyes into the Prince's, thinking to have all the wisdom in the world.

"He would have been tortured until giving away his motive and then killed before saying his last goodbyes, Jimin." Jungkook replied, a ruthless cold settling in his eyes as he spoke, "Just like the last one will go through, if it's not already over" he added.

"It's cruel" Jimin whispered, his brows knit and eyes glossy from being talked to like a fool.

"It's the harsh truth" Jungkook responded. What a disaster, he thought when the silver-haired turned away from him.

Moments later, they were ambushed by a group of palace guards, led by Jung Hoseok whose expression didn't tell the best news. On both sides of the staircase stood the men, waiting for orders as the former General made his way to the Crown Prince and his pharmacist.

"Sir Jung? What brings you back?" Jungkook asked upon seeing the professional demeanor he was used to once upon a time.

"Crown Prince Jungkook, you are to be escorted to the palace immediately. Please stand." his friend said, leaving room for questions.

"Alone?" Jungkook asked, subtly darting his eyes to the Liquis.

"The orders are to escort you, sir Park may follow or choose not to" he replied and waited for Jimin to pronounce himself, and although the latter wanted nothing more than a break for the night, he felt responsible to see it all through until the end.

"I'll follow" Jimin muttered.

"Very well, you may stand behind as we walk the Crown Prince to his home" he said.

"What is the protocol?" Jungkook asked his former combat master, hoping to get a bit more information about what he was being escorted for.

"Trojan" Hoseok replied, leaving him stunned. He was suspected of treachery?

The walk back to the palace was silent, and almost humiliating. The Crown Prince had never felt so small as that night being surrounded by armed guards in a defensive formation, taking him to face his father as if he was a child deserving of punishment. He looked back to see whether his pharmacist was keeping pace and was nudged with the back of Hoseok's sword.

"Master Jung what is going on?" he asked, starting to feel irritated with the cold treatment.

"Please stay quiet" he curtly replied.

"I have the right to know-"

"I saw it" Hoseok interrupted, cutting to the chase and indirectly letting him know that his personal suspicions aren't light.

"The Crown Prince has arrived" the guards at the front announced for the gates to open, letting them inside and being immediately met by a line of soldiers and royal counsellors, still in their ceremonial get up which meant they followed the King as soon as he left the venue. His father himself standing a few strides behind with sir Kwon on his left.

The soldiers and counsellors moved aside to let him approach the King, and so he did, then bowed when he stopped a few feet away. The secrecy and tense atmosphere made him break a sweat as he wondered what further events were to unfold that night.

"Crown Prince welcome back. I presume you have questions, but keep in mind this is just protocol and nothing will ensue as long as the allegations are proven to be false" sir Kwon greeted and explained, finally relieving some of the pressure.

"If they are false" Chang Kansin huffed.

"Sir Chang please refrain from such comments" sir Kwon clicked his tongue.

"What allegations are we talking about here?" the Prince asked.

"It has come to the counsel's attention that the Crown Prince was repeatedly accused of bearing an ink mark on his body, one that he has proven not to have a few days ago" Kwon began describing the context in the third person, his voice loud and words well enunciated, as if addressing the people around him and not himself.

This wasn't protocol, this was a trial.

"However during a wardrobe malfunction earlier at the Crown Prince's birth-month ceremony, a tear in his Hanfu triggered people to start talking of this ink mark again, saying they saw it on his chest" he continued. "Then the nail on the coffin was the sudden attack towards the royal family's sitting area, aimed at the Crown Prince himself to be precise, with 3 men accusing him of disloyalty and betrayal towards the Kingdom"

"Two of which he killed instantly. Was it self-defence or an initiative to silence them?" The older Chang brother interrupted.

"I will let you answer this for yourself Crown Prince" sir Kwon gave him the floor to speak.

"It is the law. I was doing my duty as a protector of the King of Goryeo" he flatly replied, "When an armed individual comes within his Majesty's vicinity with an intent to use his element to cause harm, that individual it considered an imminent threat and is to be eliminated on the spot" he stated, "You must've expected that outcome before sacrificing those pawns of yours" he added with a scoff.

"Traitors spouting nonsense, what's new" Chang scoffed.

"Sir Chang one more comment and I will ask you to leave. Sir Park can very well take your place" the royal advisor stated. "Now instead of pointing fingers let us look at real proof" he suggested, walking ahead to make sure everybody was paying attention.

"Apologies for doing this so publicly" he said to Jungkook once he stood ahead of him again.

"There is a minimum number of witnesses necessary for a trial, I am aware" the Prince bitterly replied.

"Crown Prince, I hereby order you to expose your chest once more, to ease every and all our minds" The King announced, "For your sake I hope you weren't lying son" he muttered while passing by him to stand with the rest of the witnesses.

Jungkook looked at the faces staring back at him, one by one making apart those who had faith and those who couldn't wait to be proven right. And finally, the face of his pharmacist whose heart he could hear from where he stood, his face composed but hands shaking nervously.

The Prince chuckled, looking down at his armor and taking it off piece by piece. Is this what his life culminates to? Is this how it ends? He finally finds a purpose, a meaning to it all and it's taken away from him. Like everything else ever was.

"Hurry up" Chang urged, amusing him somehow.

If this was the grand reveal, he was going to make them fall off the edge of their seats for it.

Then, the curtains closed. All amusement vanished when he turned back to his father and met his wide eyes, sir Kwon's knit eyebrows, and Hoseok who didn't even want to look at him.

"The Crown Prince is found... Guilty... Of carrying an ink mark on his chest" sir Kwon announced despite himself, not daring to look upon the Chang's triumphant expressions. "Your orders my King?" he asked the shocked man.

"The trial isn't over, why doesn't the Crown Prince tell us where that mark came from?" Chang Yeonwoon pried further, wanting to get to the bottom of this and uncover all of Jungkook's secrets in one go, leaving him no chance of escape from the worst punishment possible.

"Sir Chang, only his Majesty decides when a trial if over or not" Master Jung reminded.

"Sure but I believe that information is of grand importance, aren't you at least a bit curious former General. Which enemy claimed our Crown Prince as their spy? Or was it not an enemy at all-"

"The Crown Prince-" the King interrupted the other Pyre, speaking loudly to catch everybody's attention, "The Crown Prince is to be arrested immediately, and kept behind bars until further command" he announced and stood at once, not having the heart to look at his prodigy be chained and dragged into the dungeons as the worst traitors are.

The guards in charge advanced to the heir- if they could still think of him as such, and watched him cover himself again then close his eyes and let them do their task with no resistance. The heavy wrist cuffs went on first, then the ankles, and just like that he was a prisoner in his own home.

He turned away from the audience without sparing them another glance, not wanting to witness anymore disappointment, sadness, or gloating. He simply followed the men with the thick chain of his ankle cuffs dragging his every step, marking every dent on the floor.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to mention this at such a time, but this calls for a public notice" Jung Hoseok reminded, "This was not a public trial but it was official, which means-"

"I know" the King nodded, "I'll let you take care of that Hoseok" he added and continued on his way.

"Excuse me" the former General heard from behind him, then turned to find sir Park.

If Hoseok pitied the man at first, he quickly remembered the speed at which he reacted when the Hanfu burned earlier, meaning he must've known about the mark and never spoke up about it. Sir Park and his suitor were in the same box as long as he was concerned.

"What can I help you with" he asked, maintaining a blank expression.

"Are there rules for visiting prisoners?" Jimin replied, not bothering with the courtesies when he sensed the clear disdain from the Pyre.

"You may not bring him anything, you will be searched by a guard before entering the dungeon anyway. He is allowed half an hour visits per person and 3 people a day only" he listed, thinking hard not to miss any other restrictions.

Jimin was indeed searched by a guard who made sure he had no weapons or-- God forbid-- food to give the Prince, then was led into a maze of metal doors until reaching the cell he was held in. At first it was the steady, almost rhythmic, clanking of the chains against the ground that settled a weight on his chest, then it was the lack-thereof that added another.

He looked at him through the bars and saw his defeated look as he sat on the hard ground, resting his head against one of his knees while his arms laid limp on his lap. The squeaky metal door being the Pyre's only source of hope and entertainment, caught his attention in a split second.

"My love" Jungkook sighed, seeming relieved despite where he was currently trapped. "Bring him a chair please will you?" he asked the guard at the door, not wanting Jimin to soil himself, before standing up and dragging his feet to pull his own chair closer to the bars.

"How are you feeling?" Jimin cautiously asked, clearly noticing the red marks on his wrists from the cuffs already.

"A little dismayed let's say. But I'm fine, I promise" Jungkook reassured, "How are you?" he returned the question.

"I'm not worried" Jimin replied, "You'll get though this" he nodded.

"Sir Park, you know I can tell when you're lying" he tightly smiled.

"I apologize for not being able to say anything during the trial" he replied, not confirming or denying his words.

"Nothing you could have said would have changed this outcome. The rule is to cuff and ask questions later" he shook his head. "Did Hoseok say anything to you?"

"Master Jung has clearly picked his position towards you, and me it seems"

"Try to keep away from his target, he can be very hostile, at times like these. It's not easy to have your strongest disciple locked up for betrayal" he shrugged, "Do you know of the Jung family's history?" he asked.

"No"

"His is the fourth generation of a strong lineage of men that have served the previous Kings of Goryeo. His ancestors all played important roles in the lives of mine, and all protected their Kings until their last breath" he narrated. "Hoseok is just the same, he officially pledged his allegiance and loyalty to my father years ago, and has been brilliantly doing his job since"

"The Jungs are the King's shield?" Jimin asked and he arched his brows.

"I thought you didn't know"

"I heard tales from my father, but didn't know exactly who they were" Jimin clarified.

"Well, the reason I'm telling you this is so you don't underestimate him. If he senses even the hint of a menace from you he will not hesitate to take the necessary measures, and I don't want anything to happen to you because of me" he conveyed.

"Nothing will" the shorter reassured, "Please don't preoccupy your mind with me, I can take care of myself"

"I can't believe I was silently preparing another redemption speech until I publicly branded myself as the killer everyone thought I was" he huffed, "I let down the people who were starting to believe in me and now I'm back to the bottom of the ladder"

"I heard master Jung ask about a public notice" Jimin confirmed.

"By morning everybody will know the verdict of the trial and my current circumstances, and the public opinion matters a lot in cases like these" the Prince informed.

"Maybe we could convince them that the mark isn't evil" the Liquis suggested.

"Who knows just how many people are aware of what it actually represents, another lie won't patch the hole" Jungkook disagreed.

"You're speaking as though you are doomed" Jimin quietly pointed out.

"It is a possibility"

"My Prince..."

"But I'll think of something" he smiled, his wrist cuff clanking against the metal bar as he reached for his lover's hand, making the guard throw them a glance. "I'm sorry I won't be able to keep you warm tonight" he gnawed on the inside of his lip, keeping his eyes on their linked hands.

"I can manage a night or two alone" Jimin squeezed the rougher one, "But not more than that" he muttered quietly.

"It'll be like this never happened" Jungkook promised, covering the top of the pale hand in his and bringing his knuckles to his lips.

"Sir Park, your time is up" the guard informed from where he stood.

"I will leave now, but you'll still hear me right?" Jimin asked, hoping the Prince understood his intentions.

"Always" he confirmed.

On a completely different note, the Chang uncles poured a glass to the Crown Prince's arrest, celebrating their feat and wishing for more blessings of the sort in the future.

"And that, Sunmi, is how you get rid of a Crown Prince" they laughed.

"Maybe you should give my son some of the credit" she chuckled along.

"Indeed" they agreed.

"So what's next? What will be his sentence?" she inquired curiously.

"We'll have to play our cards smartly. As impartial as the King can be, it is still his first born behind those bars" Kansin explained.

"Is there a chance he would live this down despite having such a thing on his skin?"

"Anything may still happen"

"You should've just hired stronger men to finish the job when he was performing" she huffed, her views arrow and uneducated.

"Making him a Martyr during his redemption arc wouldn't help anyone. Besides, do you really think that would have worked?" Yeonwoon shook his head.

"Did you not see the white walls that covered him within seconds of exposing his chest?" the brother added.

"It was the pharmacist. Who cares about a little ice" she clicked her tongue.

"It didn't look like ice to me. There was no frost coming off of it" he disagreed.

"That pharmacist knows something I'm sure" Kangsin stated.

"Park Jimin? I doubt it, he might have seen the ink but he cares too much about his newly-married sister to put himself in such a dangerous situation" Sunmi wondered out loud.

"In any case, the hardest is behind us. After the public notice Jungkook's image and reputation will forever be tainted and nobody will trust him to take over his father" he said before clanking their cups together.

And so they spent the ceremonial night in their own way, gloating and basking in their achievement while dousing themselves in alcohol and food. On another side of the palace, stayed the people closest to the Crown Prince in the silence of their rooms preparing themselves for what may be next.

It would be correct to say that Jimin for one didn't have a lick of sleep that night, he spent hours overthinking and rummaging through his mind seeking loopholes, anything that can help the Pyre's predicament. He wanted to visit him again with answers at the tip of his tongue, but it was easier said than done.

While he continued his research the next morning, the Crown Prince patiently waited in his cell, still in last night's blood stained clothes running his mind over what he knew from past experiences of attending trials, until an friend decided to pay him a visit.

"Hoseok... Good morning. It's honestly a surprise to see you here" he admitted.

"This is the last place I'd like to be, but there are questions I want answered" the former general replied, keeping his distance from the bars and looking down on the younger with much contempt.

"Ask away" he shrugged with disinterest.

"Who was it. The brutes or the Jirans?" he inquired, making Jungkook turn to him at once.

"What?" he knit his brows.

"You heard me. Which of them put that thing on you" he insisted, watching the Crown Prince begin to stand and his chains drag towards the bars.

"Is this what I'm worth to you at the end of the day?" he started, "I gave this Kingdom all I had, I bled for it, wagered my life for it, and you dare claim my enemies corrupted any part of me?" he added with ring of warning in his voice. He stood eye to eye with his former master and spoke again.

"Everybody seems to forget what I do for this Kingdom, so quick to assume the worst about me but I thought you were above that Hoseok-- I fought alongside you!" he shouted, offended, with a bang of his cuffs against the bars before hearing the loud sound echo in the empty dungeon.

"It is because of that!" Hoseok argued back, his eyes full of a bundle of anger and deception. "I raised the soldier in you! I trained you and made you strong, I was always ready to lay my life for you in battle and trusted you to lead my Army" he listed before pointing a finger at the younger's chest. "So tell me why you are branded like a pig" he clenched his jaws.

"Nothing would make me turn my back to my Kingdom" Jungkook responded, "No enemy I ever clashed swords with could ever change that" he added.

"Then what is it? Are you stupid enough to put such a thing on yourself?" the former General asked in confusion, not yet trusting his claims despite how badly he wanted to.

"Telling you the truth will put me in more trouble" he shook his head.

"I'm the one you should be worried about right now" Hoseok disagreed.

"Oh trust me I wish" Jungkook scoffed.

"What is it you are risking everything you've built for? You risk losing your titles, your family, your lover, and yet refuse to speak. If you didn't betray your father, why aren't you clearing your name?" the combat master thought out loud, pacing ahead of the cell.

"Have you spoken to my father?" Jungkook asked, unsure if he wanted the answer.

"His Majesty has been out of reach since the trial" he replied, "Sir Kwon is the only person he wishes to keep around him"

"And Kyungsoo?"

"He surely found out by now, as did the majority of the people in the capital. I haven't crossed paths with him but I suspect he will request a visit here soon, try not to break the boy's heart then" Hoseok advised.

"Kyungsoo's faith never wavers when it comes to me, I almost feel unworthy of it. He will be asking questions I can't answer Hoseok, how will I console him?" the Crown Prince huffed before resting his forehead on the bars, bumping it against them a few times.

"You're right, you are unworthy of it, because you claim to be innocent but instead of explaining yourself, you're cowering down from any responsibilities. Allowing yourself to be cuffed and trampled across the dirtiest grounds of your own home" he clicked his tongue, "This is a disgrace to the Jeons" he scrunched his noise in distaste and left the premises without looking back.

What could he possibly do, he was trapped in an impasse, unable to push himself above the water without dragging his father under.

...Prince...

A whisper caught his ear, floating like dust in the wind enchanting his mind as he followed it, closing his eyes and chasing its tail.

My Prince, he heard. Prince Jungkook can you hear me? I don't know if I have managed to reach you yet, so I am walking around the dungeons where I will surely be in your range. I am starting to earn rather inquisitive glances, some pitiful even so you must understand that I won't linger in this area much longer...

Truth be told I thought keeping a scarf over my mouth would work much better than it is, he scoffed. I can practically hear these looks. Poor man, his suitor is locked up and now he's lost his mind. I digress, I will be visiting today, but until then I need to know where I can come to keep you updated about what's happening outside.

This will go on for a bit longer, so I'm sorry to bore you with all this rambling.

"You could never bore me" Jungkook muttered to himself as he continued listening.

If only I could hear you back, know what you're thinking. I assume you have been trying to find solutions as much as I have, I keep looking but it's dead-end after dead-end. I do have some suggestions, but I'll keep all that for later.

One step, two steps, three steps... Oh- excuse me I wasn't looking... Should I try to go further now? Maybe you can tell me later at which point you lost me. I've passed the East tower, the furthest from your cell, and now heading towards the artisan square since it would be convenient to do this in a place that isn't suspicious for me to be. Trouble is, I'm running out of things to talk about...

"I don't mind what you say love, save me from this sinking silence" Jungkook muttered. The heavy cuffs on his wrists weighed him down the longer he stood, digging at his skin and pulling the muscles on his shoulders. So he sat on the ground again and rested his forehead on his knees.

I remember the first time you got me to do this, I was saying all that nonsense in your office thinking, am I really playing this man's game? You said keep talking, and I did, although I wish I had taken it more seriously at the time-- or less seriously? What I mean is I wish I had spoken as if I could say all the things I didn't dare tell you to your face.

I could have spoiled my wicked plans and unknowingly alerted you, perhaps we could have avoided that ugly confrontation. But well, maybe then I wouldn't have found out about your magic the way I did. Yet for one reason or another I don't believe you'd have kept me in the dark about it regardless.

"Probably not" Jungkook smiled.

Good morning sir Lee. Is that the papyrus we need?...Can you still hear... Bit far from...

The voice was fainter with every word, Jungkook was surely reaching his limit but he still tried to concentrate. He didn't realize he was leaning closer to the wall until he opened his eyes again and sighed.

"Sir Park I'm terribly sorry for what happened" the royal pharmacist apologized sincerely, making a look of confusion appear on the Liquis's face.

"I don't understand" he chuckled awkwardly.

"The Crown Prince's events are very unfortunate and I hoped to let you know that you have a shoulder to lean on if need be" Sir Lee explained.

"I'm perfectly fine Sir Lee" he shook his head.

"Oh perhaps had you already broken off the courtship? I was not informed-"

"No, I just know he's innocent and he'll get through this" Jimin corrected, starting to sound defensive.

"Sure" the Thera nodded, and even though Theras are naturally bold and honest, sir Lee didn't find the heart to deny him hope. It must not be an easy thing to live.

Without wasting another second, Jimin left his fellow pharmacist and walked to his next destination. In silence this time.

"Sir Jin, blessed morning" he greeted the man who seemed pensive in the loneliness of his office, "I'm sorry to disturb" he added.

"Please come in sir Park, my mind was elsewhere" he shook his head.

"I don't blame you"

"What brings you here?" he inquired curiously, putting his reading glasses down and shutting the book he couldn't focus on if he tried.

"My question is rather direct sir" he sighed, "What do you believe?" he asked.

"As direct as it is, it's also broad" Jin pursed his lips, "I could beat around the bush and act as though I don't understand but I won't waste your time sir Park. I taught him better, so he knows better" he replied.

"You don't believe he betrayed Goryeo" Jimin stated.

"Not a chance, whatever he got himself into, it wasn't to stab his father in the back" he shook his head, "I don't know where you stand in this dilemma sir Park but I sure hope his side is the one you take"

"I did, I am trying to find people willing to help prove his innocence"

"Sir Park..." the teacher sighed, "I understand that you hate seeing him in that cell as much as I do, but please be careful who you approach about this matter. Getting too close to this may put you in a dangerous situation and throw you in the mix" Jin advised.

"I already know somebody who has quite antagonistic views of me already" he nodded.

"Who might you be speaking of?"

"Master Jung, the former General"

"Of course" he sighed, as though he dreaded that answer, "He is a Pyre after all, and true to his nature, he is quite fast to jump to conclusions" the royal teacher nodded, "This must be difficult for him as well since Pyres are not the most trusting people"

"Indeed, the Crown Prince may be the only exception" Jimin agreed.

"You think so?"

"I know so" he confirmed.

"Interesting. Well I can vouch that Hoseok having his valuable trust broken-- or faltering at least-- isn't to be taken lightly, and that can be good or bad depending on what the truth actually is" Jin explained.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"There is no denying that the Prince does have a symbol on his chest, so Hoseok will do his very best to find out what it is. When he does, I sure hope the King doesn't condemn his own son for it because Hoseok will eliminate any and all accomplices"

"Is that so" Jimin muttered.

"Deep down I'm sure he doesn't think Jungkook is a traitor, just like me, but the matter with hot-headed people is that they don't allow themselves to think things through"

"What I'm understanding is we have to show that the meaning of the symbol isn't wrong, that it is no threat to the kingdom" Jimin reiterated.

"I wish you luck writing that story sir Park, but please hurry"

"Story?"

"I don't know what the truth is but I can confidently tell it's not what you will be announcing soon, in either case, I hope you can convince everyone" he collectively replied, "Here are the keys to the royal library, in case you need it" he added, dragging the metal keys across the wooden desk before letting the Liquis walk himself to the door.

Back to the dungeons he was, finally about to see Jungkook again with all of his ideas organized as best as they could be. He dragged his feet across the ground and nervously fiddled with his hands before being asked to stand for a full body search.

"Good day my Prince, or I suppose, not so good" Jimin announced his arrival, second to the loud screeching of metal against stone.

"I've had better" the man smiled.

"Have you eaten at all? You look weak" the pharmacist asked after finding his seat by the bars.

"I could ask you the same thing" he pursed his lips, "Yes, I was granted a meal already. Surely nothing like the usual though" he shrugged.

"How are you holding up?" Jimin asked.

"Knowing that I could be sentenced to life in penitentiary? Not very well" he admitted, "Being confined to a smaller and dirtier cell, with a lot less visitation rights, amidst people I might have helped put in that place sounds like a continuous war" he described. "And you know what used to get me through war? Seeing my loved ones, returning to my father and brother, seeing my people alive and safe" he shook his head.

"I told you last night, you can get through this" Jimin replied.

"What if I don't, how will I go on without seeing you everyday? Who else could be such good company" he added.

"Your flattery knows no circumstance, does it my Prince" he pursed his lips, almost rolling his eyes at the ill timing, "I think I'm more stressed about this than you are"

"I have something to tell you" Jungkook announced, "I remembered something from older trials I witnessed and heard of"

"Do say"

"There is a rule, I believe. An exception or a loophole, however you wish to call it. When a trial is held unbeknownst to the defendant, when they haven't being informed beforehand, the defendant may ask for appeal of the verdict" Jungkook recalled.

"Does that mean you-"

"After such a request, the defendant may have a new trial where a new verdict is issued" he explained.

"On which basis is the decision made by the court of appeals?"

"Evidence presented during the appeal period"

"That means we can find evidence of your innocence and avoid a harsh sentence" Jimin pondered.

"Well, that implies I actually am innocent" he chuckled, making the pharmacist raise a brow.

"You wouldn't be telling me this if you didn't have hope it would work for your case Jungkook, you know we can make something up" Jimin whispered.

"I do think highly of you, love. You were putting something together out there weren't you? You were particularly chatty so I assume you have a lot to tell me from the other side of these walls" he raised his brow.

"So you heard me. At which point did you lose me?" Jimin asked in curiosity.

"You greeted the royal pharmacist, and that was pretty much all" the Prince replied.

"That was the artisan square, brilliant" he firmly nodded. "Now, I have done some digging" he sighed, "The only way to save yourself is to incriminate yourself my Prince" he said, noticing the man's eyebrows knit in confusion.

"Why would I ask for an appeal if I will be admitting to the crime anyway?"

"You wouldn't be pleading guilty to treason at the hands of the enemy of course, rather, you will admit to subjecting yourself to the ink because it means something to you" Jimin clarified.

"What is it that I would soil my royal blood for?"

"Before becoming the symbol of you-know-what, the Triquetra used to mean a few different things, but for the spirituals it meant the three stages of life: Life, Death and Rebirth" he informed. "Do you see where I'm going with this?" he whispered, subtly checking from the corner of his eye whether the guard was eavesdropping.

He relayed all that he read in the books from the royal library, older cultures and beliefs he thought could be appropriated just for a moment.

"As someone who courts death a few times a month I suppose I would be one to appreciate that cycle a lot" he nodded in understanding, "I've been to battle many a time, and war really makes you think about what comes after death in hope for a flower field and chirping birds" he scoffed, "For another chance"

"Did you actually?" Jimin asked, resting the side of his head against the bars.

"It's rusted, love" Jungkook quickly mentioned. "And yes" he confirmed, the rattling of his chains as he moved his hands closer catching the guard's attention for a moment. "So you think that should be our defence in this appeal?" he asked.

"Indeed, but we need to be ready for the worst" he warned, "I don't know much about the law, but you must have an idea about possible sentences when admitting to such an act" Jimin mentioned.

"If my reason is not convincing enough, I could spend up to five years in penitentiary. In the meantime I will lose my position as heir to the throne" he chuckled humorlessly.

"Will your title be at risk too? Because of an ink mark?" Jimin asked in concern.

"If not the future King, I might still remain a Prince in the eyes of the public, unless I am exiled of course"

"Is exile a common sentence?" he cautiously asked.

"Setting the example has always been my fate" he sighed.

"When I leave, I will be asking sir Jin about the procedure and starting it right away, I should be able to submit it on your behalf by tonight" Jimin informed. "My visit is almost over so-"

"Sir Park it is time" the guard called from the end of the corridor.

"Right" he nodded, "Hang in there" he whispered before walking away and out of the dungeons once more.

---

"They're pushing for appeal" Chang Kangsin said, entering the office where his brother and niece discussed future plans for the country.

"The Crown Prince wants a fight?" Sunmi huffed.

"I saw the pharmacist meeting his majesty moments ago, my spy informed me that he is requesting a new trial with another chance to defend Jungkook's case" he confirmed. "I don't know what their arguments will be, but this is the closest we've ever been to eliminating him, we can't wait and see what they have in store" he shook his head.

"Indeed, this is no time for half measures, we need to hit the nail once and for all" Yeonwoon agreed.

"Do you have something in mind?" Sunmi asked.

"I think it's time to ruffle the former General's feathers" he mumbled.

Later that night, the royal teacher and the pharmacist studied the opposition's arguments, planning their own and drafting a speech for the imprisoned Prince. Surrounded by books and material to help solidify their plea.

"Appeal of the verdict, the conditions are certainly met, my King" sir Kwon nodded looking at the official request submitted not long ago.

"I trust my son, Kwon" the King asserted, a hard expression on his face as he battled doubts and fears in his own mind.

"And I don't expect or advise otherwise" the brother in law replied.

"I just can't believe this is happening to him. I can't believe he actually has that on his chest" he muttered with a shake of his head.

"After the public notice, I have gotten word of the general situation outside. Many are condemning the Prince, his history with the people carving a deeper dent on his name" he informed.

"How soon can the new trial be held?" he asked.

"As soon as in three days my King, we would need to call officials from different states for it this time" Kwon replied.

"Hopefully that'll give the Prince enough time to work his defence" he nodded to himself.

"He has enough people he can trust to support him through this Sungwoon, please don't worry too much and take care of yourself" the advisor reminded, dismissing titles just once to show his personal concern for the man.

The King knew he couldn't get involved in the matter, even if he was aware of the evil his son was facing, so he hoped the right people would stick by his side and fill the void he had to leave.

Unfortunately, Jung Hoseok wasn't among them, not when he was being lied to and kept in the dark, only for his questions to be answered by an unknown book found at his doorstep the next morning. Why would somebody leave this here? He wondered before picking it up and going back inside his home.

He paced around the royal garden, a saddlebag at his hip containing a book he could join the Crown Prince in the dungeons for. Why would somebody leave that there indeed. The symbol and the words created a sense of dread in his chest, he didn't know who to trust or what to say, this was a dilemma even for somebody who swore to confide in his King under any circumstance.

Should he inform his Majesty at the risk of being accused of conspiracy? Will the man trust that he was but a victim of this scheme as well?

"Sir Jung" somebody called, pulling him out of his trance.

"Oh, good day" he greeted the guard with a weak smile, "How may I help you?"

"I was wondering if you had an idea of when the officials will arrive to the palace"

"Officials?"

"For the Crown Prince's new trial, I assume you are informed of his request for appeal"

"Oh, there was one? I have been busy with other things so I wasn't caught up about this, thank you for letting me know and I will get back to you with what I can" he tightly smiled and left the man to regain his post.

It seems you have decided to fight back after all, Hoseok wondered, looking in the direction of the dungeons. He should be glad since he did shame his disciple for not doing so during his latest visit, but after his newest discovery, he isn't sure he wanted Jungkook to have that chance anymore.

"Master Jung has arrived to the throne room" a court lady announced while he waited for further invitation to enter.

"Master Jung, what brings you here?" the King asked upon seeing his second strongest soldier at his door. He gestured for him to advance himself and watched him look around the room almost investigatively.

"Are you alone my King? Are you expecting company?" he asked, a sheen layer of sweat coating his forehead.

"Sir Kwon has left momentarily, but I am not expecting anybody else. What is the matter?" the older man asked cautiously, having picked up the tense atmosphere in the room.

"There is something I must show you, though I beg you to consider me but a messenger. I haven't a thing to do with this I swear to you" he began, choosing to lay out a safety net before committing the crime.

"What message are you meant to deliver exactly?" he asked.

"There is a book I have been left with. Somebody planted it at my door and I have read its pages. It contained the symbol I saw on the Crown Prince's chest" he described, not noticing the color drain from the King's face.

"Sir Jung" he interrupted, "Do you know who did this?" he inquired with a levelled voice.

"No, I do not" the other denied.

"May I see this book?" he asked and watched the former general pull it out of his saddlebag in his trembling hold.

"Very well" he nodded and handed him it, then stepped back before inspecting his every expression while reading the words.

"Good Lord..." The man didn't flip too many pages before suddenly shutting the book closed and giving it back with an unreadable look in his eyes. "Master Jung I have something to request from you" the King spoke.

"Anything your Majesty" he firmly nodded, holding the cursed book with both hands.

"Burn it" he ordered.

Hoseok couldn't say he didn't expect that order, he wanted to do so as soon as he found out what it was about.

"Right away, if I can excuse myself first" he requested, not to show his element in the presence of his King.

"No, do it here" the man insisted.

"As you wish" he nodded and lit his palm on fire, watching it slowly consume the papers, leaving a scorched leather cover only.

"Have you not any questions about my order?" the King asked, needing to know what's in the soldier's mind. A topic so taboo required delicate investigation.

"I never question you my King, in fact I had the same thought" he responded, "I know what this means for the Crown, and I wished to keep it as far away as possible, but I thought it was my duty to keep you informed"

"You thought well"

"Somebody put this on my doorstep knowing I would make this decision, they wanted me to know about the nature of the symbol and you as well my King. Such a motive isn't to be taken lightly" Hoseok warned.

"And it won't be. Somebody is plotting against the Crown Prince" he nodded contemplatively. "They dared bring a taboo to the light of day and moreover to me specifically, this is a threat" he concluded.

"My King!" Kwon entered the room in a hurry, seeming surprised by the presence of the former general. "There is something that requires your attention" he started.

"Do say" the said man nodded.

"May I ask for the room first?" he responded, looking at the former general who seemed to take the hint and started walking away.

"Master Jung, stay here" the King denied, "If it is what I think it is, you may speak freely Kwon" he insisted.

"Very well... I have gotten word from town, people are talking. Some of them have received writings of a compromising nature, illustrated with the symbol we have seen on the Prince's chest" he stated.

"Writings, as in a book?" Hoseok spoke.

"Not entirely, for some it was a few pages, for others it was just the image with some explanations"

"Sir Jung found an entire book of the sort on his doorstep" the King announced, making the advisor knit his brows, "I told him to burn it" he added.

"Why give you the entire book and not the others?" he wondered out loud.

"I suspect it was due to an issue of time, whoever did this was in a rush, indubitably because of the Crown Prince's request for appeal" the King deduced.

"That would make perfect sense if the goal was to cause the people to revolt" the former General agreed. "More importantly, the responsible party must have ties deep within the palace to know of the case's progression at such short notice" he wondered out loud.

"Accusations of this weight will not become water under the bridge, not within the kingdom or outside of it, unless proper measures are taken" advisor Kwon assessed.

So this is the way they want to scratch my son off of the board, with his name dragged through the mud. The King thought to himself with his heart sunken to his stomach.

"Why does it sound like it isn't in the plans to refute them? The texts were sent anonymously, treating on unverifiable facts, there is surely a way to discredit them and save the reputation of the royal family" Hoseok advanced. "Punishment for the Prince can be dealt under a different pretext" he reasoned.

"I am afraid the readings aren't words in the wind sir Jung. Magic may be a taboo subject, illegal to practice, but it is very much part of our reality and the symbol on the Prince's chest is indeed an obscure manifestation of it" the King replied. "If I know it, others do too, and I can't rule a kingdom or unite my people while breaking one of the most unbending pillars of our laws"

There was little room for him to act, little he could do to help his son in the umpteenth test he was undergoing, and so he realized the limited choices lying ahead of him, none of which were easy to make.

"This is the Crown Prince's doing, let him take the blame for it entirely my King" Hoseok advised, despite it not being his place to do so. "He trifled with things that would surely jeopardize everyone around him. And here I thought a betrayal at the hands of the enemy was bad" he obliviously responded, internally fuming over his disciple's actions. Clearly, he didn't pay attention enough while reading to know that it wasn't the Prince's choice, and the ashes of the book couldn't tell him that now.

"You spent most of his life by his side master Jung" the King started, "I know you don't want that for him" he pointed out and noticed the slightest twitch of the Pyre's eyebrows.

"He brought magic to this palace and dragged in a hoard of threats to you and your throne" he stated, "I swore an oath to protect the ruler of my Kingdom. Nothing will make me break it" he spoke, his throat tightening by the second. "I will follow your orders, whatever they may be" he finished and bowed his head to conceal his breaking composure.

"They are claiming sorcery in the palace my King, I'm deeply sorry for what things have come to but this is no longer the Crown Prince's problem" sir Kwon apologized, the meaning of his words cutting a piece of the King's flesh.

"Master Jung, will you send for a meeting in the throne room. I would like to receive my counsellors and officials available this evening. I will make my announcement then" the King requested before watching him take his leave.

Once the door closed, he turned to his dearest friend, the only person who understood the pain he was going through. His fists were clenching his royal attire by his knees and the little strength he had left felt like it was quickly running out.

"My King, please have some water" the other man said, handing him a glass and watching him painfully swallow.

As he watched the room fill with the people he asked for, his heart hammered faster, and blood grew hotter. Their murmurs and quiet conversations as they waited for everyone to arrive felt like the loudest screams in his ears.

"Quiet in the room!" he ordered, "Is everybody here yet?" he asked, drowsily dragging his eyes over the faces.

"We are missing the Changs my King" someone replied, the name mentioned making his skin crawl.

"Your majesty, we were asked to gather in the throne room at this time with no further details, is this-" a counsellor began to ask upon noting the way this meeting was particularly formal, a transcriber sitting with his paper and quill in one corner and a moderator in the other waiting for the meeting to start.

"Counsellor Kim, you will know the purpose of my call when 'tis announced" the King curtly responded, having little patience to entertain other people's concerns.

"We apologize to make you wait then, your Majesty" the older Chang announced their arrival, triggering a scowl on the King's face.

"You're late" he pontificated. The sound of sir Kwon clearing his throat alluding to his defensive expression, and making him regain his composure. "Let's begin" he sighed.

"His majesty the King has called for your presence to make an important announcement with regards to the Crown Prince's apprehension" the moderator introduced.

"After the ink mark was proven to truly figure on his chest, I ordered his immediate arrest until further notice, in the aim to uncover the meaning behind it, the circumstances of its existence and such information crucial for his judgement" the King recapitulated.

"The crown Prince last night filed a request for appeal, and I granted it according to our laws, which is why I summoned some of you from elsewhere to attend his new trial" he continued.

"Is the trial still taking place?" one of the counsellors asked.

"The trial was meant to give the Crown Prince a chance to explain his version of the facts, his reason for sporting the ink mark, and refute the treason accusations. However, in light of the new developments that took place today, I am forced to deny him that chance" he responded, indirectly but clearly.

"The new developments in question being...?" one of the officials who had just arrived to the palace asked.

"The people of the capital have been revolting outside these walls, claiming the mark is a symbol of magic" the King announced, triggering some gasps from the oblivious personalities in the room. It was controversial enough to bring this matter up for regular people, but for a King to do it, there must be no doubt.

"If I may, I have seen some public security guards shutting down a crowd not far from the markets, could this be the subject of their protest?" the head of Ujin state mentioned.

"Most likely, courtesy of some anonymously distributed texts" he declared.

"I mean this with all due respect, but our Crown Prince is of royal blood and him getting roped into such sacrilege sounds absurd" another counsellor disagreed.

"These are serious allegations counsellor, I'm sure his Majesty hasn't come forth with this on a whim. It is condemning his own son" Chang Kangsin emphasized with a heavy tone, fabricated empathy that the ruler saw right through.

"Of course, I didn't mean to sound insensitive" the other apologized.

"I happened to catch wind of what the people think of the mark. They say it is the mark of the power hungry, nature defiant mortal. They say previous practicers had all strayed away from good and died a fitting death" Chang Yeonwoon claimed, hearing displeased hums and huffs from his peers in return.

"Sir Chang, please refrain from hearsay" the moderator advised and waited for another person to ask for the floor, but all seemed to find comfort in their silence, expectantly looking at their ruler whose eyes dimmed by the second.

"Crown Prince Jeon Jungkook bears a symbol of evil" The King spoke again, his voice fighting its way out of his throat. "He has tainted his pure blood, and brought dishonor to his name. He has betrayed his God, his King, and his people, and therefore shall receive the harshest punishment for it" he announced before gulping a ball of thorns, as though trying to stop him from saying the rest.

"The sun watched him take his first breath and it shall watch him take his last. Jeon Jungkook, son of I, Jeon Sungwoon, is hereby sentenced to death. The public execution will be in two noons"

---

Hello again everyone! Here you go, a continuation chapter longer than the first. I hope you are enjoying the events unfolding thus far.

Let me know what you think will happen next!

-Aida-