I was brought back to reality by the sound of horse hooves rhythmically clopping along the cobblestones. Pain affected me from head to toe. I had a searing headache coming on from all the crying and my ankle smarted in throbbing pains.

Although, it was my heart that bore the greatest hurt. To be honest, I didn't know if I was angrier at Jimin for cheating on me, or the universes for once again reminding me how much I was hated. I tried to stop myself from spiralling once again. My anxiety would have been victorious if it weren't for the sound of the horse-drawn vehicle stopping and my name being called out in worried tones.

"Oh, Nell," I heard the sweet voice of my friend coo as she hurried out of the carriage. Hearing her voice had me bursting into tears once again. I felt the warmth of her body and our friendship as she hugged me tight to her chest. "Did you hurt yourself?"

'No, I didn't hurt myself. Everyone else did and because the universe—both mine and this one—hate me, I'm left to pick up the pieces by myself.'

"What happened?" Seokjin asked as he came and sat on the other side of me. I registered him clasping my hands in his, something I never thought would ever happen. "Nell, you're starting to scare me. What happened?"

My eyes had no choice but to follow the path my chin took as a finger turned my head to the side. Seokjin's eyes looked so sad and worried as he used gentle tapping motions on damp cheeks with the soft cloth of his handkerchief. ARMY joked about him being the mother hen of the group, and if he was anything like this with the other members, it was easy to see him in that role.

"Jimin ch-cheated on me. I-I caught him in bed with another w-woman." Gasps came from either side of me as the feminine arms around my shoulders tensed and Seokjin's gripped my hands tight, to the point of pain. "I t-think he sought someone else because I haven't slept with him yet. Someone younger. Prettier... thinner. Someone who looks like him and you guys."

That's what hurt most for me. I hated the thought that I had been easily replaced by a woman who fit the beauty ideals that Jimin was used to. I could never compete with anyone of the likes of Kim Jennie, not in either universe. She was thin and gorgeous. Jennie didn't stand out like a wolf masquerading as a lamb.

"But that's illegal," Soon-Bok murmured as if she couldn't believe what she'd heard. "It is punishable by death for any woman not assigned to a Seed Bearer to try and breed with him. Who is the person you found him with?"

When I uttered the name of the adulteress, Soon-Bok stood up angrily and began pacing in front of us. For someone so tiny, she looked like she could slay the greatest of dragons with how much rage was coursing through her small frame.

"Nell, I don't think you should put all the blame on Jimin. I think there's more going on here because I know he wouldn't willingly do this to you. You know, he sent me a telegram the other day saying how you guys were together. Even through the brief message, I could see how much he loves and cherishes you."

Like Seokjin, I thought Jimin was in love with me. I could see it in how he would look at me. The way he would hold me like I was the most precious thing in his life made me feel like I was the only woman for him. His kisses told me every time about how his heart belonged to me. "The image burned into my retinas of the half-naked woman straddling my boyfriend with his hands on her breasts tells me otherwise, Seokjin."

"I'm with Seokjin on this on—"

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, cutting off Soon-Bok. I had realised for the first time that I had no idea why the couple was here. Usually, Jimin would tell me if we had guests coming. But, he hadn't said anything about Seokjin and Soon-Bok this morning.

"Well, we were coming to see you and Jimin," Soon-Bok said as she began to calm down. "But we can talk about that later."

"Let's get you into the buggy, shall we?" I nodded at Seokjin's suggestion and was pleasantly surprised at how strong he was as he lifted me with ease from the grass. I wrapped my arms around his neck and marvelled at the muscles rippling beneath me. "I'll meet you ladies there," he said, handing the reins to his assigned female before running ahead.

꧁♥💜♥꧂

"What's the meaning of this? Could someone please tell me why the six other Seed Bearers and the Oracle are in my house?" Jimin's father's questions, while worded politely, were laced with anger. His normally kind features were tainted with rage, while Jimin's mother wore a confused look on her elegant face.

I'd learned during the short buggy ride back to the palace that Seokjin had gone in search of Do-Yun and Him-Chan. The two guards had then sent men out to summon the other five Seed Bearers. It hadn't taken too long for the others to come, each unsure of the reason for their summons. Everyone was confused as to why Bang Si-Hyuk was here at the palace until the man said he received a vision instructing him that he was needed.

As we were all gathered in the opulent formal sitting room, I was confused as to why everyone had serious looks on their faces that varied from contempt to anger, and then disgust. Apart from the BTS members coming to greet me when they arrived, no one had spoken—not even Jimin's younger brothers. I was starting to think that I had done something wrong since I was seated alone on one of the long couches. Soon-Bok was the only other assigned female here. Although, she had left the room in a hurry a few minutes ago and hadn't returned yet.

"Mr and Mrs Park, you have a female under your roof who is trying to breed with a Seed Bearer she was not assigned to." Seokjin spat out the words as if they were tainted with poison. He looked and sounded completely different to the sweet man who had comforted me on the lawn. Gone was his sweet smile, and in its place was a disgusted sneer. Standing in front of the large window with the sun streaming on him, the silver-haired Seed Bearer looked like an angel you would never want as your guardian: beautifully handsome with features filled with spite and anger.

"Not her," Yoongi rebuked from the stool in front of the piano as we all watched Jimin's father's eyes track over to where I sat. "Kim Jennie."

"Impossible! Jennie has been a welcome guest in my house for many years," Jimin's father seethed. "Her father is a respected member of our staff. Whoever gave you this information must be mistaken."

"I saw the two of them together in Jimin's bed," I murmured. Even though my voice was quiet, it carried for everyone to hear amongst the silence in the room. "Jennie was on top of him... naked."

As if she knew we were talking about her, Jennie sauntered through the door, with her father in tow. I wanted to throw up as I watched them chatting happily as if nothing had happened. In-Su stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the full room. Confusion painted his features as I watched him lock eyes with the Oracle.

"Someone go get my son so we can get to the bottom of this," Mr Park demanded, not taking his eyes off the woman who was at the centre of this situation.

"No need, Appa. Him-Chan said you needed—" Jimin's voice trailed off as he looked around the room. Much like In-Su, he grew more confused as he spotted his friends all scowling, as well as the frowning Bang Si-Hyuk, who had taken a seat beside me on the beige sofa at some stage without me noticing. "What- what's everyone doing here?"

"Kim Jennie, you have been accused of trying to breed with a Seed Bearer you've not been assigned to," the Oracle said in an official tone from his comfy throne. "What do you have to say in your defence?"

"She's lying! I've never even been in Jimin's room so how could I try and get him to impregnate me?" Jennie was being very over the top and dramatic with her wild gesticulating shrill voice.

"Who said the person accusing you is female?" Hoseok asked, one of his eyebrows raised as a smirk formed. He knew she had hung herself on the rope the Oracle had given her.

"And who said it was Nell who told us this?" Taehyung added on, while trying—and failing—to hide his laughter at the way Jennie had dug herself into a hole.

I tried not to, but I couldn't help glancing across at the man who held—and broke—my heart. Jimin looked so confused by the accusation that he was trying to breed another woman. As we locked eyes, a tear streaked down my cheek.

"Who else would have reason to go into Jimin's room than her," she sneered, pointing at me. "She's been awful to me all day. You should hear the horrible things she has said to me when no one else is listening."

"I've been with Nell the whole day and I can assure you that she's been nothing but welcoming to you. Jennie, you're the one who's been rude." If I wasn't so hurt by his betrayal, I'd have swooned at the way Jimin defended me. But I noticed that he didn't deny the claims of her trying to be impregnated by him.

"That's only because she's trying to steal what's mine!" Jennie screeched while stomping her foot. "Stop lying to yourself Jimin and tell everyone how I'm the one you're in love with. You told me so not even an hour ago."