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"And may I ask what you were doing in the kitchen at the time?" Yisun asks, her head held high as she looks down at the other woman.

The Marchioness scoffs, a bitter smile making its way to her face. "I told you a million times, Your Majesty, I had never visited the kitchen ever since I arrived at The Palace."

Yisun squints her eyes a little. "Oh, I doubt. I got a report from all the maids, cooks, guards in and about the kitchen at the time the meal was being made, and they all recognized you in there. I doubt they all made it up together."

"I don't," Joowoo replies, "I told you I wasn't therㅡ"

"I hope you understand, Joowoo," The Queen cuts her off with a stern look, "That someone was planning to poison me and we are trying to find the culprit. Your help will be much appreciated and your denial doesn't quite help you."

"Are you saying I'm the one who poisoned the food?" Joowoo asks, finally looking up and locking her eyes with Yisun's.

The edge of Yisun's lips twitch. "I never said so, dear. You said it yourself." She leans her torso forward, one eyebrow raised. "Did you?"

"I definitely did not!"

"Your anger isn't helping your case, either," Yisun says calmly, leaning back on the throne.

The double doors burst open, and in walks Prince Taehyung with long strides, stopping right beside his wife.

"Oh, Taehyung," Joowoo exclaims once he walks in, "That woman is accusing me of poisoning heㅡ"

"That woman." Yisun raises her voice. "Is the Queen to whom you should be paying your uttermost respect and addressing formally."

"I beg your pardon on her behalf, Your Majesty," Taehyung says, his tone sounding more sarcastic than sincere, "However, I do believe that she had not done anything wrong, and shall not be questioned."

"Just because no one questioned you at Prince Namjoon's death," She replies, "Doesn't mean no one else should."

"Infuriated much, Your Majesty?" He raises an eyebrow. "Trust me, you will not be saying the same words when you find out who the real murderer is."

"And who may that be?"

Taehyung grins, tilting his head to one side. As he opens his mouth to speak, he's interrupted by quick footsteps as a maid rushes in, bowing once then looking up at the Queen.

"I deeply apologize for interrupting, Your Majesty, but this is urgent," She says hurriedly.

Yisun glares at Taehyung, then averts her gaze to the maid. "What is it, dear?"

"The Taster, Your Majesty." The maid breathes. "She is dead."

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"I may have been in her place! Why do you not seem to care?!" Yisun argues, frustrated at her husband's calmness.

"But you are alive, are you not?" Seokjin replies, "You're asking me why I'm so calm, and I'm asking you why you're so enraged."

"Why am I enraged?!" Yisun repeats in disbelief, "You're asking me whyㅡ Oh, God. What has gotten into you? Tell me, Seokjin, would you have been this calm if I were dead?! You would give this much of no care?"

Seokjin sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Don't make it seem like I'm a mad wife!" She yells in frustration.

"Do you not care?" She adds, her voice softening and wavering. "Do you not care about me anymore? About us. Because if I remember correctly, you cared much more than this, and the problem is that you seem like you don't anymore while I still do as much as I did before."

The King shakes his head, walking towards the bed and sitting beside his wife. He holds her hand in his, rubbing it soothingly.

"I am sorry." He shakes his head again. "I do care, but there is a lot lately going on my mind. I understand, and we shall continue investigating until we find who did it."

"Then, tell me," Yisun whispers, "Tell me what's going on your mind; we agreed to share everything so what are you hiding and why?"

"I'm not hiding anything." He gulps. "I just don't want to bother you. You must be already bothered with all of this, the poisoning and the pregnancy."

"Me being pregnant doesn't bother me at all." She smiles, settling his hand gently on her swollen tum. "If anything, it's making me extremely happy."

He smiles back.

"When you are ready," She says, "Come and tell me everything. I shall always wait and be ready to listen, darling."

His smile grows wider, and he leans forward, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"How about you rest for now?" He suggests, "You look tired. A little sleep would do."

Tucking her in, he turns around to leave the room, blowing off the candles before he walks out, silently shutting the doors.

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"It was your doing, was it not?"

Taehyung smiles at the question, turning his head to look at the other man.

"What do you think, Earl Park?"

Jimin smiles playfully. "You really are behind all the deaths in The Palace, am I right?"

The Prince shrugs. "I can't assure you that, my friend. Anyway, Joowoo was too dumb by poisoning the food before the Taster tried it."

"You should have brought someone smarter," Jimin replies.

"I thought she was smart enough," Taehyung shakes his head, staring into blank space for a few seconds before he looks back at the Earl.

"Tell me, Jimin." He smirks. "How is it going with the dear King?"

"Can't be more gullible." Jimin scoffs. "He is too blind for a king; still trusts me as his 'confidante'."

"He is not as wise as he makes himself seem to be." The Prince shrugs, staring out of the window and at the night sky

"So what's the next step?" Jimin asks, playing with one of the rings on his finger, twirling it nonchalantly.

"No need to rush, Earl Park." Taehyung smiles, turning his attention to his friend.

"Everything has its' time."

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A/N:

Hola amigas I'm back

I have no excuse for my delay so yeet

Enjoy the chap