I should've known.

"Prince Jimin?" Inhee was startled to see the Prince of Black Palace in her home although the other one is living with her.

He bowed, keeping the royal demeanor, hands clasped together. A painfully gorgeous smile graced his lips. Inhee was grateful to see that the king kept his word and sent a physician along with the Prince.

"Please follow me," she led them to the King's chamber. The physician was quick to do a thorough check-up as he felt the king's pulse and the temperature of his head while he lay in bed, unconscious.

"Your Royal Highness, the King's condition as of now is quite severe. The effect of the poison has elevated, and I'm afraid there's only so much I can do to cure that." Inhee tried to keep her composure through an abnormally fast heartbeat and shaky legs, a few inches away from buckling.

"I can provide you with whatever resources you need, but please you must help my brother." The physician nodded his head followed by a bow.

Inhee turned quickly on her heels, she did not have enough time to spend wandering around. She must find a cure for this. The words 'only I can help you' echoed in her mind, but can she trust her uncle?

"Princess Inhee," called out Jimin, who she didn't notice was following her. She wondered why the king sent him along. However, she was grateful for his generosity.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Could you please lead the way to my cousin's room?" he asked. It took Inhee a moment to recall he was Prince Taehyung's cousin. She guided the way, stopping in front of his room. After knocking softly, she thought to at least greet her fiancé before leaving.

"Inhee?" Taehyung's face lit up.

Without saying a word, Inhee moved aside making way for Jimin. Taehyung smiled brightly, "Jimin! So you finally decided to visit me."

"Of course, I had to see the face of my friend before he started growing roots from his nostrils and ears," Jimin chuckled.

"Why would you say that?" Taehyung grimaced.

Jimin laughed again. "It is just that King Seokjin wouldn't stop mentioning how nourishing your nature is in his letters."

Taehyung scrunched his nose. "I must say you have lost your humor without me."

"Isn't that your fault?" Jimin went inside and sat on the chair. 

"I should probably excuse myself." She bowed, but before she could leave a hand held her wrist.

"I'd like if you stay for a little bit. You have been restlessly performing all your duties from the morning. You should take a break," Taehyung spoke, but as he was talking her attention went to Jimin who was sitting there with his head down.

Unsure if she was making him uncomfortable, she decided to stay there for a little while since Taehyung was concerned about her. When she joined them in the room, Jimin gave a polite smile before asking, "How long has the king been in this condition?"

"He was sick for a while, but it got worse on the day I sent King Namjoon that letter," she explained, taking a seat beside Taehyung.

"I can't imagine what it must be like to go through all this alone. If you need to, you can ask Prince Jungkook to be back home. My king would understand all the responsibilities you are bearing all by yourself," Jimin said, looking at Taehyung for approval.

Tahyung was quick to say, "She isn't alone. She has me."

Jimin laughed. "Of course, how can I forget about you, but are you any help? Is he?"

Inhee giggled, looking at Taehyung. "If showing me his handsome face every day and elevating my mood is a help then he is doing a tremendous job at that."

Taehyung's eyes widened in amusement. "Is that all I'm good for? If you want I can begin delivering you flowers every day or read to you before you sleep."

"I would say those things are a must, am I right princess?" Jimin asked, teasing Taehyung.

It was a new side of the light prince that Inhee got to experience. She had witnessed this happening when he would joke around with Jungkook, but this was the first time he had talked to her in this way.

"Yes, you are. I'm surprised he has not started doing it already."

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "You both are uniting to make fun of me?

"We are not making fun of you. We are making fun of the love you bear in your heart for her," Jimin said, singing the words in a playful tone.

"This isn't love," Taehyung said, although defensive, a grin didn't fail to break on his face. "Inhee and I still have so much we don't know about each other."

"Taehyung is right. We are still learning," Inhee added with a shy smile.

"But isn't it love when you truly care about each other?" JImin questioned, meeting Taehyung's gaze.

"I would have cared the same If I was getting married to someone else in place of Inhee. This isn't love, it's responsibility. Love is a rare occurrence, cousin, not everyone can have it." Taehyung was right. However, what he said felt like a bullet piercing her empty heart. It was a responsibility, the relationship they both were in, not a magical occurrence such as love. 

But it might evolve into that one day.  If they keep caring for each other and are attentive to their responsibilities, it might, just one day, turn into love.

"Love isn't rare," Jimin stated, "it's everywhere. You just have to feel it."

That was something new. She hadn't heard of anything like finding love everywhere, but was it untrue? No, in fact, he was right. What she feels for her brother, her cousin, and her people, isn't that love in different forms?

Is what I feel for Taehyung also love?

"I think I should leave now. I have several tasks to finish."

She excused herself, leaving Jimin and Taehyung talking to themselves whilst she made her way down the stairs.

With Jungkook gone again to assist the King of the Black Kingdom, she was to take care of this palace alone. It was a relief that he went there on Seokjin's order or else she would've had to find a way to keep her distance from him.

She noted to first reply to the letters the king received and then give orders to the maids. She went to the King's study.

The one letter lying open on the desk was from Jungkook's mom, their aunt. She fumed with anger while reading it. 'While nothing is certain, you must give the orders for my son to be the next successor of the throne in case you do not make it.'

She wondered why their aunt would pester the king to hand down the crown when her son was keen on escaping the palace to be on an adventurous journey, but then Inhee stopped her mind from going further, doubting how much she could trust the words Jungkook had told her so far.

Inhee gestured to the guards for privacy as she took a seat by the table and started picking out the important posts to reply to. It already looked like their enemies were taking advantage of the King's health. She shuddered thinking how stressful it would have been if they weren't receiving help from the Black Kingdom.

It happened once. She stopped to look around and decided it was the wind. Then again the same sound, somebody advanced on her from behind and covered her mouth with their palm. She struggled against the tight grip on her body. With her left hand, she shoved at the man's chest, sending him stumbling back. She pulled out her dagger and got in position for defense.

"Who sent you?" she asked stepping closer, pointing her dagger at him.

"My king wishes to see you. He has what you need," the assassin panted. This further clarified what kind of person her uncle is.

"Is this how your king invites people? Why does he think I will trust him?" she kicked his leg, making him fall head-first.

"Then who will you trust? Do you even know who gave poison to your king?" he grunted.

Inhee froze in terror. The assassin pulled the last of her gown with a jerk, sending her to her knees, and then he kicked her elbow. The dagger slipped out of her hand as she let out a little 'hmpf' of pain.

Before she could handle herself, the assassin clutched her shoulder and pulled her back, putting a knife to her throat.

"Better be quiet and follow me, Princess," he said through stinky breath and rotten intentions. She struggled to be free from his tight hold while he kept digging the tip of the knife in, drawing blood.

"I would suggest you drop your filthy hands from her or you won't see the next day," Taehyung said through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at the assassin. She wondered if it was the sound of the commotion they caused or the magical connection between the lovers that notified him of her being in danger. "But then I don't plan to spare your life anyway. You already crossed the line."

It was like a cool breeze, the way Taehyung moved quickly on his feet. He kicked the assassin without any hesitation, sending him crashing to the ground. Taehyung pulled Inhee up and then behind him as he reached forward to grab the assassin by his collar.

Taehyung ducked his head avoiding the punch aimed at his face, then another at his stomach. He grabbed the man's wrist, pushing him against the wall, but that man stomped on Taehyung's shin and then struck his dagger on his thigh.

Inhee watched as Taehyung groaned in pain, but it seemed less likely that he was going to stop. He pressed his knee to that man's abdomen and then turned him around, tying his hands with the chain he pulled from his neck, which seemed strong enough to withhold the attacker's movements.

He shoved the assassin on the floor with restraints on his hands. Inhee quickly pulled herself up, rushing to Taehyung's side. Blood was gushing out of his thigh but rarely any discomfort showcased on his features.

"Princess! Taehyung!" Jimin came running along with four palace guards. He wasted no time in lifting Taehyung, "call the physician!" he ordered while the guards took the assassin with them. He examined his friend's wound with grave concern lining his face. He turned to look at Inhee with the same concern.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" He asked Inhee.

Inhee shook her head, still in shock. While the physician began to tend to Taehyung, the guards helped Inhee walk to her room, as she could barely hold herself up.

Getting attacked out of the blue wasn't unusual for her, but watching Taehyung risk his life to save her was what had her hands shaking and feet trembling.

What if the dagger had struck his chest instead of his thigh? That thought made her shudder.

She refused to sit inside the four walls. Therefore, made her way to the garden, drowning in her thoughts. Who was behind it?

The blame fell on her shoulders for causing danger to the people she cared for. First, her brother was poisoned by her uncle and now Taehyung was injured by the assassin who was after her. She had too much going on in her mind. She will have to give orders to let no one near the king, not even Jungkook when he comes back.

It wasn't certain yet where Jungkook stood, an unknown path he was walking on. He had his secrets, but she couldn't tell if they were meant to cause her any harm. Sure, he did hide her truth and share it with Yoongi, but he was the first one to stand up for her protection when they were caught behind bars due to Yoongi's cruel betrayal.

Perhaps, the only thing she could do right now was to let the time pass by and reveal the answers she was desperate for.

She flinched upon feeling a soft touch on her shoulder. When turned around, she was met with eyes filled with concern, even through his soft gaze she could feel an electrifying intensity just like always.

His face wore an expression she didn't recall seeing before, not at all composed and calm like it usually was.

"I was worried to not find you in your chamber-" he said, out of breath as if he ran his way here.

"I wanted to breathe in peace," she said looking down at her feet, hiding her moist eyes. He was the last person she wished to show her vulnerability to, but she still appreciated that he came for her. "How is Prince Taehyung?"

"They've given him anesthesia and said it will take him some time to heal, so he should rest."

She sighed with her shoulders dropped low. This is all my fault.

Jimin reached for her hand and slightly bent his neck to be face-to-face. She expected him to leash out on her for getting his cousin in this mess, for being the reason for all the problems they were facing, and for not being able to protect anybody.

"Princess," he called her in his melodic voice.

She looked up at him and couldn't control the tears from streaming down her eyes. In him, she found everything she needed at the moment, especially comfort, care, and compassion. The compassion that she couldn't offer herself.

"You are cold," he said, engulfing her palm in his warm one. Inhee swore his voice felt like biting into a sugar-coated apple, forbidden for a sinful human like her. "This is not your fault, do you hear me?"

She wondered if he could read her mind.

She stood there in a sweet daze, unable to speak a word.

"I know this is all too much for you to do alone, but I can help you, Princess. Let me help-"

Inhee felt a silver run down her spine, a disgusting feeling she couldn't name that made her want to vomit her gut out. Her hand quickly slipped out of his.

Help? Why does he think he can help me?

Her mind chased down the worst possibilities, and she refused to trust him.

What's his reason for coming here?

The king could've sent the physician alone, not like he needed special protection. Moreover, the fact that the attack took place right after he stepped into the palace. Inhee felt the uncomfortable void in her chest.

'Help.' That word was terrifying.