The thick, palpable tension in the palace hall was hardened by Mirin's entrance in the palace hall, and the two kings sensed it in the silence that quickly washed over the room full of people. Seonbi stood indignantly next to Namjoon's throne, with Taehyung next to her. A solemn expression pressed his face as his hand pressed against Seonbi's, and as he looked over at his daughter -- who was wedged comfortably between his friends' thrones -- he saw that her expression was somber as well. Hoseok, Yoongi and Chindeok stood next to Seokjin's throne, holding daisies in their hands to symbolize the piece of them that had been stripped from them physically -- but still resided within their vigilant spirits.

"Who is the individual in question?" Namjoon began, pressing his fingers into the golden engravings on the privileged seat.

"Hae Mirin," Jimin began, holding out a hand as if to show her off to the world. "Lady of Your Majesty's harem of the lowest rank, sister of Grand Lady Hae Seonbi, aunt of Her Highness, Princess Kim Rinji."

"What are the charges against her?"

"Assault of a high-ranking official, Your Majesty."

"Permission to speak, Your Majesty," Rinji began, stepping down from between the two thrones and bowing towards the two kings. "This is not the only charge against Hae Mirin."

Everyone in the palace hall exchanged looks, including the two kings, but they did not question her interruption.

"Please stand, Princess Kim," Seokjin said gently, nodding towards her. "What other charges have you against Hae Mirin?"

"I bring the charge of conspiracy with convicts of the palace."

This warranted gasps and jaw drops of sheer astonishment from all who existed in the room.

"I also bring the charges of murder by poisoning, assault of a servant, murder of an animal by drowning and emetic poisoning."

Even Taehyung and Seonbi, who hadn't been made fully aware of their daughter's plans, stood dumbfounded in front of her. Rinji looked behind her to see Mirin made to kneel on the floor, and her face expressed an unrivaled fusion of anger and shock painted perfectly over her eyes, nose and lips.

"These accusations are bold, Princess Kim," Namjoon began, allowing Seokjin to finish. "I trust you have evidence?"

"I do, Your Majesty, Your Divine Grace."

"Please present it, Princess Kim," Namjoon said, holding his hand out towards Rinji -- essentially handing her the floor to speak.

"With pleasure," she said, beginning her speech to the royals, her parents, her friends and the entire palace.

"As to the charge of conspiracy with convicts of the palace, I have letters between Hae Mirin, a servant named Lihwa, and Mo Jihan. They are in my servant's possession."

"Bring them forward!" Namjoon commanded, his anger reviving itself upon Lihwa and Jihan's names being repeated once more. Chindeok gasped, her rate of breathing suddenly spiking from a calm, steady pace to jagged, shaky breaths. Hoseok took the child's hand, kneeling in front of her to guide her respiration while Sooyoung brought the letters to Namjoon with a respectful bow.

"...it is as Her Highness says," Namjoon said with clenched teeth, almost crumpling the paper in his hands. Passing them to Seokjin, he read them with a mirrored reaction, shaking his head in fury.

"As Your Divine Grace and Your Majesty may have read, the letters speak volumes about unwillingness to accept the changes in the palace that have been initiated. In one of Mo Jihan's letters, he spoke about his disapproval of the deceased Min Hancheol and Chindeok's friendship with him. He expressed anger towards him and said that he'd give anything to see him and his parents suffer...which is why Hae Mirin poisoned his food."

Hoseok, Yoongi and Chindeok stood straight, allowing the words to penetrate them like swords in their fragile bodies. Tears streamed down their faces, and every heart in the room softened and dropped at Rinji's words.

"As for the murder of Min Hancheol by poisoning, there are multiple pieces of evidence. One of these pieces are the letters, which I have already given you. Another piece of evidence is the plant which was used to poison the food. Doctor Jung investigated this, and found that the plant was native to a place from the south -- just the region where Hae Mirin lived before entering the palace. If Doctor Jung would like to confirm"--

"This is true," Hoseok breathed, wiping his tears from his face. "The plant was from the south."

"Sooyoung," Rinji said, looking at the three next to Seokjin in uncontrollable tears. "Please have someone bring some tea for Doctor Jung, Guard Min and noble Chindeok. They deserve the utmost comfort while enduring this trial."

"Yes, Your Highness," Sooyoung said, briskly walking down the path in the middle of the hall to do as she said. While her servant was out, the princess called for three cushions to be placed next to the throne, kindly motioning for the three to sit and thanking them for attending the trial. Rinji knelt there, holding their hands and reassuring them with a soft smile.

Sooyoung and another servant returned with the tea, allowing Rinji to return to her speech while they made the doctor, the guard and the child comfortable.

"Lihwa's goal, along with that of her mistress, was to make Grand Lady Hae suffer for her position. Mo Jihan's goal was to make Doctor Jung, Guard Min and their child Hancheol suffer as well. Mirin's goal aligned with that of Lihwa. For Jihan, Mirin sent for a plant from the south, poisoned Hancheol's food with it and awaited the innocent boy's death. For Lihwa and herself, Mirin attempted to end my parents' marriage -- for which I have evidence as well."

"You have no proof that it was I who did it!" Mirin said, looking up at Rinji. "It could have been anyone here! It could have been Seonbi"--

"Shut up!" Taehyung growled, silencing Mirin without regard for her defense. "You shut up right now! For months, people like you have targeted my wife! You are so full of it! I hope you get what you deserve!"

"L-Lord Kim, please," Seonbi said, placing a hand on his back. Taking his hand into her free hand, she gradually calmed him down.

"I apologize for my brazen outburst," Taehyung breathed, trying his best to avert his eyes from Mirin. "Please continue, Princess Kim."

"Mirin's entrance into the palace harem was only two days apart from Hancheol's death," she said, staring down at Mirin. "This palace is located near the southern regions. If a good horseman were sent out at noon, he could arrive in the south at nightfall and obtain the plant, sleep until midnight and arrive around early morning -- giving Mirin just enough time to poison Hancheol's breakfast and leave freely."

"All of this is hypothetical. None of this proves anything."

"What about the charge against animal drowning? I was a witness to this myself. In fact..."

Rinji took a deep breath, preparing herself for her next words.

"...Mirin forced me to help her do it."

The crowd was agape once more with surprise and intrigue.

"I was in the kitchens when Mirin saw me. She grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out to the river near the stables and open field. She grabbed my hands, and had me pull a white kitten out of a burlap sack she had picked up earlier. I tried to save it and keep my hands above the water, but...she forced it down. I-- I'm sorry."

With this Mirin laughed cruelly, shaking her head.

"How could you believe such a ridiculous story? It's obvious that she's lying!"

"Because, as disgusting as this may be, I haven't washed my hands since the experience. And I distinctly recall scratching Mirin's hands in self-defense. I still have her skin underneath my nails."

Jungkook, who had been standing next to Mirin, looked down at the backs of her hands, finding and confirming the scratches Rinji spoke of.

"In any case, I bring up this charge because she said something chilling and cruel to me before she drowned the kitten. She said, 'Soon it will be in hell, right next to Hancheol.' "

Chindeok, Yoongi and Hoseok all felt their hearts melt away into nothingness as they gazed in horror at the woman in question.

Hoseok stepped down, asking for permission to look under Rinji's nails to confirm her story. With his permission, Hoseok sent for a few things from the infirmary, looking down at Rinji's hands.

"If my purehearted, innocent, beautiful little boy ever steps foot in hell," he said, looking over at Mirin, "it will be to remind you of the jealous, cruel little wretch that you are. Don't worry. You'll watch him enjoy eternity in heaven while you rot and burn soon enough."