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CHAPTER ELEVEN
• ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ •

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"How are you feeling?" Inha asks as she runs her fingers through your hair.

This morning after seeing your torn nightgown on her floor she came to ask you about it. Your neck wasn't covered and she quickly noticed the bruises, causing you to make up lies she wasn't believing.

After you told her what actually happened, she was furious. Ever since last night she has been trying to convince you to say something to Jin, but Yunseok's words were still stuck in your head.

"Numb." You mumble.

"You must tell Jin. Yunseok should not get away with this." Inha persuades.

"I can't." You reply. "I can't even look at Jin without seeing... him."

"I can tell Jin for you. This is something you should tell him, but if you can't I will do it for you."

A knock on the door startles you, making you jump a little. Inha walks to the door as you sit up, resting your back on the headboard. She opens the door and Jin walks in.

"Hello, Inha." Jin greets.

"Your Highness," she bows. Inha looks back at you nervously playing with your fingers. Her heart shatters and she walks out of the room.

Jin slowly walks towards the bed, but you stop him before he gets too close.

"Please just stay there." You say quickly.

Jin stops and is nothing but confused. Ever since last night, you have been acting strange and he just wanted to know why.

"How did you sleep last night?" He asks.

"I didn't."

"Why?"

"Jin," You hesitate.

Is it worth it? Is telling him really worth it? What if he doesn't believe me? Yunseok is his brother. He'll believe him over me any day. If I say anything I could be beheaded. I don't fear death what I fear is the shame I would bring my family.

You take a deep breath in.

"Last night I was-"

The door opens abruptly, Yunseok interrupting as if on cue. Your body tenses and your heartbeat increases.

"Eomma's calling you," Yunseok informs Jin. "It's urgent."

Jin turns back to look at you.

"I should go. We'll continue this later, okay?"

You slightly nod and watch as he leaves the room all while Yunseok eyes you. Yunseok sees his brother walk away and he walks into the room, closing the door behind him. You quickly stand up from the bed as you watch him walk towards you.

"You really are stupid." A wicked chuckle leaves his lips.

"Yunseok please," You plead.

"Please what?" Yunseok continues to walk towards you, trapping you in a corner.

You begin to feel as if your lungs were collapsing. Breathing was becoming harder by the seconds and you felt light headed.

"Please what?!" Yunseok grabs your chin harshly and raises your face to look at him.

"Get out of here this instant or I will go down to the throne room and tell your whole family what you have done!" You hear Inha threaten.

Yunseok smirks and roughly pushes your face to the side. He turns around and walks towards Inha.

"You are threatening me?" He laughs. "I can have you killed in a second."

"Then kill me, but you leave that girl alone."

Yunseok stares at Inha in amusement. The sweet and innocent servant he's known since he was young was now threatening him.

"Your mother did not raise you to be like this. You're a piece of-"

"I'd watch your next words if I were you." He warns.

Inha calms herself down and continues, "Just go, Yunseok."

He looks back at you and winks before pushing past Inha and leaving the room. You bring your hand up to your head and slide down the wall in torment. Inha quickly kneels beside you and tries to comfort you.

"By tonight we're telling Jin," Inha tells you.

• • • •

That night Inha summoned Jin to your room and minutes later there was a knock at the door. You sat by the window, looking out at the castle's garden.

"Would you like me to leave or stay?" She asks before opening the door.

"I should tell him alone." You answer.

Inha nods and opens the door. Jin smiles, feeling happy you were now ready to talk to him. He quickly walks into the room, but Inha stopped him.

"Be gentle. Slowly approach her, do not touch her, and please just listen to her." Inha tells Jin before walking out.

Jin gave you a perplexed look. He slowly approached you and sat at the end of the bed. You try your hardest to keep any tears in.

"Y/N? What is it?" Jin questions, worry in his tone.

"Jin, last night," Your breath was shaky and you wanted to stop yourself from telling him, but you had to. "Last night Yunseok raped me."

Jin didn't say anything. He was in shock. The words that came out of your mouth wouldn't process, but when they did, tears started falling from his eyes. Jin stood up to walk towards you.

"Wait don't." You quickly stop him.

Jin stops in his tracks and looks at you. His gaze starts to make you nervous and you look away.

"Y/N... please look at me." He pleads.

You do so and your eyes meet his glossy ones.

"Y/N I'm so sorry." He whispers. "I-I'm so sorry." Looking down, Jin cries even harder.

"Why?" You question calmly, tears flooding your eyes. "You weren't the one who did this. You weren't the one who hurt me."

"If I would've just listened to you when you stopped me we wouldn't have gotten into an argument. You wouldn't have felt the need to dress somewhere else that wasn't our bedroom." Jin runs his fingers through his black locks in indignation. "God, this is all my fault!"

Jin grabs a glass from the coffee table and throws it at a painting on the other side of the room. The action startles you and fear takes over you. Jin realizes and feels horrible.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He apologizes.

You nod your head slightly, your eyes fixated on the floor.

"I want to be alone."

Jin looks at you in despair and nods. He says nothing for a few moments but decides to tell you what he's thinking.

"I love you, Y/N. You're my heart and I will make Yunseok pay for this."

He loves me. The first time he's ever said it and I can't say it back. The words are stuck in my throat and they won't come out. I can't say it, but I feel it. I love you, Jin.

You look up at him and he wipes his tears. Jin clears his throat before walking out of the room, making his way to the the throne room where his repulsive brother was.