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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
• ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛ •

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"Did Teo do what he was supposed to do?" The man asks his wife.

"I believe so. He knows what would happen if he doesn't." She answers.

There's a knock at the door and the man quickly allows the person to come in.

"King Heechan?"

"Is it done?"

"Yes. She will be dead by tonight." The servant informs his king.

"Good job, Teo. I'll let the guards know they can release your family."

• • • •

"As you know your father is sick." Yejin reminds. "His time is coming and fast. The coronation ceremony is very important."

"Appa is dying, Y/N is recovering well, Yunseok is still in the dungeon and you think I'm worried about a stupid coronation?" Jin questions, exasperation clear in his tone.

"You're next in line to be king. The coronation should be what you're worried about."

"Well, I'm not," Jin stated. "My father will be dead soon and I'll have a huge task in my hands. My wife can finally be in the same room as me without feeling uneasy and can talk to me serenely. My brot-" Jin stops himself from saying the word. "Yunseok has been in the dungeon for two weeks because you still haven't decided what to do with him."

"It's not easy facing your son who's hurt your whole family." Yejin remarks.

Jin notices the pain the situation has caused his mother as well. He gulps harshly as he regrets what he said.

"I'm sorry." He looks down at his hands that rest on the table. "I know this must be hard for you too."

Yejin reaches over and lays her hands on his. "It's hard for all of us, son, specially Y/N."

• • • •

You knock on Jin's bedroom door and a few seconds later he opens it.

"Y/N?"

"Hi." You greet timidly and he smiles at your shyness. "I was going to go out for a walk. Maybe you'd want to join me?"

Jin grins, his heart feeling tremendous joy.

"Of course. Let me get my coat first."

-

You both walk by the lake before sitting on the bench. Jin kept his distance, still not sure if you were completely comfortable.

"You're aware my father is dying, right?" Jin mentions.

"Yes." You answer sadly.

"That means the coronation is to come soon. It won't only be my coronation, it will be yours as well." He reminds. "I just want you to be comfortable with that. I can try to postpone the coronation if you're not, but I can't make any promises."

"It's fine, Jin. Being king is your duty and that shouldn't be postponed."

"Are you sure?"

Jin notices the way you hesitate to rest your hand on his, but you do so. He looks up to meet your gaze and soaks in the moment. He smiles and you return it.

"Your highness?" A voice interrupts.

You both stand and turn to look at the guard.

"Her majesty wants to see you both in the meeting room."

• • • •

"Is there something wrong?" Jin asks after the guard closes the doors and they're left alone.

"Alia, one of your servants who taste tests the food served for Y/N, died after tasting her dish," Yejin informs.

"What?!" Jin exclaims.

"Someone in this castle is working for the enemy and the enemy has to be none other than the north."

"And you didn't think to tell me?" Jin grows annoyed.

"I was going to, but then we got... caught up with stuff."

"So the north wants me dead." You interrupt their quarrel.

Jin turns to you. "The north will not get anywhere near you." You give him a small smile, but deep inside you were afraid.

The north was just as powerful and King Heechan was ruthless. He kills people without thinking twice. Heechan even killed his own son because he grew tired of him.

"You're the future queen, Y/N. You've been hurt once," Yejin takes a hold of your hands. "But never again."

You give her a small smile as you take a deep breath in.

• • • •

"What are you doing out here?" You ask once you see Jin sitting on a bench in the courtyard. "It's freezing."

You walk towards him and stand before him. You hug the coat tightly against your body, the cold breeze hitting your face.

"I'm just thinking." Jin answers softly. "You should go back inside." He says when he sees you shivering.

"And you shouldn't?"

He says nothing and you shrug as a smile creeps onto your lips when you think of something. You grab some snow into your palms and make a snowball.

Jin looks at you confused before you throw the ball at him. His mouth opens in surprise and he quickly stands on his feet. You run once you see him grab snow to form it into a ball.

You try to hide behind a statue, but the snowball he throws hits your arm. You quickly form another ball, but before you could throw it, Jin comes from behind and wraps his arms around your body.

You don't feel affected by it, but Jin lets go of you. You turn around to see worry written all over his face.

"I'm so sorry." He quickly apologizes.

You put your palm on his cheek and smile. "It's fine."

"Are you sure? I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"I'm positive."

Jin looks at you attentively. You grab the back of his neck and pull him into a kiss. It starts off innocent but soon becomes heated. You start to feel apprehensive and you pull away.

"I'm sorry." You say breathlessly. "I'm still not..." You trail off.

"No. Don't apologize."

You stare at the caring man in front of you and grin before pulling him into a chaste kiss.

"I love you, Jin." You finally avow. "So much."

Your words put a wide grin on his face.

"I love you, Y/N."

❖ ── ✦ ── 『♚♛』 ── ✦ ── ❖

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