╔.▪.═══════════════╗
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
• ᴄᴏɴsᴇǫᴜᴇɴᴄᴇs •

╚═══════════════.▪.╝

"Is everything okay, your highness?" Inha asks, startling you and bringing you back from your thoughts.

"Um," You blink a few times to regain awareness. "Yes."

"It's freezing and you're not wearing much." Inha points out your outfit which was only a gown. "You should come in."

You nod and walk back into the room, closing the door to the balcony.

"Thank you. I wouldn't want her highness to freeze."

"Please, Inha, don't address me by highness."

"But that's the only correct way." She argues with the request for informality. "You're my princess and soon to be queen."

"And because of that, I want you to call me by my name." You smile innocently knowing she couldn't deny your request.

"You look a bit different. Perhaps happier?"

You give her a tender smile. "Jin and I are back on track. He kissed me yesterday and I didn't feel scared. I actually felt... serene."

"I'm very glad to hear that and I'm very glad that you're happy."

"I am happy and everything is going well except for the north wanting to kill me." You apprise.

"The north what?!" Inha raises her tone, something you've never seen happen.

"My food was poisoned and Alia, my taste tester, died from it."

"So someone in the castle is working for king Heechan."

"Yes. Yoosik and Jin are currently interrogating every servant right now."

"The king?" Inha questions. "He isn't well. He mustn't be anywhere but his bed."

"That's what I told him, but he responded with 'I cannot call myself a king if I don't continue my duty until death.' and we all know we can't argue with his stubbornness." You respond and Inha laughs.

"Would you like me to cook up something?" Inha offers. "I make really good Bulgogi."

"Yes!" You groan. "I'm famished."

"Great! I'll call you when the food is ready."

• • • •

"Eomma! Appa!" Jin calls for his parents when he sees them walking down the corridor.

They stop in their tracks and turn to see their son walking towards them.

"Where are you both going?" Jin asks and his parents look at each other suspiciously.

"Jin, honey, we're going to see your brother." Yejin answers. "We finally decided what will happen to him."

Jin stares at them for a moment before speaking. "I want to come with."

"No." Yoosik rebukes.

"Why? Y/N is my wife. I should be there." Jin argues.

"He's right. He has the right to be there." Yejin agrees.

Yoosik inhales deeply. "Fine."

-

The guards open the door to the dungeon, revealing a filthy Yunseok. The prince quickly stands to his feet and tries to make his way towards his family, but the chain around his ankle retrains him.

Yejin wanted to cry, but she couldn't. She didn't want to show her weak side in this situation. Her heart was broken and seeing her youngest son chained up like an animal broke it even more. Of course, if that was even possible.

"Eomma, Appa," Yunseok's eyes shift towards his brothers. "Jin."

Jin says nothing and continues glaring at him.

"I have missed you all."

Yoosik ignores his comment and speaks. "We're here because we have your punishment."

"M-my punishment?"

"Did you really think you could just take advantage of my wife and get away with it?!" Jin loses his patience.

"Jin, please." Yejin whispers to him then turns to look at Yunseok. "As of now, you are banned from South Korea. You may not step foot on South Korean soil and if you go against your punishment you will face death."

"But-"

"No buts." Yoosik interrupts. "What you did is a crime that results in being beheaded. Your mom couldn't live with that, so thank her because if it was up to me I would've beheaded you the moment I found out about what you did."

Yunseok gulps at his father's vile words. His eyes seem to glisten with the tears that fill them and Yejin looks away.

"Goodbye Yunseok." She whispers before walking out of the dungeon.

"Please don't send me away," Yunseok begs. "I wasn't in my right mind. I don't know what took over me."

"Shut the fuck up!" Jin roars in anger. Yunseok flinches and backs away. "All actions have consequences."

"Guards," Yoosik calls. "Take him away. Make sure he gets out of my country."

The guards grab his arms as a third one pulls off the chain around his ankle.

"No! Please! Appa! Don't do this!" Yoosik and Jin hear Yunseok yell as they walk away from the dungeon. "Don't! I'm sorry!"

• • • •

"Are you feeling better?" Yejin questions, her palm feeling your forehead.

"Yes. It was just the Bulgogi. I'm not really a fan of it and I shouldn't have eaten it. I was just so hungry." You answer.

"Well if you throw up again just call me or Inha, okay?"

"I will." You smile.

Inha walks into the room and bows as Yejin leaves.

"I'm sorry. I guess my Bulgogi isn't as good as I thought." Inha apologizes.

"It's not that, Inha. Your Bulgogi was amazing."

"Then?" Inha inquires.

"I'm pregnant."

❖ ── ✦ ── 『♚♛』 ── ✦ ── ❖

EYE–