Authors Note: yes, i made one chapter too long so i split into two. same day update doe  (comment+vote :D)

Warnings: None to note (I think, but let me know if there are)

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Just a little nap...

Your eyes fluttered open. You felt your head resting on a rock solid wall. What in the...

You looked up. Only to be met with the piercing stare of General Kim. A wall of muscle, that's what it was. You bolted upright. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, please don't kill me, please." You stuttered uncontrollably. The fear that had vanished in your sleep returned twofold. Dead. Gone. That's what you would be. Soon. No. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. A sweet voice whispered to you, so unlike the harsh shrill that constantly tormented your mind. Where did this urge to live come from, when dying was- used to be- your ultimate goal?

"She finally speaks. And save the pleading, because you will be the one begging for forgiveness in court." You sat, trembling. No. This was not how you were going to die. Not in some warped, sketchy reality. Not when you hadn't truly even had a chance to live life. You needed to play your cards right. Play to your advantages. Be unthreatening. Be sweet. Play dumb. You are going to live.

You looked behind you once more, faking composure as you said "Excuse me sir, what date is today?" Your eyes silently begged him to tell you. "October 27th." He replied, his face expressionless. No, you needed to know the year. Shoot, he was probably going to think you were insane. Well, maybe you were. "The year, please?" He looked at you like you were a nutcase. And then smirked. "Why, so you can remember the year you died? It's 1525." You went back in time. Your theory was correct. How? It didn't matter. The first mission was to get out of this place alive. So if Namjoon was born in 1507, and he was crown prince... "I'm terribly sorry, but would you mind telling me when the prince is getting crowned? I mean, I'm asking because I want to know if I can attend his coronation before...you know." Lies, Lies. You'd rather jump off a cliff than attend this murderer prince's coronation. He laughed bitterly. "Let me tell you what will happen today. You will be executed for breaking curfew, and going unreported by officers. You are from a foreign land, aren't you? I can hear it in your accent. Definitely a spy. King- or should I say, Crown Prince Namjoon might only be 18, but he won't hesitate to execute you. Even with you looking like that." Like that? He took his finger up to your neck and made a slicing motion against it. You were going to be sick.

The leather saddle underneath you itched, the dust being kicked up by the horse making your eyes sting, the grim view of the slums and brown patches of dried up grass next to you. The murderer behind you. It was all too much. The Crown Prince was 18, same as you. From what General Kim described him as, he seemed even more bloodthirsty than the two generals themselves. You grabbed your ruby pendant out of instinct. Almost instantly, you were washed over with a wave of composure. We are getting out of this. Alive. Hold on. Hold on. I refuse to die in this hell hole. You could feel General Kim's stare burning into your back. Could he see your brain whirring, hatching a new plan of escape every minute? The Youngest King the book had said. You sighed, making it sound shaky to fool General Kim that you were still just a scared girl. Now, the shaking in your hands was faked. Your pale face due to the cold could be mistaken for fear.

You could see a sort of line, a road perhaps, separating the slums from these huge houses, almost like miniature versions of the palace, yet more bleak. A complete contrast. The grass was greener on the other side. You could see the distinct difference in class. You peered into the distance, you could see something. It was massive. Jade tiles, red pillars, gold markings. It was Joseon palace looking back at you, yet this time it looked more like a prison than a grand castle.

The palace was mere metres away from you now. The Lysandra look alike had stopped galloping and started trotting. You closed your eyes as you recollected those cloudy memories of the picnics with your parents and grandma, everyone laughing in the sun dappled meadow, your grandma making the occasional Korean pun. You held their laughter and faces close to your heart as you silently vowed that if you made it out of this nightmare, you would forgive your mother.

"It's a good thing you closed your eyes, peasant girl, because you won't like what I do to you next..." General Kim whispered in your ear, sending shivers down your spine. He grabbed your jaw, ramming something down your throat. You fought against his grip, kicking and flailing, heaving. You screamed for help, punching wherever you could reach. "GET OFF ME!!!!!!!! SOMEBODY HELP, PLEASE!!!" You yelled, throat sore. You heaved again and again, trying to get the substance out of your body, but General Kim had you in a choke hold. No heads turned your way. There weren't even any people on the streets. You were doomed. Suddenly, everything was in slow motion, your limbs felt like jelly. "Calm down, if you struggle, it will be worse." Yet again, you were met with a suffocating darkness.

── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Yes, Sire. We used sleeping nightshade to knock her out." The familiar deep voice said. "Sleeping nightshade? It's unusual for you to render prisoners unconscious without using violence, isn't it? Don't you usually throw a solid punch, or has this mere girl made you meek? Did you not want to bruise her pretty face?" Another deep, yet rich voice asked teasingly. "And why are you suddenly so formal, Tae?" The former growled angrily. "The girl didn't seem much of a threat, until I gave her the nightshade. Don't you ever dare call me meek, Namjoon. The girl is a potential spy, broke curfew, and several other-" "Seems like this one really pissed you off, huh? Is she much beneath that oh-so innocent exterior?"

"If it wasn't for the sleeping nightshade, she would have broken my nose. Other than that, she acted harmless, frightened. Quite the actor."

"I have a bargain for her. The claiming."

"You must be out of your mind, Namjoon."

"I'll admit, although begrudgingly, that she's ravishing. And she pissed you off. What more do I need?" "Joon, are you deaf? She could be a spy." "Are you talking down to me, General Kim? Those are my orders. They are not for you to question." He said coldly. General Kim's face became stone. "Fine. Screw yourself over."

── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Pain. Sore, everywhere. Even your eyelids hurt. You groaned, eyes reluctantly opening. You had a pounding headache. You shivered, scanning your surroundings. Bars. There were metal bars. You lay curled up on the ground, stone floor cold against your skin. "It's a good thing you closed your eyes, peasant girl, because you won't like what I do to you next..." Something being shoved down your throat, throwing punches ceaselessly, everything becoming hazy. You heard the squeaking and scurrying of what could only be rats, but it was too dark to tell in this...cell. Yes. That's what it was. You sat up and blinked, eyes adjusting to the dark as blurry images became clear. You grasped for your ruby pendant, folding it in your hand. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. She whispered to you. That kind voice, clear and smooth. You swore you felt a soft caress down your cheek. You leaned into the touch, only to be met with the bone-chilling cold breeze of the cell. You coughed, your throat closed up and dry, the sound of it echoing throughout the enclosed room.

"Ah, looks like she's finally come to, Prince." You spun around. General Kim. You jumped up, pain forgotten, bolting towards the cell door, fists ready to punch his snide face. Only to realise there were bars in front of you, preventing you from throttling him. "A little feisty today, are we? Finally dropped the innocent girl act?" General Kim sneered. You snarled. "You sick son of a-" His raised eyebrows were the only sign of amusement as he looked to the man on his left. Your hands dropped to your sides and became limp, rendered speechless, mouth open in awe.

Chiseled jaw. High cheekbones. Smouldering eyes. A slight smirk on his face, outlining his... dimples?  He was so tall. The simple fighting leathers he wore hugging his muscular body. Your eyes travelled upward, towards the glimmering silver crown studded with red rubies, the only light in the shadowy cell. Were all the members of the royal court this...jaw-droppingly stunning? He was one of the most handsome men you had ever seen in your life. Quickly, you averted your gaze. But they could both tell you were affected by his presence."Stop staring, peasant girl. Bow to Crown Prince Namjoon." Over your dead body. You held up your middle finger, and then sat down on the cell floor, back facing them. "That would have cost you your life, you know?" You heard a key jingling. "Don't even try to escape. We have 20 guards waiting outside." You deflated, your last chance at escape gone.

"You will face me, and respect your soon to be King." A rich, mellow voice spoke arrogantly. You turned around slowly, still glowering. "Well, I would have done that myself if you weren't such a cocky bastard." You said coolly. Stop staring at his handsome, beautiful, stunning face. Don't do it. It will rile him on. You turned your gaze from the prince to survey the gawking guard with a small smirk, so similar to the one he had just given you. You heard a soft chuckle. From Prince Namjoon. You turned to him, crossing your arms. "What is your name?" he asked mockingly. You looked up, staring at him right in the eyes, daring him to look away. He did nothing of the sort. Just stared right back, the smirk on his face becoming a grin. "None of your business." You replied back haughtily. From your peripheral vision, you saw General Kim's hand fly out, making contact with your cheek. And then you felt it, your cheek stinging. You could see the red handprint forming on it. "Answer him, you insolent brat." You hesitated, fingers aching to clench your pendant for comfort. But you wouldn't risk it being taken away. "What if I told you that you had a chance to become my Queen?" Prince Namjoon said seriously, without a hint of a smile. You turned to him again, and snickered. He narrowed his eyes. "I would spare your life." Your eyes betrayed a hint of interest, and his cocky smirk made an appearance again. You forgot about your cheek singing in pain. A chance to live. "What's your name?" He asked again. You glanced down at the pendant hidden in your shirt. You hesitated."My name is Ruby. Ruby Red." His eyes sparkled with mischief. 

"How would you like to join the Queen Claiming, Ruby?"

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