★★★★★

TWO WEEKS AGO**

GUFEN VILLAGE, A SMALL INN**

Jimin was in the backyard working himself out as usual, even though his aunt, Xia, who's the owner of the inn is capable of getting workers to work for her, still, she never got any. Jimin work all day with no rest, he serve the customers, do the cleaning and the cooking and so on.

Xia have a boy who's same age as Jimin, Ming. But he's like the prince of the house, he never do a thing, in a word, Jimin can also be seen as a servant in there, maybe a slave might be better because at least servants get paid but Jimin doesn't.

As Jimin cleaned, his stomach kept rumbled continuously, who would believe him if he told them he ate about thirty hours ago?? Well that's how he starves everyday.

He live on the leftovers from the customers and even sometimes Xia would choose to bring up her wicked act and dispose the leftovers just for him to starve, accompanied by unending punishments without a reason.

Jimin's only sin is that he's an orphan, Xia would mention it every chance she gets that he was the reason why his parents died. Poor Jimin would cry pathetically, bawling his eyes out and would later stop because there's no one to sympathize his unfortunate life.

Moments later, Jimin heard some footsteps coming closer to him and he looked back to see Ming approaching him. He wore an expensive red kimono, his hair was looking so shiny, he's just gorgeous. Unlike him who only have one hanbok, it's torn on most parts, his shoes are tattered and his hair looks unkept every time because he obviously doesn't have time for himself. His body is full of scars from the maltreatments vested on him every moment by his godforsaken aunt, his face is so rough and ugly, he feels so inferior compared to Ming.

"Hey loser" Ming smirked.

Jimin said nothing.

"You have customers to serve, so follow me" Ming said.

"What happened to you? Why must I be the only one? You can see I'm working......."

Ming shifted closer.

"Do you want it the hard way?" He whispers into his ear, smirking triumphantly as he earn a panicked expression from Jimin who is perplexed at the mention of Xia.

"So you better hurry up, eomeoni will be here soon" He smiled mischievously and walked away.

Jimin swallowed and got up, he knows better than ignoring Xia's call, he would be dead if he doesn't show up in a minute from now.

He wiped his sweat tiredly and left the backyard.

He walked into the inn and went straight to Xia.

"I'm here" Jimin muttered.

Xia gave him an angry and disgusted glare, at that moment Jimin wished for the ground to open and just swallow him up, because if looks could kill, Jimin would be dead that very moment...but thankfully, his aunt didn't say a word, she just pushed the tray in her hand to his chest.

"Room 103...you better do well this time or you'll go accompany your mother in hell" Xia said.

Jimin bowed and immediately walked away, he could feel some excruciating pains under his feet but this isn't the time to check yet.

He finally stopped in front of the room and knocked gently, he heard a deep voice telling him to enter, he opened the door and went in.

A middle aged man was laying on the bed, definitely one of the usual merchants that patronizes them from time to time, his long hair and full beards looks so irritating to Jimin that he felt like puking, or is it actually because he's hungry like an homeless child? He doesn't even know.

The man grinned weirdly at Jimin as he dropped his meals.

"Xia always have the best stuff... wouldn't you agree, my pretty? Even though you're unkept right now, I don't mind" He said and Jimin bashed his lashes in shock.

He don't want to believe it's whatever he's thinking in his head right now....Did Xia sell him out to this man?

"I will leave now" Jimin immediately bowed and turned to go but the man grabbed his hand and pulled him back on the bed.

"Where are you going? Don't you know what to do again?" He asked and tried placing his lips on him.

"Please stop!" Jimin screamed and pushed him away forcefully with tears rolling down his eyes.

The man landed a harsh resounding slap on his face and pushed him aggressively on the bed.

"No!!! Please!!" Jimin screamed with the remaining strength inside him.

He could remember the first time he got raped by one of their customers, Xia had told him to serve him as usual, unknown to Jimin that it was all a set up.

His opponent was too strong for him and he had his way, it was so painful that he cried for days, he was traumatized since then, he swore never to experience such pain again and now this??

"No!!!" Jimin was still struggling with him, the man was at the point of tearing his dress completely but somehow he got the strength and he pushed him off himself, he kicked his middle and ran out of the room in heavy tears.

At this point, he was finally done. Nobody has to tell him again that he's not wanted there, he would die and Xia wouldn't even blink out a tear. He's a nobody who will definitely die as a nobody.

But Jimin wasn't ready to die, even if death comes knocking, he should die honourably strong and noble, not in a pitiful and pathetic way.

He found his way out of the inn, crying as he ran to where he God knows where. He was on the run for a while till he got a place to sit and rest, his breathe was draining away slowly, his energy getting low and his body shivering.

**

It's been hours since he was seated in the same position, where would he go? It was already getting dark.

But then all of a sudden he remembered and old woman he had encountered few weeks back, she sounded like a seer and her words to him were..."YOUR FATE IS A TREACHEROUS ONE BUT IF YOU ARE READY TO FACE IT, YOU MIGHT BE SAVED"

Jimin got up almost immediately and started another race, he saw the woman on his way back from the stream that night but where would he find her now?

Strangely he saw some lanterns burning from afar, he had to stop running because this road is usually lonely and quiet, but where's the light coming from?

To satisfy his curiosity, he started walking slowly then he saw a lady selling some old treasures, Jimin wondered why one would even think of selling here, obviously nobody is passing.

Nevertheless, he greeted her with a bow and continue his journey.

"You look like someone who's ready to face his fate" The lady said and Jimin immediately turned.

"How.....how did you...." He stammered, but right in his presence the lady changed to the old woman he had met.

Jimin immediately ran to her, breathing heavily.

"Ajumeoni....please....help" He broke into tears.

The woman smile.

"You sound desperate" She said.

"Yes I am...I'm dying slowly ajumeoni, I might not even last till the next full moon, I feel weaker every passing second, it's draining my soul and energy, juseyo" Jimin cried.

The old woman said nothing, she only watched him.

"What am I supposed to do ajumeoni? I'm ready" Jimin said in tears as he stood in front of the woman who smiled.

"Are you saying this because of the pains?"

"Yes....."

"But who said you won't pass through pain where you're going?"

Jimin said nothing.

"Think carefully before you make your decision child....."

"I don't think there's any other pain greater than the ones I've passed through, my whole life, as long as I will have you by my side, then please take me away from here"

"It's a journey to a lifeless cherry blossom"

Jimin was confused.

"A lifeless cherry blossom?" He asked and the old woman smiled.

"A dry and lifeless cherry blossom that have refused to shine its glory... your FATE is to make it bloom again...child"

"If it's about that, I should be able to, ajumeoni, I'm a lover of nature" Jimin replied and the woman laughed.

"You will soon understand" She said.

"Here" she searched through her treasures and handed a bracelet to Jimin.

"Wear it and accept your fate no matter what" She said.

Jimin immediately wore it around his left wrist.

"What next?" He asked and the woman smiled.

******

BAEKJE EMPIRE**

Jimin opened his eyes slowly and looked around, it was blurry at first but then it started to get clearer but at the same time more confusing.

'Where am I? What's this? How did I get here?' He was asking those questions in his subconscious mind as he balanced himself to sit up.

He checked himself out, the dress on his body look so expensive that it became more strange, where are those scars all over his body?? But the shock became more horrifying when he accidentally saw his face in the mirror. He screamed and immediately covered his mouth, he have another face entirely!!

'What's going on!!' He screamed inwardly and looked around him. It was then it dawn on him, he was inside a palanquin.

'Who is this? Who owns this body?? Is he a prince or a noble??' Jimin thought but seeing the eyes, he looks like one who have been crying.

He was so confused.

After some minutes, the palanquin stopped moving and the curtain was opened revealing an hefty cold looking man.

"Get out" he said rudely and coldly

'I guess I'm wrong, the person who owns this body isn't a prince, neither a noble...then what is he?' Jimin thought.

He was still thinking when he was dragged out and thrown on the ground.

"Ahh!" Jimin screamed as his palms landed on thorns, he began bleeding from there.

👥 There he is!!!!!!!

The screams he heard made him look up, lo and behold, in his presence were hundred of citizens running over him with angry looks on their faces.

👥 He don't deserve to be alive!!!

👥 He need to die!!!

Before he knew it, they began throwing stones on him, heavy ones. One landed on his head, nose, lips, chest, legs, all over his body and in a minute the white hanbok on him was soaked with blood.

Jimin was speechless as he struggled in pain on the ground.

What has this person done to deserve this kind of punishment??

Tears rolled down his eyes, he wanted to just die at that moment but still he was curious, who is this person??

👥 His father is wolf in sheep's clothing!!!

👥 He must pay for everything his father did!!!

Daebeak!!

This body is paying for what his father did, not what he did.

The hefty men dragged him up mercilessly not minding his pains, that was when he looked up to see where they were.....

BAEKJE EMPIRE.....THE PALACE.

As he was being pushed towards the gate, the people were still throwing stones at him...women, men, children, adults, young and old, all of them.

Jimin turned to look at them, he had lived his whole life being hated by the people he lived with, but now he would be hated by a whole town??

His fate is to suffer his whole life, it's confirmed.

Tears rolled down his eyes, his life is so pathetic.

"Young master!!!! Young master!!!!" He heard a cracking voice from the back and he turned a little to see a boy in his twenties crying and trying to run over to him but the men wouldn't let him.

'Who's he?' Jimin thought but couldn't take his eyes off him.

"Move!!!" The boy was pushed from the back and he fell on his knees.

"Young master!!!!" The voice screamed loudly and before Jimin knew it, the boy released himself from those men and rushed over to him on the ground.

"Young master are you okay??" He asked.

Jimin managed to nod his head.

"Please be fine, I will definitely find a way to save you out of this place, till then please hold everything in, I promised you right? I will be loyal to you forever" He was crying while talking and then Jimin realized.

This boy is like a special servant to this new body.

"Young master" He still cried, touching Jimin with shaky hands.

"I promise I will be........." The word get stuck in his throat and it was replaced by blood.

Jimin's eyes widened.

The boy just got stabbed from the back.

The sword came out in his stomach and Jimin gasped.

"Y.... Young....mas....ter" He stuttered with blood streaming down from his mouth to his body, staining his clothes.

"I.... Yoongi.....promise to....to....serve you.......even....in my death...." More blood spilled out of his mouth and his eyes went closed.

"No!!!!" Jimin screamed out.

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TBC

Doesn't Jimin's palanquin scene rings a bell? K-drama fans where you at?? Can you guess the historical K-drama I made up the scene from??😁🤭🤭😊😏😏😘

Let me see you try in the comment section😏😏