★★★★★            

PRESENT DAY, BAEKJE PALACE**

Inside the Royal Chamber, Emperor Jungkook was getting dressed up by the maids, his face was totally expressionless as they did all that. It's not a new thing anymore, even though nobody would dare look straight at his face, they are used to his cold and dark expressions.

Talking about his face, if anyone want to stay well and alive, don't try looking at his face directly. The last maid who tried it was killed right on the spot, he didn't make a move to kill her but his blood red eyes murdered her immediately.

They put on the royal attire on him and his long hair was royally styled too. After the preparations, the maids all stepped away from him with their heads bowed.

"We are done your royal majesty" They said at the same time.

"Leave" He said in his deep monstrous voice.

They bowed once again and immediately walked out not wasting a second.

Almost immediately, Namjoon walked inside. He's a young man in his twenties, he was wearing his usual black outfit, and his sheathed sword always in his hand. He's the closest guard to him and the only guard who's always allowed into the chamber.

Emperor Jungkook was already staring out at the window with his two hands behind him when Namjoon entered the dressing room, he bowed behind him even though Emperor Jungkook's face wasn't on him.

"Your Majesty.....it's time for the meeting, the kings are all waiting in the court room" Namjoon reported without any mistake.

Under the Baekje Empire are ten kingdoms, each of them have different kings but Emperor Jungkook said is in the highest rank, that is...He's like the supreme king under the Empire.

"Your Majesty......"

Jungkook turned and Namjoon bowed again.

"Is everyone ready?" He asked.

"Yes your majesty" Namjoon replied and he nodded.

Namjoon moved to the side, allowing him to pass before he followed.

Getting outside the chamber, other guards immediately followed behind, covering up the Emperor, it's the royal belief that their ruler must always be guarded even in his own room, numbers of guards follow the Emperor everywhere he goes.

******

PALACE DUNGEON**

Jimin opened his eyes which had dark circle under them, his lips look so pale and dry, he was tired and has no strength left inside him, he felt so weak. It's been about two weeks since he was locked up in the dungeon and the only thing he feed on everyday is a piece of rice cake which were thrown on the floor of the dungeon for him, no water at all.

He would throw the small rice cake in his mouth and chew that way even with the cracking sounds of sand and stone particles, even though that one piece doesn't do a thing in his body, not when there's no water, but still he doesn't have a choice, he was determined to survive, even if it's until he get to know what this body did wrong, why is his soul in another body? What happened to his old body? What's his fate in here??

All these questions he wanted to ask, then after that he would conclude if he want to go on or just give up on living.

His thoughts came to an end when he started hearing some footsteps, he looked up. Since he's been here, nobody have ever came here aside the guards outside the dungeon gate who doesn't really leave their positions unless the maids come with their meals.

He have been watching for days, those guards get fed three times in a day without a miss but he only get to eat once( at night) with just a piece of rice cake.

That was when he knew the sin committed by his so called father is something really unforgivable. But at the same time, he was curious who the Empire's Emperor is.

His thought was once again interrupted when he caught a glimpse of a lady approaching the dark dungeon, he could see about five maids behind her and he wondered, who is she?

The Queen?? Would the Queen really come here??

As expected, the lady stopped right in front of the gate, her maids already stopped few steps away, the guards also left as if she said something.

Borah smiled when she saw Jimin.

"Oh poor child" She said with a fake sadness in her voice.

Borah is the royal concubine, she's not like the usual one you've heard of. She was announced officially by the Emperor himself as his mistress(concubine).

According to him, he doesn't want a Queen by his side, and through out his fifteen years of reign till this moment, he has never gotten interested in any of the noble families sons or daughters.

Borah is like the mini Queen, because she also have some responsibilities the king left in her charge, everyone respects her a lot.

Nobody ever disrespect the Emperor's concubines no matter how low ranked he or she is.

"I know what you're thinking right now....I can feel your pain, it's really hard when your father is the criminal but you as the only son is treated this way. Don't hold in too much pain, because you will be treated more worse than you might be imagining in your head, I will make sure of that" Borah said in a serious tone.

Jimin didn't utter a statement, and when Borah was done, she left.

'What's...going on? Will they kill me?' Jimin asked himself, hugging his legs to his chest.

"Ajumeoni... juseyo" he muttered.

Almost immediately, a figure appeared right in front of him, it's the old woman.

"Ajumeoni!" He screamed but then suddenly look at the gate, wondering what would happen if the guards hear him.

"They won't hear anything" The old woman assured and Jimin immediately shifted closer.

"What are you?? Who are you? I need an answer for that first" Jimin said, looking into her eyes.

She smiled.

"Humans call me.. THE DEITY" He said and Jimin gasped.

"D....De....ity?" He stuttered and the Deity smiled.

"But....this body....."

"His name is JIMIN, a noble man in this empire. His father committed a crime and killed himself when he was caught, now the son have to suffer for his crimes"

"Then, why am I here? Why? Where's he?" Jimin rushed his questions.

"Unfortunately, he has a very bad heart problem, he died on his way to the palace in the palanquin and I switched your souls, which means...This body belongs to you now, your soul is the one in there" The Deity answered.

"What about my old body....."

"Your stepmother would find you dead"

Jimin gasped tearfully.

"That is your fate, you were supposed to die in few days, like you said, you were feeling weak and you thought you wouldn't make it till the next full moon, you were right, you were supposed to suffer till you die, that is what my sister created you to be" The Deity explained.

Jimin was in tears, crying bitterly yet silently.

"Your...Sister??" He managed to ask in his broken voice.

"The trilogy.....We are mainly three..different from the mini gods who are created by us...My sister created you, she's the creator, I am the second Deity...I am the goddess of earth, TEOJUSHIN. The Preserver"

"Then.....what about the third?" Jimin asked curiously

"Don't think of meeting her child" The Deity replied.

"I'm still confused, if I was fated to die, why did you save me? Why did you preserve me?? Why am I in this person's body? What am I supposed to do here?" Jimin asked.

"Your fate changed....I heard your cries. But because of the way you were created, your new fate can't be gotten easily, you are going to pass through pains, only if you're strong, then will you conquer. You have the right to choose child, would you give up on this journey? Or would you embrace it? It is filled with thorns, pains and tears, but at the same time you are the only one who can make the tree bloom again, the tree my sister created....I can see its end, a very dark end, but it is so precious...too precious to be ignored" The Deity said.

"The dry cherry blossom tree....you made mention of it back then...what is it?" Jimin asked.

"You will find out soon, but first, what is your decision?"

"What was the crime committed by him....I mean.... his father?" Jimin asked.

The Deity sighed out.

"About two years ago, parents started wailing in their houses, their male and female children would suddenly vanish...the journey of no return, it went on and on, the Emperor would have caught him but I didn't let him because there is a reason why everything happens, nothing happens without me knowing. Just few weeks ago....it was found out that those children were sold into slavery.....By your father" The Deity said and Jimin screamed out loudly.

"After selling them, those children are harassed, enslaved, turned into s*x slaves and others.....the moment he was caught, he committed suicide, now what's the best way to punish him? Do you think his son deserve what is going on now?? Remember those parents who lost their children, both young and old, remember their pains..and answer me"

Jimin was in tears as he nods.

"He....deserves it" He mumbled and the Deity nodded.

"His fate was to die in the middle of his slavery here in the palace, his fate is similar to yours. But now, things might change...depending on your decision, the father became rich and his son was treated like a prince in his own place, he enjoyed what wealth is....with the unclean money from his father"

"I'm not going to give up Ajumeoni, even though the father sinned, still the son did nothing wrong, but he spent the money, nevertheless.....This soul belongs to me not him....I have to take a revenge on my Aunt, she treated me like trash, like I wasn't human, I want to pay her back Ajumeoni, no matter how hard I try, I can't forget it. Even though those scars are not on my body any longer, I can still feel the stings and pains I passed through everyday. How come I'm still alive even though I'm so hungry here? It's all because I am used to hunger, I know what hunger is, I've been starving my whole life, so I must survive somehow Ajumeoni, I want to die as a noble noble and glorious man, not in this pathetic way" Jimin said in tears.

The Deity let out a smile.

"And your wish shall come to pass child" She said and like that she vanished.

At the same minute, the gate of the dungeon was opened and two guards came in to drag him out.

'Where are they taking me this time?' Jimin thought.

******

ROYAL ASSEMBLY**

The royal ministers were all on their feet standing and waiting for the Emperor and Kings, they've been in the royal court for about an hour, concluding on the right punishment to be served. Not just to judge but also to please the deceased families.. Of course all those children, after being used...they would be killed so they never get the chance to escape and expose their evil acts.

The judgment must be fair enough, even though the son wasn't the one who committed the crime, still those innocent children didn't do anything wrong either.

Moments later, the Emperor appeared with the ten kings.

🗣 ALL HEADS BOW!! THE EMPEROR IS HERE!!!

🗣 MAKE WAY FOR THE KINGS!!!

All the ministers and elders bowed until the Emperor and the kings were seated, under their shield.

"Your Majesties...we are going to bring in the son of the late criminal now" One of the senior ministers announced.

Immediately Jimin was brought out, he was made to kneel down far away from where the kings were, he couldn't even see their faces clearly. He was in the middle of the ministers standing on both sides, lining up.

There was silence until the first king spoke up.

The kings are named according to the time they were crowned. All the kingdoms under Baekje Empire weren't created at once, Hence...they have the first kingdom, second kingdom.......till the tenth kingdom which is also the last.

"All the ten kings in Baekje Empire already discussed this case and we came to a conclusion" He said.

"Right, I am sure the Emperor's judgment would please and satisfy everyone, at the same time it is a fair one" The Fifth King said.

There was another silence, everyone expecting the Emperor to speak up, to give the final judgment.

Jimin was shaking where he knelt, he would take in any punishment except execution.

No, he's not ready to die, he don't want to die!!

'Please' he whispered in his head, his bloody hands shaking, his heart beating fast, he was perplexed and scared.

Then finally the voice of Emperor Jungkook was heard.

"The criminal was supposed to be executed" He said.

Jimin swallowed.

"He was supposed to be punished till he face his death, but since he left without a permission from me, my judgment goes thus" Emperor Jungkook stopped and there was total silence, even if a needle dropped at that moment, it would be heard.

"His only son will become the Royal Sex Slave, he will experience what those children of my people experienced, his pains will be doubled, this will be passed down from my reign down to other Emperors to come, he will be a slave all his life, he will become pain himself, he won't ever know what freedom is until he close his eyes and welcome his death" Emperor Jungkook declared.

👥 LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY!!!!!

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TBC

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