★★★★★

"He.....left" Jimin muttered, more tears falling down from his eyes.

"Jimin!" Yongbok and Hyunjin rushed to him, they heard him scream earlier.

"What the heck happened?!" Yongbok's eyes widened and immediately knelt in front of him.

"Aish... Hyunjin do something" He said

Hyunjin bent before Jimin and looked at him.

"Its going to be painful, but I will be gentle" He said and Jimin nodded.

Gently, he pulled out the nail and Jimin bite his lips hard, more tears falling.

Yongbok hugged him shortly and wiped his tears.

"Carry him Hyunjin, let's take him to Lady Miran" He said, telling Hyunjin to turn his back which he did.

"Get on his back Jimin, you will be fine" Hyunjin said.

Immediately they left for Miran's room.

Minutes later..

"Young master?" Yoongi rushed in with Yoonie.

Miran was just done dressing his leg.

"Are you okay young master?" Yoongi asked worriedly.

'Young master?' Yongbok asked in his head but didn't utter a word.

"I'm fine Yoongi, you don't have to worry, I'm really fine" Jimin said.

"You shouldn't really be walking alone at night, just call me anytime" Yoongi said and Jimin nodded.

"He's quite stubborn" Yoonie said and Jimin chuckled.

"Oh...Your highness!!" Yoongi finally noticed Yongbok sitting, Yoonie also gasped.

They both bowed at once.

"Oh, you don't have to do that" Yongbok said.

••

In Baekje Garden, Emperor Jungkook was standing in front of his tree, the once blooming tree are once again getting dried, they were dropping right in front of him and burning off before touching the ground.

He let out a satisfied smirk and turned to leave, the deity was right before him.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked.

"Me....Leaving" The emperor replied bluntly.

"You left him there in pains! Such heartless act from the line of hatred?"

"Hatred?" The Emperor asked and started laughing out loudly.

"Who said I hate him? I'm doing all these because I hate you..so let's say everything happening to him is your fault. You must really think so low of me" He said and turned back to the tree.

"I supposed his tears dried up this tree, now I'm eager to do more, I've not even started......"

"Jungkook!!!!!"

"You shouldn't have given an ordinary human power over this tree!!!! It's all your fault and I'm not going to stop!" He growled back at her.

"If you don't want him to get hurt then make him quit or apologize to me" The emperor said.

"Apologize?"

"Of course I said that because you can't repent of whatever you're doing, you treat me like I'm a game to you, but sorry, I'm never going to give in to that fate you talked about, he needs me and I don't even need him, I don't feel things but he might die if I start fully with him so play smarter. HYUNGNIM" The emperor smirked.

"You really think I will be glad that you found a human who would help in blooming this tree, a human?? So you're telling me all those 500 years of punishment have no impact? Then the tree better dry up and burn away" He added before he left.

★

••HOURS LATER, SAME NIGHT, YONGBOK'S SUITE••

"Can I really sleep here?" Jimin asked, looking around.

"You're acting like it's your first time here" Yongbok chuckled.

"It's my first time inside here when it's this late, and now I can sleep over?" Jimin looked at him.

"I can't allow you sleep all alone in your room tonight, you're hurt" Yongbok said and Jimin nodded.

"So, I was thinking of getting a new dress tomorrow. The stylist will be here tomorrow, you will help me pick" Yongbok said and Jimin nodded.

"I will pick one for you too" Yongbok added and Jimin's eyes widened.

"Huh? Why?"

"I know you won't wear it now, but someday, you might want to look good for my hyung" Yongbok smirked and Jimin's eyes fell.

"What's wrong?" Yongbok shifted closer to him on the bed.

"It's nothing" Jimin shook his head.

"How about having fun tomorrow, you have nothing to do anyway, I'm sure your leg would be better by tomorrow so don't worry" Yongbok said.

"Thank you Yongbok" Jimin said.

"He finally called my name" Yongbok fumed and Jimin laughed.

"I have some fried chicken brought by Miran earlier, let's eat it and drink some liquor, do you want that?"

"Yes please, I'm really going to drink" Jimin responded immediately.

Yongbok smiled and stood up at once.

Jimin's mind went to the emperor and he shook his head.

'He's doing too well without you, stop thinking' he said in his mind and sighed out.

"Right, I will just drink to forget about him, at least for tonight" He said.

"Here!!" Yongbok came in with the fried chickens and liquor.

They arranged the table and sat down on the floor, Jimin took one of the chicken laps first and bite.

"Hmm, delicious" He moaned.

Yongbok poured him a glass of liquor.

"Thanks" He muttered and drank it at once.

★

••EMPEROR'S UK••

The emperor have been there for close to an hour working on some reports he couldn't check all day, the guards outside waiting.

"Your majesty, a maid brought some snacks" Someone announced and the Emperor looked up.

"Let her in" He muttered and continue what he was doing.

The door opened and the maid entered, she greeted and dropped the snacks on the table, he didn't take a glance at her till she walked out of the Uk.

Some minutes later, it was announced again that Borah was there.

"Let her in" He groaned.

Borah came in and smiled as she bowed.

"Well done your majesty" she said and sat down opposite him.

"Why are you here? I was about returning to the chamber" Emperor Jungkook said and Borah smiled.

"I was impatient to wait your majesty, I got you a present" She said, grinning as she dropped the box on the table.

"What is it?" The emperor asked.

Borah stood up and opened the box, the white royal attire was sparkling like a snow.

"Wow" The emperor mumbled.

"It was made from the best materials your majesty" She said, bringing it out.

"No, leave it in there. I will check it out later. Thank you Borah" The emperor said.

Borah smiled and closed the box again.

Emperor Jungkook stood up and pulled the snacks to Borah.

"You can have this in return" He said.

"I will enjoy it your majesty" She smiled.

The emperor nodded and they both left the Uk together.

★

••DAYS LATER, JIMIN'S ROOM••

Yoongi jumped out of bed the moment the door opened and Jimin came in.

"Finally you're here" He said and Jimin smiled.

"How long have you been waiting?" He asked.

"You've been spending too much time with the prince, you don't even have my time anymore" Yoongi pouted and Jimin chuckled.

"It's not that way okay? He keeps insisting that he's lonely without me" He said

"What about me? I'm not lonely?" Yoongi asked.

"You have Yoonie" Jimin replied and Yoongi sighed sadly.

"Fine, I will make it up to you" Jimin ruffled his hair.

"Young master, have you heard the rumor?" Yoongi asked.

"What rumor?"

"I heard the person the emperor would get married to will be here today" Yoongi said.

"Huh?" Jimin asked again.

"Baekje Empire might be having their Empress soon" Yoongi said and Jimin's heart raced.

"That's not true, you said it's a rumor" He immediately said.

"I wish it's not, but I don't know" Yoongi sighed.

"But then its been days, you haven't heard from him yet?"

Jimin shook his head.

It's even worse because he haven't even set his eyes on him for about five days now, he only get to have fun with Yongbok, they do things together, the last few days have been fun and also sad, all together.

"That is bad" Yoongi muttered.

Jimin sighed inwardly still wondering if what Yoongi said is true.

★

••NOON••

A palanquin entered the palace and immediately everyone's attention were on it, the rumor already spread so everyone has been anticipation.

Soon the palanquin stopped and Duri came out, he smiled brightly as the rich breeze of the palace hit his body, blowing his long hair all over his face.

👥 He's so beautiful

👥 Is he really the future empress??

Everyone started bowing as he walked with the guards behind him.

He saw Borah standing with Bosong, she was looking at Duri angrily.

"Lady Borah!" Duri called and walked over to her.

"It's so nice to meet you Lady Borah" He smiled.

Borah also faked a smile.

"You're welcome to the palace, I'm sure you will enjoy your stay here" Borah said.

"I'm looking forward to that" Duri nodded with a smiley face.

"Young master, please this way" The guards said, leading him toward the throne room.

"Oh...okay" Duri smiled at Borah one last time before following the guards.

"Seriously, he's so arrogant" Bosong scoffed.

Borah fold her fist angrily, she turned toward her suite and stormed away angrily, Borah ran after her instantly.

★

••STOREROOM••

Jimin was busy working when Yoongi rushed in, breathing heavily.

"Master!" He called and Jimin turned back.

"What happened?"

"He's here young master, the Emperor's man, he's meeting the emperor in the throne room with the ministers" Yoongi said.

Immediately without thinking twice, Jimin dropped what's in his hand and ran out of the storeroom, he began running toward the throne room.

Few distance to the throne room, he saw the emperor and then the strange man walking over to him with smiles on his face.

"No......no...." Jimin stuttered, watching them now walking beside each other almost made his heart burst, he didn't even know when the Deity appeared beside him.

"Jimin" She called and Jimin turned.

"Ajumeoni.....he's not going to make him his....right?" He asked.

"Don't cry" The Deity said, seeing Jimin's eyes already.

"You've been crying so much these days, before we started this, I told you I won't force you, I said you have the right to choose if you still want to go on or not, these are just part of the obstacles I talked about. That's why I'm here again, you can choose for yourself again like the beginning. Would you give up........."

"Never!!" Jimin cried out.

"I can't.....I've suffered way too much to think of ever giving up Ajumeoni, I really passed through a lot. I know in his eyes, I'm just a slave, but ajumeoni, you said it yourself that he's my destiny and I am here for a reason. I'm going to make him mine, I'm really done laying low and thinking low of myself, he's going to be mine, give me another chance ajumeoni" Jimin said.

The Deity smiled.

"I'm always here anytime you want me" she said and Jimin nodded, he watched the Deity vanish and then he wiped his tears.

He walked away after that, he met Yoongi on his way.

"Young Master! I was looking for you" Yoongi said.

"I'm fine" Jimin muttered.

★

••EVENING, DURI'S SUITE••

Duri watched from where he was sitting down as the maids put everything in order, his things were arranged neatly. Namjoon was also in there, leaning on the wall as ordered by the emperor.

Duri sighed out loudly, since he arrived, it's been one meeting to another. He didn't even spend a single moment with the emperor alone, they haven't even gotten to talk.

He wanted to spend some time with him alone, that's all he wanted at that moment.

"Young Master, your dinner will be ready soon and we will be back" The maids said and bowed before leaving.

Duri looked at Namjoon who haven't moved.

"Did his majesty asked you to stay with me till this moment?" He asked.

"Until you tell me to leave, so please can I go?" Namjoon asked coldly and Duri raised his brows.

"You sound rude somehow" He smiled and Namjoon rolled his eyes.

Duri stood up and crossed his arms.

"You must be tired, you've been standing all day. It's all my fault, I'm sorry" He said and Namjoon's cold eyes warmed.

Duri let out his charming smile.

"So, you can go now. Tell his majesty I appreciate his hospitality, and to you, thank you" He said.

"Goodnight" Namjoon bowed and walked out of the suite.

Duri groaned tiredly and began to undress, after that he went into the bathroom.

★

••ROYAL CHAMBER••

"The emperor said no one should be allowed in" The guard standing by the door told Jimin.

"It's very important I see him, please" He pleaded.

"I'm sorry but I love my life, I can't risk it....."

"I will take responsibility" Jimin cut in.

"His majesty wouldn't think that way, so please leave" The guard said.

"Let him in" Namjoon appeared and Jimin immediately faced him.

"But commander......"

"I will take responsibility" Namjoon cut him off.

"Thank you" Jimin said to Namjoon and he nodded.

The door was opened for him and he immediately went in.

Emperor Jungkook was just leaving the lounge when Jimin entered, he stopped and his eyes turned cold.

"My Lord" Jimin bowed.

"What are you doing here?" The emperor asked.

"I........"

"Get out" He cut him straight up and turned toward the bedroom.

Jimin ran to his front and stopped him.

"I said get lost!!!!" Emperor Jungkook growled angrily.

"If you're too angry with me, if you hate me too much right now that you can't even look at me, if you hate my presence so much then kill me!!" Jimin shouted back.

The emperor raised his brows.

"Why aren't you doing anything? I'm asking you to kill me right now" Jimin said.

The emperor ignored him and tried passing the other side, Jimin blocked him again.

"I'm not done yet......"

The emperor's eyes flashed and he almost grabbed him by the neck but he sighed out and supressed his anger.

"You didn't tell me anything, you can't suddenly detest me this much without a reason my Lord, you're never going to make me hate you, because I know that's what you're trying to do, you want me to keep hating you but I can't, even if I want to, I still can't do it"

"So you think coming here will make things different?" He asked.

"Then tell me what I did wrong, tell me why you're glaring at me with those scary eyes, I'm ready to listen to you, I will never do anything to hurt you and you know that, I don't know what you heard or know, but I've never for once hated you my Lord, never.  I was always happy just by looking at your fine face, I liked you too much that I never got the time to think about how you've punished me and hate you for that......so tell me....why do you hate me this much? Just why?" Jimin asked with teary eyes.

The emperor said nothing.

"I'm ready to do anything, I don't mind giving anything, just to make you look at me with your warm eyes once again, I never wanted to admit it but those moments with you are the best moments of my life, so tell me what to do, I don't want you to hate me anymore" He said, staring straight into his eyes, his own was dropping tears nonstop.

It was silent for a while before the emperor spoke up.

"I don't hate you Jimin" He groaned.

"You finally called my name again... But then, if you don't hate me, why did you change? Your reactions toward me only scream hatred in my ears, it's traumatizing"  Jimin said.

"You should leave, Jimin" The emperor muttered.

"Why? Your woman will be coming here?" Jimin asked.

"That's right" The emperor lied.

"More reason why I'm going to stay" Jimin said and he looked at him in shock.

"What?"

"Because I'm having you all to myself tonight my lord" Jimin said.

"If I can't be the protagonist at this moment, then I will become the Villain who the male protagonist can't do without" He added leaving the Emperor dumbfounded.

.

.

.

.

TBC