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Chapter 18: Entering the tiger's den

3rd Person POV

Hearing Yunki's voice, Lord Cha and Lady Cha also came out.

"Who is that man you're with?!" Yunki asked, he sounded annoyed and it was probably because of Lady Park.

"Oh him....he is Wook." Soyoung introduced as Wook bowed polietly.

"Is he your man?!" Lord Cha asked sounding suspicious.

"He is the best guard that my father has!" Soyoung said raising an eyebrow.

"All I can see is you're meeting another man in secret who is not one of my sons." Lord Cha said as Soyoung turned towards him.

"Are you questioning my chastity, lord Cha?!" Soyoung frowned as her eyes travelled back to her husbands to study their reactions.

Hosung looked like he understood the situation and believes her, Taehyun looked like he was more focused on the ledger than whatever was happening around him, Namjun looked calm and poised, Jimin shoved Taehyun out of his way and came closer to take a better look at the scene, Yunki had his fists clenched but then his muscles relaxed and he gave an understanding nod, Jeongguk tilted his head and frowned at Wook but then his eyes softened as they met Soyoung's eyes and Jin had an unreadable expression on his face as he opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by his father.

All these commotion seemed to have drawn Lady Cha and Iseul's attention too for they stepped outside to check what was happening. Lady Cha looked confused whereas Iseul looked surprised as she spotted Wook.

"That doesn't answer my question though! And seeing you so anxious and restless, it seems like a thief has been caught red handed." Lord Cha said as the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk. Little did he know that Soyoung was anxious and restless about her father and not about this petty situation.

Wook was about to step into the conversation but Soyoung raised her hand, stopping him with an obedient bow.

"I don't think I owe an explanation to anyone about what I am doing with whom?!" She bowed as Lord Cha was taken aback by her words.

"My lady...." Wook became concerned but Soyoung shook her head for him not to intervene.

Lord Cha, "Hah! Your answer somehow tells me that you are guilty of adultery-"

Jin, "FATHER-"

"I am an eunuch!" Wook finally stepped forward and confessed with a bow. A hush fell over the men before Lord Cha spoke up again.

"Are you trying to save her?!" Lord Cha asked.

Soyoung looked at him in disbelief, "Before questioning anything, why don't you answer your relationship with that courtesan?!" Soyoung pointed at Lady Park, who's face looked pale and she was sweating. "You might not recognize Wook but she might, right?!" She tilted her head looking at Lady Park, "That day when you were conspiring with her, Wook was there in the courtesan house....right next to your room!" Soyoung glared at the kisaeng's terrified face and then at Lord Cha's shocked face as a hush fell over everyone. Lady Cha stumbled at Soyoung's words but Iseul grabbed her.

Lord Cha shouted at her, "W-WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SAYING?-"

"Its all here in this ledger, father...there's no denying!" Taehyun stepped forward pointing at the ledger.

Soyoung looked at Taehyun and nodded before speaking, "My husbands would like to take over now, I suppose? I have more important matters to attend to....I'll shall take my leave now! Wook...Iseul...follow me!" She said with a humble bow and without waiting for anyone's answer, she left the garden and went inside. Wook following her right behind. Jin went towards Iseul and grabbed his mother and nodded at her...Iseul bowed with a smile and then went inside too.

Lord Cha, "YOU- WAIT-"

"Father you need to talk!" Jin said

Inside the mansion,

"Wook, you remember queen?" Soyoung asked and Wook nodded.

"I'm pretty sure that the king has locked father up. She'll help you look for him in the palace!" She said and Wook looked like he had questions but ended up not asking anything.

"What? Lord Seo has been locked up by the king?" Iseul's eyes widened with pure shock.

"It's a long story but I'll tell you in short while you help me with you already know what!"

Isuel nodded and looked at Wook, "Uhh could you please wait outside for a moment?!"

"Ahh Wook, let me tell you what you need to tell father once you meet him." Soyoung whispered in his ears.

Wook's eyes widened but he nodded and went out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Outside the mansion,

"Father, who is this woman to you?" Yunki asked pointing at lady Park, mustering all his patience.

"How would I know who is that lowly woman? Isn't she your lover?" Lord Cha growled and Lady Park looked hurt.

"No she is not! She drugged me and tricked me that night to sleep with her!"

"Then that is your and her problem....why are you bothering me with it?"

"FATHER, THE LEFGER LITERALLY SAYS THAT YOU WERE HER REGUALR CUSTOMER AND LADY SOYOUNG IS THE WITNESS!"

"ARE YOU QUESTIONING YOUR FATHER BECASUE OF THOSE STUPID WOMEN?!"

"PLEASE STOP!!!!" Lady Cha stepped in between them with teary eyes. "You..." She pointed at Lady Park, "Come here!" She said as lady Park come forward slowly, "Tell the truth!"

Lady Park looked at Lod Cha who stared daggers at her.

"Don't be afraid of anyone. You shall speak the truth!" Namjun stepped forward and encouraged her.

But she still hesitated, "Look...not to be that bad boy but whatever the truth is, you've clearly failed and now is the right time for you to spill the truth or else God knows later who will do what to you." Jimin looked at his father and then at Lady Park.

"JIMIN! BEHAVE YOURSELF, BOY. ELSE I SHALL SEND YOU TO JEONGGUK TO JOIN HIM ON HIS EXILE."

"Ahh....I'm right here, father!" Jeongguk waved at his father with a smile.

"YOU-"

"I AM LORD CHA'S CONCUBINE!" Lady Park cofessed and knelt down while sobbing.

A hush fell over the crowd.

Lady Cha covered her mouth with her hand in shock as tears rolled down her eyes. Jin held her in his arms protectively.

"WHY YOU LITTLE-"

"I am sorry, my lord!" She cried and looked at Yunki, "I am sorry, Yunki sir, but I fell in love with you and tried to make you mine. That night nothing happened....it...it was just a kiss...nothing else, and I am not pregnant!"

Yunki looked away with disgust and Lord Cha took a few steps back....he couldn't believe his ears.

"If you were father's concubine and loved Yunki hyung, then did father know about it?" Hosung asked and Lady Park nodded, "He didn't mind my relationships as long as I kept him company....in exchange of my company and service, he used to give money for my brother's education." Lady Park confessed everything.

Lord Cha was about to say something but Jin spoke up, "Father, its about time you pass your position and power to me."

"And why would I do so?" He laughed, "Even if I accept whatever this woman said is true, is it any kind of crime that I have committed? Women are for entertainment and she even got money for it.

"Well father, allowing your concubine to go after your own son is a shameful and disgusting act ethically and it is better if you pass me your position before this shameful news reach our uncles. It is a shameful act for our family and if it reaches the uncles, they'll overthrow you themselves and take over everything." Jin said in a calm voice.

Lord Cha studied his face and then glared Lady Park, "Very well! I shall resign but that doesn't mean that whatever nonsense you all did tonight will be forgotten and forgiven!" He glared at them and then stormed off.

Lady Cha hugged Jin and stared sobbing.

"It'll be alright, mother!" Jin patted on her back. "You should go back to your brother and I'll continue to send you the money that my father gives him." Jin said looking at Lady Park

"THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS, LORD JIN!" She bowed.

That's when Jimin sensed something suspicious. He looked around and saw Wook following a black cat out of the mansion. 

At the palace,

Queen could easily slip through the gate without the guards noticing her but that wasn't the case for Wook and the palace walls were too high for him to climb them.

"Queen, seems like I can't sneak in." Wook sighed looking at the palace entrance from a distance.

"Meow~~~" Queen looked like she is saying 'I forgot about that entirely'

"Think you can use some help, mate?"

Wook and queen turned around and saw Jimin behind them.

"Seems like kitty cat here forgot that you can't sneak in like her!" He looked at queen with a mischievous smile and then looked at Wook, "I can get you in! Follow me!"

Wook bowed and followed Jimin.

Jimin showed the guards his badge, "I've some unfinished business in the palace"

The guards looked at Jimin and then glanced at Wook suspiciously.

"Ahh he.....he is my bodyguard" Jimin smiled and the guards raised their brows at him.

"What? Knights too need bodyguards sometimes. We protect everyone...who'll protect us huh?" Jimin snatched his badge from the guard, "Aish...you are so narrow minded." As he was talking with them, queen sneaked inside.

The guards cleared their throat and let them in.

"Alright so I'll be somewhere in the palace gardens! Once you are done with your business, find me there." Jimin said in a whisper.

Wook bowed, "Thank you sir!"

"Meow~~"  Queen called Wook and he followed her.

Queen straight away went towards the prison where they came across with two guards.

"Queen, do you think you can distract them?!"

"Meow~~" She went right towards the guards and looked at them.

"A cat?"

"Shoo shoo....you're not allowed here!"

"Meowww~~~~" She looked at them with pleading eyes and went closer to them.

One of them crouched down and proceeded to pet her but to his horror, she bit his hand.

"AHHHHH....." He grabbed his arm in pain.

"YOU...COME HERE!" The other guard started chasing queen.

Wook took this moment to enter the prison. He checked each of the cell but couldn't find lord Seo, "Lord Seo, if you're here then please answer me!!" There was no answer.

"I don't think he is here! I should check the dungeons." Wook came out of the prison and saw no traces of queen and the guards. Wook carefully found his way towards the dungeons. When he reached the dungeons, he found the entrance was being guarded by four hounds. Wook hid behind a tree and picked up a small stone from the ground, he threw it at the other direction.

The hounds became alerted. Wook threw some more stones to draw them towards the other direction and it finally worked. The hounds growled and ran towards the other direction to check for trespassers.

Wook enetred the dungeons and soon spotted lord Seo tied up with chains in a dark cell, "Lord Seo..." Wook whispered. At first he didn't respond but when Wook whisper yelled, he looked at Wook with dull eyes.

"Wook? Is that you?" He asked and Wook nodded.

"My lord, I don't have much time but I need to deliver you her ladyship's message......"

On the other hand,

Jimin was laying on the grass, watching the stars with a smile when Wook appeared and bowed, "Sir!"

Jimin looked at him and then looked around, "Where is the cat?" He asked.

"Queen? She must be exploring the palace."

"EXPLO-" Jimin looked around and lowered his voice, "Exploring the palace? I must find her right now!"

"Don't worry about her, sir! She is a smart cat....she'll find her way back home safely. If you go to search for her, we will be in trouble. We must leave before the night curfew starts....it'll start in about 10 minutes."

Jimin sighed and finally agreed to leave without her.

Soyoung's (Queen) POV

Since I am already here, might as well look for answers and secrets. As I entered the palace, I saw that the palace was extravagantly beautiful....jewels and expensive stones were engraved on the walls, the pillars were carved with gold, platinum and silver, the chandeliers hanging from the ceilings were made of diamonds and beautiful mulberry silk curtains were flying in front of the doors and windows. Golden lanterns lit up the entire palace and everything smelled like rose probably because the servants have sprinkled rose water everywhere. For an outsider this palace might look like a heaven but this palace is the proof of how Sian leeches off of the common mass. I went straight to the infamous harem. On my way, some maids and servants noticed me but they didn't bother much...they looked busy. As I entered into the harem, I saw there were many pets....cats, dogs, bunnies, birds....probably they belonged to the concubines but I sensed a tense energy. Some concubines were pacing around, some looked terrified while some other crying.

"I don't think we can survive the queen selection!"

"Is this His Majesty's way to clear the harem?"

"Don't say such things, sister....we all know how much he loves his harem."

"Yet more than of of the concubines died today for failing the queen selections!"

So this is what that tyrant is doing huh? She so disgusting and shameless.

As I was about to leave, I noticed a woman who looked extremely calm unlike the others. I looked her her for a bit and then decided to leave the palace for now. If I stay here longer, the knights will get worried. I jumped out of the window and landed on a tree...I jumped again and landed the the ground.

"Huh? Where are you going, kitty?" I felt two strong arms picking me up

As the person turned me around, to my horror...it was Sian.

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