Soyoung's POV

"Madam, you cannot rush inside like this", suddenly we heard Wook's voice from outside and moved away from each other.

"YOU DARE TO STOP ME? I AM FROM THE KING'S HAREM! I AM HIS BEST CONCUBINE!" Followed by Wook's voice, we heard a lady yelling.

I looked at Jimin, "Palace?"

Jimin, "You shall hide!" He got ready to unsheathe his sword that was tied to his waist with a golden waist belt.

I quickly hid behind the medicine shelves as Jimin stayed alert.

Soon a lady rushed in followed by Wook.

Wook, "Madam, you can not-"

"You're sir Jimin, right? I need your help." She mentioned in a desperate voice. I looked through the shelves and saw a slender woman who had visible lines of worry on her forehead.

"I have seen her somewhere....but where?" I wondered.

Wook, "Madam, do not force me to drag you out."

"It is ok, Wook. I will deal with it." Jimin said as Wook nodded and left. "Who are you, young lady?!" Jimin relaxed his posture and asked.

"I am Yeji, His majesty's favourite concubine." She curtsied.

Jimin, "And how may I help you?"

"I have heard that your herb store has a remedy for everything?!" Yeji asked in her same desperate voice.

Jimin replied calmly, "Certainly!"

Her eyes twinkled upon hearing Jimin's answer, "I want a potion to enhance my wits." She declared.

Jimin laughed and sat down on the nearby wooden chair, "Young lady, wits cannot be bought....they are supposed to be developed."

"Are you mocking me?" She asked, getting annoyed, "Do you know how important this is to me? I don't want to lose this game....I-I want to become the queen."

Jimin, "Yes but there is no such potion-"

Jimin was cut off by Yeji as she stepped closer to him, leaving only a few inches between them. Jimin pushed his chair back to create more distance between them and Yeji kept walking closer.

"S-Stop!" Jimin stood up.

Yeji placed her hand on Jimin's arm and smiled. There was no trace of worry on her face as she spoke, "If you do not give me any potion, you will have to marry me, sir, because I do not wish to die."

That's when I recalled where I saw her. I saw her in the harem....when all the other ladies were worried about the contest, she was sitting there calmly. The last round of the contest depends on one's wits and knowledge and judging by the way she is behaving right now, it was clear to me that she is a beauty with no brains. I chuckled while enjoying the scene in front of me.

Jimin shoved her hand away and replied, "I-I HAVE A WIFE!"

Yeji raised her brow, "You HAD a wife.....she is dead now and even if she was not, I don't mind being your second wife."

"B-BUT I MIND!" Jimin turned around to face the shelves where I was hiding. He looked at me and pleaded with his eyes to help him out. I just shrugged and shook my head no.

"You deserve this, Jimin...you've been mean to me on so many occasions...now deal with it alone," I whispered so that only he could hear.

Jimin was about to say something but he shivered instead because Yeji again touched his arm, "What are you doing there, sir?"

Jimin quickly shoved her hand away once again and made his point clear, "Look, married or not, I am not interested in you."

"Why not? I am prettier than any woman and you are also so handsome and strong. Besides, I can give you more than you can ever imagine." She pulled down her dress a bit to reveal her cleavage.

Jimin turned his head to the other side, refusing to look at her. I could see Jimin's ears turning bright red....he was flustered.

Jimin, "You please wait here...I will try to find a useful potion for you." He said and without waiting for her reply, he rushed behind the shelves where I was hiding

He grabbed my shoulders tightly and whisper yelled, "Why won't you help me?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Because of your this behaviour!! Maybe you should ask me more nicely." I crossed my arms.

He rolled his eyes and asked in a polite tone, "Can you help me?"

I stared at him.

"Please?!" He pleaded.

"Ok fine!" I grabbed a vial from the shelf, "She cannot increase her wits but she can make the king fall in love with her with this love potion. After drinking this potion, whoever he will see in front of him first, he will fall in love with that person, and also...this will only work for five hours."

Jimin nodded and took the vial. Taking a deep breath, he went to face her again.

"I don't have anything to enhance your wits but you can use this love potion on the king to gain his favour."

Yeji quickly grabbed the vial. She looked like her soul has entered her body again.

"But remember that it only works for five hours and after he drinks the potion, make sure that you are the one he sees first."

"I will keep that in mind. Thank you so much, sir. How much do I have to pay for it?"

"Just pay for it by staying away from me." He crossed his arms.

Yeji smirked at him before nodding and taking her leave.

"Don't you think that because of you my herb store will be running at a loss soon?" I asked coming out of my hiding spot.

Jimin turned around to face me with a frown, "Wow! What a wife you are...your husband was almost getting married to another woman and you're thinking about your loss."

"Well, I have six other husbands...maybe I can afford to lose one to another woman." I said jokingly.

I expected an annoyed reply from him but he just stared at me and then turned around to leave.

He looked hurt...oh no.

"Jimin..." I back hugged him, "I was just joking...don't be hurt."

"I know you don't love me....you love the others more... especially Jeongguk. It's ok. I don't deserve you and your love." He said and his voice sounded like he was hurt.

"Jimin, I love you.....and please never be jealous of the others....I do not want to be the cause of jealousy among you seven.....I would rather die than see you all falling apart..."

He turned around to face me, "Please do not say such things...." He asked cupping my face.

"Jimin, I trust you all and that is why I knew no matter how much Yeji tried to seduce you, I would not lose you to her."

"You trust me so much?" He smiled.

"Why? You don't trust me that much?"

He embraced me in a warm hug and putting his chin on my shoulder, he replied softly, "I do...more than I trust myself." He paused and then continued, "Listen, I think you should leave this place for some time...."

I broke the hug and looked at him, "What do you mean?"

He sighed, "Look, every day one person or the other from the palace is coming to our household out of nowhere....what if they see you one day?!" He looked concerned.

I thought for a few minutes...he is right. If I am caught by anyone from the palace, my life along with everyone else's lives will be in danger, "You're right! And I know exactly where I must go..." I smiled.

..........................

At the palace,

Before the beginning of the last round, Yeji went towards the throne where lots of refreshments were kept on a table.

"There are so many drinks and snacks. Which one he will take?", Yeji rubbed her temples.

"EVERYONE, BOW DOWN FOR HIS MAJESTY," the guard announced.

Yeji quickly emptied the vial into the most fancy-looking glass she could find on the table. The glass was made of gold and was embedded with rubies.

"Long live the king!" Everyone bowed down as Sian entered the hall followed by Eunsang.

Sian was wearing an elegant white suit that was as white as snow and it was decorated with gold and expensive jewels that glistened under the bright lights. He was also wearing a see-through cape that made him look more powerful. His whole outfit enhanced his already handsome features in such a way that he was overshadowing the queen candidates who were believed to be among the prettiest ladies in the kingdom.

Behind him, Eunsang followed...wearing a plain black and white outfit. Even though it was plain, it complemented his slender figure and pale skin.

Both of them looked as if they just walked out of a fairytale novel. Sian twirled his cape and sat down on the throne while Eunsang stood next to him.

"Let us get this over with quickly because I have more important things to do." Sian declared and looked at the table where the refreshments were.

Yeji prayed in her mind, "Please choose the right one...please..."

To much of Yeji's disappointment, Sian was just eating some sweets.

"As I call your name, kindly step forward...you'll be asked a riddle and if you give the wrong answer, you'll be eliminated......from this world...." Eunsang stopped as the court became restless.

"SILENCE!" Sian yelled and at once the court became silent.

Eunsang continued, "After you're eliminated, your question will be passed on to the next contestant and the process will continue till someone gives a correct response. I hope the instructions are clear to everyone!" Eunsang paused to see if anybody had any questions or not. "Ok so first up is lady Shiyoon from the Kim dynasty," As soon as Eunsang finished reading from the scroll he was holding, lady Shiyoon came forward and bowed while shaking with fear.

"Often I am running but still I have no legs. You need me but I don't need you. What am I?" Sian asked.

Shiyoon gulped and trembled. In the meantime, Sian grabbed the glass that had the love potion in it. Yeji's eyes twinkled with joy.

"WE DO NOT HAVE THE WHOLE DAY!!!!" Sian yelled.

Shiyoon said in a shaky voice, "W-Wind?!"

"Hmm ok!" Sian smiled, "Come here..." He called her near the throne. She obeyed and went in front of the throne, still trembling in fear.

"Here...drink this and honour me," He gave her the glass with a sweet smile. Yeji's eyes widened.

Shiyoon thought that she has won so she drank from the glass happily.

"Wind blows, my dear...it doesn't run," Sian smiled as Shiyoon choked on the wine. Her face turned red and her eyes rolled backward. Within a few minutes, she dropped lifelessly to the ground.

Yeji realized that all the glasses had poison in them. She became nervous and started to bite her nails.

"Next person is lady Fang from the Liu dynasty," Eunsang said and Liu Fang came forward. She looked unusually pale and even though it wasn't a hot summer, she was sweating profusely.

She bowed nervously as Sian asked, "And your answer is?"

Liu Fang, "H-His M-majesty?"

Sian raised his brow, "What about me?"

Liu Fang, "T-the answer!"

Sian tilted his head, "Yes, I can run...yes, you need me but I do not need you but do you think I have no legs?"

Eunsang chuckled while Yeji became more anxious.

Sian took out something from his chest pocket, "Look at me, lady Liu."

As soon as she lifted her head, Sian threw that thing toward Liu Fang and it stuck on her forehead. As she fell on the ground, lifeless.....everyone saw that Sian threw a tiny poison dart at her.

"Yua from the Akita clan please step forward," Eunsang didn't drink the wine yet as he was announcing the names.

Yua stepped forward and bowed. She looked confident, unlike the previous contestants.

Yua, "The answer is worms."

Sian laughed loudly, "You need worms for what, young lady?"

Yua realized that her answer was wrong...she lifted her skirt and tried to flee but a flying dagger came and pierced her back, killing her on spot.

The hall was as silent as a cemetery, no one dared to say anything...everyone was just witnessing the cruel murders of the young women.

"Bring me my dagger...I love that dagger more than I love my wine," Sian asked for the dagger and a servant quickly pulled out the dagger from the lady's back and presented it to the king.

He grabbed the servant by his collar, tore a piece from his shirt, and cleaned the blood on the dagger with it. Handing the torn piece of the cloth back to the servant he said, "Now get lost."

Eunsang, "Lastly, we have Yeji from the Yun clan."

Yeji swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped forward.

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