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The physician noticed their budding relation. He recollected how few hours before the two of you were brought there, prince Jimin had rushed to the physician seeking help to have checking go smoothly without claiming you. "Physician Kim, whether Y/n is courted or not could you please tell the investigating ministers, that she is not courted." He said with desperate eyes. "Your highness, I cannot lie for you. The results will be established as per the facts." Prince Jimin went far enough to plead on his knees. "Physician Kim, I have never ever asked for anything in my life, not even my life and you know it more than anyone. Y/n has become an integral part of my life and I cannot lose her. So I entreat to you this time." And prince Jimin even got on his knees for this girl. For sure she must have created a special place in his mind for him to go this far. Physician Kim lightly smiled at the them. 

Prince Jimin pushed opened the doors of his chamber. "Come in Y/n." he called you in. From the moment, the duo stepped out of the room, you remained dazed and his highness felt melancholy  deep in his soul, seeing your condition. Somewhere deep in his mind, he began to blame himself for the things that you were forced to go through. He pulled you in his arms, "I'm sorry Y/n." 

"Did I say anything wrong?" came a soulless question. "No," he replied, his hand patting her back in the hope of lending some comfort. His warmth was a safe space for you, only to cry again as your hands envelope him, "Then why did the physician check me down there?" What happened in the room, was uncomfortable and terrifying. As physician Kim was instructing and checking, you were in such a gut wrenching fear with what he was doing that had let out a shriek when he touched you. It had traumatized you severely. The touch was disgusting but when the physician reminded that this a crime charge saving for Jihoon, you laid there, tears flowing down your cheeks, holding in the disgust in the hopes saving him. His highness remained silent unknown to the question.

"Will he get punished because of me?" This was the difficult question. The interrogation played in their mind, the twisted questioning which were pushing Jihoon and Junmyeon  the culprit. The line between truth and falsehood blurred in the aftermath of the investigation. Jihoon got tangled in cobweb only to became a prey. "No." he answered with surety. He was sure with that health examination, they wouldn't be able to charge forced assault on him, saving him and you from one danger. "Your highness, please save master Jihoon." the words mumbled, you knew well enough that prince Jimin would punish you after the revelation your relationship, but for the sake of Jihoon, his highness became your last resort. 

"I am sorry, Y/n." his heart squeezed at this helplessness. "Please your highness." Your cries grew louder, the only thing that could be heard in his chamber. "Please. He has not murdered Yubin." your hug tightened and he could only caress your head. I'm sorry Y/n, I can't do anything. I don't know why am I this helpless. I can't when it feels everything is against him. It feel as if I would lose you too if I try to save him. Call me selfish and I wouldn't care because you are the only one I care for and can't afford to lose you just like Jihoon is for you. It is all my fault.

"Your highness." came a male call from the other side of the chamber. Hearing the voice, you immediately muffled. "I have brought your lunch." Prince Jimin looked at the door then at your hugging figure. "Bring one more serving and leave it at the door, Shin." "Yes, your highness." replied the voice. The room filled with your sobs again. "Your highness, please do something." your cried as you looked up to meet his eyes.

His face expressed pity and pain, "your highness, please do something, I cannot live without him." you blurted this time. He closed his eyes, as your words seeped  in my mind yet not reacting. "Master Jihoon is the only person I love dearly. I want to live my life with him once your highness is wedded." your cries intensified. "He is my everything after I left my family and came to serve you."  

My fate always stood against me and snatched many things I adored. Back then I didn't want you to suffer the same fate as Yubin. I feared it even more when Yubin became a part of it, I couldn't bring myself to let my fate take you too. The only reason I chose to be rude and cruel to you in the first place was in the hopes of you leaving this palace because I knew you would too leave me had I let myself attach to you. Even after my several tries to push you away, you stayed by me, urging me to adjust with your presence. And finally I let myself choose my selfishness to accept you. "It was all my fault, Had I been careful about you since the beginning, none of this would have happened. Instead of  pushing and punishing you almost every single day and your want to wander off with Taehyung, none of this would have happened. You wouldn't have come to know the presence of a guy like Jihoon. Your emotions, attachments, everything is my fault." He emotionally lashed out which surprised you, breaking from the hug as you stumble few steps back. 

"If only - if only" tears began to fall on his cheeks as you stood there astound, "I were careful enough, you wouldn't have developed feelings for him. You wouldn't have to go through today's interrogation or examination. Had I taken the right action, I wouldn't also have to empathize with you and worry." He sat on his beds, his hands supporting his head as he vented out his feelings. 

"I had never dreamt of my future before. Yubin was always there to remind me that I am confined behind these palace walls forever. So I thought maybe I am to accept this life and she became my everything. The day when she left me, I felt as though my whole life collapsed for she was the only one I trusted the most. I wasn't sure to even trust a new maid with my experience before Yubin came. But as time passed with you, I realized my life is not supposed to be confined in here. You made me realize that if change could be brought it would be by ourself. You took more efforts to care for me than what I was given by anyone else. It felt like you were the only person who understood me, stood by me and cared for me." The confession was so open unknow to you how to react. 

He cried for few moments as you stood there trying to understand, in the mean time, eunuch Shin had placed the lunch outside and stepped away when he heard the deep conversation taking place in the chamber. 

"Every time when I spoke lowly of myself, you stood optimistic to me. I have grown so much on you that I can't live without you either. I tried everything I could to pull you out of this when I found out that you and Jihoon were romantically involved. This ill and stupid prince doesn't know who to approach to even save you. Unlike Taehyung I never had any involvement in palace wherein I could go and tell some minister to save you or Jihoon. I don't even know who are my real parents, some say I'm the son of some general who gave up this life for the nation, only to be taken under his majesty's care. But on the other hand in my memory, I have always seen father and mother care for their ill son and have him confined in this palace. There were few times in my childhood where I was close to get killed by one of my nannies. Ever since, this room is my cage. I had never tried to establish my connection with any ministers who would be there for me except Physician Kim. If I weren't born then none of this would have happened. Yubin's murder or have some innocent lives at stake." You couldn't help but feel like reaching the dead end of a tunnel and felt sorry for pushing your plea on him. 

You sat on the ground beside him. "It feels worse to be this helpless to do something for the person you care for. There is no role for me in the court. Otherwise I could have tried do something to save him. I'm sorry Y/n. I am so sorry for being this helpless when you were there for me all times." He apologized at his futility. 

"His highness...wouldn't believe you."  More than believing, he wants to help you but he doesn't know how to neither do I. I thought maybe sorting out his highness's help would do something. But it seems I have approached the wrong person. If prince Taehyung, who as said to have connections is having difficulty in finding any help then even prince Jimin will be the same. His lash out poured because of my break down. This only shows that if ever I show him my stability collapse again he would be the first person to drown in my sorrows. 

"I am sorry, Prince Jimin." at last you spoke. He wiped his tears, to look at you. "You must be hungry now." You had a weak smile, walking to the door to take the lunch. His eyes observed you, expressing genuine concern and his inability to make a change for you. After placing his lunch on the table, you bowed before walking out the chamber. "Have lunch with me." He said. "I am not hungry currently, your highness." 

"Then keep me company." his voice nonchalant, fretted if you do some mishap. "Your highness, please I beg you." your eyes closed, trying to hold in the cries that would flow if you were stay any longer. "Alright." "Thank you, your highness." with the last bow you closed the door. Not sparing a moment you went to your bed to ball your eyes to your heart's content and pray to gods the remaining day for some miracle to happen.

Meanwhile in prince Taehyung's chamber, prince Taehyung was having the afternoon tea with his mother and wife. Him staring at the tea cup set on the table for a long time concerned the ladies. He was worried about the court held in the late morning to top it of about your condition with prince Jimin. "Son," She called for his attention and his eyes met her immediately. "I have asked his majesty and some ministers to save your friends. With god's will everything will well and they would be released in no time." She caressed his back. She was worried about her son's condition. She had decided to visit him after receiving her daughter in law's concern. He had been waking up in the middle of the night in cold sweats. His wife was concerned with the restless nights that he suffered.

"Your friends are always there in our prayers. God will save them." she smiled. He gave a pale smile to his mother. "Yes, my lord." Her warm smile was a medicine for the prince. He knew his father is a just and wise ruler and wouldn't allow any innocent to lose their life. For now he tried to keep head cool for the next day Jihoon and Junmyeon would get their chance to testify for themselves. He decided to wait patiently just like his mother had said. Using caring side to his wife, he hid his sorrows. He wanted to discuss about the Jieun's abortion to his mother but his wife presence forbad him. 

The night was heavy for everyone. The whole evening prince Jimin didn't see you. Even his dinner was brought in by eunuch Shin, when asked about you he came to know that you had requested for no attendance from anyone. Prince Jimin understood your condition and let it be. Even he wasn't quite sure as to why he was feeling wrong about Yubin murder trial taking place, which he had been waiting for a long time ago. But your condition made him feel guilty with Jihoon being conspired for this trial for ulterior motive. 

"All the gods, I seek salvation in you. I plead to protect the innocents and the real culprits be punished." He prayed.

In that dark windy night, a man walked into the prison compound. The guards let him pass through in ease. "Take me to the Minister Seon's kid." He ranted apathetically. The guard bowed, guiding him to the requested cell. In the dark cell, the boy laid in the corner, motionless. "Boy." a deep and strong voice called him. Jihoon opened his eyes yet didn't respond. "Boy, wake up." He heard the voice again. Jihoon recognized the voice and sensed the man calling him had not come to help him with tomorrow's court appearance. "I know you are awake. Now why don't you face me?" He asked once again. 

Jihoon still didn't respond, waiting for the man to speak about his business with him. "Jihoon, I am sure you came to know that Y/n is in the palace too." The man finally spoke what he had intended to discuss with him. Jihoon's eyes widened at your mention. "Today, the investigators had brought her in for questioning. And know what was found, that you had courted her." His slightly parted, a voiceless 'no' escaping. He was confused as to how it could happen when he had never been more physical with you other than kissing and hugging.

"Tomorrow, she will also be trialed. If you don't want her to be involved in this, why don't you accept the charges and confess it was you and Junmyeon who murdered Yubin and also helped in Prince Jimin's assassination?" Jihoon stood up and sturdily walked closer to the cell door. This man had enraged him and he couldn't stand him any longer. "Minister Baek, you must be a fool to even think that your cheap tricks would even work on me. How could you ask me to confess to a crime when we haven't committed it. Over all this, he is your son. How can you push your son to his death." Jihoon gritted his teeth. 

Minister Baek scoffed at Jihoon's effort to question him. "I know you love Y/n more than anything. The letters that you tried to send to Y/n, all of them were handed to me. Imagine how would your father feel had he was the one who received those letters." He eerily smiled. "I must say your choice of words to express love for Y/n were stupendous. I am sure a stupid maid like her would even understand them. Now what would happen when it is found that you were physical with her? She will be banished from the capital since it is been a year after your breakup, she will be devastated for the reason of being her lover's death. I have heard that the low born men in the neighboring kingdoms are wolves who would rape any woman they get their hands on. Her living off the street to be raped and become pregnant every now and then, with no one to protect her." Jihoon didn't spare a moment to slid his hands to grab Minister Baek's hanbok, "You!". 

Minister Baek looked at him with disgust, "Boy, this only proves what I said is true. You cannot handle Y/n being shamed." He broke Jihoon's tight grip moving a little back and straightened his hanbok. "You are too crazy about her. If you want to protect her, just accept the murder charges and I assure you she will live the most comfortable life she ever lived. Otherwise, like I said she too will suffer. I'm not sure if you have heard it, but even that stupid maid; my son was fooling around with, had an abortion. Once the murder trial clears up, she too will be executed with Junmyeon." His eyes flared at how easy minister Baek was making it sound. "I know for one thing, I have never touched Y/n like Junmyeon did. If she is not a virgin then it for sure that you have manipulated those statements." Glaring at the minister he continued, "Because the Y/n I know will never let another man touch her." His jaw clenched.

"Maybe but understand, the more you try to resist, the more she will be involved. You and I know it very well, on the night of Yubin's murder you and Junmyeon were present in the palace with prince Taehyung. But your father and I testified that two of you were in their houses. Things have gone out of hands for us. Currently it is stated that you had seduced Y/n to help the assassin kill Prince Jimin. With Y/n also found not virgin, it will only go against you. Suppose it is found that you are not guilty for Yubin murder, even then you will be charged for keeping relations with a palace maid. Even your very own father will not hesitate to hunt down and kill Y/n for him having to lose his dear son because of her. Because why not, after all she is just a maid and no one would care about her disappearance. It won't be long after your death that she succumb to those men or your father. If you don't accept this offer, know this Prince Jimin will face even more threats and Y/n being with him, one day both of them will perish. I can save and protect Y/n for you. I guarantee." Minister Baek tried to make him believe.

"Then why save Y/n and not me and Junmyeon?" Jihoon questioned his intention to save only you. Minister Baek stared at Jihoon, "Because he is nothing but a waste of resource. I thought maybe he will improve with you and prince. Instead it worsened his condition. Always trying to bully other, never studying for the civil exams, a shameless womanizer and drunkard. Even punishments became pointless. Who else can I blame other than myself and family. Thought he is our only son and spoiling him will be fine. But then my youngest was born and I still spoiled him, but even when I spoiled Junmyeon, his younger brother was excelling in everything that I wanted Junmyeon to. By the time I realized that Jumyeon needs to watch his behaviour, he had impregnated the girl. So he is nothing to me anymore. Whether he lives or dies, he is useless. Even if were to be saved, these kind of people will eventually drag the names of their family to the ground. An impudent brat gets the punishment that he deserves." He poured out his feelings about his son. 

"Think about what I said and try to make a rational decision if you want her safe." He regarded before leaving Jihoon to think.