Episode 7

Jang mi was changing positions while sleeping and couldn't sleep all night. She glanced at Jae young, he was in deep sleep at a distance from her on a bed that was little higher than hers.

She sighed.

I can't even sleep now. She thought. Then she closed her eyes again and tried to fall asleep when she heard a voice.

"Mother" Jae young said in a vile voice, his eyes closed. Hearing that Jang mi flinched.

"Don't go...please don't go..." His lips shaking. His voice made jang mi turn around. She got up immediately looking at him she softly spoke,

"Jae Young?"

"Mother..please... don't leave..me."

Jang mi went closer to him and sat beside him, he was sweating. She was confused what she should do. She touched his shoulder to wake him up but he grabbed her by her hand tightly.

"Don't leave me..alone"

He was squeezing her hand so tight that it was hurting her.

"At least don't squeeze it! It hurts!!"Jang mi pressed her lips together.

Her gaze dropped on his face, he stopped talking but he was still sweating, gradually the frown disappeared from his face.

He must have had these nightmares often because of the trauma. Jang mi thought.Then Her brows went up when she saw a tear escaping his eye.

"D-did I just see a tear?" Jang mi thought.

Would someone ever believe that I saw him cry? Jang mi tilted her head, her gaze roving over his face. The tear spilled down on the pillow. She lifted her hand and moved towards his face probably to touch his eyes when he opened his eyes and found her there, too close to him.

She gasped and moved away as she was startled but he was still holding her hand tight.

"What are you doing?" He demanded.

"Y-you were holding my hand, see". She said, gazing to her hand.He quirked a brow sitting on the bed.

"I don't think, it is possible for me to grab your hand when you were sleeping far away from me."

"I-i mean...I couldn't sleep when I heard you talking in your sleep. So I got up to see you but you grabbed my hand." Hearing that, Releasing her hand immediately, he spoke

"Oh.." he probably knew why he was talking in sleep." Why couldn't you sleep?" He gazed up at her.

"Uh...it takes time to get used to the new bed."jang mi said, expecting he would tell her to move back to her room.

"Well, then I hope you get used to it soon." He said, getting up from the bed.

Seriously? What was I expecting?

She thought, curling her lips in disappointment.

*************

"Min ah! Do something, get me out of here!" Mina's mother said, standing behind the bars, her eyes all red. Her father was there too see her.

"Can't you do something?" Her father asked to Min ah frowning."Talk to the 3rd prince, he will save his mother-in-law. Hearing that Min ah lowered her eyes.

"It's the emperor's order...I don't think anyone can do anything about it."

"Did you see!? See what your daughter did!? Her mother said. "She didn't even care about you!" Her voice loud and she was breathing shallowly due to anger and frustration. She tried to make him believe that now jang mi didn't care about him. She never did anything good for him and at the end decided to empty his life.

Jang mi's father was angry but he was more angry on Mina's mother for conspiring about Jang mi and creating distance between him and his own daughter.

"You deserve it! How dare you conspire against my daughter! I wonder, how much pain she went through at that time when her own father didn't believe in her truth." Hearing that, Min ah and her mother got afraid. They can't lose his support at this time.

"Honey, I didn't do it. That man lied. Jae young must have had beaten him a lot and ordered him to lie about me in front of the emperor so that the rumours about her are cleared." Min ah's mother explained, with her shaking voice.

"Yes father. And there is no proof too about what that man said. How could you believe a mere disloyal servant more than mom!?" Min ah raised her voice carefully.

"What? I thought, she really was innocent. How shameful of her! First sleep with my servant and then use him to lie and distance me from my family. I hate her even more now! All her life she embarrassed me and now she did this!"

He was feeling pity for jang mi but having brainwashers like Min ah and her mother around, his brain simply couldn't turn to jang mi and rather the opposite. He hated her so much now that he would never think about her even if she was proven right. Min ah and her mother easily could fool him again.

"She is trying to satisfy herself by making your life miserable. What kind of daughter is she?!"

"I should have killed her long ago!!" Jang mi's father burned in anger. "Why didn't I just kill her!?!!" He raised his voice.

Min ah gritted her teeth, roaming her head around to see if the guards were listening.

"Father! Lower your voice!" She whispered. "You're talking about a princess consort now! My mother is already in suffering, I can't see you in prison too." She said, holding his elbow.

"Now I have to be scared of her!? I have to respect her?!!"

"Unfortunately, yes" she said. "But, don't worry. I'll not let her live in peace,father. But, right now we have to be careful." It made him huff in anger.

Min ah moved to her mother."Mother, I'll talk to Minhyuk. I'll try my best to get you out of here, please be patient." She looked at her parent's faces, they were angry yet sorrowful which made her more angry at Jang mi.

Later,

"I'm so overwhelmed by what happened yesterday." The Emperor said to the Empress who was sitting next to him with her head on his shoulder.

The Emperor was really impressed by Jae young. He knew, in the royal family, everyone put their own life as their first priority and everything comes after that. But thinking that Jae young decided to save him by putting his life in danger made him feel quite good.

"You're really happy about it?" She gave him a false smile.

"Yes, did you see that? He took a knife for me. He didn't care, he could die." He said, smiling. "What do you think? Does it mean, he forgave me for what happened in tha past?"

"It was not your mistake " she scoffed nervously. "His mother was a sinner. Whatever you did, was right. There was nothing for him to get upset with you at the first place."

"You don't know. The day when he distanced himself from the palace, he told me so many things , I still can't forget. I remember his each and every word." He said, letting out a deep sigh.

"After that he never complained, but I want him to complain. I want him to tell me every he has in his heart and get over with it. His silence, his cold behaviour, it makes me think he still hates me for that." The kind thought, he has always been so cold towards Jae young but jae young still thought about him before himself.

"You're thinking too much." The Empress caressed his shoulder. "I'm sure he is not thinking about any of it now. He was a young kid back then, he has grown up now. He can understand your situation."

"I hope so."

Why now all of a sudden he has started to think about Jae young? The Empress thought. I shouldn't feel threatened about it. Jae young can never have the throne anyway. She put on a phony smile and glanced at the king.

Meanwhile,

"What about those assassins who attacked the Emperor? Are they in prison?" Minhyuk asked to his spy, who had come to his room.

"No, your highness. They were all trained, they beat all the guards and ran away. The royal guards are still in their search." Hearing that Minhyuk nodded. He had expected it.

"Alright, you may go now." With that, The spy bowed and left the room. Once outside, he saw Min ah coming towards the room. He bowed.

"Greetings, princess consort." Then he left, bowing.

Who's he? Never saw him before.She thought, gazing at the spy walking away. Then she flinched and went into the room. She walked over, untill she stood in front of Minhyuk with an anxious look on her face.

"Can you help me get my mother out of the prison?" Min ah asked at which Minhyuk scoffed

"Your mother did a crime, don't you think she deserves what she got!" He told her. "Jang mi is now a part of the royal family and she was framed by your mother. Whoever goes against the royal family, spends the rest of their life in prison."

"B-but it was long ago, she deserves a second chance. P-please minhyuk, can you help me?" She pleaded with her eyes.

"Look who's asking for my help now." He said with a smirk. "The one who snatched my happiness from me. Do you really think I'll help you? because of you, I lost my Jang mi !"

"Don't say like this. I know, you're angry at me but please save my mother. Whatever happened, it's in the past. Why can't you just forget it?" Holding his arm, she begged to him.

"I can help you." He told her.

"But I will not." Pulling his arm free, he walked away.

Min ah stomped on her foot, cursing internally. She already knew minhyuk will not help her, but she still thought of giving it a try and failed exactly as she expected.

"JANG MI !!!" She roared. You think, you've got something now that the 2nd prince is standing beside you. I don't what you did to him and I don't know why a callous person like him is being so supportive with you but I won't let this happen. I'll make sure he shows his real side to you!" Her eyes twisting with rage.

Just like the rest of the people, Min ah was also aware of what kind of person Jae young was. In fact, she knew more than jang mi and she was getting the idea there was something definitely suspicious about this marriage.

*************

Jang mi got ready and now was standing there in here room looking absently at a distance, pensive when jae young entered in the room. Jang mi probably didn't even see him.Gazing at her, he walked over to where she was standing. Her eyes blinked and then dropped to him.

"You're going to your father's house" He asked. Jang mi sighed and nodded. Jae young was studying her face for some seconds while jang mi was looking at him absently.

"Are you nervous?" He asked. With that Jang mi shook her head and denied.

"You're not good at hiding emotions. It's written all over your face that you're nervous."Jang mi's eyes grew a little wider, her gaze stuck on his glittering face."But, don't you think it will not be a problem because the rumour was cleared that day, he will not still blame you, will he?" He asked.

Lowering her eyes, she stayed quite for a moment then spoke

"I wish,...but I know he still hates me and now he must be hating me more." Jae young furrowed his brows slightly.

"He has always hates me and my mother. My mother told me he was good to her untill his second marriage." She said. "I was just 6 months old when he got married again. His new wife would brainwash him and make him think we were his enemies."Jang mi scoffed in disappointment.

"I don't remember if he ever looked at me with love,his gaze was always furious, harsh at me." Telling Jae young that Jang mi went in the past, recalling the time where she grew up without her father's love. She never felt like she had a father.

She thought, how she never wanted anyone to know how fragile she was! She always tried to act brave and strong in front of people, when in reality she could never save herself and her mother from her father. But, Jae Young had seen her in her most pathetic state.

"Did he ever..hit you?" He asked, his voice sounded thin. He wanted her to deny it but he knew her father must have had hit her.