CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
"I could not bring myself to kill you." Ha Na firmly and confidently said making Jimin’s breath hitched.
"What?" He was quite startled by her answer, and what made his heart leap out of his chest was the way she said those words. It was soft and gentle, and it's making his sinned heart flutter. "What are you talking about, Ha Na?"
Jimin stood up from his position and approached her, gripping the bars, and instead of Ha Na, flinching away, she didn't budge a step. His face was quiet few inches from her face and to think they're already staring into each other's eyes made it more complicated for Jimin to stay mad. His eyes travelled to her eyes, and then to her lips. Her eyes are what he needed to see the most and her lips is what he needed to taste after a thousand year of waiting.
"It's because..."
"What is it?" Jimin scoffed, gripping the bars tightly and stomped on his feet. "Why do you keep on confusing me like this, Ha Na?! You believed that I killed your best friend, right?"
He gritted his teeth, shooting a piercing fire look. "Then kill me!"
Ha Na just stared at him, and her eyes continue to lock gazes with his now dark red eyes. "It's because I saw the truth in your eyes, Jimin."
Jimin's eyes turned into a purple shade that made Ha Na frozen, and she wondered. Just what eyes is that?
Ha Na didn't know that those words touched Jimin's heart, producing a color shade of blue and pink, and circulated his whole body, especially to his eyes that said it all.
"I don't believe them... I know you didn't kill her." Ha Na gave him a smile. "I believe in you, Park Jimin."
Jimin stiffened and stared into Ha Na's brown eyes. He was speechless that he couldn't comprehend what she said. What? She believes in me? How?
Her lips curved into a smile. "Just wait for me, Jimin. I will tell Taehyung to let you out."
He started thinking, just why are you doing this, Ha Na? His eyes even went wide and lips parted as Ha Na's hand travelled to his chubby cheeks, caressing it. His heart flipped at the next sincere words the lady were thinking.
Wait for me, Jimin.
It was what Jimin heard from her and she was determined to get him out, and she must get him out because she believes in him and not because she likes him. Yes, Jimin managed to shake her heart, but not enough for her to like him. She doesn't want to accuse someone who have not sinned one bit, and Park Jimin was an example.
Just then she realized what she was doing and immediately pulled her hand away from him. She looked down and avoided his gaze, embarrass of what she just did. Her heart started to beat rapidly that she couldn't even breathe properly. She turned around, not wanting Jimin to see her before clutching her chest.
Gosh, why is my heart beating so fast?
Jimin's eyes widened, a tint of red appeared on his cheeks, and smiled a little bit, knowing that he just read her mind. A wash of relief overflowed his entire system because not only did his heart beats fast, but so does Ha Na's. His ears along with his cheeks were even more tainted with red colour while trying to suppress his smile. He looked back at Ha Na who has faced him already.
"I have to go back." She told him, awkwardly rubbing the nape of her neck before turning around and leaving him.
His eyes followed her every step out of the dungeons before he smiled from ear to ear. His hands travelled to his cheeks, where Ha Na touched it, and blushed furiously.
Along the walk out of the dungeon, Ha Na breathed heavily and sighed in relief. My heart is beating so fast. She shook her head, making her complete way out of the area without greeting the guard. She walked for a few meters all the way to the palace, and walked inside with the maids and butlers greeting her.
"Have you seen His Majesty?" She asked a random maid who shook her head before she went to ask another maid.
The maid made a slight bow as a greeting. "He's currently in court room, your majesty."
What's with people call me 'your majesty' when I haven't even been crowned yet? She just nodded and turned around. A person appeared on her mind when her eyes landed on the maid outfit.
"By the way," She turned around and faced the maid again who politely replied with a 'yes'.
"Have you seen the princess around?" She suddenly remembered the princess—the princess who pretended to be a maid, haven't shown herself to Ha Na after the engagement ball.
"She does not live here anymore, your majesty." She responded.
"Anymore? What do you mean?" Ha Na raised her eyebrow.
"It is written in the law that when the chosen woman of the King arrived inside the palace, the princess, the king's sister, will be having another residence to live." The maid explained.
"There's such law?" That's so cruel. Kicking out a princess because the king's woman is here?
"The princess' room is only reserved for the king's direct royal princess." She responded, and Ha Na’s eyebrows knitted.
The one that Junsoo showed to me days ago? She licked her lips before asking another. "Why would she be kicked out?"
"In case your majesty will have a royal princess." The human maid smiled and bowed down. "Do you have any other questions, your majesty?"
Ha Na shook her head and bit her lips. "No, not anymore. You can go."
The human maid bowed and Ha Na left her, feeling guilty. She's guilty because Junsoo is living in another residence just because of her. Is that why Junsoo seemed so bitter when she introduced the room to me?
She sighed and made her way to the court room. It took her 15 full minutes, just walking, to find the court room while asking several maids since she ain't familiar with the place yet and ended up having a butler guiding her there.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw Taehyung throwing random papers, making her flinch. Taehyung was panting. and ruffling his hair in frustration, a groan escaped his throat before he threw another piece of paper to the ground.
She managed to get her courage to approach Taehyung and coughed to get his attention. Taehyung stopped and turned around to see his beloved. His lips curved into a smile.
"My Queen." He smiled and walked towards her. "What are you doing here, love?"
Ha Na bowed to her making Taehyung felt uneasy. He wasn't used to Ha Na being respectful like that beside having her as his queen.
"Is something wrong, love?" Taehyung asked and clasped both Ha Na's shoulders. "Is something bothering you?"
Ha Na smiled slightly and shook her head. Taehyung just nodded.
"Is something wrong, your majesty?" Taehyung cringed at Ha Na calling him that again. He somehow felt uncomfortable whenever she calls him 'your majesty'.
Ha Na glanced at Taehyung's behind, scanning the papers scattered all over the floor and table. "Are you mad at something?"
Taehyung's lips parted to speak but just sighed and looked down. "It's just that...there are a lot of petitions regarding Jimin's crime."
Ha Na didn't reply but quirked his eyebrows up, letting him elaborate everything.
"The officials said that the punishment wasn't enough." Taehyung shook his head and dropped his arms down from her shoulders. "He is my best friend and a Duke. He lived more than those officials yet how could I punish him?"
Her heart twinged at his tone. She didn't like it at all—it gave her an uneasy feeling she isn't used to.
"Is that what your heart desires? Does your heart desires to let him go unpunished?" Ha Na asked softly and gently, it was making Taehyung's heart softened.
Taehyung nodded his head. "Jimin has been there for me ever since from the start."
"Then get him out of the dungeons." She responded directly and bluntly making Taehyung snapped his head towards his beloved.
"What?" It was unbelievable for Taehyung that Ha Na is verbally speaking his mind right now. Did she just defended Jimin?
"Jimin didn't do anything." Ha Na shakes her head. "I believed that he didn't kill Elisse."
Taehyung frowned, feeling his entire chest aches in pain. "W-What did you just say?"
For the first time in life, Ha Na just made the cold blooded man stutter. "I said let him go, Taehyung."
"Just what are you saying right now, Min Ha Na?" Taehyung growled and completely faced the lady in front of him. "That man you are trying to defend just killed your best friend, how are you so calm about it?"
Taehyung laughed bitterly. "And what? Let him go? Have you gone crazy?"
The moment you dragged me inside this palace, I have entirely gone crazy already. Ha Na snorted.
Gladly, Taehyung can't hear her thoughts. She was glad about that—glad that he told her too that time when he was vulnerable. But she wondered, how can Taehyung not hear her? When he is the King of all Race and mostly have the entire powers?
"Just let him go." She practically begged making the ruler cringed and stepped away. She retorted in disbelief because just a second ago, he didn't want Jimin to be punished and when she asked him to let Jimin out, he went full outrage. "It wasn't him that killed Elisse. He told me that."
"And you believed him?" There was sourness in his voice but Ha Na was too oblivious not to even notice the jealousy of the King. Ha Na nodded and eyes twinkled for a moment there.
Ha Na was contemplating as her heart thudded against her ribs and her chest tightened at her own decision. She didn’t want this but what could she do to save Jimin out of this misery? He didn’t sin yet he was accused. What could she do?
"If you d-do that," She paused and took a deep breathe. "I will marry you."
RISEN
Written by Hannah (daddiehoseok)