Jang mi's gaze went to the 3rd prince, Minhyuk. He was so handsome. His gaze was stuck at her.
Jang mi met him a year ago, when she found him injured in the bank of a river. She didn't know he was a prince, since he was in disguise. She helped him and saved his life.
After that he would come to meet her often. He didn't reveal his identity. In fact, he pretended to be poor to see if she'd still care about him but she still fell for him because he was really nice to her. He was impressed by Jang mi's simplicity and sincerity
Looking at him, a wide smile spread across her face. In her life, he was the only person who would make her feel happy and forget her worries.
"Your Royal Highness." Jang mi's father said, bowing. He would also respect Jang mi in front of the prince.
"Brother-in-law, I'm Min ah. Choi Min ah. We haven't met before. I'm going to be your sister-in-law soon." Min ah said smiling widely.
He returned her a smile and again dropped his gaze to jang mi. She bowed her head, smiling.
"Your Highness"
Haven't I told you to call me by my name? With that, Jang mi lowered her eyes nervously.
"Not in front of everyone"
"I don't mind and I don't care what others think." He said, making her blush. Min ah cursed internally seeing him like this.
Later,
"I really can't wait to get married to you." Minhyuk told jang mi while walking in the garden of the royal palace. Hearing this, A smile formed on jang mi's lips.
"Me too."
Jang mi had met everyone in the royal palace before, except for Jae Young because he was never present there the times she visited.
But today, she was about to meet his family, as the official fiancee of the 3rd prince and now they both were going to get married soon. She had to meet Jae Young but she was never curious about him.
She was walking with Minhyuk when they both ran into Jae Young. He was passing by. He stopped, looking at Jang mi.
"She's his fiancee, Choi Jang mi." Jihoon mumbled to Jae young.
"Brother."
Minhyuk grabbed jang mi by her hand and took steps closer to Jae young. He sounded as if he was mocking him. Looking at Minhyuk, Jihoon bowed.
"Jang mi, He's my elder brother, the 2nd prince, Kim Jae Young." Jang mi bowed.
So he is the second prince whose mother was the queen but then she was abolished for treason. Jang mi thought.
I've heard a lot about him, seeing him in person, he does match the rumours. NO! Judging too soon isn't good. Even though, Jang mi wasn't curious, seeing him, she got curious for some reasons
"I'm glad you came, you must be really excited about my marriage." Minhyuk's mocking speech remained the same but undetected. Jae Young then took steps closer to Minhyuk, meeting his gaze in a sharp glare.
Minhyuk smirked while Jang mi was just looking at them in perplexity. Jae Young glanced at her for a moment and then he walked away, leaving jang mi dumbfounded.
What!? He's so rude even with his own brother. Now I can judge him. She thought.
"Is there something wrong with the 2nd prince?" She asked.
Minhyuk didn't seem to have a good relationship with Jae Young and it became obvious when he said,
"He's just like that, forget about him." He placed his hand on jang mi's shoulder. "Let's go." He said, smiling.
Minhyuk was going to become the crown prince and Jae young was not even in the line because of what his mother did in the past. Minhyuk used to look at Jae young and would feel threatened by him. He was just waiting to become crown prince so he could move Jae young out of his way.
Jae young was well aware of Minhyuk's intentions and he was doing his best not to let him become the crown prince but how long could he? Minhyuk was bound to become the crown prince but Jae young wanted to have the throne at any cost.
Jae young huffed.
"Was he taunting me!?" He said angrily, in a voice of pressed irritation. "Why don't I kill him first?! He clenched his fist, trying to reel his temper.
"Master, he was just trying to bother you, don't pay attention to him" Jihoon said.
3 weeks later in Emperor Kim's Mansion,
"I sent the men, your highness." Jihoon bowed as he said to Jae young.
"Now I just have to wait and enjoy his misery." Jae young said with an evil smirk.
Meanwhile,
Jang mi was outside in a garden with the Minhyuk while he was playing violin.
"Woah! You're really good at it" Jang mi's admiring gaze sent a smile to his lips.
"You want to try?"
"No, I don't know how to play, I don't want to make a fool of myself." She chuckled nervously making him laugh.
Before Minhyuk could speak anything they both got astonished by some men coming and standing in front of jang mi.
Jang mi furrowed her brows in confusion while Minhyuk stared at them puzzled.
They didn't wait for him to say anything and kicked him back. Minhyuk fell down badly and hurt his arms. Before he could stand up they dragged jang mi away with them. He stood up and ran towards them but they were fast.
"Guards! " He shouted. Hearning him, his guards came running to him and saw his arm was bleeding.
"Go after them!!" He commanded.
Minhyuk was feeling anxious yet angry. He was thinking who would've sent those men. He wanted to go for jang mi by himself but he was injured and wasn't allowed to go. He was really worried about her. He couldn't sit still when his mother, The present Empress came to his room. The first thing she said, left him shocked
"You're not going to marry that woman!" She looked unhappy and disappointed.
"What!?" Standing up from his seat, Minhyuk went to her.
"She's so shameless, you can't marry a notorious woman!"
"Notorious? Shameless! What are you talking about, Mother?" He was muddled.
"I just found out that she slept with her father's servant" The Empress said, sighing angrily
"What!?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "This isn't true! I know Jang mi. She isn't like that. It's just a rumour. Someone is trying to spread rumours about her, now that she's going to marry me! Must be the same person who sent those men"
"Someone!? Her own sister told me!" The Empress's voice echoed, leaving him shocked. "She said that she wouldn't want the future crown prince to marry a woman like her! Who would know her better than her sister?"
"I still condemn to believe it mother!! I love her. I will only marry her!"
"Stop being so stupid! Are you going to give up the throne for her!? Did you forget your motive? A notorious woman cannot be the crown princess, she will bring disgrace for you too!" She said, glaring fiercely at him.
"You have to choose! The throne or her?
Minhyuk pressed his forehead in stress. He was breathing rapidly. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mother would never allow him to get married to Jang mi. If it was going to be between Jang mi and the throne, it was obvious what he was going to choose.
"The people already know that you're going to marry Choi Geung's daughter? There has to be a marriage." She said. "Marry her sister! She's more beautiful, smart and intelligent. She's also perfect. I liked her more when I met her "
Minhyuk was losing his mind, he was puzzled yet worried. He was confused about what should he do now. He had to take a decision. He couldn't give up the throne. Never. After coming so close.
Chaos began, when the 3rd prince, Minhyuk accepted to marry, Choi Geung's second daughter, Choi Min ah and broke his ties with Jang mi. Minhyuk didn't have the courage to do it in front of jang mi, so he decided to marry tomorrow while she was not her. He was worried about her but his love wasn't strong enough to give up the throne for her.
Jihoon was more focused on gathering information about Jang mi. He found out everything about her family and how her father treated her. Jae young got to know that Minhyuk announced his marriage with jang mi's younger sister, that too tomorrow. Jihoon thought he could at least save Jang mi's life.
Jihoon ran to the living room. Looking at Jae young he spoke, out of breath.
"Master"
"What happened?" Jae young furrowed his eye brows in mild confusion
Jihoon told him everything. Minhyuk was going to marry the younger daughter of Choi geung because jang mi is a woman of bad character and she couldn't be the crown princess in the future. He also told him about Jang mi's family's complications.
"She was treated ill by her own father. Her step-sister is the one who told the prince that she had a stained past. Why would a sister do that? Her own family framed her in this." He said.
"She had been holding since now in a hope that everything will go right for her. We can't get her killed. Master, now that the 3rd prince is getting married to her sister, killing her won't bring any good to you, so you should save her." Looking at Jihoon, Jae young released a long deep sigh as he got up from his seat.
"It's her fate if she dies."
He said, his voice firm. He was not even a little bit bothered by Jang mi's story and everything that was happening with her. "Besides, they will not kill her untill I order them."
"They can do anything to her, she's a young woman!" Jihoon said.
"They won't" Jae young said in a low voice.
"Then why does she have to go through this? She is not a threat for you, so why don't you go save her!? How can-"
"I'm going to my room, don't disturb me." Jae young said as he cut Jihoon off, walking towards the room.
"Your highness!" Don't forget that years ago, you were also at the same position as her!!!" Jihoon raised his voice.
Hearing that Jae Young stopped in his tracks.
"When your mother, the late queen was abolished, they wanted to kill you too after killing her. They said, you'll bring disgrace to the royal family! At that time, when everyone was turning their back on you, even your father! Weren't you waiting for someone to offer you their shoulder?"
"Right now, Jang mi is also going through the worst, don't commit this sin"
Jihoon couldn't let his master kill an innocent person who was already going through a lot in her life. He always wanted him to become a better person, he was doing his best. Besides this was all he was capable of doing. It never really worked, but he was hoping this time maybe it would.
Jae Young turned around, his eyes turning red. Jihoon stood on his knees in front of him, lowering his head.
"I was your friend but I, myself wasn't able to help you but you can at least save her. Master, her death will become a burden on you. I know whatever's written in her fate will happen but don't take this sin on you. Please, save her. They could do anything to her. You can't trust them." Jihoon begged.