"Who are you?!" The gate guard asked her. Hearing that, Jang mi stared at him.
The other guard seemed to recognise her when he whispered something in the first guard's ear. He began to stare at her when a voice made him turn around.
"Let her in ! " Jihoon commanded.
She came. I should tell the master. Jihoon thought and went inside.
They opened the gate for jang mi. Her body was giving up now when she entered the mansion.
She lifted your head and saw Jae young standing upstairs. Her eyes began to close and she fell down on the bottom of the stair. He quickly went to her, looking at her in a miserable state he sighed.
Then he softly slid his hand around her waist and picked her up in his arms. His guards, Jihoon were staring at him in surprised faces. The scene happening in front of them was a lot surprising for them. They were dazed to see that side of him.
"Jihoon, bring the doctor!" He said walking away. Jihoon bowed.
Later, After the doctor left.
Gazing at Jang mi, Jae young sat beside her on the bed. Her face was white, lips dry, clothes all dirty. He moved a little closer to her.
"Everytime I look at you, you are a mess." He said.
Meanwhile,
Min ah was sitting on the bed when Minhyuk entered the room, sitting beside her. He gazed up at her.
"You're so beautiful." He said making her blush.
"Your Highness, you're flattering me." Min ah said coquettishly.
"And equally ugly from inside." he finished. Hearing that Min ah flinched. Her smile faded and a perplexed expression crossed her face. Before she could say anything, Minhyuk carried on talking.
"You can fool everyone but not me. I know you did it intentionally so that jang mi can't get married to me."
"Your hi- "
"Shut up!". He cut her off.
"I, only married you because of my parents. I couldn't give up the throne. I only love jang mi. Pray for her safety. If anything happens to her, you'll regret your whole life."
Min ah gulped in fear. It was totally unexpected for her. She thought, he would believe everything and hate jang mi.
She should be safe. Once I'll become the crown prince, I'll marry her as my concubine." He said. "And you... don't expect anything from this marriage, this is what you get when you're too greedy." He said, glaring at her.
No! This is not what I had in mind! I thought he would hate her , but now he hates me!. Min ah thought.
Minhyuk left the room and went outside. He gripped tightly on the railing and gazed into the distance, pensive.
I'm sorry jang mi, but I had to do this. Once I'll get the throne, I'll bring you back into my life. He thought. I hope you'll forgive me.
***********
Jang mi had changed into new clothes and was sitting, lost in the thoughts while jihoon entered on the room.
"Did you eat well? Are you feeling better now?"He asked, his gaze on the ground
"Yes, I'm fine." Jang mi nodded slightly.
"If you're fine now, His Highness would like to talk to you. He has been waiting"
Jang mi felt nervous for a moment and took a deep breath. Getting down the bed, she went to the door.
"Where's he?" she asked.
"Come with me." He said, leading her the way. Jang mi followed him. He took her in a room where Jae Young was sitting opposite a table. Jang mi nervously walked in. Jihoon closed the door from outside and left. Jae Young gazed up at Jang mi.
Jang mi bowed and went closer to him.
"Have a seat." He said, pointing his hand opposite to him to the other side of the table. Jang mi nodded and sat down.
"You decided to come here, should I take it as you accepted my proposal?" He asked. Jang mi's gaze was down. She didn't say anything.
"Did I accept his proposal?" She thought."Of course, why else would I come?"Jae young was gazing at jang mi intently, waiting for her to answer his question.
"Is it a yes?" He asked, grabbing her attention.
Jang mi looked up at him and finally uttered.
"Yes." jang mi announced her answer. Hearing her answer, a slight smirk formed on Jae Young's lips, hardly visible.
"But, --I have a question I want to ask." With that he dilated his eyes and gestured to go ahead.
"What is the reason behind you marrying me? I would like to know that."
"I've already told you, it will not harm you in any way. It shouldn't be a problem for you. You just have to marry me and I'll help you, that's all." Thinking about it, Jang mi nodded her head.
"Do you have any other questions?" Jae young asked.
I do, many. But would you answer?. Jang mi thought.
"Is it a No ?" He asked grabbing her attention again.
"I have another question."
"What is it ?"
"Will you not be....ashamed of marrying a... scandalous woman..like me? Jang mi asked lowering her head.
"As long as you'll not be ashamed of marrying an unimportant prince like me." Hearing that, Jang mi gazed up at him.
"You're still prince. I was abandoned by the 3rd prince, will it not effect your reputation when people will talk about it?"
"I've grown up listening to people talk about me.They still do. But I'm used to it now." He said. "It doesn't effect me at all "
"He's right. People say so many things about him." Jang mi thought. "But, they still fear him, respect him. He is still a prince. Why does he want to marry me then?"
Jang mi didn't know the reason why Jae Young was marrying her but she had already decided. Now, there's no going back
After One month has passed,
"You still couldn't find her?!" Minhyuk yelled to the man standing in front of him.
"Your highness, we searched everywhere for her."
"Keep searching untill you find her!" He raised his voice. The man bowed and left.
Min ah entered the room and walked towards Minhyuk as she spoke,
"They didn't find her body, that means she is alive but maybe hiding somewhere or ran away. Why are you wasting your time?"
Minhyuk glared back at her.
"None of your business." He said passing by her. "Wherever she is , I will find her."
Min ah huffed at that.
I hope she is dead. You'll forget her eventually. She thought.
**********
Jae young was passing by the lobby when his gaze moved to jang mi who was playing with the caged birds, smiling. He hadn't witnessed her smiling face and so he couldn't help but stare. Jihoon noticed him. He smiled slightly and went towards him.
"Your highness ." jihoon said making Jae young move his eyes off jang mi.
"Who brought those birds in here?" Jae young asked curiously.
"I did. I thought, she was getting bored here." He said nervously.
"Should I take them back?"
Glancing at the smiling Jang mi, Jae young replied
"No, it's okay."
"I'm going to talk to my father about my marriage today." Jihoon nodded.
"What do you think? Will he approve it?"
"Don't worry about that, I'll make him approve it and after I'm back, send the invitations." He ordered.
"As you order, Your highness"
"And yes, did you find where jang mi's mother is buried?"
"Yes master."
"Take her there today."
************
"She was with you all this while?!" The Emperor roared. "And you're planning to marry that shameless woman?!"
Jae young lowered his head.
How amazing it is that he wants to marry her! The Empress thought. He keeps upsetting the kind, what could be more better?
"Father-"
"Are you even thinking about the consequences?! What will the people say?! She doesn't deserve to be a princess consort! She has a stained past! Are you going to embarrass me as well?!"
"I will not embarrass you father, I promise you." With that, The Emperor sighed walking closer to Jae young.
"Jae young, I don't know why you want to marry that woman." His voice turned soft. "But she can't be a part of the royal family." With that Jae young gazed up at him.
"Can't you trust me ?"
Jae young's father once made him go through a lot and he has that guilt in his heart because of which he was soft with jae young. Jae young was chosen the crown prince the day he was born but his father abolished him later even though what happened in the past was not his fault.
It was the first time Jae young was asking for something, his father didn't want to deny him and he also wanted to get rid of the guilt in his heart but on the other hand he was worried about his reputation. As an emperor, he always had to keep his emotions aside like all the leaders.
"I trust you, but-"
"I said, I promise you it won't embarrass you. I'll take care of everything. So why don't you just trust me with this once, father?"
"Your majesty, I think he likes her. Why don't you let him marry her? People will forget everything with time." The Empress said to the Emperor. The Emperor sighed.
*********
Jang mi was sitting beside her mother's grave with tears spilling down her cheeks while jihoon was standing behind her. She was recalling everything her mother went through and they did the same to her too.
Jang mi breathed a heave sigh and spoke,
"I'm getting married mother, will you be happy?"
"I know, this marriage isn't going to be the one where I'll get love but I'll get the power and that is all I need to destroy your murderers." Jang mi closed her eyes for a few moments and took a deep sigh.
***********
"No! Jang mi can't marry Jae young!! H-how is she marrying him?! Why is she marrying him?!" Minhyuk gasped. His voice loud, he was rattled by hearing the news. Min ah scoffed .
"She was living with him all this time, now you know I wasn't lying about what type of woman she is !"
"Will you stop?! He asked glaring at her."Jae young must be doing this to get back at me! Jang mi is only marrying him out of anger! She shouldn't marry him. He's selfish and ruthless. All he cares about us himself, he cannot keep her happy!"
You're just angry because now you can't marry her as your concubine. Min ah thought.
"Well, whatever it is, she's marrying him. What can you do ?"
It's the best day of my life. Now her married life will be a thousand times worse than mine. At least, I'll become the crown princess. What will she get from this marriage? Min ah thought. Neither can she have a loving husband nor can she become the crown princess."
"I cannot let this happen. In fact, I won't let this happen." Minhyuk's glare becoming more and more fiercer. Min ah was staring at him, confused.
"What can you even do?" She wanted to asked but kept her mouth shut.