Chapter 1

"I... I swear I really didn't know.. your majesty" the helpless concubine cried infront of the King of Goreya. Emperor Kim Seokjin who is watching him sadistically.

For the people in the kingdom, emperor Kim is like a god. A god who saved their lives with his extraordinary sword skills in wars. Who demolished lot of taxes and ranking hierarchies and let them live in peace. who is generous when it comes to help. Who is the life savior of them. In simple, it was a golden era ruled by emperor Kim.

But inside the palace, emperor Kim is a different person. He is a sadist. Cold, arrogant and cruel person anyone could ever ask for. He have the biggest harem in the whole dynasty with lot of concubines, prostitutes, and court ladies. Still, no one can expect mercy from him. Everything is just for his pleasure. Just his.

The person crying infront of him, is one of the concubines who got married to Seokjin for the sake of saving his birth country. A political arranged marriage. They didn't even ask the opinion of taehyung. He was just passed to Seokjin like a mere object. Like an offering.

"Enough concubine taehyung. Are you cheating on me with that security gaurd? Don't you know it's a treason and the punishment is putting your head down" Seokjin's voice is stern. Emitting hatred.

Taehyung shook his head franatically while sniffing a cry.

"No no no.. I.. *hiccup* I was hungry . He said there is a royal kitchen there. I..*hiccup* I didn't know anything" taehyung sobbed.

A smirk appeared on Seokjin's face. He know. His concubine isn't that talented. Don't get him wrong. His concubine is innocent. Seokjin know. Still. He can't trust anyone blindly. Trust is the root of betrayal. So here he is. Making the concubine cry with his fierce eyes and accusations.

"Come here" Seokjin said while patting his thigh and opening his arms. Taehyung who was now sitting on the floor looked at Jin with teary eyes. As soon as he saw the open arms he sniffed, wiped the tears with his long sleeves, ran to Jin, sitting on the lap, hugging him and crying.

Jin just patted his back in a comforting manner. Yes he was cruel and cold to others. He is still the same. But the innocence of this younger did some magic to him. He handle taehyung differently. Just like now.

"Sh.. don't cry.."

Taehyung pulled off his face from Seokjin's neck and looked at him with teary eyes. His lips formed a pout. The cheeks were red and swollen because of crying for hours. The nose tip is red. Eyes were puffy and teary.

"Is wanting to eat japchae wrong? I.. I really didn't know.." taehyung started to cry again.

Jin chuckled. This is what made him like\~ no. Love taehyung. This innocence. Whatever you teach. How long you teach. His innocence is still the same. That made Seokjin protect him from the whole world. May be from his own monster side too.

"Ok.. let's say you don't know anything. Now tell me what happened." Seokjin spoke slowly, feeling guilty for making the poor concubine cry.

"I..I was in the garden playing with\~\~ *closes mouth and looks at Jin in shock*

Jungkook know taehyung is hiding something.

"In the garden, playing with?"

Taehyung shook his head.

"No no no. I was not playing. I was... *Thinking*.. ah walking.. I swear I didn't play"

Jin can't help but to chuckle. The lie is written all over taehyung's face. I mean the quivering lips, avoiding his gaze, sweats in forehead. Enough to prove taehyung is lying.

"Now are you lying to me to cover up your secret lover taehyung?" Seokjin growled.

Taehyung's eyes widened in shock. He shook his head. Tearing up again.

"Then tell me the truth. Only. The. Truth. If I find your lies you know the consequences." Jin warned. Taehyung's sobs got louder.

"Tell me now. Or get ready. You'll be sentenced." Seokjin said with a poker face. Clearly aware that taehyung might die in fear and crying before even he was sentenced.

"I.. I..was in the garden.. playing.. playing with kittens... " Taehyung looked at Jin with fearful eyes.

Except for birds like doves and parrots, animals like rabbits and horses, nothing is allowed in royal palace as per royal rules. Taehyung know that. But he can't help but to create a small shelter with the broken wood planks for the stray cats which he found in the garden a month ago. Since then, he is feeding them, playing with them, secretly raising them in the garden without anyone's notice.

"Playing with kittens??" Jin repeated. Taehyung quickly hugged Jin and started to sob.

"Please.. please don't kill them.. they are poor. They *hiccups* they don't have eomma.. and no house too.. *hiccups* I'll send them away if you say.. *sobs* please don't kill them" taehyung cried. Hiding his face in Seokjin's neck not have courage to look at emperor.

If at all he looked at Jin, he could have seen the emperor silently chuckling at him.

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