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“Yun.”

“Jimin, be quiet.”

“Are you sure it’s safe to be out here this late?  We could get caught.” Jungkook whispered.

It had been a few weeks since Taehyung had been crowned king.  His wedding to Ahseong was quickly arriving.  It was a shocker how fast a wedding could be planned.

“Why are we out here, again?” Jimin asked, not trying to be quiet in the slightest.  Yun smacked her hand over his mouth.

“Be.  Quiet.”

Soon enough, they had arrived at the courtyard.

“Why did we have to come all the way out here?  Couldn’t we have just discussed this later?” Jungkook whispered again.

“No.  We have to figure out how to catch Prince Kimun.” Yun replied softly.

Jungkook looked around. “I’m going back to my quarters.  It’s late, I have to be up early tomorrow, and I don’t want to be caught sneaking around.”

He was about to rise from his hiding place when another voice sounded.

“Yun?  Is that you?”

“Get down!”

“Jimin, yelling is not going to help us stay hidden.” Yun stated the obvious.  Then she peeked her head over the three-foot wall separating them and the source of the voice who had questioned her. “Your Highness?  What are you doing out here so late?”

Ahseong laughed and climbed over the wall, settling herself on top of it. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Ah. . .well. . .” Yun’s voice trailed off.

“It’s all right.  You don’t have to tell me.  Knowing you, I’d imagine it’s harmless.”  She looked down at Jimin’s bent head, then over at Jungkook.  She motioned to him. “Who’s he?”

“This is Jungkook.  He’s one of the knights.”

“Oh!  This is Jungkook?”

Jungkook bowed to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

“Aish, stand up.  Don’t let my title belittle you.” Ahseong grinned. “Yun’s told me so much about you!”

“She has?” Jungkook asked as he straightened

Ahseong nodded. “We should all get back inside, though.  It’s not safe to be roaming around this late.  Even in the palace.”

Jungkook nodded. “Well. . .goodnight, then.” He slipped off back to his quarters.

“You too, Jimin.”

Jimin glanced up at Ahseong before taking his leave as well.  Ahseong turned to Yun.

“C’mon.  I’ll walk you back to your quarters.”

Yun and Ahseong fell into step with each other as they headed for Yun’s room.

“I’m getting married next week,” Ahseong blew out a puff of air from her mouth. “It’s crazy.  I thought I’d never have a suitor.  My sisters both married years ago. Dajeong married when she was fifteen.”

“Are you excited to be getting married?”

“I mean. . .kinda.  It’s going to be a lot of pressure, though.  I’ll be queen.”

Yun nodded. “I can’t imagine.”

“Yun?”

“Mhm?”

“What happened to your parents?”

“Um. . .my mother died from a disease when I was seventeen.  I never knew my father.  My mother never told me anything about him.”

“Oh.  I’m sorry.  Were you close to your mother?”

“Yes.  She was my best friend.  She was ready to leave, though.  She’d been struggling for years.”

There was a long pause.

“Were you close to your family?” Yun asked.

“No.  To my parents, I’m just another heir.  I was raised by my maid.  My parents have been trying to marry me off since I was sixteen.  Both my younger sister and my older sister were married off pretty fast.  I’ve rarely seen them since.  And I’ve never been close to my brothers.  They’re all quite a bit older than me.  My oldest brother is in his late thirties.  He was crowned king years ago.  I don’t know why my parents bothered having more kids, honestly.  I have way more half siblings than that.  There are more than enough heirs.” Ahseong toed at the ground.

“We’ve been trying to catch Prince Kimun.  That’s why we were here tonight.  We. . .don’t know how we’re going to do it, though.”

“Hmm.  We can try after the wedding.  He’s sure to try to sneak in then, right?” Ahseong paused. “Wait. . .before His Majesty was crowned king, how did Prince Kimun trying to kill him?”

“Mmm.  A man snuck into the palace one night.  He was caught with a knife on him.  He was thrown into the prison, but he refuses to tell who sent him.  He’s been down there for three years, and he still refuses.”

“So. . .we just need to get the guy to talk.  Hmm.  I’m sure we can figure it out.”