Blog

The man had backed her into a corner.  It was nearly four o’clock in the morning.  No one would be traveling down this corridor for another hour.  She was well and truly defenseless. 

She had awoken feeling sick.  She had headed for the kitchen to make herself some tea.   But now, she was in peril.  She couldn’t even scream.  She would be blamed for roaming the hallways if anyone caught her.  She was expected to use her tiny knife to end her own life if this man attempted to rape her.  

But Jina was made of sterner stuff than that.  The one thing that terrified her was being charged with murder if she stuck her little sword into his side.  She’d have to spill his blood and flee.  And then hide the evidence.

Rumors said that King Yoongi was more equitable towards women than his brother had been.  But she knew the laws of the land.  Women were little better than chattel.  Certainly not as important as a man.  Rape victims were often treated like adulterers.  Her best bet was to convince this man to leave her alone.  But how?

“You don’t want a piece of me, I can assure you.  The last man that tried left without one of his hands.”

It was an outrageous lie, but she was desperate.  

He just laughed callously.  

To make matters worse, she still felt horrible.  She was burning up with fever.  

Ah!  

Maybe that was the tack she needed.

“Did you hear there’s fever in the village?  Several families have died already.”  Then she began to cough.  “I awoke with such a sore throat.  I’m parched.  That’s why I was headed for the kitchen.  Something to cool this heat in my cheeks.”

The guard eyed her suspiciously.  She did have two bright red spots on her cheeks.  But he’d heard of no plague.

“If you’re lying to me, I’ll just come for you another night,” he hissed.

She shrugged.  “It’s up to you if you want to risk catching the plague.  I’m sure I won’t care in a couple of days.”  Then she began to hack again.

The man stopped.  He began to back away.  His eyes roamed over her, making her want to puke.  She now hated working in the palace.  Guards like this one were too many to count.  She needed a husband to defend her.  But most of them would have just blamed her for enticing these jerks.

She watched as he turned around and fled down the wall.  He walked, but she observed him as his pace quickened.  Then he coughed and covered his mouth.  After that, he ran around the corner.  She smirked at the empty hallway.

But then she sobered.  It had worked this time.  But she might not be so lucky next time.  She slumped against the wall and closed her eyes.  She was feeling worse by the second.  How was she going to make it all the way to the kitchen and then back to her room?

“That was quite the performance,” a sardonically soft voice applauded her efforts.

Her eyes flew open to duel with Jungkook’s.

His eyes narrowed.  “Do you truly have the plague?”

She raked him with her own gaze.  “I am feeling quite sick, thank you,” she tried to curtsey, but she pitched forward as a wave of dizziness hit her and she lost her balance.

Jungkook lunged to catch her.  He grabbed her by the arms and hauled her up, pulling her against him.  Her head lifted in surprise, and he gazed down at her rosy cheeks.  He frowned.  Then he set the back of his hand against her forehead.  She was burning up.

“You’re truly sick, aren’t you?”

She gazed up at him with glazed eyes.  “Why couldn’t I have been born a man?  It’s not fair.  You can walk unmolested through these halls at any time of night or day.  You don’t have to worry about being raped and then being accused of impurity and sentenced to death.  You don’t have to put up with snide comments and asinine insinuations.  Or lewd suggestions.  You are free.  I so envy you.  I wish I’d been born a man.”

Then she leaned against his chest, setting her forehead over his heart.

“Give me just a moment.  When the dizziness passes, I’ll be on my way,” she mumbled.  “I wouldn’t want to waste milord’s time.”

She was mocking him now.  But for some reason, today it made him want to laugh.  But then, he gazed down at her and realized that he could feel her heat through her clothes. 

“You are truly sick.  We need to get you back to your room.”

She shook her head but then stopped as a throbbing headache overtook her.  “No.  I’m so thirsty.  I need to make some tea.”

“I’ll make you some tea.  Let me escort you to your bedchamber.  Then I’ll make you some tea and bring it to you.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be guarding the king?” she murmured against his tunic.

“I’m on break for an hour.”

Suddenly, she slumped against him.  He gazed down at her passive face.  Her eyes were closed.  She seemed to be unconscious.  He rolled his eyes.  This girl seemed to be always looking for trouble.

He bent to scoop her up in his arms and carry her towards the servants’ quarters.  The problem was he didn’t know which room was hers.  He shook her, trying to wake her.  To no avail.  

Finally, he turned around and headed for his own bedroom.  She’d be safe there.  He could make her some tea before returning to the king.  When she awoke, she’d have what she needed.  And no one would disturb her in his quarters…