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Jungkook lay in his bed – their bed? – for a while before he fell asleep.  He stared at the back of her head.  Shocked that she had not been upset with his rough handling of her today.  He’d registered a look of pure terror on her face when he had first opened his eyes.  Yet, as soon as he’d apologized, she’d relaxed.  

How odd.

He couldn’t figure this girl out.  She was pretty fearless.  Which he had to admire.  She was his match in that respect.  She didn’t seem to be afraid of him in spite of his rough treatment of her.  Most women would have been trembling in his presence had he behaved towards them as he had towards her.

But then he remembered how she had swung her stick at his legs when she’d gotten angry with him.  He grinned.  The girl was a tiger.  Ready to pounce.

He wished she were facing him.  He wanted to see her face.  Right now, his eyes were playing with her long, midnight locks. They weren’t so ordinary after all.  Not in the sunlight that was streaming down from the window.  He felt tempted to slide his hand down her hair, but he rolled away from her instead.  He wasn’t about to touch her again.  Not yet.

—

Jina couldn’t relax.  She was instantly aware of him.  Of his heat.  And his breath.  And his desire.  Though she couldn’t have named that desire.

What he was wishing for right now was a mystery.  Probably, he longed to be free of her.  She wanted to run back to her own room where she knew she’d be safe.  The room she had shared with Minha until today.  She sighed.  She could never return to that room.  She was stuck with Jungkook now.  As he was stuck with her.

She had won the beautiful boy.  But not in the way she would have wished.

—

They both fell asleep again.  Jungkook awoke around five in the afternoon.  Jina had rolled towards him.  So now he was free to peruse her face.  As his eyes slid over her rather ordinary features, he had to admit that perhaps she wasn’t quite as plain as he had thought at first sight.  

Relaxed in sleep, she appeared even younger than usual.  He could picture her as a tiny girl.  Sitting on her appa’s knee.  Had he smiled down at her?

Jungkook frowned.  Was she as starved for affection as he was?  Why did he think that her appa had not beamed down at her with joy in his eyes?  Jungkook knew a little about the lack of such affection himself.  His heart shifted as he recalled something that she’d said during their first encounter.

Just a girl meant to be used and then tossed to the side.  I am plenty familiar with such men; I can assure you!

Had she been misused by a man?  By more than one man?  She had been so quick to think of a means of escape last night when Chanyeol had threatened her.  She was truly clever.

A smile curved Jungkook’s lips.  He felt a bit of pride in her intelligence.  She was going to be his wife.  He might as well enjoy her intelligence.  And take a little satisfaction in it.

But he didn’t like to think about her being threatened repeatedly. Nor did he like to consider someone using her and tossing her to the side indifferently.  Especially as he gazed down at her in his bed.  She looked like an untouched girl right now.  Innocent.  And sweet.  

Reminding him that she had been someone’s daughter.  Had she been a beloved child?  Or just a nuisance?  An embarrassment as he had been?  Though…he had once been beloved of one of his parents.  So long ago…

As Jungkook gazed down at the sleeping Jina, it was almost hard for him to imagine her flaming temper right now.  She seemed so peaceful.  But suddenly, she cried out in her sleep.

“Jungkook!  Watch out!”  

Then she started whimpering.  

“Please…please don’t hurt him.  He’s all I have now.”

Why did her words pierce his heart and make it slide towards her?  Was he truly all she had?

“Nooo!” she screamed, alarming him.

Instantly, Jungkook woke her.  Gently.  

“Jina,” he called softly as his arms slid around her.  “I am here.  I’m okay.  So are you.  We’re safe.”

She began to shove him away.  She was sobbing.  “No!  No!  You killed him!”

“Jina!” 

His voice came out sharper this time.  She sounded so devastated.  Was she crying over the loss of him?  

He shook her shoulder lightly.  “Wake up!  You’re dreaming.”

Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open.  Then they widened.

“Jungkook?”  She threw herself at him, her arms encircling him.  “You’re alive!  You’re all right?” She was breathing into his ear, her chin on his shoulder.

He nodded.  “Yes.”

She was panting.  As though she’d just run a mile.  

“I…thought…you were…dead.”

“And you cared?” he questioned sardonically.  One dark eyebrow flew up.

She pulled away from him, and he found he missed that hug.

Her eyes were haunted as she gazed up at him.  They filled suddenly with tears.  She blinked, and one slid down her cheek.

“It was awful,” she whispered.  “He ran you through with a sword.”  She shuddered.  Then she began to shake.

He furrowed his brow, and his arms tightened around her, pulling her up against his chest.  “Really, it was just a bad dream.  I’m all right.”

He held her close.  And buried his nose in her hair.  He had never been this close to a girl before.  He found that he enjoyed the feel of her in his arms.  

After a little while, her chest stopped heaving.  

“Are you feeling better?” he whispered.  “Is your throat still hurting?”

She swallowed.  “It’s much better.  I could use some more tea,” she admitted sheepishly.  

Then her stomach gave a loud rumble as it objected to being ignored all day long.

His eyes grew wide.  “I never got you any food!”  He knocked himself in the head with his palm.  “You must be starving.”  He gazed down into her eyes.  “What would you like?”

She stared up at him.  He was being extraordinarily solicitous.  Why?  She rather liked him when he was being this kind to her.  Should she be suspicious?

History had taught her to be so.  She frowned.  She didn’t want to distrust his motives.  She was, after all, to be married to him soon.

“I don’t know.  I don’t get to choose my food usually.  I’ll eat anything.”

Jungkook gazed down at her little face.  His heart shifted.  He forgot that as a servant she would have been treated differently than the soldiers were.  Were the female servants given less?

He determined in his heart to find her the best meal he could manage.  He released her and crawled out of bed.  

“I’ll find you something good.  And I’ll bring back a whole pot of tea.  Just rest until I return.”

He headed for the king’s chambers.  Moonflower’s maid answered his knock and ushered him into her sitting room.

“Jungkook!  I hear you agreed to marry my dear Jina!”

He blinked, then he bobbed his head.  Then he realized she couldn’t see his response, so he spoke.  “Yes, Your Highness, I did.”

“Good!  Good!  I am so happy!  She’s been my maid for only a few days, but I absolutely adore the girl!”

He frowned.  “Are you aware that she’s been given scraps to eat from your table?”

Her brow furrowed.  “What?”

“She has no choice in the food she’s given.  Ever, apparently.”

“Well, she must eat from whatever has been cooked by the chef.”

“Of course,” he bowed his head.  “But I had the impression she’s not been treated well.”

She frowned.  “It’s possible.  She was a lowly chambermaid until a few days ago.  My maid and I came across her defending another girl.  A guard was picking on her.  Jina placed herself between the girl – who was a child, really! – and the guard.  He reached out and grabbed her.  I put a stop to it instantly.”

Jungkook’s gaze sharpened.  “Who was the guard?”

She shook her head.  “I don’t know his name.  I handed him off to the captain of the guard.  I let him deal with him.  But I took Jina under my wing immediately.  Can’t let a gem like that get away.  The guts that girl has!”  Moonflower shook her head.

“She’s the reason I’m here.  She’s been terribly sick and hasn’t eaten since yesterday.  Do I have your permission to take her a fine meal?”

Moonflower’s face widened into a huge grin.  “You have a soft spot for her, don’t you?  Oh!” she gushed.  “I am SO happy!  The child deserves some happiness for once.  Promise me, Jungkook, that you will be good to her?  Even if she tests your patience.”

Blandly, he asked, “What makes you think she’ll test my patience?”  She couldn’t see the look on his face.

She suddenly tittered.  “Because I have met the girl!  She’s too opinionated by half.  She’s not afraid to confront the scariest of men either.  But I have found her to be the most faithful of friends.  She’s willing to risk her life for those she loves.”

She’s willing to risk her life for those she loves.

Those words were still echoing down the hallways of his mind hours after he had left Moonflower’s chamber.  Jina had risked her life for him a few days ago.  But she hadn’t even known him.  Was it possible that she had believed herself to be in love with him?  Why else would she have risked what she did to help a man she’d never before talked to?