Empress Handbook

Chapter Forty-Seven | Brothers

Yeoreum clasps the earphone cord as the sounds on the other end grow more intense.

"You don't need to listen to this with me," Taehyung says. "I know how uncomfortable it feels to hear this."

Taehyung motions to take the earphones from Yeoreum, but she quickly stops him. The groans and whipping blast through her ears, but she doesn't show a hint of her discomfort.

"No," Yeoreum utters. "It must be torturous to listen to your mother have sex while bitching about you. I can't let you go through this alone."

Taehyung smiles and wraps his arms around Yeoreum. He often feels repulsed by these audios when he listens to them alone. However, although the sound of his mother tormenting Wooseok is as agitating as ever, the pain it usually triggers has been lifted by a warm, supportive pair of hands that are impossible for his mother to taint.

"Now, Wooseok, I can tell you my little secret," Yunhee says after a glimpse of silence. The word secret immediately captures Taehyung and Yeoreum's attention.

"Is it related to His Majesty?" Wooseok says.

"Aren't you a bright little bitch?" Yunhee laughs. "Yes, and it's possibly the last time I'm going to deal with Taehyung."

"It can't be that...."

Yunhee hushes Wooseok before letting a giggle.

"That's what I'm going to do," Yunhee says. "You're too smart today."

Wooseok nervously chuckles. "Aren't there many people who want His Majesty to be dead already?"

"Yes, but this is a chance for me to speed up my plan. Once Taehyung is gone, I am the most powerful person in this Castle since Song Yeoreum's support rate largely relies on her relationship with Taehyung," Yunhee says, sighing. "Taehyung is my most failed creation. If Jungkook didn't turn down my offer, Taehyung might not have survived to this day. He doesn't have the resilience to go through all the fucked up shit Jungkook got through."

Yeoreum frowns. "What did Jungkook experience?"

An anxious flutter quivers Taehyung's lips ajar.

"I don't know," Taehyung stutters.

The door bursts open, revealing the smouldering anger in Yoongi's eyes. An apprehensive feeling Taehyung can only describe as terror wrenches his chest when he turns to Yoongi.

"Is there something wrong?" Taehyung says as calmly as he can.

"Jeon Jungkook is the person who fucked up our plan. I have proof," Yoongi says. He holds up Dakyung's phone and plays the recording. "I have examined the voice recording's legitimacy, so there are no doubts regarding this issue."

The voice recording is quiet but the sound of Jungkook conversing with another male is clearly discernible. Taehyung's tranquillity sheds, layer by layer.

"I'm going to ask Jungkook myself," Taehyung mutters.

"No, Taehyung, calm down. Jungkook can easily harm you if you go now," Yeoreum says. She takes a long breath and turns to Yoongi. "Where did you get this from?"

"Dakyung gave me this recording. She said Jungkook only married her because of a drug transportation deal he settled with her father. Her father is in danger now because Jungkook discovered his plan to pull out. It seemed like she took a huge risk to reach out to me because Jungkook is basically holding her hostage," Yoongi says, pursing his lips. "I think Dakyung is trustworthy."

"Is Dakyung safe?" Yeoreum says.

"I'm not sure. Jungkook polices Dakyung's phone and forbids her from going anywhere alone. She only managed to record this through a phone her friend secretly gave her. Does she have any friends other than you?"