Besmirch

Chapter 6

"CHAEYOUNGIE?!"

Chaeyoung was flabbergasted. In front of her stood Jisoo with a bright glowing jewel in her hand and a nervous expression on her face.

"Chaeyoung, listen to me"

"W-what is that?"

"It's nothing" Jisoo said and hid the jewel behind her back.

"If it was nothing why did you hide it in your dress and lock the room door?"

Jisoo was flustered. "W-well it's j-just..."

"Unnie tell me everything. NOW"

(After telling Chaeyoung everything that happened)

"WHAT?!" Chaeyoung said as she jumped up. Jisoo quickly reacted and covered her mouth.

"Shh! Lower your voice!"

Chaeyoung finally calmed down. "The witch is here?"

"Yes"

"She wants the jewel?"

"Yes"

"And we are supposed to hide it?"

"We?! There is no 'we' Chaeyoung. I was not supposed to tell you this but now that you know you must forget it. It's too dangerous and I cannot drag you into this"

"It's too late unnie. Besides it's not good if you go through this alone given your history with that family. It's ok to have some help" Chaeyoung said in a soothing tone.

Jisoo did not want Chaeyoung to be part of this but she would be lying if she said she would not use the help.

She sighed "Fine"

"Ok. So what's the first thing we do?"

"First I want to figure out their plan and intentions"

"How will we do that?"

"Just trust me"

In the middle of the night Jisoo and Chaeyoung slowly sneaked out of her room. Outside they spotted a guard but he was asleep. They tiptoed their way past him and made their way to the library.

Over there Jisoo opened the secret door and went inside the secret room.

"What are we going to do?"

"You see these passages?" Jisoo said, showing Chaeyoung the map.

"Yes"

"Well these passages are right under the rooms so it can serve as a tool in spying. The passages are under vents in each room and so we will be able to hear their conversations"

"oh! That is genius unnie. But won't they be asleep?"

"I don't know but for some reason I feel like they are awake and are discussing something important. I don't know what it is, it's just a strong feeling"

"Well it wouldn't hurt to find out" Chaeyoung said before she walked down the passage.

Once they reached there Jisoo began to hear the voices of the king of Xelon and a woman's voice who Jisoo assumed was the witch.

"Did you find it yet?" She heard the king say.

"No"

"How are you even sure it is here? What if they destroyed it?"

"They can't, they don't have the power to do that. Besides, I can feel it"

"Then how come you haven't found it yet?" The king said before letting out a snicker.

"Do not get smart with me fool! Do remember your place! You were nothing but a peasant before I found you. I made you rich, I made the queen marry you and I am the one who put her in a coma so that you could be King! And now, I am the one who is getting this marriage alliance done so that I can get the Jewel and you can be the emperor of all the lands! Without me you are nothing. DO NOT FORGET THAT"

The King gulped and remained silent. "But why are you so worried? The marriage is going to happen and now nothing can stop you from finding the jewel, you yourself said that you can feel it here in the castle. You are unstoppable now...unless you are not"

"What does that mean?!"

"Is there a way for anyone to stop you?"

"T-There is but it is of no use now. The only way someone can defeat me is if they master the magic of the jewel and the only ones who can do that are the ancient ones. And they haven't been seen in centuries. I am just worried as I am getting weaker, day by day"

Chaeyoung wanted to hear the conversation better and so she stepped closer to the vent. But in the process she kicked a pebble that went toppling along the metal walls of the passage way.

"What was that?" Jisoo heard the woman say.

"What was what?" the king asked.

"I heard something"

She said as she stepped closer to the vent of the room. Chaeyoung pulled Jisoo's robe telling her to run but Jisoo shook her head no.

"Just stay still" she mouthed.

They could hear the witch's footsteps become clearer. She was about to pull open the vent when the king stopped her. "It is probably just a rat. There is lots of wildlife over here for some reason"

The witch stayed there for a few seconds, contemplating what to do. Jisoo's heart picked up pace as Chaeyoung's grip on her robe tightened.

Thankfully, witch let go of the vent and walked away. The girls slowly started to step away from the passage and walk back.

"That should be my first act as king, to get rid of all the vermin. Starting with that bloody prince" the king said making Jisoo stop in her tracks.

"Unnie what are you doing? We have to go!" Chaeyoung sad but Jisoo did not respond. She went back to the vent.

"You are planning to kill him?" The witch asked amused.

"Obviously. He is a threat to me and did you see him that time. He was going to hurt me! The audacity!"

"Don't you think it would be better for you to keep him under your control? He is very powerful; he would be a great asset to you"

"Can we keep him under our control for that long?"

"We have him under our control now when I'm weak. Imagine when I get my powers back."

"How did you even do that?"

"Do what?"

"Keep him under your control? How was he willing to let you do that to him? You never told me"

"Young love. The greatest weakness of a person is when they care for someone more than themselves. I threatened it and he immediately complied"

"You threatened to harm the queen?"

"No, he was never in love with her"

"Then who?"

"Her sister"