DRABBLES AND SERIES [ jinbyul ]

entangled in joseon: part seven

"what are you doing?"

byulyi lowers her head as soon as she heard the king speaking, hearing his foot steps around the room, hands tucked in his back.

"i.. don't understand-"

"the great grand queen is pointing her hand towards you for forming an alliance with the royal guards!" the king exclaims, adding. "lift your head up, why are you scared to face me, byulyi?"

byulyi fiddles her fingers, sighing softly while squeezing her eyes shut, lifting her head up.

"but father-"

"is it true?"

byulyi clears her throat, unsure if she should admit it, knowing that seokjin is not aware of her being caught. "i have figured that there is a poison in their dishes, why would i not do something?" she exclaims back, as the king frowns.

"what?"

"are you not aware?" byulyi trails-off, not catching up. "i am aware, but why do you have to step in, and do the work?" the king raises his voice, adding. "it is very dangerous for you to join the feud in the internal court!"

"if i haven't stepped in, royal guard kim and the rest must've died right before your eyes!" byulyi argues back, as the king hisses. "i have already instructed the court maids to remove their dishes, why do you have to ask for hyojung to change their bowls?"

"haven't you seen the great grand queen forcing kim seokjin to drink the poison?"

"i have, and i was planning to-"

"that is not always the plan!" byulyi bit back, adding. "thinking so rational at times of crisis won't save a life, it is not always discreet!"

"but you are now in danger!"

"for fuck's sake, kim seokjin is your royal guard for so long, why are you thinking twice on saving him!?"

"i was always in danger before i could even step in this feud!" byulyi yelled, seeing how the king was silenced, eyes wide. "the queen have threatened me to marry jung hoseok once he had stepped into the government and successfully received your dismissal as a king, and i would have to enter the internal court as the jung's queen just for the heir!" byulyi rose her voice once more, standing up in irritation.

"h- how-"

"you are no longer protecting us, your highness." byulyi gritted her teeth, murmuring.

"i- i just don't want you to be hurt in this war, my daughter-" the king was cut off, as byulyi cuts in. "you, restraining my capabilities ever since i was a child..." she whispers softly, sighing softly.

"that's what is hurting me, father." byulyi purses her lips, mouth opening a little.

"have you ever wondered why joohyun is afraid of speaking up when she was restrained from the royal chef?" byulyi licks her upper lip, adding. "she had always believed that we are not meant to say something... you believed that too."

byulyi forced her tears to not dwell, leaving the king speechless over her outburst, not expecting her to tell him those words.

"you were the one who told me to stand by what's right when i was a child, because that's what my mother have told you." byuly gulps softly, pursing her lips as she saw her father's eyes watering.

"second princess... the great grand queen is searching for you."

their conversation was cut-off, as byulyi heard her court maid calling for her. the king's eyes went wide, about to hold his daughter's hand to stop her.