Ecstacy of Love (vsoo)

14. You are in love aren't you.

Edited

The sound of her father's angry voice echoed behind her, but Jennie didn't flinch. She had heard it too many times. His frustration, his orders—none of it mattered now. She had made up her mind.

"Don’t be stubborn!" Minister Bae’s voice called out as she left his study, but she didn’t even glance back. Her decision was made. She shook her head and continued on her path, locking the door behind her to shut out his futile protests.

She had one goal in mind: to save Jian.

“I will save you, Jian,” Jennie whispered under her breath, her voice filled with a determination that made her heart race. Without another word, she mounted her white horse and kicked its flanks, setting off in a gallop toward the Military Camp, which lay far from the capital’s bustling streets.

Her horse sped through the streets, weaving between startled pedestrians who looked on in awe at the reckless young lady riding furiously. She was so focused on her destination that she didn’t care whether she bumped into anyone or whether she herself was in danger of falling off. She needed to get to the camp, and nothing would stop her.

"Faster!" she urged the horse, the pounding hooves matching her racing heartbeat. Her only thought was to reach Taehyung, to make him understand that Jian wasn’t an assassin, that he was innocent. She couldn’t let him stay locked up, not after everything he had done for her.

---

Taehyung’s POV

Taehyung stood alone in the dungeon, the flickering lantern casting shadows across the stone walls. His mind was focused on the task at hand—Jian, the man he believed to be a traitor. The evidence seemed clear, but there was something about the way Jian had acted, something that gnawed at the edge of his certainty.

The guards had reported that Jian had been crying all night, mourning his family. The sight of him in the cell—bruised, beaten—had stirred something inside Taehyung, something he couldn’t quite place. But he couldn’t afford to show weakness. He had a job to do. His duty to the kingdom, to the people, came first.

He walked slowly towards Jian, who sat hunched on the cold stone floor, barely lifting his head when Taehyung approached.

“You’ll regret it if you make me do this again,” Taehyung’s voice was sharp, as he reached for the lantern and extinguished the flame, plunging the room into near darkness.

Jian flinched when Taehyung’s presence loomed over him. His eyes were wide with fear, but his lips trembled as he pulled away from Taehyung’s touch.

“I’m not an assassin,” Jian whispered, his voice shaky, pleading. “Please, just let me go.”

Taehyung’s grip tightened on his wrist, forcing Jian to stand. He hated betrayers—hated moles—more than anything. He dragged Jian to the wooden chair in the center of the cell, his movements harsh, his expression cold.

“Tell me who sent you,” Taehyung growled, lifting Jian’s chin to force him to meet his gaze. “Now. Who is behind this?”

“I—I'm not a mole,” Jian stammered, his voice breaking. He trembled under Taehyung’s piercing gaze, and yet, he held firm. “I can’t tell you... Please, I’m not the one you’re looking for.”

Taehyung’s patience snapped. He pulled out the whip and raised it high, the cruel motion cutting through the air before striking Jian’s back with a harsh crack.

Jian cried out, collapsing against the chair, blood oozing from the wound.

Taehyung didn’t even flinch. He loathed weakness. Yet, as Jian’s body crumpled, Taehyung felt an unexpected flicker of pity. This man—this so-called traitor—was still holding onto something. What, though? Taehyung didn’t understand. And for the first time, guilt pricked at his conscience.