Your Highness {NamJin}

twenty

The thick, palpable tension in the palace hall was hardened by Mirin's entrance in the palace hall, and the two kings sensed it in the silence that quickly washed over the room full of people. Seonbi stood indignantly next to Namjoon's throne, with Taehyung next to her. A solemn expression pressed his face as his hand pressed against Seonbi's, and as he looked over at his daughter -- who was wedged comfortably between his friends' thrones -- he saw that her expression was somber as well. Hoseok, Yoongi and Chindeok stood next to Seokjin's throne, holding daisies in their hands to symbolize the piece of them that had been stripped from them physically -- but still resided within their vigilant spirits.

"Who is the individual in question?" Namjoon began, pressing his fingers into the golden engravings on the privileged seat.

"Hae Mirin," Jimin began, holding out a hand as if to show her off to the world. "Lady of Your Majesty's harem of the lowest rank, sister of Grand Lady Hae Seonbi, aunt of Her Highness, Princess Kim Rinji."

"What are the charges against her?"

"Assault of a high-ranking official, Your Majesty."

"Permission to speak, Your Majesty," Rinji began, stepping down from between the two thrones and bowing towards the two kings. "This is not the only charge against Hae Mirin."

Everyone in the palace hall exchanged looks, including the two kings, but they did not question her interruption.

"Please stand, Princess Kim," Seokjin said gently, nodding towards her. "What other charges have you against Hae Mirin?"

"I bring the charge of conspiracy with convicts of the palace."

This warranted gasps and jaw drops of sheer astonishment from all who existed in the room.

"I also bring the charges of murder by poisoning, assault of a servant, murder of an animal by drowning and emetic poisoning."

Even Taehyung and Seonbi, who hadn't been made fully aware of their daughter's plans, stood dumbfounded in front of her. Rinji looked behind her to see Mirin made to kneel on the floor, and her face expressed an unrivaled fusion of anger and shock painted perfectly over her eyes, nose and lips.

"These accusations are bold, Princess Kim," Namjoon began, allowing Seokjin to finish. "I trust you have evidence?"

"I do, Your Majesty, Your Divine Grace."

"Please present it, Princess Kim," Namjoon said, holding his hand out towards Rinji -- essentially handing her the floor to speak.

"With pleasure," she said, beginning her speech to the royals, her parents, her friends and the entire palace.

"As to the charge of conspiracy with convicts of the palace, I have letters between Hae Mirin, a servant named Lihwa, and Mo Jihan. They are in my servant's possession."

"Bring them forward!" Namjoon commanded, his anger reviving itself upon Lihwa and Jihan's names being repeated once more. Chindeok gasped, her rate of breathing suddenly spiking from a calm, steady pace to jagged, shaky breaths. Hoseok took the child's hand, kneeling in front of her to guide her respiration while Sooyoung brought the letters to Namjoon with a respectful bow.

"...it is as Her Highness says," Namjoon said with clenched teeth, almost crumpling the paper in his hands. Passing them to Seokjin, he read them with a mirrored reaction, shaking his head in fury.

"As Your Divine Grace and Your Majesty may have read, the letters speak volumes about unwillingness to accept the changes in the palace that have been initiated. In one of Mo Jihan's letters, he spoke about his disapproval of the deceased Min Hancheol and Chindeok's friendship with him. He expressed anger towards him and said that he'd give anything to see him and his parents suffer...which is why Hae Mirin poisoned his food."