Labyrinth of Love

Nothing is Worse than being Apart

The pang of separation was relentlessly pricking his heart. It was unbearable. JaeJoong felt as if his heart was ripped out of his chest and yet it was bleeding. Darkness spread in his life without any hint of light. In a span of few days, he lost that one person whom he treasured more than anyone. Without Queen Tia, King JaeJoong found no meaning to his life.

JaeJoong's mother was glad at first when she heard that Tia herself decided to leave the palace. But very soon she witnessed the depth of the situation when she saw how wasted JaeJoong became after he sent away Tia to her father's place. She also came to know that Tia was falsely accused and insulted by her. In fact, Tia was about to give birth to JaeJoong's first child. Due to her headstrong mentality and desperation to get an heir, JaeJoong lost Tia and his unborn baby.

King JaeJoong became mechanical and ruthless in the royal court. He discussed nothing with anybody and always took decisions single handedly. Without any explanation whatsoever, he sent away Princess Hwang Bo. When the queen mother tried to make him understand that sending Hwang Bo back could give rise to conflicts, JaeJoong forbade her from stepping outside her residence and meddling into any matters, personal or political. On that day, she realized the graveness of the situation which was mostly her brainchild. The queen mother understood how deeply JaeJoong loved Tia and how much affected he was, after she left him.

"I don't know, father! I was the only occupant of the Lotus palace for so long. V never brought anybody there apart from me. He always came back to me even if his harem is full of many other beauties. He had preferred me over other ladies whenever any social occasion needed him to visit with a partner. Are these not enough signs that he considers me as special? However, that day V bluntly told me not to expect anything. Father, after serving him with my body and mind, I cannot not tolerate anyone else as his queen. I just cannot," wailed Hyuna, before her father.

"Relax my child, don't mourn over V. You are special. He is just distracted by that new village girl," said Hyuna's father in calm voice.

Hyuna looked up hesitantly and asked, "You also think so?"

"I'm guessing you are thinking the same," said Hyuna's father, to which she nodded. "Then my child, we've to get rid of that girl. Once she is out of the way, all you have to do is win the affections of V's mother. If you can accomplish that, rest assured that V will be yours."

"But how do we separate Diya from my V?"

"Scandals can do wonders, my child. Remember, how your first love broke your heart? How he rejected your confession?" asked Hyuna's father with a shrewd smile on his face.

Hyuna's expressions hardened. "Of course father, how can I forget the way Jeon JungGuk hurt me? I could only forget him after I fell for V."

Hyuna's father nodded in appreciation. "But he broke your heart and never suffered in return. So, how about we take that revenge on JungGuk and also remove this village girl from our path altogether?"

"Can we do that? Is it possible?" enquired Hyuna in an eager voice.

"Yes, my child, we can accomplish it with a good plan." Lady Hyuna and her father started discussing the plan thereafter. 

Diya had nothing much to do in the afternoon. Lunch was a quiet affair if Rini did not visit. Obviously, Diya could not complain since she understood that Rini had her baby to take care of. She could not make time for Diya every day. Thus, more or less Diya stayed alone during afternoon.