⊰ chapter fifteen ⊱

"What?" Adona's mouth hung open as a bright smile ran across her mouth, "He wants to see you for Coitus? Tonight?!"

"Yes," Wineri rushed inside the room with glittery dresses and jewelry in her arms, setting them on Adona's bed before searching over them, "She should bathe with roses—,"

"Lavenders," Dara corrected the woman instantly before excitement hovered across her face as she grabbed Adona's emerging hands into hers, "I need to look beautiful tonight."

"Oh, you will," Adona squeezed Dara's hands, "I have been waiting for this—to dress you for a Coitus. Even better, for my brother."

The girls squealed among themselves before realizing how excited they were.

Wineri chuckled lightly before holding out a red dress, "This. I had it made for an occasion but it was too slim for me. With a few stitches, we can fix this. Does he like red?"

"He loves red," Dara smiled then realized her hair was short, and her smile faded instantly, "What about my hair?"

"Oh we can style that!" Adona encouraged immediately, "Can't we? Where is Sam though, she is really good at these?"

Wineri glanced at Dara before shrugging, "Shouldn't she be with you?"

"Me?" Dara frowned, "I haven't seen her in the past two days."

"That's weird," Wineri frowned and then her face scrunched, her eyes tensed as they paced up and down. Winery handed Adona the dress quickly, "It is true. Due to the load of work, I haven't noticed at all. Oh Lord, where is my child, where could she be..,"

"Wineri," Adona warned, "Do not panic. She must be at Hoseok's."

"The spirit holder?" Wineri kept on panicking.

Dara frowned, "Sam's boyfriend is a spirit holder?"

"Of course he is," Winery rushed to the door, "I will go look for Sam. Your Highness, please dress Dara accordingly. The lavenders are in the kitchen, so are the roses. There are towels and hot water there too. I placed the jewelry she might need―,"

"Go," Adona gave her a tight smile before giving the red haired a worried look after Wineri shut the door behind her as she flew out of the house. Adona sighed, "She was with you."

Dara shrugged, "She never told me her boyfriend was the Western Spirit holder."

Wineri ran through the market, rushing on her feet to the other side of the Western residences and as far as she could remember, Sir Hoseok lived across the politician's houses. She couldn't remember which house was his in the middle of the quiet front porches of each door, the winter fogg heavy at this end. She panted as she walked from one door to another, searching for plate numbers at the doors. Wineri stepped back once she lost hope, but when her feet stumbled backwards, she could feel herself slip.

Not by herself.

She was swept.

And she disappeared into the snow.

Mrs. Winters flipped through the daily telegram, reading the headlines under her reading glasses. Crystal rings in her fingers as she sat on the ice-made reading chair, her chamber a dangling heaven of winter. The Winters had been a stiletto of the realm, the backbone for the politics and the prime family to lead the people and only yesterday, did they gain the power over the Jeon family. Mrs. Winters shut the papers closed as she looked at her husband who was sipping tea from his cup, "Finally, the Jeons are down. They will give us the Jeon residence in a week time. Do you wish to renovate it, Era?"

Era flinched, snapping out of her thoughts and her sleepless fixed eyes seized from her book, blinking, "Yes, Mother?"

"Darling, you look sleep deprived," she walked over the couches in the chamber where Mr. Winter's attention was diverted towards their daughter. She put the book away from her hands and sat beside her, touching Era's hair before she tugged them behind her hair, "Era. We have the powers over the entire realm now. We don't know if the Jeons will win the war or not, the throne might never come to them. Jungkook might die on the long run and you don't have to worry about that adopted woman. She will rule the Outerns, not the realms. That group of low lives are nothing powerful to attack you when the power of the Western ministry is passed down to you―,"

"Dont you see, power is not something I am fond of, Mother?" Era's eyes watered as she looked at her mother, "I am eighteen, mother. I was a fifteen when you said Jungkook would love me. What has happened?"

"Era," Mrs. Winters sighed, "He signed up for danger. You are my dove, love. You are peace. You are a pearl, you are beautiful. Your graceful black hair, long and shiny, your long lashes...your western crystal eyes―do you have any idea how many suitors are on their knees, ready for your hand in marriage? You will easily marry the most eligible man―,"

"She did not even pray for him the way I did," Era whispered, looking at her tight fists on her lap, "Ever since Wineri announced his marriage with Dara at North, I have prayed everyday to bring him back to me. Why are my prayers not being answered?"

"Exactly why the Jeons are on the streets," Mrs. Winters made the statement bold, "I would turn the realm upside down, Era. Jeon Jungkook is adamant by some spell casted by that red headed. What can I do to help your heavy heart?"

Era glanced at her parents, "You cannot do anything make him come back to me, mother―,"

"I can," Mrs. Winters said but Mr. Winters sat back on his couch was unsure of it, "Say it. What do you want me to do to to help you? I cannot see you like this, Era."

The one with the crystal blue eyes had her lips trembling before whispering, "I dont wish to see her in this realm anymore."

Era did not know why but thinking of what she had said seemed a bit sinful. She wanted to take back her statement before putting her head back down. Mrs. Winters looked at Mr. Winter who shook his head, she frowned, "Why not?"

"The woman is dangerous, we both know of it," the elderly man of the household commented, "You have what wanted, Elona. We will marry Era to the wealthiest family at West. The Shins are a very good family, their older son―,"

"She will," Mrs. Winters stood from her place and walked to her husband, towering him as she threw the slanders over Dara across his face, "That crazy woman has invaded every one of our plans to big Era the life she deserves. You think I will let her go so easily? Never."

"What will you do?" Mr. Winter urged, "She is an Eastern, Elona. She has ruled the North and won over a realm of seventy thousand citizens in one month. Do you think she will not fight back, not come for our throats?"

"I know what she is doing," Mrs. Winters smirked, "She is trying to win West too by being the greater person in the play but does not hide the fact that she blinded Jungkook with her spells and caused us damage. The government wont save her. And if her powers are what is saving her, then we block that too. Era, you said the cousin, Jeon Sam, is seeing Sir Hoseok?"

"Yes," Era's eyes lit up.

"Very well," Mrs. Winters grinned as she walked to her study, bringing out a pre-written paper, "I have been waiting for this. I will need you to send this paper to the ministry, yourself. We cannot trust this news with anyone else. This will definitely catch Dara's dirty schemes and hiding things she does know of―,"

"What is this?" Mr. Winters asked.

Era grabbed the paper from her mother as she older woman looked at her husband, "The warrant to arrest Deborah Koveski and Jung Hoseok for the crime of hiding Jung Hoseok's three week old baby in Jeon Sam's womb."

Era gasped loudly, eyes wide as her hand clasped her mouth, "This will absolutely make Jungkook angry with Dara if she is proven to know of this secret. Era is unmarried, it is crime to carry an illegetimate child here!"

"Yes," Mrs. Winters grinned from ear to ear, "But this will just be a threat. I will go to the Jung Hoseok residence to make alliance with him. If he wants the baby hidden and alive, he will have to take care of the red hair's powers. So you may wait at the ministry house for my orders. I will send an owl."

Mr. Winter, the man sighed heavily.

Era nodded at her mother, "I will make haste."

"Off you go."

Era walked out of the house in her velvet cloak with the scroll in her hand, fighting the fog before her as she found the family carriage at the distant street. Before she got on, she was stopped by the guards working under the Winter's accommodation, "Ma'am! There is news spreading all over the market. The time is not good for you to travel!"

"What?" Era frowned, "What rumor?"

The guard panicked, "You must go inside the residence right away. There is news that your family hides black treasure in the Quarters, they are looking for which Quarter it must be. I will inform the Lady of the house right away―,"

"I know where the treasure is," Era whispered, "Take me the Quarters. We need to put the gold away before anyone finds it―,"

"None can do," the guard refused, "We must inform your mother before they find it―,"

"She would want the same," Era commanded loudly, "Now, take me to the Quarters. Quick!"

The woman slid herself inside the allies quicker than ever before, the guard worried and unsure followed her through and through. Era's face was veiled with the cloak, her mind constantly bickering her off the consequences she might be facing if anyone caught a glimpse of her. There was no riot but she definitely could feel the tension in the allies, the mouths were talking, whispering distantly. Everytime she found a loud group of people mentioning, 'money' or 'gold', she made sure she avoided running past them.

The guard watched with horror as he followed the girl inside an old building, "My Lady, are you sure this is the―,"

"Shut up," Era opened the hood of her cloak once she reached the very end of a darkened hallway inside the empty building, only a few workers at the labours quarter giving her the eyes of a venom. Era looked at the guard, "Break the door."

The sealed door was crashed open and the guard's and Era's eyes were blinded by the gold infront of them. Stacks of clean money and gold coins were plated in big drums. Era nodded, "We need to move them―,"

"Where will you move them?"

Era wished the voice did not belong to Jeon Sam.

The entire Western Ministry behind her. A light grin plastered across her lips as she faced Era's horrid face, the guard stepping back from fear.

The Ministry's eyes were at Era, "What is this, Miss Winters?"

"This is not what you think―,"

"It is the black treasure your family has been hiding from the Western ministry, the bribes and the papers that formed many illegal treaties for house, carriages, positions in the ministry set by Miss Era's mother and father. And as accordingly," Sam glanced at the ministry's members in the scene's presence, "This is quiet the truth, ministers. The insiders don't lie anyways."

"Please inform my mother about this before you take any actions. She must explain that this is no black treasure―,"

"Your mother was arrested for kidnapping Jeon Wineri in the middle of the day today," a minister came forward, "She was also held accountable and charged for abusing Sire Jung Hoseok with irrelevant threats while Jeon Sam was at the presence of the house. We will let―,"

"She did not kidnap Wineri!" Era fought it, "She was never out of the house to start with from the morning―,"

"Then how did the Lady of the Jeons end up tied in the attic of your house, Miss?" accused a member of the ministry, stepping forward, "We will take back these gold for donation―,"

"At least let my mother know―,"

"Both your parents are under serious allegations with perfect proof. They will be held behind the bars until proven innocent and as for you, since you are not twenty one and beow the age of Western law suit applications, we are letting your slanders slide that was reported by Jeon Sam herself!" the ministry was loud and clear enough to have the already dead building shook by the announcement, "No bails will be implied."

"You cannot arrest them...," Era cried out, dropping the scroll to the ground. Sam's eyes lingered as the scroll rolled away from her, perfectly standing before it and hiding it with her round dress as Era dropped on her knees, crying with her face palmed.

No wonder she felt like it was a sin to ask for Dara's disappearance from this land.

After collecting the scroll as the ministers were busy searching the room full of hidden treasures and gold, Sam made sure the scroll was hidden inside her dress's long pockets before walking towards Era, "What did you think?"

Her low whisper grabbed Era's attention, she stopped crying and looked up at the girl of her age staring her down.

"Stop trying to play with fire," Sam chinned up, "Stop trying to ruin everyone else's happiness just because you are unhappy. You cannot buy happiness like that."

Era huffed with mad anger, tears rolling down her eyes.

"You dug your own hole, Era." Sam whispered, "Stay safe."

Sam left the building in heavy tears, her hand over her stomach as she swallowed hard, her mouth dry before all she wanted to do was be somewhere safe and sound; as she escaped death today, the scroll in her hands.

***

Jungkook got off the carriage at the nearby flowershop at the markets, rushing with a bag of gold coins as he handed it to the shopkeeper, hurrying, "A white rose. Quick!"

He had completely forgot about the promised Coitus back home.

The meetings had Jungkook quit to think of anything else but the war ahead of him. The North was in the worst shape but it was no time for battle yet. They were not ready, the armors werent here at and so weren't the troops or the canons. It would take another two weeks and as for the Curve, she decided to speak more of the conquer with Dara later tonight.

If she was not mad.

Dara's behavior had changed lately. Jungkook was uncertain what really happened at the South that made her come back and her way of talking, walking and behaving was way more generous and gentle than he thought it ever may be. But even for the better change, he was taking home a symbol of their relationship. She loved white roses. So he wished she did not already put the roses in her hair tonight.

As dark as it got on his way back home, his heart beat faster everytime the carriage took turns to the local houses and as if he could vomit his heart out when the carriage stopped in front of their new house. Jungkook noticed the lights were out, just the chamber upstairs had candlelit across it. A slight grin plastered his mouth as he opened the door, the rose in his hand. Upon walking inside the darkened house and up the stairs with a drumming heart, the door to their chamber was open

On the bed, was Dara facing the window.

He knocked the door and the woman flicnhed.

Jungkook swallowed, "Where is everyone else?"

Dara stood immediately, as if the weight of relief released from her body. She sighed loudly, "For a..walk?"

"Walk?" Jungkook raised his brows, wondering if they had to take a walk to avoid their Coitus if they still lived in their old, big, mansion-big Jeon residence that was to be over taken by the Winters to his knowledge. Jungkook closed the chamber's door behind him, walking towards the red head, "I am sorry. I was extremely busy with the meeting, there were important discussions about...,"

His eyes glued to her dress at once, immediately as he stepped closer.

He would have found it easier if the room was darkened. But for now, he found himself speechless and a psrt of him wanted to blow out the candles and not madden over Dara's gorgeous red dress. The pieces of the red dress was definitely altered and slit her curves, a piece of dress like this, none would dare to wear in the strict West. Pubs were an exception.

"The rose is for me, I assume," Dara swallowed, and no, she did not put any roses in her hair.

But she definitely smelt like fresh lavenders.

Jungkook lost pace of words.

He had seen her in red. Many times. Their first Gala together, she was wearing red.

But nothing looked greater than the a concubine's silk that Dara embodied for him today. His head was buzzing, his mind was dancing but his mouth stayed shattered.

"I am so late though, arent I?" Jungkook breathed heavily, throat drying up.

"It's okay," Dara whispered, now losing control over her own heartbeats, "Do you want to rest―,"

"No," Jungkook's jaws clenched before he walked closer. Dara's eyes muffled with her emotions as Jungkook slid the white rose behind the curled, short red hair, tugging her hair behind her ear before snaking his fingers from her ears to her cheek, rubbing his thumb against her skin. The man breathed heavily, "I didn't think you would...,"

"I would what?" Dara hated herself for sounding like a mouse.

Jungkook regretted his words instantly and to save himself from embarrassment, he grasped her waist and pulled it against his, trying to kiss her when Dara shoved herself away lightly. Still in his arms, Dara's hans wrapped around his neck as she hovered her lips against the thin air between their lower lips. Jungkook only became restless every second, her lips brushing against his chest but refusing to kiss him. The Prince looked into her eyes but Dara tilted her head, "You didn't think I would what..?"

"Nothing," Jungkook confronted before diving into her again but Dara became a restless tease now. He rolled his tongue against his inner cheek, his usual habit in the presence of annoyance, "I did not think you would clad yourself for a Coitus when you are the woman I cladded for."

Dara smiled shyly but bold enough to make it seem playful, "Concubine, you mean? Are you glad I did not see a single other man in my life in concubine's silk but you?"

Jungkook's dimples fought through as he grinned before rolling his eyes, "No other man acquire the courage to see such a vile monster that you are behind those closed doors, Koveski."

"I dont think I like the way you call me Koveski," Dara made a statement with narrowed eyes, "But since it's your first Coitus, I will be kind."

"First Coitus?" Jungkook raised his brows, "You are hiding all the other times at North―,"

"I wasn't the concubine, nor was I the one bathing in lavenders to present myself for you," Dara smirked until the smile was stolen by her undefeated, adorable sheepish smile. She glanced at him before looking down, unable to meet his eyes for certain reasons―tonight, her heart beat differently, "Why are you here, Jungkook?"

Jungkook did not have the answer. Or he did not want to repeat himself.

Dara gave him a sad smile, "It really is the coitus by the end of the day, is it not? I dont know if I should feel proud of myself for being the only woman to give you what you want that makes you choose me over your family's power and wealth, or do I feel like an insolent subject of yours―,"