Conquering the Emperor

Chapter 162: Begging

I remembered the prideful look on Jeely’s face when she told me that she is a princess representing her town. Her loyalty to the crown prince should know no end. How could someone like her commit such a crime?

“Jeely is the only case where Kin never asked for her to be transferred to his inner court. Yet, he favors her enough to visit her regularly over the years. Of course, I decided to turn a blind eye to all of it. Those two took my mercy for something else which is quite unfortunate for them both. My inner court is like my backyard, how can I possibly not know what goes on there?” Ren explained ending with a little amused laugh.

“But if you’ve always turned a blind eye, why are you punishing her for it now?” I asked.

“I’m not punishing her for sleeping around with my brother. I’m punishing her for setting you up with my brother,” Ren said. Although his tone was flat, I could still sense some anger in his words.

“...What?” I said cluelessly, unable to believe what I have just heard.

Jeely set me up? How can that be possible?

“That incident with Kin was part of Jeely’s plan,” Ren stated clearly.

“Jeely...she wouldn’t do something like that...” I said in disbelief.

“It’s not my job to convince you. You can believe whatever it is that you want to,” Ren said.

I guess it really didn’t matter what I believed. The pressing matter at hand right now was to help Jeely. Where is she right now?

“How...will she be punished? Where is she now?” I asked in panic.

“She’ll be executed on orders from the high court. They’ve probably thrown her in prison by now...” Ren replied like it was completely normal.

“No way! Isn’t there something that you can do? Please...please don’t execute her!” I pleaded desperately.

“Rin...she tried to hurt you...” Ren said, reminding me of what had happened.

Even if that was true, did she deserve to get executed? Even if she tried to hurt me, in the end, Ren saved me, and I wasn’t hurt so...

“Still...” I protested.

“If things had went the way that she planned, you would have been tortured and then executed...” Ren said sternly.

I knew that he was right and what he said was reasonable but I just couldn’t let Jeely be executed because of me.

“I know...but still...” I mumbled my protest and I felt tears rolling down my cheeks.

Ren sighed loudly as his hand approached my face. I kept my eyes down on the table until he lifted my face up by tilting my chin. Then I felt he warm pad of his thumb touch my tear and wiped it away.

“I know that you’re kind and you have a merciful heart. However, there is nothing that you can do for her,” Ren said and for the first time there was warmth in his voice.

I knew that he was trying to comfort me in his own way. But...still...

“Is there really nothing that I can do? Ren...” I continued to plead stubbornly.

I lifted my hand off the table and grabbed his larger hand in mine and held it tightly.

“Stop crying, Rin,” Ren said softly.

My sight was blurred by my own tears. I wiped them away with the sleeve of my robe. It was such an unladylike thing to do but I didn’t care. I could feel Ren’s eyes on me, but he didn’t say anything. Maybe if I can meet and talk with Jeely, I can finally understand what happened. Jeely was the first friend that I made in the inner court. She helped me with so many things. It was because of her that I felt less lonely and could finally adapt to life in the inner court.

“Ren...please...can I see her?” I asked in a small voice.

Ren’s eyes widened at my sudden request. For a moment, he sucked in a breath and didn’t say anything. Of course, anyone would be shocked at a request like mine. The prison isn’t a place someone would normally want to go.

“Are you serious?” Ren asked as a frown graced his beautiful face.

“...yes...please...” I pleaded.

“Why would you want to see her? What would you have to gain?” Ren asked, clearly puzzled by my request.

“I just want to talk to her. That’s all. I promise that I won’t do anything else. I’ll just talk to her. I want to see her and talk to her...because it could be the last time...” I said before my voice cracked and I started sobbing.

It really could be the last time...

Ren seemed to consider it for a moment, but he made his decision promptly. frёeωebɳovel.com

“I can’t allow that. No matter how you look at it, I can’t let you enter a prison...” Ren said calmly as he shook his head in disapproval.

I could tell by Ren’s stern face that his mind was made up and it was very unlikely that he would change his mind. What can I possibly do to change his mind and get his permission? I had said all that I could think of. Perhaps, now it was time to do all that I could think of. Slowly, I pushed the chair backwards and stood up from my seat. I felt Ren’s eyes on me as he watched what I was going to do. I took a few steps backwards before sitting down on my knees on the hard ground and bowed my head to the floor.

“What do you think you’re doing? Rin...” Ren said quite loudly, and I could tell that he was slightly flustered by my action.

“Please let me see her...” I said with my head still bowed to the ground.

I could feel the cold from the floor on my forehead and the floor was all that I could see. If Ren doesn’t allow me to see Jeely, I’m going to spend my life with my head bowed to the ground like this. I knew that what I was doing was stupid, stubborn, and completely selfish but I couldn’t think of another way. The law is going to take my friend away from me and I’m not even allowed to say goodbye?

--To be continued...