107 Much Like Opium Pt.3 (2/2)

Zeren peered at Jimin with concern.

”Between the Three Great Kingdoms in Asia, Saim is in the centre” Jimin explained. ”And with Huaxia affiliated with the Waekugin, we, as a kingdom, are caught in the epicentre of not only a political struggle between two dissimilar nations but also a collision of political ideals.” With a serious glint in his eyes he uttered, ”To the whole world, Saim is the last blockade before the Waekugin reaches Nihon's impenetrable fortress.”

Zeren eyed Jimin's tired countenance with pity. ”I bet if you had the choice, you would have chosen to marry someone else entirely.”

At this, Jimin couldn't resist glancing at his friend. ”What do you mean?”

Zeren gestured for Jimin to face forward and he hurriedly did so. ”The late emperor married for love” Zeren replied, and with a hint of sadness he added, ”it is a shame that you can't do the same.”

Jimin's eyes softened. ”My circumstances are different.”

”But if you could marry for love, would you?”

A brief image of Gyuri floated in his mind again. ”No,” Jimin uttered determinedly as he tried to dispel her from his thoughts. ”My kingdom must come first. I know my responsibility.”

Zeren frowned at Jimin's response. ”You're only saying that because you've never been in love.”

”And you have?”

”Of course,” Zeren boasted. Jimin had to resist turning to face Zeren to give him a questioning stare. ”I fall in love with every woman I lay eyes on.”

With a stifled laugh, Jimin coughed into his mouth so as not to attract too much attention. ”You really are a pervert” he managed to respond.

”Love can make you a pervert, a fool, a beggar” Zeren listed with a slight grin. ”Love will make you do the stupidest things that seem right even when you know it's wrong. It will make you beg; it will make you crave; it is so powerful that it can possess you like an evil spirit.” He chuckled before saying, ”Once you desire someone, you will be addicted to them… much like opium.”

Jimin was silent as he contemplated his friend's words. But just as he was about to reply, the heavy, courtroom doors suddenly burst open and a wide-eyed eunuch came rushing in.

Everyone in the courtroom was stunned into silence.

”Your-your Majesty!” the royal eunuch exclaimed, ignoring the disapproving stares of the politicians. ”They are here!”

Minseok answered in Jimin's stead. ”Who?”

But as the question left his lips, the sound of leather boots tapping against the stone floor was heard as two men swiftly followed suit.

Everyone's eyes shifted from the eunuch to the pair of gentleman clad in black suits, their eyes rounded and their jaws agape.

”Your Majesty,” the eunuch said as clearly as he could. ”May I present the consuls of New Britannia.”

Vernon came forward and lowered his head into a bow. ”It is a pleasure to finally meet you…” Vernon looked up and Jimin could feel the blood in his veins go cold at the instance their eyes locked into a stare down, ”Your Majesty.”