Jimin stormed through the corridors of the castle, her eyes blazing with fury. She had just found out who was responsible for Minjeong's injury, and she was not going to let him get away with it.

She found the knight in question in one of the training rooms, sparring with another knight. Jimin walked up to him, her head held high. "You," she said, pointing a finger at him. "You're the one who hurt Minjeong."

The knight looked at her with surprise, then with a smirk on his face, he replied, "Oh, so what if I did? What are you going to do about it, Princess?"

Jimin's jaw clenched with anger. "You will apologize to Minjeong, and you will do it now."

The knight laughed. "I don't take orders from spoiled princesses like you. I am a knight, and I answer only to the king."

Jimin felt her temper rising. "I don't care who you answer to. You hurt one of my friends, and you will apologize or face the consequences."

The knight stepped closer to Jimin, his face twisted with anger. "And what are you going to do? Hit me with your delicate little hands?" He teased. 

Jimin's eyes flashed with anger, and without thinking, she slapped the knight across the face. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the princess in shock.

The knight staggered back, holding his cheek. "You'll pay for that," he growled.

But Jimin didn't back down. "I won't let you hurt Minjeong, or anyone else for that matter. You will apologize, and you will leave now. And if I ever catch you hurting someone again, I will make sure the king knows what kind of knight he has in his army."

The knight glared at Jimin, but he could see the fire in her eyes, and he knew she wasn't bluffing.

Jimin stood there, her chest heaving with anger and adrenaline. She couldn't believe what she had just done, but she knew she had to protect the people she loved, no matter the cost.

As Jimin stood there, breathing heavily, a nearby cleaner suddenly appeared from around the corner, drawn by the commotion.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his eyes darting between Jimin and the knight.

The knight sneered. "Just a spoiled princess trying to play knight," he spat and muttered an apology, storming out of the room.

The cleaner turned to Jimin, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright, Princess?"

Jimin nodded, still feeling the rush of adrenaline. "I'm fine. Thank you for checking on me."

The cleaner hesitated for a moment before adding, "I couldn't help but overhear...you're trying to protect someone, aren't you?"

Jimin's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"

The cleaner smiled gently. "I've been working in this castle for a long time. I've seen my fair share of fights and secrets. And I can tell when someone's heart is in the right place."

Jimin felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I don't know what to say..."

The cleaner placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to say anything. Just know that there are people who support you, even if they can't always say it out loud."

Jimin smiled, feeling grateful for the kind words. "Thank you. That means a lot."

The cleaner nodded before disappearing around the corner, leaving Jimin to reflect on what had just happened. She knew that protecting Minjeong was important, but she never realized just how much she was willing to risk to keep her safe.

As Jimin walked back to her chamber, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The way the knight had talked back to her, with such arrogance and disdain, had unsettled her.

She knew that as a princess, she had certain privileges and protections, but it seemed that there were some people who didn't care about that. They saw her only as a young girl, too naive and inexperienced to understand the dangers of the world.

But Jimin knew that she was more than that. She was a warrior, a protector, a friend. And she would do whatever it took to keep those she loved safe, even if it meant facing her own fears and vulnerabilities. As she entered her chamber, she saw Minjeong lying in bed, still recovering from her injuries. Jimin approached her, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," Jimin said softly, her eyes filled with tears as she eyed the bandage on her side.

Minjeong reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "You did all that you could, Jimin. You stood up for me, even when it was hard. That means more to me than anything."

Jimin felt a warmth spread through her chest at Minjeong's words. She knew that she had done the right thing, even if it had been scary and uncertain.
"I just want you to be safe," Jimin said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Minjeong smiled softly. "I know. And I appreciate it. But sometimes, we can't always be safe. We have to take risks, face our fears, and trust that we will come out stronger on the other side."

Jimin nodded, taking comfort in Minjeong's words. She knew that there would always be dangers and challenges ahead, but as long as they faced them together, they could overcome anything.

With that thought in mind, Jimin leaned over and hugged Minjeong tightly, feeling the weight of the world lift off her shoulders. She knew that no matter what happened, she would always have Minjeong by her side. And that was enough.
_____

Jimin slowly opened her eyes and realized that she had fallen asleep while holding Minjeong tightly. She didn't want to let go of her, but she knew she had to. Carefully, she pulled away from Minjeong and sat up in her bed.

Looking around, Jimin saw that it was already morning. The sun was shining brightly through the window, and she could hear the sounds of people outside. She turned back to Minjeong and saw that she was still sound asleep.

Jimin couldn't help but smile as she looked at her. She had never felt this way about anyone before, and it scared her. She didn't know how to express her feelings to Minjeong, and she didn't want to ruin their friendship.

Quietly, Jimin got out of bed and went to her wardrobe. She picked out a simple dress and quickly got dressed. She glanced back at Minjeong, who was still sleeping peacefully, and then left her chambers.

As she walked through the castle, Jimin couldn't stop thinking about Minjeong. She wanted to tell her how she felt, but she was too afraid. She didn't want to lose her friendship, but she also didn't want to keep her feelings hidden forever.

Lost in her thoughts, Jimin didn't even notice when she walked past one of the castle guards. The guard cleared his throat, causing Jimin to jump.

"Oh, sorry," she said, realizing she had been lost in thought.

"No problem, Your Highness," the guard said with a smile. "Is everything all right?"

Jimin nodded. "Yes, everything is fine. I was just lost in thought."

The guard nodded and then went back to his post. Jimin continued walking, lost in her own world. She knew she had to talk to Minjeong about her feelings, but she didn't know when or how. For now, all she could do was wait and hope that the right moment would come.

_______

The next day, Jimin enters the throne room with a determined stride, her eyes fixed straight ahead as she takes in the grandeur of the room. The high ceiling looms overhead, supported by tall, ornate pillars that line the perimeter of the room. Sunlight streams in through stained glass windows, casting a rainbow of colors on the polished marble floor.

She approaches the king's throne, and the weight of the moment suddenly hits her. She pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself before she curtsies gracefully before him. Her father looks up from his paperwork, his piercing gaze fixed on her, and she tries to keep her composure as she begins to speak.
"May I speak with you about something, Father?" she asks, her voice calm and steady despite the racing of her heart.

The king looks up from his paperwork and nods, gesturing for Jimin to approach  "Of course, my dear. What is it that troubles you?" And she takes a few steps forward, her head held high.

She can feel the weight of his authority as he looks at her, and she knows that she must present herself as a confident, capable woman. Jimin clears before continuing. "Yesterday, while I was attending Minjeong's training, one of the knights spoke out of turn and disrespected me. I had to step in and put him in his place."

The king furrows his brow, clearly displeased. "Which knight was it? Such behavior is unacceptable in my army."

Jimin hesitates for a moment, unsure if she wants to reveal the knight's name. But then she remembers how he spoke to her, and her resolve strengthens. "His name is Yoojin, Father."

The king's expression hardens. "Yoojin? I will not tolerate such insolence. I will have a word with him immediately and make sure that he understands the consequences of his actions."

Jimin nods gratefully. "Thank you, Father. I appreciate it."

The king stands up from his throne and places a hand on Jimin's shoulder. "You are my daughter, Jimin. No one has the right to disrespect you. I will make sure that this kind of behavior does not happen again."

Jimin nods again, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She leaves the throne room, feeling grateful for her father's support and protection. She knows that Yoojin will think twice before he disrespects her again. 

Hopefully. 

______

As the rude knight was wandering around the palace grounds, he saw Jimin walking towards him. He furrowed his brow and clenched his fist. "What do you want from me, Princess?" he sneered at her.

Jimin squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. "I want to talk to you about your behavior the other day."

The knight laughed. "You think you can lecture me? I am a knight, and you are just a spoiled princess."

Jimin's eyes flashed with anger. "You may be a knight, but you are also a member of my father's army. You represent us, and your behavior reflects on us. If you cannot act with honor and respect, then perhaps you do not belong here."

The knight scowled at her. "I will act however I please. You cannot tell me what to do."

Jimin took a step closer to him, her voice firm. "If you cannot follow the rules and respect your superiors, then I will have to report your behavior to my father again. And this time, I won't be so lenient."

The knight glared at her, but before he could say anything else, Jimin turned and walked away. She knew she had done the right thing by standing up to him, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in her stomach.

The knight quickly caught up to Jimin and grabbed her hand tightly, making her flinch in fear. He sneered at her, his face twisted in anger.

"Listen to me, Princess," he growled. "You may be royalty, but that doesn't mean anything to me. I have worked too hard to get where I am, and I won't let anyone stand in my way."

Jimin tried to pull her hand free, but the knight's grip was too strong. She looked up at him, fear and anger mingling in her eyes. "Let go of me," she hissed. "You have no right to touch me."

The knight only tightened his grip, his eyes burning with fury. "You'll regret it. Everything. I swear it."

Jimin's heart raced with fear, but she refused to show any weakness. She drew herself up to her full height and looked the knight in the eye. "You don't scare me," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I won't let you intimidate me."

The knight laughed bitterly. "You're a fool if you think you can stand up to me. Remember what I said, Princess. If you cross me again and talk to your father again, you're dead."

With that, he released her hand and walked away, leaving Jimin shaken and unsure of what to do next. She knew she couldn't let the knight get away with threatening her like that, but she also knew that he was dangerous and unpredictable. She would have to tread carefully if she wanted to stay safe.

_____

As Jimin rushes back to her chambers, her heart is pounding in her chest. The encounter with the knight has left her feeling shaken and scared. She can't shake off the memory of his threatening words, which seemed to echo through the halls of the castle. As she enters the room, she sees Minjeong sitting by the window, engrossed in a book. The light from the setting sun streams in, casting a warm glow on her features. Jimin's eyes fill with relief at the sight of her friend. She moves towards her, her feet dragging slightly.

As Minjeong looks up, she notices Jimin's distressed expression and immediately puts down her book. She stands up and walks over to her, her hand reaching out to grasp Jimin's arm. The touch is comforting, and Jimin feels a wave of gratitude wash over her. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"Are you okay?" Minjeong asks, her voice soft and gentle.

Jimin nods, but her voice is unsteady. "I'm fine," she says, her eyes pleading for Minjeong to understand. "I just had an unpleasant encounter with that knight who hurt you."

The mention of the knight causes Minjeong's expression to darken. She knows firsthand the kind of cruelty he's capable of. Her grip on Jimin's arm tightens, conveying her anger and determination to protect her friend.

"What did he do?" she asks, her voice low and dangerous.

Jimin takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "He caught up to me and threatened me," she says, her voice trembling slightly. "He said he worked too hard to get where he is and that it didn't matter if I was royalty. He grabbed my hand and warned me not to speak up again, or else."

Minjeong's anger boils over. She can't believe the knight had the audacity to threaten Jimin, the princess herself. She vows to make him pay for his actions.

"That's unacceptable," she says firmly. "I won't let him get away with it."

Jimin shakes her head, feeling grateful for Minjeong's support, but also worried for her safety. "No, Minjeong. I don't want you to get hurt again. You've already been through so much because of him."

But Minjeong's resolve is unwavering. "I'm not afraid of him," she says, her eyes shining with determination. "I won't let him intimidate us. We'll figure out a way to deal with him."

As Jimin takes Minjeong's hand, she feels a sense of comfort and safety wash over her. She knows that no matter what happens, Minjeong will always be there for her. The two friends stand there, hands clasped tightly, drawing strength from each other