"Everything, from where to hide, supplies, how many children escaped, who escaped- I planned it all." He said to me, his voice very low as his eyes bore into mine, so intensely that I did not doubt a single thing he had said.

"Rest assured, I have no plans of killing you or consuming your blood, but I will not hesitate to do so if this information gets out."

I gulped. "Then why are you telling me all of this? Why even help us out at all if we're merely food to your kind?"

Jungwon leaned back onto his seat, taking a black and gold pen out of his pocket and fiddling on it, his eyes turning to focus on the pen. "We're going to play a little game of story time, got it?"

I nodded.

"When I was around six years old, I befriended a human. He was the son of my personal servant. His name was Taki, and he was the most important being to me." I unconciously focused on the word, "was" and slight blush on his cheeks as he continued fiddling with the pen.

"We did everything together, and spent almost every waking second with each other for a few months. We grew incredibly close, even when he knew I was a vampire and was actively consuming the human blood given to me each morning. He knew that I wouldn't hurt him." His adam's apple bobbed after saying this.

"To say that my father was displeased would be an understatement." Jungwon took his eyes off the pen and on me again.

" Taki had rare blood, the type that even nobels would scramble to buy. He was supposed to be raised on the farms, but instead spent most of his time here at the palace to accompany me. My father believed it was a waste of food." He closed his eyes.

"So, he killed Taki. And not only that," he clenched his hand around the pen. "He forced me to drink Taki's blood."

My eyes widened. This was not the same boy who had sliced off someone's head without hesitation last night. Sitting in front of me was a scared boy, traumatized by his father and his past.

However, as if nothing had happened, he opened his eyes again. This time, Jungwon's eyes were clear, the emotion that was previously evident, wiped away.

"That's when I swore to never consume human blood again. Instead, I consumed human food and the minimal amount of animal blood I needed to not go insane."

"My father always considered me weak, so after that night of him tormenting me with names, I started changing myself. I underwent numbers of traning sessions a day, so much that I could not go a full day without throwing up until I was eight.

During that time, I also helped plan an escape for the humans at one of the orphanages in the Yang Kingdom. The first successful one happened when I was twelve. From then on, I've never had a failed one. I've even been able to help orphanages from neighbouring kingdoms with the help of their princes."

I tilted my head, still confused. "So, what do I have to do with all of this? Why save me?"

Jungwon smiled, not a calculating smile- but a real one. "To be completely honest with you, I didn't even think of it until I saw you last night with your friend." I flinched at the mention of Yun Seo.

He noticed it, pursing his lips. "The reason why I went to the tunnel yesterday was to try and save her. I was informed of her shipment date, but I arrived there too late, so I apologize for that. However, I had an idea after seeing you and letting you escape."

Jungwon leaned closer to me. "Think about it. You came from one of the farms, but now you're my mistress. No one would bat an eye at the thought of us going back to your farm and visiting the kids there."

I gasped in realization. "So then we can sneak the kids out." I finished for him with a grin.

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling. "Bingo."

Jungwon raised a hand out to me, the determined look seeping back into his gaze. "What do you say, Yumin? Will you help me?"

I smiled, shaking his hand. "Gladly."

A/N:

This is a rather short chapter, so I apologize for that! I just thought this was a good place to end a chapter haha

Please vote for the chapter <3