[Be My Reality] A #Yoonmin AU where ; Jimin thought that his miseries would end, if he saw the King get married, in front of his eyes. A closure for his unrequited love. But he didn't expect the gasps, when it was announced that he will be the ‘King Consort’. #yoonminau

-Yoonmin married agenda -Royal domestic fluff -Angst? Maybe. -Side Taekook (obviously) -More tags will be added as the story moves forward -I basically wanted to read some royal yoonmin without much drama so I decided to write it myself.

A big thanks to @Meow⁷🐱🐥🌈 for the moodboard, and @pvtesky for beta reading it.

Jimin knew it was going to happen. He knew that nothing stays forever. Especially if it's something you just created in your mind. Something which was only a part of your dream and the reality is different. Reality is always different. Reality always hurts you.

He should have realised that the world he created for himself in his dreams is for his dreams only. That it can't happen in the world that he is living in right now. And most importantly, a commoner like him can't have dreams at all.

People like him are supposed to be ruled, just exist so that others around them can tell them what to do with their life. Take advice on how to spend life successfully from the people who are anything but successful.

And therefore, he wasn’t fully surprised when he first heard the rumours. The rumours that the Royal family is looking for a spouse for the King. ‘A beautiful and elegant bride’.

He is not a bride. He is not elegant. He is just a fool, a commoner, someone who is in love with the King of the Kingdom.

Soon, as expected, the rumours spread like wildfire throughout the Kingdom and everyone was waiting for the official announcement of the same.

People gathered around the village, like they do every time when there is a rumour but this time with excitement visible on their faces.

Parents of young women, grinning as if they are planning to do something, in their mind. Men in deep thought and women gossiping on the possibility of the King seeing their daughters during the public gathering and falling in love.

Jimin snorts, when he was coming back from the Library and hears one such woman voicing out her thoughts. The said woman glared at him and that was his cue to leave the place.

He keeps walking towards his house, thinking how stupid the people of the village can be to think that the King will marry a commoner. As if there are no Ministers in the Kingdom, with their daughters ready, to get them married off to the King.

And as if they will ever agree on the King marrying a commoner. The King will marry someone with a high status, not a commoner and that too in a way described by those women.  This is not a fairytale.

He smiles at the thought. A smile which never reaches his eyes. A smile so hollow, one that can only be owned by someone who knows that the one he is in love with is getting married to someone else. 'That someone will never be me…'

He can't afford to cry in the middle of the road and that too in broad daylight, for everyone else to see. He didn't even cry when his parents left him and everyone showed up at his doorstep to show their sympathy.

In front of those people, who later never once asked him about his whereabouts. Therefore, he rushes his way when he sees his house from a distance.

And just like every other time, when he closes the door behind him and rests his head against it, there are no tears for him to shred. His eyes are empty.  As empty as his house.

“Why can't you just cry, Jimin? Why can't you just cry it out like a normal person? Why do you have to do this everyday? Why did you fall for-” He stops when he realises that he can't afford to say it.

The thought of the walls around him hearing what he’s saying, scares him. Even though he lives alone and is in fact talking to himself right now, because there is no one to ask these questions to him.

“Why did you fall for Min? Why why why?” He sits on the floor, puts his head down, and wishes for the tears to come.

===================

Jimin tries to focus on the work. He tries to stop thinking about anything else, while he is arranging the books in their particular place but he knows where each book belongs to so well that he doesn't need to focus much on it as his hands move on their own.

It gives him ample time to think over something he has no control over. Or someone that can't- “You know how costly this work is?! How much did I have to pay to own this from the far kingdom, only for you to show up after tearing a page from it?!”

Jimin is standing far from the place of action but he knows that the voice belongs to the owner of the library he works at. A man in his fifties, who thinks he has the right to shout at whoever he wants.

He walks up to them and sees a girl, on the verge of tears, because of the shouting from the other. She is basically trembling with fear, her head facing downwards.

“This is more valuable than your lif-” “It happened because of me!” Jimin says instantly to cover up for the girl. Both the others look at him, one with hatred while the other in shock.

‘I was careless while I was arranging the pages and later gave it to her without realising that a page was torn.” And the rest of his day was spent, listening to the insults that were exclusively for him.

The girl tried to apologise to him before leaving but he sent her back before the owner came to know that he lied to him. On the brighter side, this whole thing kept his mind from whatever he was thinking.

It's not that he never thought of leaving the place. Just like everyone else who worked there before. But even if the old man insults him, he was one of the two people who provided Jimin, a work, all those years ago when he had no one else.

And he will always be grateful. The day comes to an end and Jimin leaves early because there weren't many people in the library. Not many people visited the library because they had more important work to do on the field than to read some books on romance.

The only time there are more than a few people is when a certain Prince visits the library. The one with an adorable boxy smile on his face.

The Prince doesn't always show his precious smile to everyone but Jimin considers himself lucky enough to see it every time the other visits. Only on those days, Jimin sees more people than usual.

Especially ladies, never seen before, trying to roam around the Prince and act educated to impress him.

But the Prince never pays them any attention and always walks up to him to ask him about the books he should read and in between looking back at his bodyguard, standing on the doorway. The latter’s eyes are always on the Prince.

He walks faster than usual when he sees that it's getting dark and he is only halfway to his home. Only to be stopped by a bustle on his way.

There is a man, someone from the Royal army, addressing the villagers on something he can't quite hear from the distance. He walks closer and asks someone from the crowd.

“What's the matter?” “It's an announcement regarding the King's marriage.” And suddenly, Jimin doesn’t want to hear the rest.

He wants to run to his place and never come out of his house. But when was the last time when something happened according to him?! And that is proved right when the man speaks again.

“There will be a public gathering tomorrow, for everyone in the Kingdom, to introduce whom the King will get married to. The royal guard is saying that everyone from the village should be there as the King wishes the same.”

Great! Now he can't even afford to not go there and stay in his house all day because he deserves it? Maybe.

=================

The next day Jimin woke up earlier than usual because he didn't sleep the whole night to begin with. And because he doesn't have to go to the library, he makes himself tea for the long day ahead of him.

The ground for the public gathering is filled with people when he reaches there. It seems like everyone took it seriously what the guard had said the previous night.

He moves to the upper row when he sees that every place is almost filled. He can't quite clearly hear anything from where he is standing but it's not like he wants to hear anything. If anything, he won't mind if he loses his sense of hearing for an hour or so.

He looks around himself to see that everyone is dressed as if there is a festival. And it is half true because the King’s marriage is one of the most anticipated days for the whole Kingdom. Except for him of course.

He is dressed in his regular hanbok, the one he wears for his work as well. It makes him look different from the people around him. People who are in a celebratory mood, talking to each other, while he feels like mourning.

There is nothing for him to feel good about. He feels like crying. An activity which is so rare to him that even the thought of it, makes him laugh.

Soon everyone stops talking all together when there's a commotion. The King has arrived.

There is the sound of the band. People cheering for the King as he proceeds to sit on his throne. Jimin doesn’t turn his attention to it.

He doesn’t look up because he doesn't want to see that face.

Not after knowing that the face belongs to someone who will never be his. Who was never his. It is wrong to look at someone who will belong to someone else. And that someone else, most definitely must be sitting there.

'I shouldn't look at you the way I used to. If I do then I will memorise your face and that will break my heart even more, even if your face never left my thoughts. Even if it's crystal clear in my mind for the past 5 years.'

“I shouldn't love you, my dear… I shouldn't love you anymore…”

Maybe this is what he needs at the moment. Maybe this is all he deserved for the past 5 years of his life, thinking of someone who doesn't even know he exists. Someone he loved from afar.

Jimin thought that his miseries would finally end, if he saw the King get married, right in front of his eyes. It will be a closure for his unrequited love.

But he didn't expect to hear the collective gasps around him, when it was announced that he will be the ‘King Consort’.

If there is even a single person who is reading this and have reached this point then I hope you liked it. The next update will be on TOMORROW. See you soon!

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Jimin didn't hear it clearly at first.  All he could see was that there were people around him, who were looking at him. Their faces of pure shock and for a moment Jimin thought that they had gone crazy, until there was another announcement, more clear this time.

“Gentleman, of this village, Park Jimin, is chosen to be the King Consort of this Kingdom.”

And Jimin thought that there were high chances that it was some other Jimin. It can't be him.

He doesn't know every person by their name so maybe it's someone high born. But the way everyone around him was looking at him and the remaining people who were looking at those were also now looking at him. It doesn't ease his tension.

He knows that there is no other way for him than to look ahead. See what's everything is about and maybe then everyone will realise that it was not for him actually. He looked ahead to find everyone from the Royal family were looking at him. His heart skips a beat.

What? “No no no. It is just a misunderstanding. It can’t be real.” Jimin murmurs to himself.

But when the announcer takes his name one more time which makes Jimin look at the man, the other’s face, full of disinterest. His face indicating-

‘Please have mercy on me, and see that I’m talking to you only and come down.’ And so he did.

He's now standing in front of hundreds of people, all because of a misunderstanding and he doesn't know how he will be handled when it will be clear that they took the wrong Jimin. And how will he see the King get married to someone else, and see that person this closely?

His thoughts were a mess and then he heard footsteps. It's the King.

His heart is beating faster with every step that the King takes towards him. He knows it's the King. It's the aura.

“Look at me” There goes his heart. The voice echoes around him.

There is silence after those words and Jimin can't look up. He can't look at that face. This closely.

Can't look up and see that he's not the one, expected. But he has to. It takes all the courage in him to look up and match those eyes.

When he finally does, he can't look away. And for a moment they just look at each other.

Jimin tried to not lose his composure and crumble down while looking at the King. The King’s face was void of any expression. The face indicates nothing. Like it was a trained expression.

Everything around them still, until the King speaks again. “Will you marry me?” And Jimin loses it at that.

All he can hear is a disturbing sound. A sound as if someone hit him in the head and he's on the verge of a blackout.

He doesn't hear anything around him, it's almost as if he can't. His brain refuses to function. It almost refuses to hear anything.

All the sound was nothing but some noises. And you don't like to hear noises. You try to avoid noises.

“It's okay if you don't want to. No one will force you against your wishes. You can take a day to think about it and inform me about your decision, tomorrow.” The King says in a way that doesn’t show any emotion. His voice, deep and firm.

As if it was simple. As if he didn't just turn Jimin’s world upside down. The voice was so calm like it wasn't responsible for creating havoc. Like it didn't shake someone else completely.

Jimin just keeps looking at him. He doesn't have anywhere else to look. He doesn't want to look anywhere else.

He wants to look at a certain someone and see what he heard. Spot anything on that person's face. It will be enough if he sees signs of something.

Anything. Anything but hatred. Anything but forced. Anything but loathe. But he doesn't see anything at all.

“I will send one of the Royal Guards to accompany you to your house for your safety. You can return tomorrow, and tell me about your decision. Whatever your decision will be, it will be respected.”

And Jimin just nods. He has to leave this place before he completely loses his mind.

The King turns his face to look at someone standing behind him. “Jeon, you will accompany him to his home. Take someone with you if required.” “Yes, my King!” The guard, whom Jimin recognised as the one, who always accompanies the Prince, to the library.

And then with those words, the King turns his back to him and leaves. Just like that.

=================

Jimin woke up from his sleep, when he felt a pain in his back. He looked around to see that he slept on the floor.

He was so out of his mind, yesterday, that he didn't even bother to lay down on the bed. 'Yesterday…'

Maybe that was just a dream. It never happened. It was just his brain, playing games with him. Or maybe, it's just his heart.

“It can’t- can’t be the…” He walks up to the door, talking to himself and realises that there is someone outside. He opens the door to see a Royal guard, who stands up immediately from his half asleep state when he sees Jimin.

“Are you ready to leave, Mr Park?” “To where?” “Hmm…to the Palace?” And then it clicks, Jimin. “So… it was not a dream?” “What dream?”

The Royal Guard says and immediately regrets his informal tone. “I’m sorry, Mr Park, I-”

“Can you just leave me alone, for a little while, Mr Jeon? I need some time for myself!” The other seems to be taken aback by the whole thing. Or he's probably wondering how Jimin knows his name.

As if the King didn't- The King.  With a sigh, Jimin closes the door and walks inside his house. He needs time to process everything.

What is happening? Why was he in the situation where he was yesterday? Why did they take his name? And most importantly-

“Did the King really ask me to marry him?”

His mind is full of questions. Questions that sound absurd to his ears. Like it's not even something which can be questioned.

Jimin knows that there is no reason for the King to marry him so why would he say something like that? Why would he ask something so foolish to him? “And did he really give me an option to choose?”

He is sure that there might have been gasps around him when that happened, because a King is only supposed to order and not ask what the subject wants. A King has no reason to ask someone if they are pleased to do a certain thing. A King doesn't have to.

Then how can the King ask something like that to him? And he can even disagree to marry the King if he wants to? The entire thing is unusual to him.

There are so many questions in his mind and the only person who can answer all those, is the King himself. Only the other has an answer to everything going on in his mind.

And will Jimin do then? He will do what's right. He is not someone whom the King thinks him to be.

He will let the other know that he is not just someone who can be played with. Sure he's a mere commoner but that doesn't mean he doesn’t have self respect. He is an individual with his own decisions.

And therefore, he will answer what he thinks is right. It might come off as unusual but he will do it. No matter whatever happens to him after that. He will say whatever he wants to say.

==================

Jimin stands before the court. There are ministers around him, all of them staring at him. He can feel their stares even if he's not looking at them. Even if he's looking down.

They all are waiting for the King to arrive. And in the meantime, they are also judging him.

Jimin can't blame them for it. If he was in their position then he would have done the same. His thoughts might have changed later but his initial thought might have been the same.

Soon there is an announcement and the King enters the court, but he doesn't go to sit on the throne and rather walks to where Jimin is standing. Jimin doesn’t look up but he knows the King is now standing in front of him.

“Are you ready with your decision, Mr Park?” The King asks in his deep raspy voice.

Jimin knows he needs to say it. He needs to say it and end this. But the way his legs are no longer trying to support him, the way he can't just keep standing. The urge to just run away is slowly taking up his mind. The-

“Mr Park?” He needs to say it. “I- I…” “What did I tell you in our last meeting about looking at my face when you speak?”

Jimin feels chills run down through his spine at the authoritative tone.

“Let me ask you again. Will you marry me? It's completely alright if you don't want to-” “Yes!”

The heart wants what it wants. It doesn't matter if the King no longer wants him. It doesn't matter if the King decided to call off everything after some time. He wants it as long as he can have it.

Even if it's for a month, for a day, for a minute, he wants it! He wants all of it! All for himself! All of him.

===================

The King looks at him for sometime. His gaze pierces through Jimin but Jimin stands on his ground. Then he moves to one of his Ministers, and gestures to the other to talk.

“So, now that everything is clear, it is announced to the whole court that our King’s and Mr Park’s wedding will take place next week.” ‘NEXT WEEK?!’ Before Jimin can show his shock, the King speaks again.

“I hope no one has any objections to it. If yes, then you can come forward and say it to me.” There is a silence for a minute and no one dares to move a muscle.

Even if some feel the need to say something, they don't come forward. No one says anything. The whole court remains silent. “Okay then, the court is dismissed!”

That's all for today! Meet you all, TOMORROW, with the next update. Before leaving, let me just thank each one of you for such a huge positive response for this fic. Thank you so much! See you soon.

==================

The following days pass off in a blur. Jimin doesn’t realise it when his wedding day comes. He didn't even get the time to get out from the shock that the King’s words created in his mind.

Or the way he said yes to everything, without thinking about the implications. It was all too sudden and difficult to accept. Maybe it's just his mind messing with him.

“This can't be my reality! How can suddenly everything good happen to me? And how can-” ‘How can my dreams come true’ This is not what was supposed to happen.

He's a mere commoner. How can he get this much? His life is supposed to be full of miseries as it was till now, and he was fine with it too. He learned to live like that. He was happy to be unhappy.

Never when he lost his heart to someone else, he never hoped for anything unusual. Hope was never there. He wasn't the first person in the world who loved someone and didn't get their love back.

Then what is really happening? As much as he thinks about everything, the more questions his mind provides him. It's like a dead end.

====================

The moment he left the Palace, he was accompanied by few people. In the following days, they took care of his needs and even tried to do his house chores, before he stopped them by saying that he’s still a commoner and they don't need to do anything for him.

It's not that he needs someone to do his daily work for him. He lived alone for so long that he knew how to survive. And besides that, there is not really much to do for someone who lives alone.

Someone who doesn't have a family or even people to call his friends. So there wasn't much point in having so many people to help him.

They still helped him with other needs, such as helping him with choosing his hanbok for the wedding. His wedding… With the King. Is he just living a dream and soon he will wake up from it?

Soon, the day arrives and he doesn't know how to react to everything. He wasn't excited, he wasn't shocked, he wasn't feeling anything in particular. He wasn't given the time to feel anything extreme.

==================

When the carriage arrives at the Palace and Jimin gets out of it, the realisation hits him in the face, and the first drop of rain touches him. He looks up to the sky and sees that it's getting darker. A thunderstorm is on its way.

Is this a sign for something? Grandma always used to tell him that thunderstorms are always a sign for something extreme. Now he is not sure if it's for good or not.

He never liked it. He doesn't like the loud sound of it. He never liked it when it used to occur and his blanket was not thick enough to protect him from the sound of it.

When he used to lay on his bed, all curled up, trying not to cry because it scares him. No one told him that it will pass soon. He looks at the sky one more time. “What are you upto? What do you have for me this time?”

Soon, he is quickly led to the palace and the people around him guide him to a room. He enters there, only to realise that it's a part of the King’s Royal court.

There is a curtain before him so nobody from the court can see him. But he can clearly see the arrangements made for the wedding. The way the whole place is decorated. The sound of thunder can be heard from outside.

There are ministers standing in the court, ahead of their seats. They all have different expressions on their faces. Jimin doesn't see anyone smiling other than one person with a dimpled smile.

“Your highness, you will be called in the court after the King arrives. For the meantime, you will have to wait here.” A woman, who accompanied him earlier, says bowing in front of him. He nods and stands there, waiting for his… betrothed?

“This can't be real” It starts raining outside. Jimin’s mind chanting the same thing until he hears those familiar footsteps. It was only the third time and yet he knows it so well. The sound of the rain is getting louder.

And then his name is being called, and some people from behind, nudges him to move forward. He takes a step forward. The rains outside are more clear now.

'This can't be real' Not real when he walks forward and stands in front of the court. 'This can't be real' Not real when the Priest starts chanting something.

'This can't be real' When the Priest asks for his say. 'This can't be real' When the Priest announces the wedding is done and now they both can look at each other.

'This can't be-' 'Unreal…' 'This is unreal.'

There is a veil separating them both from seeing each other clearly. But they can still see each other clearly. And soon it is removed, they both look at each other.

Jimin feels light weighted in his heavy Pink hanbok while he looks at King, who is in his Red, jewel studded hanbok. A great contrast to his pale skin. Something suiting his stern face.

The King reaches for Jimin by extending his right hand towards the latter. A loud bolt sound comes from the sky when their hands touch. It scares Jimin, so he holds onto the long hand of the other.

He tells himself that he is not dreaming when strong fingers graze his whole hand in a firm grip. The first drops of tears roll down from his eyes. So much stronger than the thunderstorm, outside.

==================

Jimin looks outside the window to see the sky is clear now. It's not raining anymore. It's getting dark and slowly he's also coming out of the high.

High of everything that happened to him in a span of a few days. All that happened today. He got married to the love of his life.

Maybe he will never fully understand what happened and how it happened, but he knows that he surely dreamt of everything that had happened in these past few days. Or maybe his dreams were never this far reaching.

He knew even in his dreams that there is a limit to which he can be delusional. And he's glad to some extent. He wouldn't have survived waking up from his sleep if those things were in his head, and realising that it's not a part of reality.

It's peaceful now. He feels a lot but somehow it's peaceful as well. He is not in his house anymore, but he doesn't miss it. He should feel sad but he doesn't.

His thought gets interrupted when he hears someone from behind, clearing their throat. He turns and almost jumps when he sees the King.

“I'm sorry” The King says. Jimin doesn't say anything back but he nods without looking at the other. There is a silence for a whole minute and then the King speaks again.

“I have to attend a meeting so I will have to leave to attend it… now!” Jimin doesn't say anything to that as well but somehow he feels as if he didn't like what he heard. ‘Why is he leaving?’

“You can take a rest, I know it was a stressful day for you.” There is silence again for a minute, before the King leaves. After a few seconds, Jimin looks at the door of the chamber, and a sigh leaves his mouth.

Why did the King come to tell him about it? To tell him about where he is leaving for? It's not that he can stop- Oh! Something bursts in his chest at the realisation.

“Why didn't I say anything in return?” He murmers and feels stupid for not responding to the King. It's not that the King asked him anything. He just came and left soon after informing him about where he was going.

“Why did he leave? Was he trying to avoid me?” He doesn't like the sound of it. Fully aware of the result of leaving his mind to overthink over a small thing, he tries to stop it.

He stops himself from overthinking and moves towards the bed which in return, is almost inviting him in its embrace. Sleep is what he needs at this moment, after a long day. Everything else can wait for now.

He realises that he doesn't feel too bad when he lays down on the bed, and feels himself getting comfortable around the soft material. It helps him doze off instantly. He is not mad. He is not mad at his… Husband?

That's all for today! So they got married huh?! Nice. I hope you all liked today's update. Thank you for reading it!

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The next day Jimin wakes up only to realise that the possibility of everything being just a dream has just ended. When he wakes up, he is not in his old room. The surroundings are different.

His back doesn’t hurt because of the usual roughness of his bed or his hands red because of visits from mosquitoes, in his sleep. It's not the same house. He sees that now he has new clothes for himself.

It looks glittery and rich, although he's not sure if those are comfortable as well.  His old clothes were worn out but those were comfortable. It always used to make him laugh, how people considered old linen as something not worthy, because they lost their shine.

They would never be able to understand the comfort those bring along with them. Or maybe it was just him who thought like that because he didn't have the option to buy new ones. But now he has it all.

Some servant assigned to him, helps him put on one of the heavy hanboks. And even went on with a fake compliment of- “Your highness, this suits you so well!” He doesn't believe her words, he doesn't have to.

It's been only an hour in his new hanbok and it felt like days for him. Surprisingly, when he doesn't know what to do sitting in the chamber. Alone! He misses going to the library, even if it's been only a day without it.

He kept going to the library, even when the whole Kingdom knew that he would be the King consort soon. Those few days were peaceful because the owner of the library never once shouted at him and most of the time, no one really bothered him with anything.

And now he is all alone in a big room without knowing what to do. The King hadn't once come back to the chamber after he had left the previous night.

It makes Jimin feel sad but he tries not to think too deeply into it, telling himself that maybe the King has other important works to do, much more important than entertaining someone like him! He still doesn't know why the King decided to marry him, anyway.

There is this one possibility that is budging his mind but he decides to ignore it. He doesn't feel like thinking of something that will make him sad. But it's there, right at the corner of his mind.

It's making him think about the worst possible reason for whatever happened. “Why are you pouting?” It startles Jimin. This startling others thing runs in the blood, it seems.

He looks at the Prince.The same Prince who used to visit the library and also the one who is now pouting himself. He bows in front of the other. “I'm not pouting, my Prince!”

“Ay no need to be formal with me, call me Taehyung!” The other gives him his infamous smile. Jimin bows in front of the other again, before looking at him. Taehyung. The Prince chuckles at that.

“Old habits die hard, right?” He nods at that. ‘It's true. Especially if the change was never meant to happen.’ If the change was sudden If it was a surprise.

Something which was confusing but it had all the power to make Jimin think from his heart and not use his mind.   “Wait! How should I address you though? Like what should I call you? King Consort? That doesn't sound nice!”

The Prince’s face indicates that he doesn't like it.  “No one told me how to address you? Everyone thought the King would get married to a woman so calling that person ‘Queen’ would have been appropriate, but now the case is different!”

Jimin feels like something dropped inside him. “I myself never thought that the King would be-” “Stupid?” Jimin supplies looking at the other. “Smart!” The Prince smiles at him.

“I knew that my hyung, Min Yoongi, is a smart man but I never thought that he is a smart King as well.” Jimin just blinks at him.

“I mean, look at you! Who wouldn't marry you even if it's an arranged marriage!” “You would have?” “Absolutely!” Silence.

“Wait… I should not be saying such things to the King’s husband, right?!” Husband. This is the first time someone had called him the King’s husband and Jimin doesn't know how he should react to that.

It's not something he will ever be prepared to hear without getting speechless. “Judging by your reaction, it seems to me that you also have no idea on how to address the King!” Jimin looks at him and wonders how that man knows so much.

How can he guess that even before Jimin mentioned it. The Prince is really smart, he thinks. And because he doesn't have an answer to that, Jimin just looks at the other and hopes his big eyes are convincing enough.

“What really??? You mean to say you don't know what you should call your husband?” “I dont know…” He says in a small voice and the Prince wouldn't have heard him if he wasn't standing at a close distance.

“Ah… I get it. It's maybe because of the fact that yours is an arranged marriage. Right?” Which can be considered true if the very basic fact that ‘he is madly in love with the King’ is left out!

Or the part where the King was in his dreams for a few years. Or that he used to cry thinking that his love is as hopeless as his life.

“How about you start off by calling him with what every citizen of this Kingdom calls him?” 'My King…' Such a simple term to address the ruler of the Kingdom that it's funny how he never thought of it.

But the idea of calling the other that, makes him feel things. As if it's not just a way of addressing him. Jimin doesn't say anything but he hopes that his cheeks are not getting redder. The Prince chuckles.

“Anyway, what are you doing here alone in this chamber? Are you not going to meet everyone?” “I don’t know…” “It should be The King who should introduce you to everyone. Didn't he say anything to you about it?”

And Jimin wants to tell the Prince that it is only possible if they have a conversation in the first place but he doesn't say it because he doesn't know how the other will react. What if he complains about it to his brother? “I'm not that kind of a person…”

The Prince says with a sad face. “HUH?!” “I'm good at reading people's faces and their minds. In your case, it's pretty clear to me that you don't like me!”

The other pouts and Jimin somehow feel the need to give him a hug. The other looks so small in his big hanbok when he says that. And his eyes… Jimin sighs. “I'm sorry, it's not like that! I just don't know how to-”

“It's alright, we will be friends sooner than later!” The sudden change in expression on the other's face surprises him. He still nods at that. He wants to be friends with the Prince. He also wants to have friends in his life. Maybe the Prince will be just that.

“Now let's go and meet everyone!” “Okay!” “Also before leaving…” “What is it?”

“You actually said ‘complaining to my brother’ out loud.” With that, the Prince turns his head and walks out of the room, leaving Jimin speechless.

=====================

Jimin lets the Prince drag him through the palace. It's good that he doesn't know a thing about the palace which makes him look at everything in wonder. There are so many precious things around, which he finds nothing but just a waste of money.

It looks pretty to the eye but he's not sure how valuable these things will be, in terms of use. He was so into looking around that he doesn't realise it when they enter another chamber, until he hears the Prince say something.

“My King, why haven't you introduced him to anyone yet?!” Jimin turns his head instantly and he is sure that if it results in breaking his neck then he won't be much surprised. He looks at the Prince like the Prince betrayed him.

‘I thought you said that you wanted to be my friend! What happened to that?!’ ‘You said let's go and meet everyone! You didn't mention the King in that list!” He wasn't prepared for this meeting or will ever be prepared, but that's another thing.

He didn't say anything to the King after yesterday's awkward conversation they had and now how is he supposed to look at the King and talk?! He knows that he is standing before the King but he decided to save himself by looking at the Prince, instead.

He wants to look at him, though. But it's not like he has developed the confidence to look at the King, yet. The last time he looked at the King, he got married. The King looks at the Prince, and says-

“I've always told you to call me, hyung.” Jimin likes that voice. “That's not the point!” “Then what made you come here early in the morning?” ‘Wow so I'm invisible now!’ Jimin thinks to himself.

“Why haven't you introduced Jiminie to everyone here?!” ‘Wow! When did that happen?” Jimin doesn't remember telling the Prince to call him that, but he also doesn't want to comment on it, right now.

Also it feels nice to hear someone calling him that. He doesn't remember the last time someone called him that. His mother might have called him but it's been so long and he doesn't remember her voice. So it feels nice to hear the Prince call him that.

“What did you call him?” “Jiminie!” “Okay.” ‘Okay?’ Jimin thinks maybe his name is not that special. Or maybe the King doesn't want to address him in any way. The second possibility hurts him.

The one question, which was on his mind for the past few days, is there on the tip of his tongue but he decides to ignore it once again. “I will tell everyone to assemble here, for the meet and greet.” “What a nice way to say that you are not interested at all!”

The Prince says in a mocking tone. The King gives him a bored look. “Good thing that I already called everyone here so that you can introduce Jiminie to everyone!” This time, Jimin is not that surprised.

Jimin likes the idea of meeting everyone. But he is also not sure if the King wants him to meet everyone. ‘It would have been so much better if you had asked me this.’ It feels to Jimin that the King maybe never wanted him to meet anyone.

He can't give much thought to it because soon the place is getting filled with new faces he hasn't seen before. The King introduced him to everyone, one by one.

He realises that the important faces among them are of foreign Minister Jung, Minister of public works, Kim, King’s adviser Kim Namjoon and lastly- “Im Prince Kim Taehyung, the only person you could trust in this palace and these are my parents!”

The Prince says with a blinding smile and points at the two people standing beside him. Jimin bows in front of them and looks up at them to see that they aren't very delighted to see him.

The Prince’s mother looks at him warringly while he can't fully understand the expression of his father. The slight change of expression indicating something close to… disgust?

“It's nice to meet you, your highness. I'm the Defence Minister of this Kingdom.” The older man says in a proud tone but somehow it also feels to Jimin that it was to make him feel small. He tries not to think about it when everyone leaves after that.

Only four people stand there. “You introduced everyone to him but you didn't tell us who he is?” Minister Jung's son, Hoseok, is the one who speaks. Jimin doesn't know if the other is trying to mock him or trying to belittle h-

Jimin instantly looks at the King. And Jimin smiles. A genuine smile after so long. One that reaches his eyes. One of content and settling emotions.

A smile that later leaves his face, on the same night when a guard informs him that the King will not be coming to the chamber that night as well.

That's all for today! Before leaving I want you all to answer something! The side Taekook story, should I include it between this story or should I make a Taekook spin-off/sequel thread?

I'm so dumb I messed up and didn't tweet the most important part during yesterday's update. The following tweet is what I wanted to tweet, if anyone is confused as to why Jimin suddenly smiled!

“He's my husband.” (This is supposed to be the tweet between these two tweets)

This next update will be on MONDAY, but if anyone wants to read something, then you all can check my new, short and completed Yoonmin Au. I'm posting it RIGHT NOW.

=====================

TW // Skipping meals.

It's been a week. A whole week since Jimin got married to the King. A whole week since he last saw the other.

He smiles emptily when he sits to eat lunch and the table is filled with everything. Every kind of food that is known to the people and even some from other countries. And everyone is there.

Every person from the royal family is there. They all are smiling, whispering to each other, eating everything that is served on their plate but not him. He is not here. His heart is not here.

He doesn't feel like eating anything at all. His one time meal is probably more than what he had in the past, for a day or even two days if he didn't get the money to buy anything. He used to skip meals sometimes, so that he can eat it later when he can't control his hunger.

But now the case is different. So many things are before him yet he doesn't feel hungry. As if eating anything will be like pushing himself to do something he doesn't want to do. Everyone is around him but not that one person.

That one person with Jimin can even share a single bread with. Even if they have nothing to eat, he will still be happy to be with the King, looking at an empty bowl. It's not about the food, it's about the presence.

Sometimes he wonders, when the King actually eats? At first he thought that maybe the King eats separately but when he asked the Prince and the latter told him that he usually sits with everyone, it broke his heart.

The possibility that the King is probably giving him some time to settle in, leaves his mind after the first two days. Everyday, for the past week he used to wait for the King, in his room, wishing the other would show up that night but he never did.

‘Maybe he just hates me.’ The thought echoes in his mind. If someone had told Jimin that dreams come true with a price then he might have never said yes to it.

He'd rather stay in his miserable state along with his dreams than stay married to his love where his husband doesn't even want to see his face. And maybe the Prince is aware that he is sad, so the other takes him to show around.

The only thing which doesn't suffocate Jimin that much from his surroundings and that is the Prince. The other shows up at his room everyday to talk to him about anything and everything.

Usually Jimin just listens to the other, yet he feels good when the Prince shares about his daily activities. It makes Jimin feel that he is not all alone in a big palace. “How about I show you my chamber this time?”

A cheerful Taehyung asks him. And knowing the Prince, Jimin knows that he will get to see the other’s room nonetheless. They walk towards the Prince’s chamber but are stopped on their way there by someone.

A woman, whom Jimin remembers to be the daughter of one of the ministers of the King's court. “It's nice to see you, my Prince, I was just looking for you.” She says, completely disregarding Jimin's presence.

“Oh you should have told me beforehand that you were going to meet me. I could have delayed coming to my chamber and avoiding this meeting!” Jimin can't help but laugh at that.

He instantly controls himself when he sees the Princess's face. She gives him a pointed look. “You know it's improper to make fun of another person, Mr Jimin.” “Im so-”

“And you know that he is the King's husband right? Or did you forget how to respect someone else? I don't think the King would like it when he hears about this.” She gives a fake smile to the Prince.

“Oh no my Prince. You got me completely wrong! I was just teasing him,I hope his highness knows that!” She now gives the same smile to Jimin and he tries to do the same. He would never prefer smiling at someone like that if he was anywhere else but he knows that right now-

-he is in a palace and he will face these kinds of people on a daily basis.  It's not just about the place but also because of his position. “Now if you don't have anything important to say, we would like to take your leave.”

The Prince says and Jimin wonders why the Prince is so bitter towards the woman. It's as if the Prince is practically running away from her, as if he can't stand her. “What's the rush, my Prince? I was here to meet his highness, properly”

“Oh you don't know how much I would've liked letting you two talk all day but you know, Jimminie’s back hurts from his yesterday's activities and I want to give him a special oil which might be helpful. It's in my room so we will take your leave now!”

Both Jimin and the Princess flush red at that. She looks at him with her jaw wide open in shock. And Jimin wants to be buried 6 feet under. With that, the Prince takes his hand and leaves the place.

“Don't worry, she was just trying to get you down with her words. She's just bitter!” And Jimin is still in shock but yet he asks- “Bitter?” “Huh, obviously! I believe a lot of people here envy you because they no longer have any chances with the King.”

And maybe Jimin feels special. “And the fact that the King will no longer be available to warm their beds!” The sudden rush of something encaptures Jimin's chest. A kind of burning sensation when he hears those words. ‘No longer?’

He doesnt get to process his thoughts, as they reach the Prince's chamber. “So, Jiminie, this is my home! The only place which has everything I want from this world.” The Prince says as he enters.

The first thing Jimin notices when he enters the chamber is not some precious thing but someone. A royal guard pacing around the room, his steps restless. Jungkook. The other’s face shows signs of relief when he spots the Prince at the entrance.

“Where were you, my Prince? You said that you'll be back in half an hour but it's been two hours!” It's not the less formal tone that surprises him, but the fact that his presence is once again ignored.

The Prince just looks at the guard with something close to amusement, on his face. “I told you I was going to Jiminie. We talked a lot so I didn't realise how much time had passed.” And it's only then the guard looks at Jimin and bows. “It's alright, Jungkook.”

“Wait! You know his name?” Jimin nods at that. “I was assigned to help, his highness, when he got the proposal!” The guard says looking at the Prince. “I didn't ask!” The Prince says, chuckling.

The rest of the day Jimin spends with the Prince and decides to leave in the evening. Jimin felt nice around the Prince and loved how the latter smiled at everything. “I will meet you later, my Prince.”

“I'm still waiting for the day when you will feel comfortable calling me by my name.” The other chuckles. “You smile pretty...” Jimin can't help but to say because he wants the other to know how much he likes to see the other smiling.

The Prince once again smiles at him before he leaves the place. Taehyung closes the door and turns around, the smile leaves his face in an instant. A sorrowful expression takes place over his face.

====================

When Jimin gets back from the shower, he hears a conversation from outside, probably the guards outside the chamber talking to each other. “The King has not even once come here since he got married!” One of the guards says in a low voice but Jimin can hear him quite clearly-

-even when he doesn't want to. “I think the King doesn't like him!” And maybe the direct answer of the other guard hurts Jimin. “But then why would he marry him?”

Jimin doesn't want to hear the rest so he moves towards the window, because from there, he won't be able to clearly hear them.  The sky looks gloomy, as if imitating Jimin himself. He doesn't feel good, the talk earlier with the Prince, leaving his mind and paving way for-

-something dismal in his chest.  There is a lot going on in his mind and with each passing second, he's feeling more and more sad.  Somehow this is his reality and it hurts, like always, it hurts.  The ways may be different but somehow it still hurts the same.

And then there is a voice from outside. He turns his head when he hears the announcement of the King's arrival. It's as if someone stopped him from burning. The feeling of finding a shade in the scorching sunlight.

He doesnt turn from where is looking outside but he feels relieved. “Hey…” Jimin feels like crying. It's been a week since he last heard that voice and yet he feels relief rushing through him in an instant.

“Hey!” Jimin says and he wishes that he could say more, talk louder but somehow like always, the King makes him speechless in different ways and this time also, it is not different. “How are you?” And if Jimin said that their previous conversation was awkward then nothing-

-can beat where this one is leading to. “I - I’m fine” He wishes the King could just scold him to look at him when he says that, so that he can look at the other without thinking much, but the King doesn't say anything. “Are you alright?” ‘I'm not!’

He wants to say. He wants to scream it out. “I mean do you need anything here, or anything you want to take out from here… this chamber?” ‘I need you! I don't need anything else, other than you! Everyone else can leave if it means that you'll be staying.’

He is desperate, he needs it. But he doesn't know how to say it. “N- no…” ‘That's all you have to say? Talk to him, Jimin!’ He tries to say anything but somehow he can't. “Okay… if you need anything, you can inform me.” ‘No no no no’ “I will take my leave, then.”

And that was it. Jimin looks up and he pouts. He sees the King leaving the chamber and that was it for him. “My- my King!” The King stops in his tracks.

He doesnt turn around but that's better for Jimin to say everything that's in his mind. He feels something heavy in his chest. The Prince's words from earlier come back to him. ‘And the fact that the King will no longer be available to warm their beds…’

He feels something when he is reminded of those words. He knows it's jealousy. He knows it very well. He might be facing it for the first time but he knows how it works. The way it makes a person feel, he knows it pretty well.

“If you want me to leave this chamber for you to stay here, then I- I will leave.” He finally says it. It breaks his heart but somehow he knows he will have to say it. It's the right thing to do, even if he doesn't like it.

He can no longer keep the King away from his own place. And if his presence is the problem, then he will leave. Jimin wants to keep talking but somehow he stops himself. He doesn't know why but it seems as if he will talk anymore then he will only cry.

He doesn't know the reason but he will start crying. He moves to where the pillow is, to take it and leave. He will stay outside the chamber if the King stays. He can sleep on the floor, it won't be the first time for him. It's like nothing else matters other than making-

-the King stay. “Jimin, wait!” Jimin stops by the end of the bed. ‘Did he just call my name?’ “I'm sorry, but you don't have to leave.” Jimin doesn't say anything. He waits for the King, to say more, anything.

“I'm leaving because I can't sleep with you!” Jimin flinches and takes a step back when he hears that. This hurts so much more than those unsaid words. Or those words by the guards outside. It doesn't have the warmth, those letters had. He feels his eyes getting blurry.

He has to leave, leave before he breaks down. He starts walking towards the door. “No wait! I didn't mean it in that way! I mean it in a literal sense! I am not able to sleep. More like I can hardly sleep and I therefore do not want to disturb you from sleeping…"

And Jimin finally looks at the King. The King’s face doesn't indicate anything but he is looking back at Jimin. Jimin starts walking towards the King. His legs move on their own, as he moves to where the King is standing.

They don't break eye contact as Jimin reaches close to him. And it was then, he finally got to see his husband's face. The moonlight from outside is reflecting on half of his face yet it can't hide the dark visible shades under the other’s eyes. The King looks tired.

It's as if he hardly slept, like it was a long time ago that he might have had a proper sleep. The face of someone who hasn't slept for days. Jimin feels sad. His hands move on their own as he traces over the marks under those eyes.

The King flinches a bit at that but he doesn't move. It gave Jimin the courage to roam his fingers on those eyebrows, one by one and stop at his forehead. He frowns at what he sees. “Why can't you sleep?” He asks in a whisper as if he is talking to a child.

His eyes are not on the King but on the lines on other’s forehead. “I dont know.” “Why don't you try sleeping?” And if Jimin was in senses then he might have realised that it is a stupid question to ask to someone, who is not being able to sleep.

“I have tried but… it doesn't work for some reason.” “Why don't you try sleeping with me?” The King just looks at Jimin. Jimin doesn't know from where he is getting all the courage from but he can’t see the other in this state.

There is a silence between them for a minute, one tracing his fingers over the frown on the other’s face while the other is looking in disbelief. “Okay…” The King moves back. He points at the bed, for Jimin to go and sleep. And Jimin just nods, still in a trance.

He lays down and hears the voice of the King taking off his jewellery. Then the latter leaves to get changed. Jimin waits, eyes wide open and turns when the other comes back. He feels the weight of someone else on the bed and he feels good.

He doesnt turn around to see the other but he feels his muscles relaxing. The King didn't sleep as usual. But that night was the first time in days that Jimin slept peacefully.

That's all for today! Hope you all liked this the update. Meet you with the next update on THURSDAY.

==============

Taehyung has always been different. Different in so many aspects. At first he thought that maybe it's something bad, that being different means you are an outcast. Being different means that there is something wrong with you and it needs to be changed. But he could not.

At first, he really tried to change things and fit in but somehow with time, it felt suffocating and he stopped trying. Stopped trying to not to be different.

He grew up in a palace. A place where everyone wants to live, a place where everything is peachy, where only the lucky ones can afford to live. But not for him.

He never wanted to be there, he never wanted to be privileged, never wanted to have all those things that were provided to him. It all gave him nothing to be happy about. Never wanted to be born in a family where his parents don't even want him to be their son.

His mother was always fond of richness and his father, the things richness comes with. A perfect combination indeed. They never really paid attention to their only child. In their defence, they never had the time to.

They were busy living their life as important people in a palace. One among the many fake ones. They never paid attention to what Taehyung was good at while he was a child and even when he grew up.

Never asked him about his likings and what he doesn't want in his life. Maybe never considered him as a living being itself. He was what he is seen by many of the people in the Kingdom and outside the Kingdom. A precious commodity. Nothing less nothing more.

He was all for his face. Someone who is known for his facial features and beauty. Nobody wanted to know what Taehyung was as a person, that was not even secondary. A Prince with a beautiful face and nothing more or less than that.

As a result, nobody cared if he was one of the greatest soldiers in the whole Kingdom and his fighting techniques were second to none. “It's not your job to work like a soldier! It will take away all your beauty, my son. Your mom only wants the best for you…”

If he was good in art and loved to draw whenever he got the time to. “Why do you need to draw anything? It's what mere artists of this Kingdom do. You are a royalty, you can't let others see you doing things like this!” No one wanted to hear him sing.

He was nothing but a valuable possession for his parents, whom they will get married off to a wealthy King from some other kingdom and gain power from it.

Therefore, his life was nothing but invaluable. His very existence was ignored for the sake of something he never wanted. It was always, “Taehyung, what new skills have you mastered today?” and never “Taehyung, how was your day, son?”

Always, “You need to behave well with everyone from bigger families” and never “respect those who give you respect!” “Stop crying” but never “are you okay?”

And after one point in his life, he got used to it. It was as if after some days of injury, you don’t feel the need to check your wounds. Except those heal eventually but that’s not the case for his inner wounds.

It was not that he accepted any of it, he never did. It's just that he became numb to it. After some time, his way of reacting to things changed and his ways changed as well.

His peers started mocking him and calling him heartless but he never felt the need to correct them. They were nobody. Until one day, when someone entered into his life and changed it for the better.

The day when a certain 21 year old young man came to his life as his bodyguard.

===

“𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒎𝒆, 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓! 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇!” “𝑫𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝑻𝒂𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒈. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆-

-𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.” “𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆? 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒔.”

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕. 𝑺𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒏.”

===

“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆?” 𝑻𝒂𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆. “𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝑱𝒖𝒏-” “𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒆!”

“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰-” “𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚'𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆? 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. 𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒏𝒐, 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒏𝒐.

𝑫𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔.”

===

“𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓?! 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚!!” “𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒎𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒘-

-𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕-” “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕?!!!” “𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖…”

===

“𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰'𝒎 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔?” “𝒀𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.” “𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰'𝒎 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒅…” “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆, 𝒎𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆.”

“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚-” “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒎𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆.”

===

“𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅?” “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒎𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆! 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕-

-𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖!” “𝑰𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒖𝒍𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖-

𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒆-” “𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍.” “𝑾𝒉𝒚…?” “𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

===

He held onto those words. Those words still help him wake up everyday and feel relieved. He felt cared for. He felt words that were not said to his face but to his heart.

A single person made him feel things which he thought were not meant for him. For once, there was someone in his life, apart from his brothers, who made him feel he’s important. He felt valid. The day he-

“Be careful, my Prince!” Taehyung realises that he is standing on the edge of the balcony of his room, when he is brought out of his thoughts. One step away from falling from there before he was saved. Saved once again by the same person.

The same person he fell for. “Jungkook…” Taehyung says, looking at his bodyguard. Jungkook’s face is full of concern, as his one hand is on the railing and the other one is holding Taehyung by his waist, in a strong grip.

“You were about to fall, my Prince. What were you thinking about?” “You would not have let me fall, I know.” A smile breaks in his face when he sees the tint of red in the other’s ears. A pair of wide doe eyes looking at him.

“That's… that's my duty, my Prince.” The smile leaves Taeyung’s face when he hears that. Duty. He is just a part of his duty, for the other.

“Are you sure about that?” Taehyung still asks in a teasing tone. ‘Say no, say no’ ‘Say, it's not just that!’ ‘Say you want me too. Say you want me as much as I want you.’

“My Prince, the King, wanted to meet you. I forgot to inform you about this, before.” ‘Of course you would not say that. What was I wishing for?’ Taehyung doesn't ask anything and with a sigh, he leaves to go and meet his brother.

‘I wish I had the right to say that.’ ‘I wish you were mine, to say that.’ Jungkook smiles emptily and leaves to follow the Prince.

That's all for today! The next part for this update will be updated tomorrow because I'm still writing it. I just wanted to update for all my lovely readers. Also someone asked IF THIS FIC WILL HAVE A HAPPY ENDING? YES. ALL MY FUTURE FICS WILL ALSO BE HAPPY ENDING.

=================

“What were you thinking, Jimin?!” Jimin facepalms when he thinks about what had happened last night. He can't help but to be surprised by his own doings.

On one side, he wants to scold himself for being this bold with the King and on the other side he knows that he can't help himself because he is in love. As dumb as it sounds. He can't help the blush on his cheeks when he remembers what he had done.

Can't help it from showing it in the form of a smile when he later spots the King on the table for breakfast. He decides to be subtle and not stare at the other openly, but soon realises that he can't be subtle when he sees the Prince, across the table, smirking at him.

‘You are so gone for him, Jimin… so gone for him.’ So gone that he waits for the King, daily. So gone that he waits for the King to lay down beside him on the bed and only then he closes his eyes. So gone for him…

================

“Why do we have to stand here in court?” Jimin asks, trying to control his nervousness. “I ask that to myself, daily!” Jimin chuckles at the Prince’s words. “But today is a great day!” “Why?” “Because today, Seokjin hyung will come back from his trip!”

Jimin has heard about this Seokjin guy from his talks with the Prince. The well known doctor in the whole Kingdom, so efficient in his work that he is one of the most well known doctors even in other Kingdoms. Also the son of the Minister of Public Works.

He was away from the Kingdom because the King from the neighbouring Kingdom was sick and the King sent the doctor for help. So everyone is present in the court to welcome him.

The loud noises from outside indicates that he has arrived and will soon enter the court along with the other ministers. Everyone bows when the man of the evening enters, along with the King and few others. Jimin didn't see him at first, because-

-what he noticed instead, was the dark shade under his husband’s eyes. The urge to move past everyone and go to that one person, making its way in his chest. ‘That means he is still not sleeping well…’

‘Obviously, what was I thinking? How can he sleep when he said he can't? I didnt even once turn to see his face, if he was asleep or not! How can I be so selfish that I forgot about what I was selfish in the first place?!’

The thoughts were taking a toll over Jimin. It was like he felt nothing could ease his tension. Therefore, he didn't realise when a figure approached him. “You seem to be in deep thought, Gentleman.” Jimin startles when he sees a new face standing before him.

He wants to greet the other but he doesn't know who he is. “I am Seokjin, nice to meet you…?” “Jimin.” “Ah… our King’s husband…” Seokjin turns to look at the King and then looks back to Jimin.

Jimin doesn't know what is with that tone of addressing him but he hopes it's not anything bad. “I would love to have a talk with you, in my chamber… if you are okay with it?” That was such a sudden request that it surprised Jimin.

And Jimin knows that now the whole court is looking at them but he wonders if the King is also looking at them? “Sure…” Jimin hopes that the smile on other’s face is not a sign of something dangerous.

==================

Jimin stands outside the Doctor’s chamber and hopes he doesn't get into any danger. He might not be a soldier but he definitely knows self defence! ‘I can use my years of washing dishes hands, as a shield’ He reassures himself.

Then a guard shows up and let’s him into the chamber. He is welcomed by not one but two people. He takes a breath of relief when he spots the Prince. “Ah Jimminie, come here, me and Jin hyung were waiting for you.” Jimin bows and stands before them.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Seok-” “Its Kim Seokjin for you.” The cold tone of the other doesn't ease Jimin's tension. “Hyung, why are you scaring him? Jiminie, doesn't even know you.” Taehyung says, matter of factly.

“And that's exactly why I called him here to talk. Now we have endless days before us to talk and get to know each other, so I won't waste time on anything else and ask you some questions first.” “Okay…” “Why did you marry the King?”

And Jimin doesn't know how to react to that. He doesn't know what he could say as an answer. But the man standing before him does not need to know that. “He's the one who asked me if I could marry him.” Jimin says confidently, matching the look the other is giving him.

“And you said yes because…?” “Because I wanted to marry him.” Which is true, he wanted to marry the King. He can easily hide the ‘ I love him’ part because he doesn't need to say it.

“Woah stop, before you both fight! I can’t stand here and see my two favourite people fight over something silly! And hyung, it was an arranged marriage, so why are you questioning him?” And Jimin wants to disagree with the Prince as well.

It wasn't just an arranged marriage for him, well it is in the case of the King but he got married because he wanted to marry that person only. But he didn't say it out loud, in spite of the irritation he feels inside him.

“Okay, next question…” But Jimin doesn't want to hear it. Maybe it's the fact that he had been in the palace for more than a few days and he is tired of all the looks he got these days. Maybe it's because of the fact that he hasn't even talked to the person he loves-

-in days, despite being married to him. Or maybe he just wants to make the dark shade under the King’s eyes disappear, which he saw earlier. It could be any of it.

“Does he treat you well?” Jimin just gapes at the other. He clearly wasn’t expecting that as a question to him. “Huh?” “I mean to say… Yoongi treats you well, right?” Jimin can't believe his ears.

Who is this person and he is definitely not the person he was talking to a while back? “Yes…” he still answers amid being in a state of shock. Seokjin smiles. “That's good, if he doesn't then you can always tell me okay? I will punch his face for you, Jiminah!”

‘Who really is this guy???’ “Th- thanks Mr-” “Call me Jin hyung!” “Hyung, you really made him mad for a moment.” Taehyung smiles. “I just wanted to check why he married Yoongi. If he…” “I didn't marry him for his wealth!” Jimin says in a low voice. He would never.

“Well now I know, Jiminah. I'm sorry if I was rude to you. I just wanted to see if my stupid cousin made the right choice or not.” Jimin doesn't say anything to that.

“Also, be the same as you were when you answered my question. This palace is full of people who will judge you, but never let them take you down. Hold your head high and tell them who you are and what your position is here.”

Jimin doesn't realise it until a tear falls from his eyes. He is crying. The hours of frustration left him in the form of tears. He feels better. “Ah Jiminie, don't cry.. Come here”

Taehyung comes to give him a hug and Jimin feels good. “Wait for me too!” He feels grateful when he feels the other two hugging him. He finally has people to call when he needs someone.

==================

Jimin looks out of the window. The sky looks peaceful. This is a hobby which he developed after he started living in the palace. Back at his house, he never looked outside or thought of enjoying nature, partly because he didn't have the time to.

He had to cook dinner for himself after getting back from the Library. And usually after that, he used to be so tired that bed was the only option for him. His peace was his dreams.

A place where he wasn't ever judged. No one ever looked down on him or he had to think what others thought of him. It was all him and his love. So much has changed now. He has all the time but not peace.

Peace comes to him in the form of a person and he only feels that person late at night, beside him, laying down but so far from his reach. He turns when he feels a presence of someone beside him. The King stands beside him, his eyes on the sky.

“The sky looks so peaceful, right?” That was a simple question, just an observation, yet Jimin feels his heartbeat picking up. “Yes…” “Do you like it?” “Yes, I like it when the sky is peaceful.” Jimin looks up, “I like it when everything is peaceful.”

“That's the same for me, as well. Was never fond of noises.” “But you are a King! You are surrounded by noises… Then how?” Jimin can't help but to ask. “That is the irony!” The King chuckles and Jimin swears that is the sweetest voice he had ever heard.

“I look for peace, everywhere. In every small thing, I try to find it. Even if it’s temporary, I still like it when it's peaceful… even for a moment.” The King moves both his hands to the railing and stands close to it. His eyes are still on the sky above when he says,

“And I think, found my peace…” Jimin’s heart skips a beat. He almost didn't hear the last line but he did and he felt his feets shaking. He doesn't know what the King means by that but he hopes it is what he thinks it is.

“Then why can't you still fall asleep?” Jimin now turns his face to look at the other, properly. “Why do you find it difficult to sleep at night, if you found your peace?”

“Too much peacefulness is scary, isn't it?” the King asks, now looking at some guard, outside at the gate. “Not exactly, if it brings comfort with it. If the peacefulness is full of comfort, then it's not scary.” Jimin also moves his eyes to look outside.

“Does your peace bring comfort to you?” “It does!” The answer is immediate. Jimin looks at the other and finds eyes on him.

“Then why?'' He takes a step forward, still maintaining a distance between them. “Why can't you…?” He doesn't know how to say it. He can't seem to find the right words for it.

“What if it is taken away from me?” the King says. “What if someday I wake up among all the chaos?” the King extends his hands towards him but doesn’t touch him. “What if I'm not just worthy?!”

Jimin feels his palms getting sweaty. The urge to just hold something, is making him restless. “How could you do that without giving it a chance? How did you come to the conclusion that you are not worthy, without trying?” He hopes his words are stern when he looks at the-

-other and says “and you keeping your distance from it will help?” “If I don't do anything to change anything, then it might stay as it is right now? If I don’t disturb the flow of things, then it might not change.”

“It wont.'' Jimin says firmly. “Nothing stays forever. You might find it peaceful right now but if you don't take a step to preserve it then it won't be like that forever!” The King takes an urgent step towards Jimin but the latter doesn’t move back.

“One day, everything will be anything but peaceful and you will find yourself, in the middle of it, not being able to get everything back to as it was.” There is a silence between them and they can feel each other’s breath.

Hands close but yet so far. The need to touch is getting stronger but no one makes a move. Jimin feels himself giving in. He feels his hands getting itchy. “How do you know?” the King says looking past Jimin’s shoulder. “How can you say it with so much certainty?”

“I have been in a situation like that.” He looks at his husband and feels the need to trace those marks. “I was… I was in a similar situation before. I thought that everything was peaceful and I didn't need to do anything to change that. More like I didn't have the option to-

-change anything, until one day I found myself in that situation.” His eyes look at the King’s whole face, but the other doesn't look at him. “What did you do then?” The King asks in a low tone. There is an uncertainty in his tone.

“I took a step towards it!'' Jimin finally traces his fingertips along those marks, something he wanted to do since morning. “I embraced it.'' He moves his fingertips along those lower lashes.

Those eyes weren't on him, and he wanted that. “And then I found my peace among the chaos…” The King looks at him, his gaze, intense. But Jimin doesn’t look down. He matches those eyes.

“When everything else was moving at a rapid speed, I found my pace! The only way for me was to move, move until I get it.” He tries to massage the sensitive skin under those eyes. “So if you want it to stay, then make a move towards it, otherwise-”

“I will! I will… try to make a move and change it for the better.” There is a certain kind of urgency in that tone and Jimin feels something close to content. ‘And it doesn't matter if you don't… I will still be here, beside you, always…’ Jimin thought to himself.

“I think we should sleep now.” He takes a step back and feels the other doing the same. “Yeah…” the King says and leaves to change. Jimin lays down on the bed, his face facing the opposite direction, as always.

And he feels the weight of the other on the bed after a few minutes, as always. He is used to it. But he is not used to his name being called after some time had passed.

“Jimin…” “Hmm…” “Are you sleeping?” “Mmhmm” “Can I… can I hold your hand?” And something bursts inside Jimin. He feels enchanted.

He turns to look at the other who is already laying, facing his side, eyes on him. “Yes…” Jimin says and places his one hand between them. He feels the other reaching forward and taking his hand. The same hand which he last felt on the day of their marriage.

The firm grip was yet again there. He looks up to see the other has his eyes closed. He himself closes his eyes and smiles at the touch. He feels peaceful.

That's all for today! Meet you all on WEDNESDAY, with the next update. If you like the story, then please don't forget to leave a like. It motivates me to keep going.

=================

Taehyung stands before his father. The latter is talking to some guard about some issues related to the safety of one of the entrances to the palace.

His father told him to keep his nose out of it because apparently, Taehyung, doesn't know anything about how things like these work. Sometimes he wishes to take down the other in a man to man fight but he knows that it's of no use.

Besides that, there is no point in winning over an old man full of arrogance. Also he only fights with equals, not of status but of capability.

“Ah Taehyung you came, come and sit…” the other gestures to him with a smile, “I will ask someone to prepare a tea for the both of us.” Oh no. Taehyung knows this tone. This is the same tone his father uses on him when the latter has to make Taehyung do something.

And it's always something he never liked doing. The fake smile on the other’s face is slowly beginning to terrify him but there is no other way back for him, other than facing it, as always. “Why did you call me?” Taehyung says sitting on the chair, across from the other.

“I wanted to ask you something, before making a decision for you, which I want to make for your betterment.” Taehyung snorts. “Ask me? Decision regarding my betterment? Since when did you start asking me before making a decision for me?”

“So, I think trying to make a civil conversation with you is not going to work!” “I don't remember us having any kind of civil conversation before, so obviously!” “I don't want to dwell on any useless thing right now, Taehyung…” he gives a stern look,

-“I will get to the matter now!” ‘Yeah, my childhood was useless to you…’ “What is it, it?” Taehyung says in an unamused tone. There is nothing that will come out of the old man’s mouth, which will be good so he was expecting worst. “What do you have to inform me about?"

But he clearly wasn't expecting the other to say what he said. “I've decided to find a suitable suitor for you and get you married off.” Taehyung stills for a moment. He was clearly not expecting to hear anything nice from his father, but this was not something he ever-

-wanted to hear. “What do you mean…?” He knows his voice is getting weak but he hopes he doesn't fall to the ground right now. “It's high time you get married, Taehyung… you are already 25!”

“I do not want to get married!” He stands up because he wants to leave and pretend this conversation never happened. “And then what will you be doing? Stay and rot alone in this palace?” the other chuckles at his own words.

“I do not want to get married! And that too with someone I don't know!” “Well that's why I said that you can start meeting the suitors I selected for you, one by one, starting from the next week. You can get to know them and then only make a decision.”

“Are you hearing yourself?” “I’m only doing what's best for you…” the other says, looking past Taehyung's shoulder. Disinterest was clear on his face. “And who are you to decide what's best for me?!” He raises his voice. “I'm your father!”

“Oh really? I wonder what made you say that?! You never once made me feel like I am your son!!” He knows that there are tears in his eyes right now, wanting to be shed but he has to say it.

“Everything I ever did as always was for your safe future, don't act like an ungrateful son that you are. And please dont cry like a weak man, I didn't raise you to cry over small things.”

Those words don't hurt him anymore. He remembers what his Yoongi hyung always tells him.

‘𝑪𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌, 𝑻𝒂𝒆… 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕.’

He remembers those words and repeats them in his head. ‘I will not let him play with my emotions. I will not give him the power to hurt me again…’

“Now if you don't have anything to say, then I will take it as a yes from you. You may leave now.” And Taehyung doesn't protest, he needs time to think before he acts. He leaves because he knows that it's a dead end.

===============

Taehyung wipes his tears and smiles before entering his chamber. The one person inside the room shouldn't see him cry. He doesn’t want to be the reason why his father gets beaten up.

“Why is it that these days I always find you pacing around the room whenever I go out?!” Taehyung says, smiling. He tries to smile. “Where were you?!” Jungkook asks, ignoring the question. There is a certain kind of panic in his voice.

“I went to-” “Why were you crying?” The few steps taken towards him make Taehyung feel his heart beating loudly. ‘Why do you always care? Why are you like this?’ “I’m not!” And maybe that was the wrong way to answer, because it was a give away.

“I had to go and meet my father.” “Did he say something to hurt you? Did he… did he hurt you?” ‘Yes!’ Taehyung sees those fists closing like Jungkook is trying to control the anger that is building up in him. “No, these are tears of happiness, actually!” He smiles.

“Happiness?” “Yeah, he called me to give me some good news!” He moves to sit on his bed, the smile never once leaving his face. “What is that?” “I will be seeing suitors for me, starting next week!”

Taehyung’s heart does something when he sees the confusion on Jungkook’s face changing to something different. His eyes are dark. That was enough for him to keep up with his act. “You don't want…” Jungkook moves unsteadily. “You don’t want that.”

“I don't want what?” Taehyung decides to play aloof and scroll through the room, he hopes it looks like he is okay with it. He hopes his acting skills are working. “You… don't want that, you don't want to get married!”

“And who told you that?” Taehyung stops by the window and turns around to look. “Did I ever tell you that I don't want to get married?” His gaze was sharp. “You would never want to get married to someone you don't know!” And Taehyung hates how well Jungkook knows him.

He hates the fact that Jungkook knows his likes and dislikes. He hates how cares for him. He hates that he is so in love with Jungkook. Falling for your bodyguard was a bad thing and he knew that it is something he should not let himself indulge in but he did it anyway.

No matter how forbidden that seems, he fell for him. “Well it's not like I will not meet the person I will marry, beforehand. I will meet all the possible suitors from next week onwards, so I will get the time to know them and see who is the one for me.”

He can't believe he is using his father’s words. But if those words are the reason for those expressions on Jungkook’s face then he will say it. If those can have an impact like that, he will repeat them. “Stop lying!” Jungkook says right away, irritation apparent in his tone

He immediately regrets his tone. “I did not mean-” “What do you mean by that?” Taehyung feels his own voice rising. He starts walking in the other’s direction. “You think I can't find the one for me?”, stands right before Jungkook. “or is it that you think that I can't-

-fall in love?” “No.” Jungkook confidently says. “You can't love someone you don't know. You won’t marry someone if you… if you don’t love them!” “You talk as if you know me…” He snorts. “I do.”

‘Then why can't you see that I am in love with you? Why can’t you see my love for you? Why can’t you love me back?’ “No, you don’t!” They stand close to each other and maybe too close, because when Jungkook realises that, he takes a step back.

It hurts Taehyung. It hurts more than he would like to show. It hurts him when he takes a step forward and Jungkook doesn’t. It hurts to see that the other doesn't want to have anything to do with him and yet his life revolves around the other.

“You won’t love someone whom you don’t know…” “How many time do I have to tell you that I will have the time to know this person, I-” “Someone can’t be your future who doesn't know you well!” Taehyung just gapes at him.

There is something in those words. It generates a kind of hope in Taehyung’s chest. His heart wants to hold onto them. He wants to hold onto the tiny bit of hope, those created in him.

“Why…?” He whispers. “Why can’t someone who doesn’t know me well, can’t be my future? Why would you say that? Is there something wrong with marrying someone who doesn't know me? Is there? One can get to know each other after marriage as well. In fact, I think it will be-

-interesting to get to know my partner after marriage!” “You don't mean that!” “Oh, I do. I mean everything I say. There is no point in saying something if I don't mean it!” “You don't want it! That's not you!” “Who am I then?” They stand close. “Who am I?”

"Yo-” “Wait, don't tell me you think that, I believe in falling in love and marrying that person only! There is nothing like that, Gukkie…” “You don't mean a single thing you are saying right now!” Jungkook says with the same kind of desperation and stubbornness-

that he never admits to own. And Taehyung wants to see that. “It can be anyone but you! I can believe it if someone else from this palace says the same thing, but not you! You are someone who talks so much of falling in love, you hope for a love like that, you live for it!”

“But what's the point? He says coldly. “Even if I am in love with someone, I will only be marrying someone whom my father approves of!’ He smiles when he takes a step forward and sees the other moving back. “what's the point of loving someone if I will get married to-

-someone else?” Jungkook sits on the bed, Taehyung hovering over him. “Do you think they will love me back? Or do you have any problem with that, Jungkook?” “You- you don’t mean to- say that…”

“It doesn't matter what I believe in and what I don't!” His eyes never leave Jungkook’s even for a second, “the truth is that, I will be marrying someone and leave this palace.” There is silence between them. Their faces close but no one makes a move.

Taehyung doesn't know why the hurtful expression on Jungkook’s face makes him feel better. He doesn't know why he is enjoying seeing that. At the same time, it is breaking him. It's like he is seeing himself in Jungkook.

It looks as if his words hurt Jungkook and he wonders if it's the same way he is hurting right now. His own words are creating a hollow space inside him. “You dont- you…” Jungkook is struggling to speak. It seems as if he can't say what he wants to say. It’s like his words-

-are moving in circles. “It's not like I can stay here forever, Jungkook… you know that right?” a sigh leaves his mouth when he says, “I will soon leave, and then you don’t have to protect me! You don't have to do your duty!”

‘Say I'm not a duty to you. Say you love me, say everything you did was because you love me back!’ ‘Save me from breaking down, save me as you always do’

“You don't want to leave…” Jungkook says and his voice seems weak. As if it is painful for him to just speak. “There is nothing for me here to stay…” “You have me! You have a friend in me!” ‘Friend!’ Taehyung smiles.

“And we will remain friends, Gukkie… Even after my marriage, with someone else. If that is what you are concerned for, then don’t worry, you will always have a friend in me.” He smiles big when his heart breaks, “You will always find me whenever you need me. I will be-

-there when you fall in love with someone and get married yourself.” Taehyung can feel the tears in his eyes. He feels them when Jungkook wipes them for him. “I won't fall in love! I'm not going to marry someone!”

“Don’t be so harsh on yourself, Gukkie… don’t let yourself not feel the power of love. Don’t be so against it. You deserve to be loved, so when someone shows up in your life with love and you feel something for them then don't let them go, okay…”

Taehyung tries to step back when Jungkook stops him by holding his hand. “So you will meet… the suitors and see if you…” “Yes. I will meet them and choose one among them to get married.” “What about love?”

“Love is not for me, I think. I fell for someone who doesn’t love me back!” He smiles through blurry eyes, “and therefore, I will leave before I hurt myself anymore than I already am…”

That's all for today! Don't hurt AJ, so that I meet you all again with the next update! Byeee.

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Jimin wakes up to an empty bed. But it doesn’t make him sad. He feels a sudden kind of determination inside him. After last night, he is certain what he has to do. It is like, finally everything makes sense to him.

‘𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒆?” 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒚?!’

His husband’s words echo inside his brain. He feels like he needs to let the other know that he is worthy of everything. He doesn’t know why the King of a kingdom would feel something like that, but he wants to do everything possible, for it to change.

When he gets ready to go and meet the Prince, he just hopes that he can see the King earlier than usual. He wishes to see the King in the evening and not only at night, when they are off to sleep.

A certain kind of thought roams in his head and he lets it engulf him in it’s hold. Now that he knows his husband doesn’t hate him or resent him, he wants the latter to- Fall for him. “I will make you mine… I will let you know-”

He almost chokes on his words when he sees the King standing outside the door. The King looks like he was contemplating on something, but when he sees Jimin, he goes still. And Jimin should panic, he should feel terrified but the only thing that his brain is screaming-

‘He looks so eternal in the morning…’ “My King… Do you need something?” he asks and tries not to get nervous, when the other doesn’t respond to him and keeps looking at him. “My King?” he tries again.

“I'm sorry, I just came here to ask you something.” The King looks past his shoulder. It feels to Jimin that the other is trying to look at anything but him. “What is it?” “I'm actually leaving for a hunt, right now and-” He flinches when he hears that.

“So… would you like to… like... join me?” He tries to hold back a smile. He doesn’t like hunting, he also doesn’t like anyone else doing it as well and yet he says-

“Okay!” “Okay?” “Okay.” If it means that he will get to spend some time with his husband, then why would he say no to anything?!

=================

They exit the Palace and see a group of guards waiting for them. And Jimin goes still when he spots two horses right in front of him. “You can choose any one of them, I will take the other.'' the King says, standing beside him.

He looks at the King like the latter said something offensive. “I don’t know how to ride one...” he says in a low tone and looks at the King to see the other, now sporting the same expression. “I’m sorry, I didn't know… what should we do now…?” As if Jimin knows.

“My King, you could share a horse with him!” The voice comes from behind and they both look back to see a familiar face. This is only the second time Jimin is seeing that face but it's the smile that makes it easy for him to remember the name. Hoseok.

“Why don’t you both share a horse?! In that way it won’t be a problem!” ‘WHAT?!’ “What are you doing here?” the King asks with a bored expression. “I came here to send you off, My King!”

“We are not going to war, Hoba.” ‘Hoba?’ Jimin doesn't feel itchy when he hears that. “Everyday is a war for you, My King! And therefore I think you both should go together to avoid any dangerous situation that may arise on your way there.”

“We don’t need your advice.” The King looks at Jimin and then goes back to Hoseok. “Besides that, he won’t be comfortable in sharing a horse, so-” “Is that so? Well I think you should ask him before speaking up for him. If Jimin-ssi is uncomfortable with that.” Hoseok smiles-

-at the King. “I'm not!” Both the others look at him when he says that. Okay, maybe he is a little bit itchy about the whole conversation.

“See, he doesn’t have any problem with that! Now both of you can go, I have things to do!” Hoseok says and turns around to leave. “Nobody had asked for your time…” the King says as he walks to where one of the horses is.

He looks at Jimin, “are you alright with it? Its okay if you don’t-” Jimin melts at that tone. “It's alright” The King sits on the horse and extends his hand towards him to help him to get on it. Jimin feels like collapsing when he feels the other so close, behind him.

The King tries to keep his distance but there isn’t much that he can do in such a small space. And Jimin is glad about that. The horse suddenly starts moving, which scares him.

“Hold my hands… don’t worry, it will be fine.” the King whispers to his ear. He looks at his side to see Hoseok standing far away from them, waving his hands and smiling at them.

================

They move in silence for a long time and in that time, Jimin really wanted to focus on the path, he wanted to look around but he couldn't. Not when there is a body so close to him. Not when he feels his cheeks hurting from smiling for too long.

He knows that if anyone looks at him right now, they will surely think of him as a creep. “Don’t worry, we are near the forest.” the King says in an assuring tone. ‘Oh right, forest!’ Jimin suddenly remembers why he got on a horse in the first place.

“What if we don’t go… hunting?” Jimin says and mentally facepalms for not properly voicing out his words. “Where do you want to go then?” “I mean we can go to the forest, but just not go hunting…? There is a silence before he says, “I don't like hunting…”

“You know I'm a King, right?” “You don’t need to hunt to survive…” “Fair point.” It surprises Jimin how the King doesn’t even argue with him.

“So… no hunting?” he sounds unsure. “No. if you don’t want that, we can rather look around…” “In the forest?” “Yeah, in the forest.” And Jimin tries not to laugh.

=================

The Forest is spread around the Kingdom. It looks as if it is protecting the whole Kingdom from the external invasions, spreaded out like a shield. Jimin feels good when he breathes the fresh air around him.

“You look happy to be here…” the King says once he ties the horse to a nearby tree and comes to stand beside him. “I am… it provides me a sense of being free.” “You weren’t feeling free in the palace?” the King looks at him with confusion on his face. “No.”

The answer was pretty simple for him. “Okay…” the King simply says. “Okay? Are you not going to ask me why?” “Do you want to tell me?” the King says and starts walking into the forest.

“I want you to ask me why I said I don’t feel like I'm free in the palace!” Jimin says with a pout on his face and follows the King. The King turns around and smiles at him. “Why do you not feel free at the palace, My husband?”

Jimin just gapes at the other with his mouth wide open in shock. He feels his heart beating a little too fast. He wants to say anything, wants to answer the question but his mind stops working. It only chants- ‘my husband, my husband, my husband…’

The King turns his back to him and starts walking again. “The palace makes me feel restricted.” he says after he is out of the initial shock. “it's as if i'm not allowed to do some things, as if I have to act a certain way…”

‘And also because I rarely get to see you there… the way you are with me right now, it's not the same, way back there…’

“Did someone say anything bad to you?” the King asks as he comes to a halt to look somewhere. His eyes were still not on Jimin. But the tone of asking makes Jimin want to just scream his heart out. There is a kind of protectiveness in those words and he wants to cherish that

“Not exactly…” He says and walks to stand beside the King. “It's as if those walls make me feel that I'm not free to do everything I want to do. Like there are always eyes on me whenever and wherever I go. The guards are always following me!”

“It's because they are protecting you.” “What is the use of it if it doesn't make me feel safe?” “So you don’t want people to protect you?” “No!” ‘Yes, if it's you.’

“And you feel great around here?’’ “I feel better than in the palace.” “Why is that? You are free here…’ the King looks at him for a second. And turns to say, “is it because of me?” Jimin looks at the other in shock.

“That's not what I meant… I-” “It’s alright, i'm not going to say anythi-” And then Jimin screams. A loud pitch scream resonating all around the forest.

“My King, what happened to you?!! My King, wake up!! Are you alright?! Someone please save us!!” The King looks at him in shock. But before he can ask Jimin about anything, there are guards around them.

All the guards surround them and one of them asks, “are you alright, his majesty?” “This is what I was talking about!” Jimin says and sits down on one of the big stones. The King just stares at him and Jimin can feel it at the back of his head.

He can feel the other shooting daggers at him. Little did he know that those eyes were looking at him in wonder.

“There is nothing wrong here, you all should leave the forest and only enter if you don’t see us coming back by the evening.” The King then turns to one of the guards, “this is a royal order.” Jimin feels the guards leaving the place and the King coming to sit down beside him.

“Is it okay now?” “Perfect!” The following silence between them is not awkward, it’s liberating. They both look at the lake in front of them. The sound of the water flowing is loud enough. It's just them and the nature around them. Jimin feels bursts of happiness inside him.

“What do you want to do?” the King asks, breaking the silence between them. “What do you want to do which can help you feel free, even a little bit?” Jimin smiles and looks at the King, who is looking ahead at the lake.

He pouts. “I can do anything?” he still asks. “Yes you can.” “Any work I want?” “Yes.” “Even if I say I want to go back to working at the Library, where I used to work?” “Yes you can.”

“Even if I say I want to work at the library at the palace?” “Yes.” “Even if I say I want to do none of it and just want to dance?” The King looks at him. That is exactly the kind of reaction Jimin wanted to see.

“You want to dance…?” the King asks in a low voice. “Is there anything wrong with that?” Jimin suddenly feels worried. “Is it wrong that I want to dance? Oh what am I even talking about, of course I shouldn’t dance! I'm a part of the royal family, I just can't go around-

dancing like a-” His speech gets interrupted when he feels a hand stopping him from speaking any further. A face too close to his. “Jimin…” Jimin just looks at the King. “You talk too much.”, the King says without moving his hand away.

“It doesn’t matter where you are… if you want to dance then you can dance. I will talk and appoint someone to get you a room to dance, if that's what you wish. And no one will say anything to you. If someone does then you can inform me about the same, I will look-

-into the matter.” Jimin just blinks at him. “Do you understand me?” Jimin doesn't say anything other than looking at the other. “Are you-” the King takes back his hand quickly and averts his eyes from him.

“I'm sorry, you were just talking too fast and I tried to stop you but you didn’t listen.” “Can we go for a walk?”Jimin asks instead and stands up for the same. He needs time to adjust to what had just happened.

The whole time he was trying to make the King look his way, look at him when he talks but when it happened, he didn't know what to do. He tries to control his heartbeats but nothing works for some reason. He can't seem to get away from the look the King gave him when he had-

-earlier stopped him from talking. Can’t seem to get his mind off the things the other said to him or the way he said it. The King stands up and starts walking ahead. He stops after taking a few steps. Jimin walks up to him and then the King resumes walking.

They both walk in silence. But soon it stops when they hear some noises coming from nearby. Before Jimin can think of what it can be and where it came from, the King pulls him to a nearby tree and pushes him against it.

The latter covers his face and stops him from talking, again. “I think someone is following us… we need to be alert.” Jimin nods when the King takes back his hand. “Anyway, do you still want to go back to the Library?”

“Huh?!” “Like you said… you want to, so I thought you want to work there again.” the King looks past around his shoulder, his eyes moving around in every direction. “You just said to not say anything.” Jimin says in a low voice. “No, I said to be alert.”

“And how to do that?" Jimin says in a challenging tone. “If there is someone following us then they will definitely get to us if we talk!” “That won't happen.” “How-” “Nobody will get to you without facing me first…”

“How are you so sure?” He whispers while his heart beats faster than usual. “I am the King.” “You are only human!” he says and finds the King’s eyes on him. The King smiles at him and then looks around.

Jimin uses this time to look at his husband. Those eyes look tired, deprived of any sleep. The sudden similar worry clouds his mind, making him feel sad. He wants to know why the King can’t sleep properly, why he looks so tired, always.

Maybe it’s because the other has a lot of work to do and can’t sleep because of the stress. And just like the times before, he extends his hand to rub his fingers on those shades of dark. “I'm alright, stop looking at me with those eyes…” the King says.

“I'm not looking at you…” “You are.” “How can you say it when you are not even looking at me?” He pouts as he says. “Your hands are on my cheek.” “That doesn't prove anything!” The King gets close to him and looks at him.

Jimin lowers his eyes to look at the ground, instead. “Now look at me.” The King says, caging Jimin between himself and the tree.

“No!” “Why? Now you don't want to look at me?” “You told me to not look at you, so I won't!” “Do you want to fight?” Jimin looks at the King again. “fight?!” The King smiles.

“Yes, there is someone behind the third tree from the left, ready to attack us at any moment.” He says and stops Jimin from looking. “Don’t look! Let him think that we are naive.”

Jimin doesn't look but he also doesn't know what to do at the proximity he is in now sharing with his husband. “Answer me, instead. Do you want to fight along with me or do you want to stand here and wait while I finish off this business.” the other says smiling at him.

“I don't want to fight…” “It's alr-” “But I also don’t want to just stand here and let you fight with that attacker all by yourself.” He looks at the other in worry.

“Then join me! You don’t have to fight, just be with me.” the other says in an assuring tone. Jimin thinks for a minute before saying, “Okay…” The King moves away from him and holds his hand before he starts walking ahead. “On the count of 3 2 1-”

Jimin sees someone trying to hit them with their knife but it never reaches his direction because the King stops it with his other hand. Meanwhile, the King still smiles at him. “Don't worry, it's alright”, he tries to soothe Jimin before he gets scared.

Jimin on the other hand is too shocked by the course of actions to be scared of it. “I would have let you go with your poor attacking skills but then you attacked my husband, so here you go…” The King punches the other right in his nose and knocks him out without much effort.

The stranger lies on the ground and Jimin gasps at the scene before him. “Let’s go back, it's already getting dark.” the King says, his one hand still holding Jimin's hand. “But- what about this man?’ Jimin says in shock as they start walking away.

“He will walk back to where he came from once he gets back to his senses or be the dinner of any wild animal. I'm not in the mood to kill anyone, today.” Jimin just looks at his husband.

“Anyway, what will I get for saving your life, today?” Jimin blushes before saying, “a head massage, maybe?” The King nods as they walk alongside each other.

That's all for today! Okay so this is my first time doing this but if you like my writing and want to support me by buying me a Ko-fi... ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

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TW// Mentions of homophobia and minor character death in the past

Jimin walks back to his chamber after he got back from the forest, with a smile on his face. He stops in his tracks when he hears the sounds of someone crying.

He turns to where the sound was coming from and sees a small room on his right. He walks a bit more to see- “My Prince?” Taehyung jolts at the sudden sound. He looks back at Jimin with wide eyes open in shock.

“Jiminie?” He stood up from where he was sitting inside the room. He walks towards and stands in front of Jimin. Jimin looks at the Prince and the state in which he is in.

“What are you doing here, my Prince? I’ve never seen this particular room…” he enters the room and then looks at the Prince again. “Were you crying?!” What happened?!”

“No, I wasn’t crying, Jiminie.” Taehyung says and smiles at him. “Why are you here, anyway? It seems like you went out.” Jimin knows the other is trying to divert the topic and he doesn’t believe the Prince’s words, yet he doesn’t push the other to say anything.

“I did. I was with the King for a hunt.” “Oh okay...” the Prince says without any further questions and gestures to him to sit beside where he was sitting. Jimin knows that's very unlike the other but yet he follows him inside the room.

The room looks shabby, as if it was not visited by anyone in a long time. The walls are dark compared to the otherwise bright palace. The decor looks ancient and untouched. It makes Jimin wonder how come there is a place like this in a Palace.

The chances of places like this might be possible in a palace but the less attention paid to it is very peculiar to him. “You are wondering why there is a place so unclean in a palace, right?” Jimin nods at the Prince.

The Prince stays silent for a minute before he says anything. “Actually, this used to be the room of one of my great grandfathers,” Taehyung turns to look at him. “no one lived here after his death.” “Oh! Why?”

Jimin has no interest in knowing but he wants to know why the Prince was crying and asking him directly won't work so he decides to first make the other ease into a conversation and then ask him about what made him upset.

"His death was seen as a curse by everyone so this chamber was abandoned…" Taehyung rests his palms on his knees in an anxious way.

“He died because he couldn’t take it any longer, the harsh reality…” Taehyung smiles at him, “He liked men and he had a lover as well, but-” he tries to form sentences but somehow words struggle to come out of him.

“He died because he was forced to get married to a woman, against his wishes… and he-” Taehyung frowns when he feels like he is not able to say anything properly. He holds Jimin’s hands in a desperate attempt. “It’s not like he- he… he really tried, Jimin…”

At this point, the struggle is not about the story, Jimin realises the other is no longer talking about someone from the past. Maybe it’s not Prince's own story but the pain is very much his. His thoughts stop midway when the Prince speaks again.

“He tried to live a family life, Jimin! He tried to love his wife, he couldn’t. He tried to have children, but he couldn't. He tried to tell himself that he could live his life like that, he couldn’t.” Taehyung frowns more before saying,

“And then one day he…” he tries not to cry, “one day after leaving a letter for his wife, he-” Jimin looks at him, how heartbroken Taehyung looks, the way he tries not to cry.

It wasn’t he who felt the pain in the past, but there was a pain in Taehyung’s heart and Jimin wanted to know more about it. “Tae…” Taehyung looks at him in surprise, his eyes blood red. This is the first time that Jimin had addressed him by his name.

He holds the other’s hands tightly. He hopes he can tell Taehyung through his gesture that he is here for him. “I'm here for you, Tae…” Jimin assures him. Taehyung holds back his hands in an almost painful way.

“He- he-” Taehyung tries to speak but it's like it is too much for him. “He doesn’t love me, Jimin…” he says in a whisper. Jimin doesn’t know what to say.

Of course it was a heartbreak. It was bound to be about love. He should have realised it sooner but even if it was not the same for him, he went through it as well. Love hurts so it was evident from the state Taehyung is in that it could only be that.

“Who…?” he tries to calm Taehyung. He could say it's alright if Taehyung doesn't share it with him but he won’t. He wants to hear it and if he can help the other in any way then he will. Besides that, Taehyung won’t say this much if he didn’t want anyone to hear him.

Jimin remembers how Taehyung was always there for him even when they were just strangers to each other or when they hardly knew each other. He was always there for him with a smile on his face. Jimin realises that he was so wrong in not looking behind those smiles.

“Who is he?” he tries again. “Jungkook…” Taehyung says in a whisper as if those words will break if he dare to speak it any louder. “Your g-” “Yeah my guard, Jungkook.”

Taehyung says and smiles at his own words. “I fell in love with my own guard, Jiminie!” he sounds enchanted. The smile on his face is terrifying in every sense.

Now Jimin knows how Taehyung always manages to smile so big. He now knows how the other always look so carefree. He understands the mask, the way he hid himself under those blinding smiles. Jimin feels his own eyes welling up

“Tae…” he extends his arms and wraps them tightly around Taehyung and the latter hugs him back. He doesn’t say anything and lets Taehyung cry in his arms. The room is filled with his silent sobs and Jimin tries not to break apart himself.

“Oh how stupid was I?” he says, while Taehyung cries with his head on his chest. “I saw how you always treated him and yet I never-” Jimin stops when he realises something. It hits him all of a sudden.

“Jungkook loves you!” he says as if it's the most obvious thing to say. Taehyung breaks the hug to look at him. “What…?” Taehyung looks at him as if he had grown a pair of horns.

“Jungkook loves you, Tae…” Jimin repeats again and looks at the other. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed the way he looks at you. It’s not even something new. All the time when you used to visit the Library, his eyes were always on you. When someone used to bug you with-

-anything, his eyes always followed every little action.” Taehyung feels himself falling into a trap again. He feels himself going back to it and surrendering himself to it, again. Hope. Hope that was once his everything and the one which he harboured for so long.

The same one which broke the other day when Jungkook said he considers him just as his friend and that he doesn’t even ever want to marry anyone. “He was just doing his duty…” Taehyung says and somehow his own words stink. “he looked after me because it was his duty, he-”

“And looking longingly at the person you are protecting is part of the duty as well?” Jimin doesn’t know why but it makes him smile. “I’ve always thought that the way he treats you is different, the way he just looks at you when you are there without caring for anyone else’s-

-presence... I thought you were special to him and now everything makes sense!” He looks at Taehyung and hopes that he is convincing enough.

Taehyung wants to hate Jimin for what he just said. He wants to hate Jimin for trying to open those doors for him. He doesn’t want to go there and find no one on the other side.

“Jiminie… he- he doesn’t have feelings for me… He… he considers me as his friend!” Taehyung tries. Jimin looks at him in disbelief. “Friend?! H-” “And besides that, I will get married to someone else...”

Taehyung says before he can hear Jimin say that he also doesn’t believe that Jungkook considers him just as his friend. “Are you getting married? To whom?” Jimin looks at him with a confused face. “I will be meeting suitors from next week and I can-

-choose one among them as my husband.” Taehyung tries to act like he doesn't care. “You will marry one of them? Just like that?” Jimin fully turns to look at the other from where he is sitting beside him.

“You are not going to marry the one you love? You are not going to fight for your love?” Taehyung snorts. “Believe me, when I say that for the past two years, I've been trying to do that!”

“And now you are going to give it up because?” You are going to go and get married to someone else?” “I just don’t want to hurt myself with hope, Jimin…” Taehyung finally says what he has been trying to convince himself for the past few hours.

“I don’t want to go for him if he doesn’t want me!” Taehyung looks outside. “What's the point of going over someone who just doesn’t want to have anything to do with you? If you have a little self respect left then it’s better to leave them alone…”

Taehyung looks defeated and this is the first time Jimin is seeing him like this. There is a numbness in Taehyung’s words and it breaks Jimin’s heart. But he can't take it.

“Then at least make him see what he losing out!!'' Jimin stands up and Taehyung follows his actions with a surprised face. “Jungkook needs to see what he will not be having if he loses you! He-”

“I love him, Jimin…'' Taehyung smiles at him. “I love Jungkook!” He says as if he loves hearing it himself. It's not everyday that he repeats to himself. And it never happened that he admitted it to someone else.

“I love him so much that it will hurt me if I try to show him how petty I am because he doesn’t reciprocate my feelings. I can’t ever make him feel that he will lose anything by losing me, because I don’t want to leave with the feeling that he will miss me!”

His eyes get filled again and he smiles through the pain. He is so familiar with faking his feelings that the sudden letting out of him is making him feel too much at too little time.

“If he- if he says that he will miss me when I leave… I don't know if I will be able to handle that, Jiminie! So let me do at least this for myself. Let me be selfish this way.” He cries.

“If I can’t have him then let me go on believing that he never wanted me as well! It will help me heal…” he cries louder when Jimin holds him. “I love him and it hurts…” And once again Jimin is reminded that reality hurts, while it is different for everyone, it still hurts.

That's all for TODAY! If you liked this update and then story then you can buy me a Ko-fi if you want to... ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

======================

Content. Jimin feels content. The past few days feel nothing less than a dream and he feels content. It's like finally everything makes sense. Everything around him makes some sort of sense, if not completely. He doesn’t feel too caged in his surroundings.

If he ignores the fact that the King didn’t ask for a massage that night or the nights after that, he feels content. He felt or still feels sad because he had literally prepared himself for that only for the other to not ask him.

The King just talked to him the whole time, Jimin was waiting for him to ask him, whenever there was a pause between their words but the other didn’t. He still feels content. They are giving time to each other and he feels great about it.

The words exchanged between them may be few but they both never have small talk. Jimin knows by now that the King doesn’t initiate the conversation but he feels it's okay. If at the end of it, they talk then it's all that matters.

He hopes, one day he will literally have to scold his husband because he talks too much. He will do his best to show the King that he wants to make their relationship stronger and if these small steps towards each other is what they have to do for it then they will.

He knows the King is trying to work on their marriage as well and it really helps him because it assures him that he is not the only one trying. And if the King is hesitant then he will lead this way. He will lead them to their hopefully common destination.

It makes him happy and he wants his happiness. He also wishes for his husband’s happiness to be him, someday. As he stands near the balcony of his room, he finds a commotion outside the palace. It looks like someone is arriving at the palace.

A man steps out of a carriage and judging by his clothes, he looks like a Prince. There is someone else standing there, welcoming him and when they turn around,he realises that is Tae’s father.

“𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒐𝒏𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔…” It could be one of the suitors then, judging by the smile Taehyung’s father is giving that Prince.

Jimin feels the urge to just go there and tell the Prince to back off and that his Tae is not interested in getting married to him, but he doesn’t know if he should act so recklessly. There are chances that he will get in trouble and it won’t be just him.

He wants to do it because he knows what Taehyung went through, during the past few days. He was there with him. And what made him more sad was that, not once he saw Jungkook there. Every day wherever he went there, the guard wasn’t there.

“Why are you frowning, my dear?” He is startled when he sees the King beside him. They meet everyday and everyday Jimin gets surprised, everytime he feels the other beside him, like it happened for the first time.

“When will you ever give me a warning before you speak?” he says and turns to see his husband. “And how do you always manage to enter the chamber without making a noise? How is that even possible?”

“So you expect me to tie a bell around my hands?” The King chuckles at his own words. “That was not funny at all…” Jimin says, crossing his arms across his chest. But he feels good.

“It was not meant to be… I’m very serious.” the King says and looks outside. “Oh so they are here, already…?” he says when he sees the Prince and Taehyung’s father at a distance. “You know them?” Jimin perks up. “I mean you know that Tae’s parents are looking to get him-

-married off?” Jimin stops himself when the other gives him an amused look. “I suppose, I should know about it since I'm the King of this Kingdom?” “And you are okay with it?” Jimin feels restless. “Being a King?” “That Tae is getting married!”

The need to talk to someone beside Taehyung on the matter, making him restless and he really wants to share it with someone, preferably his husband himself. “Why would I not be okay with my brother getting married?” The King looks at him for a second.

“If that’s what Taehyung wants then I’m okay with it.” ‘He is not.’ ‘Your brother is anything but okay with it. He doesn’t want to get married to any suitor out there!’ Jimin was so lost in his thoughts and he didn’t realise when-

“What is bothering you, my dear…?” Jimin stills when he feels the King, now standing behind him and his voice too close to him. The King cages Jimin between himself and the railing of the balcony.

“What is it?” he asks again, voice soft as usual when he addresses Jimin. His hands close to the other but not touching. Jimin tries to control his heartbeat and talk. “nothing… I-” “I will listen to whatever you have to say….” the other says, assuring him.

Jimin stays quiet for few seconds before he says- “What if Taehyung doesn’t want to get married?” He tries to say what is in his mind but he also doesn’t want to tell the King everything because he doesn’t know how the other would take it.

He knows that the King would always want the best for his brother’s well being but he is not sure if it's his place to say everything. “Did he say that to you?” The King sounds confused. “Tae doesn’t want to get married?”

“Answer my question, first!” “Quite demanding… aren’t you?” the other says, raising his eyebrow. Jimin tries to control his smile. He gets close to the railing and looks outside.

“Well, to answer your question, if he doesn’t want to get married then he won’t be getting married!” the King says as a matter of fact. “But his father said that he- he will have to marry sooner than later!” “And who is his father?”

“The defence minister of this kingdom?” Jimin says quite not able to understand what his husband is implying by asking him that. “And who am I?” Jimin giggles at that. “Are you showing off your status my King?” he asks smiling.

“I’m just being honest. And besides that, if Tae doesn’t want to get married then nobody is going to force him against his wishes.” the King says firmly. Jimin feels proud, like extremely proud of his Husband. He turns a little to look at the other.

But that wasn’t a good decision because only then he realises how close the King is standing to him. He looks at the King but the latter’s eyes are not on him as usual. Unusually, those eyes are on his lips. Jimin’s heart skips a beat. He involuntarily licks his lips.

“Now answer my question…” the King’s voice is deeper than usual. His eyes look past Jimin to somewhere outside. “I don't remember the question.” Jimin honestly replies because he doesn’t remember it. His mind is not where it was a while ago.

“Did Taehyung tell you about anything regarding him not wanting to get married?'' He repeats his question. Jimin just examines his Husband’s face. The other is less paler than usual and looks more red. Maybe because of the fact that he is getting some hours of sleep nowadays.

“He doesn't want to get married to any suitor…'' he says and immediately regrets his words. ‘I shouldn't have said that. I can't snitch on Tae!’ “Whom does he want to marry then?” The question was too direct.

“I don’t know…” he feels bad for lying but it's the right thing to do. He can’t take Jungkook’s name and get both him and Taehyung in trouble. “I just know that he doesn’t want to get married and they will force him to do so…”

“And you think that Taehyung will do something just because someone forced him to do it?” he looks at Jimin, “as far as I know my brother, he will never agree on doing something he doesn’t want to. He’d rather leave this palace, then do something he doesn't want to do!”

Jimin feels speechless. He wonders how can the King be so sure about it. But also that, maybe the other is right and everything will work out in the end. Maybe he- “Who is the one?” The King gets close to him. “Who is Taehyung in love with?”

Jimin presses himself against the railing, more. “I- I do not… I don’t know…'“ he tries to say and looks at his husband, only to see the other looking back at him. The King’s eyes move from him to his lips. “I know you know who that is but you don’t want to tell me because-

-it’s not your place to do so.” And Jimin gulps at the clarity the other’s tone has. ‘Am I that much obvious and easy to read?’ ‘Then why can’t you see my love for you?’

He thinks to himself when a wave of irritation passes through him. The reminder that he is in love and his husband is the most oblivious person possible when it comes to acknowledging his feelings for the other.

“If you want to know it that badly then why don’t you go and ask your brother about it yourself?!” he says and looks straight into his husband’s eyes. The King looks at him for a few seconds before smiling at him. He takes a step forward and looks at Jimin’s lips. And says-

“I will surely find out, but don’t be mad at me, my love…” And then he leaves the chamber. Jimin just doesn’t know what to do other than standing there, supported by the railing and looking at the direction of the door with wide eyes. “What just happened?”

=====================

Taehyung sits on his bed and waits. He waits for the arrival of the Prince he is scheduled to meet today. His father had told him earlier to not come outside to welcome the said Prince at the entrance because that wouldn't be appropriate to do for a Prince like him.

Instead, he should get ready and look presentable for the Prince he will meet. He tries to smile at least for the sake of his servants who got him ready this morning but he doesn’t feel like smiling at all. His reasons for smiling have been numbered since the past few days.

There is a certain kind of emptiness growing inside him and it cannot be changed. Or maybe that’s not the case entirely. The only person who can make him smile is not here. He hadn't seen the other after leaving him that night.

Jungkook didn’t come to see him after that night and it was only informed to him by some other guard that he was put on some other duty by his father for a while. So there is no point in waiting for him.

His thoughts are stopped midway when he sees a figure entering his chamber. “It's a pleasure to meet you, my Prince, I am Seojoon.” Both of them bow in front of each other. They move to sit on the chairs, facing each other.

A servant serves them some tea and then leaves them alone. Taehyung has always been talkative but he doesn’t feel like talking at all. The Prince looks at him with a smile so he smiles back.

“I had no idea what to ask or talk to someone, when my father told me that I will have to go and meet a Prince for my marriage but-” “But?”

“But you look so beautiful, my Prince, that now I have absolutely no idea on how to even strike up a conversation with you!” Taehyung chuckles when he sees the nervous smile on the Prince’s face.

====================

They talk to each other for a few hours. The Prince tells him how he is looking for someone equal to him and not someone who will get married to him just to please him. Someone who can guide him during the need and he can share his worries with. Taehyung likes the guy.

He seems honest about his emotions and respects Taehyung’s choices. The Prince begins to leave after being hopeful of a possible next meeting with Taehyung. But before leaving, he says “I actually had something to give the Prince I will meet today-

-but I don't know if you will like it or not…” he looks hopefully at Taehyung. “I'm sure I will like it.” Taehyung says and smiles at the other. The Prince takes out a small box from his pocket and extends it in front of Taehyung for him to accept it.

“Are you giving me a ring or something?” he takes the small box in his hand, “so that you can seal the deal and I don’t get to meet any other Princes?” he teases and laughs when the other shakes his head repeatedly.

“No no, my Prince… it's not like that, I respect your decision!” “Don’t worry, I was just playing with you!” he says and opens the small box. It's a pendant. A simple looking gold studded pendant. A heart shaped locket of diamond shines at the middle of it.

“I don't know if it will be worthy enough for someone as beautiful as you, but I also don’t want to leave without giving you this.” the other sincerely says. “Thank you for the gift!” he says looking at the pendant. It looks expensive in spite of its simplicity.

When the other doesn’t say another, he looks up to see. “what is it?” “May I?” the other says with a nervous face. Taehyung gets confused for a few seconds and then it hits him. “Oh! Yeah sure…” he says and gives the pendant to the Prince.

The other walks around him and helps him to wear the necklace. Taehyung flinches when the cold fingers of the other touch his nape. “This looks so good on you, my Prince. And I hope we will meet again…” the other says standing behind him.

Taehyung gives him a small smile and nods at the other when the latter proceeds to leave. He doesn’t close the door, till he sees the Prince leaving his side of the chamber.

He closes the door and before he can turn around, someone strongly grips his one arm, turns him around and pushes him against the door. “What the-” He falls silent when he sees the person standing so close, in front of him. Jungkook.

That's all for TODAY! Next update on tomorrow if I get the motivation to write. I hope you all are liking the story so far and if you do then you can buy me a Ko-fi. ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

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“Jungkook?” Jungkook stands in front of Taehyung with both of his hands on either side of Taehyung’s shoulder. His eyes are dark and a different kind of emotions running through them, as he hovers over Taehyung.

“Wh-” “Did he touch you?” Jungkook asks, cutting the other’s words in midway. His voice was urgent. Taehyung tries to understand the man standing before him. He looks at Jungkook and tries to see what that all look is about.

And he should ask Jungkook where he was for the past few days. He should ask him is he okay? Should ask him what he meant by what he just said but he instead says- “Yes.” The Prince didn’t.

A hiss leaves Jungkook’s mouth and he takes an urgent step towards Taehyung. “Where?” his voice comes out in a whisper but the urgency in his voice is evident. “where did he touch you?”

Taehyung doesn't know why lied or why he feels the anticipation when he sees the panic in other’s eyes. He wishes to understand everything. He doesn’t know any of it yet but something pushes him to put his one hand on his waist and say, “here… here on my waist…”

He waits for Jungkook to say something, ask him anything or just explain why they are in this position but his heart skips a beat when he feels Jungkook’s hands above his own on his waist. He looked down to see Jungkook’s hand was really on his waist.

He is barely touching his hand but Taehyung feels a lot. He feels something overwhelming taking over himself. Over the past two years they have been close to each other, have touched each other innumerous times but this one feels not like any of the previous times.

It's just a touch but it feels so different. So different that it overwhelms him. Something so not friendly about it.

“Here…?” Jungkook’s voice is soft when he rubs his palm over Taehyung’s knuckles. “Where else? Where else did he touch you?” He looks all over Taehyung, the urgency in him making it look like he is desperate for something. His eyes roam around everywhere until-

His eyes set on the pendant on Taehyung’s neck. He frowns at it. Taehyung doesn’t know what took over him when he says- “The Prince’s hands were here as well…” he touched his collarbone. “He gave me a present as well…” his eyes never leave Jungkook-

-when the frown on the latter’s face grows. And then the frown is gone. Taehyung feels chills run through his spine when Jungkook looks at him and the pendant on his neck. Taehyung flinches a bit when the other plants a kiss over his fingers on his neck.

And then looks at him with half hooded eyes. “Do you… you like this?” In spite of his actions, there is pain in Jungkook’s eyes. He looks at Taehyung in an almost pleading way. “He gave it to me as a present, I liked it…”

Taehyung feels his own eyes getting filled with unshed tears. Something is making him feel like crying and he doesn’t know what it is. He nods at Jungkook, for reasons he himself doesn’t know. “I don’t necessarily need it though…I don’t want it...”

‘𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖!’ A tear falls from his eyes when Jungkook kisses his neck. A soft kiss, barely there just like his touch a few moments ago.

Jungkook leaves feather-like kisses all over Taehyung’s neck, his lips gracing every part of the skin but not once touching the pendant. Taehyung feels himself crying by now. The other then just looks at him with his eyes burning with something and-

He breaks the pendant with his teeth and spits it to the ground making Taehyung gasp at him. He looks at the pendant on the ground for a second and then looks back at the other. “Where else…?” he whispers against Taehyung’s neck, getting close to him again. “where else-”

Taehyung pushes him away, roughly. Jungkook almost controls himself from falling because of the sudden push. He looks at the other in shock. “No!” he points at the other and says, “ don’t you even try to take a step further or else i’ll punch you in the face, Jungkook!”

Jungkook looks back at Taehyung horrified. Concern takes over him. “My Prince I-” “Don’t you dare to speak, when I talk!” Taehyung says in a warning tone. “You can’t do this! You can’t do this!” he cries. “I won't let you- I won’t let you do this to me…” he rests his head-

-against the door when he cries. Regret fills all over Jungkook’s heart. He regrets his actions and unknowingly feels his own eyes getting wet. He shouldn’t have broken the pendant. He shouldn't have touched the other without his permission.

Even if Taehyung nodded at him, he should have waited for the other to say something, should have waited for his vocal approval. “I’m sorry I’m sorry, I-” He tries to take a step towards the other but Taehyung stops him.

“No! I won’t let you do this to me! You can’t make me feel that you feel something for me!” he screams at the other. Jungkook stills. “Don’t touch me if you don’t love me the way I love you!!!”

He takes a step towards the other when he says, “Don’t you dare to make me think that you feel something for me when you don’t!” He pushes him again. “Don’t you try to make me feel what I feel for you when you don’t!” he screams at the other.

He then takes steps away from the other and moves to get inside his chamber after saying, “ Don’t do this when I'm just your friend…” Those words carry all the bitterness he feels. He wants Jungkook to know that as well.

He takes a step away from the other and tries to walk past him, but Jungkook stops him midway and pulls him closer to his chest, instead. Hands around Taehyung’s waist in a stronghold. Their faces inches away and he says,

“What if I say I feel something for you as well?” The voice came out small and unsure. Taehyung looks at him with wide eyes open in shock. “Wh-” “What if I say I- I… if I say I can’t afford to” he chokes on his words, “I can’t let you go…?”

He looks so helpless when he says it and that breaks Taehyung’s heart. “Don’t. Please don’t…” Taehyung’s tears fall out easily when he sees the pain in Jungkook’s eyes. “Please don’t give me hope for something like that…” he rests his palms on Jungkook's chest.

“I don't want you to hope for anyone else other than me…” “That is selfish!” he clutches Jungkook's hanbok. “That is so selfish of you to say!” “Aren’t we all selfish? I’ve never been selfish before but-” he tries to find the right words to say.

“It’s not selfish if you want the same… Don’t you want it?” he looks at Taehyung, sincerely. “Why are you doing this…?” Taehyung asks in a tired voice. He is so tired of everything. He doesn’t know what Jungkook wants from him.

He is leaving everything and trying to move past everything, with the belief that he can’t control over other’s emotions and right now he stands where he stopped to imagine himself ever standing. “I don’t want you to meet any suitors!” Jungkook sounds panicked,

“I don’t want you to…” he pulls the other closer to him, “I can’t imagine you with someone else and I-” “You?” “I want to kiss you so badly right now…” he gulps, “ That is only if you let me… please?”

Taehyung looks at him in shock when he hears it. “What really happened to you? Why are you suddenly saying all these things? It doesn’t make any sense…” “Things don't always have to make sense…” “Jungkook.” “Gukkie… call me Gukkie…” he looks at Taehyung pleadingly.

“No! Not unless you tell me what really happened to you that you are acting this way!” Taehyung tries to get away from the other but the latter doesn’t let him go. “See, if you are here because you realised after our previous conversation that I have feelings for you and-

-you think you need to do like me in return because of it then please don’t! I don’t need your pity!” “This is not a pity!” The answer was immediate. “I don’t know what is happening as well, but please… just give me some time to figure out whatever this is…”

“This is nothing, Jungkook! We have nothing between us! I’ve finally realised it and you should too because in a few months time, I will get married to some Prince and leave this palace for good!” Taehyung doesn’t even know why he is repeating the same thing again and again.

It’s like he is telling everything to himself as well. Trying his best to not hope again. “I won’t let you go…” Jungkook says in a broken voice, lips close against his own lips. “You will have-” And then Jungkook kisses him.

A peck on the lips and then both look at each other. A moment of silence engulfs them both. Taehyung knows he shouldn’t do it but when Jungkook takes a step back once he reflects on his action, he clutches the latter’s collar and pulls him closer to him to smack his lips-

-against the other. Jungkook kisses him back. A desperate kiss which turns heated, both unwilling to let go of each other. Taehyung sobs when Jungkook kisses his tear stained cheeks, kissing him all over his face. “please…”

“No…” Taehyung says but cries into their kiss. And he hopes. Hopes for everything.

==================

“You have to tell him!” “I can't let him know, Hoba…” Yoongi says, looking at his best friend, who is pacing around the chamber. “But hyung, he is your husband and he deserves to know the truth.” Namjoon sincerely says, sitting on the chair.

“Why are you pleading to this stupid? If he doesn’t tell him then I will!” Jin says, preparing the tea beside the bed. “No you won’t.” Yoongi firmly says, from where he is sitting on the bed.

“Jimin is like my brother and I won’t let him live in the dark, just because his husband is an idiot, who doesn’t want him to know the truth!” Jin stands up from the bed and looks at Yoongi in frustration.

“It's best for him if he doesn’t know about all of this” Yoongi looks out of the window. “In this way, his future will be secured.” “And what about his present, Hyung?” Namjoon looks at him with a small empty smile on his face.

“If you do this to him, you will ruin his present, hyung… you will break him…” “And he deserves to know the truth!” Hobi says getting close to where Namjoon is sitting. “Otherwise he will hate you for doing this to him! He will definitely hate you!”

Hobi says on the verge of tears. “He will forever hate you for doing this to him!” “That is what I want him to do. I want him to hate me so much that he realises that the only way for him to do so is by breaking this marriage.”

Yoongi looks at them, “I want to break this marriage in my own ways and no one among you should tell him anything, even after I leave.” His voice stern, “This is an order from the King.” “You are not leaving!” Jin cries and points a finger at the other to say,

“You are going nowhere! You will not be leaving! We won’t let you leave us all!” “I’m not sure how far it will work since I’m getting poisoned but I will not let him suffer with me!” “Jimin will have to leave…”

That's all for today! Don't worry NO MCD AND BOTH THE COUPLES WILL HAVE A HAPPY ENDING. Meet you all again with the next update, meanwhile you can support me on Ko-fi and buy me a Ko-fi if you want to... ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

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TW // mention of minor character death from the past.

Thunderstorm. It is the beginning of a thunderstorm. Jimin knows that it was not good, it always scares him whenever he faces one but maybe it won’t be that bad because the last time it occured, he got married.

But nonetheless, it still scares him. He doesn’t like the sound of it. He doesn’t like when harsh sounds hit his ears and he feels helpless. It’s like it never brings peace with it, it makes him feel he’s all alone and that no blanket or curling up to himself will help him-

-to get out of it. He takes an urgent step back from the balcony of his room, when it starts raining a bit harder. The sound reached through him and scared him, only to collide against someone’s chest. ‘𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆…’

He feels his bones relaxing the moment he feels his husband’s presence behind him. He slowly rests his head on the other. It calms him down. No thunderstorm can shake him when he has the King beside him. “Jimin…” Yoongi looks ahead of themselves.

He wishes he had control over anything, at least his own life. If he could just extend his hands and hold Jimin in it forever. If he could never let the other go. He quickly composes himself and says, “We need to talk.”

Jimin doesn’t turn around and just nods with his eyes closed, tuning out the voices from outside and trying to hear his husband's heartbeat instead. His head is still resting on Yoongi’s shoulder. “We need to end this marriage.” There is silence between them after those words.

Jimin shudders when the words reach him. He looks ahead of himself, outside. Gloomy, the sky looks gloomy. He then turns around to look at his husband. Yoongi’s face doesn’t show any emotion, just like it didn’t when he asked for Jimin’s hand in marriage.

Jimin just stares at him and Yoongi doesn’t break eye contact this time, his eyes never leave Jimin, stern in his words when he repeats, “We need to end this marriage.” He gets restless when Jimin still doesn’t say anything.

He waits for a reaction, denial, anger over what he said, confusion over what he said, or something simple like ‘what do you mean by that?’, something, anything. So he speaks again, “you must be thinking, why did I marry you in the first place if I want to end this marriage-

-eventually right?” Jimin still just stares at him. “After my father’s death, there were some Ministers who were against my coronation and they didn’t want me to become the King because of my young age.”

“Well that is what they claimed publically. I became the King nonetheless, but there were still plans going on among them against me. And it was difficult to convince them because I also didn’t have the support from the general public at that time. So I had to plan this whole-

-thing, to get support behind myself!” Yoongi hopes he sounds believable. He hopes that whatever he is saying is convincing enough for Jimin to leave the Palace and him. It makes him anxious when Jimin just stands there, in front of him, without reacting to whatever he is-

-saying to the latter. “And the best way to get support was to get married to a Commoner! Someone out of the masses, itself. Someone not related to the Palace, so that people consider me as one of them and worthy to be their ruler. It will give them a sense of Pride-

-that their King was kind enough to choose a marriage like that. And now that I have the public support, I don't think there is any need for us to continue this marriage.” He stresses on the last few words to get something out of Jimin, maybe a slap on his face but Jimin-

-still doesn’t say anything. “But you don’t have to worry about your future. I will make sure you live in a decent home in the village of your choice and you will have all the rights which a King consort has, even after the end of our marriage.

I will even send some guards for your protection, so you don’t need to fear anything. I will take care of all your needs. You just have to leave this palace.” The restlessness gets the best of him and he says, “Jimin… I'm talking to you…”

‘𝑺𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕!’

But when Jimin takes a step back from him and proceeds to smile at him, Yoongi feels chills run through his entire body. Jimin smiles big, stretching his lips unbelievably and says-

“So this is how I wake up from my dream?” He tilts his head a little and smiles, “this is where the dream ends and I am back to reality?” A loud bolt from outside and Jimin turns around to look at the sky when he hears the sound and then looks back at Yoongi again.

His eyes are red with unshed tears ready to be shed, and when tears fall from his eyes, he touches his cheek with surprise on his face and then looks at Yoongi and giggles. “I am crying…” He whispers in amusement. “I never thought that I could ever cry!” He wipes his tears,

“I thought that I would always be miserable but my inefficiency to cry will never let me cry for even just for a few minutes, forget hours! But look at this, I'm crying!” It terrifies Yoongi. The smile on Jimin’s face scares him. “Jim-”

“I was 18 when I first saw you…” Yoongi just looks at him, deciding to say nothing else. “I didn’t have permanent work or a place to go and search for work, until one day I met a Halmeoni. She looked like someone from the palace.

Her carriage was stuck in the middle of the path so I helped to get the wheels out of the mud and she told me to help her get back to her home in the village.” Jimin smiles at the memory. “I worked at her house for over three years before she died.”

He frowns, “she never once made me feel that I’m a stranger, always treated me as her own Grandson!” He looks at Yoongi and smiles genuinely. “The only thing she used to ask me to do besides doing the house chores for her, was to write letters to her yoon-yoon!”

Yoongi looks at him with wide eyes. “She used to tell me how much she misses her yoon-yoon and one day, she told me to write a letter to you on her behalf because it was difficult for her to write. And when you replied to the first letter after a few days,

-the smile on her face was worth watching!” Jimin flinches when he hears the sound of harsh rains from outside. It takes everything in Yoongi to not hold the other immediately in his arms.

“On my 18th birthday, when I was getting back from her home, I saw you for the first time. The man I write letters to…” They both look at each other, one smiling while the other holding back the urge to reach out.

“You were addressing a public gathering and someone was standing beside you, introducing you as the Prince of the Kingdom. The people beside me were saying how fierce and fearless you look, but all I could see was a beautiful grumpy man, who was annoyed to be standing there!”

He chuckles at his own words. “I didn’t see you after that, for the next three years but whenever I used to write letters after that, I always had a face in my mind. A person who will read my letters, even though they weren’t mine, even though the person reading them,

-doesn’t know I am the one writing…” He looks past Yoongi to their room. “until one day, the day when it took more than necessary days for the reply to come and I got anxious thinking that you didn’t get the letter! Halmeoni was sure that it must be delayed because of-

-some other reason and she told me not to worry about it, even when it was her letter, afterall!” “When it finally came, I felt so elated that I realised that I started to feel something for someone, who doesn’t even know I exist! That I feel elated to write a letter to someone!

-I realised that I get excited over someone’s letters which are not for me or will ever be for me!” He cries when he says, “Don’t know how and when but I fell for you…”

“I fell for the way you write, I started looking at those letters and began to see something in them, between those lines, rearranging them, looking for something exclusively for me. I knew it was stupid, but every time you asked in the letter, ‘how are you?’ and I used to read-

-that aloud, I imagined it was for me…” He covers his face and cries harder. The room fills with his cries and Yoongi never once felt so helpless in his life. He takes a step forward and hugs the other. His hands wrap around Jimin and let him cry in his embrace.

Jimin just cries against his chest, wincing in between when he hears the sound from outside. Face hiding in the crook of Yoongi’s neck and never once trying to stop his tears. He feels glad for finally being able to cry, cry his heart out but he hates the reason behind it.

He then looks at Yoongi, who is still holding him, “I will leave- leave the palace, if that's what you want…” he says, choking in between in his own words. “I don’t need any security or status… I… what is the use?” he smiles in between in his tears.

‘𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈?’

“I would have left the palace, even if you just told me to leave, without stating the reason. I had always prepared myself for a day like this, when I agreed to get married to you…” he frowns, “then I don't know why I'm crying? I don’t know why I feel so… broken?”

His questions were for himself but his eyes were set on Yoongi. “I always knew my reality then why did I think that I could have you in it? Why did I think that you would be a part of it?”

He tries to smile for Yoongi and speak but chokes again. “Thank you…” the attempt to bring a smile to his own face is sincere, “Thank you for the past few weeks… I will forever cherish them… you don’t know it, but you gave me something, my dreams were made of!-

-And now when I dream of you, I'll have something that happened in real life… Enough for me, to just live the rest of my life…” “But-” he tries to speak again. Yoongi looks at him and silently asks him to continue.

If Jimin asks him anything else then he will tell him everything! He will be selfish for one last time and not let the other go. He won’t ever let Jimin leave him, if Jimin asks him what is the reason for doing it, one more time, he will tell him the truth. But Jimin doesn’t.

“Before leaving, can I be a little selfish and dare to ask you for one more thing? I know I've already got more than what I deserve but can I ask for one more thing as well? Please?” he says pleadingly.

Yoongi nods at him. Jimin will have to leave, he will have to leave and have a future for himself, without him. He deserves to fall in love with someone, share a future with someone that will not be him because he doesn’t have a future.

“Will you kiss me? I won’t ask for anything else, I- just can you-” Yoongi pulls him closer instantly and kisses him. He kisses him with everything that is left in him. Just slow drag of lips, an uncertain action, waiting for someone to break first.

Jimin cries into the kiss and he tries to kiss back but his tears get in the way. His heart got in the way. He gets startled in the middle of it, when the loud bolt sound reaches them. But what startled him more was that Yoongi's hold on him grew stronger.

He takes a step back to breathe and breaks the kiss in the process but Yoongi follows him and kisses him again, desperately this time. Lips chasing his own, not letting him go.

Jimin doesn’t realise during their kiss when they start moving and only realises it when his legs touch the edge of the bed. Before he processes everything, he falls into it, pulling Yoongi along with him.

He gasps the moment his back hits the soft material below him and shudders when he feels Yoongi’s tongue inside his mouth, kissing him in a needy way, leaving pecks in between his kisses. Yoongi's tongue reaches every corner of his mouth-

-and he tries to give it back to him in the same way possible. Then he finally breaks the kiss. He, himself laying on the bed, Yoongi hovering over him. Their eyes on each other, taking deep breaths, trying to control their breathing.

The thunder from outside, once again brings Jimin out of his trance. “Go away! Leave me alone!” he cries and shivers when he looks outside. A plea for the sky above to stop always messing with his life.

He didn’t realise when Yoongi lay beside him on the bed and pulled him in his arms. He cries when he feels his husband’s kiss on his head, and cries one last time, into the other’s chest.

If this is what he gets before leaving the other, then he is content. He feels safe in those arms as it protects him from the thunderstorm. With the knowledge that they will never again experience this, they both fall asleep that day. The sky cried for them.

That's all for TODAY! Even I cried, while writing. Lot of dms for the previous update, I will answer all when. The only thing you need to know is HAPPY ENDING FOR SURE. Also thanks for all the qrts, it motivates me a lot! Buy me a Kofi if you want to ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

If you came here for the update then I'm sorry but the next update will possibly on 9th because I have exams. I just noticed how many people read this fic and I don't want to give you all a rushed update.

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Jimin stands before the wardrobe, looking at all the shiny clothes before him. They glitter the same like the first time he saw them. He never liked wearing those at first but now he is used to them. He was comfortable…

He takes none of it and packs all the essentials and because he didn’t have much when he came to the palace. And now that he is leaving, he will leave with the same set of clothes he had brought with him. His same old linen… Those don't have the shine but feel so real.

He smiles when he looks around, out of the balcony and it's time to leave. He walks up to there and puts his hands on the railing. He will miss this, his favourite place in the whole palace. He will miss his time here. He will miss the clear sky.

He will miss Taehyung as well. Taehyung was always there for him and even if Taehyung might visit him in the library till he himself leaves the Kingdom, he will still miss talking to the other.

He never had a friend before in his life, to call as his best friend but if anyone can come close to it then it’s the Prince for sure. He hopes Taehyung gets his happiness, hopes he gets Jungkook, hopes they have each other.

“Are you ready?” And he will miss this well. He will miss this feeling, the sudden rush of something, everytime he is in a situation like this.

He takes a sharp breath when the voice reaches him. He will miss this voice, miss the one it belongs to, miss those words, miss those moments, he will miss everything that is Min Yoongi…

Not the one who rules the kingdom, not the King of the public. He will miss the person who used to talk to him, daily, in the same place where he stands right now. He will miss the calmness and storm that is his love. One sided but selfishly his only.

“Yes…” he says and turns around to face the other who is looking at his luggage. “Where is the rest of your luggage?” There is nothing evident in that voice and it breaks Jimin.

“I don't need it. I will only take what I brought with me when I came here. I don’t need anything else.” he says calmly. The King still doesn’t turn around to face him.

‘Now you don’t even want to see my face after what I confessed to you last night? I thought we had much more to our relationship than that. If not love then there was something! Was there not?’ He wants to say it, wants to scream it out but he doesn’t.

“I will send someone to take care-” “I do not need it.” The King doesn't say anything after that. No questions were asked.

“The carriage is ready for you outside…” he says after some time, in a low voice. “I would have come by myself to drop you at your house but… there are some things I need to take care of. Don’t worry, the guards will take you there safely.”

“It’s alright, you don’t have to…” ‘If I see you outside of this place, then I might do something for you to be with me! My old house is cold but I'll bring all the warmth in the world for you to stay. Just to be with me, by my side.’

‘If I don't let you go on your own then I might tell you the truth and destroy your life more than I already did. I can't be a bother for you, I can’t trap you here, my love…’

There is a knock on the door and two guards come inside when the King nods at them, to take the luggage. “The carriage is ready, his majesty.” There is a silence for a moment and Jimin waits. He doesn’t know what he was waiting for but he waits.

A sign, a moment of acknowledgment, few words, anything but he gets none. “I will leave then…” he says and starts walking towards the door, out of the chamber. None of them says anything, it’s not like there was anything to be said. They both were pretty clear last night.

He confessed his feelings for the other, so there was nothing more for him to say. The King opened up about the arrangement so there is nothing for him to stay.

But there is something in him, at the back of his mind, it's there. Some words, some memories, something wanting to get out. Something bugging him when he walks out.

‘𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕…’ ‘𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅?’

Jimin tries to walk faster, tries to battle with the words that cloud his senses, zone out everything but those memories overpowers his senses. He tries to tell himself to not think about those empty words but-

‘𝑱𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈? 𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅?’ ‘𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆…’

He stops on his tracks. ‘𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑…’ He turns around to look at the King, who is looking out of the balcony.

‘𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒚?’ Anger seeps inside him. He feels his eyes getting blurred from the feeling of something terrible inside him.

‘𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆…’ His breathing goes uneven when it hits him. ‘𝑰'𝒎 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆... 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒈𝒐?!' The thought is so sudden and yet it ignites something inside him.

The feelings overpowers his moves. Something he never dared to ask yesterday, because of overwhelming feelings, he will get to know what he deserves to know. He will do at least this for himself. And then he starts walking in the other direction.

He takes quick steps towards the other, if he has to leave then he will leave after knowing the real reason and not some self created story. He will only leave after the King answers his questions.

He gets close to the other and puts his hand on the other’s shoulder. His anger leaves him when the King turns around and he looks at his husband. The face looks so- The King sighs when he looks at Jimin, smiles before he falls onto him. He faints in Jimin’s arms.

I know this was a short update but I'm getting back to writing after some time so like, send you author some good vibes. Also support me on Kofi if you can ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

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It's all blurry for a few seconds. He tries to look past all the blurriness but sees nothing. He hears some sounds but he quite can’t hear it as well. His head feels heavy and he feels he sees nobody other than Jimin. Yoongi sees Jimin.

Even when he feels he is not feeling well, he is not in his senses, yet he sees Jimin. He sees the other standing before him, smiling at him. Jimin stands before him with his blinding smile, hands stretched in his direction, as if asking Yoongi to hold them.

As if he wants Yoongi to hold him. Yoongi has seen hope in many forms. He has seen many people as his hope, the ones who help him with everything. The ones he calls his family and friends. But for the first time in his life, He feels hope.

He tried to reach out and touch Jimin’s hand but he couldn’t. He tries his best but somehow it's too far from his reach, like he can’t move his hand at all. His face never leaves Jimin’s when he tries again and again and the smile never leaves Jimin’s face as well.

He feels himself getting tired because of all the attempts he made and his eyes are closing. He can’t faint right now, not when Jimin is still smiling at him and waiting for his touch. But as much as he fights with himself, the slumber takes over him.

Yoongi immediately opens his eyes. He looks at the ceiling before sitting on his bed. Jin sits in front of the edge of the bed. His eyes are on Yoongi, expression is void of anything, but Yoongi can see the annoyance in that face.

He turns to see Namjoon standing near the balcony. The latter looks guilty of something, even when he attempts to hide it with a small smile on his face. A surprise yelp, when he feels a bone crushing hug.

“l am so glad that you are okay! Otherwise, I would have killed you with my bare hands!” Hobi says with a threatening tone, face full of worry. “I was so worried for you, idiot! You were unconscious for hours and I got really scared.”

And then Yoongi remembers what had happened. He turns his face around the room to look for a similar face but there is no one there besides the four of them in the room. A sigh of both relief and an unknown feeling leaves his chest. Jimin left.

“Whom are you looking for?” Jin says in an annoyed tone. “I didn’t stop him not because I do not want him to know the truth, but because I do not want to break the promise I made to you, that I will do what’s best for you!” There is a silence between them.

“Did he ask you anything before leaving?” “You wanted him to ask us anything?” Hobi says, sitting beside him. “You wanted him to ask us about how you fainted right?” he smiles at Yoongi. “Why didn’t you tell him the truth? You wouldn’t have looked so miserable then.”

The sadness in his voice is quite clear. “I did what was best for him.” Yoongi says, averting his eyes from them. “Well then you must be glad to know that he didn’t ask us about why you fainted!” Jin says in a mocking tone. “Seems like you hurt him so much that he found-

-absolutely no point in asking!” “I do not wish him to be hurt for a lifetime. He will get better and move on once he-” He stops when he sees someone entering the chamber, gasps when he sees that it’s- Jimin.

Jimin comes inside the chamber and stills when he sees that Yoongi is awake. Yoongi notices a bowl in the other’s hands. They both look at each other for a few seconds before Jimin starts walking towards him.

Yoongi was in shock even when Jin stood up from his place so that Jimin could sit beside him. He looks at the other three and none of them says anything. Before he could ask anything, Jimin turned around to talk to Jin, standing behind him.

“Is this alright, hyung?” he gives the bowl to Jin. Jin smells it, “It is perfect if you could add some mint leaves to it.” “Okay then I will go and add some and then come back.” Yoongi looks at Jimin, as the latter leaves the chamber again without even glancing at him.

“What is he doing here?” he whispers. “You told me that he didn’t ask-” “He didn’t ask us anything! He just threatened Namjoon that if he didn’t tell him what happened to you then he would put all of us in prison for not listening to the King Consort’s orders!”

Yoongi looks at Hobi in shock. He then looks at Namjoon who is looking at him in guilt. “I was in shock too but Seokjin hyung was laughing. And then Namjoon told him the truth!” “Not because he didn’t want to go to prison but because he also wanted Jimin to know about-

-everything!” Jin adds. “I could put you in prison for backstabbing the King of this kingdom!” Yoongi says, looking at Namjoon. “That is exactly what your husband said as well.” Namjoon smiles at him. “You did what you thought was best for him. We did what is best for you.”

And Yoongi wants to at least know what they told Jimin so that he can face Jimin accordingly. But before he can ask anything, Jimin once again enters the chamber. This time, Yoongi looks at him properly. Jimin’s face doesn’t have any expression on it, like he is mad at-

-something and that doesn’t ease his tension. He doesn’t know how Jimin might react or how he will approach the latter now. Jimin passes the bowl to Jin and after getting the latter’s approval, he sits down on the bed beside Yoongi and raises the bowl in front of him.

Yoongi notices that it’s a soup, smells it and makes a face at the bad smell of it. He still takes the bowl from the other and intentionally touches the other’s hands to confirm that he is really here and not dreaming about Jimin holding out his hand for him.

He flinches when their hands touch. A sigh of relief leaves him and this time he feels better. He takes a sip and- “What in the world is this?” He looks at Jin, “what kind of medical herbs does this have? I will not drink this!”

He says shaking his head and when everyone stays silent, he looks at everyone and then lastly at Jimin. Jimin gave him a stern look and it was enough for Yoongi to gulp down the whole soup in one go.

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Yoongi paces around his chamber. “You know, there is no use if you stress this much.” Namjoon says, “It will affect your health in a wrong way and this time it won’t be just Jin hyung who will scold you.” Yoongi stops to look at the other.

“Thanks for your words of encouragement, but it doesn’t help me in any way.” “I had told you earlier to tell him the truth but you didn’t. Now, I don’t see any point in you fretting about it, here late at night. You should in fact be in your chamber right now.”

“I can't face him and I also don’t know how he will react after what I had told him earlier. It’s better if I don’t go there for a few days until he calms down and then maybe try to explain it to him.” “Sometimes I wonder who made you a King… like that is one of the stupidest-

-things to do. If anything, it will make him more angry!” Yoongi sighs. “I hurt him, Joon… now I don’t want to hurt him more. He confessed to me and I lied to him. It’s good if I give him some time so that he can realise that I had my own reasons or better,

-leave me because he doesn’t want to live with some liar!” “I don't think there is any point in telling you this, hyung… I will just leave you so that you can rest and be ready for the meeting with the ministers tomorrow.” He stands up to leave,

“you will be sleeping in this chamber?” “No!” They both turn to see the source of the voice and see Jimin standing at the doorway. Yoongi gulps when he sees the anger on the other’s face.

“I told you it was a bad move…” Namjoon says and leaves before he flashes a smile at Jimin’s direction, who smiles back at him. Jimin’s smile is gone from his face once he looks back at Yoongi. He walks up to the other and stands before him.

“Why didn’t you come to the chamber?” This is the first time that Jimin talked to him today and he doesn’t have positive feelings about this conversation. “I will sleep here tonight.” “Why?”

The question was out of nowhere and honestly speaking, Yoongi had no idea how to answer that. He doesn’t want to say anything dumb and hurt Jimin in that process. The only way out for him is to be honest. “Which room is this?” Jimin says as looks around himself.

“This is my second chamber… I didn’t use this room until-” “You got married to me?” Jimin looks at him, face void of any emotion. And Yoongi feels the need to clarify himself but he doesn’t know how.

Jimin is hurt. He looks at everything in the room, roaming his eyes over everything. The irritation hits him as he remembers all those times when he spent his time alone in their room, waiting for the King to show up while the other was in this room.

He doesn’t like the furniture or the window, this chamber doesn’t even have a balcony like theirs then why would the King spend his time here. It annoys him to think that on those days, his husband was here.

He didn’t even mind showing up to their room and maybe ask what Jimin wants. Jimin is reminded of that as well. The King lied to him. He gives the King a sharp look, “I will wait for you in the chamber.” He says and leaves without waiting for an answer from the other.

===============

Yoongi enters the chamber and sees that there is no one there. He looks around and sees no one. He walks up to the balcony and puts his arms on the railing to look outside in the field. The last time when he was standing there this same morning, he remembers feeling weak.

He doesn’t know if it was physical weakness or just his heart. The aspect that Jimin will leave him, that the other will have to leave and he will have to let him go so that the latter have a future, hurt him in more ways than what he could explain.

He doesn’t think that he could ever let Jimin know how much it pained him to let him go. There is a sound behind him and he looks back to see Jimin standing there. Something blooms in his chest. Jimin didn’t leave.

‘𝑱𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆…’ ‘𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒈𝒐!'

He walks over to Jimin and sees the other holding a bowl of soup in his hand, hisses when he sees the medicine. “Drink it.” Jimin says in an emotionless tone. Something provokes Yoongi to say, “No.”

Maybe it’s the fact that Jimin didn’t call him ‘my King’ like he usually does. Something about the way the other says it, makes Yoongi want to hear it always. He doesn’t know if he had thought about how he would go without hearing it if Jimin had left him.

And now the thought alone makes him wince. ‘He is here, he is here and he didn’t leave me. He didn’t leave me even after knowing that I am sick. He won't leave me.’ “Drink it or else…” “Or else what?” “Drink it if you want me gone from your life.”

Just as the words leave Jimin’s mouth, Yoongi pulls him closer to himself by his waist. His other hand above Jimin’s own, holding the bowl in place. A hiss leaves his mouth when Jimin looks at him. He sees sadness.

There is so much sadness in Jimin’s eyes that it makes Yoongi want to punch himself in the face. He regrets all his actions of the past few hours. He regrets that Jimin looks hurt and it’s all because of him. He grips the other strongly, afraid to let go.

“Drink it so that you can get better and then I will leave you…” Jimin tries again, “just like you wanted…” And Yoongi should say that he doesn’t want that, he doesn't want the other to leave, but instead he says, “You can’t leave me. You know about my sickness so now-

-you can’t leave the palace.” he takes the bowl from Jimin’s hand and puts it on the table. He doesn’t know why he is saying all of the things that he is saying but something tells him that if he doesn’t do this then Jimin will leave him.

“You think if I leave I will tell anyone about it?” Jimin looks at him with a hurtful expression. “You think I will not stay loyal to you?” He tries to move back but Yoongi pulls him impossibly closer to himself. “I, as a King of this kingdom, can’t risk anything.”

His eyes on Jimin, “I just know that you will not be leaving this palace until-” “Then take the medicine and get better. And when you get better, I will leave so that you no longer will have to-” he chokes, “You- you don’t have to worry about anyone knowing anything.”

Yoongi presses their foreheads together, “And if don’t ever get better?” he whispers. “Then unfortunately, you will have to see me forever…” his breathing uneven when he says, “then I will stay here forever… I won't leave you.”

Yoongi feels Jimin’s tears falling down. He brings his one hand to wipe those but hisses when Jimin turns his face away from his touch. “You will stay here forever then?” ‘Please stay.’ “Not if you take the medicine and get better quickly.” Jimin points at the soup,

“Drink it and get recovered quickly.” “What will I get now if I drink it?” Jimin’s eyes are not on him, “What else do you want?” “Touch me…” he pressed their forehead together once again, “Kiss me…”

Jimin gasps when he feels those words close to him. “What if I politely say no to you?” he whispers. “Then I will respect your decision.” Yoongi turns to take the bowl in his hand, not letting Jimin go. He drinks the whole thing in one go and puts it on the table again.

Jimin just looks at him. He tries to get away but Yoongi holds him close. “What do you want…?” “I want to touch you…” Jimin looks at him when Yoongi says, “I want to kiss you…”

Jimin feels tears filling up in his eyes again. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asks between controlling his tears. “you know how I feel for you then why are you doing this to me?” He takes a sharp breath when Yoongi kisses his tears stained cheeks.

Cries more, when he feels those lips on his eyelashes. “Stay…” Yoongi presses soft kisses all over the other’s face. “stay in this palace…” ‘𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆.’ “I will stay here till you get better,” Jimin says, putting his hands on Yoongi’s chest.

“You will not leave…” Yoongi gives him an eskimo kiss. He then tries to take a step back but Jimin pulls him back instantly, he looks at the other to see fear in his eyes. His chest swells up when he sees the same fear that he is experiencing himself in Jimin’s eyes.

𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒈𝒐. Jimin fists his hanbok in a desperate attempt. “May I?” Yoongi asks, pulling him closer once again.

He doesn’t wait for an answer and kisses Jimin when he sees tears in other’s eyes. Jimin kisses him back and doesn’t pull back when he tastes the bitterness in the other’s tongue. The bitterness wasn’t enough for him to let go.

That's all for today! I hope you liked the update. If you want to support me then you can buy me a Ko-fi. ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

===============

TW// mentions of non- consensual touching by a minor character.

Taehyung looks at the mirror. He looks at himself, tries to see something but he can't. He stares at himself but he really can’t see himself. He who was so fearless. He who had control over his actions, he who never let the people around direct him what to do, he who was-

- against everything that was put on him, he who felt numbness inside his heart but never let his smile falter even a bit. He who never let the people get satisfied over his misery, he- Who is a born Tiger for his brother. Where is he?

As the days pass he feels like he is losing himself more and more. With every meeting, he feels that what is scheduled to happen is inevitable. At first, he thought he could make some way out of it, but as the time moves forward, he is losing it.

The battle he never wanted to be part of, he is losing it. The only time he feels sane is when he sees that one person. The person, who comes into his room after every meeting, says nothing and kisses his tear stained cheeks. The one who whispers soothing words to him-

-makes him forget the princes he met and instead, look at the guard he is in love with. The one who didn’t show up yesterday when he needed him the most.

Taehyung closes his eyes when he thinks about yesterday's meeting with a Prince. The looks that the latter gave him, the way he tried to hold his hand even when he glared at the prince, the way he was busy in praising his father when the other showed up to the chamber, he hated

-everything about it. But what hurt him more was the shine in his Father’s eyes when he met the Prince. Something shining as if he saw all the luxury he will have if Taehyung gets married to this man. He will have all that he ever wanted.

The look on his eyes when he turned to Taehyung to consider this particular proposal. Taehyung hated it all. But what hurt him the most was that Jungkook didn’t come to his room after that. He spent the whole time with the Prince with the hope that he will meet-

-Jungkook after it. He hoped the other to show up. He wanted to see the other like he does for the past few days. He wanted to see the same fire in Jungkook's eyes whenever he finished a meeting with his possible suitors.

He wanted to believe that he saw jealousy in the other's eyes. He wanted to believe he saw feelings for him. He wanted Jungkook to touch him, wanted the other to make him forget about everything, he didn’t want to think about anything else-

-other than Jungkook’s soft touches when he goes to sleep that night but he didn’t. He walks up to look after his duties for the day when a guard comes running to him. The other is panting, when he says, “My Lord… The Prince…” “What happened?” he asks the guard.

“The Prince who met you yesterday, is seriously hurt and your father wants you to visit them right now.” Taehyung feels something close to contentment bloom in his chest.

==============

The Prince lies on the bed almost lifeless, servants around him, treating his wounds. He looks seriously injured. Taehyung turns to look at his father who is standing near the bed with a deep frown on his face. The latter turns to him when he gets to know about his presence.

“Someone attacked him last night and beat him up badly after dealing with his guards…” he gets close to Taehyung, “We have to find the person who did this to the Prince. I’ve already informed the King about this and he said he will appoint some guards for the Prince’s safety-

-till he gets better and returns to his Kingdom.” Taehyung doesn’t say anything when his father leaves the chamber and he turns to face the Prince. The moment the Prince sees him, the other’s eyes go wide and he starts shaking his head..

The Prince points at one of his servants, the pure terror in his eyes indicates that he didn't want to see Taehyung. Taehyung frowns at the struggle the other was having. And then he gets it. He knows.

He leaves the chamber after knowing who did this to the Prince and walks to his own chamber. He knows who this could be and he will deal with that person himself before his father finds out.

The door opens before he could open it himself and a hand pulls him inside, pushing him against the now closed door. “Why did you hurt the Prince, Jungkook?”

Jungkook holds his waist, “you know the reason…” “I don’t need someone to protect me.” his eyes stern, “How many times do I have to tell you this? If I wanted to hurt him then I would have done it myself! I don’t need-”

“I did it for myself.” He speaks again when the Prince doesn’t say anything, “I did what’s best for my own sanity. And I will do it again. If he or anyone else touches you again then I will do it again.”

Taehyung hisses when the other’s hands grip around him in a protective way. At that moment, he turns them around and now Jungkook is the one who is pressed against the door. Taehyung takes out his sword and brings it in front of the other’s neck.

“If you do that again then I will not spare you…” his voice doesn’t waver a bit, eyes locked with the other. “Hurt me then…” Jungkook gives him a small smile. He isn't scared of the Prince who stands before him.

“I will if you do what you did yesterday then I will surely hurt you!” The Prince hopes that his warning is clear to the other. He doesn't want Jungkook to do something stupid again only for his father to find out.

He can't let the other get hurt, he will never let that happen. “If someone doesn’t treat you nicely again then I will do it again. If-” he hisses when the cold metal hits his neck. “I can do that myself, I-”

“Yes you can but you don’t have to.” his eyes are soft when he looks at the Prince, “you already have a lot to deal with and I don’t want you to add something more to that list. I don’t want you to think about how you hurt someone and blame yourself for it as well.”

“I… I will hurt you…” Taehyung curses himself when he feels his voice wavering. “Hurt me then…” Jungkook once again wraps his hands around him and Taehyung lets him. “If hurting me eases some of your pain, then hurt me, My Prince.”

A loud sound surrounds them when Taehyung drops his sword. The sword almost falls from his grip when he feels those words. He doesn't know what to do so he hugs Jungkook, hiding his face on the latter’s chest.

He feels the fear of losing the other hitting him. He feels himself losing it this time. He doesn't want to. He doesn't want to, when he says,

“We won’t be together…” he cries, hugging Jungkook. Jungkook keeps him close to himself. His arms around the Prince like he always wanted to. “We won’t…” He says between his own tears.

===============

There is a knock on his door and Taehyung expects it to be Jimin. It’s been a long since he last talked to the latter because of his meetings so he thinks it’s Jimin. He gets surprised when he sees the King on the doorway.

“My King? What brings you here?” he asks, giving way for the other to enter inside the chamber. The King walks and sits on one of the chairs. “Are you mad at me?” he asks looking around the chamber.

“Mad at you? No… why would I be mad at you?” Taehyung sits on the bed as usual. “Then why are you calling me King and not Hyung?” Taehyung chuckles at his brother’s antics. He nudges the spot beside him for the other to sit.

The King silently follows his words and comes to sit beside him. “I didn't mean that, Hyung… I was just curious to see you here as-” “It's been long!” the King finishes and Taehyung nods at him.

It’s true. It’s been long since they both sat down beside each to talk. Nothing serious, just casual talk. It used to be their favourite part of the day. They would take some time off from everything and spend it with each other.

A little Taehyung will tell his Yoongi hyung about his day and how he faced everyone and a big Yoongi would give the most stupid advice on how to deal with people. They both weren’t very fond of the large crowd, but they had each other.

And then as they grew up, things started to change bit by bit. Their conversations grew less when Yoongi became the King.  But they are still always beside each other. There were less words shared between them but their bond got stronger.

“It’s alright, hyung… you were busy and then you got married and-” “Hey! Why are you making it sound like I am a villain?” Taehyung laughs loudly at that, his body falling behind and holding onto Yoongi for support.

“Oh yes you are! You are the cruel King everyone talks about… the one with blood on his hands” he says acting dramatically. “I could easily put you in prison for saying that to the King.”

“Naa… my brother would never do that.” he smiles, putting his chin on Yoongi’s shoulder. “And besides that, stop always using the same line as a threat! Be a little creative, Hyung.”

“The last time I was creative, you roared at me for a whole day.” Taehyung smiles at the memory. “That day you called me your Tiger and I was happy!”

“And so you decided to practically show it in front of everyone by roaring at me?” Yoongi shakes his head to show that he is disappointed but smiles when Taehyung laughs again. “I told you, I was happy that day…”

“You are a big Bear now!” Yoongi says and chuckles when he sees the shock on Taehyung’s face. The shock soon turns to a big smile. Yoongi loves it when his brother smiles. It’s rare but it’s there.

“But how am I a Bear when I am a Tiger?” he asks curiously. The same old shine from all those years ago is there in his eyes. Yoongi smiles softly. “You are both a tiger and a bear but you are my baby first!”

He ruffles the other’s hair forgetting that the other has long hair now. Taehyung fakes a whine when he says, “I am not a baby!!!” “I literally raised you!” Yoongi gasps dramatically.

“No you didn’t! You are just two years older than me…” Taehyung deadpans. Yoongi pouts at that. “So you are not my baby then?” “I am!” Taehyung says and hugs the other sitting beside him.

“Then how about this baby tell me what happened to him?” Yoongi asks slowly. Taehyung loses his smile at that for a second before he masks it with another one. “Nothing happened to me, hyung… I am fine.”

Yoongi looks at him for a few seconds before saying, “You do not wish to get married? If yes then I will talk to your father.” The question was so sudden and Taehyung wasn’t expecting a direct question.

“I am not against marriage, Hyung…” he says with a smile, “I want to get married.” ‘𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌.’

“Are you sure? If-” “How are you doing after getting married?” he asks, cutting Yoongi’s words midway. Yoongi knows what the other is trying to do and he lets him. He knows this is what is going to happen but he still doesn't force the words out of Taehyung.

“Let’s say I've had better days…” “And that’s not because of Jimin right?” “Yes. It’s only because I am a stupid!” he turns to Taehyung, “and that’s why I don’t want you to do anything stupid because-” “I am just like you.”

Yoongi nods at that. They both share a smile. “Tae… is there something you want to share with me? Something you want me to know? Is-” “There is nothing, hyung.” He says, assuring his brother. “If there is then I will tell you for sure.” And Yoongi knows he won’t.

Just like always, he won’t share his problems and there is nothing much he could do about it. “Is there something bothering you, hyung?” Taehyung asks instead. And Yoongi doesn’t say it as well, just like Taehyung thought he wouldn't.

“I have to leave now… I will meet you later.” Yoongi says and stands up to leave. Taehyung doesn’t say anything but looks at the other when he looks at him.

“Tae… don’t forget to be the Taehyung I know…” he says smiling. “Be the Yoongi hyung, I know…” he replies back and Yoongi turns to leave.

Taehyung loves someone, Yoongi knew. Yoongi wasn’t well, Taehyung knew.

That's all for today! A few more updates and this story is coming to an end. (It will be happy ending, don't worry.) I've started working on "Fall Into Me" so I'll post it soon. Also if you want to support your writer by buying a Kofi then... ko-fi.com/ajanpamanbts

============

Jimin stands on the balcony. The same place he thought he would leave, he stands there. The same place that let him know about the truth. The same place, if he had left early, would have been just a part of his memory to him.

He is glad that he was stubborn and wanted answers and didn’t listen to own self, which told him to leave. But the truth hurts. Just like reality, it hurts. More than the fact that the truth itself, it hurts him that the King kept it hidden from him.

That the other decided to never let him know about it as well. And once again, he thinks if their relationship was so fragile that the King thought that lying to him is better than telling him the truth. As much as he thinks about it, it angers him that he would have-

-never known it all if he wouldn’t have seen it from his own eyes. His thoughts are stopped midway when he hears a knock and a guard comes to him to say, “your majesty, lord Kim Seokjin is here to meet you.” “Let him in.”

Jin enters with a big smile on his face and Jimin smiles back. “Ah Jiminah… how are you?” “I am fine, hyung… how are you..? and…” Jimin notices a glass in the other’s hands. Jin follows his eyes and says, “These are some of the herbs I prepared for the King and I know he-

-won’t take it so I am giving it to you because I know you will make him take these.” Jimin nods at him and without saying anything, he takes the glass from him. Jin looks at him for a few seconds and then he says, “Are you alright Jiminah?”,

-smiles when Jimin looks at him, “Is there anything that’s bothering you? You could tell if there is anything… Am I not your Hyung?” Jimin shakes his head immediately. “No hyung, it’s not that… it's about…” “Yoongi! Isn’t it?” Jin asks and sighs when Jimin nods at that.

“Don't worry, it's not something big. He will be fine. Did you both talk after we told you about it?” “Yes we talked but…” Jimin looks out of the window. “I don't know hyung but I… I can't understand him sometimes…” he looks at the other again, “or most of the time.”

Jin gives him a sympathetic smile. He knows and he understands what Jimin must be going through. “I know how hard it is to handle Yoongi… but trust me Jimin, he is not a bad person, just doesn't know how to let out his emotions.”

He sits on one of the chairs before continuing, “He can deal with the whole Kingdom to maintain peace but when it comes to himself, he doesn’t know how to act most of the time.” Jimin looks at him and sits on the chair opposite of him.

“You know, when he was younger, he even not used to openly saying that he loves us!” “Me and Hobi would always force him to say that he loves us and he would just”, Jin turns his face the other way to impersonate Yoongi, “say 'I love you' in merely a whisper.”

“But somehow that was enough for us to jump and scream happily at it.” Jimin smiles as he tries to picture the King saying that. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆. Something drops inside him when he thinks of it.

It hurts his heart at the realisation. ‘𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆…’

“What about Namjoon hyung?” Jimin asks, trying not to think about anything else. He looks at Jin when the latter speaks again. “Naa… Namjoon was born with wisdom.” Jin snorts, “he would always take Yoongi's side saying we shouldn’t force him into saying such things when we-

-already know how much he values us! No wonder why he is the King’s adviser.” Jimin chuckles as he can clearly see Namjoon being that kind of a person. It makes him happy because he had no one around him to call his family but at least the King had people with him.

And that too such great ones. “You know, the only time I’ve heard him say I love you, without anyone forcing him, is when a crying Taehyung came running to him saying that no one loves him in the palace.” Jin smiles sadly at the memory.

“He immediately hugged Tae and told him he loves him. Not just once but till the moment Tae fell asleep on his lap. He kept repeating the same thing.” Jin feels his eyes getting blurred, so he shakes his head, not to cry.

He turns to face Jimin, only to see Jimin wiping his own tears. “I am sorry, I didn't mean to…” “It’s alright, hyung… i just…” Jimin wipes some more of the tears that fall from his eyes, chuckles and says,

“Tae is like my best friend and I’ve seen him going through a lot. And to realise that it was much worse in his childhood is just… it hurts… it hurts more to think I wasn’t there for him.”

“Sometimes, no matter how many people are around us, we still find it difficult to share our pain with them. Even when they offer their help in any form, we intentionally refuse to share.” “Both Taehyung and Yoongi went through it. They still do. And it’s not healthy at all.

But it’s their own battle and they have to fight it themselves.” Jin then smiles at him. “But you know what made me worry a little less?” Jimin looks up at him when the other takes his hand on his own.

“That after every day, when Yoongi comes back from his battles, he will have you!” “You can’t help him with his battles but you will be there right beside him. You both will be right beside each other.” There is a hope in Jin’s eyes and Jimin doesn’t want to break it.

“And I know Taehyung will have someone too… even if he doesn’t, we all will be here for him, right?” They both sit there in silence before Jin proceeds to leave, “Before leaving, I had actually wanted to ask you something before but I forgot to.”

“What is it hyung?” “Is Yoongi sleeping better these days?” And Jimin doesn’t know. He looks at Jin blankly, not knowing what to say. He was so mad at the King for the past few days that he didn’t even once turn to look at the other while they were on the same bed.

He feels the guilt seeping through him and hitting him right in his heart. How could he act like that? How can he be so immersed in his own pain that he didn’t even care to turn around and see if the King was sleeping or not?

“Hyung I…” “It’s alright, I understand.” Jimin feels his eyes filling up once again. “But can you do one thing for me, Jimin?” Jin says, eyes full of hope.

“Just the next time, he talks to you… look past his words… look into his eyes.” “Those eyes don’t lie…” And with that, he leaves the chamber.

=============

TW // mentions of poison and minor character death in the past.

Yoongi waits. He waits in his room for Jimin to come back. He knows he was wrong and he needs to clear everything with Jimin before he damages his relationship more than it already is. He can’t hurt Jimin more.

His emotions may have taken a toll on him when he saw that Jimin didn’t leave him but the words he chose to stop the other from leaving were wrong. The way he almost wished to never get better when Jimin said that he will leave once he gets better, it was not right.

He can’t stop Jimin from leaving. But that doesn’t mean he will have to hurt him till the other is with him. So he waits. He waits for Jimin in his room, standing at their place.

He averts his eyes from the sky when he hears footsteps. Jimin stops in his tracks when he sees the King in the room. “You are early, today…” he says in a small voice and goes to the bedside table to prepare the medicine for the other.

Yoongi looks at the way Jimin reads the list Jin gave him and prepares a drink from it. He feels a tug in his heart, a sense of belonging making place in his heart. The wave of a known emotion hitting him right in his chest.

He keeps looking at the other, as the silence between them increases more and more only for Jimin to look back at him. “Do you need anything? This might take some to be prepared…” he asks and focuses on the drink again.

“Nothing…” Yoongi feels his patience thinning. “okay…” Jimin stops strinning the ingredients when he hears those words. This was the first time in the past few days where the King didn’t make a fuss out of having the medicine.

Usually, Jimin has to force the other to take those, saying things like- ‘𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓!’ So it surprises him when the King doesn’t comment on the bad taste of it.

He also wonders why the King is in their room so early as he always comes to their room at night. Then they fight over medicine and only after making sure that the King has taken the medicine, he goes to sleep, closes his eyes when he feels the other laying down beside him.

He shifts his focus once again to the task before him and it takes him twenty minutes of time to prepare the drink. And when he is finally done with it, he smells it and feels content at the end result. Throughout the whole thing, Yoongi just kept stealing glances at him and-

-at some point if Jimin looked back then he would have no answer to it but it didn't stop him from watching the other. He takes his eyes off from Jimin when the latter stands up from where he was sitting on the bed and walks over to him.

Jimin extends the glass in his hand and waits for the other to take it. He was expecting the King to start throwing fits to not drink it but- What he least expected was the King to take hold of his hand and drink the whole drink from his hand, without even saying a single thing

He looks at the other in disbelief, wide eyes open in shock. “I will have to leave now!” That’s all the King says before leaving the room. A sigh leaves Jimin's mouth.

“Of course you would leave… What was I expecting from you? How can I even expect anything from you? Who really am I to you?” He murmurs to himself as he turns to see the sky, his hands on the railing.

The unusual cold breeze hits his face as he looks at the empty sky. He takes a sharp breath when he feels someone collide with him from behind. It was so sudden that Jimin was ready to scream when- “It’s me…” Yoongi says, resting his forehead on Jimin’s nape.

Jimin feels his heart beat getting faster when he feels the King’s breath on his skin. He feels a tingling sensation at the soft voice of the other. The King wraps his hands around him as he cages him between his body and the railing of the balcony.

Before he can control his heartbeat and ask the other about anything, the King speaks, “Do not turn around…” He gets more close, “Please do not turn around…” he hugs Jimin from behind. “Let me be…” Jimin doesn’t move from his place. He looks at the open field ahead of them.

“The first time I got to know about the poisoning was on the day of our marriage...” Jimin flinches at that, but he doesn’t turn around.

“That day, before I came to our room, I realised that I was getting drugged and that it is already in my body. But I wasn’t sure for how long I’ve been unknowingly taking it so I decided to meet you before I leave to find out about it.

Jimin remembers the King apologising to him that day before he left saying he had a meeting to attend. “In the next few days, I got to know that it was an old man who was responsible for it.” Jimin hisses and grips the railing tightly.

“My father, the former King, had ordered the killing of his son and their family in accusation of a theft from the palace. He was exempted from it because of his old age.” “But what life would he have without his family? And why would he want to live?”

“Therefore, his goal for the rest of his life was to kill both my father and me.” “He was successful in my father’s case as the poison first let him lose his sleep and then slowly when he wasn’t able to sleep even a bit, he lost to it.”

“The old man had his people in the palace... His next target was me. He wanted to end me.” Just as those words leave Yoongi’s mouth, Jimin puts his own hands above the other, where he is hugging him.

“I went to see him… and told him, I can’t give him back what he lost but he can consider me as his own son if he wants to. If the knowledge that he has an alive son helps him in dealing with his pain…” Jimin feels teardrops on his nape, his own vision getting blurred.

He waits for the King to say something more but when the other doesn’t say anything, he turns around. He looks at the King as the latter looks back at him. Jimin looks into those eyes. ‘𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒆...’

“Do you want a head massage before going to sleep?” He smiles at the King. Yoongi just looks at him in shock. “You mean… now?” “Yes. Do you want it?” And once he nods, within a few minutes, Jimin leaves and comes back with a bottle of oil in his hand.

He gestures to the King to sit on one of the chairs and the latter quietly obeys. Yoongi takes a sigh of relief when he feels fingertips on his scalp. His muscles relax instantly. He involuntarily closes his eyes at the contact.

“In my 27 years of life, this is the first time that someone is giving me a head massage…” “Your servants have never massaged your head?” Jimin asks in confusion. The other was a King, he must have been a subject to more than one kind of massages, contrary to Jimin’s liking.

“I don't like other people touching my hair.” Jimin stops his action for a second before continuing it with a smile on his face. He feels good at the particular piece of knowledge. After that, they both go to sleep.

Jimin turns around when he feels the other laying down beside him. The King was already looking at him. They both close their eyes.

When Jimin wakes up the next day, he feels weight on him. He opens his eyes to see the King sleeping beside him, his hand above Jimin’s stomach and the other one laying beside them. His face on Jimin’s shoulder and little snores leaves his mouth as- He sleeps peacefully.

For the time since they got married, Jimin wakes up to the King sleeping beside him. For the first time, he sees the other fast asleep, face this close to him.

He can’t help but to adjust in the other’s arms so that he can turn a bit and trace those marks under the King's eyes. He notices that those shades are much lighter now than the first time he had seen those and he feels relieved.

He keeps tracing the King’s face with his fingers and the latter has his eyes closed. All this with a warm smile on his face when he does that. And if the King acts to be asleep just for that, then he doesn’t have to know…

================

________𝟑 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓________

TW // child abandonment

Jungkook was 20 when one day his parents promised him that they would be back after a hunt in the forest and never came back. It was the last time that he had believed in promises.

Since then, he always knew that promises were meant to be broken. He never went in search of his parents because he didn’t want to see them not alive or living somewhere without him. He was content with knowing that they promised him something and then disappeared.

The only thing that hurt him was that he didn’t have a family. That changed the next year when he met someone. 𝑻𝒂𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒈.

Now he stands by the entrance. And he waits. He waits for the Prince to come back. His mind is occupied with different sets of words that roam around his brain.

𝘿𝙪𝙩𝙮. Taehyung was never a duty to him. Since the day he met Taehyung, he never considered the latter as a part of his duty. Taehyung was his family. His only family.

𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙. Taehyung was never his friend. He wanted to be his friend but the first time he saw Taehyung crying, he felt the pain. It took him many days to decipher the pain that he felt. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.

He wanted to see the Prince as his friend only but he was head over heels for the other. Everytime he hugged Taehyung, he used to make his heart believe that he is here to protect the other.

He is there as his friend. They are each other's friend. Even in embrace he never let himself believe anything else other than that.

𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚. He didn’t know what love was but felt the burn in his skin when someone used to look at the Prince for more than necessary. He doesn’t have any idea how love works but when the prince stays out of his eyes for longer than necessary time, he feels the need to find-

-the other. He never heard about love but every time Taehyung used to call him 𝑮𝒖𝒌𝒌𝒊𝒆, his heartbeat was faster than usual. Jungkook knows nothing about the word but if seeing Taehyung breaking, breaks him, then he thinks it’s what love is all about.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. He startles when the door opens and Taehyung gets back in the room. Taehyung looks at him and smiles and Jungkook falls in love all over again. He falls in love with the same person everyday.

“Are you not going to ask me today what took me so long to be back?” Taehyung says the smile never leaves his face. Jungkook says nothing and just gets near Taehyung. He knows what the other wants.

He hugs Taehyung and the latter lets him. He smiles when he feels Taehyung hugging him back. The smile leaves his face when- “I will marry Prince Seojoon, next week.” Jungkook stills.

He tries to move back but Taehyung doesn’t let him. The latter holds him stronger than before. “I will marry-” “No!” Jungkook says and tries to shake his head but Taehyung’s grip on him grows stronger.

“No! You will…” he puts his head on Taehyung’s neck when he feels his tears are about to fall. “I talked to my father and he said… he made all the arrangements for the wedding… it will be-” Taehyung stops when he hears a loud sob from the other.

His own vision gets blurry in the process. Their sobs turning to tears when he says- “And I agreed to it. I agreed to marry the Prince.”

Jungkook falls to his knees, unable to stand any longer and Taehyung follows him. Soon Taehyung’s back hits the floor when Jungkook gets on top of him. “No!” Jungkook kisses Taehyung’s face.

He keeps chanting no when he kisses the other in all over his face. Taehyung doesn’t move when he feels warm kisses mixed with tears, on his skin. He doesn’t cry. He feels numb.

But that doesn’t stop him from cupping Jungkook’s face to wipe those tears. No matter how much he did that, there were fresh sets of tears adorning the face. But he never stopped his actions, too focused on it.

“We won’t be together…” He says and Jungkook looks at him. “We won’t be together…” Jungkook says the same words.

“I will get married and leave…” “You will leave…” “I can’t stay here forever…” “You won’t stay here forever…” “Then why does it hurt so much?”

𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌’𝒔 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔.

“Why does it hurt so much when I knew for so long that one day I will have to leave? Why does it hurt to think that I will marry a Prince? Why are we crying?” 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒊𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔.

Jungkook kisses those tears as gently as possible. He kisses those cheeks until he feels lips get a hang of it. Until he maps out every feature of Taehyung and survives his life.

If his reality doesn't have Taehyung in it then he hopes that at least his memories will be filled with the other. He will live like that. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆.

“You will be happy…” he says in a whisper. “You will be happy, my Prince… You will find your happiness…” “I - I will?” Jungkook looks at him with a small smile on his face. “Yes, you will.”

“You will find it and on that day, you will think of what your Jungkook told you… You will-” “Gukkie… my Gukkie…” Taehyung corrects him immediately. “Your Gukkie…” Jungkook kisses his forehead. “Always your Gukkie…”

“Promise?” “I will not promise you anything… promises are meant to be broken, my Prince…” “But one thing I can assure you for sure… if you-” he struggles to speak, “if you feel the need to see me, if you- if you ever need me then I will always be up for your service…”

‘𝒊 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖’ ‘𝑺𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘…’ ‘𝒊 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖…’ ‘𝑺𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆…’

“And if he doesn't treat you right…” "If he doesn't treat me right…?" "Then I will end him." He says, eyes determined. "He will be my-" "If he hurts you, I will end him… I won't let anyone hurt you… I will not spare their life."

'𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖?' '𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒎𝒆?' '𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕?'

“I hope he treats you right…” Jungkook says breaking Taehyung's chain of thoughts. "I hope he treats you like a King… I hope-" he presses their forehead together, "I hope he gives you everything because if he doesn't…" "You will hurt him… you will not let him live…"

Jungkook kisses his forehead in affirmation and then stands up to help the Prince to stand as well. They stare for a few more minutes before Jungkook leaves.

On his way out, he brings out a chain from his pocket. 𝑨 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑨 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆.

Something he bought from his salary for months. The only thing he could afford. He smiles emptily when he touches it. '𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅.'

'𝑰'𝒎 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.' '𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕.'

=================

Jimin is convinced so much has changed in such a short span of time. The past 3 months of his life were exceptionally peaceful than the previous ones. He doesn’t know how but everything seems so quiet around him that it is hard for him to get used to it.

The feeling that one day, everything will be taken away from him without a warning, haunts him everyday. What if one day he wakes up and sees that he is in a different place? What if one day he realises that everything was too good to be true?

What if one day he doesn’t see the King? What if one day the King tells him to leave and let him go?

‘𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓…’ ‘𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆…’ Jimin thought to himself.

And maybe it’s their connection, maybe it’s the way they value each other’s presence or just the side effect of living with each other in the place for so long… When arms wrap around him from behind, he smiles softly.

Not of happiness but of content. Not of relief but of comfort. He rests his head on the King’s shoulder. They could be so much, yet so less…

“I think there will be a thunderstorm… maybe tomorrow…” The King whispers to him and he can feel the other’s lips, so close to his ears. This is something they both developed between them during this time.

Jimin doesn’t know what it is but every time they approach each other, there is a pull between them and it makes them act clingy. They get closer than necessary whenever they are with each other. 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴.

And maybe it doesn’t affect the King that much but Jimin feels himself getting weak. The King is aware of his feelings and that makes him feel more weak. He feels weak because he knows that there might never be more to it.

There will be trust but what about… There will be respect but what about… 𝘏𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘵. These days, he never says it. Partially because he was too busy making sure his husband gets better and partially because he wants to bury it somewhere inside-

-himself and keep telling himself that it is not everything. He kept repeating to himself that what he feels will be enough for the two of them. And he wants to keep believing in that.

“I think so too…” He slowly says, looking at the sky. “maybe because of the marriage…?” “What does it have to do with marriage…?” Yoongi curiously asks, his chin set on Jimin’s shoulder for support. “There was a thunderstorm on our marriage day too,

-so… Tae will get married tomorrow… therefore…?” Jimin tries to say but he feels terrible. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥. Taehyung out of all people doesn’t deserve it. He does not deserve to be in a marriage that is against his wishes.

“You seem disturbed… is there anything that is bothering you…? You can share it with me.” “Can you stop Tae’s marriage?” Jimin asks, turning around in the King’s arms. There is no beating around the bushes now.

He has to do something for his best friend’s happiness. He can’t let the latter live a miserable life ahead, with a man he doesn’t love or will ever love. Yoongi looks surprised for a second at the straightforwardness. “Why do you want the marriage to be stopped?”

His words are full of calmness. “Because Tae doesn’t want this marriage. He doesn’t love that Prince he will get married to… he- he loves someone else…?” His eyes tearing up a little bit at the thought. He takes a sharp breath when he hears what the King says next.

“But is love enough to lead a life…?” The voice doesn’t indicate anything and that breaks Jimin. He looks at his husband, eyes roaming around his features. He touches the skin under the King’s eyes. An old habit of his.

He notices that there are no longer any shades of dark under those eyes. The face looks rejuvenated and less pale. ‘𝑯𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒘… 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆… 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘…’

“It might not be enough, my King…” he rubs his thumb over his husband’s cheeks. “but it is necessary for a marriage.” “How is a person supposed to live their life with someone without love? There will be trust, respect and honesty in their relationship and it is good-

-it should be there but-” “But how will he spend his life knowing that he could have felt better if he was with his love and not amid all the luxury he will be provided with…? How will he look at his husband and see that there will never be love between them…?”

“Yes, they will be together but what will keep them together…? And for how long? How long will they pretend that everything is okay that-” He tries to take a step back but the King holds him in his place.

“How long will they be successful in pretending that love is not not needed? There will be a time in their relationship where they will look for it. They will crave it. They will try to find it everywhere, even in each other but they won’t get it.”

“They won’t get it because they lost it. Even if they never had it.” “Taehyung will feel guilty for not giving his husband what he wants as he will not ever get over his lover.” Jimin nods when the King looks at him.

“Yes, he will never get over the person he loves. I know he won’t…” “But you know what is worse than that…?” He smiles at the King. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦…”

“The Prince will have to go through the pain of loving someone who does not love him back. Everyday he will suffer because-” Jimin chokes on his own words. “Everyday, he will suffer because Taehyung will never love him the way lovers do… he will wish for the love, and-

-start hoping that one day he will get it but he won’t.” “𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮…” Jimin gasps when the King pulls him closer.

“So please do not let them get married… please…?” “I can't.” The King says it sincerely.

“If what you said is true then why hasn't Taehyung told me about it yet? Why did he agree to marry that Prince? I have always told him to do what he thinks is right for him, so why did he decide to go against it?”

“𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦…?” “You- you know…?” Jimin asks, shock apparent in his voice.

“I am the King. I know what happens in this palace or this whole Kingdom. And Taehyung is my brother. You think I will not be aware of what my brother is going through…? He is my family.” “Then how can you push your brother to a loveless marriage, my King? How-”

“Because just like I said before, is love enough? If it is, then why is Taehyung not fighting for his love? Why is giving up on it? He has always fought his battles alone. Always…” The King’s voice stern when he says,

“He will face this by himself as well. He is my Tiger…a born fighter… he will do what is best for him and I know he will.” Jimin feels speechless. “But… there is something I can assure you…”

“What…?” Jimin asks in a small voice. “Nothing will go wrong, tomorrow. It will be a day where everything will get better. I will not let anything bad happen.”

Jimin hugs the King, his eyes teary. “It will…? You promise…? Will everything get better…?” “It will. I promise.” ‘𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍…'

==============

The hall is filled with people. All of them, immersed in their duty as they walk around the place. Today is the day for the marriage of the Defense Minister’s son. Everyone is busy with the work assigned to them and runs around the whole time before the ceremony starts.

The decoration is as if It is the wedding of the King himself. Jimin laughs emptily at thought when he looks at the people around him. 𝘏𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴.

He remembered that he was so nervous that he didn’t even pay attention to everything around him. All he saw was some unapproving stares from the ministers and then the next moment he got married to the King. He walks over to where Jin and Hoseok were standing.

They both smile at him when they see him coming in their direction. “What took you so long, Jiminah…?” Jin says after they greet each other. “Isn’t Tae your friend? You should have been the first one to show up here to help! Where were you?”

“Hyung I was-” “Jin Hyung, don't act like you don't know the fact that he is a married man… I'm sure our Jiminie must have had more important work to do… right Jiminie…?” Hobi teases him. And that is not true but Jimin doesn't say anything.

He can't lie to both of them so it is better if he doesn't say anything stupid. Besides that, it would not take Jin more than a few seconds to see his sadness if he keeps this up. He smiles at them.

“You both seem so happy…” “Well that is because we are happy, Jiminah…” Jin says with a smile on his face. “Our baby brother is getting married today and we are happy!” Hoseok smiles. 𝘑𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴.

“You know Jiminie… he had gone through so much in his life from such a young age that…” Hobi tries to say but chokes on his own words. Jin pats his shoulder with a smile.

“He deserves all the love that this universe has to offer and I am-” His eyes glisten when he looks at Jimin. “I am so glad that finally he will have someone all for himself. Someone he loves and someone who loves him. And-

-that knowledge is enough for all of us, hyungs to go on with our life…” And Jimin wants to cry. They don't know that Taehyung is not in love with the Prince he is getting married to. They don't know that he doesn't want this marriage.

They don't know that Taehyung loves Jungkook. The urge to just tell Hobi about everything is very strong in him. He just wants to tell everyone and stop this marriage. 𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘩𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.

Taehyung should not leave Jungkook. It will break them both. He doesn't want to see his best friend breaking. But he trusts the King. He believes in the promise that was made to him.

He knows that his husband will not let anything happen against his brother’s wishes. He holds on to it. Jimin flinches when he hears the sound of thunder from outside. “I think it will rain…” Jin says, turning to look outside the palace.

“Yes… maybe a thunderstorm is on its way.” Hobi says. “Okay… enough with all our chit chats, Jiminah… since you are here, will you go and check if Taehyung is getting ready or not? The ceremony will start soon.”

Jin says and rushes to look for the priest before Jimin can say no. Hobi also follows his, Hyung. Jimin doesn't want to face Taehyung. What will he say? He does not have any encouraging words for the other.

He can't even tell Taehyung that love will happen when that is not the case in his own life. How can he give empty promises to Taehyung? And what if Taehyung breaks in front of him? He does not have an answer to his own questions yet he decides to walk to the familiar chamber.

================

Jimin halts in his steps when he spots Jungkook standing outside the chamber. Jungkook looks and smiles at him. A smile so empty that Jimin wants to turn back and run. He does not want to be in this situation. And he almost turns around before-

“𝘏𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨…” Jimin stills. This is the first time that Jungkook had ever called him Hyung. 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

Jungkook looks tired. It is like life is taken out of him. He looks broken. His eyes were tired of crying. He probably cried a lot. And Jimin does not know what takes over him when he walks to the younger. He sees Jungkook walking towards him as well.

Jimin hugs him tightly. He feels Jungkook holding on to him like his life depends on it. Jungkook cries. They don't move for a few minutes. Jimin holds Jungkook close to himself.

Then Jungkook breaks the hug and says, “Hyung… I am sorry but can I-” Jimin feels tears streaming down his own face. He still wipes Jungkook's tears. He nods at the other to continue.

“𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘦…? 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦…?” Jimin just looks at the other. “Please, can I-” Jungkook does not get to complete his sentence as Jimin once again hugs him.

He does not get to say anything else when Jimin turns around and almost runs on his way back. He smiles at the direction Jimin left.

Then turns around to face the chamber. “𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕… 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆…”

==============

The chamber looks quiet. That is what Jungkook notices when he enters Taehyung's chamber. Somewhat ironically he spent most of the time of his last few years.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵… 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦.

He takes a step and notices servants getting the Prince ready. He stands there and watches how they all work to get the Prince get the best look for his special day. He snorts at how he feels the need to be the special day to be special for him too.

But Taehyung has already decided to take a step forward towards his bright future and Jungkook can’t now just pull him back towards the darkness. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

The Prince will get what he deserves and he will finally be with someone who will give him everything. All the fortune will be laid down in front of Taehyung’s feet and Jungkook feels that is how it should be.

Regardless of who he spends his life with, Jungkook wants Taehyung to have it all. And if getting married to someone else will get him that, if it gets him out of the misery then that is all that he wants and wishes for.

He notices the servants moving away from the Prince and the latter turns around and looks at him. Just then Jungkook realises-

𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒐𝒋𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔. The Prince will not love Taehyung the way he does.

Jungkook's heart skips a beat when he sees that Taehyung's eyes are both empty and ready to share a lot when they watch him. They both take some steps towards each other, forgetting about the people around them. It is like they both cannot focus on anything or anyone else-

-beside each other. Taehyung gestures to the others in the room to leave them alone and everyone in the room leaves. His eyes are once again on his guard who never stopped looking at him.

Taehyung takes a step forward and his forehead touches the other's. The loud breathing was the only sound between them. “What do you want to say…?” Taehyung asks in a whisper, his eyes closed and he feels Jungkook’s breath on his face, so close to his lips.

“My Prince…” Jungkook tries to say and immediately wraps his arms around the Prince when he feels the other falling from his place. Taehyung whimpers, tears roll down from his face, when he says - “𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦…”

The grip on the other grows stronger when those words leave Taehyung's mouth. '𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒏𝒐𝒘...’ “I came here to take you to the aisle… Prince…?” Taehyung looks at Jungkook and Jungkook knows that both of them are matching with-

-their red eyes. Taehyung looks hurt and Jungkook hurts to be the reason for it. '𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚, 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚. 𝑫𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔…’ He repeats those words inside his head.

He watches how the hurtful expression leaves the Prince's face and the other masks it with a blank face. “Okay then… do it…” Taehyung extends his hand in front of his guard. “Do your duty…” “For one last time, do your duty and take me to the venue, Jungkook.”

Jungkook doesn't say anything and just takes a step back to bow in front of the Prince. He then takes the latter's hand in his and turns around to walk them out of the chamber. He not even once, turns around to face the Prince.

Somewhere in his heart, he knew that if he does that then he won't let the other go. He will run away with the Prince. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘩𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

They both stop when they reach the entry gate to the hall. Jungkook stands in front of the gate for a few seconds, before he let go of the Prince's hand and takes a step back. He stands behind the Prince, head bowed down not to face the other.

Taehyung looks at the direction of the gate. There are voices coming from inside and he knows that it is filled with people. Other than a few, nobody will care if he leaves. He turns around to look at his love and then turns ahead to face his life. He is firm in his decision.

==============

Everyone turns to watch the Prince as he enters the hall. There is a guard trailing behind him like always. Jimin’s heart aches at the sight. Taehyung walks over and stands near the King.

His parents are standing across from him, dressed well. Too well for Taehyung’s liking. His eyes prickle when he sees the smile on his mother’s face. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦.

He notices the arrogant facial expression of his father. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. He then turns to see his brother, the King. The King does not have any expression on his face, his face blank when those eyes are set on his brother.

They both look at each other for a few seconds and the whole hall goes quiet when Taehyung says- “𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝.” The murmurs around them dies down just when those words are heard. And then there are gasps from all of the nobles present in the hall.

It only gets worse when the King nods at him, “Okay.” “What are you talking about…?” It was the Defence minister who says those words, his voice low and threatening. Taehyung does not hesitate when he addresses his father. “I said, I will not get married.”

“What-” The minister tries to hold back his anger in front of the King. “What about the preparations then? What will we say to Prince Seojoon and his father? What-” “You do not have to worry about that at all. I have already informed Prince Seojoon about it."

“He will not come here today. He knows that I am not interested in this marriage and he supports me in my decision.” Not just the defence minister and his wife but everyone looks shocked. There is a silence before the minister takes a step towards his son, “How dare you-”

“Dare to take that step, minister Kim…” the King’s voice echoed around the hall. “If I was at your place then I would have acted smarter than that. I would not advise you to even think about hurting my brother…”

“But my King, he is our son too!” It was Taehyung’s mother who spoke this time. “Oh so you remember…?” Taehyung asks in a sarcastic tone. “I thought you never shed light on that aspect of your life. You had a son…? Well maybe…”

His eyes set on her, voice firm, when he says, “Well I don’t remember having a mother though.” His mother gasps at his words. She looks hurt. “Taehyung…” She tries to say, her eyes filled with tears.

“But if someone asks me who cared for me like a mother then I will surely have an answer…” he turns to look at the King and the other smiles at him. “If someone asks me who protected me all these years then I have an answer to that as well.” “The answer is my Hyung…”

“He was there for me. And throughout the years, Seokjin hyung, Hobi hyung and Namjoon hyung were there for me. Even Jiminie was there for me…” He looks at where Jin, Hobi and Jimin were standing and they all smile at him.

He notices the proud smile on his hyungs face and the way Jimin is almost stopping himself from crying. He once again looks at his parents. “I do not remember your presence there… where were you?” he tries to look confused.

“I do not remember anything other than some harsh words, which by the way, I would like to forget.” “And what is your future now…?” His father speaks with a mocking smile on his face.

The same smile he uses when he has to make Taehyung do something against his wishes. The one he uses when he knows that he will have the last laugh. “Where will you go from here…? You have no virtue to your name if you are not my son.”

“I would like to be nameless rather than being your son.” “If you think that you can use me for your greedy and power hungry needs then you are wrong. I was not made for that and I only do what I think is right.”

Taehyung never breaks eye contact with his father when he says, “I was not raised that way.” His father stands there speechless.

“Now that being said…” The King turns to his advisor. “Namjoon you had something to say. Namjoon comes to stand beside the King. “I think it is now time to make the announcement, my King.” He looks at everyone in the hall. “I do not think that there is any need for us to-

-delay it any further.” “What announcement…?” The Minister says with a blank look. “𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤.”

The King’s words are welcomed with an eerie silence from the crowd present there. Taehyung turns to look at the King in shock. “If anyone is wondering who that is then that is Prince Taehyung’s guard.” Namjoon says and gestures to where Jungkook was standing.

The information was met with murmurs of disapproval from the crowd. The nobles started audibly talking about how that is possible? “You mean to say that my son will marry a mere guard…? A low born with no family name? Is that what you are trying to say, My King?”

The displeasure was clear in Taehyung’s father’s voice. The King smiles at him. “𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐨 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞.”

“I am the Defence Minister of this kingdom.” “You were…” It was Namjoon who spoke up. “You are no longer the Defence minister of this Kingdom. The King has decided-” “And who do you think you are to say that to me?!”

“Someone who holds a prominent position in this court, unlike you.” The Defence minister rages at those words, his wife tries to stop him from attacking the Advisor of the King. “This is injustice, my King! You cannot do this to me. I have served this Kingdom for years, only-

-for you to take my position away from me?! This is not fair.” “And we are grateful for your services. It is now high time you retire and take a rest.” The King looks at him. “You definitely need some rest.”

“Also, after marriage, Jungkook will be my brother's husband so you do not need to worry about his family name.” “And what is his qualification for being in this position? What is he other than a mere guard?!”

“He took a special training to be in this position. And besides that, he will be trained by the best Archer in this Kingdom…” Namjoon says. “Who is that?” “Taehyung.” The King says and looks at his brother. “Taehyung will assist him in his duties. He is one of the best-

-soldiers we have in this Kingdom. I am sure he will do his best.” There is a sense of pride in the King's words and Taehyung's eyes are full of tears.

“Now that everything is discussed, I think we should go on with the proceedings of the marriage.” The King then looks at his brother. “Do you agree to this marriage…?” And only then Taehyung turns to look behind himself.

He finally looks at where Jungkook is standing. They both look at each other. Jungkook tries to say something but- “𝐍𝐨.” Taehyung says, looking straight at him. “𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦.” He says and then storms out of the hall.

Jungkook looks at the direction in which the Prince went, in shock. “Why are you still standing there, you fool?! Go after him!” It was Jimin who shouts at him as he comes to stand beside him. Jungkook looks at the King and the other just shrugs.

“I do not like to go against my husband's words. If you want to get married to him then go after him otherwise I do not know…” That was it. Jungkook turns around and starts running.

==============

“What really happened…?” Jimin asks the King, as they wait for the wedding couple to come back. Nobody has left the hall, including the former defence minister and his wife, who are now sitting at their respective chairs.

“I will explain it to you, Jiminah…” It was Jin who said, standing beside him. “Actually, we were all aware of this. Yoongi was especially bitter when he heard that Taehyung's father has appointed a guard for Taehyung. So he told Namjoon to keep an eye on the said guard.”

“We all noticed how Tae started getting happier after that.” Hobi says with a sad smile on his face. “It was like finally he got a friend for himself. He was really better whenever he was with Jungkook. We soon realised that what he feels for his guard was not just friendship.”

“And then Yoongi Hyung told me to see if Jungkook has any evil intentions towards Tae or not.” Hobi chuckles at Namjoon’s words. “But what I saw, one day, was a guy crying his heart out in an empty room. I was on the other side and inquired as to what happened to him and the-

-guy told me how he fell in love and can't do anything about it.” Jimin looks surprised. “Jungkook told you that he loves Taehyung?” “Yes. I think he just wanted to let out what he feels and to just say it to someone and that someone was me.”

“He thought that the stranger would not tell anyone as the stranger never did.” “To this very day, he does not know that it was me…” Namjoon says with a smile on his face.

“And then we decided to gave them time to figure out their feelings for each other.” Hobi says. “It just took them few years to do so…” Jin says and looks at Yoongi. “He then decided to take the next step. Yoongi knew that Taehyung would say no to the marriage but-

-Taehyung didn't know that today his marriage was supposed to take place with Jungkook and not Seojoon.” Jimin looks at his husband who smiles at him. But he didn't feel like smiling back though. And the King frowns when he notices that.

==============

Taehyung doesn't turn around or stopa in his tracks when he hears Jungkook’s voice from behind. He keeps walking to somewhere he doesn't even know himself. All that he feels are tears streaming down his face as continuously wipes them to see where he is heading to.

“My Prince-” Jungkook tries to hold the other arm but Taehyung pushes his hand away from himself. “Leave me alone!” “My Prince, please listen…” Jungkook tries to stop the Prince but the Prince tries to get out of his hold.

“I said leave me-” “𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮!” Taehyung stills when he hears that. Jungkook holds the other in his arms. Arms wrapping around Taehyung from behind to stop him from running away.

“You… you are lying…” Jungkook feels tears in his own eyes at the vulnerable tone of the other. “No, I am not. I love you… I-” “No! You do not want me! I am just a part of your-” “Never. You were never a part of my duty.”

He hears Taehyung is now crying in his arms as the latter’s back is pressed against his own chest. “You were always way more than that… You-” He tries to say the words he never thought he will ever get to say.

The last time he had decided to say them, Taehyung told him that he will marry someone else. “I never thought that I would get to say these things to you but… I can't let you go now… please…”

“It hurt the first time you said you will be seeing suitors, it hurt a lot when I saw that pendant on your neck, it hurt the most when you said, you will leave.” He cries as the words come out of him.

“I thought- I thought that it is better for you to leave this palace as… you will live a happy life somewhere else but I-” He hugs the Prince, pulling the other closer to himself. “I never wanted you to leave me…” Taehyung turns around to look at him.

“I never wanted to leave me here all alone. So when you- when you said that you will get married and leave, I had decided to leave as well. Don't know where but I can't afford to stay here if you are not here.”

“I never had a house to myself for so long… but when I saw you… you were my-” “And you think I can live somewhere else and be happy…?” Taehyung asks, resting his hands on Jungkook’s chest. “Even I do not have a place to call-”

“I will be your home.” Jungkook says and then wipes Taehyung’s tears. “I will be your home too.” “I thought- you will-” “You think I will get married to someone I do not love? Weren't you the one who claimed that I will never do that? What happened to that determination?”

“It got lost with time. It starts losing itself when you start seeing other people, even when you didn't want to. The realisation that I can never provide you with any kind of fortune, starting to make its place.”

“And why do you think I need any of it? I had it all when you came to my life but did you see a happy me? Was I happy when you saw me?” “You were miserable…” Jungkook says in a whisper.

“𝐘𝐞𝐬. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥…” Taehyung's words are sincere and Jungkook wants nothing more than this.

“Then how about you marry me and I help you to come out of your misery and keep it only as beautiful and not as a beautiful misery?” “I do not think that will happen, since you were ready to let me go. I think now I can look for someone else or better, ask Prince Seojoon to-”

Taehyung gasps when Jungkook picks him up in his arms in bridal style. “You are not getting married to anyone else other than the new defence minister of this kingdom.” “Then I agree.”

===============

Everyone stands up on their feet when Taehyung comes back with Jungkook. Jimin smiles at his best friend when their eyes make contact with each other. He smiles through the whole ceremony when Taehyung and Jungkook share vows.

He sees their happiness. Something burns in him when he realises - 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. Taehyung and Jungkook are in love and this is how love looks like. He turns to look at the King, who is smiling at his brother.

He keeps looking at his husband, feels tears fill in his own eyes. Something painful tugging in his chest, making him feel breathless. He looks at the now married couple. They have something he will never have.

𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆. It doesn't take much time for him after that. He smiles when he decides that- It is his time to finally leave the palace.

===============

Jimin rushes back to his room after leaving the hall. He closes the door behind himself and rests his head against it. “I am sorry…” He whispers and feels tears streaming down his face.

Funny how someone who struggled with shedding some tears, someone who always wished for some tears to let out all the pain, cries so easily nowadays. “You make me cry, My King…” He whimpers. “You make me cry… both because of joy and misery.”

“You make me feel overwhelmed in the best possible way…” He does not make an effort to wipe his tears and looks around the room. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳. He walks over the whole place, with blurry eyes, ready to preserve the memories.

This place has given him more than he ever asked for. He never even wished for this much fortune even in his dreams. He touches the railing of the balcony and feels more tears coming out of his eyes.

“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦…” He startles when he hears the door opening, turning around to see the King standing at the doorway. The King is panting as if he was running before. He looks at Jimin and takes a-

-breath of relief. “Why did you leave the hall abruptly…? I thought-” “𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠.” Jimin says, looking at the other. There is no longer any need for hiding his pain.

“What…?” The King’s sound came off as a whisper, but Jimin heard it just fine because of the silence in the room. And Jimin also knows that the other heard him but is still asking him again. “I am le- leaving…” He stutters when he sees the King walking towards him. “this-

-palace and…” He gasps when the King pulls him closer by his wrist. “And… and you.” He completes his sentence, head bowed and trying not to shed more tears.

“Look at me…” The King says and Jimin shudders at the clarity of tone. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘏𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩-

-𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳. But this time, Jimin refuses to look at the other, afraid that the look on the other’s face might stop him. That he will give in and stay. “Please…” The King says, in a pleading tone.

Jimin immediately turns to match eyes with the other, in shock. He breaks down, more tears roll down from his face when he sees the red eyes of his husband. “I can’t stay…” he still says, unable to control the pain he feels. His heart hurts and he can’t act like it doesn’t.

He is tired of hiding it. “I tried to… I really did but I- no more…” “Why…?” Jimin fumes at the question, almost taking a step back but the King holds him close. “Because I want you!” his voice low, “I want you, all of you and in more than the ways you want me!”

“I want to be with you, not just physically but emotionally. I want to touch you, want to hold you close, I so badly want you. I-” He chokes on his words. “I want your love…” closes his eyes and opens them again to say, “only for me. I want you to want me like I want you…”

“And you don’t…” he smiles at the other. “I know you do not feel the same. I know you consider me just as your husband… I know but…” “𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥!”

“No!” the Jimin says, stopping the other when he sees the King trying to say something. “No, please... let me say it. I want to let it all out before I leave…” “I do not expect you to return any of it but… let me say it for my own sake.”

“I can't stay because I can no longer pretend that everything is okay when it is not. I can’t stay because I can no longer pretend that my love… my love is enough for the both of us when it is not. I can’t stay and pretend that I did not hear you calling me ‘my love’ once and-

-that I never wanted to hear it again!” He sobs into the King’s chest, fills the room with the sound of his cries. The King doesn’t say anything when Jimin wraps his arms around his waist and cries to his chest.

“I don’t know why I want to hear it so badly… I don’t know why can’t I just- why can’t I just stay happy with whatever is provided to me? Why can’t I see that I am fortunate enough to have this much? Why can’t I see that I am basically living a life which is impossible to-

-happen even in dreams for a commoner like me?” He cries as he buries his face against the King’s neck, holding the latter in his arms desperately.

𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. “Every time you look at me, it hurts… It hurts so much. You look at me like you-” he gulps when he feels his throat hurting.

“you look at me like you… love me…?” “Like you see me more than just your husband… like you have feelings for me…” He looks at the King, “You don’t right…? They both look at each other.

Jimin flinches when the King cups his cheeks and wipes his tears. His heart skips a beat when- The King traces the skin below his eyes… 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴. “Why do I want more…?” He whispers again.

“This is already way more than I dreamt of then why do I want something more…? You are a part of my reality then why does this reality hurt? Why does it hurt like you are not somehow in it? Why does it seem like you are just a fragment of my dreams and you will never-

-be my reality…? And when the King still doesn’t say anything, Jimin takes a step back from the other. He feels the cold air hitting his body. “I… am sorry… you don’t have to answer any of it… I- I will leave now.”

The King stays silent and that triggers something in Jimin. He takes an urgent step towards the King and fists the collar of his hanbok. “I am leaving you for the second time and you still won’t do anything to stop me?!” He fumes in anger as he looks at the King.

“You really don’t care if I leave you, do you? You- you really don't feel a thing for me right?!" He gets close to the other, making their noses touch in the process.

“If not then why did you look at me that way? Why did you touch me that way? Why did you kiss me when I said I will leave?” “𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐞?! 𝐖𝐡𝐲?!” He looks at the other in anger before he pushes the other and the King almost falls from the sudden-

-movement. Jimin turns around to leave when the King holds his wrist once again and pulls him harshly towards himself, making Jimin gasp in surprise. The King looks at him and says, “Are you done? Can I speak now…?”

Jimin feels his feets giving up on that tone but he stands firm on his ground. “What is there to say…? There is nothing to-” “Let me speak now. You said what you wanted to say and now I will speak and you will listen.”

Jimin stares at the King, who has a firm grip around him. “Come with me… you want to leave right? Fine, I will drop you off at your house.” The King grabs his hand and turns to leave the chamber.

================

Jimin walks behind the King, as the latter is holding his hand and walking fastly out of the palace. “Get the horse ready.” The King orders a guard as they get out of their chamber area. '𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒇𝒇…’

His heart hurts when he thinks of those words. '𝑺𝒐 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆… 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆. 𝑺𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑾𝒆-

-𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎.’ ‘𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎? 𝑰-

-𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅? 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆-

-𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕?’ He looks at the way the King is holding his hand and feels like fainting. The way the other is holding onto his hand is the same since their wedding day. The warm yet strong grip never changed.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨?

The King stops once they reach outside the palace and turns around to look at Jimin. “Get on it.” Jimin doesn't ask anything and just hops on the horse in front of him. The King also joins him and sits behind him.

When the horse starts moving, Jimin looks behind himself to see the palace one last time. The palace is illuminated with lights as it's way past the evening time. He then looks ahead and smiles at the path. ‘𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆…’

As they move forward, he is reminded of the last time they both went out of the palace. ‘𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕…’ The King's words from that day, echoes in his mind.

He takes a sharp breath when he feels the King’s face close to his ear. The other whispers - “𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲…” Jimin's heart skips a beat when he feels the other's lips too close to ears, almost kissing it. He holds the King’s hands for balance. “I am sorry…”

“Why… are you…?” “I was rude to you, earlier… I didn't mean to… I am sorry.” 𝘑𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘵.

𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴. “It is alright…” he finds himself saying, in spite of feeling like nothing is alright.

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. “It is not. I told you I will make everything alright and I didn't.” “It is not your-” “It is my fault…” The King says and Jimin rests his head on the other, unable to hold it any longer.

“𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐫𝐲, 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞…” “Don't- please don't-” Jimin chokes on his words. “Don’t say things you do not mean… Please, I can't cry anymore. I don't-

-even know how I managed to cry this much. But I do not want to cry again.” “I make you cry all the time right…?” “Yes.”

“I am sorry…” Jimin hums at the apology. “Why are we like this…? He then asks. “I do not know, my-” “Don't.”

He says and closes his eyes, afraid of hearing that word again. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴.

===============

TW// mention of minor injury and minor character death in the past.

Jimin does not open his eyes until he feels the horse stopping his movements and the King saying, “Open your eyes, we have reached…” He opens his eyes to look around in confusion. “Where are-”

He tries to say when the King gets off from the horse. The latter extends his arm in front of him, for him to get down. Jimin gets down from the horse and realises that they are outside the vicinity of the village where his house is.

He turns to look at the King and sees that the other starts walking backwards. “What are you doing? You will fall…” The King doesn't stop walking backwards, eyes set on him and finally stops at the main road. He then says-

“I was 18 when I got injured during a sword practice. The soldier who was practising with me, accidentally put a cut on my forearm with his sword.” “It was just a minor cut but I started crying when I felt the pain in that area.”

“My father scolded me a lot that day for being a weak soldier. He said that he was disappointed in me. His exact words were -” '𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕-

-𝒚𝒐𝒖! 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅! 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏? 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒚. 𝑴𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒚.’

“He then told me that he will send me for special training, far from the palace so that I do not repeat the same mistake. And I did not want to go so I left the palace in anger.” “I knew that I had to go back to that place again and can't stay mad for too long even when I-

-wanted to but I needed some fresh air at that time.” “I was soon standing at the same place where you are standing now.” He then points at where he stands. “And a boy was standing here.”

“The boy was crying in the rain. He was young, maybe 16 years of age. He was standing here and crying his heart out. It was raining heavily that day but the boy didn't move from his place.” “I later came to know that the boy was crying because-

-he had lost his parents in the past in an accident while they were traveling somewhere during rain.” Jimin takes a sharp breath and takes a sudden step back, terrified. “𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”

The King gives him a small smile. “𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬…”

“I envied you at that time because my father told me that men don't cry and then there was you, standing in the middle of the road, crying your heart out. You were there to prove him wrong.”

“Somehow it was peaceful to me. I felt so calm when I was standing in the rain and saw you let out your emotions. Something forbidden for me, but I felt so relieved when I saw your tears. I didn't knew the reason at that time but-”

“𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥. 𝐀𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥. 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.”

“I did not make any effort to reach for you to calm you down because I was afraid that I would scare you away. I was afraid that if you see someone else watching you in your vulnerable state then you will stop crying. I didn't want to meddle with your emotions. I thought-

-the best option was to see you from afar.” “And looks like I still make you cry…” The King chuckles emptily when he sees tears in Jimin’s eyes. Jimin shakes his head in disapproval.

He is crying because he remembers that it was the last time he cried before he stopped crying altogether. He didn't cry again for years, even when he wanted to. The tears left him after that day.

He didn't even cry when he heard the news of his parents leaving. Not even when he saw their bodies drenched in front of him. But there was something about that day, that when it started raining, he started crying.

“Follow me…” The King says and starts walking again. Jimin walks behind him.

===============

They walk for sometime, maintaining the same distance between them all along the way. Jimin raises his eyebrows when they stop at a familiar place. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘪'𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦.

“My mother died after giving birth to me…” Jimin hisses when he hears that. “I was raised by her servant…” The King smiles when he says, “my Halmeoni…”

“When I came back from my two years of training, I got to know that she left the palace, so I decided to pay her a visit and-” “𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.”

His eyes on Jimin, “He was leaving the house from the back door and I my eyes found him. I stopped to just look at him until he was out of my sight.” “𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥.” “𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥…”

Jimin feels his heart beating a little too fast. “I felt something burn in my chest, when he went away from my eyes. I remember how I stopped myself from walking behind him. I literally dragged myself to enter the house instead.”

“And the first words of Halmeoni when she saw me, were not of any greeting. She gave me a big smile and said-” '𝒀𝒐𝒐𝒏- 𝒚𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝑱𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒆!’

I laughed at that time, complaining that she was setting me up with someone the moment she saw me. “But she wasn't joking. She was very serious when she said that her Jiminie was perfect for me. That he will 'suit' me.” “I also kept smiling at her when she was busy praising-

-and talking about her Jiminie.” “𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.”

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧.” “If you were writing for me then after that day, all my letters were for you as well…”

“When I asked for whereabouts, it was not just about her only… I sometimes repeated the same sentence in a letter, hoping that you would notice. I wanted you to notice. I wanted you to see that I have the desire to know you better.”

“𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥…” “I wanted you to know me before-” He looks around himself and then back to Jimin when he says,

“𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦.” “I still remember Hobi telling me how I should tell you about my feelings for you as soon as possible but I refused him because that sounded stupid.”

“How was I supposed to tell a man I write letters to that I want to marry him…? I didn't want to come off as someone desperate, even when I was.” “I didn't wanted you to take my words lightly just because I am a King. I wanted to be fully sure before approaching you.”

“I still remember when I told Namjoon that I will make a public announcement regarding my marriage. I know he sent a letter to Jin hyung the same day, telling the other to come back from his duty to see our marriage.”

“But I wasn't confident as to what you will say. I was very much convinced that you will definitely reject my proposal until Taehyung came to my room and said that whoever I decide to get married, will be lucky.”

“He didn't know about you but he was very confident that I would only marry the right person. He successfully managed to boost my ego, just like always.” The King chuckles awkwardly before continuing. “I always take his words very seriously so I knew that I should take the-

-step forward. But-” He looks troubled when he looks around again. “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦. 𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩.” “I was falling sick and weak regularly. It felt as if something was not right. It was only after our marriage-

-that I realised that I was getting poisoned…” “𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.” “After that, I started keeping my distance from you… believe me when I say-”

He feels his eyes filling with tears, ready to fall at any moment. “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶…”

“Even when I was suffering, you were the light in my life. I never liked palace life but I felt good every time I came to the chamber and saw your face. Stared at you like a creep when you slept peacefully.”

“When you stood there like you were just waiting for me. I felt so much when I realised that there was someone in my life who was waiting for me to come back no matter where I left to.”

“I felt as if my life was running away from me but I wanted to stay. I wanted to run towards you instead. Everything was in chaos but you reflected a sense of comfort. When I was falling behind, I wanted to push myself to you instead. I know that you will not let me fall.”

“𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝.” “𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞… 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞.” He cries when Jimin takes a step towards him.

“Now, I know that I hurt you a lot. I know that you are always hurting because of me and- I- I don't know how I always manage to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you, I-” He wipes his tears to keep looking at Jimin.

“I know that you don't deserve all of this, you don't deserve a marriage where your husband hurts you daily, but- I never wanted to…” “I know that now you want to leave and I support you in your decision but please- don’t… just don't say things like I never felt-

-anything for you...” “𝘐𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴… 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵…” “When in reality, what I felt for you was something more than what I could handle.” “If you were hurting then seeing you getting hurt was hurting me too.”

“Imagine looking at the person who provides you so much comfort hurting because of you…?” “𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞.”

He doesn't say anything after that for a few seconds, trying to control his emotions. He then builds up the courage and says- “I will drop you off now… I just wanted to-” He stops when he sees Jimin running towards him.

“Don't-” He tries to say but Jimin crashes at him, wrapping arms around his neck, hugging him close. He almost falls behind at the sudden impact. “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.” He hears Jimin chanting against himself.

Jimin then glares at him. His eyes were full of unshed tears. “Say you love me!” “What…?” “Say you love me, right now!” “I- what-” “I will leave you if you don't-” “𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮!” He says and feels Jimin’s lips on his own.

Jimin kisses him desperately, crying and hands grabbing his hair to pull him close. “I love you…” Yoongi whispers against his lips and kisses him back. He repeats it again when he hears Jimin’s whimpers. “I love you… I love you a lot but please don't cry…”

He detaches their lips to wipe Jimin’s tears. “I don't like it when you cry.” “Why did you make me cry then?” “I am-” “Stupid! So so so stupid!” Jimin makes a sound of annoyance.

“Remind me again why I fell in love with a fool like you?” He asks, getting frustrated. “I honestly have no idea… even I asked the same question to myself when you confessed mmm-” Jimin pecks his lips. “Stop talking! Stop talking if you don't want me to leave you!”

“𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦…” Yoongi says, his voice vulnerable. “I won't…” “You won't…?” Yoongi asks again, unsure of the words. “But- you…don't have to… you know… stay with me if you don't want to. I only make you cry…”

“𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴…” “I still make you cry.” “Make me happy then!” “How…?” “Okay that's it! I am leaving-” Jimin makes a strange voice when Yoongi kisses him.

“No.” Yoongi says and bites Jimin’s lower lip to deepen the kiss. He then moves his tongue all around Jimin’s mouth and hums in satisfaction when Jimin doesn't fight back. “𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺.”

He kisses Jimin all over his face, “Will not try to make you cry again…” kisses his tears stained eyes, “won't leave you even when you tell me to.” He brings Jimin closer to himself, to prove his point.

“You fell for a fool and now you are trapped forever!” He says and smiles between the kisses when Jimin giggles in his arms. “Uh-oh, it looks like a dream becoming a nightmare moment.” Jimin says, pretending to be scared of the other.

He tries to take a step back but Yoongi just pulls him closer to himself, once again kissing him with everything in him. “Yes. And now I am a part of your reality. You can't run away from your reality now…I won't let you.”

“I don't want to…” Jimin says and smiles when Yoongi frowns at him. “No, these are the tears of happiness… I always- always wanted you to be my reality.” Yoongi kisses him again and says-

“𝐈 𝐚𝐦… 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞… 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞.” And this time when Jimin hugs him, Yoongi hugs back. This time when it rains, they both smile against each other.

They realised that the sky was finally happy for them. Yoongi and Jimin hold each other close, promising to be each other’s reality forever. 𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵…

———𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃———

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