Chapter 10: Chapter 10
A single knock was heard on the chamber doors bringing the Prince out of his tangled thoughts.
"Come in Yeonjun"
Jungkook sighed and raised himself to sit properly on the bed as he had begun drooping into the silk sheets. The guard stood still at a distance from the bed.
"Listen to me carefully. General Min has been temporarily suspended so inform only our troops that no one is receiving orders from him from this point on until a finalised decision is made. I've grounded him to his chambers for now so station guards around and keep an eye on him. Something's wrong."
Yeonjun without question replied 'yes sir' with a small head tilt forward. The Prince then clambered out of bed and hurried to dress properly.
"Sir–" Yeonjun begins to object but Jungkook raises his hand with a small glare and the royal guard lowers his head.
They may be friends but as a royal, Jungkook silenced him with authority only because he did not want to hear it, he wasn't going to listen and had his own decisions to follow through. The Prince wouldn't abuse his power against his friends in such a way but sometimes it's needed when he doesn't want to hear objections or advice, he has his own choices to make and that should be acknowledged by his friend who is also his guard.
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As soon as the King, Queen and Seokjin returned to their guest quarters, the Prince burst through the door of Taehyung's room with the broadest smile and flushed cheeks. He began to bombard Taehyung and Jimin with news of how the meeting went, saying how unexpected and fateful it was – how he felt so confused, relieved and reunited all at once.
"You two should come with me to meet his highness right now, he invited me to an afternoon lunch in his study and I asked if I could bring you two with me. He said of course." Seokjin exclaimed. The man was overjoyed, he felt as if the heaviest boulder that was pressing down on his poor heart had been lifted and he could breathe again.
"I think it's a wonderful opportunity, you'll get to know him in a comfortable setting without the elders around like how it'll be at tonight's dinner. We'll all get to casually know each other." He adds with a smile.
"It does seem like a good idea, hyung but wouldn't you want to spend time with him alone rather than with us~~" Jimin teases but the elder in response scoffs.
"You– just wait until you find your love, we'll see who's teasing who then." The older grumbles, turning back to his brother. "Come on Tae, I want you to be relieved with the stress about how I'll be treated and whether or not I'll be happy. I know it's been worrisome for you, and besides, didn't you say sometime back that you wanted to 'interrogate' the man I'd love before he got to marry me? That he had to be 'qualified' and perfect for your dear hyungie?"
Taehyung chuckled at the small memory of when he was younger. "Yeah yeah, hyung alright let's go."
Since the King and Queen had retired to their quarters for the rest of the afternoon, they wouldn't need to be informed and so the three Northerners made their way out of the guest chambers and headed in the direction of Prince Namjoon's chambers to which Seokjin roughly knew the way. During which, Seokjin explained everything about the rest of the meeting in detail.
"–and King Yeon said that the Second Prince has been–"
Prince Seokjin gets cut off when the three of them cross paths with two men, one in royal attire specifically silver and blue which in the royal family is worn only by the Crown Prince, and the other man was dressed as a royal guard in black, red and gold.
Taehyung immediately recognises the Prince and bows, following him Jimin bows as per status and duty since his Prince bowed, he is required to do so as well. Jin also deduces who the man is as per his attire and obviously the members in Alystra's royal family. Since he had already met the King and his soon-to-be husband, the only person left is the Second Prince who is now the Crown Prince so he respectfully bows too. Following his behaviour, Taehyung is confused as to why his brother is acting so distinct and formal with his 'husband' as he assumes, until Seokjin voices a hello that leaves the youngest Prince dumbfounded.
"Nice to meet you, Prince Jungkook. I'm the Second Prince of the Northern Islesof Nysa and Prince Namjoon's proposed betrothed, Seokjin."
The man before them – Prince Jungkook – bows in return and gives a gentle smile, moving his eyes to the youngest Prince's alarmed ones that blink back to present an unfazed expression.
"It's nice to meet you too Prince Seokjin, I'm sorry I was unable to attend today's meeting and see you then." The Crown Prince speaks with a low though relaxed tone.
"It's alright Prince Jungkook, you require rest to heal. Oh, pardon my manners, this is my younger brother Prince Taehyung and his royal guard Park Jimin." Seokjin gestures towards them and upon being mentioned the two lightly bow in acknowledgement though voice nothing except just Taehyung's face mannerly showing a tight smile while Jimin's was void of any emotion in particular.
"It's very nice to meet you all, I'll be sure to see your majesties and the Northern Princes at dinner tonight."
"By the way, if you don't mind me asking, where are you headed? If it's possible we can escort you there." Jungkook offers politely.
Seokjin became a bit flustered at the question and slightly stuttered in his response, "A-actually we were headed to Prince Namjoon's study. I wanted to introduce my brother and friend to him to get to know each other before they meet at dinner tonight in a rather formal setting. I roughly know my way to where his chamber is located but am not absolutely sure. I'm sure we'll manage though, I don't wish to cause you any inconvenience."
The Crown Prince lightly chuckled that had Taehyung drawn to his beautiful smile which reached his eyes. The young Prince couldn't understand this feeling inside him that wanted to be closer to the elder, they barely knew each other yet the other kept on capturing his eyes as someone he simply couldn't resist admiring. For the time being he accepted his feeling as admiration for the powerful, respectable and undoubtedly handsome Southern Crown Prince.
"Don't be so formal with me Prince Seokjin, I'm younger than you and soon enough I'll call you hyung when we tease Namjoon hyung together." The Crown Prince rumbled out another chuckle whilst flashing his best, most genuine smile. He had come to like the Princes after what Namjoon hyung had told him about Seokjin, Seokjin's current behaviour, Jungkook's own observation (as he called it) of Taehyung both the previous night and from the chamber's roof when he watched the young Prince spar.
Whilst the younger Prince remained silent, not quite knowing what to respond with, the elder replied once more with a returned smile.
"Come… hyung, I'll take you to Namjoon hyung's study. I was headed there too anyway."
Along the way there, none of them engaged in much conversation since for some it was a comfortable silence, for some it was rather awkward, some didn't care and one was in deep thought about the embarrassment he felt for assuming things immediately about someone he barely knew. Taehyung was sure now that he was also most likely wrong about the royal guard affair and told himself he would not dwell on it any longer. Putting it aside he tried to at least make conversation with the Crown Prince in a somewhat attempt to actually know the other instead of his initial assumptions and judgements. Regaining some confidence and clearing his throat, Taehyung asks in his deep voice that captivates the Crown Prince.
"Are you healing well, your highne– sorry excuse me– your majesty?"
Prince Jungkook glances to the side beside Seokjin at Taehyung who meets his eyes for a moment, before turning to look forward again and answering.
"Yes, I'm doing quite well although my guard wouldn't say the same, he's been pestering me to rest as if the wound nearly took my life… and Prince Taehyung… your highness will do."
Taehyung's name rolls off his tongue with ease as if he's been saying it all his life. Hearing the young prince address him as your majesty didn't sound fitting and Jungkook better preferred his former title.
"Do you want to join us while we stay with Prince Namjoon? It would be nice to get to know each other without a formal setting such as tonight's dinner?" Jin asks.
At what his hyung said, Taehyung's chest beats strangely louder and he gets excited with the thought of spending time with the Crown Prince, yet this feeling subsides with Jungkook's reply.
"Unfortunately I can't, because of my rest I've pending work that needs to be attended to. We can talk at dinner."
"Alright."
Silence fell and soon they arrived at Prince's Namjoon's Palace chambers, the Northern Princes were going to halt and wait for permission to enter when Prince Jungkook walked right by, passing the guards who dared not stop him. The Prince then signalled for the rest to follow and hesitantly they did since of course it was royal rule and manners that you mustn't enter a royal's chambers without consent.
Entering the first room was an entirely different experience, the beautiful floral arrangements, screen paintings, vases and ancient ornaments that decorated the living space were stunning. The value of the room suddenly just increased for Seokjin, Taehyung and Jimin because of the priceless artefacts. Even the floor table cushions were embroidered silks and the unlit lanterns were carved to perfection.
Yet when a crash was heard in a nearby room and everyone except Jungkook rushed in to see and help, the sight they saw was exactly what they were fearing mere minutes ago. There stood Prince Namjoon with an open parchment in his hands, who by the looks of it had just toppled over what seemed to be a glass statute of a tiger.
With an awkward and seemingly embarrassed chuckle, the royal spoke.
"Oh, you're here. Sorry about the mess. I'll get someone to clean it. Don't worry."
"Wasn't that probably really valuable?" Jin questioned in shock.
"Ah no, they're all replicas, the real pieces are always kept safe out of my hands in storage. If these were the real ones I'd be destroying literal gold everyday with my clumsiness."
In relief, they all returned to the living room where there was no one anymore until a moment later the Crown Prince walked out of a hallway with a couple of books followed by Yeonjun who was holding a few more along with a basket of scrolls and parchments.
"Hi hyung, I just came to get mine and General Min's pending files. I'll get going then." Jungkook informed.
"All good. By the way, you're looking great in those clothes, they're truly made for you, Kook." Namjoon admired his brother from head to toe with a blossoming feeling of pride and happiness.
Jungkook only rolled his eyes, "Stop it, hyung and tend to your visitors. Goodbye Prince Seokjin and Prince Taehyung."
Following that, the man left. As Taehyung watched him walk out he couldn't help but admire his back, the broad shoulders and slim waist that were accentuated by his clothes looked flawless and the bicep muscles were to die for. He really wanted to touch those one day. Upon realising his inappropriate thoughts, the young Prince cursed at himself for thinking such things about someone who he barely knew. He shifted his attention to the others present in the room, specifically the soon-to-be engaged couple that were exchanging heart eyes again. He rolled his eyes but deep down Taehyung was overjoyed that his brother found the love he had longed for.
They all sat down at the floor tables, Taehyung and Jimin being rather tentative with the overly expensive-looking material and handicraft. They began light conversation with stories about themselves, Namjoon and Seokjin's story along with the upcoming dinner and soon engagement of the couple over tea and snacks. While from time to time, the young Prince's mind wandered to the Crown Prince. He recalled their first meeting in the bamboo forest, the previous night he helped the Prince and today's events. Prince Jungkook had been circling his mind for the last 2 days and who knows for how much longer he would continue bothering Taehyung's thoughts. Perhaps forever?
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