Jungkook had just woken up, he was laying in bed watching the blue-skied morning from his window. The birds chirped and nothing seemed wrong for once. He could tell this was going to be a good day as he opened the glass for a breath of fresh air.

He stood up and tied his robe around his waist before opening the door to his private bathing room. Stepping into the water, he sighed at the comforting feeling and took his sweet time to look around him and count his blessings. 

Did the florist add this new flower here? He thought as he pushed himself closer the the plants. He never saw it before, he would know because all the ones in his bath were red and orange. Bright white petals wouldn't go unnoticed. "Very good choice, I am not complaining" he smiled and brought one to his nose and smelled it. 

It smells like... Jimin. He took a deep breath of it and knit his eyebrows, very strange, he thought. 

Speaking of, today marked the last of his special teabags. He wondered if Jimin will stop by to give him more later. He made it seem so easy to let the Liquis go, giving him all the space he needed, while in reality it hurt him so much to give up on the one person he believed is right for him. 

He recalls Jimin blue eyes, his dazzling smile, and all he could do is wish for a time where they would find each other again. He has indeed fallen deep in love with his pharmacist and nothing he does will save him from this pain.

He dried his body before wearing a nice Hanfu, nice enough to impress sir Park if he sees him today. Maybe he should let his hair down this time? No it might raise suspicion regarding Jungil... Half up half down it is, he decided. 

He slowly ran his fingers on his chest, along the black lines forming the unknown symbol. He still doesn't know what it was about, but that could wait. He refused to focus on something other than himself and his feelings. 

"My Prince, good morning. Your breakfast is ready" a court lady said from outside and he quickly fixed his demeanor before walking to the door. He grabbed the tray from the woman and thanked her, then sat down and settled it on the short table.

He opened the wooden box and picked up the last tea bag, plunging it inside the hot water in the tea pot. While it infused, Jungkook took the chance to think about his schedule for the day. He had one official meeting with the King, then nothing else planned. Finally, a well-deserved weekend.

He picked up the pot from the handle and carefully poured himself the tan colored tea, interrupted by a little bird that came flying right through his window.

"What are you doing here" he softly asked and watched as it switched places a few time. It finally landed near him when he had the idea of tearing a bit of bread into small pieces and wetting it with his tea. He pushed the plate towards the bird, slowly enough so that it wasn't scared.

"That's it, eat up" he muttered when the bird finally nipped at the food with its beak. 

Not even a few seconds later, the bird raised its neck rigid, it's almost as if- Is it spasming? Jungkook asked himself in horror. Soon, it fell right there on the corner of his table, unmoving. 

He quickly stood up in surprise, looking at the creature and experimentally nudging it with his finger. There wasn't even a twitch, it was dead. He looked back at his tea pot, then at the bread, not understanding what could have gone wrong. Surely birds weren't allergic to anything... This was just wet bread anyway.

Unless it wasn't.

Jungkook tried to keep his distance from that tray, he paced around his room thinking of what to do now, who to tell, what to say. The meaning of this ordeal making him curse under his breath, really hoping he wasn't right. 

After a few moments, he opened the door of his room and stood outside where everyone could hear him. 

"Attention!" He announced loudly, "I want everyone to leave my quarters please! I want no court lady or attendant in any of the rooms that are mine! Once that is done, one of you please call Prince Kyungsoo for me" he said and watched as the ladies bowed and started walking out of the hall. Some went to call for their comrades who were too far to hear, and he simply went back into his room and waited. 

Around 5 minutes later, Kyungsoo stood outside the room, very confused but curious nonetheless. He announced his presence and saw how Jungkook immediately opened up and pulled him inside. 

"Thank God you were fast. I thought you would still be asleep" Jungkook whispered while the younger just stared at his frantic behavior.

"I had a meditation session with sir Jin- What's going on? Why did you kick everyone out?" he asked. 

"Is sir Park here?" Jungkook ignored the other's questions and aimed right for what he needed to know. 

"I... Haven't see him" Kyungsoo replied, feeling like he knows what this is about already. 

The other day when the pharmacist asked Byunho about that glass flower, he thought it was from someone who wore a mask. The same person that his little brother claimed to be Jungkook. He quickly understood that they were both talking about the same man, just that sir Park didn't know it. 

He thought about the situation and wondered: why did Jungkook need to sneak out if his pharmacist is the one he's seeing? He already meets him in the palace all the time... He realized that it was probably complicated and never asked him directly about it.

"He's supposed to be here, he works with the royal pharmacist today" Jungkook muttered, looking elsewhere.

"But he isn't... Maybe he didn't arrive yet, it's quite early you know" Kyungsoo tried.

"Right... Soo, you have something to do for me" Jungkook stated as he held him by the shoulders. 

"Are you okay?"

"As soon as you see sir Park, bring him to my quarters. Do it discreetly, I don't want anybody seeing him come in" Jungkook said.

"Seriously? All of this so that you can have a moment with him?" Kyungsoo asked, sighing.

"No- Just do what I tell you. Please, promise me you will be careful" Jungkook requested once again, stress evident in his voice.

"Okay, Alright... I will. But I expect an explanation for all of this brother." Kyungsoo demanded, only moving when he watched him nod. 

The young Prince walked out of the room, trying to figure this all out but failing at every attempt. He checked at the pharmacy first, in case sir Park showed up while they were talking, but finding nobody. He then decided to wait by the garden near the entrance, he will definitely walk by it if he comes.

---

Day 7.

Come on Jimin, this is what you've been waiting for. This is what you wanted, so start the day knowing your revenge is taken. He scolded himself as he laid in bed, unable to get out of it, he just stared at his ceiling in silence. 

I don't even have the energy to move.

General Jungkook was going to die today. It was only a matter of time before he drinks that tea and takes his last breath, yet he can't seem to be excited about it. Soon, he will become a murderer. 

Crown Prince Jungkook was going to... Jimin's heart clenched, and he wondered if he could ever look at himself in the mirror after this day. All the doubt in the world came crashing down on him then.

"Jimin! It's time to go!" His sister shouted from outside the room, shaking him out of his stupor.

Today, Mina was going to live the Crown Prince's death. The man she admired despite his efforts at dissuading her. She might guess that he had something to do with it, and will even hate him for it, but it was a small price to pay for avenging his father, right?

What good was it to doubt, it was surely too late by this time. He must be drinking his tea, and a commotion will soon start when he is found.

The General will be no more, the people will be free of him, the kingdom will be free of him. I'm doing what the many wish they could do. Jimin silently reassured himself, trying his best to reject the guilt burning in his chest. 

"I will be free of him" he whispered. Or will I lose him? Will I lose the man who's been but kind to me as of late, someone who loved me and my magic? Will I lose? 

It was too late.

"I'll be there shortly" he reluctantly answered and dragged himself out of the covers. He started getting ready as well by wearing the Hanfu he prepared so attentively for this moment, though taking no pleasure in it, rather grieving at the sight.

He walked with his sister through the palace doors, greeted the guards and went ahead to the pharmacy. The more people see him go there, the better it is. It gives him the alibi that he wasn't near the prince when his heart stopped.  

It was just extra precautions at this point, because he made sure the assassination doesn't get traced back to him anyway. Or maybe he just didn't want to watch it with his own two eyes. 

"Sir Park" he heard someone on his side say and turned around, surprised to see the young Prince and bowing immediately. 

"Young Prince Kyungsoo, good morning" he said.

"To you as well... I need to you to follow me somewhere" Kyungsoo replied in a low voice, going straight to the point but making sure nobody else hears.

"Where will we be going?" Jimin replied with an equally low voice, smiling as he thought this was a pleasantry.

"To brother Jungkook's quarters" the younger replied, and just like that his smile fell.

"Is that so?"

"Yes but we have to go without anybody noticing us, I know it sounds odd but you need to trust me, even I don't know what he's thinking again" he rolled his eyes. "We will take a sort of secret path my brother created" he added. 

This is against everything I wanted, should I just decline? Did Jungkook not drink his tea today?

Once inside, Jimin looked around to find an empty hall. Normally this place was busy with people doing all sorts of tasks. I have a bad feeling about this....

"Brother, sir Park is here" Kyungsoo announced, making Jimin's attention snap back to him and the door that was slowly sliding open.

"Thank you Soo, you can go now. I won't keep you here any longer" he curtly smiled and the other nodded, leaving the two behind.

"Good morning to you, sir Park" Jungkook greeted, but something about him was off. 

"Blessed morning my Prince" Jimin replied, "What may I help you with?" he asked.

"Please come in first" Jungkook said and turned to walk further in while Jimin knit his eyebrows.

"My Prince, I still don't think I can-"

"Nobody knows you're here sir Park, your dignity shall not be harmed. I won't touch you either if that's what you're concerned with" he said again. Jimin checked his surroundings one last time to make sure before walking in.

"Um... What is it I-" looking around, he noticed something that made his blood freeze.

The tea was served. It was right there going cold in the cup, yet Jungkook was standing in front of him, very much alive. How is this possible, he thought, then noticed the dead bird laying right beside the table.

Part of him wanted to be disappointed, the other wanted to be glad, but when everything connected, Jimin's eyes lost the glint of life in them. He looked at Jungkook's back as he stood silent, and mentally laughed at himself. Months of planning went down the drain, and maybe his life with them too. 

"I brought you here because..."

In the end, I'm the one who will die today.

"...I have reasons to believe my breakfast was poisoned" Jungkook stated, not yet turning to face him. 

I'm going to take my last breath today, and my sister will live the event of me dying. She will hate me for leaving her alone, for ruining the year of her wedding and utmost happiness.

Jimin stayed silent. 

"Did you hear me sir Park? I said someone tried to poison me today" Jungkook repeated, this time with a tenser voice. He had finally turned his back around to look at his pharmacist's face, and found himself staring at the dullest eyes.

Not only today your highness...

Jungkook understood what that look meant. He knew ever since that bird died, but he tried his best to push the thought to the back of his mind. He wanted to wait for Jimin to have a chance at explaining himself; maybe he would be equally surprised, maybe he would claim it was the bread. But instead, he admitted everything with one simple look.

"What do you say?" Jungkook asked, his voice much weaker. 

"There's nothing to say my P-rince" Jimin replied, his last word breaking at the tip of his tongue. Upon hearing that, Jungkook let out a short breath and took a few steps back.

"No way... Jimin no way" he whispered, unbelieving. This was the first time he called him by his first name as the Prince, and he hated that it was under these circumstances.

"Please tell me this wasn't you" he pleaded quietly, but the words were louder than bombs in Jimin's ears. "Tell me you didn't try to poison me Jimin, I will believe you" he repeated. 

This is it, I can just say I didn't do it. I can just absolve myself from this and get to walk away.

"I cannot do that my Prince" Jimin replied, his expression all the more composed. 

If Jungkook thought he knew pain from letting Jimin go, he was extremely wrong. The man he loved tried to kill him out of cold blood. Nothing could top that in terms of betrayals, and nothing could compare to how hard his heart just broke. 

"Do you know what this means?" he said again.

"I do... I am prepared for the consequences" Jimin answered, there were no fluctuations in his tone, no emotions in his eyes. Jungkook felt like he was talking to a rock. He walked towards Jimin and grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him and hoping it would wake him up from whichever trance he was in.

"Listen to me. This is not like when I attacked the Queen, nobody will go easy on you. Do you understand what I'm saying?" he declared. Only then did he see something snap in Jimin's gaze, as if he suddenly came back to his senses. He could tell the shorter was scared yet nonetheless tried to keep a strong front. 

"Did you hear what I said? It's capital punishment Jimin. The death penalty is what you get for attempting to murder me" he reiterated. He was overwhelmed with the many emotions interweaving inside him. 

He wanted to be angry, but at the same time he couldn't bear the thought of hurting the other. He wanted to forgive, but the feeling of deception was too strong to allow him. He wished he could go back in time and skip breakfast if it all meant he wouldn't find out about this. 

"I know that. As I said, I am prepared for the consequences" Jimin replied, aggravating the Prince more. 

"Nonsense! This is your life we're talking about, have you no regards for it?" Jungkook asked, his voice louder this time. 

"My life has been dedicated to this attempt for longer than you know" Jimin admitted, taking the younger aback.

"You aren't even trying to help yourself..." he muttered before retrieving his arms and walking away. He quickly wiped his fresh tears with his thumb and index before pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"I trusted you so much, Jimin... So, so much" he said, trying to regain his temper and stop the burning sensation in his throat. 

What will happen now, does he just tell the guards to arrest the pharmacist? Can he even do that without wanting to die next? None of this made sense, none of it fit his plans. All he wanted was to hold Jimin's hands and smile to him someday in a beautiful scenery, how did it get here?

"Tell me to let you go" Jungkook said, facing him again. 

"Why would I" the other blatantly challenged.

"Tell me not to arrest you and I won't, please. Don't make me have you executed" how come Jungkook was begging for a life that wasn't even his.

"I will not be pleading" Jimin stubbornly said.

"God- why are you being so difficult, I'm trying to let you live! You don't have to beg, just say something !" he shouted in exasperation.

"No! I knew what I was getting myself into, and I refuse to get out of it alive because of your pity" Jimin refuted. This was the first time he showed a reaction strong enough to match the gravity of the situation, and it was to defy him some more.

"Have you even listened to a word I said last week? I don't pity you Jimin I love you!" Jungkook loudly argued, making Jimin's heart drop.

"Then stop loving me!" Why was he fighting? Only this morning was he regretting his revenge, and now he was defending it. He didn't know where to stand anymore with only a fine line separating his emotions.

"I can't just do that!"

"Well you can't keep loving me if I'm dead" he spat out, watching pain materialize itself on the Prince's face.

"Have you stopped loving your father?" he asked, trying to show Jimin his answer without saying it.

"Don't bring him into this, and don't you dare compare! You've known me for 6 months, and you have the nerve to put us on the same ground?" Jimin accused, dismissing Jungkook's feelings for him like some casual teenage whim. 

"Do you even know what love is Jimin?" Jungkook muttered while shaking his head in disappointment.

"Love is what I had for my father! Whom you took from me in one of your stupid battles that always end up with more men dying." Jimin said as tears formed in his eyes. This was finally happening, he could look at the Army General and scream all of his suffering out to his face. 

"Did you even cry for him? I cried every night for a year. If you truly cared about him you wouldn't have trampled him in your mess" Jimin spitefully spoke, triggering the taller in ways he couldn't describe. 

"How could you assume such things when you don't even know how he died!" he countered, walking closer to the Liquis and towering over him.

"Nobody wanted to tell me! Your ridiculous rule of never disclosing what happens in battle didn't even give me the right to know how my father left! If he was offed quickly, or agonized to death... You took that from me too" Jimin cried as he shoved Jungkook's chest in anger. 

"That rule saved you Jimin! It saved you and your sister without you even knowing. I didn't just establish it for fun" Jungkook defended. He should explain himself, maybe then, Jimin will start listening to him.  

"Are you out of your mind?"

"You want to know what happened to your father? Fine. I'll tell you" Jungkook started, looking right into Jimin's eyes as he remembered the events with clarity. 

"It was night, my soldiers were in the camp, resting during a temporary truce we had negotiated. Your father was working in the tent for the injured, everything was normal until I heard the nicker of a horse. Normally, our horses don't react that way unless it was very unusual. I went into the tent to check, didn't find him there, and the horse was killed"

"They took my dad... Right under your nose..."

"They thought that taking our healer would leave us helpless. Shortly after, I found faint trails on the ground, whoever did that didn't care about us finding them. I assembled a small team for your father's extraction and we left shortly before dawn" Jungkook paused.

"We found the location where they kept him and started executing the plan. We had to be careful because our priority was to get him out alive, but one of their soldiers was a Val and heard our foot steps. They sent their troops to the prison and clearly outnumbered us. We tried to fight, my men held the others off while I tried getting to your father, but I was too slow." he sniffled.

"He was executed on the spot. And since there was nothing to protect, I wanted to go all out and kill everyone I could... But I was dragged out of there so that I didn't risk my life"

"Of course..." Jimin said with a shaky breath "You get to survive" he covered his face with his hand and silently grieved all over again. 

"I did all I could Jimin, I'm sorry"

"What now, you think I'm going to feel bad for you? Forgive you?" Jimin scoffed humorlessly. 

"I just want you to try and understand"

"Understand what? That your plans and strategies are the worst? How could you not have taken the necessary precautions-"

"Vals don't go to battle! Their over-developed hearing would torture them, they are not even strong enough to fight and most of them stay behind the scenes...There was no way I could've predicted that" Jungkook explained, he was trying his best to reason with him but the other had no intention of following. 

"It's very easy to talk when you're not the one asked to protect those men. Do you think you could've done a better job than me? The reason I was put in that position is because nobody else was ready to take the responsibility" he seethed through his teeth. The room was beginning to get warmer by the second, and Jimin could tell he hit a sore spot.

"Even that rule you are so against, it was all to protect my people" he informed.

"You've protected me a great deal by making me hate you more, look where it got me"

"What about those six other men who died while trying to get your father back? Do you think their families are happy right now? They are probably blaming me for allegedly abandoning their loved ones too. Would you rather that or have them blame you for their death?" Jungkook replied with a distasteful expression on his face "If we didn't try to rescue your dad they might have not died in that battle" he added.

Suddenly, it was quiet in the room. Jimin couldn't utter a word.

"I'm taking the blame for everyone's death and I'm not complaining, so don't come at me like your father's life was the only one that mattered in that battle" Jungkook warned, "I bear it so none of you have to, Jimin. Let this be the last time you question my commitment to my people" Jungkook finished with a slightly commanding tone.

"What a hero" Jimin snickered, refusing to admit that he might have been wrong. "You still called for him, if you hadn't he definitely wouldn't have died. How do you defend that?"

"I'm not trying to justify my actions, although there was a reason for that. I apologized for my mistakes didn't I?" Jungkook answered.

"What reason?"

"That, I can't say"

"Well you don't get to decide"

"I made a promise I am not willing to break," Jungkook stood his ground. He was confident with his decision and nothing Jimin says will change his mind.

"To whom?" Jimin asked, suddenly distressed, "Tell me what it was or I will hate you for the rest of my life," he demanded again.

"I didn't have much luck to start with anyway" he chuckled bitterly.

"I should've been here with you when you drank that tea. I should've watched you swallow it into your throat and made sure nothing gets in the way" Jimin viciously responded.

---

Double updating the second part!

-Aida-