Jimin entered his house quietly, making sure not to wake Mina up. It was dawn already, the sun was rising and it was going to be morning in no time. He thought he should be able to sleep a little before he has to get ready for the palace. He had pulled one of the formal Hanfus his father used to wear when asked for by the King, and laid it on one of the chairs. Today is going to be interesting, he thought before closing his eyes and drifting to sleep.

---

"Jungkook! Wake up" Kyungsoo knocked on the sliding door of his older brother's room. "It doesn't matter how tired you are, if I don't wake you up, someone else will" Kyungsoo shrugged and Jungkook groaned.

"What's so important on the second day of Chuseok" He complained, rubbing his eyes and entering his room again, followed by the other.

"All royal receptions are on the second day of Chuseok" he reminded.

"Well the people surely don't want to see my face at such a lovely time" He nonchalantly stated and collapsed on his bed again. 

"Will you stop being dramatic for one second" he rolled his eyes, "Besides, the King insists on your presence in all meetings today since you didn't attend the Chuseok celebrations last night" He snickered making Jungkook sigh and bury his face deeper in his pillow. 

"You're enjoying this aren't you" he asked as he sat up and walked to the bath.

"Well it would be unfair for you to have the luxury of skipping events you don't want to attend with no consequences, let's say I'm satisfied" he held his head high and proud. 

"I guess father having a favorite child just didn't sit well with you" he laughed and moved Kyungsoo away, just enough to close the door of the bathing area. He won't be so sure of himself by the end of the day, the younger Prince thought before huffing and walking away to his morning practice. 

Jungkook started getting ready by wearing his royal attire, the silky fabric was finely weaved and the gold embroidery was the work of very skilled artisans in the capital. He brushed his long hair and pulled it up entirely, securing his top-knot with one of the luxurious hair accessories and pins. He let his eyes fall on the crystal flower on his dresser and slightly smiled at its toughness. 

"The Crown prince has arrived" the court ladies announced from outside the throne room as he walked in. 

"Good morning my King, happy Chuseok. May the dragon year bring many gifts to the kingdom and keep you healthy and prosperous" he wished as he bowed to greet His Majesty. 

"Thank you Crown Prince. May it also keep the heir to the throne just as healthy, and perhaps grant him enough wisdom to consider my suggestion. Look at how good being Crown Prince looks on you my son" the King chuckled making Jungkook smile, he nodded, accepting the compliment.

"Prince Kyungsoo informed me that I'm expected to attend all the royal receptions today" Jungkook started, hoping that it was only a joke. These things were very boring, it was mainly people bringing gifts of all types, or leaders of certain work fields coming in to report their achievements to their King in hopes of receiving financial encouragement from the palace.

"That is indeed the truth. You did not attend last night's celebrations for one, last year you were away and this year you chose not to celebrate with your old man" he shook his head, "I also wanted you to get in contact with your people, listen to their requests and accept their presents" 

Great, so it is a punishment, Jungkook thought to himself.

"Of course my King, I shall be by your side" he replied instead.

"Very good, the first reception will take place in a few moments" the King added, so he carefully sat cross-legged on the right of the throne stage.

"Sir Min Yoongi of the Eastern Vals, wishes to see the King" The court ladies announced and a man in fine purple and gold Hanfu walked in, kneeling ahead of his King and introducing himself. Jungkook silently watched the exchange between his father and this young man who says to be an executive member of the agriculture committee in the East, which is normally a big feat and is mainly achieved after years of experience.

"My King I am pleased to inform you that our trade has deemed fruitful this year as well. The kingdom this season has dominated the trade of rice and textile especially, please find here the exact profits the East has made. I have personally supervised this season's agricultural activities and I'm rejoiced over the fact that everything went so well. I hoped to share these pleasant news with your highness" yoongi said.

This season? Did he know it was going to turn out well? Jungkook knew that being scheduled first in the royal reception list means the person had requested an appointment months prior. Once a request is sent to the palace, cancellations are not well perceived, and the sending party will always be on the bottom of the list if they request an appointment again in the future. 

With that information, almost all the people wishing to present results or report something to the King generally request appointments fairly late, and people wishing to present gifts would do the opposite. So why was Min Yoongi so early while he didn't even know what the trade was going to look like. 

Did he possibly know what was going to happen? Did he manage to predict the results of the trade season, or was it some great luck? No, someone of his rank and with that obvious wisdom wouldn't base his appointment with the King on a guess. Impressive. Jungkook thought as he listened.

"This is impressive" The King read his thought, going over the words on the parchment "I congratulate you sir Min Yoongi, your involvement was very effective" The conversation went on for another few minutes and the Crown Prince's attention was drifting away, instead having him think about last night's encounter. 

"-as if I had the weather in the palm of my hand" Min Yoongi said and Jungkook suddenly snapped his eyes up. The sentence sounded like a pleasantry, it shouldn't mean more than a joke to anybody else in the room, but something about the guest's mysterious aura gave it much more depth. Who is this man...

More meetings took place that morning. Jungkook had excused himself for a moment as he almost fell asleep during a reception. If the King had noticed it, not even the favorite child would escape beratement. 

"Crown Prince, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with the King?" a male voice said from behind him, ceasing him from staring off into space. He turned away from the fountains after refreshing himself with cool water and met the man's eyes.

"I am but I can't help it, it is so boring" Jungkook replied. "Aren't you supposed to be training my brother, Hoseok?" He asked in turn.

"No, he's with sir Jin this morning. You should really get back Jungkook, your father won't be pleased to know you are avoiding duty to chat with his best general"

"Everyone knows I'm the best General" Jungkook argued, a small frown on his face.

"Please, you received the title a second ago, while the King entrusted me with his idiot eldest Prince, who had the luck to have me as a teacher" the man said standing proud.

"Who are you calling an idiot? I can have you hanged for slander of the crown" Jungkook fussed.

"Look at you getting worked up like a child" he laughed and weakly pushed Jungkook back towards the throne room. "Go, before he sends someone to fetch you"

"Why must I be there, I didn't say a thing the entire time, nobody even looked at me as they spoke, I'm not needed and father is aware of it" Jungkook muttered to himself, dreadfully looking at the doors open to welcome him again.

He noticed the back of a different young man as he walked inside the room, but gave it little to no attention really, he just bowed and took his seat quietly. He was yet fixing his Hanfu sleeves when the guest spoke. 

"Yes my King" the voice was familiarly deep and pure, he knew it well, or at least, it was still fresh in his memory. He hesitated before looking up, and the face his saw surprised him despite him recognizing who the voice belonged to. Thankfully the young man wasn't looking his way or else he would've seen the shock on his features. Jungil, that's right, he doesn't know who I am.

"I'm sorry for your loss my child, your father was a great man and friend to the royal family, may he rest in peace" the King expressed his condolences and Jungkook wondered who that might have been, he's sure he'd never seen Jimin in the palace before.

"I've come here to give you a present I made with utmost care. Please accept it my King" the young man said as he pushed the relatively large wooden box covered with a silk fabric, over to where the Prince was seated, still not locking eyes with him.

"Crown Prince, could you please look at the contents of the box, I'm sure the gift is delightful" the King said, giving Jungkook the opportunity to do something for once other than daydream. Of course, he wouldn't dare refuse especially since he -himself- was curious as to what Jimin brought to the palace. 

He untied the fabric and there was a beautifully engraved wooden box. He hadn't yet touched it when pleasing smells reached his senses. Flowers, He thought as he opened the container and was met with a neatly-organized set of teas and packaged herbs. "Here it is my King, it is indeed very well made"

"What's best for the son of a doctor than to be his pharmacist" the King said with a light smile and Jimin nodded slowly. "I can see the notes for everything you've put inside, this is very thoughtful of you, son of Park Jin-ho" The King announced and Jungkook looked down as the information coursed through his mind.

Late sir Jin-ho? His son? Now that I think about it, they do look alike. He snapped his gaze to the young man and found him staring back, gaze unwavering. 

"I wasn't here at the start of the reception, but I am due to present you my sincere condolences sir Park Jimin, your father was one of the bravest and most talented, may he rest in peace." Jungkook spoke, and just for a split second he noticed Jimin's bitter expression followed by a smile, one different from those he saw last night, it wasn't genuine.

"My father was proud to serve this country by your side my Prince"

Your father was, but you? What are you really here for? 

"If I may, there is a special herb mixture on the side in that compartment for the Crown Prince. It is meant for deep wounds and injuries, the same one my father used to bring to the palace. He was the royal doctor and I'm sure he would have liked me to keep supplying the royal family with such medicine" Jimin added and the King nodded. 

Am I supposed to believe this act? The son of a man who died in battle- no, the son of a man I personally asked for and died in a battle I led, is bringing me gifts in good faith? It pains me to realize that I could never be friends with you Jimin, but it pains me more to know that I will have to be the man you think I am to prevent you from hurting my family. 

"The consideration you put in this gift is admirable. Let me make you a proposal, why don't you come live here in the palace, Jin-ho was a friend to the family and I would like to make sure his children lead a good life." the King suggested and Jimin's eyes slightly widened.

Is father getting lonely here? First me, now Jimin, who is it going to be next? Jungkook thought.

"I'm grateful that your highness is willing to welcome a mere commoner in your own home, I wouldn't dare reject your invitation, but thinking about it there would be no way for me to run the pharmacy shop I hold with my sister. The people have grown rather dependent on the cheap yet efficient medicine only we offer, and I would hate for them to lose such a resource so abruptly" Jimin declined the offer respectfully, and hoped the King would understand and not take it the wrong way. 

Tactful, Jungkook thought. 

"Like father like son. Well, just like I understood your father's wish of living among the people, I must respect yours too. That said, you may visit the palace out of reception schedules if you'd like. I've gotten word from your late old man that your sister enjoys sewing and weaving silk. It just so happens that we have some of the best facilities for it here" the King said and Jimin smiled, grateful for the kind words.

That smile looks real, could it be that he holds a grudge against me alone? I couldn't care less, as long as everyone else is kept out of it. Jungkook said to himself as he listened to the exchange. The meeting didn't last much longer, Jimin left and the Prince claimed he didn't feel well, saying he needed to rest and escaping the many more receptions to come. He couldn't believe he would one day have to do that himself.

In his chambers, the Crown Prince laid down and wandered in his own mind, staring at nothing in particular, with the same thoughts circling in the back of his brain. What was the purpose of this visit, are the herbs laced with poison? That would be too stupid. Jungkook believed Jimin had planned something for some sort of revenge, he was pretty sure putting extra effort in making something especially for him wasn't random. He will have to wait and see how everything evolves from here.