_______________________________

When you let the King drink.

As Taehyung soaked himself in the tub, he let out a satisfied sigh.

He dipped his body deeper within the water until only his eyes were visible. The warmth took his fatigue away. He shut his eyes as he listened to the rustle of the leaves outside.

The long soak cleared his mind. After a while, he got out the bath and put on a new pair of clothes the servant had fetched him, then he whistled a tune as he left.

***

Inside the candle-lit room waited the King as he flipped through the pages of a book. One would assume the King's full attention was on the book but his mind was actually elsewhere.

His gaze shifted towards the untouched set of meal (which had started to go cold) placed on the small table.

The door slid open, revealing a boy grinning widely.

"Were you waiting for me?" Taehyung mused as he quickly entered the room and closed the door behind.

Hearing Taehyung's voice, the King's heart rejoiced. As soon as he glanced at the boy, he was stricken with surprise.

Because of the unbearable heat, Taehyung had chosen not to wear a belt which left his chest exposed. Strands of damp hair clung to his smooth bare torso; and the fresh just-out-of-shower appearance made it too appealing.

"Ah! I feel great! Wah! Look, my skin is glistening. Do you want to touch it?" Taehyung said in a care-free tone.

"..."

"Oh! It's so soft." Taehyung chuckled, poking onto his arm.

Jungkook cleared his throat. "Your dinner is going cold." He added quickly as he tore his eyes away from the view.

"Ooh." Taehyung plopped down on the straw mat. When he noticed that the dinner set was for just one person, he inquired, "You're not eating?"

"No."

"Alright, then." Taehyung shrugged. He picked up the chopsticks. "More for me." As he took a bite, he smiled out of happiness. The usually bland food was now spicy! And to his liking!

"Is it cold?" The King questioned. "Should I ask the servant to warm it up for you?"

"No, it's alright. Your Majesty, I have to say, the food tastes...different."

"How so?"

"It's spicy. I like spicy! As expected, spicy food is the best." Taehyung declared excitedly as he gobbled down the food, and seeing him do so pleased the King.

"Oh yeah! I want to ask you something. Did you catch the culprit?" Taehyung inquired, eyebrows raised and mouth full of rice.

"No." The King responded. "It is not so important."

"Not important?" Taehyung repeated, shocked. "There is someone out there who wants you dead. Aren't you worried...or maybe afraid even?"

After a deep breath, the King calmly said, "I will always be hated and loved. I've grown accustomed to it. And since I'm the King, there will always be someone who wants me dead. I have simply lost the will to act on it." He raised his eyes to meet Taehyung's and in a low voice asked, "Are you perhaps worried for me?"

The rising tension in the air and the way they stared at each other made Taehyung's stomach churn. Somehow, it felt strange, even intimate.

Taehyung's answer came out in a nervous, embarrassing stammer. "Wha - How - How can I not be worried? You're...my friend."

The King nodded, looking slightly disappointed. Then he earnestly said, "Rest assured, I can't die."

Taehyung's lips pressed into a thin line. "He says so because he has a great army and possesses awesome fighting skills, doesn't he. How arrogant!" He thought to himself.

Kim Taehyung let out a loud chuckle. Teasingly, he crossed his arms across his chest and said, "Oh really? Tell me then, what's immortality like?"

The King stared at his book. "It's lonely."

Out of all the answers he'd thought the King would say, Taehyung was not at all expecting such a serious one. He stared at the person before him, and he had to admit, he felt bad. With all the merits being a royalty brings, there's the demerits too, example - many broken relationships, fake love, betrayal, and much more.

"Maybe that's why the King is how he is - cold and quiet, with not many friends, lonely."

To lighten up the mood, Taehyung let out a small chuckle. "Well, I can die. That poison I gulped down is proof. Too bad though, I was planning on keeping you company forever."

Jungkook's face lit up. "Is that a promise?"

Taehyung smiled mischievously.

Jungkook frowned.

Taehyung bursted into laughter. "Now now, don't start pouting." He uttered the words sweetly. Tilting his head to a side, he batted his eyelashes, "I promise to be with you until I die. Happy?"

The King remained silent, but that little nod spoke a hundred words.

***

Later as the darkness filled in, and the only light outside was of the moons and of the burning lanterns, the King called a servant to bring them a bottle of exquisite plum wine.

"How nice of you, Your Majesty, to ask for what I was craving for." Taehyung said, sitting up straight and getting ready to drink.

"Before that, cover yourself." Jungkook said.

Taehyung's eyes narrowed. "It's hot in here, and what's wrong with showing a little skin? We're both men here."

"No wine for you then."

"Ugh. Fine! Fine!" Taehyung muttered as he quickly tied the robe around his waist, covering his torso. "Jeez. There! You happy now?"

The King nodded. "You may drink."

Taehyung rolled his eyes in annoyance, then proceeded to empty his cup in one gulp, "It's fine for a man to show off his body. What can be done when the heavens have blessed me with such a great one!"

The King said nothing. He simply drank from his cup.

Taehyung looked up from his cup, at the King whose cheeks had started turning red. He giggled, pushing his long hair back. "Your Majesty, you seem to be in a good shape too. I can see the faint lines of your muscles through your clothes."

The King muttered, "...Stop."

"Who am I kidding? Of course, he has a great body. He's the freaking hero!"

Taehyung laughed madly at the King's reaction. Teasing the King was really fun! As he took another gulp of the cold liquid, Yoongi's words burned in his mind, "...I can tell if that person appears in front of me again."

"Are you really going to give up on finding the culprit?" Taehyung asked seriously.

"And the one who murdered Minister Hyun."

"Yes." The King responsed without any hesitation. "Besides, there is something else I have to take care of."

"What is it?" Taehyung asked curiously. "Is it about the Princess?"

"No. My sister is strong, she can take care of herself. I don't need to worry about her."

"Then what?"

"You don't need to know. It's personal." The King said flatly.

Taehyung pouted a little, before excitedly inquiring, "Do you have a detective and such?"

The King nodded.

"But you won't tell me?"

"That is correct."

"...Alright." Taehyung sighed, giving up.

Seeing as to how the King really had no interest on the poison-case , Taehyung decided to shut his mouth and not tell what the musician had told him about having seen the culprits face.

The King can focus on his matter while Taehyung can focus on this one. That'd be fine.

He was going to figure out the truth on his own.

Outside, it had stopped raining.

***

The moon shone high in the night sky as the clouds hid the glittery stars. They spent their time drinking (with Taehyung doing most of the talking). All through the blabbering, the King stayed quiet, listening to the nonsensical conversation (mostly because he was drunk).

"No, no, no, Your Majesty!" Half-drunk Taehyung suddenly raised his voice in protest as he covered his cup with his hands. "What do you think you are doing?"

With dazed eyes, the King turned to Taehyung questioningly.

Taehyung reached out to take the wine bottle from the King's grasp as he said, "You're the King, and the King pouring wine for someone like me does not look nice. Here, let me do it."

"Someone like you?" Jungkook hiccuped.

"Yes. Me." Taehyung nodded. Then he patted his chest and joked, "Even though I'm an orphan, I'm pretty sure I'm a low-born."

Jungkook avoided Taehyung's reaching grasp and still poured him a drink. "It doesn't matter to me if you're low-born or of noble-birth. I will pour wine a hundred million times for who you are, not for what you are."

Honestly, Taehyung was taken aback by the King's words. A sincere smile appeared on Taehyung's face. "Woah. I am impressed." He lifted the porcelain cup and drank the sweet-sour fluid. "You treat me so well, Your Majesty. If I was a girl, I'd give my heart to you. I would love you till the end of time. I would even bear a child for you!"

"Taehyung-ah..." The King uttered softly. His ears turning bright red from all the teasing words.

Taehyung laughed out loud. Grinning, he admitted, "Hmm. Lady Bae is one lucky girl. I haven't met her officially but I had the chance of seeing her from a distance. She is really very beautiful."

"Mn." Was all the King said.

"When were you going to tell me you were getting married, huh? I had to hear about it from someone else." Taehyung murmured.

"I am not getting married."

"Aee~ You say that now." Taehyung shrugged. "But it's the heavens will."

More like the story's will...

Taehyung further added, "I'm just saying this - if you're the hero, then she is definitely your heroine!"

The King remained silent for a few seconds. Then, after a thought, he finally said, "Anything can happen."

"Like what?" Taehyung asked.

Jungkook grumbled a few words.

"Huh? What are you saying?" Taehyung frowned out of frustration.

The King groaned and hiccuped before bowing his head down, eyes closed tightly.

Taehyung gently poked Jungkook's cheek. "You okay?"

"Mnnnn." All he received were a few grunts from the drunken person who struggled to keep his eyes open.

"Seems like he has reached his limit." Taehyung thought to himself, taking away the cup out of Jungkook's grasp.
"Your Majesty, don't fall asleep here. I'll go make your bed for you. Sleep there, okay?" Taehyung suggested quickly as he shook the King.

"Mnnnnn."

In a hurry, Taehyung sprung up from his seat and strode over to make the bed. Once the task was done, smiling, he turned around to look at the King.

Unfortunately, the King was no where in sight. That was when he noticed the door wide open.

Instantly, his smile vanished. He gulped hard. "Oh fuck!"

***

Kim Taehyung bursted out the room in a rush. When he came outside, he discovered Jungkook squatting down by the flower-bed, drawing pictures in the soil with a long stick.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" One of the guard was asking worriedly.

"Did you need something, Your Majesty?" Another one said.

Confusion etched in both of their faces as they glanced sideways at each other.

Taehyung gasped out of horror. He screamed multiple curses in his head as he ran towards the three people there.

"Your Majesty!" Taehyung called with a fake smile. He grabbed hold of Jungkook and turned him around as he helped the King stand. "Here you are!"

"Taehyung-ah~." Jungkook smiled brightly at him.

The soldiers blinked in shock from having witnessed the King show affection in such a long time.

"Let's go back inside, hmm?" Taehyung insisted, grabbing Jungkook by the arm.

"No." Jungkook replied flatly.

"But, Your Majesty -"

"If His Majesty does not wish to go with you, then why are you forcing him to?" One of the guard scolded.

Taehyung bit his lip. "I'm doing it for the King's good!"

"How dare you scold him?!" Jungkook sounded enraged as he shot a deathly look at the guard.

The guard was startled. Quickly, to save his head, he bowed down respectfully, "I apologize, Your Majesty. Forgive me."

Jungkook tsked.

"It's alright. Don't worry." Taehyung smiled nervously, trying to assure the soldiers. Tugging harshly at the King's sleeves, he desperately muttered, "Come on."

"Come with me!" Jungkook suddenly blurted out. He took Taehyung by the hand and turned on his heel to leave. For the King's protection, the guards stepped forward to come along with.

"Don't follow me." The King snapped harshly. "If you do, you die."

Terrified from the threat, the guards quickly nodded in agreement. Obviously, they could see something was wrong with the King, but they couldn't quite get their hands on it.

Taehyung grimaced, annoyed. He couldn't help but notice the weird looks the guards were exchanging.

"The Kings behavior is making it worse!"

"How about we just go inside?" Taehyung suggested.

"No." The King protested. "The night is young. Now, come along."

With that said, the King sprinted off, dragging the poor Taehyung behind.

Taehyung clenched his jaw. "What are you doing?! I'm trying to help you! This is just great. Your reputation is ruined now, even I can't save you now."

***

The orange light flickered as the duo walked along the lantern lit path. The drunken Jungkook was ecstatic, skipping a few steps forward before returning back to Taehyung to match his pace.

"I'm on top of the world!" Jungkook announced happily.

"Sssh!" Taehyung scolded, placing a finger against Jungkook's lips. "Don't make so much noise!" He quickly scanned the area to make sure there was no one.

Taehyung sighed, putting his hand back down.

"Sssh, sssh." Jungkook repeated, placing his own finger on his lips.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. In a scolding tone, he said, "I am trying to save you from humiliation but you -! Why do you get like this when you're drunk?! Let's return..."

"...Taehyung-ah?" Jungkook called sweetly, interrupting Taehyung.

"What?" Taehyung snapped.

Jungkook giggled. "Taehyung-ah!"

"What?!"

Jungkook flashed a big, genuine smile. His protagonist halo glowed. "You look pretty with your hair down!"

"..."

Kim Taehyung felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. Blood rose to his cheeks. He was used to hearing compliments, but receiving one from the hero himself send him feeling all tingly.

It kind of made him feel special.

Taehyung cleared his throat in embarrassment. "Just where on earth are you taking me?"

Suddenly, the King's feet came to a stop. "We're here." With one free hand pointing in the direction of the kitchen area, and the other still grabbing tightly onto Taehyung's arm, he grinned and confessed, "That's where I cooked for you."

"Cooked what?...Wait...The one who cooked the spicy meal...it was you?" Taehyung blinked in surprise.

Jungkook nodded innocently.

"You know how to cook?"

"Mn." Jungkook flashed a drunk smile. "I cooked for you!"

Taehyung couldn't help but smile. A giggle bubbling up inside him. "Well then, I'm very much honored. Thank you."

Jungkook stared fixedly at him.

"What?" Taehyung asked.

"...I can cook more for you. Do you want to eat more?" Jungkook blurted out. His face not giving away any emotions.

"Huh?"

Before he could fathom what the King meant, the King let go of his hand and dashed towards the kitchen. And who would've thought that the King would be an extremely fast runner.

"Your Majesty, stop!" Taehyung shouted breathlessly as he ran after the possessed King.

Taehyung found the King trying to light fire at the firewood stove. "We need pots." Jungkook said to himself. He rose up and started searching around for pots.

"Stop." Taehyung held the King back.

"But I want to cook more for you." Jungkook insisted.

"It's okay. I don't need anymore. The dinner itself was so tasty that I ate a lot. Now, my stomachs full, so no more." Taehyung said, trying to drag Jungkook away from the wooden shelves.

Jungkook resisted, holding onto the shelves.

Taehyung gathered all his strength and pulled so hard that it made Jungkook lose his balance. He stumbled backwards, tripped on a pan and fell, landing hard on his butt.

The wooden shelf came apart and the pots broke.

Jungkook covered his eyes to avoid the sight before him. Taehyung's mouth hung wide open in shock.

"Oh no! Seokjin is going to go crazy!"

"Hey! Who's there?!" A soldier shouted. Taehyung heard footsteps started approaching the kitchen area. In a rush, he caught hold of the King. "Lets go!"

"Alright." Jungkook agreed. "No, wait!...Gayageum."

"Gayageum for what?" Taehyung hissed through his teeth. The footsteps outside were getting closer now.

"Sing for you." Jungkook said as a matter-of-factly.

"No! No singing!" Taehyung half-shouted. "Sing when you're sober."

"Must go to my brother's place to get gayageum." Jungkook murmured to himself.

"No! At this hour, your brother must surely be asleep."

Jungkook pouted. "But the night is so beautiful..." Then, he smiled mischievously. "I will wake him up."

"No!"

A wrinkle appeared between Jungkook's eyebrows. He moved his gaze down and stared at his feet, seeming sad.

Taehyung felt guilty for some reason. He was doing this for the King! To save his face! Now, seeing such a gloomy expression on Jungkook's face made it seem like Taehyung was the bad guy.

"Come on, don't get upset." Taehyung smiled reassuringly. "It's not that I don't want to hear you sing, now is just not the right time...How about...you do something else for me..."

Jungkook blinked. "Something else?"

"Yes, yes. Something else!" Taehyung nodded. Seeing how he finally got the King's attention, he quickly tried to use this opportunity to fool the King. "But not here, no. Let's go back to our room and - Wait! Why are turning red? Are you sick?"

Jungkook's whole face had turned the brightest shade of red. To check for a fever, Taehyung lifted his arm and placed the back of his hand on Jungkook's forehead who quivered under his touch.

"Hmm. There's no fever." Taehyung said in a surprised tone, moving his hand away. His eyes made contact with the King's, and the corner of his lips turned up into a smile.

Jungkook caught his breath.

"Your Majesty, are you going to listen to me or not?" Taehyung said.

"I'll listen to you." Jungkook said firmly.

"Then lets go back."

"Alright. Whatever you wish." Jungkook murmured. His eyes gleaming.

***

"There you go." Taehyung said, putting down the half-asleep Jungkook on bed. Tired from having to lift half the King's weight, he plopped down on the straw-mat.

"Ah. I'm exhausted." Taehyung uttered. He looked at the King who was snoring now. His face hidden behind his black hair. A small giggle escaped his lips. "Heh heh. What a child you become when you get drunk.," He said softly as he gently put the strand of hair behind the ear.

Remembering all the events that had transpired, he held back his laughter.
He really found the drunken King amusing. In fact, despite creating a havoc, he genuinely loved the drunken Jungkook!

Taehyung poked at Jungkook's cheek. "Hmm. It'd be a big problem if you got drunk around others."

As he stared at the King's face, his body moved unconsciously. Without him knowing, he leaned in closer and closer down towards Jungkook's chiseled face.With a smirk, he whispered, "I will make sure you only drink when I am around."

Just then, Jungkook's eyes shot open and their eyes met. Startled, Taehyung blinked. "Oh. You're awake?"

Jungkook stared fixedly at him. "Goodnight." Jungkook said with a drunken smile before falling back asleep.

Taehyung's smile widened. His heart did a double-take. He was very much taken by the King's cuteness!

Just then, he heard a crackling noise coming from outside - as if someone was stepping on dried leaves and sticks. "What's that?" He muttered to himself. Out of curiosity, he peeked his head out of the wooden bars of round window.

He saw a shadow disappearing into the darkness.

Taehyung's heart thumped loudly with fear. "What the hell was that?! Are my eyes playing tricks on me?!...A ghost?!" Freaking out, Taehyung backed away from the window. "...It must've been a soldier. It couldn't be a ghost. I'm just drunk. Yes, that's it! This wine is making me see things..." As he tried calming himself down, a thought struck his mind. "Could it be...the culprit?"

Taehyung let out a deep breath. "No, no. With all the guards around, anyone wouldn't dare even think of harming the King."

He glanced down at Jungkook who was drooling in his sleep.

"How can you sleep so peacefully knowing your life is in danger?" Taehyung shook his head in confusion.

***

The owls hooted in the darkness of the night as the moon rose higher, shining it's moonlight on the cracked roof of an old, wooden cabin located somewhere deeper into the woods. It had only one room which was lit by a small, burning candle, and the presence of four people made it too crowded.

"So, what did you learn tonight?" Choi Dantae, Minister of Finance, asked curiously. The "???" before in his title now revealed the word "Villian."

"The soldiers never leave the area. They don't even doze off. Also, it seems like Kim Taehyung is still sleeping in the King's bed chambers." A handsome man confessed. Even when sitting, one could make out he was tall. The man's name was Park Chanyeol, a part-time ruthless assassin who murdered for pleasure. He was once loyal to late King whose death caused him to switch sides. Now, his sole mission is to seek justice for the late King by killing the present King of Joseon.

"His Majesty is extremely obsessed with that man." Minister Choi muttered disgustingly.

Another person groaned in irritation. This person was Gong Jun, the Minister of Public Works. He had gotten the position of a Minister at such a young age; mostly because of his brain...and also by using a few illegal tricks up his sleeves. And as pretty as he appeared with his red eyeliner, underneath his charming facade rested a cunning, cruel man. "Just what on earth is his relationship with the King?"

"Could it be...that they are...?" Chanyeol uttered slowly, almost in disbelief. "...physically..."

"I don't believe it. If that turns out to be true, then Minister Bae's attempt of marrying his daughter off to the King would be a big flop." Minister Choi laughed. "And the King would be hated and humiliated by the whole country."

"Can't we turn Minister Bae against the King?" Chanyeol asked.

"That old jackass is loyal to the throne. And now that he's set up his mind on making his daughter Queen, I don't think he'll budge." Minister Gong said boringly. Turning to the fourth person in the room, he murmured, "What is your opinion?"

The fourth person who was listening quietly until now, leaned forward into the candle light, showing his fair face.

Min Yoongi.
Musician.
Antagonist.

"What the King does in his bed chambers and who he gets married to is not our concern. What matters is that the ambush tomorrow night goes perfectly as planned. I will not tolerate any mistakes. Are your men ready?" Yoongi inquired, shooting a deathly glare at Chanyeol.

"Yes." Chanyeol answered.

"But what of Taehyung? That man is always with the King." Minister Choi informed.

"If opportunity come, strike him dead. He's been a headache ever since he came to the palace. That fucking idiot has been onto me ever since that failed poison incident!" Yoongi scoffed.

"Yes, yes. It'd be embarrassing to get caught by an idiot like Taehyung." Gong Jun nodded understandingly.

Yoongi shot him a look, but Gong Jun was oblivious since he was admiring his reflection on a tiny, ruby-beaded mirror case he carried everywhere with him.

Yoongi looked at Chanyeol and opened his mouth to speak, "Considering how you and Kim Taehyung share history -"

"Taehyung and I are no longer friends. Whatever feelings I have held for him are long gone." Chanyeol interrupted.

"Even so." Yoongi continued. "There will always be a bond between you two - no matter how weak it is. Who is to say that at the last moment, you won't be able to draw your sword at him?"

Chanyeol's jaw clenched. "Don't worry." He muttered through gritted teeth. "I will take care of Taehyung."

Yoongi rolled his eyes in sarcasm. "I wish you all the best. Just make sure everything goes according to plan."

Chanyeol nodded.

"I will have my throne." Yoongi declared.

***

Author's Note:

Votes and comments and very much accepted. Please show your support.
Before you ask me, yes, it's this Gong Jun. ><

And this Chanyeol~~~

Okay!!! Bye~~~ Look out for more characters...*wink**wink*