"I really feel like the gift is also the curse. It's always half-and-half. Whatever brings you the most joy will also probably bring you the most pain. Always a price to pay."
~Alice Hoffman~

Seeing him up close makes his ethereal beauty clearer. His features getting more prominent. The golden area highlighting his handsome self. He's like an angel that fell from heaven. The reason of his downfall unknown.

His eyes pierced mine and I remained motionless as his eyes seemed to suck my soul inside the dark abyss of his orbs.

His eyes doesn't hold any light. Even the golden lights doesn't make any shine. They were as dark as the sky before a storm. As black as a raven's feather.

His eyes doesn't stare, it glares.

I wonder if his soul is also as dark as his eyes?

His eyes portray nothingness. So much distinct to my lover's eyes. While Jungkook's eyes show you the wonders of the galaxies, Taehyung's eyes show you the black holes in the universe that would lead you to who knows where.

Kim Taehyung slowly raised his left hand, long slender fingers approaching my face calculatedly. His hands froze mid-air near my cheek because of a sudden intrusion.

"Prince Taehyung. Spare her some mercy. She doesn't know what she's doing." A calm steady voice pleaded from behind me followed by approaching footsteps.

I didn't removed my gaze from the youngest prince nor did he moved away from me. We just continued staring at each other without blinking like two teenagers caught up in a staring contest until the footsteps stopped and someone yanked me away from the youngest prince.

Looking away from Taehyung's captivating gaze, my eyes met with a familiar broad back covered in a familiar white noble clothing.

"She's an outsider, my prince. She's my responsibility. I apologize for letting her roam around without telling her where are the areas of restriction. Please understand, my prince." The sorcerer apologized his eyes trying to make contact with the prince's eyes.

However, Taehyung's eyes never left my form. He was still glaring at me through his lashes when he spoke, his words having me overwhelmed.

"She's forgiven in one condition. She shall have dinner with me tonight. If she doesn't come, I expect you'll know what kind of consequences she shall face." The youngest prince stated, breaking eye contact, giving the sorcerer a subtle glance before turning his back to the both of us.

The sorcerer gave a subtle bow to the youngest prince. "As you wish, my prince. She'll be having tonight's dinner with you." Then I was pulled away, my feet involuntarily walking towards the direction the sorcerer is guiding me to.

We passed several hallways, had a few right and left turns, in silence, the sorcerer not uttering a single word neither do I. After some time, we reached a seemingly old golden double doors. He reached his free hand forward, the doors opening even though his hands didn't reach the handles. The doors also closed, locking itself like it has a mind of its own.

The sorcerer let go of the hand he's holding and faced me, a serious expression plastered in his face.

"Why did you get inside the beast's dungeon?"

I shrugged in response causing the sorcerer to raise a brow. He looked at me intently and I put my lips in a thin line before speaking.

"The crowned prince was being eccentric so I ran away from him. Like your reason earlier, I didn't know anything about this place. So I didn't know that Taehyung's place is called a beast's dungeon nor did I know where are the areas of restriction."

After my little speech, the sorcerer took a deep breath before turning away from me, walking towards an old fashioned seat.

Only then when I noticed that this room isn't as bright as the others.

This room doesn't have any trace of gold.

Scanning my surroundings, I noticed that everything in the room seemed old. Vintage to be exact.

Endless numbers of books act like the walls of this room. The scent of old stored paper lingering in the air. It's like a library without the single bed in the far corner of the room.

This was the closest thing in this place to my home.

"This is the place where you shall stay. I hope you don't have any problems in sleeping in a chamber full of books, darling." The sorcerer stated.

I beamed at the sorcerer. "This place is very pretty and I am inlove with books. You don't need to worry about me not liking this place because I absolutely love it."

The sorcerer's lips morphed into a small smile. "I'm glad you love this place. This is my study and there is a bed there because I usually sleep here instead of my room. You could use it. The mattress and sheets are all new." He explained and I nodded curtly.

He then stood up and motioned for me to follow him and I did. He strolled towards a book shelf and pulled a book slightly. Upon that motion, the floor beside me opened and stairs appeared. It's a secret passage.

I stood in my position, stunned, barely noticing that the sorcerer already made his way downwards through the stairs. Blinking my eyes, I got out of my tranced state and followed the sorcerer. After walking some steps, the floor where we came from closed by itself and I flinched before following the sorcerer again.

The stairs led the both of us into a dimly-lit room, floating candles being the only source of light. The room is also like the room above it. No trace of gold and vintage looking.

"This is my room. No one knows about this room except me and you, darling. It is out of the castle's blueprint. The crowned prince only knows that I slept inside my study. He doesn't have a clue about this place as well as the other. I expect that you will not let your tongue slip and said a word about this place. Did you get my point, darling?" The sorcerer questioned, lifting a brow.

"Clearly." I answered, a knowing smile etched on my lips.

"My study and my room are the only places in this castle that's not affected by the malediction bestowed upon the youngest prince." The sorcerer stated, looking at a painting but not really having his focus on it.

Frowning, I strolled towards where the sorcerer is standing and gazed at the painting.

"What do you mean about the malediction bestowed upon the youngest prince?" I asked, letting my eyes sweep over the painting of what seems to be a rose.

"It's a long story—" The sorcerer started.

"I love stories." I interjected. "Long or not, stories are made to be told, not to be kept."

The sorcerer chortled. "You didn't let me finish. I never said that I'm not going to tell you about it."

Pursing my lips, I shrugged. "I'm just making it clear that I'm interested."

Another chortle from the sorcerer echoed in the dimly-lit room. "Well then, I'd start with the history of this place."

The sorcerer tapped his sceptre on the ground once then a black and white smoke appeared. It morphed into different shapes as the sorcerer started telling his tale.

"Pangaea was never a wealthy and prosperous land before. The only way of living was through fishing. Tethys was the only source of life for the people. Everyone was happy for they got to eat three meals a day even if the only meal they have are seafoods and fishes. Everyone shared their little things to the people in need. The king and queen ruled Pangaea with so much care for their people. It was full of love." The sorcerer narrated, gaze focused om the moving black and white smoke.

"But, the queen got pregnant." The sorcerer continued. "The people was happy hearing the great news, that their rulers were having heirs. They even set up a feast to celebrate the great blessing this land is going to conquer after the queen gives birth to the little royals."

The black and white smoke suddenly morphed into a silhoutte of a woman.  "However, an outsider came and visited the castle when the queen was a few days before her labour. No one knew who is she and because everyone was welcoming and nice to her, she offered the queen and king an agreement."

"What kind of agreement?" I asked, not intending to say it out loud but the sorcerer payed no mind.

"The agreement is that she will make this land prosperous and wealthy through the help of the youngest heir but she shall take something in return." The sorcerer continued.

"What did she take?" I asked, now aware that the words left my mouth voluntarily.

The sorcerer smiled sadly, gaze glued to the smokes morphing into a heart.

"Love. She took love away from this land." The sorcerer elaborated. "After the king and queen agreed on her condition, the queen felt her babies coming. She went to labour and gave birth to the princes of this castle. The unknown woman watched as the king and queen gazed at their sons lovingly then she asked for the younger twin as she shall place the benediction at that moment."

"She asked for Taehyung." I stated and turned towards the sorcerer. "Why would they exchange love with wealth and prosper?"

The sorcerer have a soft look as he gazed into the morphing smokes. "They didn't know what the unknown woman would take. They agreed as soon as the unknown woman offered them the deal. The queen and king wanted their people to have a better life. You couldn't blame them, could you? They just want the best but ended up getting the worst." The sorcerer reasoned.

"What happened after the woman got a hold of Taehyung?" I asked, my stomach churning.

The sorcerer raised his hand and the candles unlighted. The smokes glowed making it more prominent as it morphed into a woman once again.

"She took his heart and had it placed in a jar that she kept with her. She then healed young Taehyung's wound and gave him back to his parents, who in that time sat emotionless staring at their crying son. The queen picked up her son and covered his mouth so that his cries would be muffled. Upon that action,young Taehyung's skin made contact with the queen's and the queen immediately became a golden statue. The king was shocked and run away from his crying sons. Young Taehyung cried louder and he fell from the queen's lap and into the bed, turning the bed gold as well. From then on, everything Taehyung touch became gold and no one in this land was able to love for their hearts got covered with gold because of the curse." The sorcerer narrated.

"The unknown woman fled Pangaea that day not before stating what could break the curse she placed upon this land." He continued, the candles slowly lighting up again.

My brows furrowed, urging the sorcerer to continue on telling the story.

"She said that the curse would be lifted if the youngest prince was able to love without the intention to harm and destroy. If the youngest prince could care for that loved one as much as the king and queen cared for their people before. It was possible for the youngest prince's heart is the only heart that didn't turn gold." The sorcerer explained.

"Then why can't Taehyung love? What's holding him back to do so?" I asked, very confused.

"Because he didn't have his heart. It was taken away, remember?" The sorcerer reminded and I nodded, realizing what he meant.

Thinking back to all the things he said, there's questions that was lingering in my mind and I did not hesitate to ask him about it.

"What about you? How did you know all of this? Aren't you one of their people? Why do you know so much about it? And from what it looks like, I could say that you aren't affected by the malediction. Why is that?" I queried, inching closer to the sorcerer.

He tapped his sceptre once again and the smokes vanished. He turned my way and gave me a look that sent a chill to crept up my spine.

"I'm the one the woman trusted to watch over this land. I'm the one who's keeping the youngest prince's beating heart."

A/N
And that's where the rollercoaster ride would finally start ;)

How was the story so far? I'm dying to know what y'all think about it cuz i don't know whuz ur pov about it and I'm awkward and all I can't start a stable conversation lol

Anyways,

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MEN CUZ THEY ARE ON THEIR 2ND WEEK IN THE BB HOT 100 AGAIN! THEY'RE TOPPING THE HOT 100, GLOBAL 100 AND 200! THEY'RE AWESOME AND Y'ALL ARE AWESOME FOR SUPPORTING THEM ALL <3

THOSE GUYS WORKED A LOT AND THEY DESERVED EVERYTHING! THEY'RE THE SWEETEST PEOPLE!
THIS YEAR IS FULL OF BTS HERE AND THERE I SWEAR!

MAY PRESENTED BUTTER
JUNE PRESENTED FESTA WHO BY THE WAY KEEPS ME BUSY LOL

AND JULY! Y'ALL JULY! WE'RE GETTING A COMEBACK ON JULY WITH A NEW ALBUM! CAN'T FREAKING WAIT!

AREN'T WE WELL FED? OFC YES! THIS IS WHY I'D NEVER JIMOUT!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I'D STOP HERE! HAVE A GREAT DAY AND STAY HEALTHY

LOVELOTS!

~RG2108~