-♤-

Taehyung likes Park Jimin. He's so kind and very Nice. There was a time when Jimin used to intimidate him, he was so confident and not afraid of anything, when others talked to Jeongguk with reluctance, Jimin said everything to his face, not caring about how further apart they are in hierarchy. The way he was a best friend but also a brother to Jeongguk. Taehyung feels a bit embarrassed that there was a time where he was jealous of Jimin (for a very short amount) for how he was able to express himself and be so close to him.

Jimin reminds him of Yoongi in many ways. He is to Jeongguk what Yoongi is to him. Both of them are so selfless and the fact they have found eachother in this foul world is a miracle itself. Taehyung can't name any other couple who deserves to be together more than them. As long as he is alive, he will make sure both of them can be happy together. His happiness is in an unstable state but he won't let the same thing happen with them. Just like Yoongi, Jimin has become someone very precious to Taehyung.

They go on morning walks together and sometimes even have breakfasts together. He got to taste the famous baked goods that Jimin makes and they really do live up to their reputation. Taehyung did his best to try to convince the guy to leave Elestial and join their kitchen staff but he declined his every request. His loyalty to his kingdom is the same as Jeongguk. He wonders what makes everyone from Elestial so loyal. He didn't think twice before overthrowing his own King. It doesn't take a genius to answer this.

When you keep your people happy, when you are fair to your people and those close to you, the loyalty for them develops naturally. It is not something you can force.

“Don't give up on Jeongguk.” Jimin states to Taehyung, a tea cup in his hands, taking a slow sip as Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“Jimin, he gave up on me. Not the other way around, he's an adult and he made his decision. I am not forcing anything on him.” Taehyung responded to him and Jimin moved closer to him.

“You are in love with him.”

“And I'll get over it! Jimin, do we really have to have this conversation right now? I really just want to enjoy this afternoon. After so long, my wound has stopped hurting so let me just breathe, yeah?” Taehyung asked him and he saw how Jimin's lips turned into a frown as he looked away.

“I am just worried about you both, okay? I fear he might do something stupid while being away from you. I know both of you love eachother but your responsibilities are holding you back. However, this type of love only comes once a lifetime so I don't want you to be in misery forever. Jeongguk just needs a little push and he will come for you!!”

“I don't know what you want me to do. I was ready to leave everything for him, to run away far away where no one could find us but he declined.”

“Well it is an irrational decision.”

“You are just biased and always take your best friend's side. Why are you suddenly even talking about all of this??”

“I might have seen all the proposals you got, there are so many letters, Taehyung.”

“Yoongi hyung told you?”

“Yoongi hyung told me.”

“I haven't accepted any yet so I don't know what you are worried about.”

“I just have seen Jeongguk. He calls for you all the time, he sees you in everything. He never stops talking about you and if he loses you completely I don't think he would even be able to live so that's why I'm saying all this. I can't force either of you but I'm telling you to not lose hope. Don't give up on him.”

“I fear it's too late,Jimin.” Taehyung says to him and Jimin knows he can't say anything else. The next second the door to the room opens and comes in Jimin's lover walks towards them.

Taehyung sees both of them share a kiss as a greeting. He loves seeing them in love but at the same time he feels so envious. Why cant he live so freely? the answer to that question, he already knows. Seeing them both now so close to each other and talking so softly as they giggle.

“Are you here to flirt with him? Should I leave?” Taehyung asked and Yoongi chuckled.

“No, no I came here for you but I just get distracted when I see this angel.” Yoongi now kisses his neck so intimately, making Jimin blush.

“Please. hyung not in front of him”

“Yeah, please not in front of me. What are you here for?”

“Sorry about that. I wanted to ask if you have made the decision yet? there's a lot of preparations to do.” Yoongi asked him discreetly even Jimin was confused about what he was talking about.

“I…”

“You don't have to, if you don't want to.”

“No, I want it. I always wanted to have a celebration of my own so this can be a good reason. Go ahead with the preparations and send the invitations.” Taehyung gave his decision and Yoongi just nodded.

“What are we talking about?”

“You will see, Jimin-ah.”

Just like Taehyung, Jeongguk was in somewhat of the same situation. Taehyung wasn't the only eligible bachelor, With mountains of requests across the rivers and mountains. Everyone who had heard Elestial, knew about the Unmarried King finding a bride so the proposals were flooding in. It was not only royals but also common people trying out their luck.

It was all useless though because Jeongguk had zero interest in any of them, he didn't even want to look at the proposals. He had specifically told the servants to trash the proposals. The only one surviving are the proposals that go straight to his mother. She picks out the one she likes and comes over to Jeongguk to convince him but ofcourse she keeps on failing.

“Jeongguk, If you keep rejecting everyone you are going to be fifty and all alone with gray hair and unable to produce kids!!” His mother scolded him and Jeongguk sighed. Getting up from the sofa to walk over to the balcony.

“Good then, I have no desire to marry any of these people.”

“I really don't get you. I brought Sera in because I thought you had something with her but you rejected her, then all of these proposals, you are also rejecting all of these too. What is it, Jeongguk? what are you not telling me?” His mother asked him, walking over to her son and putting her hands on his shoulder.

“It's nothing like that. Marriage is just not a priority right now for me, that's it.”

“No, there is something else. You have never shown dislike for marriage like this before. You were open to it…Jeongguk..is this about that girl Iseul?” His mother tried to assume but she was so off even Jeongguk was in confusion now.

“What??”

“Ever since the engagement got broken, you have been so cold hearted when it comes to anything that involves romance. Did you fall in love with her? I am sorry, honey i wasn't aware-”

“Wait, mother no. That's not the case. I wasn't in love with her, she's definitely not the reason. I completely forgot about her for a second. She's not the reason here.”

“Then who is it!?” She yelled out in annoyance and Jeongguk had enough.

“You won't understand. You won't get what I am going through and even if I tell you, you would be disgusted with me, You won't approve of it. So I think it's better if you stay unaware while I deal with it on my own.” Jeongguk says to her and her face is now churned up in confusion.

“What are you talking about? I am your mother who else would be able to understand your worries if not me.” She tried to help him but Jeongguk moved away from her touch.

“No, this time you won't so please leave me alone with this matter. I will marry one day but it's just not now, not any sooner too.”

“Jeongguk, if it is a girl then let me know. I don't care if she is a princess or some commoner, I don't care about ranks, you know that. If you truly love her, I approve. I want to see you married and happy. There's no other big wish of mine.” She says to her son but Jeongguk just softly smiles.

It's not a girl. He wants to say it out loud in her face, that her son is in love with a man, not just any man but The King of Xethens, Kim Taehyung. Jeongguk wonders how she will react? Will she be angry with him? Will she yell at him or will she cry at how unfortunate she is? Maybe she will send him to a doctor to cure his ‘sick’ thinking. At this point he doesn't want to know.

“No. You need to stop assuming mom. This isn't about some girl or any girl. Just please. Drop this conversation. I have to go now, my duty calls me.” Jeongguk kissed the forehead of his mother and smiled at her before leaving the room. His mother stood there, watching her son leave as she wondered where it all went wrong.

Maybe he would have slept better that night if he just didn't go through the mail. He regrets it more than anything. Jeongguk walks into his dimly lit room, Seeing a bunch of mail on his side table. He wonders if these are more proposals that his mother is pushing him into. He really wasn't going to look at it because they never caught his interest until now.

It's an invitation. With the red ribbon decorating it and the fancy embellishment on the corners, it looks very similar to wedding invitations. He was going to ignore again until he saw the stamp of Xethen as the seal. Without even thinking twice he immediately unsealed the stamp and took the invitation out. He felt his heart stop from reading the first line.

To His Majesty, Jeon Jeongguk
the King of Elestial and Many others.

We are inviting you to Xethen to celebrate this joyous day with us. After looking through many and many proposals, The King is throwing a ball for the celebration of his allyship with The Princess of East. This engagement will be held on November 22th-

Jeongguk couldn't even read the rest, his knees going weak as he felt nauseous for a second. His entire mind was spinning, he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. He is getting married ? After confessing his love to him like he won't make the next day, now he is getting married??

Tears threaten to spill over as he tries to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions raging within him. Jeongguk was confused, sad and most of all angry. His expression twists in disbelief as he reads the invitation again that has shattered his world. He throws the piece of cardboard across the room, the sound of it clattering against the wall echoing in the silence.

He paces back and forth, running his hands through his hair in frustration. His heart pounds in his chest, a mixture of anger, betrayal, and heartache swirling inside him like a storm.

‘How could he do this to me?’ Jeongguk thinks to himself. He knows it's hypocritical of him to think this way when he gave no reason to him to not make this move but what can he do? He needs to blame someone.

He collapses onto the bed , burying his face in his hands. He tosses and turns in bed, unable to find any solace in sleep. His mind races with memories of Taehyung, each one a painful reminder of what he's lost. The hours tick by slowly, the weight of reality pressing down on him like a leaden blanket.

“I can't... I can't bear to think of him with someone else.” He says to himself. He won't let this happen.

As dawn breaks outside his window, Jeongguk lies awake, consumed by a sense of betrayal and longing that refuses to let him rest. knowing very well that in the morning he would be heading back to Xethen and putting a stop to this for once and all.

♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎
the angst will be ending soon :)) soon they will figure their shit out and this book will end. It feels like years since I started this but it's only been months. Just a few chapters left to this book before I put it down. Will update very soon.
Hope you guys enjoyed this ride with me.
Love you guys
please leave your thoughts in comments
-K