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"Is it paining? No, no..wait...let me help you. You should get up slowly. Ah no, not like that, your cheekbones will hurt. No, no not like this either, you will hurt your lower abdomen. Turn around,"

"Stop it, Jungkook. Let her rest however she wishes to. It's her body, she knows which position would cause her pain and will make a change. Don't stress her," Minerva softly chided Jungkook who let out a cute pout and continued regulating the flow of water in the warm water bed to ease the earthling's muscles. Jimin smiled understandingly at Jungkook.

Hana lay there pale and void of energy, eyes too heavy to keep them open. As soon as she gained consciousness, she felt her body cold and numb, desperately wishing for a gentle warm kiss from the sun but immediately regretted the decision to have her eyes blinded by the eternal sunshine in front of her.

Hoseok, the Light Descendant

Even though her body was crying for rest, her brain was on a grueling trek to process what has happened to her. She couldn't fathom how she was still alive after the deathly pain she experienced a few minutes before she slipped into oblivion.

"How do you feel? You don't have to open your eyes if you feel any kind of strain. You don't have to speak either. Just tap my hand with your finger once if you feel okay and if not, tap twice. I will ask one of the court guards to inform Sister Galen about your condition, alright?" Minerva tenderly caressed Hana's hand and the latter tapped once, gesturing that she was fine.

"Just...Tired," Hana uttered as she tossed to another side of the bed and Jungkook looked concerned. Minerva just smiled, tousling the younger's hair, silently adoring how he empathizes easily with the people. She was right about Brother Jin raising him like a child ever since he was picked as the Descendant of the Water Element.

"Did you inform the Majesty? He asked us to notify him immediately when she regains consciousness. It's been two days and he wasn't enlightened with the news. Do you think he will be happy that we hid it from him?" Jungkook questioned and Minerva sighed, soaking a piece of cloth in lukewarm water and placed on the human's forehead.

She feels cold

At least, she is drifting into sleep

"It was Sister Cressida's decision to keep it from Majesty and he is probably in the cellar with those cheer liquids. He was alright two weeks ago when he rescued Hana and had an epiphany that he has a realm to take care of. But then, two days ago, he got back to his favorite place, dropping all the governing responsibilities to Sister Cressida. I am afraid I might lose hope," Minerva spoke, her voice carrying a hint of unspoken frustration and a gallon of unending worry.

"It's rare to have someone from Angels showcasing her pent-up feelings. It's quite a notable progress that you are being true to yourself," Jin walked into the room, making Minerva almost gasp in shock.

In reality, angels rarely exhibit their anger and are not allowed to be fierce toward Utopians. In case they go against the pre-written guidelines and take a step far from their serene aura, they were rewarded with bad remarks. And if they commit a sin, their wings would be chopped and their position in the respective clan will be stripped off.

"I apologize," Minerva panicked and Jin chuckled.

"This is not the territory of the Angels. You can be true to yourself like your husband always reminds you, like around a hundred times every week," Jin jested and Jungkook tittered, leaving the relieved angel to smile heartily. Jimin's gaze turned soft, adoring his wife.

"Malva told me that everyone agreed to not inform Taehyung collectively with Galen. I was perturbed, to be honest even though I understood Cressida's intentions. But did everyone forget that he is the King?" Jin asked, his tone calm but laced with great authority. The three Royals stayed silent, knowing that they were not standing on the right side even though they were aware of everything.

"I was gone for finding the rare herbs that could strengthen her vitals but you were quick to abandon him," Jin stated, his head low in disappointment. He promised himself that his family would always care for Taehyung even if he is in his worst phase but it was a piece of shocking news when he returned.

"I had my utmost faith in you and Jimin of all the people here. You were friends who played and learned together, right? And with what happened to Taehyung, I was positive that you would empathize with him and be considerate towards him. Perhaps, I was wrong. You must have given up your hope," Jin released a sigh of disappointment and Jimin parted his lips to explain but no words rolled off his tongue.

Jimin was exhausted, beclouded in his own bunch of problems, and being sunk in the guilt of being a greater harm to his dear wife, his mind wasn't being rational when it comes to Taehyung. But he had no excuses and his brother was right, so he stood still, acknowledging his mistake.

"I apologize. I wasn't thinking right. I will make sure to not repeat this again, brother," Jimin hung his head and Jin nodded, ruffling the younger's hair.

"Is there something that's troubling you? You do know that you can always share things with me and I'm here for you right?" Jin reminded and Jimin let out a smile, as genuine as the distressing sting of jitter that was crumpling his confidence slowly.

"I know I am not in a place where I could make the best decisions and have more to learn. But I think it is not safe for her to stay here. His Majesty doesn't have a good impression of her and I am afraid he'd go hard on her. Minerva got involved in this mess. I don't want any harm towards her and I am suggesting this only for the sake of Hana," Jimin proposed and Jin pursued his lips, wary of the younger's next words.

"Let Hana go back to her world. Let's do something before we regret bringing her here," Jimin finished and Minerva was floored as she had many other plans in her head.

"Jimin, what are you speaking about? I understand things have not been great so far but that decision is not the wisest. We don't even have the right power to do so," She was quick to oppose the idea and was running her mind to convince her husband.

"I agree with Minerva. We don't have the right methods to do anything. We can't risk her life," Jin was against the idea as well.

"The witches can. The ones who are proficient in dark magic can open the portal," Jimin spoke his mind and Jin glared at him.

"Jimin, I apologize if I am being rude but from now on, I condemn you from taking any action concerning Hana's well-being. I suppose you don't understand what it is to be under someone's rule. Hana will not be doing things because of anyone else's decisions," Jin established his firm and Jimin just stayed silent, having second thoughts over his suggestion.

"But why don't we just tell Brother Taehyung about Hana instead of sending her off to her place? I like her already. Please, not so soon," Jungkook requested, trying to ease the seriousness in the air and Jin sighed, smiling to himself.

"At the moment, that will do," Jin concurred with the youngest and left the room after patting Jimin's shoulder.

"Shall we go on a walk in the water garden? Perhaps, that could give you peace. If you wish to go alone to clear your head, you might as well do that," Minerva advised and Jimin held her hand, looking into her eyes, his eyes unsettling and teary.

"Join me," he pleaded with his small eyes and she nodded, her face beaming radiance. She didn't expect him to accept her offer. The couple walked away from the room, holding hands, entrusting the Water Descendant to look after the recuperating Earthling.

"Ugh! Everyone else in the realm knows they are so in love except they themselves," Jungkook murmured as he stared at their retreating figures.

── *.☽ .* ──

"I know"

"Wait! What? When did you know about her gaining consciousness," Jin questioned, baffled at Taehyung's knowledge about Hana's recovery.

"I am the King and secrets can't be well hidden in the realm. Whom are they playing the fool's game with? I may have arrived late to this palace, to this family but I know it all. That's what the power gets you to," Taehyung uttered, taking another sip of the red wine.

"I apologize on their behalf. They have no intention to go against you. They were just scared about the girl. It is our responsibility that she is taken care of and we have been very bad at displaying that," Jin explained and Taehyung just nodded, the memories of the girl writhing in pain rushing back to his head.

"I know. That was the reason I never cross-questioned anyone. I haven't confronted anyone of them because they would reason the same. They think that I could be of harm to her when I wasn't even responsible for what had happened in the Flame Chamber. I saved her, I adhered to her care but everyone looks past that," Taehyung dismally spoke, aiming to finish another bottle of wine.

"Taehyung ah, it's not that. They acknowledged your presence of mind and the courage to do something like that for the first time. But seeing you drowning yourself in misery and failing to detach from these distractions made them take that decision," Jin reasoned and Taehyung scoffed.

"Are you taking sides now, Brother Jin?"

"I am never choosing a side Taehyung ah. In fact, there are no two sides in this family. Everyone wants you to step out of that bubble you have created for yourself. Everyone wants to see you as the accountable, cheerful, and valorous leader you are. The whole Kingdom wishes for the same thing, your arrival," Jin expressed the voice of the whole realm.

"Things have been hard on you. Those who left you don't deserve you. Those who look at you and are waiting for you, need you. You are our King, you know the realm better than anyone, and you should be the one representing us. Dark times were present in the past as well but then, nobody was afraid, not even a bit. Do you know why?" Jin asked, looking straight into the younger's face, who was having a rush of emotions in his heart.

"It's because they trusted you. No one was ever scared because they knew you'd stand up for them. But now, they couldn't come to believe you. The Flame is not in the right state and this could perish all of us. We experienced a glimpse of what it could be like. Trust me, you would not want to," Jin conveyed and left the room.

"It was never my choice, was it? I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for any of this," Taehyung mumbled as a lone tear escaped his eye.

"I wanted a normal life, just like her. I wanted to be taken care of but all I get are responsibilities. Why did you give me this life? Why me out of all people? You shouldn't have chosen me, Father. You shouldn't have," Taehyung mewled as he abandoned the wine glass on the cabinet.

── *.☽ .* ──

"Your Majesty-"

"You can lay down. You can forget decorum while you are still sick," Taehyung spoke as he took a seat on the stool adjacent to the bed.

"I didn't know you'd be awake at this hour. I was just passing by and thought I could check on you," He uttered, noticing the visible astonishment on her face. She wasn't pale like the other night. She was slightly glowing, under the fire lamp and tiny drops of sweat trailed on her forehead.

"I will adjust the heat for you," Taehyung spoke as he optimized the temperature of the room. Hana felt the room turn a bit cooler and sighed in relief. Galen explained that she turned cold and needed a good amount of warmth for proper blood circulation but Jimin just left the temperature the same since Galen informed him.

"Do you feel hungry?" Taehyung asked and Hana looked at him in surprise. She really thought she held in the rumble that her stomach had made but then, the man, a literal King before her had to hear it, adding to her list of endlessly haunting embarrassing moments.

"No, it's fine. It will subside as I start sleeping. Please don't order the kitchen staff to work for me. They must be resting at this hour," Hana requested as she had seen how the chefs have been on their toes, preparing the essential meals for her. It's too late at the moment.

"You didn't answer the question. Regardless of how you don't like to trouble my staff as you say, are you hungry?" Taehyung asked, leaning a bit down to study her hesitant face. Hana knew she couldn't lie to this man. Anyone looking that intimidating would eventually make one spill the truth.

"I am but-"

"Can you walk or do you need some assistance?"

"Wait-what? Where will you take me now?" Hana inquired as Taehyung offered his hand for her to get down the bed even though she hadn't seen the world beyond that room for several days, even though she wanted to roam around the castle for fresh air and a dose of sanity, she wasn't ready to follow the man in front of her.

Who knows what he could be plotting in his head?

He might as well kill me in one go

A good save for the medical and food expense

"You don't question the King here. You just have to follow the orders. Get down and hold my hand if necessary," Taehyung got up, pulling over the neatly designed extravagant shawl over his shoulders. Hana's eyes gleamed at the detail of the cloth. She would definitely not wear that shawl ever. It was too beautiful and artistic for her.

She placed her foot down and her body quivered a little, sensing the cold. Taehyung observed that and gestured for her to stop whatever she was doing. She looked at him, her eyes questioning his actions for a minute. To Hana, the very existence of Taehyung was suspicious.

"I know this would not help your mind filled with science and logic. But magic plays a prominent role in this world. It's energy around us but to humans, it is mostly described as magic. It's better if it stays that way," Taehyung explained and Hana's eyes widened as if slapped during a deep night's sleep.

Is that really a magic carpet?

I only saw it in Aladdin

Am I stuck in a fairytale?

Am I the Jasmine?

"No, you're not and I am not your Prince. I am just helping you because you are sick and I can't afford to see you injured. My sisters in this palace are very protective of you and I don't want to be on their bad side" Taehyung stated and Hana was sure she caught a tiny smile at the corner of his lips.

Did I think it aloud?

"What is wrong with you?"

"Can't I be nice to the guest that everyone in my family is fond of? And I am a little tipsy, I guess. I could act a bit informal but if you find it weird, I understand. I will not be the same tomorrow. It's not like you take interest in me anyway," Taehyung spoke, controlling the carpet.

Hana was baffled at his choice of words. she couldn't decipher the emotions between those lines. It was hard enough to take in the entire existence of a parallel world. And now, the man in front of her was all painted in different hues of blue, like the painting of roses she observed previously.

But does he always act like this when he is drunk?

Informal? It's a whole level of casual, kind, and other positive words that stand miles away from him

Interest in him? What the fuck is going on in his head with some alcohol

"Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable,"

And Hana jerked a bit with the carpet inviting her to sit on it. Her eyes studied the brown piece of exquisite cloth and carefully perched on it, only to be shifted to the center by the force of the carpet. She screamed a little when the carpet started moving and Taehyung chuckled.

And for once, I think I'm in awe

Was it a simple smile that made him look totally different from his original tyrannizing personality

Taehyung looked at her and Hana's thoughts stopped midway. His eyes locked into her eyes, craving for an answer to an unknown question. It was soft, unlike the empty cold ones. His expression was warm, evaporating the walls that he guarded himself with. Perhaps, he was too drunk in both alcohol and empathy to be feeling for someone else other than his family.

He knew it was his flame that cost her life but he wasn't responsible for whatever happened to her. It was the carelessness of his brothers that led to the unfortunate accident. But something in his heart was ablaze when he remembered her screams of pain, her silent tears.

It was his personality, the one he was by default before he became the person he was today. It kicked back into him right after seeing the girl in pain. He wanted to protect, he wanted to care and he wanted to take her pain away.

Just like how his father healed his mother

"Where are we going, your Majesty?" Hana interrupted his thoughts, only to be welcomed by the cold breeze of air. The night was filled with the chill of ice and Hana's only defense was the warm blood inside her body. All of a sudden, Hana wasn't hungry anymore.

"Here, the cold won't affect me," Taehyung wrapped his shawl over Hana who was floating in the air, her words trapped inside her throat. The wave of emotions Taehyung was showing for the night was baffling, to say the least. The number of words he spoke this night was more than the total number of times he breathed a little less aggressively.

Moreover, he was kind

I'd rather believe this is a dream than sleep with the fact that the King was acting calm, strangely

"This shawl seems expensive. I don't think I can handle it. It's not my thing," Hana was hesitant to accept it.

"I am pretty sure cold nights aren't your thing either" Taehyung deadpanned and walked ahead, leaving Hana to settle with no choice.

"Brother Jin doesn't like cold as well. He has the best blankets made with the best quality wool. You can ask him one, he wouldn't mind sharing," Taehyung spoke, opening the huge doors, adorned with gold with the imprints of several fruits and vegetables.

A kitchen?

"There is something I know how to cook. More like, only one thing," Taehyung spoke as he rushed inside to pick some ingredients while Hana was dropped safely to the ground.

"Ramen?"

"Yes, simple and quick. Yet, fulfilling. One of the best inventions," He exclaimed and proceeded to boil the noodles. Hana doesn't mind ramen. It was her go-to on her busy nights of research and finding the King of another realm excited by it doesn't take her by surprise.

But what surprised her was how the King knows so much about the Earth and the people's lifestyle unlike others here. He casually answers her loud thoughts about Aladdin, knows about ramen, goes along with terms that are commonly used by humans, and distinguishes between magic and energy, which made her more curious about his origins.

The atmosphere was silent, the air filled with the delicious aroma of the ramen being cooked. The Majesty was engrossed in cooking, leaving Hana at an advantage to examine all his striking features. He would easily fit into her world if it wasn't for the regal and posh outfits.

His style is definitely excessive

Taehyung popped his head up and Hana was quick to avert her gaze. Getting caught staring at the King who could possibly boil her in a cauldron in the same kitchen was the last thing she wanted. She sighed in relief when the King shifted his focus to the plating.

"Here you go," Taehyung served the bowl of ramen to the hungry earthling. A thought lingered in her mind if the food was poisoned but she shrugged it off. She knew she was thinking too much and was way too wary of the King.

"Mhmm! It's good," Hana slurped down the ramen with utmost interest. It was heavenly in her mouth. Taehyung didn't respond to her comment and savored his own share.

"This version of you is a lot better," Hana muttered, feeling happy and dizzy with her satisfied stomach, earning an eyebrow raise from the other.

"How?"

"You are a lot kinder, a lot less aggressive, a lot more thoughtful and somewhat hands-"

"I can literally smell ramen Brother Jin- Oh My God you two? Brother Taehyung, I thought you were in the cellar," The Water Descendant barged into the kitchen, making Taehyung's eyes pop out of his sockets. He didn't expect the younger to give an appearance. Hana was speechless with Jungkook looking at them as if they were burying somebody underground.

"Wow! An unexpected pair in the kitchen in the middle of the night," Jin was right behind Jungkook.

"Do you guys realize that both of you are unmarried and if caught together without being betrothed to each other, it would leave you no choice but-" Jin stopped to take a pause, observing the two hawks looking at him to finish his sentence.

"But?"

"It would leave you no choice but to get married to each other"

"WHAT?!"

"Is that what the humans call it? April Fools?"

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A/N: Hope y'all like this chapter. I'll happy if you share your views and opinions in the comments. Happy reading, everyone!