A/N:

Hello, I have a few questions for feedback purposes, feel free to answer whatever:

1) What's your definition of a happy ending? (not saying this story will end soon, just wondering)

2) Would you rather see Jimin happy or have the problem at hand be solved?

3) Would more character introductions confuse the reader or implement the storyline?

Thanks, I appreciate it! I love you for reading my junk.

<3

i z z y

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"Hey! That's mean! You can't play with me no more!"

Rose shoved the obnoxious little red-haired boy away from her aggressively.  She then stepped away from him and continued playing house in solitude, ignoring the boy who kept butting into her game. Lucio relented, but only for a minute. He came back full force like his father, not stopping until he got what he wanted.

"I want to be the dog! Let me be the dog!"

Lucio pushed his way next to the gray-haired girl. She gave him a disappointed frown and hummed louder.

"I'm the dog, Rose! I'm the dog!"

Rose continued humming, organizing her play kitchen that consisted of a few miniature tea kettles and cups. The servant watching over the two kids was pretty distant, surveying the two toddlers out of the corner of her eye as she chatted up some other servants. Every once in a while the servant would approach and check in on them, and Rose made sure to behave well when that happened. It was only when adults came over did she give them a sweet smile and act innocent.

In reality...she was bossy and bratty when left to her own devices.

"Woof, woof! Give me a bone!"

Lucio tapped Rose's shoulder relentlessly, jumping up and down as a form of getting her attention. Rose clinked the cups together loudly to block him out.

"Hmmm. I think I'm going to bake a cake for the guests at the party..." She surmised, pretending to mix the ingredients in one of the tea cups. "Soon all the people will come-"

"LET ME BE THE DOG!"

Lucio grabbed the tea cup angrily from her hand and threw it down on the floor. Rose gasped. "No no no no no no my cake!! My cake is ruined!"

Rose reached for the cup, but Lucio was too fast. The little girl was forced to address him as he stood red-faced next to her, clenching the cup in his small hand. 

"Give me it back, Lucio! Give me-"

"Let me play!"

Rose huffed. "No! I don't want to play with you. Go away."

Lucio turned around almost instantly, the cup in his hand. "You don't get the cup."

And he took off, far into the rows of tall legs that belonged to the countless guests at Eonjin and Florian's wedding. Rose concentrated on the direction that Lucio's red hair disappeared as she bolted in pursuit of him. 

"MY CUP! HEY!"

The servant, at Rose's high pitched scream, lifted her eyes in surprise to see both toddlers running into the ballroom. She apologized to the woman she was speaking to and chased after them, not wanting either the handsome countryman or the Oak Family to be angry with her. 

"Rose! Lucio! 

Get back here!"

*     *     *

Florian laughed heartily as one of his colleagues busted a joke. Eonjin sat next to him, smiling politely and waiting until her and Florian could finally get some time alone. However, it was their wedding--and in order to be good hosts they had to socialize with everyone who came their way. 

"Wow, ahahah-" Some guy who Eonjin didn't know gave her a wink. "So...child number one on the way, huh? What are you going to name it?"

Ah, the name question. 

Florian answered before Eonjin could blabber something she didn't want to talk about. "We don't know yet, actually. We still have some time to think, though. Plus, it all depends on whether it's a boy or a girl."

"Yes, but of course." The man nodded, looking around him for a way out. Florian, as a gentleman, hardly showed how much the awkwardness of the situation rubbed off on him. Eonjin, on the other hand, cringed hard internally.

"Have you tried--why don't you try some of the cake? Some of our master pastry chefs created a magnificent chocolate mousse cake! Go have yourself a try." Florian bowed slightly to the man before watching him leave. 

Eonjin leaned into his side, relieved that her husband had such good interpersonal skills. "Thanks for getting rid of him, babe...I can't stand half of these people..."

Florian wrapped an arm around her waist. "I know, me either...I feel like we're married but only in the eyes of the people. I didn't even get a chance to talk to you yet and you're my wife!"

Her hand smoothened his suit down, eyes lighting up as his green eyes flicked to hers. "So then...let's talk."

Florian's face changed as he pulled them around a corner of the pillar closest to them. Eonjin bit her lip in worry. 

"Is...J-Jimin carrying out the plan as we speak?" Florian's demeanor shifted, as if he was hesitant to even speak the half-blood's name. It made sense, since Florian had only known Jimin was alive and well a few days ago.

Eonjin lightly grabbed his cheeks, grazing his chin with her red-painted nails. "Yes. I saw him sneak away with the other two a few minutes ago...but oh my god, Florian, you should have seen how drunk and all over each other they were...it was so obvious--I'm glad Jimin took them away before people started noticing..."

"Yeah...they might've caused a scene otherwise..." Florian tilted his head in mock thought. "But, y'know, fucking in public isn't that bad...remember when we were at that meeting-"

Eonjin blushed, covering his mouth. His eyes teased her as she quickly shot a glance around them. "Flor! Shut it, before I unmarry you."

His lips kissed the hand that was covering his mouth. Eonjin slowly brought her hand down and poked him in the stomach. A smirk touched his lips, but disappeared as someone approached them. It was one of Eonjin's hairdressers, stopping in to congratulate them. 

"Miss Kim! It's a pleasure to see you so happy and beautiful on this lovely day! Don't you look dashing, Mr...um, Mr. Florian." The servant paused, as if testing the words in her mouth before saying them. "I've always wanted to ask you, Stone Prince...don't you have a last name? I know people are welcome to call you Florian but it's awfully strange that I can't call you Prince Jeon or Kim or something of the sort."

Florian smiled politely. "Yes, I get that quite a lot. The truth is, I don't have one...or, at least, I never became aware of it. Lots of people ask me stuff like 'How do you not know? Didn't your parents have a last name?' But the truth is, the parents that raised me weren't my own and I hardly saw them growing up as a soldier."

Eonjin blinked as surprise and interest formed on her hairdresser's face. "Wow...I did not know that. Excuse me for a lack of better words, Florian, but does that make you an..."

"Orphan?" Eonjin finished for her. "My Flor wasn't really an orphan since he always grew up with a family around him...but in a literal sense, yes. He was given away as a baby from a single mother who couldn't afford to raise him."

Florian pursed his lips. "I get where they were coming from, though...I can hardly afford this one here with her lavish spending. Plus, another little monster is on the way...my wallet's going to crack under the pressure."

The hairdresser giggled as Eonjin crossed her arms and jutted a hip, all in good fun. After a few more niceties and small talk, the friendly stylish walked away from them. 

"You're one of the richest men in the kingdom and you can't afford me?" Eonjin linked arms with Florian as they moved to enter the ballroom. "That's just bad spending on your part."

Scoffing, Florian maneuvered them around guests chatting happily. "Isn't your brother the richest man in Noirwood? Anyway...I was referring to the mental costs that I have to deal with. You do understand how much I worry about you ruling so far away from me? Especially now that the baby is coming...?" 

He sighed.

Glasses tinkled together as they moved towards the music and laughing folk. A few people raised their glasses to the royal couple, smiling brightly.

"I miss you too, Flor. I hate ruling in different castles, but-"

Suddenly, Florian tensed under her grip. "Eonnie. Three o'clock."

What...three o-

Eonjin understood what he was getting at when he tilted his head inconspicuously to the side. She slowly did the same, eyes roaming until they found what Florian was looking at.

Mai.

"Oh...fuck..." Eonjin whispered as Florian continued to wear an indifferent facial expression. "What if she sees-"

"GIVE ME MY CUP!"

Eonjin let out a small yelp as something small collided into the back of her legs. She almost toppled over as her heels jumbled together. Luckily, whoever was caught up in her puffy dress wasn't heavy enough to push her over completely. Florian stabilized her enough so that she could turn around to face the culprit.

"I--I'm sorry, Auntie-"

It was the precious face of Rose looking up at her, pleading eyes begging to be forgiven. Florian helped the little girl off of Eonjin's dress and lifted her up into his arms. 

"Rose...what are you doing running around here without your servant? You should really be more careful, remember that Auntie is pregnant and we need to be really cautious around her-"

Rose pressed her lips together, eyes scanning the horizon for something. "But Florian! Lucio took my cup!!"

A brief wave of confusion flashed over Florian's face until he looked at Eonjin, who nodded at him. "Ohhhh. Yes, Lucio...that little redhead? The one belonging to--ahem, yes."

"He took my cup! Get it back Floriieee, he's over there!" The little girl pointed angrily.

Eonjin's eyes traced down Rose's pointed finger and she just about died. Lucio was prancing around some decorative streamers that happened to dangle right by...Mai.

Mai...who was glancing down at the boy in mild shock and pronounced melancholy.

Fuck!

Eonjin moved towards her friend, who didn't even bother to look up from the little boy who was spinning around restlessly only meters away. Even when Eonjin called out Mai's name, the pale woman could only wring her hands anxiously. It seemed as if she was debating calling out for the boy or not.

"Mai! Mai, hey!"

Finally, the woman with blonde hair lifted her pained gaze to hers. She blinked emptily as Florian showed up to the scene with Rose in his arms. 

"There he is!" Rose cried triumphantly. "Florian says to give me my cup back, Lucio!"

The red-haired boy jumped and flushed heavily, embarrassed that he had been caught red-handed by some adults. With no more pep in his step and an "I've been caught" look on his face, Lucio held the cup out as if it was a biting animal.

"Who is Flu...rain?" Lucio questioned as he held the cup out, looking up into the vast number of faces that were studying him. "Is he the guy holding you?"

Florian, despite the circumstances, gave the boy a kind smile before extending his hand. "Yes. That would be me, young sir. I'm a close friend of your father."

"Okayyy..." Lucio dropped the cup into Florian's hand and pouted. His downcast gaze gave him the cutest look...and Mai was starstruck.

"My...little..."

Eonjin gave the frozen girl whose eyes began tearing up a side hug. Mai gave Florian a sad look before turning to face Lucio and Rose in turn. Mai spoke three words. 

"Jimin is here."

It was a statement. Then-

"Where is he?"

The color drained from Eonjin's face. She couldn't possibly lie to this woman who had been through more than she could ever understand...but she also couldn't tell her the truth. If Mai caught Jimin in the act of murder...

"Eonjin, I know you don't want to tell me...but I need to know. I haven't seen h-him...s-since..." She sighed, glancing at Lucio. "Since they were born."

Florian gave Eonjin a dangerous look, but the words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself. 

"Upstairs..." Eonjin cursed herself internally, yet somehow felt relieved to give this woman what she wanted.

"Jimin is upstairs."

*     *     *

Jimin finally stopped laughing, but he didn't miss the looks of pity aimed his way from the other two in the bedroom with him. His hands were too cold, too cold, too cold...

Jungkook bit his lip. 

"Jimin...are you..."

"...all right?" Taehyung finished for him.

The half-blood gave a lopsided smile, clapping his hands together once as if snapping him back to reality. He slowly crouched down until he was seated on the floor, head in his hands. The smile disappeared as fast as it had appeared. 

"Yes, I'm--no, no, I'm n-not-" His hands started shaking as he scratched at the dry specks of blood stuck to his neck.

Jungkook hesitantly approached him after a few seconds, walking slow. Taehyung began to pull his suit back on hurriedly. 

"What do you mean...you killed us?" Huge doe eyes leveled down to meet Jimin's. The half-blood almost flinched away as Jungkook reached his hand out to grab the dagger on the floor by him. The Oak Prince set it behind his back and leaned in worriedly to the half-blood.

He...isn't mad?

With his suit fully on, Taehyung crawled off the side of the bed and sat on the floor as well. The distance separating him and Jimin was much larger than with Jungkook, but somehow Jimin felt comforted either way.

It was all too familiar...like old times-

"Answer him, Jimin." Taehyung's voice was cold and cut through Jimin's onset of sadness. 

"I..." Jimin cleared his throat and picked the irritating green contacts out of his eyes. He tried shoving them into his pocket but his hands were too bloody. They kept slipping out of his grasp, falling to the polished wooden floor as the tremor in his hands only increased. Again and again he struggled to pick them up, they just kept on slipping out of his fingers over and over-

"Just leave it, Jimin." Jungkook gave him an alarmed glance. "Were those bodies...supposed to be us?"

Of course Jungkook would put the pieces together.

"Yes." Jimin looked him right in the eye. "My father wants both of you dead. I don't. So I had to...to compensate somehow. Don't worry, they were criminals-"

"Killing criminals is fun--piece of cake. Why didn't you let me help?" Taehyung suddenly broke his heartless persona before catching himself. He clenched his jaw, clearing his throat.  

Jungkook gave a curious sideward glance at the blonde, who focused his gaze on the dagger with all of his concentration. After a quick shake of the head, the Oak Prince scratched his head. "That makes sense...I guess...but don't you think your father will know those bodies aren't us? Won't he be surprised at the lack of news that one of the rulers of Noirwood is dead and the best, renowned Noirwood stylist is missing out on all the fashion showcase events?"

Taehyung smiled...but only until Jimin looked at him. Then the blonde "had something in his eye" that made him cover most of his face as he worked to "get it out."

"You don't understand..." Jimin traced the lines of his palms that were caked with blood. "My father rarely comes out of the crypt...he relies on info from his spies for most of the news in Noirwood. He doesn't know that all of them cover for me when I don't want to do his bidding..."

"His bidding?" Taehyung chimed in, this time not breaking eye contact with the demon. 

Jungkook answered before all of them. "The bodies...the disappearances throughout the kingdom that are explained as suicide...the empty gravestones..."

Taehyung's mouth fell open.

"Yes. Most of the handwriting on those suicide notes...is yours truly." Jimin covered his face with his hands, ashamed that he was coming clean as the most notorious killer in Noirwood to his old lovers. "I promise that I make each death quick though, I-"

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

The blonde was lost when both Jimin and Jungkook jumped in their spots. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Suddenly the door flew open, admitting a middle-aged blonde woman with tears streaming down her face. Taehyung stood up. 

"Mai?! What's wrong? Uh, you probably shouldn't be in here-"

"PARK JIMIN!" She rushed over to the half-blood seated on the ground, ignoring the fact that he was covered in blood. Raising her hand high, she slapped him across the face and yelled in an almost animalistic fashion. 

"Woah! What was that for?!" Jungkook also stood up, put off a bit by the fact that Mai wasn't scared of Jimin's white hair, red eyes, or blood that clung to his skin. 

Something was off...

"THAT WAS FOR NOT LETTING ME SEE MY OWN KIDS! I HAVEN'T SEEN LUCIO SINCE HE WAS BORN AND NOBODY TOLD ME ROSE-"

Jimin stood up fast and held his hands out. "Don't do this Mai!"

"NOBODY TOLD ME ROSE WAS GIVEN TO THE OAK FAMILY! THIS WHOLE TIME I'VE BEEN LEFT IN THE DARK, TOLD TO STAND BACK AS I ASKED ABOUT MY LITTLE BABY TWINS---AND NOW I SEE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PURPOSELY AVOIDING ME! WHAT KIND OF FATHER DOESN'T AT LEAST GIVE ME UPDATES--Y-YOU K-KNOW H-HOW MUCH THE D-DEAL HA-HAS RUINED M-ME..."

Mai dropped to the floor on her knees, tears streaming down her face--

And so did Jungkook.

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