The lantern lamp on the wall was casting a glow like a hazy sun over the prince's face and Jimin knew not to stare, but he couldn't look away, not until Jungkook put on a white hat over his head. "Counselor?"

The silvery ash-haired male nodded while clearing his throat. He beckoned the man who was younger in age but bore upper status. "I will drive." Jimin offered.

"Of course, you will. Did you expect a crown price to drive you around?" The tone had a lilt of complaint to it. Jimin didn't find the prince's words offensive in any way, as he was only behaving out of habit. Jimin found them endearing instead, as a smile expanded on his lips that he hid by getting behind Jungkook and keeping his head down.  

As the prince earlier commanded, the staff was absent from their view and only the doormen stood outside, guarding the hotel. Jimin ambled to get the umbrella from the stand when the door was opened for them and immediately held it over the prince's head. 

The prince turned around and Jimin was standing close, close enough to completely shadow the younger one. The prince's long lashes remained somewhere around Jimin's neck as he leaned in and the counselor's lungs caught onto his breath for that moment. "Tell him to allow Lee Geon if he arrives," he whispered. 

Jimin was dazed that the sound was registered in his mind, but the process turned so slow that he had to gulp and flinch his eyes close to unlink his eye-lock from the tender lips and the long lashes bowing down. Shifting the umbrella in his left hand and keeping it over the prince's head, he turned his stance and whispered into the doorman's ears that he knew where Lee Geon was and that he wouldn't be visiting.

Just like a suitor, Jimin protected the prince from the drizzle until they reached the garage where the car was parked. The wind was whooshing and thunder was crashing. Jimin knew the weather was going to be worse, but his royalty's command was his wish too. 

He began to drive silently and looked at the prince's teary eyes from the rearview mirror. It hurt him to see the prince in pain. If not for liking another beautiful man, it was a bond between the kingdom and the king's family. If any of the royalty was in pain, the people of the kingdom felt it too. He remembered once the king had returned from the war and had his arm sliced. Jimin was merely a child back then, but he still remembered the gloomy atmosphere of the kingdom or the lack of cooking in the houses to mourn the king's pain. 

It wasn't one-sided affection. The king felt deeply for his kingdom and when he heard that his people were going to sleep with empty stomachs, he couldn't stay in bed. Jimin remembered when the king visited his village, he was afraid, so he hid behind his grandmother. When the king approached and patted his head with a smile, he felt his fear melting away and a strong feeling of affection instilled in his heart. 

This young man was the progeny of the same, thoughtful king. And anyone that was related to the king had to be protected. He looked at Jungkook one more time as he gracefully sat, yet his insides were full of storms that Jimin could tell. "My prince," he called softly. "Did you eat anything?"

"No," Jungkook answered and wiped the tears tenderly with his gloved fingers that spilled out before closing his eyes and leaning back on the seat. "Don't converse with me."

Jimin nodded worriedly, going silent after getting the command. He remembered his grandmother always teaching him alchemy and telling him stories about fairies, sorcerers, and princes. He was a curious child with a captivating imagination. At that time, he couldn't remember that his ordinarily looking grandmother was a queen of her glory days, or that he was a prince of a kingdom too. All the things that were taught to him were to imbibe humble beginnings. 

"If the country is at war and the royals take refugees into the kingdom, it is our duty to provide them with food first and eat later ourselves." His grandmother said one morning.

"What if we only have enough food for just the two of us?" Jimin asked her, confused at the situation. 

"We still offer food to the royals first," his grandmother laughed, kissing his forehead. "Kindness never goes in vain, my sweet child." She had said. 

"If he's a good king, he would never prefer women and children hungry before his eyes. We must abide by our duties and the king would do the same." The woman had said and it brought Jimin a euphoric smile. He knew if any such day arrived, the king was so kind that he'd never go to sleep on a hungry stomach, that the king would take care of him. 

The roads had blackened extraordinarily and the headlights of the car weren't providing illumination enough. Jimin had to slow down a bit to prevent any kind of accident from happening. His worry grew with each hour that the prince wasn't waking up. In the darkness of the car, he couldn't glimpse the passenger in the backseat anymore.

The road turned the longest and the night appeared to be dimmest. His stomach was scratching due to hunger and his eyes were turning heavy due to sleep, but a few more miles and he would arrive at the destination. 

As he continued to drive, he found Jungkook waking up slowly. "Are we there yet?"

"A few more minutes," Jimin answered, keeping his voice softest and tone most downward. 

Jungkook could see the little lights from the lanterns of the buildings. A few more houses were completely dark and he felt chilly, regretting not taking any coat with him. He peeked outside at what seemed like an institution. His curiosity increased and he stepped out of the car that was now stopped. "Prince, please wait." Jimin rushed out after him immediately. 

"Why are we here? What is this place?"

"Mr. Lee is in there."

Jungkook's brows drew together and his neck whipped towards Jimin. "What is he doing in there? And what is this place?"

"This is an institution for disabled children. Mr. Lee visited here at least three times every month over the weekends. There is an authority master who is close to Mr. Lee. They are having a relationship, which is what I wanted to tell you, my prince." Jimin had no strength or will to sugarcoat the words. When he returned from the royal congregation, he stayed in Mr. Lee's city. Over the months, he had been investigating, collecting evidence. 

"Who told you that?" Jungkook turned defensive, hugging his arms because of the nip in the air. 

Jimin nodded in interpretation and beckoned the prince towards the institution to show him instead. They easily got inside and Jimin smiled at the receptionist. "I am here to meet the authority master of the institute. Could you please be kind and inform him that Kim Nobin is waiting?"

"Sure, Mr. Kim, please wait while I inform the master," the old receptionist answered and walked around the table to ready himself. "If he is with Mr. Lee Geon, then we can come later. Please don't disturb them in the meantime. It isn't that important," Jimin quickly added before the old man nodded. 

"I will go check."

Jungkook's jaws were shut tightly, and due to the fury, his body was trembling slightly as he covered his face with the hat.

Over the months, Jimin talked to Lee Geon's neighbors and many traders who were situated nearby to find out about his traveling habits. All he had to do was wait for Lee Geon's arrival back home after the royal vacation and follow him here. Jimin requested the king to provide him with facilities like travel and lodging in the nearby village, and it didn't take him more than two weeks to confirm the relationship the man had with a younger male in the institution. He needed a few more weeks to document the evidence and present it in front of the king, but the prince dented his plan when he decided to travel. 

As they waited, Jungkook began to briskly walk around. "It still doesn't prove anything." He snapped, glaring at Jimin. 

"Mr. Lee has spent his most nights here, my royalty. I can understand how it must be a new piece of information to you, but I can assure you. I have Mr. Lee's past six years' travel history. I have studied everything...and I know all the stops he has made with you...and with a few other candidates." 

The old man returned with a piece of paper. "Master can't come out now. He asks to have a piece of inquiry written down and he'll get back to you at the earliest."

"Is Lee Geon with him?" Jungkook sneered, now informally speaking with the older male who nodded. 

"I am going in!" As Jungkook advanced towards the direction of the rooms, without having information on which one to knock at, he found his palm grabbed by Jimin. 

"If you go there, prince. He'll be alerted."

"I don't care. I have to see him if I am here now," Jungkook pulled away from his hand and Jimin realized the larceny he had committed by touching the prince without his permission. However, the prince seemed not to have noticed it yet. 

"If you do this, my royalty, you'll never catch him." Jimin ran after the younger who looked murderous. 

"I don't want to catch him. I want him back and I will take what's mine."

"Then you will never know what he's done. Where is your curiosity?" Jimin grumbled desperately. "I- I apologize for my tone, my prince." He quickly lowered his eyes, standing in front of the younger one.

"I can't do this," Jungkook's face now lifted up, so Jimin saw how his eyes were teary. The vengeful face was broken and hurt. All Jimin wanted was to take all the wounds from the young prince, but the situation Jungkook had put himself into guaranteed more and more. "I can't do this, Jimin. It hurts." Jungkook's gloved hand slowly rubbed the left side of his chest. 

"Eat with me, please."

At the bizarrely placed request, Jungkook blankly looked at Jimin, tilting his head in intrigue. "I can't eat right now, Jimin. Can I? Go and bring him to me. I don't want to catch him because if I do, it's only going to hurt me more. Tell him to run away with me and we will go far away. Somewhere no one can find us. I will forgive him. Go tell him right this instant." Jungkook suddenly asked, webbing the delirious scenarios in his mind, making excuses for his much older lover so that this pain would stop by hook or crook. 

Looking at the prince turning outlandish, Jimin knew he wasn't prepared to go through with this plan and he should've waited. He hurt Jungkook and seeing his prince in a manic situation, he remembered the promise he'd made to the king to protect the prince. 

"Jimin..." The prince suddenly groused, his legs felt like jelly as he charged at the older male, grabbing the collar of his blazer and before he could fall, Jimin had to hold him steady. 

Jungkook felt the strong palms holding onto his forearms. "I feel like I am about to die," his voice shook before he closed his eyes, hung his head back, and was unconscious in the next moment. 

"Prince?" Jimin shook the younger, calling out softly to avoid anyone else from hearing it albeit it was a late hour and no one wandered outside in the corridors after dinner as per the institution rules. 

"My prince?" Calling one more time, when Jimin didn't get any reaction, he scooped his hand under Jungkook's thighs and picked him up gently. "I am unduly remorseful. Please forgive me, but I have to get you out of here."