NEXT DAY

In the Spell Cell

In a hidden location within the Kim's castle,  there lay the Spell Cells. Where a gumiho's abilities like teleportation and hypnotism failed to work.

These penitentiaries were rooms with unbreakable spells to tackle crime-spreading civilians. The Kings of every clan were responsible for supporting these high-energy chambers with the help of their immensely powerful black beads, which only they own.

Yoongi and his disciples sat across the four-chambered room. The adjacent walls, supported their backs as they wearyingly stared at its floor.

"Hyung, they'll kill us anytime. We gotta get outta here," Jimin said, directing his gaze in Yoongi's direction, but Yoongi remained silent, almost lost in his thoughts.

"Who was the one to leave hints? Cause I know that for sure, it wasn't just a mistake."

Jimin and Jeongguk glanced at each other and Jihoon nervously fixed his gaze onto the stony floor.

"I ASK, WHO WAS IT?!"

With no response from the other side, Yoongi screeched at his mates as he couldn't believe that his plan had been ruined and he was defeated.

"It was me," Jihoon confessed, leaving everyone's eyes widened in astonishment.

For split seconds, Yoongi couldn't believe his ears, but soon his irises turned from normal black to that of burning sparks. He stood up and grabbed Jihoon's collar, making him jolt up on his feet and pinned him to the wall.

"TRAITOR!" Yoongi snarled while gritting his teeth.

Jihoon coughed from the lack of air but he still managed to speak, "I-I didn't w-wanted... you to kill s-someone in a r-revenge that u-uncle never told you to take."

Yoongi's grip loosened and Jihoon collapsed to the ground. Jimin hummed from behind as he spoke, "Even though I failed to stop you, I also never wanted you to be labelled as a murderer."

"And fortunately, nothing like that happened," Jeongguk blurted as he agreed with Jimin and Jihoon.

Yoongi gawked as the three younger males worded their thoughts, and for a minute a part of him was relieved and agreed with the three of them before his altered ego once again took control over his mind, and he exclaimed.

"I'd rather die in shame than live peacefully for not taking the revenge of my father's death!" He said as blood filled with vengeance and hatred still coursed through his veins.

"Then die in shame, Your Majesty."

The iron door of the spell cell opened with a piercing voice and a figure dressed in comfortable attire, covered with bandages all over his body, including his features,  walked in.

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Inside Kim's Mansion

Ajumma completed the dressing on Y/n's wounds and scratches on her face, knees, arms and elbows before she slowly walked out of Namjoon's room.

"Ajumma! Any signs?" Namjoon hurriedly asked as he stood in Jin's room.

"She's human so it might take a while," Ajumma answered.

SeokJin, Namjoon and Hoseok simultaneously heaved a sigh as their anticipating expressions fell to disappointment.

"Mrs Kim instructed me to keep her in my room. That way she can be better taken care of," Ajumma suggested.

"No. Aren't we three enough?" Namjoon uttered.

"That's her actual concern," Ajumma muttered under her breath before she agreed and nodded. She then stepped out of their room.

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Inside Spell Cell

Taehyung stared directly into Yoongi's eyes as he stood with two royal guards accompanying him.

Heads swung in his direction when walked in, but Yoongi's lips curled into a smirk as if taking Crown Prince as his new opportunity.

"You'll be soon beheaded along with your brothers. Then peacefully die in shame," Taehyung uttered in hatred, as he frowned his brows together.

"Forget about me. Let's talk about you Crown Prince. Oh no! I forgot you'll be no longer a Crown Prince," Yoongi wickedly snickered making Taehyung grab him by his collar and glare him to the core.

"Shut your filthy mouth!" Taehyung gritted his teeth.

"Stop denying it, Prince. Now you're second in line," Yoongi hissed as he gave Taehyung a look of pretentious assurance.

Taehyung's eyes narrowed and ears twitched as if connecting the dots, and he was left with no choice but to listen to what the doomed King was talking about.

"Everything was held smoothly, the grand ball in search for your bride, you being your father's priority, but now things will change, your father will change, his priorities will change, I'm sure you might have witnessed the start of it as well."

Taehyung's grip loosened and he let go of   Yoongi's collar before he came closer to his face and directly peered into the King's soul.

"I understand how you're feeling Taehyung. As a King, I've seen people change from a young age, and trust me, I want you to be the next King, not some illegitimate son. He neither deserves your thrown nor your privilege and opportu--"

"SHUT UP! I don't need any kind of sympathy from you! Understood?!"

Yoongi was cut off in the middle of his sentence when Taehyung yelled. His mind revolved in circles and discovered different directions but soon he realised the black King's intentions.

Taehyung took his steps out of the cellar, but Yoongi's heavy voice and certain words left him with uncertainty.

"Why do you think your father married your mother, a widowed woman, almost twice his age? Just cause she was from a noble wealthy family? Think about it."

The iron door of the Spell Cell banged with the metal door frame as the royal guards closed the King and his mates behind.

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LATER THAT MIDNIGHT

At the Kim's Mansion 

Namjoon peacefully sat in the corner of SeokJin's room, beside his room's entrance. His back leaned onto the wall as he was slightly drowsing off in his position.

SeokJin and Hoseok just slept, after consoling each other along with Namjoon, that maybe tomorrow Y/n will show any signs of mindfulness.

This whole process of three men advising and indirectly consoling each other took place for two days when Y/n lost consciousness.

NEXT DAY

The Kim brothers were out for work, and so Hoseok sat beside Y/n and admired her peacefully laying form. His one hand gently caressed her head while the other was softly grabbing her fingers.

"Y/n, wake up. Everyone is worried. Wake up so that we can return to our world. Can you hear me? Please Y/n, wake up," Hoseok whispered in her ear and waited for even a little response but to his dismay, Y/n remained in her position.

The hybrid sighed and decided to call Ajumma to dress her wounds. Just when he was about to jolt upwards, Y/n's grip on his fingers tightened making Hoseok's eyes widen.

For a moment, he waited for another response and called out her name. Y/n was trying her best to open her eyes and move her body. All these days, every word whispered by Namjoon, SeokJin and Hoseok reached her mind, but unfortunately, her body failed to support her will to wake up.

But this time, she finally managed to open her eyes. A smile crept on her thin dried lips when her gaze met with Hoseok's shocked trance.

"Hoseok-ah," she whispered in her husky, tired voice.

Hoseok wasted no second to carefully wrap his arms around her laying form. His eyes shimmered with tears making Y/n chuckle at his response.

"Let me sit," Y/n said, and Hoseok carefully supported her aching back and helped her in shifting in her position.

"W-Water," Y/n murmured making Hoseok nod in agreement.

"Let me inform everyone, and Ajumma will quickly prepare you something to eat."

He added, quickly stood up and went on to bring her a glass of water.

Meanwhile, footsteps approached in her direction, Y/n was still adjusting to her new position when she carefully leaned her strained back onto the wall behind her and winced in between.

Namjoon wasn't expecting to meet a fully awake Y/n when he entered his room. His eyes widened in shock and amusement when his dragon eyes met with Y/n's small dark brown irises.

"Y/N!" Namjoon blurted, sat on his knees and took Y/n in his embrace. Y/n hissed when his stronghold reached her back making Namjoon soften it. His one hand now caressed her head while the other supported her back.

"Y/n, thank you! For waking up, for staying strong," he murmured, and Y/n, with her stonkered trance, finally wrapped her arms around his torso. He gently pecked her head as his eyes gleamed with tears of relief.

"My back," she added, and Namjoon quickly moved away making her sit in her initial position. Silence elongated across the room as they both stared into each other's gazes, barely blinking.

Namjoon's hand travelled towards her face, moving her chestnut hair strands away from her features.

His fingers then slowly caressed the dried wound on her lips and then on her paled cheeks making Y/n close her eyes and dwell in his touch.

"I know--"

Namjoon was cut off in the middle of his sentence when Hoseok entered, followed by Ajumma and Mrs Kim.

Mrs Kim released a long sigh and Ajumma proceeded to put the tray full of fruits in front of Y/n.

"Y/n dear, next time please act according to your human nature and capabilities. You scared us," Mrs Kim said.

Y/n looked in the direction of a middle-aged sophisticated woman wearing an elegant gradient grey and white-toned hanbok before she nodded.

"Ajumma, help her shift in your room, and please take care of her as she has to return to her home, we cannot let our guest leave our house in such a state. "

Mrs Kim blurted before she swayed her hanbok and took her steps away from the room. Namjoon heaved a disappointed sigh upon hearing his mother's words while Hoseok proceeded to come closer towards Y/n slightly pushing Namjoon.

"Y/n, I'm going to make your favourite pumpkin porridge. For the time being, eat these fruits," Ajumma suggested while Y/n hummed making Ajumma take her steps away.

"I'll feed you," Hoseok quickly added, making Namjoon give him a side glare which he intentionally ignored. Namjoon jolted upwards with a jerk making Y/n notice his pissed trance. Giving Y/n a final loving stare he exited the room.

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MEANWHILE

Inside the castle of Kim Clan

Taehyung was peacefully watching the leaves of the fully grown Delonix tree in the courtyard, swiftly blowing along the gentle push of the breeze. The leaves glistened with specs of glitter, making his beautiful eyes sparkle for a minor second.

The silence within the castle walls only clouded the thoughts lingering inside his mind. He blinked slowly, signalling the exhaustion of both his body and his mind. The laughing voice of the deceased Queen echoed inside his mind as his thoughts drifted towards the words said by Yoongi.

*Knock Knock*

The gentle knock on the door was what brought him out of his trance. Blinking a lot more quickly now and multiple times, he glanced at the door behind. Clearing his throat in an attempt to shadow his downcast expression, he spoke, "You can come in."

On hearing Taehyung's voice from the other side of the door SeokJin twisted the doorknob and opened the double door. Crown Prince's eyes lightened on seeing SeokJin enter his room, "Hyung!"

SeokJin smiled and proceeded to take off the jacket of his royal blue tuxedo before he landed himself on the couch next to him. Taehyung carefully walked towards him while clutching onto his bandaged waist, to prevent anything brush on his arms and legs covered with wounds.

"How's your neck?" Jin asked with concern as he eyed Taehyung from head to toe.

"Better than before," Taehyung replied and seated himself beside Jin.

"I directly came from the royal court, or else I would've bought your favourite street food."

"Hyung, it's fine. You came to visit me, that is what matters." Taehyung half smiled while glancing SeokJin in his eyes but SeokJin noticed how his smile failed to reach his eyes, how he was continuously fidgeting with the knuckles of his hands.

"Wanna share some thoughts?"

"Huh? N-no. Not."

"Definitely yes."

Taehyung peered through SeokJin's striking gaze, extending a dominating aura but reaching his ears in a yet softer tone.

The Crown Prince opened his mouth to heave a long sigh before he spoke, "I want answers, from my father, from Min Yoongi, from my mother who left me behind, from god, and Namjoon Hyung."

This time Jin was the one to exhale a long breath before he ran a hand through his ruffled black hairs.

"Even I'm still processing the fact that Namjoon's not a part of my bloodline but he also turned out to be your half-brother," SeokJin responded before he continued, "I am out of words to comfort you, at this twisted moment Crown Prince."

"Crown Prince?" Taehyung grunted as he curled his brows together making Jin shift in his position and listen to his next words attentively.

"I think I was never meant to be a ruler. At least my one wish will be fulfilled," Taehyung pretentiously spoke with a cheerful facade but even his reflection on the mirror frame denied it.

SeokJin remained silent, his mind was conflicted between comforting him or knocking some senses in his mind.

But who am I to meddle between the royals and their screwed-up family history?

A thought crossed his mind when he stared at Taehyung, whose gaze was stuck on the floor. Namjoon, not being his actual brother, was bearable, but him being Taehyung's half-brother was eating him from the inside.  He cannot ignore the fact that how his mind has already created scenarios of the future, where he's left out of both of his brother's lives.

"HYUNG?" Jin got startled by Taehyung's sudden voice and realised how he was again thinking about the future.

"I think we should talk later," Taehyung continued.

"Right. Take care," SeokJin hummed and agreed as the conversation was going nowhere. He took his jacket in one hand and proceeded to take his steps towards the exit.

✧