Taehyung's eyes are wide, "you want to do what now?"
Jimin nods, closes the lid of the gift box to stare up at Taehyung, "get married. I want to get married. There are offers. You know. The suitors will come to the ball. The princes from every kingdom. I am getting married."
Taehyung comes to kneel in front of Jimin, "hyung, how about you sleep on it? We will talk tomorrow, okay? Let me," he takes the giftbox and the letters, "I will give it all to Namjoon hyung. You go to sleep-"
Jimin shakes his head, "do whatever. I have decided."
Jimin shakes his head, "do whatever. I have decided."
Taehyung watches Jimin storm out of the courtroom. He sits there, holding the gift and letters in his hands.
Taehyung opens the letter again, a small smile on his lips, "I know," he gulps, "you wrote this to hobi hyung. But I wish..." he closes the letter, "I was there too."
Taehyung opens the letter again, a small smile on his lips, "I know," he gulps, "you wrote this to hobi hyung. But I wish..." he closes the letter, "I was there too."
Taehyung takes everything to his room and goes to bed with the letter beside him.
He sleeps peacefully that night.
He sleeps peacefully that night.
__________
The announcement spreads like wildfire. It goes everywhere, in every kingdom.
One of the princes is going to choose a suitor from the annual ball.
Everyone, who gets the invitation, sends back a confirmation and a few courting gifts for the princes.
The ball is in a week.
One of the princes is going to choose a suitor from the annual ball.
Everyone, who gets the invitation, sends back a confirmation and a few courting gifts for the princes.
The ball is in a week.
Jimin is in his room, reading a list of things they need to buy for the ball.
A knock startles him. He looks up to see Hoseok standing by the door.
"Yes? Come in," Jimin leans back against his pillow, "what is it, hyung?"
Hoseok looks restless, excitement bubbling in his eyes.
A knock startles him. He looks up to see Hoseok standing by the door.
"Yes? Come in," Jimin leans back against his pillow, "what is it, hyung?"
Hoseok looks restless, excitement bubbling in his eyes.
"I need a day's breaks, my prince," Hoseok bows, looks up with wide and hopeful eyes, "I need to run some errands."
Jimin frowns, "a day's break? What errands?"
Hoseok gulps, "some personal errands. I will be going to the Min kingdom. To bring a few things from that palace."
Jimin frowns, "a day's break? What errands?"
Hoseok gulps, "some personal errands. I will be going to the Min kingdom. To bring a few things from that palace."
Jimin frowns, "what thing? You-"
Hoseok stutters, "so- some things are left there. I need to get them. If you get married, then I have to go with you, so before that-"
"When do you need it?" Jimin leans forward, "which day?"
Hoseok gulps, "a day before the ball."
Hoseok stutters, "so- some things are left there. I need to get them. If you get married, then I have to go with you, so before that-"
"When do you need it?" Jimin leans forward, "which day?"
Hoseok gulps, "a day before the ball."
Jimin's fingers twitch around the book.
That day, a lot of ships are anchoring in the harbour. Jimin looks at the man who never took a break in this past one year.
Something burns in him, ignites the more he watches Hoseok, "okay. Go. You are permitted a day's break."
That day, a lot of ships are anchoring in the harbour. Jimin looks at the man who never took a break in this past one year.
Something burns in him, ignites the more he watches Hoseok, "okay. Go. You are permitted a day's break."
Hoseok bows, "I will see you, my prince."
Jimin watches him leave and claps his hands.
A guard comes in, stands with his head bowed.
Jimin eyes the empty hallway, "get our most trustworthy spy to follow him. I want to know where he goes. Who he meets. What he does. From now."
Jimin watches him leave and claps his hands.
A guard comes in, stands with his head bowed.
Jimin eyes the empty hallway, "get our most trustworthy spy to follow him. I want to know where he goes. Who he meets. What he does. From now."
_______
That night the spy, Subin, comes to meet Jimin in the garden.
"He sent a letter today," Subin narrates, "it was to go to the next harbour."
Jimin sucks in a breath, "the harbour that is just two days away from here?"
Subin nods, "yes, my prince."
Jimin nods, "good."
"He sent a letter today," Subin narrates, "it was to go to the next harbour."
Jimin sucks in a breath, "the harbour that is just two days away from here?"
Subin nods, "yes, my prince."
Jimin nods, "good."
Taehyung watches how restlessly Jimin walks around to make sure everything is alright.
He watches how Jimin snaps at people if anything is a little out of place.
It is a masquerade ball. Taehyung hates it, but he can do nothing, as he knows Jimin wants it.
He watches how Jimin snaps at people if anything is a little out of place.
It is a masquerade ball. Taehyung hates it, but he can do nothing, as he knows Jimin wants it.
"You are going somewhere?" Taehyung frowns, watching Jimin get ready a day before the ball, "Hobi hyung left a few hours ago. Where-"
Jimin shrugs, "you know, Min kingdom is mine, right? I am going to check up on the value of it. I need to list it all before the wedding."
Jimin shrugs, "you know, Min kingdom is mine, right? I am going to check up on the value of it. I need to list it all before the wedding."
Taehyung frowns, "you can ask anyone-"
"No," Jimin shakes his head, "I will go back on my own. You do not worry. I will be back before dawn. Okay? You stay and welcome the guests. They all would want to meet the king. I will join you for dinner."
Taehyung watches Jimin leave.
"No," Jimin shakes his head, "I will go back on my own. You do not worry. I will be back before dawn. Okay? You stay and welcome the guests. They all would want to meet the king. I will join you for dinner."
Taehyung watches Jimin leave.
_______________
Jimin follows Subin who has returned to take him back to where Hoseok went.
Jimin frowns at the boy, "the harbour?"
Subin nods, "there is a saloon," he murmurs, "near the harbour. Hoseok went there and asked for a drink. I left my men there to keep an eye on him."
Jimin frowns at the boy, "the harbour?"
Subin nods, "there is a saloon," he murmurs, "near the harbour. Hoseok went there and asked for a drink. I left my men there to keep an eye on him."
Jimin nods, wraps the veil tightly around his face. Only his eyes are visible as they ride.
Subin leads the way and Jimin follows.
It takes them almost an hour to reach the harbour, and then they leave the horses at a public stable before walking up to the saloon.
Subin leads the way and Jimin follows.
It takes them almost an hour to reach the harbour, and then they leave the horses at a public stable before walking up to the saloon.
Hoseok is sitting by a corner table. Jimin and Subin walk in, nonchalantly finding a table across from his.
Jimin keeps his veil on, his eyes on the man who looks restless.
Between them are the crowd of people. Sailors, pirates, drunk men hollering at each other…
Jimin keeps his veil on, his eyes on the man who looks restless.
Between them are the crowd of people. Sailors, pirates, drunk men hollering at each other…
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