The Suitors | T&J | ✔️

N I N E

We walked past the formal dining room, where we always ate, and I looked up at JK who grinned down at me, "I thought we could use one of the other rooms, smaller ones"

When we entered into the smaller dining room, with only a long table in it, matching the violet and white walls with its decoration, that were covered in paintings from a famous painter that came from Decoris.

"I haven't used this one in a long time" I breathed out.

"No?" JK replied as he pulled out my chair for me.

I smiled at him as I sat down, "my Father and I normally just use the formal one. Some of the high court normally dine with us. We are quite close with Yoongi and Namjoon"

"They are quite young aren't they?" JK asked as he sat opposite me.

I nodded, "but both are geniuses. Both of their Fathers were on the high court before them, and my Father watched them grow up to what they are today"

JK looked thoughtful for a second, before clearing his throat, "do you plan to keep them as your own high court when you rule?"

I nodded right away.

"Seems to me your Father didn't make them high court member this early in their life for himself" he breathed out giving me a little smile.

I rose an eyebrow, "I haven't thought of it that way"

"He's helping you already" JK said.

The door opened, with a few staff with trays. I nodded at them, and they quickly plated our food in front of us.

"So what about your family? Are you close with your brother?" I asked as we ate a handful of minutes later.

JK gave a little smile, "I am close with my brother, yes. He's my best friend"

I saw his eyes glistening, which made me smile.

"And he's getting married soon?" I asked.

JK nodded, "in four weeks"

I creased my eyebrows slightly, "are you going to go back for the ceremony?"

I watched as his expression fell, like he already knew the answer, "I can't"

"Yes you can" I replied quickly.

JK shook his head, "I've already spoken with him about it. Not to put pressure on you or anything, but it depends if you've made your decision at that point, and then I will go back. But like I said, we have already spoken about it and Hobi said that he would rather that I put myself first. If there is a small chance of us being together, then I'm to stay here"

I took a deep breath, that was pressure, even if he didn't mean it that way.

"I know I have a time scale, my Father said he wanted me to be married by the end of the year, which is around eight weeks away. But I don't want to rush into the decision, and honestly I'd feel terrible if you missed your brothers wedding. So please, go" I muttered out.

I watched as he ate his mouthful, just looking at me thoughtfully.

"I know there will be no hard feelings with whoever you choose, but if I went back home, it would take me away from you for about three days, since it takes around a day to travel, and that's with the ocean being favourable... and that's three days that I won't be able to get back" he breathed out slowly.

I pursed my lips, as my chest swelled.

"But I'd feel terrible if you missed the wedding" I said quietly.

JK gave me a small smile, "my brother made me promise to put you, and myself first. He knows exactly what I'm like, and this is something more important than his wedding, and that's his words, not mine"

I nodded.

"And I'll see him, in a few weeks when they come for your Father's ten year reign anniversary. So I'll be sure to have our own little celebration. His wife to be is coming with him also, so it'll be nice for you to meet her" JK smiled.

"Oh they are coming to that?" I asked.

JK grinned, giving me a wrinkle nosed smile.

"Are you close with your Father?" I wondered.

JK bit at his bottom lip, "not particularly"

I creased my eyebrow together, but didn't push any further.

"My Father is a selfish man. Always has been, and I never got close to him for that reason. He can be quite malicious, which I'm very glad that my brother and I aren't anything like him" he breathed out, not looking at me.

I was quiet, unsure on to what to say back to that.

"My Mother passed around four years ago. He didn't even let the country grieve, he threw no funeral, no celebrations in her honour, and that was very hard to accept" he muttered.

Now that hurt my heart. And I'm sure he noticed the expression on my face, mainly of disgust with his Father.

"But why?" I asked.

JK shook his head slowly, "because it was spending unnecessary coin. That's when Hobi made sure I distanced myself away from him, and pushed me towards the military"

I took a deep breath.

"She developed this cough, and had it for months. She used to hide it from Hobi and I, but it got to the point where she couldn't get out of bed most mornings, and the Doctors said there wasn't anything they could do" he said quietly, staring at the table in front of us.

I watched his chest raise and fall a few times, the sadness spreading throughout my body.

I reached over, and squeezed his fingers.

As he looked back up at me, he gave me a little smile.

"She was a great Mother. We knew that she didn't love our Father, they barely spoke. She gave him a few children, and that distanced herself away, throwing herself into raising us properly" he breathed out.

"Well your Mother has done a perfect job, I'm sure you and your brother have made her very proud" I said quietly.

JK gave me a smile, and moved his fingers under mine, so he was now holding my hand.

"How many children do you want?" He asked, completely changing the feel of the conversation.

I breathed out a little chuckle, leaning back in my chair.

"I haven't thought about it, if i'm honest. I know for sure, that if my first child is a girl, that I'll be having a few more, to unsure they can pass the crown" I replied.

JK nodded, "I understand that"

"What about you?" I asked.

"As many as my wife wants, I'll be happy with however many" he said, giving me a smile.

As usual, that was a perfect answer.

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