Royal Flush | pjm; jjk

Chapter Seventeen

"How are you feeling?" Yoongi asked Jimin, sitting down next to him in the meeting room. The latter simply shrugged. Yoongi kept looking at him, not really sure if he should pry or not, but Jimin has been acting like a complete idiot the past few days, so Yoongi decided to risk it. "She will never understand if you don't explain it fully." Jimin quickly turned his head to him, brows furrowed. "There is nothing to explain, Yoongi. She knows everything."

Yoongi scoffed under his nose. "All she knows is that it's more important for you to use her for your own needs, rather than to actually be with her." Jimin turned away, pondering for a moment."Her knowing the whole story changes nothing. At the end of the day she is right, it is more important for me to use her than to be with her." Yoongi stood up, stretching his arms he wondered how to place his words better. "I think if she'll know, she will be able to understand your choice much better. Right now you just seem like a self-centered dick to her." Jimin quickly raised his eyes, surprised at Yoongi's honesty. A smile danced on his lips, it was the first time his friend actually insulted him.

Yoongi quickly noticed Jimin's expression and let out a small smirk himself. "What can I say, she's influencing all of us." The two friends smiled at each other for some time, feeling one of the many barriers between them falling down. Yoongi walked towards the window and leaned on it, turning at Jimin he sighed again. The latter answered him with a puzzled expression. "Jimin, you need to think a bit further. You really need to get your head figured out before the main part of our plan sets into motion." Jimin kept staring at him with a confused face, "I'm not sure I'm following." Yoongi sighed again, shaking his head slightly. "You need to accept that in a worst case scenario, Nora will die. And I want to make sure, that you'll be able to live with yourself if that happens."

Nora was standing in front the Prince's chambers, waiting for him to get changed. He has been inviting her everyday after their first outing, and trying to avoid Jimin, Nora agreed happily every single time. They went through the whole center of the town a couple of times already, they ate in all of the diners, Jungkook drank at all of the taverns. Nora giggled at herself, remembering how Jungkook bought almost all of the jewelry from the merchant and the poor man almost fell to tears. Of course, back then this action took her aback, as he gave all of the jewels to her. Unable to say no, Nora brought them home and Jimin frowned highly upon them.

"Nora!" Jungkook exclaimed, walking down the stairs. Nora bowed to him, but a smile has been dancing on her lips already. Everything aside, she did enjoy his company very much and both of them found some sort of comfort in each other. "Your Highness." Nora welcomed him and Jungkook scowled. Nora quickly smiled apologetically. "We're still in the palace, Your Highness. Our agreement only begins once we leave the premises." Jungkook nodded, still pouting and started to walk. Nora fastened her pace and walked beside him. "What is the plan today?" She asked smilingly, but Jungkook's face made her change her attitude quickly. He looked at her with a serious expression.

"We've been enjoying the lavishes of the center of the capital, but I think I need to see how the majority of the people live, Nora. I want you to take me further today." Nora could read from his expression, that he had some new information. Before, Jungkook simply enjoyed his newly found freedom, but now it seems that the realization of the actual living conditions started to hit him. "Where would you like me to take you?" She asked calmly. Jungkook pondered for a moment, shyly realizing that he had no idea of what towns, what villages surrounded the capital. Nora quickly caught on, and not wanting him to feel bad answered herself. "I'll take you to the part of the town where I lived.. um prior to being scouted by Hoseok." Jungkook nodded excitingly and they quickly left the palace, feeling a sense of freedom the moment they bypassed the gate.