The Seven Wives of Jeon Jungkook

Mauve

Ji Eun wakes, feeling a sense of renewal. Like a weight had been lifted off of her chest. Jungkook lay sound asleep nearby and she blushes at the sight of him. His hair is a curly mess and he tended to pout in his sleep. She giggles as she brushes strands of hair from his face.

He scrunches his nose and rolls over, grabbing at her pillow to cuddle. He was a heavy sleeper she thinks as he begins snoring rather loudly.

Hugging her knees to her chest she glances towards the balcony, images of Mina standing upon it flash through her mind and she shivers.

After eating breakfast in the garden, she finds Jimin tending to the roses, a fond smile plays upon her lips.

He has a rather serious expression marring his usual cheery demeanor.

"Hello Jimin!" she greets him. He glances at her rather shocked before plaster a fake smile onto his face.

"Good morning your highness"

"Please Jimin, just call me Ji Eun"

"I...I couldn't"

"I insist, it's rather uncomfortable to be referred to as your highness"

"His Majesty wouldn't like it"

Taking his hand in hers she reassures him.

"Then no need to say it around him, but when we're alone it would make me feel more comfortable".

He looks hesitantly at their hands before nodding.

"Alright..J-Ji Eun".

"You seem to be rather down today? Is everything alright?".

"Just a rough night is all" he reassures her.

She recalls his expression from last night when he stood in the garden.

"You can always talk to me if anything is bothering you" she smiles at him. He looks into her eyes as if lost before mumbling absentmindedly "you're just like her".

"Pardon?"

"Uh, nothing" he brushes her off.

Could it be... he was referring to Mina?

"Jungkook finally told me about Mina", Jimin stiffens at the name and looks at her shocked.

"What did he tell you?".

"About what happened to her. It was tragic." She feels her heart clench.

"Everything?" he says as if in disbelief.

"Were you close to her?".

He snaps from his daze and continues snipping away at the thorns upon the roses when he answers.

"She would keep me company in her free time, she was a good person" he speaks stiffly.

"It must have been hard for you when she killed herself".

At that Jimin drops the sheers as if in shock.

"Jimin?" she worries for the other.

He whips around and grabs her by the shoulders catching her off guard, shaking her as he speaks.

"Is that what he told you!? She killed herself?? Hah," he laughs as if delusional.

"Jimin you're hurting me" she tries to pry his hands from her.

"You'd have to be an idiot to believe anything he said" he goes on.

"I mean sure, she was depressed but it was because of him" Jimin seethes. "He drove her to madness. The light that shone so brightly within her was taken from her by that- that monster and his tormenting way!" he goes on hysterically.

"JIMIN PLEASE LET ME GO" she cries out but the other is far gone in his daze.

"You went into the east wing, didn't you? You can't tell me you didn't see it. Did you?" she meets his eyes to find them serious. Before she can answer he's wretched violently from her and thrown to the floor.

When he looks up, she sees blood seeping from a gash upon his lip. His eyes are fearful as he eyes the person behind her.

"Guards, take him away" a cold voice orders from behind her.

She finds Jungkook heaving heavily, his eyes are dark and there's an almost animalistic rage pouring from his being. It's a new side to him she's never seen and it sends fear up her spine.

Jimin writhes in the grip of the guard's hands as they pull him away, he thrashes violently shouting towards Jungkook.

"YOU CAN'T HIDE THE TRUTH FOREVER".

"Are you alright?" comes Jungkooks voice far from calm.

"yes" she mutters not meeting his eyes.

"Look at me" he orders, when she does, he still has that anger in his eyes.

"Why was he touching you? I've warned you about him" he seethes.

"I just.. I was only greeting him".

Jungkook eyes her, doubt evident in his gaze but it's masked just as quickly and replaced with a blank stare.

"Never mind that, are you hurt?"

"No" she mumbles feeling uncomfortable suddenly as she looks down at the grass by her feet.

He places a hand under her chin and lifts her face to meet his, "I wouldn't be able to handle it if anything happened to you" he says sincerely.

He tugs her into a hug, resting his chin atop her head.

She can only stare into the distance, uncertainty gnawing at her insides.

After the commotion, Jungkook doesn't let her out of his sight, he takes her on a tour through the kingdom. They stop at various food stalls gathering all kinds of snacks and buying all the best fabrics from clothing stalls. He goes back to his usual warm self but the rage in his eyes doesn't leave her mind.

Jimin's words replay in her head the whole time.

What else could be in the east wing? She thinks back to the large painting and dusty chairs and tables. What had she missed?