Royal Flush | pjm; jjk

Chapter Twenty Four

Nora shot glances between Jungkook and the King, tension rising with every silent second passing. She was unsure if the King was still processing his words, or didn't even hear him correctly, but he was standing still, trying to focus his gaze. Jungkook still stood with arms crossed on his chest, unmoving, confidence radiating like a strong force field around him. Nora couldn't help but feel impressed, she's never seen him like this. She knew that Jungkook hated his father, it was obvious, but it seemed like the time spent with her, the tours around the actual kingdom, chats with the boys intensified his hatred. His eyes were narrowed, flames shinning through them, cocky smirk formed on his face. For a second Nora started to doubt if Jungkook actually expected this meeting to go smoothly. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized that this was an open state of war, and she started to fear the outcome.

"Boy, do you even hear what you're saying?" The King finally spoke up, now a smirk was forming on his face. Nora shot her eyes towards him, seeing his whole exterior shift. It looked like he was finally grasping the situation and pulling himself back to reality. "One word from me and you'll be dead in a moment." The King added, but Jungkook released a nasty laugh. "One word to whom?" He asked mockingly and the Kind furrowed his brows. "Don't start acting cocky with me boy, just a few months ago you've been begging me to let you outside, have you forgotten?" The King bit Jungkook's soft spot and a vein started to form on his neck. "You should have just kept me locked here." Jungkook hissed. "You've not seen what it's like out there." He added, tone a bit softer. Now the King released a manic laugh.

"I don't care, boy! They needed a King and they have one. How they live their lives is none of my concern!" He continued laughingly, and anger started to rise in Nora's throat. She grabbed the handle of her sword and dug her nails into it, trying to keep herself calm. Jungkook seemed to get agitated at his words too. "People are dying, father. They have no money, no prospects, nothing." Even if anger was audible in his tone, Jungkook calmed down a bit and tried to reason with him. The King walked up to the window and opened it. Leaning towards it, he narrowed his eyes at the view in front of him. Nora couldn't help but wonder if the fire was visible from here. Short moments of silence passed by, and the King finally pulled his attention back to Jungkook. "Let them die, then."

Nora started gritting her teeth, fingernails hurting from digging deep into the handle. Jungkook still kept his composure. "Let's talk about this. Let me take over. You will still have money, you'll have everything and not a single worry on your shoulders. I'll buy you as many houses as you want, I'll gift you as many women as you want." Nora quickly narrowed her eyes at Jungkook, but didn't say anything. "Just pass the throne and all it's troubles to me. I'll do better." Jungkook finally finished his sentence, but the King simply laughed again.

"I don't want you to do better, boy! I want them to suffer, I want them to fear me. Let them feel how terrible it is to have everything that you want dangling in front of your eyes and have it taken away by someone else!" The King yelled out again, still stumbling a bit on his feet and Jungkook responded with a confused expression. Nora, on the other hand, felt like she understood his implications a bit. Could he be speaking about Jimin's mother? She cleared her throat, unsure if she should speak. "The people of the kingdom didn't take her away from you. The royal law did." Nora spoke quietly, and Jungkook quickly shot a confused look at her. The King formed a disgusted expression towards her and spat on the floor. "How dare a fucking commoner open her mouth in front of me?! How dare you disrespect me like that?!" He yelled at Nora, saliva splattering around him as he spoke. Nora clenched her jaw, trying to keep her cool, but fear and anger started to overtake her.

"Don't speak to her like that." Jungkook shot back at his father, and the latter quickly focused his eyes on his son. Scanning his expression, he shot his eyes between the couple and a mocking smile formed on his lips. "Oh isn't this just beautiful? You fell in love with a commoner? My son, royal blood, infatuated by a common beggar?!" Voice rising again, the King walked towards them, and even before Jungkook managed to answer, Nora's pride took over. "As once were you." She exclaimed, sending a wave of silence over the room. Both of the Jeong's had their eyes focused on her, Jungkook's were puzzled and the King's were angry. Before Jungkook could understand what was going on, the King walked over and smacked Nora on the face with the back of his hand. Sharp pain stung through Nora's jaw, but she kept still. Jungkook was about to get in between them, but Nora quickly shook her head at him. She kept her eyes on the ground, not raising them at the King and he took a step back.