COLOURS ✓

TWENTY SEVEN

Everyone bowed when Hoseok entered the police station with Seokjin. He paid no mind to it. He didn't care.

He was here for answers and he was going to get them.

He headed towards the cell where they kept the man who attacked Taehyung with that sword. He wasn't very intimidating. Or maybe he didn't seem intimidating because Hoseok was so angry that he was blinded by it. He just wanted someone to pay and he didn't care how scary they looked.

"We don't think he acted alone," said the officer in charge. "We believe he was acting on orders."

They opened the cell door to let Hoseok and Seokjin inside.

Hoseok didn't hesitate to ask. "Who ordered the hit on Kim Taehyung?"

The man chuckled. "Some kid is gonna come in here and boss me around?"

Hoseok scoffed. "You don't watch the news, do you? I'm the King. I can do whatever I want to you and no one will bat an eyelash."

The man rolled his eyes. "I doubt—"

Hoseok stepped forwards and grabbed the man by the neck, pushing him up against the wall. His right hand held the pistol to the man's head.

"No one will stop me," Hoseok whispered. "So I'm going to ask one more time, and you're going to answer me or I'll break all the bones in your body. Who ordered the hit on Kim Taehyung?"

The man gulped. He must have seen how none of the police reacted to Hoseok's sudden violent approach.

"The Queen," he struggled to force out with Hoseok's hand around his throat. "The Queen ordered me to."

Hoseok saw red. "You're lying!"

"No," the man choked. "No, please, I'm not lying."

His mother couldn't have. . .

From behind Hoseok came Seokjin's voice, talking to the police officers. "Locate the former queen. Then send a troop with us to go investigate."

Hoseok dropped his hand and turned to Seokjin, disbelieving. "What? Seokjin, you don't seriously think—"

"I think that we should go see and make sure. I'm not accusing your mother of anything, Hoseok. But we need to check."

Hoseok swallowed and nodded. He threw another glare at the man before they left the cell and followed the police into their cars.

-🎨-

The former queen was found to be at Mrs. Kim's house. Seokjin's jaw tightened when he heard the police say it, but he nodded and they all continued on their way there.

They entered the house thanks to Seokjin's possession of the key. It was a large mansion, and Seokjin suggested they look in the master bedroom first.

Sure enough, there she was. She was still in her queen outfit, the dress and all. The only difference was that she didn't have the crown. Hoseok did.

"Mother," Hoseok said. He controlled his voice so it didn't shake. "A man has accused you of ordering a hit on Taehyung. Tell me this isn't true. Please."

His mother stood from the bed and sighed. "I suppose the act is up."

Hoseok felt dizzy. He thought he might throw up, or pass out, or both. ". . .So you did. You ordered Taehyung to be killed. Why? How could you—how could you do this?"

". . . You leaked Hoseok's identity, didn't you?" Seokjin asked. "You. . . You ordered Taehyung to be killed so that it would devastate Hoseok and lead him right into your palm so you could control the throne even when it wasn't yours, didn't you?"