Royally Yours (Jikook AU📱📲)

24

The Wallet Incident

"Sir, I was just—"

The angry guard cut Jimin off before he could even explain. His sharp eyes flicked down—and immediately caught sight of the padlocked chain around Jimin's neck.

The man grabbed the metal link, squinting.
"A fucking slave?" he spat, then released it with disgust.

His fury spiked.

He stomped forward, heavy boots pounding against the marble, forcing Jimin to take a few steps back.

"HOW DARE A SLAVE TOUCH THE CROWN PRINCE'S WALLET?!"

Jimin froze, eyes widening, blood draining from his face.
The crown prince...?

"S-sir, please listen! It was on the ground—I was just picking it up!"

"STOP LYING, YOU THIEVING RAT!"

The guard didn't want an explanation; he wanted a spectacle. His voice echoed through the courtyard as he lunged forward and seized Jimin by the collar, yanking hard enough that the thin fabric tore at the seam.

For a split second, time slowed.

Back in Ruvana, Jimin had faced cruelty, yes—but it was the kind that was predictable. His lord wouldn't kill his star performer. Jimin's worth was measured in gold, not blood.

But here?
Here in Seoul, under the empire's iron gaze, he was nothing but property. One accusation, one word, and he could be jailed... or executed for daring to touch the crown prince's belongings.

Sweat trickled down his temple. His chest heaved. Fear clawed up his throat.

Yet his mind wasn't on himself.
It was on Hoseok. On Jihyo.
He was concerned about what would happen to them if he didn't make it back.

He swallowed hard. His pulse was racing—but somewhere inside him, something hardened.

He wasn't weak.

Not today.

Jimin steadied his breath and closed his eyes for a heartbeat. Then he lifted his head and met the guard's glare head-on.

"Let go, sir."
His voice was low. Firm.

The guard blinked, momentarily thrown off.

"I didn't do anything wrong."

The words came out strong, defiant—too bold for a slave. Jimin's tone didn't waver, even as his hands trembled slightly at his sides.

For the first time, the guard hesitated. His grip loosened, and Jimin yanked himself free, stepping back with quiet dignity.

Neither of them realized that, from a distance, the crown prince had been watching.

---

The Crown Prince

Jungkook's brows furrowed as he watched the confrontation unfold near the garden steps. He recognized the dancer instantly—the same one from the performance.

His gaze dropped to the wallet in the guard's hand, then instinctively to his own pocket.
Empty.

So I really did drop it...

He sighed under his breath, but what followed caught him off guard.

The guard was shouting again, towering over the dancer. Then—Jimin looked up, eyes burning with restrained anger and courage.

Jungkook noticed the tremor in his hands and the quickened breaths, but there it was—bravery.
The kind that defied chains.

The prince's lips curved, almost involuntarily.
Interesting...