Royally Yours (Jikook AU📱📲)

27

Hoseok and Jimin collapsed onto the floor after a grueling six, seven hours of nonstop practice. Jihyo, exhausted as well, didn’t stay to rest with them—she had already left for a shower, unable to tolerate the sweat clinging to her skin.

This was their life now. Thirteen, fourteen hours of relentless dancing and singing each day, every movement dictated by the authority they served. Nothing was theirs—not their choices, not their clothes, not even the money their performances earned. Every coin, every tip from impressed audiences, flowed straight to Baron Cin. At the end of the month, they were given a meager allowance that barely touched the luxuries they dreamed of.

Baron Cin had clawed his way to power using only his cunning mind. Once a commoner, he now owned lands, ran markets, and thrived on the labor and talents of slaves. Compared to Eishi, their previous lord, he was physically weaker, but in greed and manipulation, Cin was a master. Buying three talented dancers from Ruvana at a premium had already paid off many times over.

Even after moving to Seoul, life hadn’t changed much for Hoseok, Jimin, and Jihyo. The scale and audience had grown, but none of it reached them directly. New faces came and went, exciting for Hoseok, but for Jimin and Jihyo, it was just another layer of the same suffocating routine.

Jimin’s chest rose and fell rapidly, his muscles trembling from the strain of the day. He slid back onto the floor, covering his face with his hands, letting the exhaustion wash over him. Hoseok’s concerned glance caught him, but he remained silent, both enveloped in the heavy, rhythmic sound of their breathing.

After a moment, Jimin lifted his head, propping it on one hand. His eyes flickered toward Hoseok.

“Hyung…”

A faint murmur came in response.

“Hyung… don’t you think the nobles here are… weird?”

Hoseok raised an eyebrow. “Weird how?”

Jimin turned, resting his head on his hand. “Think about it… nobles visited Ruvana too. We danced for them, talked with them sometimes. But have you ever seen a noble tell us not to call them lords?”

Hoseok blinked, then realization crossed his face. “Are you talking about Suga?”

Jimin gave a sidelong sneer. “Huh? Suga, right! He talks to you a lot these days, doesn’t he?”

Hoseok’s soft, genuine smile shut Jimin up. “We do. He’s a good person.”

Jimin rolled his eyes but pressed on. “Not just the royal musician… the noble who saved me from that guard that day. He also said not to call him lord.”

Hoseok’s expression darkened at the memory. “Don’t remind me… that situation gave me chills. I’m so thankful to Lord Kim Taehyung for saving you.”

Jimin nodded silently. Though grateful, he still felt uneasy about Taehyung’s unusually open, friendly demeanor. Messages, questions about their day, their palace visits—sometimes Jimin wanted to ignore them, but he couldn’t ignore someone like Taehyung.

“I’m sorry for worrying you, hyung,” Jimin whispered.

Hoseok ruffled his hair reassuringly. “Well, I’ve never really thought like that before. But… yeah, Suga and Lord Kim Taehyung are kind souls.”

Jimin let out an exaggerated scoff. “Kind… and aristocrat. Those two words should never exist in the same sentence, hyung.”

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Later, back in their dorm after a sparse meal, Jimin was finally ready to collapse into rest when his phone buzzed.

‘Hyung? Jihyo? We just spoke a few minutes ago…’