SCHOOL 2020 ▷ bts

2.1

I snarled at the rebel leader. "You are going to pay for this. The King will never let you live!"

Taehyung the Terror, they called him. The leader and instigator of the many rebel uprisings that plighted our kingdom. His tactics, although crude and unpatriotic in nature, were unfortunately effective. He created so much chaos that my brothers, the six princes, were forced to leave the palace and visit the counties to ensure peace.

Namjoon and Yoongi went to the south. Seokjin went to the east. The ports on our western shores had Jungkook and Hoseok, while Jimin headed north all alone.

We had always been a tightly-knitted band of siblings, but now we were all separated. To make things worse, what once used to be a centralized army in the city was now divided into six separate troops to protect the princes. This gap in security was what led to my current unfortunate circumstance - being held captive by the rebel villain.

"My brothers will tear down every rock and tree in the kingdom to find you," I declared. "Do you truly think you can get away with this? You must be a fool if you - eeeyaaaarrghhh!"

For Taehyung had picked me up bodily, and tossed me on top of a packhorse. I struggled against my restraints, but there was precious little I could do with my wrists and legs tied. 

"Let me down from here at once!" I demanded. "Do you hear that, you - you rebel low-life?!"

"I'm getting tired of your screaming, Your Highness." In one swift motion, Taehyung took off his shirt. I averted my eyes quickly - but not before the image of a tanned, sculpted abdomen seared itself on my mind. 

"How dare you engage in public indecency in front of me?" I shrieked. "I am the noble Princess of this kingdom!"

"I've done things far more audacious than stripping naked, believe me," came his dry voice. The sound of cloth ripping. "I'm about to do another one."

He walked over, torso bare. I looked away, but a firm hand grabbed me by the chin and forced me to meet his eyes. Then he stuffed the rag in my mouth and tied it behind my head.

Outraged, I started yelling, which only came out as "Mfft! Mfft, mpphf!"

I made such a kicking fuss that Taehyung was obliged to blindfold me. I felt him climb into the saddle, and then his arms were around me to grab the reins.

"Stop your struggling," his voice hissed in my ear. "You're heavy enough as it is without making it more difficult for my horse."

Heavy? HEAVY? I was not heavy. I had barely eaten breakfast this morning! How dare this rapscallion utter such despicable untruths?

"M MMFH HBHF BBHG HHFFT FFR MFT!" Which was of course my futile attempt at saying I shall have your tongue cut out!

For twenty miles Taehyung rode his horse at a hard gallop, ignoring all my protests. At some point during the journey I tired out, and miraculously enough, dozed off in the saddle. When I woke, the blindfold was gone, and my feet back on solid ground.

I wriggled my arms, surprised to see they were free. Immediately I tried to get up, but found I couldn't move an inch. The same rope that bound my wrists were now lashed around my torso, tying me around the gnarled trunk of a tree. 

In front of me, a delicious fire roared. Taehyung was busy roasting two rabbits on a stick. He offered one to me.

"Dinner?"

I tilted my chin haughtily. "I will have you know that I am a vegetarian."

"I see." He looked around. "Well, there's plenty of grass around here if you want to eat that."