Desert • Flower | TaeJin || BOOK 3#

XVII. Peace resumed in the desert

"When a certain time comes, they won't send any more soldiers. They will write it off as a lost zone."

"Let's hope that moment happens soon, Mr. Choi. I'm not sure how long you can hold out under these conditions."

"More than you think boy, more than you think." states the man with a good-natured smile and Taehyung reciprocates the gesture.

A meeting was held among the nobles and territory owners in the west. To verify who could resist so far, who could not, who needs support and who can give it. Despite not sharing Taehyung's almost selfless and missionary vision, to say that the nobles are cruel and ruthless is far from reality. They are almost a partnership because of similar management and similar characters. They care for each other and look after each other when needed.

They were all at his parents' funerals and although there are moments of moments, he is respected as lord of the lands he owns. No one dares to take that away from him. Only to point out that he was adopted and therefore, is someone of little class by blood ancestry, at first if it was a nuisance, denying him to be the heir. His father forced them to respect the decision. No one doubts his power, his ability or his merits now so long after. Only of his caste, so to speak. A real nonsense, but one that among the nobility has a lot of value.

"I see you brought the kisaeng no one stops talking about" Not far away is Jin, growing flowers for the children of the house. They all have dragons. Wood, cold, air and even a metal one. Small like their owners. "It's a real wonder to behold."

"I know. It's still unheard of for me to think that it came within an inch of dying in the desert."

"Those who have beauty to spare, believe that one less will be indifferent" Mr. Choi clasps his hands together under his sleeves. "Not knowing that they are a treasure that someone else will take care of as they should. That kisaeng se there is..." he sighs charmingly. "One of the strongest beauties that could ever exist."

"How do you know?" asks Taehyung curiously.

"I remember him from my trips to Hanyang. He was a boy just barely. He had a lovely twinkle in his eye, his voice drove away any worries and his scent made you enjoy the air like never before" he narrates with fascination. "However, his Gibu was someone destructive. A being who would pick, arrange and thus break at will."

Taehyung returns his gaze to Jin as he listens to Mr. Choi. It is not strange for him to think that Jin had one of those hateful and overbearing Gibu, it would explain why he has repulsion and distrust towards the nobility. However, the idea of that man being "destructive" makes him think in what sense, what could it be that that man did to Jin to leave him the way he is? I would say that it does not resemble what Mr. Choi narrates.

Jin as he is now, is someone dull and depressing who doesn't give a stunning beauty, but sad and almost miserable who is going to lose himself more and more with time.

"I saw him beaten for doing his job: dancing and singing to entertain the nobility who will request such a service. I find it a huge shame that such potential was wasted because of a selfish authoritarian" he exhales disappointed as he shakes his head. "I even remember giving him a dwikkoji as a gift. He made that flower for me instead."

Taehyung turns his head to a small, adorable vase where there is a single flower. A red rose. The story doesn't seem far-fetched to him, after all, he has seen that Jin sometimes creates things depending on his emotions. When he is sad or extremely depressed he grows flowers with blue petals and curved shape downwards, as if they were about to wither. When he is happy he notes that bright and vibrant yellow flowers come out, as well as orange and some red ones; most of all it has happened in the cave where the Japanese are and he spends time with the children.

And although he didn't notice it, at first in his room she also left one growing directly from the floor, although it didn't make sense. It was a Sakura flower, but he had never seen that a Sakura flower could be red, he does not even understand what exactly that color means in that flower. Red means passion, but the Sakura flower means innocence simplicity and sometimes rebirth. Taehyung snorts softly looking at it again, wanting to get a better picture of what Mr. Choi tells him.

"Who knows, maybe now that that man is dead, from what I have heard, and that he is here away from the capital, he will be able to return to that state" Mr. Choi considers thoughtfully. "You can ask him to entertain us a little, it would only be to see him sing and dance; that is always something much needed in these critical and exhausting times. We need something to make us happy for a short time."

"I don't know if he wants to do that."

"Oh, anyway, keep that in mind."

Taehyung gives a slight bow with his head and goes to where Jin is. The kisaeng bows as he notices Taehyung nearby and the children play with the dragon, indifferent to the adult.

"Is it time to go home already? My lord."

"No, not yet. There's still a few things to discuss. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm fine."

Jin reddens at the caress Taehyung gives him on his face. He gently pushes it away and looks away. It's a little awkward because they have a feeling what Taehyung is looking to see something in him and it's not there. Or rather, it is something that was and now is not there. Taehyung reaches over and gives him a little kiss on the cheek, it causes a little squeak from the courtier. The lord laughs square and hugs him without thinking. The children notice the exchange and murmur to each other, curious as to what the relationship might be between such a pretty person and the smiling lord with earth dragon.

~ * * * ~

"Two months with no attacks, no closeness and no vibe whatsoever. I think I can lower the wall now." comments Taehyung. Jin wrinkles his face slightly. He would wait longer. He still doubts it's wise to let his guard down. They have dragons too. It is impossible to know if they are not using them to mislead.

He doesn't say anything to avoid contradicting him. Seok stumbles along the ground, causes the soil to be so, so, so fertile that Eunji makes it bloom just by standing on it. It's fun to watch. It looks like they're playing. Taehyung stops when they reach the entrance to one of the flowering gardens.

"What do you think?" Jin looks confused by the question. "Do you think I should put it down? Or wait a little longer for the situation to calm down at all. You can give your thoughts on the matter."

"I don't see what relevance they would have, my lord."

"Plenty! It's never a bad thing to know outside opinions when it comes to a subject like this. Where the safety of many is affected" Taehyung states and Jin bites his lower lip. "Well, what do you say?"

"It's... soon."

"Ummm? I can't hear you."

"Not yet."

"Icanthearnothingggg."

"My lord!"

"Come on, speak up. We're not going to throw you out or punish you for speaking loudly."

Jin reddens and looks away. Taehyung snorts childishly. He has no choice but to sting him like this. Let him gradually gain confidence. They have already had a rapprochement. Taehyung would like to have more and for that he must show Jin that he is not going to do anything bad to him. That he can be as natural as he wants and let go of that ghost that prevents him from being at peace with something as basic as making noise. Eunji hits Seok with her tail, for trying to lean back from her.

As if it couldn't be more obvious that dragons reflect their users.