Desert • Flower | TaeJin || BOOK 3#

XXX. Happiness that cannot last

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, they sent a letter a couple of days ago. No one followed them, the territory is guarded and so far I've had no sign of the army near here either."

Taehyung nods in relief at the information Mr. Choi gives him. It's a relief to know that his family is well to where he had them hiding. Paranoia or not, he begins to consider that maybe he should hide Jin and Yune. Caution never hurts. The war is at a delicate moment where both fronts look genuinely bad.

Although if it is his turn to give his opinion, he thinks they are worse. They stood out as a nation of dragon people. If most of them went to war and wasted away what will become of them now? It is collateral damage too great to ignore. He wonders if the emperor has thought about it at some point.

"Lord Taehyung! Lord Taehyung!" He turns to the servant who came running from who knows where. The servants in Choi's house look tired of chasing after him. "There's a problem at home! Military everywhere! T-they're... they're close by and-"

"What?" he stammers in surprise and the noise outside startles them both. Taehyung looks around. He left Seok at home to find out about any possible trouble Why doesn't he feel anything special?

At the same time why so much silence? So little vibration. It's so strange. He steps back when a huge flare falls in front of him and his partner. He pulls him by the arm to run away together before the fire can catch them.

~ * * * ~

"Are you feeling well already Jin Oppa?" asks Yune excited to see him so energetic today.

"Not really, but I want to do something besides look at the roof of the room." he replies simply as he grows flowering trees in an area that was cleared and will be a new garden.

This time for the servants to spend their free time. One of those cute, childish gestures from Taehyung to his workers. When he finishes he lets out a heavy breath. He doesn't feel much pain anymore, but it's obvious that something inside him is still not quite right.

He takes Yune's hand and swings it as they take a stroll through the new overgrown area. They give a joint scream as a flame is shot towards them, burning some of Jin's clothes, he pats himself there to stop it from spreading. Eunji roars anxiously and scared, grabbing Yune to carry her inside the big house.

Jin grabs his skirt to run inside, going to the usual hiding place, but with no time to do so because of the soldiers surrounding him in a matter of a few seconds. He looks around. Disturbed by the sound, smell of burning, everything going on here... it's so bad.

. . .

"Just as assumed, you were here hiding. A whore like you is not that hard to understand or track" mocks the captain. Jin says nothing, his lips tight and panic deep. Eunji is with Yune in the safe room, he doesn't know where Seok is. He was supposed to be close to home. "Anything you want to say on your behalf?"

"Can you kill me here...?"

The soldiers look at each other with the same surprise as the request. Jin trembles in his seat.

"I know... I know that's going to happen anyway. I want to die here."

"The emperor wants you to be executed in-"

"I want to die here." Jin insists.

"Unfortunately, that won't be able to be fulfilled, but..."

Jin coughs and falls sideways to the ground, clenching his abdomen from the blow he received.

"Part of your punishment can indeed be given here." announces the captain with a pretentious smile.

The house staff watch with concern what is happening. Unable to do anything to help him. Being beaten by six of the soldiers. Jin at a certain point even stops whining and whimpering. His face swollen, spitting blood and some broken bones inside him.