When The Tiger Lilies Bloom | Taekook

11. Lovesick Souls

There was only silence. Luminous throne room fell into an intolerable silence that made Jungkook skip some of his heartbeats. He has never been to a place like that. It was huge, with big chandeliers hanging around, every corner decorated with royal artworks, and the room was filled with elegant yet suffocating scents. All Jungkook wanted was to run away to his safe place. To his Hansung. When the blindfold opened and he turned around, the time traveler found himself on his knees, hands, legs tied, guards on his sides and he was presented to king Hyeonjong as prey. He was weak. He was powerless. Whatever he got was a snap away from the sword on his neck.

Yet he wanted Hansung. Yet he searched for Hansung. The prince was there too, hands tied, head lowered, swollen cheeks, and broken eyes, Hansung stood as if he was crumbled into pieces. Whatever he had was stolen from him. Whatever he had was now broken into a million pieces. His precious dreams, his favorite memories, his beautiful paintings, his beloved Jungkook. Everything was far away from him, everything was out of reach. Even though they were in the same room, just steps apart from each other, still, Hansung felt the distance had increased by centuries. This time they weren't just far. They were separated.

There were several bruises on Jungkook's face, his lips had a cut, his eyes looked scorched, his hands were shivering, his whole body was burning. Everything around him started spiraling and Jungkook felt he was hypnotized by the waves of it. The hold on his arms tightened when he passed a glance at his prince, a teardrop left from his eyes, touched his cheeks and stained the portraits of memories they created together. Even it's hurtful to cry. But he couldn't hold back. Jungkook never cried for anyone. He will never. But seeing Hansung wounded and hands tied, entirely vulnerable in front of him, Jungkook felt what it feels like to be heartbroken.

It's not only the time traveler. It's not only Jungkook who felt miserable after seeing the state of his lover. Hansung wasn't crying. There weren't any tears left in him to shed after seeing the guards beating Jungkook to death, after seeing how his lover only lay there helpless without even saying anything. It was all because of him. Hansung blamed himself for everything. If it wasn't because of him, if it wasn't because of the love Jungkook has towards him, the younger wouldn't even come there. Jungkook wouldn't be even there to accept the sorrows and pains that Hansung gave him for what? For only loving him. That crushed him a lot.

Hansung should've stayed away. Knowing that he was only a danger to Jungkook's life from the very beginning, he should've stayed away. The prince couldn't save Jungkook from the guards when they beat the pulp out of him, just like he couldn't save himself from falling for Jungkook. Aware of the forbidden that has aftermaths, a very formidable one, Hansung let himself fall harder for Jungkook and hyped up the dreams and hopes of the time traveler. Hansung believed he was the one who should be punished. He's the one who should be beaten and killed. Not Jungkook. Not his lover.

"M-my king.

It's not the man's fault. It was me."

"No, Han--- your highness..."

Jungkook was silenced by a slap from the guard. A loud whimper left from his mouth, but he couldn't care about the pain because if he didn't stop, then Hansung would accept all of the blame and punishment on him. They will imprison his beloved and Jungkook couldn't afford that. He will end up with nothing but he will never put his prince in danger.

"Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I... I was the one who misled the prince all these times. Please leave the prince alone and... Punish me..."

"NO!"

"KIM HANSUNG! Watch your tone. You're a prince. Stop defending a mere peasant."

The throne room soon turned into chaos. The King had sharp glares settled on Jungkook, the man his dearest son just protected from the punishment. He couldn't believe that Hansung did that for a commoner. His son never talked back, never raised his voice, never stood up for anyone, not even for himself. It bewildered the king that what made Hansung choose Jungkook over the death sentence and the cruel penalties after breaking the rules of the kingdom. Of course, the love language will never be easy to understand.