VENOM [taekook]

『 𝗖𝗛𝗣 16 』

[please do read the previous chapter, i.e. the "Note", if you haven't. thankyou, enjoy reading!💕]

Taehyung's p.o.v.

Rivalry isn't an easy game. You have to be cunning to play it. Hate wouldn't just vanish with the sign of a treaty.

And I knew it well.

My friends and my people thought I didn't understand the black intentions of Eutopia. The past my father shared with King Hyunsoo did not matter. The past I shared with Kongjoo was but a waste of time. When one's heart was thirsty for revenge, it saw nothing but darkness.

I wasn't a cruel pathetic King who slaughtered mercilessly, it wasn't in my nature. I showed emotions easily. And that was my greatest weakness, I knew.

No matter how many times Jieun used her theraputic words to console me, that I didnt necessarily have to be uptight all the time, I knew the facts behind it. I had to remain resolute with my decisions and cunning with my plans.

And I work on it everyday. It's not just about how long I can keep a poker face, it's about my willpower. I am physically strong enough, which shouldn't have made it difficult for me to be strong emotionally too. However, that was clearly not the case.

And sometimes it made me agitated. Scratch that, it was almost all the time. Perhaps if there could be a switch- a switch to my feelings; to turn it on when i wanted and off when preferred so.

Last week things had gone pretty drastic. Both in the positive and in the negative. I'm keeping more in touch with my friends now, which infact is a very good news I suppose, however I don't have any idea about the relation we stand with the Jeons anymore.

Their behaviour is immensely suspicious, it infuriates me to imagine that they could be playing some sick game, and making some cruel plans about Lord knows what, but here I sat absolutely clueless.

I knew, something wasn't just right about their behaviour and... well, over all anything. But despite having an idea of their ill-intentions, I couldn't do anything. Confused, torn apart and in need of proper guidance.

I was not fortunate enough to go through a training period by the former King, my father, since his death was untimely. Before I had the complete maturity to take proper care of myself, I was left to govern a whole Kingdom. Other boys were training different sports, techniques, skills, to be a part of the bigger world, to rule that world. While I was already given the title of the 'King'- with absolutely no experience, no guidance, no support.

Just expectations.

But now that I'm matured, aged enough to be an able King- I was still hopless. Still waiting for someone to show me how I could move ahead, for I was a coward.

I've heard stories of coward Kings when I was younger, but didn't quite imagine to grow up and be one myself.

I chuckled, is this the King everyone was so intent to make friendship with? No, it wasn't me they wanted to be ong good terms with. It was my title.

"The King of Seoul."

That's what mattered to everyone else. What power did I hold? None. I had no talent, atleast not one I was aware of.

I was pushed out of my trance by a knock on my cabin door. I uttered a faint 'come in' and the door flung open to reveal Dora, the castle lead servant scurrying in wth the tea tray which displayed a variety of snacks indicating that my tea time had arrived, which meant that it was evening already.

Looking down on my desk, filled with papers, files, documents which I was supposed to complete by today. But I foolishly just procrastinated and wasted the valuable time.

I sighed.

"Could you call for Princess Jieun?" I asked the maid, who was busy preparing a cup of tea and a plate of well served snack for her King.

She completed her work quickly and bowed with a firm 'Yes, your majesty.' and was about to exit my cabin when, without my control a few words slipped out of my mouth.

"Only if she's not busy. Err, it's nothing really that important."

She nodded, "I'll be sure to mention so, Your Majesty." and with another bow, she exited the door.

Time was ticking, and without realising I felt quite sleepy.
I was getting tired, I surely needed to get a good night's sleep. Which has become almost impossible for me, it seems.

With a huge number of thoughts trailling in my mind, I had started to doze off, without my realisation. When suddenly there was a sound of feet thumping against the ground, as if someone was running. The violent footsteps edged closer to my cabin and all of a sudden Dora burst open the door.

Not the usual calm and collected Dora, but now she was gasping, and catching for her breathe. She looked panicked.

Seeing her state caused anxiety to bubble up in my chest and I quickly went forward to her to ask about-

"T-The Princess is not in her bedroom! I have checked the kicthen, the garden area, the library and her study but she's-!" she exclaimed out, answering my intentions of enquiring her state.

My brows furrowed in confusion- she wasn't there?

"What?" I whispered.

She looked ashamed of herself and looked down to the ground.

But before I knew it, I was dashing forward towards Jieun's bedroom. Surely, she wasn't there. I banged on her en suite door desperately wishing she was just in there, and by chance may she have missed out to our calls.

There was no response. However, the door to her en suite was opened, and as I opened it to get a look inside, to my horror, there she was.

Lying unconciously on the floor, below the basin. My face paled and I rushed in with Dora following me inside. I shook her body a few times to no avail.

Her body was cold, and pale, and something about her state was immensely disturbing.

"Should I call for the doctor, Your Majesty?" Dora asked with panick lacing her voice and her face.

"Yes, please call for Mr. Choi. Immediately."

She nodded quickly and wordlessly hurried outside for Jieun's personal doctor.

I sprinkled a few drops of cold water on her face in hopes of getting back her conciousness. It was of no use, though.

I carried her back to her bed where I laid her gently. Her hands were cold, and so was her body. Her pulse was eratic and I wished with everything I had this was nothing serious, this couldn't be anything serious.

After a few minutes of my desparate attempts to wake her up only to fail devastatingly, Doctor Choi pulled up at the door with his suitcase. I permitted him in immediately and he came inside to take a look at his patient.

He asked me to exit and I did, with a raging heart and uneven breathes passing my lips. I was nervous.

Not long after, the doctor allowed me in, and his words made me feel as if my skin was being sliced apart into two, with a sharp dagger that seemed unavoidable.

"Princess Jie-un isn't weak, she is fighting. And it's impressive how she does that. However, your Majesty, this is her body's way of indicating that it's exhausted. She is fighting, true, but based on where she stands now, it is more advisable if you. . .cherish the time. I'm afraid, she does not have much time at hand."

I knew the amount of courage Doctor Choi must have mustered up to say the words, raw infront of his King. But my mind was not on that, not on anything else. Dr. Choi's last words were making my head reel. They were having a drastic effect in my psyche. The words were being chanted in my head like a broken-record. She doesn't have time, She doesn't have time.

Jieun didn't have any more time.

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alr we finally getting into it fam.

i'm so excited to write the rest skisjsjsjzh.