UNTILL I MET YOU || JIKOOK

2

JIMIN POV

Jimin led his brothers back up the beach and onto the cliffs.

Their father was waiting with a small contingent of the castle guard.

"Well?" the king asked.

"Three small pirate ships attempted to land in Cove."

"One reached the beach, but its occupants quickly regretted it."

"The other two fled back to the mothership."

"One got caught in the current, cracked its hull on the rocks, and sank."

"The last boat reached safety, and its crew are surely telling tales of their lucky escape as we speak."

The king hid a smile. "How... unfortunate. Come, my sons, you must be tired and hungry."

"Thirsty and hungry," Taehyung corrected, elbowing Yoongi.

"What I wouldn't give for a piece of chicken."

His brothers hurried ahead, allowing Jimin to fall into step beside their father.

"Third attack this month. They're getting more persistent."

His father made a noncommittal sound. "No matter how many ships we scupper, there are always more. Someone out there has deep pockets."

"And we're no closer to discovering who that someone is?"

"You know my suspicions."

Jimin did, but that was all they were suspicions. They needed more, needed cold, hard proof.

Anything less and any action they took against the supposed mastermind could be considered an act of war.

Their little island might have been a formidable opponent, but even they'd be no match for the combined armies of the allied kingdoms.

They entered the castle through a side door the warmth welcoming.

As they traipsed through the corridors, Jimin caught sight of people hanging banners and a lot of hustle and bustle.

"What's all that about?" Yoongi wondered,glancing back at them.

Jimin shrugged, looking to the king for answers.

"The marriage festival, of course. The airship arrives tomorrow."

Tae scoffed, Yoongi snorted, and Jimin resisted the urge to sigh.

"What's the point?" Tae argued.

"Not a single omega ever lands from the damn thing,We're going to all this trouble for nothing."

"It's tradition," their father said heavily.

"Besides, you have to marry eventually."

"There's no way around it."

But there was no way through it, either. Since he had come of age to marry four years previously.

And the airship began making its customary stop on their island during the omegas circuit of the globe, not a single royal omega had set foot on their shores.

No one wanted to marry into their kingdom.

"It's a waste of time," Jimin agreed.

"Not to mention money."

The king waved that off. "We reuse the decorations every year, and the uneaten food is distributed to those who need it."

"A little pomp and ceremony never hurt morale."

"It hurts my morale," Tae said in an undertone.

"Those omegas are happy to flaunt themselves in front of princes who have never had to lift a finger."

"Then there's us, fighting for our people on a daily basis, and they turn their noses up."

As loath as Jimin was to admit it, Taehyung had a point.

"Maybe they're afraid they'll be conscripted rather than married," Yoongi said with a laugh.

They all knew the truth, no matter how they joked about it.

Their small kingdom wasn't exactly held in high esteem by the allied kingdoms or the world at large.

They were the outsiders, the underdogs uncivilized, barbaric, or whatever word those pampered princes chose to throw at them.

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