ELVEN | K.TH

46

RINEI

The next morning, I wake up early.

From the glimmer of first sunrise pooling into the room, I can tell that I'd also woken up early enough. Early enough to finally be awake to see Taehyung leave to work.

Usually he left at the peak of dawn and came back so late at night.

But when I shift towards where he should be on the wide, white-sheeted bed, he isn't there.

My brows furrow together.

Was I wrong?

I brush my hand over his place next to me. The silken sheets feel abnormally cold there, as if no one had been sleeping next to me for the past hour. Even two.

There's an odd feeling in the back of my mind as I turn to lie down again.

I force my eyes to squeeze close again, waves of disappointment keeping me awake.

Honestly he was such a workaholic that this shouldn't really surprise me.

But this early?

Pushing the thought to the back of my mind, I breathe evenly again.

I'd have to tell him later tonight, to get some more sleep. That this really was overdoing it.

______________________________

I can't believe this.

"Jimin, you agree with me, don't you?" I say, chucking a pebble towards the sparkling waters of the garden pond. "Say that you agree with
me."

The blonde-haired elf laughs quietly from the thick oak branch he's perched on.

"Then I will say that. I completely agree with you, Your Majesty."

I fix a look in his direction until his smile grows wider.

"...Rinei."

"So you do agree." I confirm. "That this is too much. The elves have been whisking Taehyung back and forth to places so fast that even I can't keep up with him. Do you know how many times I tried to catch up with where he would be today?"

He plays nonchalantly with the tips of his ponytail.

"I do. Quite a lot of times."

"Exactly. They're overworking him."

Jimin sighs.

"My lady, you do understand that this is standard for whoever holds the title of ruler. They barely get any time to themselves, and this has been true for generations."

I flip another pebble into the water.

"...yeah."

"But it's so late right now. It's nearly midnight, and he was gone to work at like sunrise this morni—"

"I was?"

A pair of arms wrap around my waist. And I whip around to see Taehyung staring down at me, his lashed eyes glimmering the shade of twilight.

Jimin clicks his tongue as he drops from the tree. His landing barely makes any sound against the dirt.

"Tae, you're working too much."

"You heard the lady, didn't you?" He says, gaze flicking. "She feels neglected."

My cheeks heat.