CRYSTAL EMPIRE | JINKOOK

TWENTY ONE

"SeokJin has been sick these days,"

"So Nam told me. It's been three days since the doctor visited him and there hasn't been much improvement,"

"JungKook's been sending the doctor to kill him," Hansol scoffed "According to what Wonwoo told me, the doctor told the Emperor that it was a nutritional imbalance."

"And of course JungKook was not pleased," asserted the other.

"There is only one thing that worries me, Jimin, and that is that those symptoms are the ones I have because of my pregnancy."

"If that's what's wrong with SeokJin. Well, I guess we'd better go talk to him,"

They left Jimin's house and made their way through the earthy streets of Athens to the imperial palace, the guards recognized them immediately and opened the brown doors for them. Wandering the corridors, they met SeokJin's servant who carried in his hands a tray of food ready for the ailing maiden.

"Are you taking it to SeokJin?"

"Yes, Lord Jimin,"

"Let us do it, we are going to see him anyway,"

The boy did not object, he could not even if he wanted to as this was the husband of the General of the Greek army, and the husband of the Prince. Jimin took the food in his hands and together with his friend they continued their tour, the stairs to the wing of the rooms were near the exit to the garden, just to one side of the curved opening that indicated the beginning of the well-kept flower sanctuary.

"What a surprise, what brings you here," the imposing Emperor greeted them from the garden entrance.

"We came to see SeokJin, we heard he wasn't in very good health,"

After saying that, Jimin noticed how the Emperor's body tensed, uncomfortable or else annoyed, but he didn't probe beyond a scrutinizing glance. Hansol told JungKook of his concern for the maiden, and the other agreed.

"He has had no great improvement besides his appetite. He's still always very tired and nauseous all the time,"

"He'll be fine," Hansol blurted out almost unconsciously with great nervousness as he didn't have to ask his friend to vehemently assert that he was pregnant "I mean, SeokJin will pull through,"

JungKook nodded his head somewhat dissatisfied, then decided to accompany them to visit Jin whom, since he sent him to the doctor, he did not go to visit for avoiding a fight or having his heart altered by fear and reproach. Now seemed to be the ideal moment to fulfill the rigorous visit and get rid of his annoying conscience.

The steps seemed eternal, tiring as if you were climbing Mount Olympus, perhaps that would be easier than knowing that you should see the young man that, although you love him, you hurt so much. Additionally, a bad feeling settled in your chest with each step, your heart hammered and your brain went on alert, but at the time you didn't know why. Not until he reached the hallway to the bedrooms did he hear screams, somewhat soft, and pained prayers.

"Please don't! Ah!"

It was Jin's voice that stopped them in their tracks.

"Stop!," sobs accompanied such pitiful cries that intensified more "Please... mmgh... no more,"

JungKook hurriedly ran almost roughly pushing Hansol out of the way as his brain finally made connection with the rest of his body and he could move his legs at last. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that both Jimin and Hansol came running as scared as he was.