CRYSTAL EMPIRE | JINKOOK

TWENTY SIX

The sun of Athens was never as beautiful as that day, finally after days of traveling they were able to arrive in the city. Jungwon was very reluctant to be close to JungKook the first day, but as time went by on their way back the boy and the Emperor became close. Jin and JungKook decided it would be better to talk calmly at the palace, but that did not take the tension out of the matter. For much of the journey they exchanged few words for the soldiers accompanying them as they could not afford to be the central object of a decadent spectacle.

The couple got off the carriage when it stopped in front of the palace steps, Jungwon looked at everything in amazement while Jin let out a sigh of relief at feeling at home. They walked up the stairs almost in a hurry, as if they needed to feel inside the palace to feel safe. But someone came out to greet them.

"JungKook! What's that dirty harlot doing back here!!!,"

The young maiden was not amused to be called that by that dwarf, neither was he amused to know that JungKook still kept him as his bed partner. It was a blow to his feelings. He thought that if he was to return it would be to be JungKook's only one; he rejected the very idea of having to share someone he loves just for a little love.

"Dirty slut?", JungKook asked sarcastically, his voice charged with acid and anger "Don't you dare call him that!,,"

Taehyung was stunned, not knowing how to react to his lover's shouting, much less why he looked so upset.

"Nam, take him to the dungeons!," he ordered the General who immediately grabbed Taehyung by the arms to try to take him away, but the dwarf wouldn't let go and let go of his grip.

"You'll send me to the dungeon just for telling the truth?!,"

JungKook could no longer contain his anger and grabbed him by the neck to sharply slam him against the wooden door causing a great roar. Jin hid his baby's face in his neck and started humming a song to calm him down.

"I'll send you to the dungeon for daring to sell him as if he were a prostitute!,"

"It is what it is!" he shouted back barely having enough air for it.

Taehyung wasn't surprised that JungKook knew about his little sale, at some point Jin would tell him and he would have to deal with that. What he couldn't stand was how loyal JungKook was to him, how he kept defending him as if he was a warrior, it seemed no matter how many mistakes Jin made, JungKook would forgive him all of them.

"Don't confuse him with you," he bellowed letting go as if it caused him disgust "I really don't intend to leave you in the dungeons, Taehyung, I hope to be present tomorrow when they execute you in the central square,"

The young man alluded to had his eyes widened enormously, his breath caught, and his blood ran cold. The Emperor's statement not only caused him to be shocked but filled him with anger and helplessness.

"Take him away Nam," he ordered for the last time and then entered his house.

Jin, though surprised, felt bad for Taehyung, and with clumsy steps also entered the royal palace. JungKook's back was his north, he followed him without saying anything as he really didn't know what to do or if by asking a question he would be reprimanded by the tall one.

"Prepare the therma," he asked a maid before heading to his room. When he arrived he began to undress almost in a hurry longing for his bath, that until he heard Jin's delicate throat clearing.

"I, can I have a talk,"

The tall one nodded taking a seat on the bed and inviting the other to mimic him. Jin kept his distance from JungKook as if they were strangers.