Faceless Existence; The love of the beast (Taekook)

Taehyung

Ignore the mistakes 🙏🏻

The darkness of the night shrouded the castle as I hurried through its labyrinthine corridors, my heart racing with worry. The prince had vanished from his room, leaving behind only a chilling silence that seemed to echo the taunts of the malevolent spirits. My steps were hurried, driven by the instinct to find him before he could slip away into the night.

I reached the outer wall of the castle, my breath ragged, and there he was, the prince, half-climbing, half-falling down the wall. His pale form was like a ghost against the moonlit backdrop. Panic surged within me, and without thinking, I lunged forward, grabbing his wrist just as his fingers barely clung to the edge.

"No! Don't!" I yelled, my voice laced with desperation. His gaze met mine, a mixture of surprise and anger in his blindfolded eyes. His lips moved, but his words were carried away by the wind.

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I pulled him back onto the safety of the castle wall. His body sagged against mine, and I held him close, his ragged breaths mingling with mine.

"I told you to leave me alone," he hissed, his voice shaky and weakened. I could feel the tremors running through his body, the aftermath of his desperate escape attempt.

"I can't leave you to face this darkness alone," I replied, my voice determined. "You're not alone in this, and I won't let you slip away."

The prince's shoulders tensed, and for a moment, it seemed like he might pull away from my grasp. But then, as if acknowledging the truth in my words, he relaxed slightly. "Why do you care? Why do you bother?" he muttered, a hint of vulnerability breaking through his facade.

"Because I see the pain in your eyes, the chains that hold you captive in more ways than one," I said softly. "And I believe that even in this cursed existence, you deserve kindness and compassion."

He didn't respond, but his grip on me loosened. Gently, I helped him stand upright, ensuring he was steady on his feet. Together, we walked back into the castle, the spirits watching us with their sinister gazes. The weight of their presence was oppressive, but I held my ground, refusing to let their malevolence deter me.

As the first light of dawn painted the sky, we returned to the prince's room. I felt drained, physically and emotionally exhausted from the night's events. With great care, I eased him down onto the floor, leaning against the wall beside him.

He was quiet, lost in his thoughts, and I let him be for a moment. Then, summoning the last of my energy, I turned to him and spoke, my voice softer than before. "Your highness, I don't like eating alone, I never have. So, I thought maybe I should come and ask if you would be kind enough to join me?"

He glanced at me, his blindfolded gaze unreadable. "Why?"

"Because even though we're strangers, I believe that shared meals can build bridges," I said earnestly. "And besides, you haven't eaten yet, and neither have I."

His silence stretched, and I began to worry that he would reject my offer. But then, slowly, he nodded. "Fine. But I won't take off my blindfold."

"That's alright," I said, relieved. "I respect your wishes."

I brought the food I had fetched from the kitchen and placed it between us. The prince hesitated for a moment before tentatively reaching out, his fingers brushing against the plate. With his blindfold still in place, he navigated the meal with remarkable accuracy, a testament to his heightened senses.

As we ate in silence, the tension in the room began to ease, replaced by a strange sense of camaraderie. When we were done, I cleared the plates and looked at him again. "Your highness, may I... may I take off your blindfold? I won't do anything to hurt you, I promise."