Claimed by the Crown | Taejin

1. Chapter One

"You have quite the mission ahead of you. Are you prepared for it?" Kim Doyoon, the current King, on his deathbed, inquired of his son who stood before him.

"If I wasn't prepared, I doubt you would be experiencing such a peaceful passing." Kim Taehyung, the son of Doyoon, responded.

The King chuckled, but before long, he started coughing, leaning to the side and spitting blood into a nearby bucket placed beside his bed.

"I don't consider this peaceful, son." He commented after wiping his mouth.

Taehyung didn't respond but rather stared at his father.

"I'm sure you're curious about the reason for our meeting. I thought this might be my final opportunity to convey my thoughts to you. Please pay attention and consider what I'm about to say. As the only heir to the throne, it will be your responsibility to assume the position of King once I am no longer here. However, in order to take on the role, you must be mated.

This has been taken care of for you. I have already communicated my message to the Parks family. They will be prepared to send their son, who has been extensively trained to become your mate. Following your union and mating, a ceremony will take place to crown you as the King officially." The King stated and awaited a reaction from his son, which he did not receive, but he was not surprised.

"Son, I have complete trust in your leadership skills for this kingdom, but I urge you to carefully think about the consequences of your decisions before taking action. The actions you take have the power to impact an entire nation.

Further, I want you to exercise caution when placing trust in others, even those closest to you, including your future mate. Being in a position of power can be isolating and will make it difficult for you to form meaningful connections.

You now must lead with strength and confidence, ensuring the protection of your kingdom. I am assigning you with the responsibility of upholding our family's legacy, just as every leading Alpha Kim before you has done. I have full confidence that you will fulfill your duties with utmost dedication."

Kim Taehyung acknowledged and accepted his father's words with a silent nod.

*****

Park Seokjin repeatedly scrubbed himself, observing as the thick layer of mud clinging to his skin gradually dissolved and merged with the cascading water from the shower.

After the mud vanished, he coated his washcloth, determined to wash himself completely, wanting to enjoy the refreshing feeling of being clean.

He spent another hour in the shower, repeatedly washing himself, only to feel dirty again as soon as he stepped out, causing him to go back in.

After finishing his shower, he almost couldn't resist the temptation to step back in. However, his attention was quickly drawn to a candle given to him by his brother, sparking an idea in his mind. He retrieved a lighter from his bedroom and used it to light the candle. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the scent and made an effort to unwind.

Surprisingly, the gentle glow and soothing scent of the candle had a remarkable effect on him. It brought an aura of calmness, allowing him to retreat to his bed and drift off to sleep, free from any worries.

*****

Following a few hours of sleeping, Jin was suddenly jolted awake by a loud boom. Startled and filled with fear, he quickly jumped out of bed and hastily put on his clothes. Without wasting any time, he left his room and made his way upstairs to investigate the source of the noise he had heard.

"Are you even remotely aware of what you have really done?!"

While Seokjin made his way to the upstairs living quarters where his brother stayed, the sound of his mother's voice, filled with frustration, echoed through the air. He felt a sense of confusion as he pondered over the person she had been raising her voice at.