Snow

Chapter 34

"Seol-hwa! Come here! Do not go in there!" Jungkook shouts as he chases his daughter down the castle corridor. 

"Catch me, Appa!" Seol-hwa squeals with excitement as she runs away from her father.

As Jungkook chases Seol-hwa around the castle, Taehyung handles several cases. He smiles when he hears his family's happy laughter and shouts.

"How many more hearings do I have today?" Taehyung asks as he longs to play with his daughter and husband.

"You have one more, Your Majesty. It is a custody dispute between the human grandparents and the hellhound parent of a child." Jieun responds and motions for the next group to be escorted into the throne room.

Once the group is standing in front of him, Taehyung observes the male hellhound who is holding his children in his arms. "What is going on?" Taehyung asks as he observes the family.

"Our daughter died from a sickness two days ago. We want to raise her children." The grandparents explain as the man tightens his hold on his children.

"Why?" Taehyung hums as he scrutinizes the body language of the family.

"We have our grandchildren's best interests in mind." The grandmother responds and glares at the hellhound.

"Please, do not take my children from me." The hellhound cries as he clings to his children. "Please. I work hard. I provide everything for them."

"Appa." The oldest child whimpers as she clumsily wipes her hands over her father's face to dry his tears.

"I-I know that I cannot read or write, but I am learning. My children deserve the best, and I am trying." The hellhound tearily looks up at Taehyung.

"Jieun, has this been investigated? Are the children healthy and well-taken care of?" Taehyung asks his royal guard.

"Yes. My team investigated. He is an excellent father and mate. His mate died from the new disease that has been sweeping through Enas." Jieun responds and looks at the crying father with sympathy. "The grandparents have disapproved of Jiwon's relationship with their daughter."

"So, you are asking me to take children away from their father who loves them and takes care of them. I will not do this. Why would I punish an excellent father and well-loved children?" Taehyung glares at the grandparents, causing them to scoff in disbelief.

"Where is King Jungkook? I am sure he would agree with us." The grandfather looks around the throne room for Jungkook.

"He is currently chasing our rambunctious daughter around the castle." Taehyung hums and crosses his arms in disapproval.

"We want our grandchildren. We have rights!" The grandmother shouts in annoyance, startling the children.

"Actually, you do not have any rights to the children. You are just grandparents. I have made my ruling. Leave. If I find out you are doing something to harm Jiwon, I will ensure that you are punished severely." Taehyung motions for the guards to escort the grandparents out of the throne room.

"You cannot do this! Those are our grandchildren!" The grandparents shout as they are escorted out of the throne room. When they are dragged out, they see a little girl with red eyes looking at them with disapproval as her father stands behind her. "Your Majesty! Please! Take our case!" The grandparents shout and fight against the guards.

"My husband's ruling is final." Jungkook calmly hums as he picks his daughter up and holds her on his hip.

"Why they mad?" Seol-hwa asks as she watches them leave.