MOON || JIKOOK ✅

3.

JIMIN POV

Uncle Jicheol had insisted on being present for the wedding
but he wasn't a man with
much patience for these
sorts of things.

Which was why they'd set off
in the dead of night on their airship and why Jimin would marry a few scant hours after their arrival instead of a day
or so later, as was customary.

His uncle wanted to be there
only until the morrow.

Long enough to see Jimin 'wedded and bedded,' as he'd emphasized more than once.

It made Jimin shudder to
think about it, so he tried
hard not to.

Instead, he focused on the practical.

The servants drew him a bath
and he bathed, careful not to stay in the water too long.

Once dry, he was dressed in
an outfit hand-sewn by the
royal dressmaker using the
Syria colors.

His wedding tunic was highly decorative with an elaborately embroidered design and jewels that sparkled when he moved.

He stole only the briefest of glances at himself in the
mirror, doing his best to avoid
his eyes which he was sure showed the fear he tried to
hide even from himself.

Then the ceremonial veil was settled over his head, hiding
his face from view.

It was almost a relief.

A gold crown was next,
pressed down firmly to
hold the veil in place.

A single jewel of firestone was set in it, glinting in the light
of the dressing room and complimenting the deep reds
and oranges of his outfit.

He stood there in silence as
the final minutes ticked by, feeling the weight of his outfit
as if it were iron chains.

"It's time, My Prince."

A servant said, gesturing
toward the door.

With a sigh, Jimin turned
and there was Lord San.

"Beautiful." The man murmured, his eyes suspiciously bright.

"You will do Syria
proud, my prince."

He was escorted to the door
of the airship and there he
and the rest of the wedding
party paused at the top of
the ramp.

The contingent from the
kingdom of hybe was already waiting outside to escort them into the castle but as usual,
they were all waiting on King
Jicheol.

Another of Jicheol's little
power plays.

He liked making people wait.

The minutes ticked by and
Jimin's ornate costume
quickly grew uncomfortable.

There wasn't much protection from the elements and a cold wind blew in through the
open door, making him shiver.

A cloak would have been nice, but it would have ruined the effect of his outfit, so he knew one would not be forthcoming.

As always, he suffered in stoic silence.

At length, heavy footsteps heralded his uncle's arrival, trailed by a handful of anxious servants.

Jicheol looked Jimin up and
down once and Jimin tried
not to tremble under his
lascivious gaze.

Jicheol couldn't touch him.

Not here, not now.

And after today, he'd never be able to touch Jimin again.

It wasn't much comfort since
Jimin now knew who and
what awaited him in the
castle beyond but it was something nonetheless.