A HEART FOR AN EYE.

CHAPTER 17: A DUTY TO LOVE AND PROTECT.

Jimin was busy in his study when the queen, Mirae, and four palace maid servants arrived at the prince's palace. They came with food and sweets they intended to share with Jungkook. When the head butler tried to announce their presence to the prince, the queen hastily asked him not to bother, quickly informing him that they were here to see Jungkook.

The butler showed them to the parlor and went off to fetch Jungkook. Soon, Jungkook entered with Taehyung behind him.

Despite Jungkook's hatred for the Parks, he bowed down respectfully and took a seat when the queen asked him to.

His stomach churned with a mix of dread and loathing; it's the first time he's meeting the person behind so much of his suffering, and he could feel his muscles tense with suppressed anger. Yet he bottled it all up because Jimin had said to trust him, and he believed in him more than he believed in himself.

The queen, Mirae, and Jungkook sat down, and the maid servants started dishing out the food and sweets in front of them.

Taehyung watched everything unfold suspiciously from his guard post. He didn't trust that the queen's intentions one bit. She didn't like Jungkook, and it was a known fact all over the kingdom that once you got into the queen's bad books, there was no turning back. Something was definitely off with her behavior and Mirae's whole demeanor.

The queen and Mirae continue to chat, asking Jungkook what sounded like politely inquisitive questions about himself, his family, and how he found life at the prince's palace. Jungkook only spoke when he was spoken to, limiting his contribution to the conversation to the barest minimum. Jungkook obviously felt uncomfortable being there.

"So, Jungkook," the queen started, her tone deceptively warm, "how are you finding life here at the palace?"

"It's...different from what I'm used to," Jungkook replied cautiously.

Mirae chimed in, her voice sickly sweet, "And your family? Do you miss them?"

Jungkook's jaw tightened, but he answered calmly, "I think about them every day."

The queen nodded, a smile playing on her lips with a subtle hint of sarcasm

"These are my favorite dishes. I thought my son's favorite person should try them on our first meeting, don't you think?" She handed Jungkook a plate full of hand-selected dishes.

"Thank you, your Majesty," Jungkook politely reached over to take the plate offered.

But before he could take a bite of the food, Taehyung stepped in and politely halted him.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty. Jungkook cannot eat anything before it is tasted by the palace taster," he informed the queen.

The queen is appalled. Her face reddens with anger as she struggles to keep her composure.

"What do you mean to say, Taehyung-ssi? This came right out of the royal kitchen. Of course, it is safe to eat. Besides, Jungkook is a mere slave. He should be honored to even be in the presence of the queen." Mirae's tone was sharp and belittling as she looked Taehyung up and down, rolling her eyes dramatically at him in the process.

"I am not saying it is not safe, Your Majesty. I am simply following protocol insisted upon by the prince," Taehyung responded firmly.

The queen reluctantly surrendered and allowed a maid servant to taste all the food in the pots, except for the one on Jungkook's plate.

"The food on Jungkook's plate shall be tasted," Taehyung insisted. "The maid servant shall take two generous spoonfuls. A whole five minutes lapse shall pass, and if she is okay with no signs of illness, this meal shall progress."