The Duke & The Prince (NamJin)

Unspoken Sorrows (TaeKook)

In the aftermath of Seokjin's rescue and the subsequent celebrations at the royal palace, the Jeon couple found themselves standing on opposite ends of the same room, their eyes meeting briefly before drifting away, burdened by the weight of unspoken words. For days, Jungkook had been enveloped in a whirlwind of events, his thoughts consumed by Seokjin's safety and the looming rebellion. But now, with the dust settling, there was only one thing left on his mind—Taehyung.

It had been weeks since Jungkook had last spoken to Taehyung in earnest. His heart was heavy with the knowledge that he had failed to see the truth that had been right in front of him. Taehyung had endured so much, more than he had ever imagined, and the realization gnawed at him relentlessly.

Before the grand party at the royal palace, Jungkook had a chance encounter with Taehyung's old nanny, a woman who had cared for him since childhood in the Kim mansion. She had seen the quiet, sorrowful moments Taehyung hid from the world, the silent tears he shed when no one was watching. She had shared with Jungkook the truth about Taehyung's upbringing, how he had been trapped in a loveless marriage, forced into a life that wasn't his choosing.

"Master Jeon," the nanny had said softly, her voice laced with years of heartache, "Taehyung never wanted this marriage either. He was just a boy, and like you, he was forced into something he never wanted. He suffered silently, thinking he had no other choice. He never wanted to hurt you, but he didn't know how to break free either."

Jungkook's heart had clenched painfully at her words. He had always blamed Taehyung for the cold distance between them, for the suffocating bond that tied them together. He had never considered that Taehyung might be suffering just as much, if not more. The guilt washed over him like a tidal wave, leaving him breathless.

That evening, as he dressed for the party, Jungkook couldn't stop thinking about Taehyung's quiet strength, the way he had carried the weight of his family's expectations on his slender shoulders. He recalled the distant, hollow look in Taehyung's eyes whenever they were alone together, a look that Jungkook had mistaken for indifference, but now realized was one of profound loneliness.

After the party, Jungkook found himself standing outside the door to their shared chambers, his hand hovering over the handle. He was afraid to face Taehyung, afraid to confront the truth that had been hidden for so long. But he knew he couldn't avoid it any longer. Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door.

Inside, Taehyung was sitting by the window, gazing out at the moonlit garden. He didn't turn when Jungkook entered, but his posture stiffened slightly, as if he knew what was coming.

"Taehyung," Jungkook began, his voice low and uncertain. "Can we talk?"

Taehyung finally turned to face him, his expression calm but guarded. "What is it, Jungkook?" he asked, his voice even, giving nothing away.

Jungkook crossed the room slowly, feeling the weight of his own guilt dragging at his every step. He stopped a few feet away from Taehyung, his eyes searching his husband's face for any sign of the pain he now knew was there.

"I spoke to your nanny," Jungkook confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "She told me everything."

Taehyung's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he quickly composed himself, his expression unreadable. "And what did she tell you?"

"She told me how you suffered, how you were forced into this marriage just like I was," 

Jungkook replied, his voice trembling with emotion. "She told me how lonely you've been, how you've carried this burden all by yourself."

Taehyung looked away, his hands clenching into fists in his lap. "It doesn't matter," he said quietly. "There's nothing that can be done about it now."