:Silver Lined Bones:

Chapter 2: The Departure 2

“Is everyone ready to go?”

“Dibs on Junnie!”

Jimin shifts to his dragon form and he snatches on his way a laughing Junhyun, the latter still chuckling as he’s thrown on Jimin’s back.

The two fly off in a gust of wind.

“Those fools…” Dahee sighs.

“Jimin will probably be of no help for the return since he’ll spend his time exhausting himself playing with Dad.”

“Definitely,” Dahee says with a smile that Taehyung mirrors, albeit more faintly. “How are you faring, Son?”

Taehyung lips press into a thin line. “I don’t know, honestly. The past week went by in a blur. I barely remember what I’ve been doing with how occupied my mind has been.”

“It has been a lot, hasn’t it?”

Taehyung nods. “I’m researching about you know what, but I found nothing. Maybe we will now that we have access to Jeon’s library? I doubt they’ll have anything that could help us but…”

“It has been my hope as well. However, while I understand you’re striving to find a cure or knowledge, do not forget yourself in the process, Taehyung. The matter has been plaguing us for a long time now.” Dahee regards him with warmth, and Taehyung can’t refrain his snort at the distasteful pun. “You shouldn’t let it mangle your mind nor stop you from living your life.”

“I’ll try not to."

“You’ll be busy with your betrothed and the wedding anyway,” Dahee snickers. “I cannot wait.”

"Say, has the Prince ever mentioned having a page or someone like that?”

“I believe he has an attendant, like every prince would, as far as I know. Why?”

“I’m wondering if he’ll bring them with him or not.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Dahee muses, arms folded over her chest. “I suppose that if it is to happen, it will be a brief while after you and Jungkook have settled down properly. Let us ask him today. If someone knows, it is Jungkook.”

“Yeah."

"I went to Naeun and Joonho's home recently to announce them the news."

Taehyung stills.

"They've been well and happy. They asked about you," Dahee carries on, her gaze drifting on Taehyung. "They miss you, Son. You should visit them."

Taehyung misses the couple as well that used to take care of him when his parents were away or busy with work. However the sole idea of entering the couple's house, seeing them and hearing them, wrenches at a place in his heart where a guilt sits, acute and alive, even years after. "Maybe another time," he dismisses as he has countless times for nearly a decade. "We should leave before Dad and Jimin accidentally kill one another.”

Dahee doesn't push on the subject. She never does. Instead she smiles and pecks Taehyung's forehead, the two of them soon soaring in the sky to catch up with Junhyun and Jimin.

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Amaris is brimming with humans, and Taehyung internally flinches at the view below him. Masses are walking through the roads and boulevards paved in elegant stones, some of the people from Amaris itself but also others from neighboring towns, if the discrepancies in styles are any indication.

Taehyung had not expected that, in spite of his mother’s warnings.

The departure of the Prince appears to be treated as a festivity. A street market of plethora of food, clothes and even jewelry lines the main avenue, stretching as far as inside the public square facing the entrance of the citadel’s garden. It leaves Taehyung wondering about the Queen and King’s intent behind this.