"The Second Ruler"

•°14°•

The corridor leading to Jimin and Yoongi's chamber was dimly lit, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the stone walls.

As they approached the door, Taehyung hesitated, his hand hovering over the handle. "We must be gentle," he whispered. This is a delicate matter.

Knocking, they entered. Jimin and Yoongi greeted them. "Good evening, Your Majesty," Yoongi's voice now fresh.

Taehyung chuckled, sitting opposite the bed. "What's so good, Yoongi? Can you inform me? You are lying here wounded, and the people of Elsiye are attacked." The room went silent;

indeed, he was accurate. Jungkook sat beside Taehyung, peeking out to see the wound Jimin had just cleaned.

It still looked painful, but glancing at Yoongi, Jungkook was amazed at how easy he appeared, as if he wasn't even in agony.

"Yoongi Hyung, aren't you feeling any pain?" Jungkook asked curiously. The guard glanced at the younger prince and shook his head.

"Second Prince, we warriors are accustomed to these little stings and burning sensations, as you know yourself," he replied softly.

Jungkook nodded, smiling, but frowned as he crossed his arms.

"Hyung-nim, have I not permitted you to drop the formalities between us? You can address me as Jungkook; you are my future brother-in-law,"

he stated, lips pouting slightly, making Taehyung to stare him.

Hoseok chuckled and sat on the nearby stool. "We dare to address the future Empress by his name? No, never," Hoseok teased, and Jungkook blushed, glancing at Taehyung.

Jungkook cleared his throat. "Okay, we need to discuss something," he stated, his voice serious.

They nodded, and he gestured Jimin, who took out a letter from his sleeve.

"Last night, we received a missive, though we didn't read it since we were devastated by Yoongi's condition," Jimin informed, and others frowned.

"What does the missive say?" Yoongi asked, looking at Jimin.

The crown prince nodded and began,

"Before visiting you, Jungkook and I read the missive. The letter is from my private messenger, who informed me about the assailants. The foremost attack was on the Kingdom of Jinmu and geumgang."

His voice was serene yet filled with annoyance.

The others nodded. Indeed, Emperor Taehyung, along with Yoongi and Hoseok, had taken care of the kingdom after the attack.

Though they hadn't found anyone suspicious there. It took them a complete month to secure everything in the Kingdom of Jinmu and geumgang.

Hoseok, Yoongi, and Taehyung snapped out of their reverie upon hearing Jungkook's vent.

"The attack on the two kingdoms was by those Folks in black clothes, who have been after Jimin Hyung-nim for the past three years, from whom Yoongi Hyung has saved him multiple occasions, fortunately." He opined, glancing at the others.

The Royal of Goryeo grasped the situation quickly.

"So your messenger is implying that the people in black clad and the Scythians are related, Your Highness?" Hoseok asked.

Jimin and Jungkook nodded. The room went silent as all of them thought about the future.

They had already attacked two kingdoms in Asia, and now, yesterday, in Europe.

None still knew about their whereabouts. They were frustrated, enraged, and puzzled as to why the Scythians had returned after centuries, with new skills.