Path Of Thorns| Vmin Historical AU

T w e l v e

Jimin's peaceful sleep was abruptly interrupted by the creak of the door as Taehyung pushed it open. His purple eyes locked onto Taehyung, who stood in the doorway, hesitant to move. Struggling against the pain, Jimin tried to sit up on the bed, but the sharp ache in his body held him back, forcing him to stay still.

"Argh." Jimin groaned agonizingly, he softly put his hand on his stomach and chewed his lower lip.

"You don't need to get up, you have stitches and your wounds are still fresh so be careful." Taehyung broke the awkward silence, his deep gaze unwillingly shifted at Jimin's bare chest, as his rope was opened, revealing his milky white skin.

Taehyung's heart thudded wildly making hard for him to pondered over Jimin's face.

Jimin relaxed his muscles, he could easily heard Taehyung's beating heart, "Where am I?" He asked, laying back on the bed.

"You're at Velaris and I'm the king." Taehyung answered, giving him a short introduction, "Kim Taehyung."

Jimin felt a mix of confusion and fear, unsure whether he should trust Taehyung or not. His mind raced with doubt, leaving him frozen, unable to make a decision.

"Why did you save me?" Asked Jimin, his desperate eyes chased Taehyung as he made his way towards the chair placed near the bed and settled himself.

"Because you're Roohyang's son, the hybrid!" Taehyung revealed.

Jimin looked at Taehyung in utter bewilderment, he didn't expect to be recognized that easily, "How did you know?"

Taehyung shrugged his shoulder, "Your mother was quite famous here, she still is, there were news about her getting married with a wolf and having a hybrid child, whom she ran away with." He said.

Jimin sighed heavily, he shifted his gaze away from Taehyung and suppressed his cry, "What do you want from me?" He asked curiously, trying to understand the situation.

"Where is your mother?" Taehyung asked in a firm tone.

Jimin paused for a moment, he organized his thoughts, "She's dead, my father killed her." He answered, tears rolled down from the corner of his eyes and his heart ached.

Taehyung felt deeply shaken, convinced that only Roohyang could solve the problems that had plagued the people of Velaris for the past few years. However, seeing Jimin's condition, he decided to offer his condolences. After all, the people of Thaloria were his too, even though they had never accepted him as one of their own.

"I apologized for your loss." Taehyung said, "I can understand it must be hard for you but you will overcome this situation." He said, his voice concealed with the pain, he felt for Jimin.

Taehyung's words seemed comforting, but indeed they failed to show any affection on Jimin. After all, the loss of his mother and the torture he endured by his father had left permanent scars on his soul.

"You don't need to sympathize me." Said Jimin without any hesitance, "I know you need me." He clarified.

Taehyung clenched his jaw, a taunting smirk appeared over his prominent lips and he stood up, sauntered to the window. He inhaled a deep breath, struggling to control the waves of anger that twirling inside him, as Jimin had gotten into his nerves.

"You sounds like the people of Thaloria." Said Taehyung, he turned back and looked at Jimin, his eyes expressing his angst.

Jimin finally forced himself to stood up, he raised up and relying on his elbow. Taehyung stepped ahead, offered his hand and their eyes locked with each other, as Taehyung helped Jimin to get up and sit on the bed.

"Thank you for your help." Jimin expressed his gratitude.

"No need at all," Taehyung said, "As you already claimed that I need you." He taunted, "But if you want to return the favour so you can tell me your name!"

" Park Jimin." He said, wincing as the pain shot through his weak limb with every breath, "Tell me what do you want from me?" He asked.

"I will tell you everything, but as of now, you need to recover first, we will discuss this issue later." Said Taehyung, as he stood near the bed, his hands resting at his back, " And yes, since we're keeping you secretly so, you're going to live in this tower for the time being, Kim Seokjin the head general and our royal physician will personally take care of you." He informed.

Jimin nodded his head, he thought for a moment, right at the moment when Taehyung turned towards the door he began to speak, "I have one condition." Said Jimin.

Taehyung looked at Jimin, bewildered at the confidence Jimin expressed, "You're talking with the king of Eldoria right now, remember that, and we already paid you a favour by allowing you to stay in Velaris and treating you." He said, a hint of anger appeared in his voice, "Isn't that enough."

Jimin moved the corner of his lips upwards into a smirk, "You did everything because you knew I'm Roohyang's son, it wasn't a favor but a compromise you made for your own sake, and right now I'm talking with the person who required my help." He said, a deep intense silence wandered into the room, the tension amid Taehyung and Jimin risen as they both glared at each other.

Taehyung realized that he wasn't in a situation to argue, he knew the consequences if Jimin refused to help him, "What is it?" Asked him.

"You have to help me to take my revenge from my father." Jimin demanded, hoping that Taehyung would agree with him.

Taehyung diverted his attention from Jimin, as the favor Jimin asked him to do could create a conflict between the two civilization and that was one thing, Taehyung desperately wanted to avoid.

"I need some time to think." Said Taehyung, then he turned back and left the room.