Hold My Hand - A Taekook Love Story.

41 - Things Are Not As Bad As It Seems...

“What? But she saw Kookie many times already.” Taehyung glanced at Jungkook worriedly. “It's my fault. I didn't think she was telling the truth when she said her family had connections with the palace. What are we to do now?”

“Don't worry, the situation is not as bad as you think.” Yoongi was quick to reassure. “Even though her father might have had a glimpse or two of Kookie when he's in the palace, we are sure that neither Dahyun nor her brother had seen him. I have already informed Hobi- I mean, Jung Hoseok about her, as part of the initial report on people whom the prince might encounter on his stay here. She was decided as not a threat. Given the behavior of the brother, I'm confident he doesn't know the prince as well. As long as Kookie doesn't come across minister Lee Sungcheol, I think it will be okay.”

There was a few minutes of silence that followed that sentence. Jungkook had no intention whatsoever in meeting the said minister. And even if he did by accident, Jungkook didn't think he'd be recognizable. He doesn't exactly look like the prince he used to be.

Jimin, however, had a different question to ask. “How do you know Hoseok?”

“I was one of the apprentices of the blacksmith who made weapons for the palace in my teenage years. So I've been to the palace with my master a couple of times. I met Hobi when he was just a training guard. We were friends throughout these years so naturally when he knew the prince was coming here, he asked me to keep an eye on things for him.”

“And were you also asked to approach me in that tavern as well?”

The answer came a few seconds late and even then, Yoongi didn't meet the guard's eyes.  “I was. I didn't exactly have a reason to stay very close to Kookie, Taehyung would find that suspicious since he and I have never been that close. But it was easy to be your acquaintance, especially since you didn't know anyone here.”

“You meant to say that you got close to me, so that you could get close to Kookie?”

“Jimin that's not-” Jimin's hard stare was enough to stop what Yoongi was saying mid sentence. He sighed, eyes filled with deep regret. “I was, at first.”

Jimin looked away. And Jungkook knew that it was as close to a reaction that could be expected from the guard. Taehyung seemed to have understood this as well, because he directed the conversation back to Dahyun and her family. They discussed what precautions Jungkook should take and what needs to be done, if there was ever a chance of his true identity being compromised.

In a way, Jungkook was very surprised to learn about the palace's involvement in his life here in the village. He had genuinely thought that his father and brother had cut any ties with him, for no one even tried to contact him all this while. To think that his father was worried about his safety, while respecting his wishes, made him rethink some of the things in his mind.

When they finished talking about everything they had to say, Yoongi looked at Jimin.

“Jimin.” He waited till the guard looked at him. “Let's go home.”

Jimin scoffed. “You're out of your mind if you think I'd ever come back-”

Yoongi quickly walked closer and held Jimin's hand, and didn't let go despite the younger trying to pull it out. “We need to talk. Let me explain things properly, Jimin.”

“What more is there to say?!”

“There's more. Dear God, there's so much more.’ Yoongi ran his other hand over his face. “You listened to what I said about the beginning. The very beginning, if you please. You have to give me a chance to tell you about the middle and now.”

“I don't-”

“I won't let you go without you hearing me out, Jimin. If you want to do so after we had our conversation, then I promise, I won't stop you. But for at least just this once, come with me.”

Yoongi didn't wait for an answer. After giving a respectful bow to Jungkook, he went away, pulling Jimin by his hand as well. He considered it a win already when Jimin didn't resist after the initial few steps.

They were gonna have a long conversation today. It's a pity that it's not the one they expected to have when they separated in the morning..
   
   
   
  
  
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“Lee Sungcheol?” The King asked in a tight voice, when Hoseok presented the latest report given by his spy. “Isn't he the one I appointed instead of Choi when he fell ill?”

“Yes, your majesty.” Hoseok bowed as he replied. “He had been handling some minor work related to the crops this year. And he's one of the two officers handling taxes in that area as well.”

“Does he know Jungkook? Will he be able to recognise Jungkook?”

“I'm not certain, your majesty. As far as I'm aware, he and his highness, the prince, never had any interactions. But I can not be as bold as to say he might have never seen the prince at all. He frequented the palace at least 3-4 times before prince Jungkook's departure, so it is a possibility.”

“Father-” the crown prince who had been silent all this while, spoke up. “We need to get Jungkook out of that place. He's not safe there anymore!”

“Let's not be hasty, prince.” The King said in a calm voice. “Even I would love to have my son back in a place where no harm could possibly come to him, but I can't just snatch him from his life, now can I? It's not like that stubborn boy would come if I call either. I will have to send a troupe to get him to the palace.”

“But father, he might be in danger-”

“We have to trust your brother to know what he's doing, crown prince Junghyun. He has proven his competence very well. He survived all this time, didn't he? And besides, he is happy, content with life there. I'd rather not disrupt that again. I can't see the look of pain or disappointment in his eyes again. Never again.”

Junghyun didn't say anything to that, but had the king bothered to give a proper look to his elder son, he would have seen that prince Junghyun's silence did not exactly convey  his agreement to it either.
  
   
   
    
   
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Jungkook was on his way to work, when a lone home rider intercepted his path. He could see that the rider was a part of a group that had stopped within viewing distance. He feared the worst, and was mentally preparing himself for a fight, when the rider removed the cloth covering his lower face.

“H-hyung?” Jungkook's voice was unsteady due to the surprise of seeing his brother again. “What are you doing here?”