Destiny - Vmin

7. Shopping

 Taehyung wakes up with the sunrise, feeling a slight excitement. He decides he'd like to take a walk around the area and heads to Jimin to inform him. The prince, waking up a little grumpy due to the time, quickly gets up to have breakfast.

— Where do you want to go? — Jimin asks.

Tae signs: [I'm not sure exactly, I just want to walk around... maybe it will help me remember.]

— Let's go to the shopping center. We can order some clothes for you, and then I'll follow you wherever you want to go.

Taehyung signs: [Why do you want to go with me? I can walk alone, and you must have things to do.]

Jimin looks at the table, picks up an apple, and says:

— You almost lost a hand because of one of these yesterday. And knowing sign language, I deduce that you must be from nobility. If I let you wander around and you get hurt, it could cause instability in the court.

Tae signs: [How does that mean I'm from nobility?]

— You don't know some simple things, and you know sign language. You'd need teachers for that, and they're not cheap. So, either you're from nobility, or from a very wealthy family, — Jimin concludes.

Tae feels a little upset and signs: [Is that why you're taking care of me?]

Jimin notices the sadness in his eyes and shakes his head.

— No. I took you in because I found you unconscious on the beach, and I couldn't leave you there to die. Now, you're putting yourself at risk, so I feel a certain responsibility.

Taehyung reflects on this while finishing his breakfast. Soon after, they take a carriage to head to the shopping center. Walking around the shops, they arrive at a tailor's studio, where Jimin orders several outfits for Taehyung, including a formal gown.

As the tailor takes Taehyung's measurements, the young man turns to Jimin.

Tae signs: [Why a formal gown?] — He moves slightly, making the tailor's job harder.

— There will be a ball in two days, I'll take you. Someone might recognize you, and it will make things easier.

Taehyung looks at Jimin with curiosity and signs: [Will I be your partner? And will they be able to make all this so quickly?]

— Sort of. I can't have a partner at the balls until they choose a princess for me. But, since I have priority because of who I am, your clothes will be ready by the ball.

Taehyung seems intrigued and signs: [What do you mean, they'll choose a princess for you?]

— Usually, the princes of this kingdom marry someone from the nobility. They go to the balls hoping to meet someone special, then court them. — Jimin pauses, a slight sadness in his voice as he continues — But me... I've attracted attention in several kingdoms, and in the end, the marriage will just be a negotiation.

Taehyung grimaces while Jimin pays for the clothes. Then, the two walk through the shopping center and head back to the castle just before lunch. On the way back to the castle, Taehyung gazes out the carriage window. He hated riding in that thing; riding a horse, with the wind in his face, was so much more freeing.

Jimin watches Taehyung in silence, deep in thought. He couldn't explain it, but he felt that something had changed in such a short time. This was new for him, as he'd had many friends before, but he'd never felt so close to any of them.

In the afternoon, Jimin has swordsmanship lessons, and Taehyung watches, clearly interested. Jimin's instructor notices Taehyung's interest and gestures for him to come over.

— Do you know how to use one of these? — asks the burly man.

Taehyung shakes his head, and the instructor watches him for a moment.

— If you want, I can teach you. You could train together. He used to train with Miguel, but now he works at the castle, and the prince has no one to train with.

Taehyung smiles and starts to learn, paying attention to the instructor's guidance. By the end of the afternoon, after the instructor had left, Taehyung joins Jimin, and they train together.

Miguel, from a distance, pauses and watches them, barely containing his laughter at seeing how Taehyung struggles and is clumsy compared to Jimin. It was expected since Taehyung was a beginner, but the scene was still amusing to watch. After getting distracted for a moment, Miguel goes back to his tasks, leaving the sound of swords clashing in the background as a soundtrack to his work.

After dinner, the Queen, who had only been informed of Taehyung's presence that morning, approaches him with a calm and serene expression. She seems to ponder for a moment before speaking with a gentleness that hides a hint of curiosity.

— Would you like a room just for yourself? The castle has several, and it would give you more privacy.

Taehyung looks at her, feeling a strange sense of familiarity, as though he recognizes her gaze from somewhere. However, he can't remember where. Despite that, he nods affirmatively, accepting the offer without hesitation.

— I hope you feel at home during your stay, Taehyung.

Taehyung watches her leave, his gaze lingering in the empty corridor for a few seconds. The sense of strangeness washes over him again, but he pushes it away and heads to the new room.

That night, Jimin has trouble sleeping, missing Taehyung's presence by his side. He had already gotten used to the young man's company, and now the room felt a bit too big and lonely. Meanwhile, Taehyung, alone in his new room, simply can't sleep with his mind lost in thought.