Destiny - Vmin

8. Confidences

Taehyung was feeling sleepy and ended up falling asleep in the carriage, leaning against Jimin on their way to the commercial district. When they arrived, Jimin woke him up, and they both walked through the streets to the atelier. The young man tried on the gala outfit for the first time and ended up pricked by some pins. Afterward, they went for a walk.

"Do you want anything?" Jimin asked. "There's everything here, and if you can't find what you're looking for, I can ask the merchants to bring it from another kingdom."

Taehyung thought for a moment and gestured: [No... I just wish I could ride a horse sometimes and sleep in your room again. I couldn't sleep alone yesterday.]

"Of course, I also got used to sleeping with you," Jimin said, smiling. "You really must be a noble, riding a horse is another sign."

Taehyung rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Hmm, do you remember if you've ever been to a ball? Do you know how to dance?" Jimin asked, trying to awaken some specific memory from the young man.

Taehyung gestured: [No... as far as I remember. And I don't know how to dance, nor how to act at a ball.]

"At the ball, you can dance with the ladies and talk to other gentlemen, most of the nobility knows sign language, besides eating until you're full and listening to gossip."

Taehyung became a little excited and gestured: [Can I dance with you?]

Jimin shook his head.

Taehyung gestured: [It sounds boring. I won't dance well and won't have anything to talk about with the other gentlemen.]

"But someone might recognize you! You could find your family and return home," Jimin said.

Taehyung pouted and gestured: [Do you want me to leave?]

"No!" Jimin's voice rose higher than expected. "I just want to learn more about you. And if you're from the nobility, I can take you to the court, arrange a good marriage for you in the future, and keep you close..."

Taehyung looked at Jimin, but couldn't respond. He was glad to know that the young man wanted him close, but that future wasn't possible, and the terms of the proposal made him uncomfortable. The two of them fell into silence, avoiding looking directly at each other. Their eyes focused on the scenery passing by the window.

The silence deepened, and the carriage continued its path. Both were trapped in their own inner worlds, not knowing how to resume the conversation or what to say next. The tense air between them seemed to expand, but neither dared to stretch it further.

At the castle, the feeling of discomfort continued to linger. After lunch, Jimin decided to look for Miguel to take Taehyung. The plan was for Taehyung to ride and explore the area, while Jimin took the opportunity to process the confusing feelings that overwhelmed him.

Later, Miguel guided Taehyung to the stable. During the journey, the young man tried to communicate with Taehyung in the way he could, but his lack of knowledge of sign language made the interaction difficult and frustrating for both. He felt helpless when he realized, once again, that he couldn't understand the young man in front of him, and this irritated him more than ever.

Upon arriving at the stable, Taehyung chose a horse, and Miguel, with precision and care, began to saddle the animal, adjusting the saddle and accessories meticulously. When he finished, Taehyung, hesitant, mounted the horse. Unlike the last time, this was a domesticated horse, with fine and well-adjusted gear. However, Taehyung couldn't avoid feeling uncomfortable, but decided to move forward and explore the area on horseback.

Meanwhile, Miguel returned to the castle and, after some time, entered the wing where Jimin's room was. The prince, sitting at the table, wasn't exactly sure what to do with his confused thoughts and was drawing to clear his mind.

Miguel entered the room quietly and immediately noticed the drawings spread across the table. Upon realizing who was in all the drawings, Miguel commented:

"I wonder how he'd react if he saw this!" he teased.

Jimin jumped and quickly tried to hide the drawings, but Miguel was quicker and grabbed a few.

"Just tell me what you want to keep this secret," Jimin said, already knowing what was coming next.

Miguel changed his expression to something more serious before speaking, in a calmer tone:

"I want to learn sign language. Being a teacher of it is well-paid, and..." he hesitated before continuing. "I really wish I could talk to Taehyung more clearly. He only has you to talk to in the castle, and it frustrates me not being able to communicate with him."

Jimin, excited by the proposal, quickly agreed and began pointing out some books from the library, where he himself had learned a lot about sign language.

"You can start with these! They have some basic lessons that can help you."

However, Miguel's expression closed off, and he replied, irritated:

"I can't read, Your Highness."

Jimin, feeling a bit embarrassed, knew he should have remembered Miguel's limitations, and that his suggestion hadn't been sensitive. He promised Miguel that he would hire a teacher, and that his lessons would begin soon. Miguel, realizing the seriousness of Jimin's words, returned the drawings and left the room satisfied.

When Jimin turned his attention back to the drawings, something he hadn't noticed before became evident: the sketches of the triton, his long-time obsession, were no longer there. Now, all his most recent drawings were of Taehyung. This detail made him face his own feelings with unsettling clarity. Jimin, finally, understood what was really going on in his heart.

Taehyung spent hours riding through the fields around the castle, feeling the freedom that a carriage could never provide. The wind in his face and the rhythm of the horse beneath him brought a sense of peace that calmed his restless heart. As he rode, his mind wandered to the days he still had there, by Jimin's side. He knew that soon he would have to return to the sea and couldn't stay in the castle.

With this thought in mind, Taehyung decided to make the most of these last days. That world, despite being so different, felt incredibly welcoming. He knew that the memories of these days would make his life in the sea more colorful, less lonely.

Night came quietly. Dinner was calm, and the atmosphere between them was lighter, free of the tension that had hung before. After the meal, the two young men returned to the room they had previously shared. Although Taehyung now had his own space, they both preferred each other's company.