Destiny - Vmin

15. Secrets

Taehyung was taken to a room as the matriarch, convinced that the recent revelations had caused a strong emotional and mental reaction in him, insisted on staying by his side. To her, it was only a matter of time before he regained his memories. She would personally care for the unconscious "grandson," believing her presence was crucial in this delicate moment, while the rest of the family watched from a distance, respecting her desire for control.

Meanwhile, Joon led Jimin through the corridors of the house, attempting to distract him with light conversation. He shared stories about the clan and his sister, Yuna, as if trying to fill the uncomfortable silence with details of the past.

"Perhaps you've heard that, in our clan, only boys are born," Joon began, his voice gentle but full of meaning. "My sister Yuna was the first girl born in five generations. When she was born, my grandmother became deeply attached to her. She had always dreamed of having a daughter, and having a granddaughter was like fulfilling that wish."

Intrigued, Jimin tilted his head, absorbing the information.

"And why do you isolate yourselves so much?" he asked. "I've never seen you at court balls or events."

Joon smiled faintly, his expression betraying discomfort as he broached the subject.

"Our family is only in its first generation of nobility," he explained. "My father was granted the title about twenty years ago. My older brother will be the next duke and is being groomed for the role. But the truth is, he—like most of us—never adapted to the noble lifestyle. Balls and social events... were never part of our reality."

Jimin frowned, his gaze fixed on Joon, curious about this revelation.

"That's interesting," he commented thoughtfully. "Even though the nobility knows of your existence, you have a... distinct reputation, despite not attending events."

Joon hesitated before continuing, his discomfort evident as he carefully chose his words.

"That... is my fault," he admitted with a nervous smile. "I spent a few years at the palace with my sister, Yuna. She was a close friend of the future queen and was being prepared to be a lady-in-waiting to your mother. I, on the other hand... drew a lot of attention. My behavior stood out among the other young men, and it ended up causing some problems. The noble ladies showed a great deal of interest in me, and since I didn't choose any of them for marriage, it put our family's position at risk, as rumors about me started to circulate. In the end, to protect our newly acquired title, I joined the clergy."

Jimin looked at him, surprised.

"Your sister was friends with my mother?" he asked, processing the information.

Joon nodded, a smile forming on his lips.

"Yes, they were inseparable in their childhood. At that time, our family didn't have noble titles yet. My mother worked for your grandmother, and that's where they became close. When your mother caught the attention of the future king, she asked Yuna to be her lady-in-waiting. I ended up going along because, somehow, it was believed to be auspicious to have twins at the palace."

Jimin smiled at that, recalling his paternal grandmother's beliefs. She had always been attached to omens, auguries, and signs of destiny. It was something he knew well.

"That sounds exactly like something my grandmother would do," Jimin said, laughing softly. "She always let herself be guided by those ideas of auspicious signs and omens."