Forbidden Threads Of Fate | TaeKook

34

Taehyung walked through the palace gardens, his body fully healed now, but his mind anything but at peace.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Jungkook—
About last night.
About the words that still echoed painfully in his heart.

That image of Jungkook—vulnerable, trembling, afraid—haunted him.
He wanted to end all of Jungkook’s suffering.
He just didn’t know how.

With a restless heart, Taehyung had been calling Jimin’s number over and over again, but it wasn’t going through. Frustrated and anxious, he finally decided to visit Jimin’s family home in person.

The door opened, revealing Jimin’s mother.

"Oh! Welcome, Your Highness. What can we do to help you?" she greeted politely, bowing respectfully.

"Don’t call me that, please," Taehyung said softly, offering a gentle smile.
"You’re my friend’s mother—please, just call me by my name."

She returned the smile, warmth in her eyes.

"Oh! Why are you standing outside? Please, come in."
She stepped aside invitingly.

"Ah, no. Thank you," he declined kindly.
"I just wanted to ask... is Jimin here?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he noticed her expression change—confusion, then fear.

"But... I was informed that he’s living in your palace," she replied, her voice trembling slightly.

Taehyung immediately picked up on the panic in her voice.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.

He kept his expression calm and spoke quickly, smoothly.

"Oh yes! You’re right," he chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I’ve been unwell for a few days, so things slipped my mind. My maids told me Jimin would be waiting for me at the market, but I completely forgot and thought he might’ve come home. Sorry for troubling you."

His lie was smooth, delivered with the poise of royalty.

Jimin’s mother sighed in relief, her shoulders visibly relaxing.

"It’s alright, Your—" she paused and corrected herself with a smile,
"It’s alright, Taehyung. Please don’t apologize."

Taehyung grinned and playfully pouted.
"See? Not so hard to say. Besides, doesn’t it sound cooler that way?"

She laughed softly.

"Anyway, I should get going. Thank you for your time."
He bowed to her respectfully, and she bowed back with affection.

As Taehyung stepped away from the house into the open, his heart grew heavier.

None of it made sense.Where was Jimin?

Something wasn’t right.

He could feel it in his gut. Something terrible had happened. And the realization was enough to send his mind spiraling into fear and panic.

He needed to talk to Yoongi.
But even Yoongi... was nowhere to be found.

______________
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Hoseok stepped into the grand Jeon mansion, a neatly wrapped box of chocolates in his hand.
For once, luck seemed to favor him—Taehyung wasn’t there.