The Light in the Dark

Chapter 8: Pretending

"I'm glad to see you finally join us for a meal," King Namjoon says between taking a sip of his red wine.

The younger Prince forces a smile on his face as he takes his seat before the brunch set in front of his family. He avoids looking at his brother, not wanting to see the act he puts up after destroying all of his art, which still lays a scattered mess on his bedroom floor.

The Prince thanks a servant for placing a cup of steaming coffee in front of him. He didn't sleep at all. He spent the whole night trying to fill the hollow well eating away at his chest. He knew that today he should request to go back to having normal guards. He wished he didn't want to see Jungkook. He knew that if he did, he'd only suffer with the fact that they could be nothing more than the Prince and his guard.

So ignoring him was the only option, even if it meant giving up the only chance of having someone he truly wanted.

"Taehyung, darling, today I was hoping to get your suit fitted for the party," his mother says.

The Prince nods, taking a sip of his bitter coffee. "Sure, I'll get that done after brunch."

"Here, brother," Seojin reaches over and hands him a glass of white creamer. "You usually don't drink coffee raw."

Taehyung wants to grab the glass and throw it at him, wanting to ruin his perfectly gelled hair. He refrains, and plasters a fake grin, mirroring his brother. "Thank you."

"Taehyung, I'd also like you to scan over the invites and think about the guests that will be attending. I need you in the mindset to represent and show what a fine Prince you are," his dad suggests. You mean to pretend to be something I'm not just so I can get a wife.

"Yes, Father."

"I'd also like you to get your hair groomed and colored sometime these next two days as well," the King says examining the boy's silver hair that drapes long a around his head.

"Yes, Father."

The Prince continues to down the bitter coffee, not balancing it off with any sweetner. He doesn't eat either. The hole inside him is there and prominent, and he decides that nothing is of worth to try and fill it.

Well...there is someone that could fill it...

No, ignore it.

He can't help but wish he saw Jungkook outside his door when he woke up and left for brunch. He wished he was the one to escort him down to the dining hall. He wished he were standing post by the doors, so when he felt like he'd crumble to dust, buried by his families conversations, he could look over and see the boy to rebuild him.

"Don't be nervous, either. I'm sure the other kingdoms have many girls that would be delighted to take your hand," the Queen coos, eyeing her son.

Taehyung sits there, replying like a robot for the next thirty minutes. At some point, he'd had enough of the fake talk, and stands up.

"I'll go take care of my fitting now," he says, dismissing himself. Seokjin's eyes follow him out of the dining hall.

Taehyung walks through the castle. There are no guards with him. Before going to the fitting room, he stops a maid walking by with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, Your Highness," she says sweetly.

"I'd like to make a request to the guard station," he begins. The Prince opens his mouth to continue, but something stops him from saying what he intended to say. I'd like to go back to my normal guard set up.

"Would you please tell the captain that I...uhhh..." the maid watches him, slowly tilting her head at his hesitation. "Tell him to send my guard to meet me in the fitting room. I'll be there for a while, and he'll need to know where I am when he gets posted."