𝙧𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚

𝐭𝐰𝐨

     HE DID not expect, with this new career, to be housed in the castle. Taehyung should have expected as much considering he would be the prince's servant, but he kind of expected it to be a nine-to-five job. So, he was very confused-to say the least-when men in royal robes showed up at his house to move him out. Taehyung tried to fight them on it because he needs to be close to his mother. He figured the prince would have thought of that, but he is just as much of an asshole as the blonde had thought.

He had also thought that the prince would go a little easy on him after the sad rant he had made during their first meeting, but like he said: the prince is an ass. Jeongguk is always calling him for stupid things, like passing him the remote when it is on the edge of his bed or tasting his food to see if it is the perfect temperature. Dumb.

Not to mention, Taehyung has asked him to let him leave so he can check on his mother but the prince is set in stone on keeping him in the castle walls.

Needless to say, he regrets taking the job.

♛

Bell chimes are heard throughout the castle-the sound made specifically to let all the staff know that it is the prince calling for Taehyung specifically-and it makes the blonde groan. He was just writing a letter to his mother so she doesn't worry about him considering he has not been to see her in a few days. Normally, he visits twice every single day, but he has been awfully absent.

He waddles lazily through the castle's long corridors till he gets to a familiar hickory wooden door. Taehyung doesn't bother knocking before he enters the room. The prince is already so privileged; he does not need privacy.

Although, he quickly regrets that when he sees the prince's bare back facing him. He stops in his footsteps as he takes in the smooth, yet muscular expanse of Jeongguk and swallows on something hard.

"Taehyung," The prince tsks, holding his silk, red sleep shirt in his hands as he walks closer to the blonde. He stops when he gets right in front of the servant, and peers down at the boy sternly. "Didn't anyone ever tell you to knock before you come into someone's room? It is quite rude of you to invade my privacy like that."

The servant gulps.

"Or maybe," Jeongguk whispers. His lips graze the boy's blushing ear as he holds onto the servant's neck gently. "You were hoping that you would see something that you probably shouldn't. Is that it?"

Taehyung pushes the prince away. The prince figures he should be ashamed of how weak the boy is, but he only finds it endearing. Wait, no he doesn't. The servant scowls at him, "You are disgusting."

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow. His hand moves from its original spot on his neck to fit into the servant's blonde curls. He pulls a little too hard, making Taehyung yelp in pain, and he tries to hit the prince to get him to stop. Jeongguk only looks at him coldly, "You would do better to remember to respect your prince. I didn't have to offer you this job, now did I? You should be grateful."

"Why would I be?" Taehyung mutters despite his pain. He really does not want to show vulnerability to the one man he hates more than anything. He's better than that. "All you ever do is treat me as the poor piece of trash that I am."

The prince growls. He literally growls. "Never mind that. I called you here for a reason."

Taehyung glares at him.

"You need to write my speech for the annual banquet next month," Jeongguk starts as he slips his fingers out of the blonde's soft hair. "I am far too tired to do that shit, so I'm leaving it up to you. After all, you seem to know what this country needs more than I do."

Taehyung shakes his head. "I don't remember signing up to be the prince."

"No," The prince says as he sits on the plush, purple chair by the fireplace. The fire is the only source of lighting in the room, as of now, making the room light up with a dull orange tint. It feels warm. "But you did sign up for being my servant. So serve."

The blonde weighs his options. Yes, he believes that it is bullshit that the prince has no idea what this country desires, but he does need this job. He wishes he could disobey every order Jeongguk gives him but he can't. No matter how much he thinks he can. Taehyung is not intimidated by the prince like most people. He sees right through that facade of his. Jeongguk would like for people to see him as a warm, yet heavy presence that makes people tense for more reasons than just intimidation. He wants people to desire him as a royal, as a man, and as a mate.

That's not what Taehyung sees, though. No, he sees a young boy who was brought into the throne too soon. He thinks that Jeongguk is just an egotistical child who only cares about himself and inconsequential things like drugs and parties. How could he desire someone who doesn't so much as try to understand what people are going through?

So, he reluctantly takes the pen and paper that Jeongguk is holding out for him and makes sure to release a very long and loud sigh to show the prince how much he does not want to do this for him. The prince glances over at the boy when he hears him and chuckles darkly, "If you make me look like a fool out there, don't make the mistake of thinking that I won't make your life here a whole lot harder."

Taehyung smiles at the prince grimly, "Wouldn't dream of it."