A Night-Long Lament

a workout

(Your POV)

The petite maid rolls in a wheelchair and has you sit down in it.

To be honest, you were wary of traveling around the castle again. As you pass through the kitchen, it feels like the wheelchair betrayed you, as it got stuck on a crack and made you sit there. Just staring at the spot where you were brutally stabbed.

Cold, unforgiving shivers run down your spine as your side twitches in remembrance. A tear dribbles down your face.

"Y/N?" A voice comes up behind you and touches your shoulder. "Are you ok?" They turn your chair to face them, revealing Jungkook.

"J-Jungkook?"

He quickly clasps your hand in his with scared deer eyes looking into your blurred ones. Though Jungkook does end up realizing why you're in this state and quickly lets go of you. "I'm sorry. Asking was insensitive of me."

Shaking your head, you reply, "No, it's fine, no worries." You plaster on a smile.

"Let's get you away from here then." He smiles and proceeds to wheel your chair to somewhere you haven't discovered yet. As you both enter, you see weights and punching bags.

"I spend most of my time here nowadays." He shrugs as he parks you next to the water. "I know it'll be boring for you to watch, but it's the best I can do." He laughs lightly.

"Nonsense." You smile as you see him take off his shirt, but your smile fades and gets replaced with a tomato red face.

You knew he was only a year younger than you, but yet the sight of him without a shirt was incredibly flustering. Looking off to the side, your eyes disobey you and dart over to him.

Toned Abs reveal itself to your eyes as he stretches his arms out. He suddenly turns your way, surprising you.

"I just recently got into working out again because I wanted to give that bastard a taste of their own medicine." He curses.

"I-It's quite alright, Jungkook." You manage to stutter out.

He laughs at your stuttering. "Sorry for bringing you in here. It was a bit uncalled for."

"N-No, don't worry I'll be sure to enjoy it." You smile, but your eyes widen. "Wait--! No, I mean--"

Jungkook bursts out in laughter.

~~~~~~~

Panting, Jungkook retreats from his vigorous workout and plops down next to you. Tossing a towel onto his exposed chest, you compose yourself.

"You really don't need to beat up that guy. They didn't seem like they wanted to hurt me anyways." You say.

"It doesn't matter. They hurt you either way." He cracks his knuckles. "I keep looking back when you were absent from the potluck. Only a selected few were gone when you were."

You head whips in his direction. "W-What?! Who?!" You exclaim.

"It can't be completely accurate though-- I didn't scout out the whole yard to see was missing." He replies.

"It could still help." You tap your foot anxiously.

Jungkook looks to the ceiling. "Well... There was the Baron from the West Kingdom, but he doesn't even know of you. Then there are the Marquees, but they still wouldn't be a very plausible suspect."

"Anyone else?" You eagerly say.

Jungkook looks down at his feet. "I mean... Yoongi, Namjoon, and Hoseok were gone... But Yoongi is bedridden, Namjoon left to get more juice, and Hoseok went looking for Namjoon-- It can't possibly be anyone them."

You knew in your heart that there was no way Yoongi, Namjoon, or Hoseok could do this to you. They all cared for you and definitely got upset when you were bedridden.

"Agreed. There's no way it's them." You shake your head.

Jungkook shifts his weight to the palm of his right hand. "We have to find them quick. I don't want you getting hurt or anyone getting hurt."

Nodding your head, he rolls you out of the workroom.

~~~~~~~

Night befell on the both of you. Jungkook was still endlessly talking to you and you gladly conversed back with him.

As Jin calls for everyone to the dining room, you run into, well, wheel into, Namjoon. He's pale.

"Hyung, is something the matter?" Jungkook asks.

Namjoon looks to Jungkook, then you. "Everything is surely alright. I just had quite the conversation with Hoseok. Nothing that should concern you." He smiles plainly.

Namjoon whisps pasts the both of you, leaving you confused. "Ah, now I remember. I had breakfast with Hoseok, and Namjoon requested for Hoseok." You recall.

Jungkook narrows his eyes but quickly dismisses his thoughts. "Let's just head to dinner."

When you enter the dining room, you hear several gasps. "Y/N! You're back!" Taehyung calls happily.

Smiling at him, you spot the King out of the corner of your eye. He was just standing there. Just- Staring.

"Everyone, please be seated. Tonight is a special night. Tonight we discuss when our weddings will take place." Namjoon announces.

Darting your attention to Namjoon, you see his hand shaking as he holds up the glass. "I hope we all never leave!" He rejoices.

Leave.

Something drops in your stomach.

Leave.

The word echoes through your head.

Leave.

It couldn't be.

You burst up from your wheelchair, tears pouring from your eyes. All the suspicion, all the accusations, it all ended here. All ended with this.

The gash in your side is urging you to sit back down, but you refuse.

"Y/N! Sit down! Your cut!" Jin shoots up from his chair when he spots thick dark red blood dripping from your shirt.

"I--" Your voice cracks.

Jungkook jumps in front of you and grasps your shoulder. He had a worried look in his eyes. He looked concerned for you, and you were thankful. But you furrow your brows in anger.

"Jungkook--! I-- I know--" You stutter out.

The King suddenly bursts out in laughter. He points at you, mocking you and your tears. He didn't care. He enjoyed seeing you in agony.

"It's you." You whisper.

Jungkook's eyes widen. "Who?"

You weakly lift your arm up and point in the direction of the voice whom you knew too well.

"You did it."

wow... the story has finally came to this point. i didn't think i'd come this far... thank you everyone for 27k reads!!