Five Kingdoms

The Truth

"You're telling me Jihyun... my Jihyun assaulted one for your staff?" The Eastern king asked looking across the small round table at Hoseok. "My father wants me to fill his spot in this meeting. Please address me properly king Park." Hoseok says with a serious tone and sharp eyes.

"Prince Hoseok. Are you accusing the second prince of the Eastern kingdom of assault on a member of your staff?" King Park asks sitting up straighter. Jimin shifts in his seat beside the king. "I am. There were several witnesses." Hoseok says, his eyes slowly take in Jimin's form, he wants to say something.

"Who would play witness to those accusations?" King Park asks narrowing his eyes. Hoseok looks at Jimin again, his eyes looking down at his hands in his lap, fiddling with his thumbs. "The princes of the Central, Northern and Southern kingdoms." Hoseok says, his eyes shifting back to King Park. King Park looks at Jimin. "Prince Jimin. Did you witness this?" King Park asks in a serious tone. Jimin swallows thickly, looking up to meet his father's eyes.

"I didn't offer his testimony King Park." Hoseok says narrowing his eyes. Jimin looks over at Hoseok and they lock eyes. With tears welling up in his eyes, Jimin breaks eye contact and looks down at his twiddling thumbs again. The tears in Jimin's eyes starts rolling down his cheeks. "Jimin-" King Park says with a strained voice. Hoseok shifts in his seat uncomfortably and bites his lower lip. "Is he- hurting you again?" King Park asks, his voice a little shaky.

Jimin doesn't answer, he pouts trying not to show the quiver of his lower lip. "King Park. Seeing as he is a prince of your kingdom, I would like to negotiate a reasonable punishment for his actions toward the staff." Hoseok says leaning against the table, closer to king Park, trying to get king Park's attention off Jimin. "Jimin. Answer me please." King Park says. At this point Hoseok lets out a sigh and stands to his feet. "I'll give you a moment to discuss things in private." Hoseok says with a slight bow to the king.

"Tell me." King Park says softly. The king gets out of his chair and kneels in front of Jimin, looking up at him. Jimin's eyes widen and he tries to help the king up. "No. Please tell me. " King Park says gently cupping Jimin's face looking up into his eyes. "Father.. its ok, he's not hurting me." Jimin says trying to avoid eye contact. "When you were younger and he pushed you into the door.." King Park started, gently rubbing his thumb against the corner of Jimin's left eye to wipe unshed tears away. "You said you fell in the bathroom. That it wasn't Jihyun that hurt you. Please tell me the truth." King Park says, his lower lip quivering. Jimin chokes out a sob, squeezing his eyes shut.
♡
Hoseok lets out a sigh, standing in the hall. "How's it goin in there?" Yoongi asks sitting up in his chair. The chair was a few feet from the meeting room door. "It's going. Since father put me in charge of the kingdoms affairs not to long ago.. it hasn't been too bad." Hoseok says with a weak smile. "Your smarter and stronger than you think Hoseokie." Yoongi says folding his arms on the arm of the chair and resting his chin on them. Hoseok smiles, then leans back against the closed door.

"I tried to keep Jiminie's secret. I knew he didn't wanna talk about, but I'm glad his father realized something was wrong." Hoseok says looking at the ceiling. "Jihyun needs help. I know we're all upset he's been abusing Jiminie, but he needs to talk to someone about all of his anger." Yoongi says closing his eyes.