Joseon story

Chapter 17

The seven advisors had been worrying about the young Princess. After the King's death, the Princess immediately picked up some of the King's duties. As she grew older more and more tasks were added. Recently she had taken on political meetings with other kingdoms.

To top that the Queen Mother had not left the palace leaving thirteen-year-old Princess to carry out all public appearances. It was taking a toll on her, she had been going and doing constantly. The lack of sleep and food only made her personality worse, no one could so much as breathe wrong in her direction before she would order them to be locked away for a month.

Finally, in a rare time of freedom from royal work, the princess walked around the pavilion humming and small song. It had been a while since she'd had some peace and quiet for herself so her advisors stood and watched her from afar. Although she had some welcomed company, Taehyung and Yoongi trekked beside her in their animal forms and Jungkook and Jimin followed her farther back.

They watched fondly as she hopped from one stepping stone to the next, as she bent down to dip her hand in the cool water, and as she gazed at the flowers closing for the upcoming winter.

Lately, the Princess had been distant from even them. While she never got to see him too often she was close to her father, the king. She never really had time to mourn his death. She tried not to show it in public but the men knew she missed him greatly.

"Is her majesty doing alright?" Namjoon asked. Before when the king had been expected to make a speedy recovery, he had ordered Namjoon to learn all his ways of ruling just in case.

"As best as she can to keep the people at bay." Hoseok sighed. "But you know her, she's so worried about the Kingdom that she's making aimless mistakes."

Just then the Princess hissed as she pricked her self on a rose thorn. Jin sighed and rushed over to help.

"There's nothing much we can do but be there for her for right now and help with her duties as much as we can." Namjoon crossed his arms. "Something doesn't feel right about this whole thing but we can't do anything on the state the Palace is in."

"Would you like me to look into it?" Hoseok quietly asked.

"Yes, see what you can find out about the King's death, but if it looks like your in trouble stop. We all must be here to look after the Princess."

"Mama, look what you've done to your hanbok!" They heard Jin scold. "We'll have to change you at once!"

The princess protested but was dragged along anyway. "Hoseok! I am trying to tell Jin I am alright but he insists on me changing! Help me!"

"Sorry, my princess but Jin knows best in this situation. Your appearance is quite important, what would people say if they saw you like this?" The man bowed.

The Princess pouted but gave up and followed the waiting older, followed by the two wolves and Jimin and Jungkook.

A bad feeling grew in the pit of Hoseok's stomach but he pushed it away, thinking nothing of it.

How he wished he'd paid attention to that feeling in the pit of his stomach.