The Three Bannermen | Vminkook ✓

Eleven: Casual Exchanges

Laurel Prince

Prince Kim awoke with a lazy groan, stretching his arms out in the sunlight that poured into his room. He rubbed at his tired eyes with balled fists and rolled onto his side.

"Fetch me some water!" Taehyung yelled out without thinking. After a minute of absolute silence and no servant with water, Taehyung sat straight up, eyes wide, remembering where he was. The stories of last night wormed back into his memory.

He hopped off of the bed and rushed to the bedroom window. Outside was the Oak Castle's courtyard, dotted with frantic servants rushing in and out of the castle gates carrying crates. The Laurel Prince assumed they were for the 200+ newly adopted castle visitors for the week. He closed the silk green curtains and turned to get a better view of the room. Last night he was so tired that he fell asleep before washing up, and now he was regretting it. His whole body felt frazzled and dirty. 

Taehyung walked toward the bathroom, admiring the polished oak wood. Almost everything was wooden in this castle, which was a bit bland for Taehyung's taste. However, it was neat and homely, something the Laurel Prince was not used to. It made him feel kind of nice...welcomed, almost.

Once in the bathroom, he noticed the variety of soaps and oils that were provided for him. All of them were delicately lined up, along with a plethora of other objects and accessories that the servants thought the picky Laurel Prince might have wanted.

Taehyung smiled to himself. Prince Jeon must've figured that Taehyung was super specific about the things he washed up with, and it was semi-true. But that was only in the confines of his own castle, where he was demanding and known to be lavish with his expenditures. One thing the Kim Castle was not short on was funds, and Taehyung certainly wasn't a shy spender of what came readily to him.

But now that Taehyung was in a foreign castle, he felt more like a guest. He was happy with what he got, even if it didn't match his lofty standards. Happy in the presence of Jungkook.

Taehyung grinned at his reflection in the oak-framed mirror. The smile made its way to his dark eyes, expressing real joy. He hadn't been genuinely excited about anyone since...he couldn't remember.

As he grabbed a simple soap for his bath, he recalled a scene from the night prior. One that made him feel strangely eager--when Jungkook placing the crown on his "sleeping" head. Taehyung wanted to see how Jungkook would wake him up, so he pretended to be asleep. He just wanted to see if the ravenette would shake him awake...or whisper in his ear...or maybe even kiss him awake? No, that's too far. He wouldn't do that after I told him I drugged him. Plus, he doesn't even remember our kiss from the party. Why do I get my hopes up?

Taehyung wasn't exactly sure if Jungkook was on the same page as him, but at least Jungkook showed a bit of curiosity. Placing a crown on someone's sleeping head surely doesn't mean the person is hated. It might even mean that they're admired, respected...attracted to the other person.

Right?

Taehyung pushed the thought out of his mind as he stripped out of his boxers and slid into the warm water of the tub. He didn't know what time it was or what the other two princes were going to do about Jihoon. But for the moment, he was content with the hot water lapping against his tired body.

Stone Prince

Jimin paced around the space in between his bed and the vanity of the room kindly provided to him by Prince Jeon. The space allotted to him was a bit too spacious for Jimin, and much more colorful than his room back home. Oddly, he felt that a prince of his power should somehow be used to large bedrooms and expect things at the same level of grandeur. Jimin, however, never liked big rooms, because his castle was empty enough as it was. He wasn't one for elaborate objects, dramatic expenditures, and the like. Like Jungkook, he preferred simplicity, perhaps because it calmed his complex mind.