Royal Lesson |KTH x JJK|✓

~14~

Taehyung sighed as he rested against the smooth stained wood of the wall. Jungkook could tell he felt at peace from the way his pretty eyes closed softly.

He smiled and leaned his head back, opening his legs just a bit for comfort. He felt very content at the moment, which was surprising because he was sure he'd hate Taehyung.

But he didn't.

He actually liked the older's presence. He was happy he decided to make an unexpected visit.

"So..." Taehyung mumbled from across the steaming room. Jungkook opened his eyes and leaned his head up, watching Taehyung glance over him briefly.

"Hmm?"

"I'm curious, how do you think the lessons are going so far?"

Jungkook was taken aback slightly by the question, assuming Taehyung didn't really care about anything related to the lessons.

The red royal leaned forward and balanced his elbows on his knees, resting his chin in his hands. He looked up at Jungkook through his long, dark lashes, real curiosity gleaming in his hazel eyes.

"Well, at first I thought you were going to be impossible to teach but you surprised me, Prince Taehyung. Though your methods of cooperating are different than what I'd like them to be, you still listen and try. Your results have turned out good as well. I think you'll be an excellent king." Jungkook said, smiling near the end.

Taehyung was smiling too, until he scoffed and leaned back.

"What?" Jungkook asked, confused with the change in attitude.

"I don't want to be king." The prince said loud and clear, with no hesitation at all. With just that Jungkook could tell he's thought about this a lot more than he lets on.

"Well how come?"

"I don't like the life of royalty. I've always admired the life of a commoner. Easy and peaceful. I don't want to wake up with the weight of a whole kingdom on my shoulders. I want to wake up with a smile and think about selling fresh strawberries from my garden at the local market."

Jungkook was speechless. He knew Taehyung hated following rules and being perfect, but he didn't know he despised the whole lifestyle of being a royal.

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Don't be." Taehyung said with a sigh, fiddling with the edge of his towel absentmindedly.

"Well you don't deserve to live a life you don't want."

Taehyung looked up, surprised to find that the younger had actual sincerity in his eyes.

"I thought you hated me."

"I did at first. I thought you were a lousy excuse for a royal- you didn't try. But I didn't know it was actually because you didn't want to be one. I didn't realize you hated what you were and that you just felt..."

"Different. A mistake. Wronged...? I've come to terms with what I want and what I feel."

"And you really can't do anything..."

"Because no matter what, I was born into this line of life and I'll always have royalty in my blood."

"Wow..."

Jungkook's never been more speechless in his life. He's been judging the prince this whole time without even knowing what was behind the grumpy, rebellious facade.

"I should still apologize... for thinking wrongly of you."

"It's okay, I'm used to it."

"Your parents know?"

"Yep."

"That-"

"Sucks."

"That's not quite what I was going to say but yes."

The two chuckle quietly, a silence falling over them. Taehyung thought he'd feel weird after telling Jungkook, but he actually feels a little light even though the hot pressure is beginning to really push down on his chest.

"You haven't ever just... wanted to run? You haven't ever wondered what it would be like if you weren't a prince?"

"I... I don't really know... I've been raised to know my place. I was taught that following rules was right and rebelling wasn't even an option."

"Hmm..."

Taehyung lifted his head at the same time as Jungkook and they made eye contact.

Unspoken words passed between the two and they felt like they could finally understand each other.