JiMina Collection

More Than Gold ~ Part 8

     Jimin sat on his bed, bathed and clean, but utterly exhausted. He tried to be positive about this ordeal for the sake of his father. But after tonight, the prospect seemed pointless. 

     As soon as he had walked into the dining hall, he had received a long lecture from his father. In summary; Don't mess this up, or else. The King slipped a scrap of parchment into Jimin's jacket pocket. "This is your script."

"My what?" 

"Your script. Read it to everyone when I tell you to."

"But father- I" Jimin tried to take it out and see what was written. 

"Listen to me, boy! You have ears, do you not?" the King drew away, walking to the far end of the long table. "You will read it when I tell you to." Jimin shrunk in on himself and followed his father's example. The two monarchs sat across each other at either end of the large table. His father was always distant, and in this case, it had been quite literal.

     Now the only things missing were the girls. Jimin could hear them outside the doors from where he sat. Jimin knew those doors were the only things stopping them from being mercilessly unleashed upon him. As expected, one servant inched the doors agape to invite their guests into the hall. Within seconds, Jimin was being charged by a stampede of bulls; only these bulls were in the form of well-dressed women. Almost immediately, Jimin began to choke on the perfume-filled air. 

     The girls were practically yelling at him, and yet, he couldn't hear a word of what they were saying. He was too busy trying to hide how his eyes stung from the sheer amount of perfume attacking his senses. 

    Jimin had never been labelled claustrophobic, but he now had more than an inkling of what it must feel like. He was trapped at his own dinner table by the countless faces pressing closer and closer. Jimin was surrounded by the many women trying to yell out how rich they were in an attempt to impress him. He just wanted to sit down and to be able to eat in peace. Was that so much to ask for?

"My father told me of your dashing good looks, your highness. But I must say, you are much more handsome than I could've ever imagined!"

      Jimin knew that was a lie, his father never lets him out in public.

"My residence is almost as grand as your castle. We have the exact same custom-made silverware. I'll fit right in when I live here as your queen!"

     Okay. Creepy much?

"Don't you just love my dress? It's made of only the finest imported silks. My family knows the most prestigious seller personally."

    That's...nice?

"No one cares about your silks and silverware. My  father manages all the largest ports in the kingdom. Your precious fabrics and metals came through me first."

     Jimin's stomach grumbled in a very unprince-like manner while everyone was arguing. Luckily or unluckily enough, those around him were too busy screeching to hear. As if to answer the roar of his hunger, the castle servants burst out of the kitchen and began to serve them appetizers.

     He was usually quite solitary, as his father didn't allow him to socialize, but Jimin was relatively close to some of the servants. Jimin couldn't find it inside him to be cruel to them like the King wanted him to be. And so for example, when the maid who usually cared for him didn't come straight to his side to visit, Jimin was quite confused. In fact, none of the servants came just yet. Instead, they all stopped by the middle of the table before going anywhere else. Craning his head upwards, Jimin tried to see what was going on. After much struggling, Jimin could just make out the soft waves of long, dark hair that flowed down freely, billowing gently across a pale, sparkling dress. Ah. It was that girl.