Lord Of The Wolves

The World Is Your Greatest Doubter

A veil of sky blue drapes behind his tense shoulders, cascading down to the bottom of his heels as it clangs loudly against the cobblestones. In the midst of his heedless treading, fickle hairs bristling at the sound of the clock's morning alarm, he finds himself tracing back to last night's memories. 

Smoke-scented feather hats paired with the aroma of heavy liquor, passing through every drunken guest's lips. An array of flowers twine around the cracks of some glossy pillars, coupled with five or more designating themselves in between the newel posts that lead up to its elevating stairs. 

The entrance to the patio still infests Jungkook's mind with unease, unravelling at the very core of his being as Jimin's words plague his mind. It's uncalled for. Everything about it is so perpetually bothersome that Jungkook hasn't even got the slightest bit of sleep. It does well to rattle his bones into a worrisome submission, tossing in his sheets while the stark moonlight peers at him, wide awake in the sea of clouds – unapologetically intrusive of his sorrows.

It's not as if the young man was a novice to such sensations of unflattering insecurities. He's long basked in its warmth, enough to claim the tenacious uncertainty as his only constant companion during sleepless nights. Jimin's confession does the same, except this time the unlikely interference is far greater than he has accustomed with. And though as riveting as the unforeseen circumstances had been, swallowing him whole with misplaced emotions, Jungkook finds some sort of calmness throughout the whole rocky path.

"The young prince has arrived!"

–the honesty of their domestic routine, however, exempts today's most rattling conference. It differs from what he's usually dealt with (in addition to the ever-growing pile of gowns that he finds befitting for such occasions), so used to the little space that his brothers and the King stand on, huddled together at the very centre of the wooden platform with mouths puckered to the latest issue at hand. 

Often times the discussions are simplistically set, so uneventful that the King can manage to humour the likes of Seokjin's latest gossips. Namjoon partakes in berating the elder for his mean words. The recipient of his rudeness very rarely finds the topics pleasurable. Those mundane meet-ups may have been the least favourable for Jungkook, as they usually take place in earlier mornings, but now he finds the routine more wanted than ever.

"Your Majesty," The prince bows, lashes close to a faulty blink –close to sending the sincerest of glares towards the offending pairs of eyes from behind him. King Bang raises his palm to deny the curtsy, much too used to Jungkook's lax and authentic approaches. It makes the young prince glow, pacified by the King's kind smile as he taps his way to his side. He sits comfortably by his smaller throne, the skirt around his hips complying to his steady posture.

"It seems you're the first of your brothers to come this early," The old man remarks, tone wiry but still just as kind. "Still, it's very unlikely for you to outrun them, hm?"

Jungkook chuckles at his words, sleeved elbows offering a slight jab to the King's belly, "That's because I'm better. Besides, aged souls don't run as well as they do back then. So I myself am quite surprised you were able to save yourself a seat first."

"Oh?" King Bang raises a brow, "Careful, son –I may be old but my knees are not as cranky as your eldest."

"Jin-hyung would wail at such an insult!" Jungkook gasps exaggeratedly, one to indulge his Master's frequent japes.

The blabbering conversation does not flow longer, as King Bang simply sends a burst of jolly laughter before masking his face with an admirable tone of indifference. Jungkook finds this as a cue to do the same, chin tilted to the parading crowd of nobles making their way onto the elongated stairs of wooden desks. Little by little, the silent room is invaded with nothing but the clattering murmurs of greetings and feigned pleasantries. Some whispers growl in scrutiny, disturbing Jungkook's peace.