JiMina Collection

More Than Gold ~ Part 14

     Jimin woke up with his head in the clouds and the sun in his eyes. Like the previous day and the one before that, Jimin moved to a new rhythm. He danced to a new song. There was a new skip to his step. And he loved it. Jimin knew he owed it all to his best and only friend.

     Jimin got dressed and headed out the door with a grin on his face. There it was again; the word he would never get tired of hearing: Friend.  It still filled him with as much joy as when he first felt the words on his lips. This past week with Mina had been the best week of his life. She made him feel wanted. She made him feel like a regular guy; not a prince, not someone with an entire kingdom weighing down on his shoulders. With her, he could joke around and drop his guard. 

      But as always, darker thoughts clouded his mind. Like all good things, she too will leave him. His newfound happiness was but a small window in his harrowing life ahead. He slowed down until he was simply standing there; leaning against the cold, dark stone walls of the castle halls. A part of him wanted to just stop. What was the point? The longer he spent with her, the sadder he would be when she left. Everyone leaves him.

      In that moment, he almost turned and left. Jimin groaned and let the back of his head hit the wall. Instead, he ended up hitting the rustic sconce behind him; its flame lighting up the dark, lifeless corridor. Grumbling in pain, he looked up at the bright light dancing on the torch. He stopped to stare at its beauty. It was warm and full of light. Something in him changed his mind. Yes, he would be devastated when she left. But that didn't mean he couldn't be happy now.

     With that resolve, Jimin continued on his way to the kitchens. The heaviness in his heart dissipated as he closed the distance between him and his destination. Eventually, he ducked into the cellars of the castle and found himself among the servants. Jimin stood on the tips of his toes, itching to see the familiar shine of her long hair. When he couldn't see what he was looking for, Jimin felt confused. She was always here in the mornings. He quickly spotted the old maid and rushed to talk to her.

"Oh, your highness!" She exclaimed, tucking her graying hair away before she began to cook. "Looking for Mina?"

"Yeah, have you seen her?" Jimin asked eagerly.

"Mina was here a couple hours ago. She told me to give you this." The old woman slipped him a piece of parchment. 

      What was this for? Jimin thanked her and was about to bid the maid goodbye when she prolonged the conversation herself.

"So, have you heard?" The woman croaked.

"Uh... No?" Jimin was confused.

"We've been ordered to plan a large banquet for a ball at the end of this week; a ball for the kingdom to see that its prince is safely on his journey to wed. I thought you might want a bit of a heads up."

"What?!" Jimin was seriously hoping she was just kidding. She gave no such indication. "A ball?! I've never- I can't!"

"Sire, I know you can. Anything is possible as long as you have the right partner." The old maid smirked mischievously. Jimin had the odd feeling that she knew something he didn't. "Now, why don't you run off and have yourself some fun. You've been so happy these days, I hate to see you have yet another problem to deal with."

     Jimin opened up the folded parchment as he left the kitchen. He smiled as he read her neat handwriting.

Hey, Jimin!

     Sorry you didn't find me in the kitchens. I made you a surprise! I needed a few materials to finish things up, so I hope you don't mind. Just swing by my chambers once you get this. See you later!