The Theft (taekook)

16. I'm a heathen

Kim Songdae, the poised man in regular, has had only a countable number of deponents of his rage. It will forever be a saddening actuality that someone as fragile as Prince Kim Taehyung was unfortunate enough to face it. Twice.

"WHERE. WAS. YOUR. CROWN? You dared stepping out to see-off the guests without it?"

Yoongi has witnessed all the significant highs and lows of Arauna. As a little boy who's favorite game was to play pretend-soldier, he used to follow his father, the former Army General, around the palace with a butter knife in a scabbard around his belt to emulate the sword around his father's. Jogging with his little legs to somehow catch up to the speed with which his father strides.

His entire disposition has bathed in an essence of a warrior. Giving or witnessing the announcement of punishments is a child's play for him, something he has been accustomed to before he even learnt to count.

However, the unsettling and disquieting sentiment that resides in his stomach whenever the terrified little prince presents fronting his own father, amidst the other Kim royals and himself, has Yoongi questioning his acculturation to this conduct.

"F-father.. I-I.. The crown is heavy. My head h-hurt so I took it off." the deep silky voice that Taehyung was gifted with came out a few pitches higher in sheer terror. A few imperials extended a look of empathy while most only shared the queen's expression- disgust.

"You have shamed me time after time after time!! YOU CANNOT BE MY SON!!" Kim Songdae roared at the boy who shrunk himself tinier.
"Tell me, Taehyung have you perhaps some grudge against me?"

Taehyung's head gyrated towards the King in splash of horror. "Wh-why.. What must h-have you think that, f-father? I would never-"

"It does not take a genius to boil down the occurrences into a conclusion! You suppose me to believe that  you are such a caitiff that the site of a sword brought you to tears? To believe that  you almost died of breathlessness just because the dungeon was pitch dark?

To believe that you wouldn't stand up to challenge the first prince for the throne merely because you suppose he will be a better ruler? To believe that nearly a hundred princesses from the most powerful kingdoms attempted to captivate your attention and none.. NOT ONE has enticed you? You must take me for a buffoon, Taehyung!" The maliciousness in the king's voice was unfamiliar to everyone by-standing the interplay. He was livid like never before.

"What are you getting at, father? I-I'm afraid I d-don't understand." Taehyung looked beyond puzzled, however the first prince did not. Seemingly grabbing onto the king's calculations he stepped ahead with clenched fists. "Father! You are horribly mistaken!"

"This is not your place to speak and certainly not in that manner, Jongha!" the king pointed at the aforementioned and turned to the other prince with a raised brow. "Now say, Prince Kim Taehyung?"

"You wish to deride Arauna of it's reputation. You tread to dishonor my name, is that right?" gasps rung throughout the hall. Yoongi felt his mouth going dry at the scornful allegation, while Jongha could only gape unbelievably at his father.

Taehyung gulped down the massive lump that his throat harbored at the moment and attempted to stutter out a response without having a breakdown that may portrait as an act of wimp to make Arauna fall down, apparently. "F-father are.. are you implying.. t-that I-" his eyebrows met his hairline trying to gather a vocabulary without actually pronouncing the slander word.

"Yes, I imply that you are a traitor!"

******

Until this day Taehyung did not bother being considered the corpse of the palace. He was aware he had tried absolute best of his disappointing abilities before waving the white flag at himself. However an entire kingdom presuming he did not, was a blow in the weakest fragment of his injured heart.