The Prince - ♛ taegguk ♛ [On hiatus]

♛ Eleven ♛

Another chapter written while I'm on my way to my grandmas. Why? I have no idea. Nine was also written on the way to her house haha.

Anyways!

Xoxo,
Enjoy!
-
[you already know- Unedited...]

Taehyung was scheduled to see Sayna again a day later. But this time, she was coming for dinner. With her parents as well.

However, before that he did have a literature lesson after breakfast, then a philosophy session at two pm. Though, at lunch he had a hour of free time. Free time that was spent with Jeongguk, who he had ordered to "stand by and make sure he was safe while having a picnic in the gardens". It was not a total lie, but no one questioned the Prince.

And thus, the two sat on a large blanket and pillows, with ripe fruit, delicious little pastries and small nutritious foods in the royal gardens, enjoying the pleasantly sunny spring whether. And each other's company of course.

No one could see them from where they sat, hidden by the greenery in the garden. They were, once again, in their own world. Safe and protected in each other's presence.

"How was your briefing with your Father and the guards?" Taehyung asked, referring to a meeting Jeongguk had attended while the Prince was in his lessons. Jeongguk also attended lessons of his own, considering his age, but they were squeezed between various training sessions and his other duties as the Son of the Royal Guard's Chief.

"It went well. Do you remember Woo DoHwan? He is my comrade in defense classes." Jeongguk spoke, eating a raspberry.

Taehyung nodded, "I do, I've met him a few times because he's a guard. What about him?" He asked, taking small bites out of a warm Jjinppang*.

*A Jjinppang means "steamed bread" but is a sourdough made bun that is filled with red bean paste. It is often eaten as a snack in Korea.

"Apparently he's going to become my second in command when I take over the Royal Guard." Jeongguk told, his cheeks slightly puffed as he munched raspberries and black berries.

"Oh really? He seems like he would be great for that job. What does it entail?" The Prince asked, picking apart his bun.

"Well," Jeongguk started, thinking about how to phrase it. "he will be making decisions, with my approval of course, and run the trainings and all when I'm attending my duties to serve you." He explained simply. Taehyung hummed, finishing his bun.

"Seems like that will help a lot for you. I'm glad you'll have someone at your side." The older said sweetly, making the Guard nod.

"Yes, me as well." He scooted slightly closer to Taehyung, already in a very close proximity to him. "How was your lessons?" The younger asked.

"Nice. I've always enjoyed learning, something so refreshing about the act." Taehyung spoke, not moving when Jeongguk did, only leaning his head on the boy's shoulder. "I was reading Shakespeare, an American poet and play writer, this morning in my literature lesson, and one piece of his writing really struck my attention." He told.

"Oh? I'd like to hear it." Jeongguk said kindly, wrapping his pinky around Taehyung's. Taehyung smiled fondly at the gesture.

The two knew English very well, considering their travels to America. For Taehyung, he had to know many languages considering his position.

Taehyung reaches into the basket he brought with the food, picking out the book he had read earlier that day. He turned to the page he had marked and sighed softly.
"Right well, Sonnet 116 reads, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds/ Admit impediments. Love is not love/ Which alters when it alteration finds,/ Or bends with the remover to remove:/ O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,/ That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;/ It is the star to every wandering bark,/ Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken./ Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks/ Within his bending sickle's compass come;/ Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,/ But bears it out even to the edge of doom./ If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved." Taehyung read from the book perfectly, having read it over and over, almost memorizing every word.

For that sonnet spoke to him deeply. Deep inside him, it hit his hidden feelings. Ones he didn't address because he decided to live in the moment, not thinking of what happened to him if he was with Jeongguk.

Sonnet 116 spoke of how he felt for Jeongguk deep down.

"That's beautiful." Jeongguk said after a moment of silence he had taken to think over the words. He knew what it meant instantly.

Sonnet 116 spoke about how if you are in love with someone, it should not matter who it is. That true love can never be broken, wavered. That even through storms and chaos it stands strong. It prevails. Love never fades. It speaks of how if two right minded people want marriage between them, it shouldn't be stopped.

Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare said love is love.

Taehyung nodded, biting his lip softly. "It spoke to me. Deeply." He said in a small voice.

"I can see why." Jeongguk hummed, looking at Taehyung with fond eyes.

He loved him. And even if Taehyung's beauty that you could see with your eyes faded, Jeongguk loved his heart and soul. His love for Taehyung would never fade.

He knew for a fact Taehyung felt the same for him—he just never really said the exact words out loud. Neither of them did. But they didn't need to be spoken by tongue to be known by both parties.

"I think I'm going to frame this in my chambers." The Prince stated. "I.. it means very much to me." He added. Jeongguk smiled oh so warmly.

"I think that is a grand idea, Your Highness." The younger agreed. Taehyung smiled prettily at him, his beautifully tan skin glowing in the golden sun.

"Grand." The older chimed.

Jeongguk stares at him for a small moment longer before quickly pecking his soft pink lips. Taehyung instantly started giggling, surprised by the action.

"We are dead if anyone saw that." He giggled, Jeongguk grinning widely.

"Eh, we are fine. No one can see us from here, and besides, I wouldn't mind dying with you." Jeongguk said smoothly, winking at the Prince after. The boy only tittering more, a rosy color spreading across the apple of his soft cheeks.
Jeongguk relishing in the older's sweet sounds and beauty.

And that's how the rest of their hour went. Sweet laughs, wide smiles, plus the addition of Taehyung softly reading Jeongguk more poetry that stuck out to his brilliant mind.

Best friends, basking in the immensely pleasant company of each other.

-

Hehe, this was a little short but I mean-
Also I love Shakespeare's writing so fucking much. Like damn. He wasn't the greatest person, but it was also the 15-1600's so 🤷🏻‍♀️

What do you think will happen between Taena in the next chapter?
What did you think of this chapter?
How do you think the whole marriage between Taena will go?

I hope you enjoyed!!!

Xoxo,
-Tae ;)

This is DoHwan (I know you've seen him before), for future reference.