Taehyung couldn't quite understand what was just said. Jungkook had a confused look plastered on his face and Jimin was biting his lip.
"We must bring you to the emperor at once, he'll be pleased to have found such a flower," A soldier spoke out, still in awe of Taehyung.
"How long will my hyung stay there?" Jungkook asked politely, knowing that these guards are superior.
"He'll be home by sundown, we'll make sure he is protected."
Jimin barely said a peep when Taehyung was escorted out of the library door. Jungkook exchanged a worried glance with him as the guards took him away.
Once the coast was clear, Jimin let out a sigh. Jungkook stared at the door like a lost puppy, waiting for his hyung to come back. The younger bit his lip as Jimin rubbed his shoulders,
"It's okay Kookie, Taehyung will be home by sundown. He hasn't done anything wrong,"
Jimin's honey-like voice made all of Jungkook's worries melt away, The older was smaller and has chocolate-brown hair and deep black eyes. Jungkook was often lost in those eyes, and Jimin was lost in Jungkook's gaze.
Jimin's younger brother died at war, as he was a soldier recruited like Taehyung, apart from there was nothing linked to looks. It was all random. Jimin remembers the day vividly, and he remembers the day when he recieved the letter to mark his brother's death. Jungkook being the same age as his brother makes Jimin's heart go soft, as he always thinks about how his brother would have come so far if he was still alive.
Jungkook had tears welling up in the corner of his eyes. Jimin's heart grew heavy in his chest as he patted the younger's shoulder. Jungkook always felt worried about his hyungs, but seeing Taehyung being recruited out of nowhere stunned him. Of course Taehyung would have been chosen. Even Seokjin admitted he was handsome.
-
The sun made Taehyung squint as the guards eagerly led him towards the enterance of the palace. In Taehyung's twenty-four years of living, he has never thought about winding up on the front step of the Emperor's palace. He bit his lip nervously as he shuffled inside.
Although the Palace looked grand on the outside, an old smell hung in the corridors. Taehyung couldn't quite put his finger on it; he thought it was just mould and dust building up, but it didn't make sense. If someone so royal lived here, then why isn't the place laced with gold and smelling like fresh herbs and lavender?
"Oh dear sir, I'm so pleased to have recruited you," a guard said with a perk in his voice. He sounded like a little boy, yet he was working for the most important person to probably ever exsist. The emperor meant too much for them, which is why Taehyung was pratically shaking at the sight of the throne room doors.
The guard signalled his friend to head inside, and that was when Taehyung started to panic.
"My Hyung is handsome too, I'm not fit for these kinds of jobs. I eat and play with my brother on a basis I can't work for the king," Taehyung began to quickly say.
Stunned by his words, the guard patted Taehyung on the head.
"Like we said earlier, you are a perfect candidate. If we see your hyung and think he's worthy, we'd probably bring him too."
Taehyung could feel his heart beat against his ribcage as he heard the guard talk with the emperor. His breath quickened when they were told to enter.
The doors being "big" was an understatement. The whole palace was grand, but at the same time it was antique. The walls looked old and rotten, but the palace also had some life in it too. Even the huge doors creaked when Taehyung followed the guard into the throne room.
He tried his best to not let his jaw drop in front of royal blood. Compared to the rest of the place, this was a whole different atmosphere. Taehyung didn't even set his eyes on the emperor yet, but he felt intimidated, small. He wondered what the girls saw in him to make them swoon. He felt like a coward.
As if he wasn't petrified enough, the man sitting on the throne, who happened to be cleaning a sword almost made Taehyung quake on the spot.
The emperor. He had blonde hair for a start, which surprised Taehyung as he has never seen someone with such hair colour. He looked intimidating, but his build wasn't that tall. He was so relaxed, as if he was unaware of the dominance he has over everyone in the palace. It was like he was the source of fear, once simple glance from his eyes could bring a man to his knees.
Taehyung swallowed the rather large lump in his throat as he locked eyes with the emperor and his sword. He noticed that to his right, there was another man with almond hair wearing the softest silk and the most beautiful crown. He stood there like a light, which brought hope to Taehyung's heart.
"Who might you be?" The emperor spoke, slowly putting down his blade to take a closer look at Taehyung.
"I-I'm Kim Taehyung your highness,"
"Kim, hm? You have respect like a real hwarang should; you should hear the quake in your voice,"
"I might not be a great candidate your highness—"
"And I'm Emperor Min. You are the perfect candidate, have you seen yourself in the mirror lately?"
Taehyung swallowed another lump in his throat. He didn't know how to feel.
-
As the sun began to set, Jimin walked Jungkook home after taking him out for a comfort meal. All colour was drained from the younger's face, and his heart pounded in his chest at the mere thought of his hyung before Emperor Min. Jimin looked quite worried too, as he lead Jungkook into his room.
"He'll be back. The guards will keep him safe remember?"
"I'll be fine Hyung. You didn't have to pay for dinner today. I'll owe you one,"
Jimin chuckled.
"Silly Jungkookie. You don't owe me anything. If he's not back by dark, I assure you Taehyung will be with me."
Jungkook nodded. He felt comfort as Jimin rubbed his cheek gently.
"I'll see you tomorrow Jungkook," Jimin softly said as he placed a kiss on the younger's forehead. With that, he quietly left Jungkook to wait for the rest of the members of his household to finally come home.
