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⊰ chapter nine ⊱
Jeon Jungkook.
It meant nothing until he walked across the big, gold curved gates. He was no one until the royal bloodline until he had a dream to fulfill. He was no one until Zisk gave everything to him. Now, he was walking aimlessly across the Palace. When will this pain reduce?
The throne empty, the crown headless, the eyes mourning; it all seemed like a distant nightmare. Captive Easterns in the dungeons, a family in black curtains, a sun without hope was blazing until the clouds covered the skies and crowded the sky with light rain.
But Jeon Jungkook's heart was warry for what was coming next, the way he ached to hold his master a little more. The soldier saw the Kingdom die down with their last straw-Dara was in no state of speaking. She hadn't stepped out of her chamber once in the past four days. The King was buried in the Royal Minar alongside his brother and sister. Dara had gone to fulfill her duties as Arver's only child-just like he wanted his daughter to pay the last rituals of his death.
Jeon found himself welcoming Theon at the port. He wasn't surprised to see the Princess of Ermen along with him. Theon embraced Jeon upon approaching him. The men shared a minute of silence, griefing. Theon's eyes drenched with tears, his cheeks red when he pulled away, "How is she? Dara?"
The soldier shook his head, "She won't let anyone in."
When Theon tried, he failed. Dara had locked herself. Disappointed, Theon returned back to the King's chamber with Jeon, "The Easterns didn't take anything?"
"No." Jeon informed, "They wanted to scare the Princess, it looks like."
Theon nodded, "What do they want?"
Jeon didn't want to give away these secrets-these belonged to Dara. He shrugged lightly, "Not sure, pal. Mind asking if the Princess of Emer is here to stay or to send Dara her condolences?"
"Ah," Theon smiled shortly, "I married her, Jeon."
It took a second for Jeon to react to that. He hugged Theon again, the blonde-haired heartthrob laughing dryly at the gesture as they embraced. Jeon smiled, "Congratulations, prince. Though I would have liked it if you did invite me at least-we grew up together."
Theon patted his soldier, "I wanted to. But Ayree had her grudges. It was just papers, though-we did not have a loud ceremony. I heard of the King's death only after a day of my marriage."
The soldier nodded, not being able to smile anymore after the same mention of recent incidents. He followed Theon out of the chambers as the Prince spoke, "I will need a bigger chamber for me and Ayree as long as she's here. We will stay for a while and then, maybe, find a residence of our own. Somewhere between Emer and Zisk."
"You...won't stay back with Dara in Zisk?" Jeon asked.
Theon sighed a sad smile on his lips, "It's pride. I cannot reside in the same palace where my little sister rules when I very well know I too was capable of the throne-only because my royal parent was a woman, the throne denies me. But I am just as happy for Dara, Jeon. She is the perfect Queen, I promise you."
