Misery /✔/ Taekook

Chapter Twenty-Six

"You...what?"

Jungkook watched Taehyung stand up from his seat at the table across from him. They were at Taehyung's house as Jungkook didn't want to keep Hanseok waiting for too long plus, Taehyung's mother had to go into town and couldn't watch Hanseok for too long. She hated taking the seven-year-old to the market as the boy tended to mess too much and asked for everything.

Jungkook had just finished telling Taehyung the events that happened that morning with his father. The look on Taehyung's face was the opposite of what Jungkook was hoping but it matched what he was expecting. He simply sighed as the younger man started pacing the kitchen.

"You can't do that, Jungkook," Taehyung said, "are you insane?"

"And why can't I?" Jungkook asked, frowning.

"Jungkook, are you not grasping the entire situation?!" Taehyung exclaimed, "this is your life you're giving up and for what?! Me? No, I'm not letting you do that. You can't do that to yourself or your people, you just can't."

"I never wanted to be king in the first place!" Jungkook argued back, "and my father is always on my back but he's pulled the last straw, Taehyung. I was thinking once I found someone to marry, he'd lay off but he's not even allowing me to do that, do you not understand how much hell you'd go through if I bring you into the royal family while I'm king? With my father antagonizing, my "people" harassing you — you won't get a break. At least, if I willingly step down from the throne, we can live peacefully."

"And who's to say your father and the rest of the kingdom will be okay with you stepping down?" Taehyung asked, retaking his position at the table. "Who's the say we can live peacefully? People will be mad, Jungkook. They'll blame me for your choice, your father already tried to get rid of me once."

Jungkook shook his head but he found himself unable to speak. He knew what Taehyung was saying was true. His brother could rule the kingdom but that didn't mean his father wouldn't start sticking to his back just the way he had done to Jungkook, telling him what to do and how to do it. Jungkook's brother could force him to marry someone of his father's choosing and have no problem with it as the older man is already married with children, he couldn't care less about how Jungkook felt.

But he already told his father what he wanted. He could easily kick his father out of the kingdom but how would that make him look? There was a possibility that his people would leave with his father upon knowing that the old man was leaving. And then he could lose connections with other kingdoms if word got around — and word would definitely get around.

The better option was the give Junghyun the crown but Jungkook and Taehyung wouldn't be able to stay in the kingdom.

"We—" Jungkook stopped himself as he looked his boyfriend in the eyes. He sighed, "would you leave the kingdom with me?"

Taehyung sat back in his chair. He stared at Jungkook as if waiting for the man to say something else or offer a different solution. But the look on Jungkook's face told him that that was the only solution he had. Jungkook was expecting him to up and leave everything he's gotten used to including his family?

"Jungkook..." Taehyung started but he didn't know how to answer Jungkook's question.

He truly wanted to be with Jungkook, there was no lie there. And there was no doubting Jungkook's love for Taehyung. But Taehyung didn't know if he could see himself leaving his mother and sister having just reunited with them two years ago. His brother had moved out a while ago, but his sister made no hint at leaving. Two years is a long time of course, but there was so much time to recover with his family that two years didn't offer. He wasn't sure if he was ready to cut their time "short" and leave with the love of his life or not.

"I know it's a lot to ask for," Jungkook said, glancing at the door as Hanseok ran onto the porch but backed away as something in the yard caught his attention. He disappeared off the porch and Jungkook continued talking. "But I just want you to know that it's your decision, whatever you choose to do, I'll accept It. I just want to be with you and I want to live peacefully with you and Hanseok, I'm tired of unnecessary trouble coming your way because of me."

"It's not your fault, Jungkook, I've told you this," Taehyung said.

Before they could continue talking, Hanseok crashed into the kitchen. He had dirt and sand in his hair and shirt making Taehyung cringe and Jungkook laugh. He watched Taehyung stand up and take the boy outside and dust him off while scolding him for getting so dirty. Hanseok just sheepishly smiled and stiffly moved around as his daddy tried to get as much dirt and sand off his body as possible.

Jungkook couldn't act like that when he was a child. As a prince, he was required to stay clean and act, well, princely at all times. Even though Hanseok was technically a prince, he was glad the boy got to have a good childhood with Taehyung, he knew if he stayed in their old kingdom with his other "grandmother" he wouldn't be near as happy as he was now.

The duo walked back into the kitchen and Hanseok wiggled his arms out of Taehyung's grasp and ran towards the hallway to change. Taehyung heaved a sigh and sat back down, watching his seven-year-old barrel down the hall and almost run into his bedroom door.

"He's too much at times," Taehyung mumbled, "he's excited that you're here too."

"I'm just glad he likes me so much," Jungkook laughed, "he's great."

Taehyung hummed in agreement. He looked up at Jungkook before sighing. "If...if we left, Hanseok would be affected too you know. He loves it here, I don't know if he'd be happy to leave."

"I know," Jungkook said, "I've thought about that. I don't want you to think that I'm forcing you to leave or anything, everything comes down to your decision. If you choose to leave, I can explain to him why. He's old enough to understand."

Taehyung fell quiet, staring down at his hands that were pressed against the surface of the table. If they left, couldn't the former king just order Jungkook's brother to send the guards and knights after them? Would Jungkook's father go through so much trouble even if Jungkook wasn't the king? There was no definite answer but Taehyung couldn't help but think that Jungkook's father would actually go out of his way to tear them apart considering that he had actually hired respected men to try to make him leave. But maybe it was just because he wanted Jungkook to marry Alika and once Junghyun took the crown, his father would have no choice but to accept Taehyung and Jungkook's relationship.

Then again, maybe that was just wishful thinking.

"How long will it take?" Taehyung asked after a while. "How long will it take for everything to play out?"

"So you're agreeing to leave with me?" Jungkook asked as a smile crept onto his face.

Taehyung gulped. "I just want to know how long it will take for your brother to get the crown and all."

"I'll have to hold a speech and ceremony for my departure, they'll hold a celebration for Junghyun and Yuna, I'll contact the royal family of whatever kingdom we choose to move to — benefits — and then we will depart afterwards so I'll say about a month or two."

Taehyung nodded. He could only hope that things would play out as smoothly as Jungkook had stated.

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Word Count: 1335

Should they move?

Dynamite 🎶🎧🔊