ɬɧɛ ɱąɖ ƙıŋɠ//℘ʝɱʄʄ

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The throne room was emptied of guards and maids, even the king's personal General was absent. The only presence was the young king's who had planted himself on the golden throne with legs parted and elbows propped onto the armrest while he drowned deep in his ocean of thoughts. He had long forgotten time itself as he sat in loud silence while staring into nothingness.

His trusty council members were all out and busy in the streets of Inferno, guards were all summoned by the head captain for some briefing, maids were preparing dinner and his General was training the soldiers in the military base. Leaving him and his thoughts alone which wasn't the best option but he insisted to stay behind in the castle for work but really, he just wanted some alone time, even away from the one he desired the most.

It was strange, really strange, that Jimin didn't persuade Xena to let him tag along and not even a hint of reluctance when he said he's going to stay in the throne room. Even so, the General brushed it off and they went their separated way. She's been observing him closely especially after his mother's chaotic acts and words and she could tell the young king wasn't present mentally and emotionally, even felt that he was distanced.

Whenever they chat, Jimin's eyes would start to lower as if he was zoning out and he wasn't even putting efforts in giving vague responses. Xena really wanted to brush it off and call it a "stressful time" but her couldn't because he wasn't as busy as before and all the tasks have been handled by the council members. So what was bothering him? She wanted to ask but he seemed....distanced, to the point where questioning his absence would sound a little dramatic.

While Jimin get engrossed into his thoughts, he failed to notice the dull and gloomy General he had caused. The way she unconsciously pouted, her once proud opened shoulders were now hunched, eyes staring at him as they silently pleading for what she missed a lot. His attention. She's surely not a needy woman nor was she a clingy partner but the sudden detachment from the one she sticked to was just too much to handle alone.

Well, not alone for long at least. Not when a particular red haired prince kept his hawk eyes on them both. He seen all of it. Everything from his cousin's coldness to the General's long face, he seen it and he wasn't too pleased with it. Taehyung knew he can't have Xena but seeing his lucky cousin who had her dismissed her love so frequently these days just made him want to snatch her away. He thought of how could Jimin deserved such a beautiful soldier yet paid no attention to her pleading eyes.

Taehyung would find himself glaring at his cousin whenever he saw their very boring interaction and how Jimin often answers with a simple hum, making Xena silencing herself. Surely the young king's recent frequent visits to the lab didn't go unnoticed by the prince, finding it strange considering he hadn't even drop by after the arrival of the General. Taehyung felt pity for the General who always waited for the young king's return in front of his bedroom even when her droopy eyes were failing to keep her awake and how she stumbled on her stance.

The red haired prince also felt somehow obligated to accompany her and to fill in what Jimin had left empty even having to know the General dead set loyalty to her king. He didn't have any intention in sabotaging the relationship yet he couldn't help but fell more in love with Xena in those times he spent tagging along to her work.

The dedication and determination this strong held were no joke and how she presented herself to armies of men soldiers made them looked pathetic. Not to mention how she always insist to work alone just to push him away shows just how much she loves Jimin yet that young king stayed in the throne room or in the lab instead. It somehow hurts him to see her alone and patiently waiting for the young king. Though no one really has an idea of what's occupying the young king's mind, Xena still stood stagnant on their love, believing that she could find the answer to this and solve it just to get him back.