Oceanblue | KV ✔

xxiv

Usually, I would say pls comment a lot but at this point, I've given up, just do what seems right to you

°°°

"That is impossible", Jeongguk said, staring at the pretty male in front of him who looked back at him with glossy doe eyes, shaking his head softly. "I'm not sure... but I have a story that might explain to you why I'm thinking that", Taehyung hurried to say because he felt Jeongguk slipping away.

"Please listen... please Jeongguk. I don't want to attack you, I want to communicate with you because I know what it feels like to be dealing with helpless anger", Taehyung said, eyes shortly unfocusing before he made his decision. "I was engaged without my consent, sold off to another kingdom because my father wanted to protect me and ensure my safety. But is it worth my freedom? I've never been free, just like you. I know I can't feel what you feel because I haven't been in your situation but I know what it feels like to be helpless. I had to watch how others ruled over my life and made me their puppet. Friends and family using me for their own purpose", the small raven said, somehow managing to still Jeongguk's movements with his words.

"From experience, you and I are no different... slaves in different ways but still slaves. I know it sounds disgusting to compare myself to you since I could never truly experience hunger but I experienced the fear for my life. And I also lost my father to a stupid fight", the prince told Jeongguk, offering him a piece of his heart.

Jeongguk took it without regrets and found himself moving closer to Taehyung, somehow feeling bonded to the prince despite being so different, yet so similar. Jeongguk has only found people who understood his anger and hatred but never tried to understand his reasons behind. He has felt alone in a sea too wide and deep. 

So he listened to Taehyung and found himself falling.

"My Appa was the most bravest man I knew and he had a heart of gold. He was an amazing regent and he loved me and my father beyond belief. I became the heir to the throne and Appa did anything to teach me the ways to treat the kingdom. He believed in kindness and understanding your pupils and taught me to never think of myself higher than others. We often did trips down to the villages, disguised of course, to get to know the people from up close. It was beautiful and horrifying. But I learned so much from it and I promised myself to be a good king in the future", Taehyung smiled fondly by these memories.

"What happened?", Jeongguk asked carefully, wishing to have experienced such a beautiful bonding to his own parents, but instead he has been sold off for a box of wine. 

"He was killed, during a war. My Appa fought so bravely but t-they were so many and they hunted our soldiers down. Appa was the last one to die and they sent my father his head", Taehyung's voice cracked at the end, recalling the horrible night where his father has screamed so loudly and blood curling, that his vocal cords were harmed permanently.

Starting from that day, Taehyung was forbidden to step foot outside the palace and his visits to the village together with his Appa became a faint memory. His father has turned stricter with him, drilled him more and soon announced his engagement to Kim Seokjin.

Taehyung knew, that despite all the pain his father Baekhyun held in his heart for the loss of his husband Chanyeol and true love, all he wanted was to protect Taehyung and ensure his safety.

Yet he bought that with Taehyung's freedom.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Taehyung", Jeongguk said and he meant it. No pet name denied the meaning behind his words and Taehyung was grateful for that. So he found the power to continue.