The day was cooler than normal for a summer day; it had been a year since Taehyung and Jeongguk first trained with their magic, and they would practice when they could. The warlock was busy doing a few jobs for Namjoon; delivering potions to people around the castle and a few around the village just outside the castle grounds.
A few of the children were running around just as the warlock was finishing his last delivery and about to head back into the castle to see what his lover was up to. But stopped and watched the children play tag and run around on the grass close to where the knights would train, but not too close where they would be in the way. Their giggles were loud, and their smiles were huge; it looked like their cheeks would hurt later on from all the smiling going on.
Jeongguk couldn't help but smile at their antics and watch with glee. The children looked to be having fun, and the warlock felt his heart flutter from their smiles.
"Mr!" A child called out as soon as he noticed Jeongguk watching them.
"O..oh me?" He looked around as he pointed to himself before looking back to the children.
The children ran up to him with giggles erupting from their lips. "Mr., can you please play with us!"
Jeongguk looked at the child for a second and thought to him about it; it wouldn't hurt to play with the children either and he doesn't need to be in the castle just yet as Taehyung is in a few meetings. So, with a smile that resembled a bunny, he nodded.
"Sure, what are we playing?" He asked as he squatted down to their eye level.
"We are playing tag!" A little boy shouted. "And..." He had a mischievous little grin on his face. "You're it!" He tapped the warlock's arm before running off.
Jeongguk gasped in fake surprise before running after the children in the small grassy area of the currently unused training area. The moment was heartwarming watching as the children were running away giggling while Jeongguk ran after them while laughing; every now and then he would pretend to miss them and land on the ground before faking a whine with a big smile before getting back up and chasing after the children again.
"You can't get us!" The children sang as they ran with a giggle.
"Ah! You may be right, but I can try!" Jeongguk joked as he approached the small group of children before zoning in on one boy and lightly tapping his shoulder.
"You're it!" Jeongguk exclaimed as he slumped back to the ground.
The little boy gasped. "Oh no!" Then he turned to the older male. "I'll get my revenge!" He exclaimed as he ran towards the male before tackling him to the ground.
"What-" Jeongguk groaned as he was pushed to the ground with the little boy sitting on his stomach. "Oof-"
"You're it!" The boy giggled.
"Really? Again, " Jeongguk started to tickle the little boy with a smile, making the boy let out giggles. The warlock sat up and let the boy fall into his lap as he continued to tickle the boy more.
"Stop!" The boy exclaimed with high-pitched giggles and tried to pry the warlock hands off him. Jeongguk stopped to let the boy breathe and smiled as he watched the boy catch his breath, making sure he was okay.
The little boy noticed someone behind Jeongguk standing on the stairs that led to the castle. "Uh..Mr.. " He hid into the warlock's chest.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Jeongguk hummed as he asked.
"The king is watching.."
This made Jeongguk look behind him, and he saw his lover standing there with a smile on his face and fondness in his eyes; the look alone made the warlock blush. Taehyung had been in a few meetings that morning, so he had to wear his cloak that had fur around the neck and was made of red velvet.
"You know he's nice. He isn't like his father," Jeongguk reassured. "You know that, right?"
"Of course I do!" The boy nodded. "It's.. just.. are we doing something wrong?" He asked sadly.
"Oh!" Jeongguk then shook his head. "No, no, we weren't. He's probably finished with his meetings for today and probably wants me to come back inside." He smiled.
"Oh! Okay!" The little boy smiled.
"Now," Jeongguk moved the little boy off his lap. "Run back to your eomma, I think it's getting close to lunch,"
The little boy gasped. "You're right!" He smiled and ran off, leaving the warlock to walk back to his lover.
Jeongguk smiled as he walked to Taehyung, and they both turned to walk back inside the castle. Keeping their distance before they were away from the prying eyes of the villagers. As much as they wanted to hold hands going up the stairs back inside the castle, they knew they couldn't yet.
"Have you finished your deliveries, my love?" Taehyung asked softly as he looked at the warlock.
"Yeah, I have," Jeongguk smiled. "Do you have any more meetings to go to Taehyungie?"
"No, I haven't." Taehyung smiled back. "Do you want to have lunch with me? We'll go to that spot we normally go to"
"I'd love that hyungie," Jeongguk nodded as the king directed their path towards the kitchen.
"I'll ask the cooks to give you the tray, then I'll go up to our quarters and get changed out of this," He gestured to his cloak. "And into something a lot more comfortable"
"Okay," Jeongguk nodded. "Do you know how long you'll be?"
"Possibly thirty minutes," the king hummed and then knocked on the kitchen's door.
"Your highness! What brings you here?" One of the cooks asked as they leant on the door frame.
"Just picking up lunch for myself and Jeongguk." He smiled. "Could you give the tray to Jeongguk as well? I want to get changed out of my cloak, " He explained.
"Oh, not a problem, Sire!" He smiled at the warlock. "Will you two be eating outside the castle again?" He raised an eyebrow with a smirk. It was a knowing smirk of sorts.
"Yes, we will be." Taehyung gave a smile. "I'll be off then." He was about to turn to walk away but stopped to look at the warlock. "Once you get the tray, you can go straight to our place, okay?"
"Okay." Jeongguk gave him a smile as he watched him walk to the stairs that lead further into the castle.
The warlock turned to look back at the cook, who looked at him with a smile. "Won't be too long, lad, we're just adding the finishing touches." Then he closed the door as he went back inside.
Jeongguk stood by the door as he waited for the cook to bring out the silver tray he's grown to recognise. Today had felt more than good; it felt special, nothing too out of the ordinary, everything felt right, and for once, it didn't scare him. There were no scorers trying to take the throne or trying to kill Taehyung; nope. Nothing but peace. He was happy about it. Finally, so down time without using his magic for protection but rather just silly things he does with his lover.
"Here you are," the cook spoke as he opened the door and passed the silver tray to Jeongguk. "Be careful though there is a special request from the king under that lid,"
"I'll be careful, don't worry." Jeongguk nodded before turning and walking out of the hall and down the stairs to the outside.
Their spot was the one where Taehyung had suggested they sit whilst the younger was studying a year or so ago; it just so happened to have turned into their secret hang out spot and it's been like that ever since. They would go there when they wanted some time to relax or just talk, and it was another space that wasn't the older quarters where the two could be themselves with each other.
"This spot will do nicely." Jeongguk smiled as he placed the tray down on the grass and sat by the trunk of the tree. And then he waited. He knew that his lover wouldn't be long, so he didn't mind the wait.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the nice breeze that had just started against his cheeks. Then he let it out slow, enjoying the moment of how time just felt like it had come to a pause.
"Did I keep you waiting, baby?" The recognisable voice of his lover made Jeongguk open his eyes. "I'm sorry if I did," Taehyung chuckled.
"No, you didn't, hyungie, it's okay." Jeongguk smiled. The king was now wearing a loose tunic and some more comfortable pants rather than the tight pants he was wearing before.
"Now, let's see what we have, shall we?" Taehyung sat down and lifted the lid of the silver tray.
Now beneath the lid and on the tray below, there was an assortment of small sweet cakes, strawberries, and blueberries, with two ham and vegetable sandwiches cut in half to make four slices. There was also the request that the cook had mentioned, and it was two crepes filled with ice cream and melted chocolate.
"Woah.." Jeongguk looked awestruck. "... it all looks delicious, hyungie. "
"Well, go on," Taehyung nudged the younger one. "Take the first bite,"
Jeongguk didn't know what to choose. He thought it would be best to eat the sandwich first and save the sweeter things for after. Taehyung followed suit and ate half of the sandwich slices there. The warlock was looking around the scenery, enjoying all the colours that were so bright and so vibrant he couldn't help but stare.
"Jeongguk." The warlock turned to look at his lover who, without his knowing, had moved to be so he was on one knee and facing the younger.
"Oh my god.." Jeongguk muttered as he covered his face as soon as he noticed the blue velvet box that was in Taehyung's hand.
"Jeongguk, from the moment I met you in that hall when you just arrived, I knew that there was something that no one else could see; but me. What or.. well, who I saw that day was someone who I knew would stick by my side all the years to come.." He smiled softly. "Then the night when you told me about you being a warlock... it didn't change a thing about who you were to me, you were someone I could trust and someone I knew I could never let go; you made me fall so heavily in love with you it is insane"
This made them both laugh with small tears in their eyelashes. Taehyung then lifted the blue velvet box up and opened it, revealing a golden ring with the texture of how the ocean looked; the bumps of the waves, and where they met.
"What I'm getting at is..Jeongguk.." Taehyung took a breath as he looked into the warlock's eyes. "Will you marry me?"
"Yes," Jeongguk nodded as he wiped his tears. "I do, I will, whatever else people say!"
He pulled Taehyung into a passionate, emotional, and slightly messy kiss; their smiles continuously broke it every one and then. The king put the ring on the warlock's ring finger and placed a kiss over it. The warlock wasn't his boyfriend anymore; he was his fiance. And he liked the sound of that.
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Hi! I hope you liked it!
Isn't it cute? Isn't it silly?
This was actually the chapter that was going to be just as a short story years ago, actually, but I decided to have it be its own book. Now, this isn't the end. 64 out of 100.
I know it's long but there is a lot planned! And I can't leave everyone disappointed with the lack of smut, now can I?
Speaking of smut, chapter 83. So... a long way to go, sorry.
Also, this was the ring;
It was kinda hard to explain
I purple you 💜💜💜💜