Author's pov:
Yuki could see the noticable shift in his posture. The frantic man had grown stiff, pale to the point his skin looked cold white with no warmth as if the blood streams in his body had dried out.
"Repeat that." He barely whispered.
A sudden emotion kicked in her gut. Was she feeling...worried? For him?
"What?"
"Repeat the name, please." Why were his eyes suddenly gleaming with helplessness?
"Jung Y/N." His grip on the bars loosened as he backed away.
Y/N?
This isn't how I wanted to hear my sister's name after so long.
***
Jungkook's pov:
The men in the room stop talking and look at the guard who barged in, breathless. We were in the middle of an important discussion about out war strategies and barging in like that was like a silent invitation to have my sword at their throats but the horror in his eyes stopped me from assuming as I waited for him to speak.
"Majesty, he's here."
"Where's Y/N?" I ask as I make my way through the hallways, annoyance slowly creeping in my veins.
"The queen is in the west wing, Majesty. She is taking history lessons." Jimin answers crisply, walking behind me. He was persistent to follow behind me even when I was sure I wouldn't need any sort of protection but right now, I wasn't in a state to convey that to him.
"Make sure she stays there." I command. I couldn't afford her presence In front of that man and had no idea up to what extent it could trigger him. He was unpredictable and his sudden arrival here was proof enough.
He had sent a letter a few days ago, saying he wanted to negotiate. I trusted him as much as I trusted a hungry hyena. I did not send a message back for there was no room for negotiation just like he said back in the hall. Even if he were to come here on my invitation, it would take up to four days to reach which only meant one thing.
He set out for his journey even before the letter was delivered here.
He didn't care about my reply. He just wanted a reason to come here and meet me.
He stood with his back facing me, staring out of the wall length open windows, the curtains blowing a little along with the breeze. The door closed behind us yet he made no movement to acknowledge my presence.
His guards were outside the room maybe he ordered them to stay outside while my General was stubborn enough to turn deaf to my commands.
I waited for him to make a move cause obviously he wasn't enjoying the view outside, his attention was on me the moment I entered.
"Its rude to not reply back to a letter, King Jeon. I guess, I'd have to teach you how to be polite." He tsked thrice before turning to face me.
"I must have been your acquaintance in my past life. Bad influence is too hard to let go." He smirks at my remark and takes a seat on the couch as if he owns the place.
"Please make yourself comfortable." He gestures towards the empty place opposite his and then interlocks his fingers, resting one elbow on the arm rest.
The changes in this man are significant, physically noticeable. The hollow of his cheeks is more defined, his eyes are sharp and alert contrary to the first time I met him. He talks with a resolution, a purpose like there isn't anytime to spare on meaningless things but at the same time would talk in circles, intentionally missing the entire point. That too had a purpose.
I take a seat opposite him while Jimin stands behind me, his face stoic as he stares ahead into the wall. Taehyung glances at him for a brief moment and corner of his lips crook up a little. "I didn't know you were that wary of me."
"I don't need to be wary of you even if I'm alone, King Taehyung. Its not my fault my best man is protective of me." Taehyung shrugs a little. He seems more level headed and cool than before or is just putting up an act to hide his impulsive behavior.
"Anyway, may I know why you took it upon yourself to visit me at a time like this, uninvited and uninformed?" I press the words.
"I had a feeling you'd be too slow in making up your mind. So, I made it easier for you. You were the one who said 'We can settle things peacefully'. So I'm here to settle things peacefully."
"What is it that you have to say?" I speak quickly wanting to get this over with. No matter what he says, I'll get triggered, I knew that. There really was no room left for a deal or negotiation.
"Right." He shifts a little and then looks for something on the couch. A tsk leaves his mouth as he scratches his forehead for a second.
He's doing this purposely. What could he get out of prolonging our little chat? I almost grew rigid when a possibility flashes in my mind.
He wants Y/N to come here.
The news must be spreading at this point. Is that why none of his soldiers came inside? No! My men wont let them roam free. Crap! I made sure she won't come out but making sure that the news won't reach her ears would have been a better option. What if she recognises their uniform? What if one of the maids start a gossip? She'd definitely find a way to crash our meeting if she gets a whiff of Taehyung's presence in the castle. She'd do it by hook or by crook.
I don't know why she was so adamant about him being a good guy, like she could really talk him out of this. The look in his eyes tells me otherwise, he's far too deep into this to back out now. That makes me even more curious to what he has to offer.
"Aha!" He reaches for something in his furry coat. A scroll?
He slowly opens it and examine its content as if didn't do it before coming here. He's starting to piss me off but I refuse to show him any signs like all this is going according to what he planned. It would boost his ego.
I tap my fingers on the arm rest as every second starts to feel like an hour. His eyes momentarily fall on my fingers before he swiftly looks away, poking his inner cheek. Bastard! He must be enjoying this.
I can't have Y/N come here. The thought of them being in the same room doesn't set right with me.
"I have things to do, King Taehyung." The words come out more strained than I intended, showing my growing agitation.
"Of course, here. Take a look." He folds the scroll and passes it to me. I almost snatch it from his hand and open it.
What is this?
Park Jae hi
Kim Soomin
Lee Jaeyoung
The list goes on and on. I drop my eyes to the length of the entire page and it ends at number 160. What are these names? Who are these people? I've never heard their names before.
Before I could voice my thoughts, Taehyung speaks.
"They are your people. During any war that happened in our history, these men grew prey to my father's claws. They were captured and imprisoned in our dungeons-" I look back at the scroll, trying to find a familiar name. After trying hard, I find some names. These were the people I trained with as a beginner. I never saw them again after the last war and assumed them to be dead. This means what he's saying right now is absolutely true. "-I'm not as awful as my father."
He continues but momentarily I was overcome by pure anger. How dare they? Imprisonment of foreign soldiers who did no crime and were just following orders and doing their duty? They had absolutely no right to do such a horrid thing.
I don't give a damn about what explanation he has to give. This itself is a crime. If the soldiers of our kingdom were taken That means other kingdoms weren't spared either.
The Kingdom of Ulsan is really looking for war.
"Who gave your Father the right to do such a thing?" I interrupt him, gritting my teeth, no longer hiding my displeasure.
He blinks twice. "Why are you so shocked? Things like this happen all the time. One kingdom conspiring against other, you know." He shrugs as if its not a big deal.
Didn't he just claim he wasn't like his father a minute ago?
"No, I don't know. I don't seem to get this for no matter how much Venom we might hold against any of the kingdoms, we respect our and their soldiers. Its a matter of moral beliefs! Without your men supporting you, you're nothing but as simple as a commoner. You just cannot toy with them like this! What if one day your men turn against you, King Taehyung? What would you do?"
"Something like that won't ever happen. They speak the language of money and power. They don't join army to serve the kingdom, they do it to get better pay. And I won't be as simple as a commoner, I'll still be far richer than them." I feel a disturbing aura from behind me and instantly know Jimin is getting angry too.
One thing you shouldn't do infront of this guy is disrespect a soldier's loyalty. You'll know how wicked he is otherwise.
He is one of those who'd give up on anything to serve the crown.
I stop myself from speaking something irrational, taking in a deep breath. "Why are you showing this to me if you want to conspire against me?" I regain my composure and sit back while almost crumbling the scroll in my hand.
"I'm here for a n.e.g.o.t.i.a.t.i.o.n. King Jeon, if you didn't hear me correctly the last time." He sits back as well and holds his chin up. "I'll set them free." I simply wait. There must be a catch. He isn't the generous type. His words have mirrored his character well enough. "And I'll also stop the war." I don't know why but my heart thumbs loudly. I sense something terrible coming.
"And why would you do that? What benefit do you get out of this generous offer? After all, you wanted to see me dead."
"I want something else more than just seeing you dead." He smirks.
"I want Y/N in return."
The moment he says that, I grip the arm rest so hard, I feel the wooden material stick in my nails. Jimin instantly draws out his sword and swiftly places it close to his neck.
"Orders, Majesty."
He sits unaffected, staring back at me with a smug look. Jimin's sword touches the skin of his neck but he still refuses to give a reaction. "General." I warn him to back off and he instantly withdraws.
"And what if I refuse?" I stand up, looking down on him.
Is this the guy Y/N was defending this entire time?
"You'll get a gift every second day." He stands up while his eyes stay locked with mine. "Four new dead bodies of your precious soldiers, every second day. And Ofcourse, the warm welcome with a war."
***