"Jungkook!" Jimin's short breathing hitched after the swift kiss as he felt the king's grip around his waist. "What will we do if we're caught like this?"
"Oh Jimin, you didn't hesitate before when we kissed. What makes this so different?" Jungkook replied and finally loosened his grip around Jimin. "I don't care if I get caught anymore, I'd rather have the whole town talking about us than your engagement to a man you don't want."
"Well I can't be seen like this, I will be seen as an engaged omega having an affair with a commoner and my reputation would be ruined! You know how important reputation is viewed upon. I'm not to engage with you like this!"
"Well, would you like to go somewhere more... private?" Jungkook's whisper fell into a smirk that left Jimin's eyes wide open at the proposal.
"No!" Jimin bursted into laughter as he then shoved the alpha. Jimin has never felt so comfortable with any other living soul other than Jungkook. He was able to talk to the King about anything and now that their feelings were obvious about each other, Jimin couldn't be any happier at a moment like this after feeling the torture from his heat.
"Jimin, oh I wasn't thinking like that!" Jungkook laughed and once again, his arms found their way around the omega's frame. "I mean... let's go back to the omega river, we could spend our morning there."
"That's not a good idea for your senses. If anyone was to find us, you wouldn't be able to sense them from a mile away! Your senses would be blocked," Jimin assured and slowly moved the king's hands away from his waist. "I don't want you to risk it, too much of that place is bad for you."
"They won't be able to harm me Jimin, besides. I can be myself when I am alone with you. No guards, no eunuchs, no servants... Just us.."
Jungkook looked at Jimin as if he was all he had ever wanted. Jimin knew how important he was to the alpha and felt as if those feelings were mutual. Jimin was all the king had ever wanted and he knew it all; Jungkook's desperation for love was so obvious, it was like Jimin was reading the young alpha like a book. Jungkook was easy to manipulate; a naive boy who's heart was in his mind. Yet, Jimin couldn't help but to blush when Jungkook would say things like this.
The two eventually made their way to the Omega River, holding hands as they smiled along the way happily. Once they arrived at the river, they sat closer than they were at the Silent River. Jimin sat in front of the alpha's lap and leaned back onto the king's chest as they listened to the ripples of the river itself.
The moment was calm, gentle, simple. Jungkook's loud and endless thoughts grew silent as he carried Jimin's weight over his chest. Now, he couldn't focus on painting again. He had no reason to paint when his heart seemed to beat no further away. He used painting as a way to cope with his feeling of love; something he longed to feel. It was enough to distract him but now, he had no reason to avoid it when it was just starting to grow in his arms every second he spent with the beautiful omega. Their relationship had yet to blossom into real love, but for now, it was a romantic interest.
Jungkook's eyes fell onto Jimin's perfectly sculpted face. His pale skin resembled the winter and his plump lips resembled spring where all the cherry trees in the palace courtyard would bloom. As the alpha's eyes latched onto the omega, Jimin then focused onto the king. Jimin thought of the king as a charming man and despite his young age, he was as wise as an elder. Jimin couldn't pinpoint what made Jungkook so different, was it his charming features; his perfectly carved jaw, his pouting red lips, or was it his dedication of putting the ones he admired first? Whatever it was, Jimin knew he longed to stay in this moment for as long as he could.
"Hey..." Jimin spoke quietly as his eyes locked onto the alpha's beady eyes. "About that time... Do you remember? Remember when you told me about your parents. About how your father would hurt your mother when she was out of place... do you remember that?"
"How could I forget?"
"Were you honest with me then? With everything you told me on your beliefs?" Jimin wondered and gazed into the windows of the alpha's soul.
"I was always honest with you, just not on who I was, but yes, I remember. I remember all of it," Jungkook assured and let out a sigh. The boy was still overwhelmed with guilt when it came to confronting what he hid from Jimin before. It was like a constant reminder going off in his head; reminding him of how untrustworthy he was.
"I now understand why you had to hide such things from me... a King shouldn't be so foolish with who he was to just anyone. You would be vulnerable in the wrong hands. But, you were honest on who you were and that is what confuses me... You trust me with the character you've grown into, but not your actual identity."
"I only avoided that so I wouldn't be used again for my title. Other than my name and my royal line, I gave my all to you. All of my honesty and all of my personality," Jungkook said, carefully moving his hand along the grass where Jimin's fingers clung onto. "I'm sorry I had to start us off on a few lies that carried weight, but when I knew you were the one I could entrust my feelings to, I couldn't keep it in."
"You don't need to apologize to me, Jungkook! I already forgive you," Jimin whispered and intertwined his hand with Jungkook's. "But, are you really going to do this for me? Enact a marriage ban just for me?"
"You aren't happy without the idea of getting to choose who you want eternity with. I want you to have that choice."
"What about you? You're not putting yourself first... you have to think of yourself!"
"Maybe for some people, their way of putting themselves first is the act of putting others first. In other words, I want you to be happy. If you're happy, I will be too," Jungkook concluded and looked at Jimin's reaction. The omega was speechless by just hearing the alpha's words and never seemed to put that in consideration before. He acknowledged other people's feelings, but always put himself before others to make sure he had his way before, but as the king guided his mind to a different way of thinking, Jimin embraced it.
"You're a good man, Jungkook. I'm glad to have a king like you. Putting his people first. If you want to enact the new rules for me, I understand that as well."
This was what made Jungkook happy at their little moments. Jimin was always on the same page as the king, he reasoned with him and understood him. This was more than what Jungkook expected out of their bond; understanding and honesty. Jungkook smiled at Jimin and gazed at their hands that were interlocked.
"Jimin, when I enact this rule... I would be expected to look into omegas and see who is worthy to rule beside me. I want you to know that I will reject them all just for us..." Jungkook whispered but then closed his eyes as he then pressed Jimin's hand against his forehead.
"I understand."
"But, you will have to tell me if you'll want me at the end or not. If you do, we will be arranged to marry, but if you do not, I will have to choose anyone to marry. This isn't something I can lift and go back to searching for love, this is something that will lead me to marriage right after. No mistakes should be made." Jungkook's eyes pleaded to choose him at the end even if the future wasn't clear. Jungkook wanted eternity with this omega already even before they began to love each other.
"How could you say that? Speak as if I won't choose you at the end, I want you," Jimin assured and finally sat at the level of Jungkook's eyes to face him properly. "You're the only one I would choose."
"Then tell me... Tell me when you will be ready for marriage and I will marry you, I will make you my king who will rule alongside me," Jungkook confirmed after. He loved the sound of those lovely words rolling off his tongue.
The everlasting feeling of their romance always seemed to warm him up and feed his desperation, he didn't fear losing Jimin at all and believed he would marry the omega at the very end. Brushing off the advice Yoongi gave the alpha about not keeping high hopes for the future since it still had yet to reveal more.
"Then, what would happen after? Will you meet with my father?" Jimin asked into a giggle. "Come over for tea and talk to him about my behavior?"
"Oh Jimin," Jungkook cooed and cupped the omega's face after. "There won't be any need to discuss your behavior... You're not an object, you are your own person to me."
To Jimin's ears, that was all he had ever wanted; to be treated the same in a relationship, and with Jungkook, he received just that. The two stayed together for the morning and after, it was difficult for them to finally leave each other once they went their separate ways.
Eventually, Jungkook reached his throne room where he was just served supper. The alpha was distracted as his servants served him his meal, he couldn't stop thinking of his future with Jimin. The whole morning felt at ease, they held each other and kissed as the romantic morning lasted longer than they expected. As Jungkook was swept by his vast imagination, he didn't realize when Yoongi stepped in to guard him for the hour.
Yoongi dismissed the servants and smiled at the king's direction. He was more excited and alive compared to how he was before without Jimin. At this moment, Yoongi just knew Jimin must have returned to him after so long.
"Someone looks very pleased. After so long, has Jimin finally returned to you?" Yoongi questioned and tucked his hands behind before walking forward.
"Yes, my swan has returned to me. Now, I can say we are together and we have each other now," Jungkook replied and continued to gaze off; running his hands through his silk sleeves and smiling with his eyes that began to shine like the stars to the night sky. "He is all I've ever wanted, all I've ever lived for, everything I've hoped for... love isn't in our hearts yet, but it's the start of something that will lead to that soon. I like him so much..."
"Does this mean you will marry him tomorrow?" Yoongi joked around and continued to smile at the king. He couldn't help but to feel proud of the king himself for finding Jimin once again and setting things right this time.
"I will marry him when the time is right, I don't want to marry him out of my own wishes, I long for him to make a decision."
"Is he still engaged?"
Jungkook then looked at the guard right after, giving him a more direct and bland glare at the tone of his question. "Yes, but not for long. I will enact a marriage ban. This will give Jimin time for marriage instead of rushing it, it will also put a pause to his 'engagement' so when he is ready, I will be able to marry him once we fall in love. The engagement will be no more and he will be by my side. I just need his word, that is all," Jungkook replied and finally glanced down at his bowl of soup on the table.
"Patience is the best answer, but don't you think setting this up is a bit too soon? The two of you just started something innocent, you don't know if it will last as long as you please," Yoongi mentioned and tilted his head. "Also, this shouldn't be only Jimin's decision on when to marry, it should be yours as well. This is a relationship; a bond of two people. This is a decision the two of you should partake when the time comes after love."
"No... It shouldn't. We planned this early to have an idea! Of course Jimin will be mine when the time comes, he can't just wake up one day and forget what we have. Anyway, Jimin longs to marry when he is ready, so I will wait for his answer. Then, we will be together. I do not need to alter his choices and he will not change his," Jungkook retorted and glared at the guard once more. It was a sudden tick Jungkook seemed to have; a familiar anger that sprung out when it came to speaking about Jimin. His desperation filled his heart completely and even the slightest sound of negativity attached to Jimin's perfect name, upset the king greatly. "Jimin will always be with me, he told me!"
"I understand the process of taking things slow, but Jungkook, you need to give him an answer as well. What if one day he wouldn't feel the same? Feelings change... you need to be able to have a decision and not automatically decide for your future self! The world changes in many ways and so do people, the leaves won't remain the same color each season. You can't assume he will love you, there's a chance that he wouldn't want you as much as he does now, keep an open mind and communicate to avoid it."
Yoongi didn't seem to admire the idea of Jimin having complete control on when to marry. There was a voice in the guard's head thinking, what if Jimin soon grows out of the king's liking by the time the omega longs to marry? Jungkook would have to pull through and with the pressure of the marriage ban, the boy would have no choice but to be with someone other than Jimin.
"W-What... What are you trying to say?" Jungkook hissed and threw his piercing gaze onto the solid ground. "There couldn't be a chance our love will run out! Jimin told me I am the one he chooses to be with, my swan wouldn't lie to me. I would wait forever if I have to, I will still have him. Our love will grow into something stronger one day!"
"But, you wouldn't know that. You cannot assume you would still want him. Today is the first time he has returned to you after an argument and you were crying about how scared and uncertain you were of the future. You weren't so sure he wanted you then, why do you assume it would stay the same? You need to have a choice in this, Jungkook. You just can't give Jimin all the control in your life. Surely, your interest for him will still be there and for him the same, but you need to be able to show him you have a say in this as well."
"Jimin has me now and he will love me after! No matter what, do you understand me?" Jungkook hissed and stood up to face the guard. "There will never be a moment when Jimin finds his love for me falling short because our hearts are intertwined!" The king then approached the older alpha and watched Yoongi step back in worry.
"Jungkook, listen to yourself, has your desperation really got a hold of your sense of thinking?"
"Y-You don't know what you're talking about! What I have with Jimin is special and understanding. He wouldn't change his mind or ever grow out of me, we aren't in love yet... But it will happen, I am sure of it," Jungkook replied in frustration as he then fixed the crown over his head due to his lack of good posture.
Again, the boy was a desperate king when it came to love. He was so sure of his feelings once they surfaced and he was so sure Jimin would always love him. His mind completely went over the many nights he lied awake at night wondering if Jimin truly cared for him and if he was ever to come back to the river, as if he blocked out anything that could harm the perfect relationship he set out for himself. It was at this moment, Jungkook found himself putting Jimin on a pedestal and his mind sought to find only the perfect words to associate with the beautiful omega.
Yoongi was worried about the king. He set up the idea that Jimin would have everything he could ever want from the king; even a say in when to marry without Jungkook's future input. The king was happy with his choice of letting Jimin have a say when, but Yoongi believed the king should establish a decision that they both could agree on. As much as a helpful man Yoongi was, he had the habit of trying to push his advice onto Jungkook to guide him, but sometimes, it became an argument.
"Jungkook, I just think you shouldn't set this up too soon, you don't know what could unfold-"
"I've heard you before and I decided that Jimin could say when he is ready and he will soon love me, our relationship is just starting out but he will always be here no matter what! So, I will wait for him and I will always have him with me, I am sure of it," assured the king. Just then, Jungkook raised a hand over Yoongi's shoulder and looked him in the eyes with a stone cold expression. "New rules, I will enact the marriage ban and as for you, you will no longer tell me how to manage my relationship,"
"But, Jungkook, you can't be so sure-"
"Enough of this, please change your post with the next guard. I want to eat alone and in peace," concluded the young king. Jungkook finally removed his hand from his close guard and walked away; having his back face the alpha as his mind fought off the comments Yoongi told the king when they argued.