NEXT DAY

The sun shined in the meadows of the gumiho land, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape. The dew-kissed grass sparkled like tiny diamonds. A soft breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flora, while the sun’s rays danced playfully across the vibrant petals.

The breeze flew and reached the Kim's Mansion, gently knocking the paper-thin doors, and getting mixed with the aroma of the freshly prepared breakfast.

For the last three days, SeokJin has been working late and leaving for work early.

Spending his time after work in a dimly lit bar, he deliberately indulged himself in drinking, to suppress his restless thoughts. Skipping dinner yesterday didn't help Kim's concern for him. At the same time, Y/n felt helpless and guilty for him, knowing the reason behind his state.

"Where's Jin Hyung?"

"He left like half an hour ago," Hoseok blabbered while munching on breakfast as Namjoon walked inside SeokJin's room.

"Again," Namjoon muttered under his breath.

Namjoon sat down and started munching on the breakfast as well. After a few moments, Y/n entered the room with a small tray in her hands, "Hoseok if you've finished, try these. I've made your favourite banana pancakes!"

Anticipation filled her eyes when she sat beside Hoseok and excitedly added, while Namjoon quietly watched and focused on his meal.

"I'm full, I don't feel like eating it," Hoseok bluntly added and coldly glanced into Y/n's eyes. A smile that lined her lips slowly faded with Hoseok's response.

"But it's your favourite ones, just take a bite at least."

"Y/n I told you that I'm full, stop whini--"

"Umm! That's delicious. Y/n what kind of magic do you carry in your hands, despite being a human?"

Y/n briefly glanced in Namjoon's direction when he swiftly shifted the plate full of pancakes towards him. Hoseok's brows frowned, and lips curled up in disgust, however, within seconds, he instinctively snatched the plate away from Namjoon and hissed, "She made it for me!"

Namjoon perked his head up and retorted, "But do you deserve it?"

"What?!" Hoseok uttered.

"G-guys! Guys! You both can have it. I'll make some more," Y/n hurriedly added when she noticed the change in the atmosphere.

"Let it be, Y/n. I'm leaving for work. And yes, don't spend so much time in the pantry," a small smirk-smile lined Namjoon's lips when he teasingly added, he stood up from his sitting position, his eyes never leaving that of Y/n.

Y/n blushed and tried hiding it with the back of her palm when she remembered the moment they shared in the pantry.

Hoseok was witnessing it all. He felt everything and noticed every secret smile that Namjoon and Y/n shared, but chose to ignore it. It would be wrong to say that he gave up on Y/n and wasn't waiting for her answer. It was hurting him, yet he was still waiting, but this time as a friend who was expecting his friend to come clean first and tell him everything that was going on between them.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

At the castle of Kim's clan

It was the rays from the dusky sky that gently brushed Taehyung's enthralling features as he stepped onto the wooden bridge towards the hexagonal Pavilion.

The air was fragrant with the scent of blooming lotus flowers. Along with lotus, water weeds covered some part of the pond's surface on either side. Taehyung briefly glanced in the pond and saw different types of carp swimming freely.

The royal pond was surrounded by trees like Chinese Juniper, Maple, Pine, and Oak, whose leaves swayed along the gentle push of air and made the Prince's restless mind at ease for some milliseconds.

He wore his usual royal blue velvety jacket with jewels here and there. Feeling suffocated in the clothes that no longer belong to him, he huffed a great exhale. Moving forward, he finally reached the hexagonal Pavilion where the King awaited his presence.

The King sat across an intricately crafted low-wooden centric table, exuding an air of authority and grace, adorned in a traditional hanbok that reflected the rich heritage of his kingdom.

The hanbok was crafted from luxurious silk in a shade of deep red, symbolizing power, with intricate gold embroidery that caught the light as he shifted in his position.

His face carried a dignified expression, framed by a subtle beard that grew during his recovery period but at the same time, it enhanced his regal presence.

"Your Majesty," Taehyung spoke as he stood at the entrance of the Pavilion.

"You can come in."

Taehyung pulled off his shoes and proceeded to seat himself on the cushion placed across the table.

"Have some Yujacha (honey citron tea)," the King said as he poured his son some tea from the white cattle resting nearby on the table. Taehyung did not say anything, nor did he nod, his gaze just followed his father's actions.

Kim Jeong Ho smoothly shifted the small tea towards Taehyung, "Here."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Taehyung responded but it made Jeong Ho's head perked up in seconds.

He waited for Taehyung to take a sip before he spoke, starting the conversation, "How did the meeting with the ministers go?"

"It doesn't go well, Your Majesty. Even though I did as you told me to, they don't seem to be convinced by my words. And besides, they kept on asking about your whereabouts."

"What did you say then?"

"I said you're having a headache, but they didn't want to believe my words. Your Majesty, It seems like rumours about your health are spreading across the palace. And only you stepping out of your quarters can silence them."

The King hummed in agreement, "Also about King Min Yoongi, any letters from his clan?"

"The last one was from the Queen. I think they're planning an attack. Quick measures should be taken against him, or else we'll be the ones to suffer, they have quite a stronger army than us."

Jeong Ho sighed as he remembered how his once dear friend was so focused on maintaining a powerful armed force, "I know, Min Yoon Chae always had a strict eye on his defence department... anyways, inform SeokJin about bringing every witness to the royal court, tomorrow."

Taehyung's eyes widened and eyebrows arched when he hurriedly added, "But father! Involving ministers will only cause more trouble."

"Who said I'm involving them?"

The twisted nerve inside Taehyung relaxed when he hummed in understanding. He took another sip from his tea cup and Jeong Ho spoke again.

"Put everything aside, answer my simple question."

"Taehyung hummed, "Please ask."

"Why do you think I'm wearing this hanbok?"

Taehyung's eyes traced the hanbok wrapped across his father's physique. Although he did noticed the cloth, but didn't give it a thought. After thinking for a few seconds he replied, "I am not aware of that, Your Majesty."

Jeong Ho eyed Taehyung for a while before he spoke, "It was the one your mother gifted me."

A small smile lined across Jeong Ho's lips when his eyes traced the silky cloth, "These embroideries were her doing. She was a very smart and talented woman indeed."

A hint of relief sparkled in Taehyung's eyes when he saw his father's eyes light up while talking about his mother.

"Have I told you before, how we got married?"

"No, father," Taehyung added in anticipation.

With a long dreadful sigh, Jeong Ho spoke, "It all started when a minister named Kwak Kyung Shim suffered allegations of heavy corruption, your mother's first husband. Even though he shared his part in corruption, he was just a pawn framed by other members of the royal court to save themselves from the punishment that was getting beheaded."

"Kwak Kyung Shim already suffered from a ruined image of a drunk man, and a bad caretaker for his family, even with so much wealth. Everyone in the castle was aware of the fact, and the other ministers used this for their evil intentions."

"When I permitted humans to live with us, our tribes changed to clans, and I was assigned as a young King, because of the royal blood that thumped inside my veins. Every minister inside the royal court was your grandfather's close one, hence they got the position."

"Then, one day, your mother suddenly showed up in front of me. I still remember how noble, elegant and beautiful she looked in a pink and white floral hanbok despite being older than me. She pleaded in front of me to stop her husband from getting beheaded, and how a lot of ministers are involved in corruption. But I was helpless, Kyung Shim was indeed a culprit and a pawn."

"But suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, she seemed to be very confident about who the other involved ministers were. When I first asked her to reveal the names of her husband's companions, she refused. And put forward a deal of this information with pieces of evidence in exchange for saving her husband."

Jeong Ho chuckled and shook his head, "She was indeed one daring woman to make a deal with the King," he said. Taehyung's lips curved into a small smile, as his eyes sparkled upon gaining more knowledge about his mother.

"I declined the deal and instead put forward a much better deal for her, which was to give the manual that had all the records of the missing treasure and become my wife."

Taehyung played with his fingers when he finally realised that his parent's marriage was not how he expected it to be. It was a deal made to benefit both of his parents. A wave of sadness washed over him, and his shoulders dropped but his ears remained focused on Jeong Ho's next words.

"She instantly declined the offer, she became so embarrassed that she teleported out of the palace. I accepted it, but what shocked me was when she showed up a day later, with the manual in her hand."

"How did she get her hands on the manual?" Taehyung asked.

"This whole group of corrupted members made a record of every penny because even they didn't trust themselves and it was Kwak Kyung Shim's idea. Only the members knew where in his mansion the manual was hidden, but your mother was a cunning lady. She stole it before anyone could and manipulated the ministers into saying that it's already been disposed of by Kwak Kyung Shim."

"Soon, the whole group was sentenced to death, which included some of your grandfather's allies as well. And that's how more deservable candidates became ministers, just like SeokJin's father," Taehyung nodded in agreement.

"A year later, we got married, many rumours surrounded us, but we only focused on our duties. It was a selfish act from both sides. I wanted an heir and a marriage without attachments, and she wanted control and power, which she lacked in her previous marriage," Taehyung watched as his father spoke, his eyes showed nothing but despair as he continued to share a piece of his life.

"You were born as the next heir to the throne, and everything went accordingly. She accepted Queen's duties with honesty, and I let myself dwell in the memories of regrets, lies and death. Until one day, she unexpectedly confronted that she was tired, she did not just want to be a Queen anymore but... a wife to me as well."

Taehyung's gaze was now stuck on the floor. His eyes became glossy as images of his mother, during her last breaths flashed in front of his eyes.

"I always admired her for her ebullient nature and loyalty towards the thrown. She always took her responsibilities seriously but I... failed to love her, even when I tried to."

Taehyung was now in tears as his mind drifted to how un-affectionate his mother would have felt at times.

"The regret of not being able to save Namseon was making me a hollow being from the inside. But you know when I lost my mind?" While sniffling, Taehyung perked his head up and peered through his teary gaze.

"When my childhood friend, with whom I  survived and saved our people, who was like an elder brother, poisoned himself, leaving his wife and a toddler Yoongi behind."

"It was all because of me, my mistake of falling in love with someone else's fiancée," Taehyung's features showed nothing but a stunned expression, hearing it from his father's mouth broke his heart, and he put his head downwards.

"So I completely delved myself into liquor and regrets, started running away from your responsibility, and we distanced even more. We talked occasionally, more like I barely gave her the chance to talk to me. Watching you play as a toddler was a pain and relief at the same time. In a flash of time, you were an adolescent, and she was reaching towards her end. She was in pain and liquor became her ultimate medicine. I cannot imagine how painful it must be for her to vomit blood every time she ate something. "

Taehyung's shoulders trembled as quiet sobs escaped him. His hands were clenched tightly in his lap, knuckles white against the fabric of his trousers. Memories flood his mind, each one sharper than the last, as he recalls the haunting moments of his mother's final days.

Jeong Ho's heart clenched while watching his son sob in front of him, a tear escaped from his eye as he witnessed Taehyung sobbing nonstop. However, Taehyung finally sniffled and wiped his tears with the back of his hand before he spoke.

"Father, i-if you failed to love her, then why did you cry so m-much when she left us behind?"

He asked while stammering from the effect of continuous sobbing. But it was the last moment that played over and over in his mind, the way her hand slipped from his grasp, the gentle sigh that escaped her lips as she closed her eyes for the final time.

"That's a question to think about. Maybe because I felt guilt-ridden for not treating her the way she deserved or maybe I was devastated to lose yet another important person from my life."

"Or maybe you loved her, just not like how you loved Namjoon Hyung's mother."

Taehyung eagerly added in desperation to prove his mother's importance in his father's heart.

Jeong Ho sighed, "It's time for dinner. Let's go," he said and stationed his one hand on the table for support to stand up, but a wince escaped from his lips instead.

"Father! Please be careful of the hand you use, the wound must be still aching?"

Unexpectedly, to Taehyung's surprise, Jeong Ho chuckled, "This wound is nothing but a spec compared to the wounds I've received in my whole lifetime."

The Prince's heart ached for the King as his gaze followed his elderly silhouette walking out of the hexagonal Pavilion after giving him a pat on the back.

✧

A/N: So everyone, I know you all might have questions like what happened between Kim Jeong Ho, Namseon and Min Yoon Chae? And How did it all end?
You will get your answers in upcoming chapters! So please be patient and stay tuned!
With love
Your jobless AutHOr