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Today was the day and now was the moment Jimin was going to step inside the palace of Silia after  a month and half.

His emotions were very mixed up right now. He was happy that he'll be able to meet his in-laws  and a bit angry too. He was angry because why his in-laws let Namjoon take Jimin with him.

Jimin knows he can't stay angry with them for long because they are also helpless just like him. Their son died and they'd a widow at their home but Jimin was still young so they didn't argue much and thought that Namjoon can paint the now blank canvas of Jimin's life with colours. But how to nake them understand that Jimin doesn't want those colours , he would better stay here with them and serve them until he dies but won't opt marrying another person, never.

"Jimin-ah, my dear get inside."The familiar motherly  voice invited him, breaking the train of his memories.

"Sure eomma" Jimin replied  and step his feet inside the palace.

Jimin looked around and the sense of nausea hit him. He has been seeing this place since childhood. 

"Jinnie~ you look so good my son. I missed you a lot." The former queen said as she embraced her son .

"Really? I also missed you eomma" Jin said while hugging his mother.

"But eomma you are so mean . You didn't send my favourite pickles while you gifted a lot to Namjoon and Jeongguk." Jin whined while pouting while others including Jimin chuckled.

Jimin adored Jin as a brother a lot. He has always seen him as a brotherly figure , even though Jimin is a warrior , he still seeks protection from Jin.

He can see the reflection of Taehyung in Seokjin. How Taehyung would whine when his mother would not cross check the chefs and he'll be served spice dishes. Both the brothers resembled a lot to be honest.

"Jiminie~ why are you standing there? Come and hug me sweetie or did you forget me so fast?" Jennie (Tae's mother) asked  while dramatically pouting.

Jimin shook his head and ran to her . She laughed and embraced him protectively in her arms. Jimin felt so safe that he wanted to cry right now. His life would be much better if he can stay here in her arms rather than spending these months at Namjoon's palace. And without even realising , he was sobbing in her embrace.

"Oh my! Why are you crying? Are you okay dear? I'll seriously keep you here and won't let you go back. Stop crying Jiminie." Jennie started panicking after seeing tears in Jimin's eyes and hearing his painful sobs.

After hearing her statement, Jimin let his guards down and sobbed like a baby in her arms. As much as the others asked him not to cry, his cries were getting louder.

"I m-missed y-you and I don't w-want to go b-back. Keep m-me with y-you-" He was hardly able to form any kind of sentence right now.  Jennie kept rubbing his back.

"Shhhh dear shhhh .... don't cry. Do you want to make me cry too? Its a happy moment so lets pray for the baby and be cheery. Hmm?" Jennie softly whispered into his ears as many relatives were looking at Jimin with cold look and most importantly judging looks.

The same 'discrimination against widows' looks were there on their faces and Jennie didn't want her son-in-law to ever see that.

Jimin nodded while hiccuping let Jennie wipe out his tears with her veil . It was like as if Jennie is his actual mother.

"Good. Now go to your room freshen up and relax a bit  , I'll send you some light snacks as you just came after travelling so you can't have heavy dishes." Jennie softly said amd gestured the servants to arrange snacks for Jimin. 

"Which r-room?" Jimin muttered softly while fiddling with his fingers.

"What do you mean by 'which room' ? Of course your room. You aren't a guest that we'll assign you a guest room so better run before you recieve a smack for asking stupid questions." Jennie softly slapped Jimin's back and threatened him.

"s-sure."Jimin said with a smile.

"And yeah."

"yes eomma?"

"Tonight your so-called father in-law has organised a troop for wrestlers and sword fighters. So I should better see you among those sword fighters like before." She informed.

Jimin nodded in agreement because he knew it was wastage if he'll argue with her. Taehyung was also stubborn just like his mom.

But Jimin knows that society will see it a bit off because he is a widower  and  people won't like the thought of him attending a function let alone fighting like warriors with barely few clothes on his body. But right now he just didn't give a shit about that because he is the royal one here and rules should be made by royals , not for royals.

And he loves sword fighting. End of discussion.

Jimin's heart was getting heavy as he was nearing his and Taehyung's shared bedroom. He was happy to be in there but was also afraid that what if the memories they made will struck him hard.

With slow steps, he reached at the door. Jimin stared at the big golden door  as it made a creak sound when the guards pushed it open, giving a majestic view of the bedroom which looked no lesser than a heaven.

"Keep the things and leave." Jimin didn't know that how he managed to let out this dominating command. Maybe because he felt at home and was comfortable  so that's why.

The guards did as they were instructed amd left.

The room looked same, well by saying 'same' , Jimin meant- it looked exactly how when Taehyung was alive. Because after he was gone , Jimin has destroyed the room completely  in sorrow and pain but right now  it looked as if nothing was damaged.

Jimin softly climbed on the king sized bed and looked around the room. He thought that the memories will make him weaker but  the memories were making him stronger and happier right now.

He could see himself sitting in front of the dressing while Taehyung is softly apply tint on Jimin's pillowy & soft lips as Taehyung liked to call. 

Jimin could see another reflection where  Taehyung was standing near the window and it looked as if he was alone but the realty was that he was back hugging Jimin and Jimin was small compared to Taehyung so he was not visible from back.

He could see many such faint reflections of him and his husband around almost each corner of the room and to be honest , it made his day. Living with Taehyung's memories was best and it was worthy too.

Jimin softly smiled when his head plopped on the soft pillow. The bedsheet was smelling like Taehyung and it felt like he is finally home.

_____

A chain of knocks woke him from sleep as Jimin didn't even realise that he fell asleep as soon as his head hit against the pillow.

Jimin whined and lazily got up from the bed and opened the door to see Jeongguk standing there. And before he can ask the reason why Jeongguk is here, Jeongguk ran inside.

"Woah! Your bedroom is like heaven. This door is made up of real gold? Oh my god don't tell me that all these shiny outlines on all the furnitures are of real diamond? If your  bed has expensive pearls embedded that means you've a lot of jewelleries too. God ! Did the king buy all these for you?-"

"Too much questions but yeah everthing you assumed is true. By the way, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your husband? " Jimin questioned as he motioned Jeongguk to take a seat.

Jeongguk smirked and started to move towards Jimin , he leaned right near Jimin's face before speaking "I want to impress everyone and you've lived here so I want your help because Seokjin hyung is their first son and I defin-"

"OH MY GOD WHAT ARE YOU BOTH DOING HERE?" Jennie shouted at both if them making them flinch.

Jimin looked that how close they both were and it might give a wrong image to his mother in-law so he harshly pushed Jeongguk away making him land on his butts.

"Eomma...its nothing like that. He was just asking for help. We both have nothing going on between of us. I swe-"

"Relax Jimin. I know I know. I know that you love Taehyung too much to look at any other men and I'd be a fool to think such nonsense. I trust the love you amd Taehyungie had. I was just shocked that he should be down and you've still not changed and the maidens told me that you refused the snacks too." Jennie clarified herself.

Jimin immediately hugged her. "No need for explanation eomma. Just your trust is enough." He said while tearing up as he recalled how Seokjin not only refused to believe him but also called him with irrational names.  Like seriously how can he think even that Jimin would even look at other man when he has already seen that how dearly Jimin and Taehyung loved each other .

"I trust my Jiminie but I'm upset that you're late.  Go and take a quick bath." Jennie  said as she gestured the servants to pass on the royal suit to Jimin.

"I am going to wear ..... these colourful clothes? Please no eomma." Jimin refused.

"What no? Its black suit with golden on it. Cmon you always looked beautiful in these clothes and Taehyung loved black & golden on you so go and wear it fast." Jennie insisted more and at last Jimin lost.

"And ggukie dear , now stop being dramatic and get up." Jennie chuckled at Jeongguk who was still laying on the ground in the same position Jimin pushed him.

"Thank god somebody noticed me else I would've laid here like some dying walrus." Jeongguk compained.

"Wow..  you're such a funny one and You are so good looking too. Woah Seokjin and Namjoon are blessed to have you." Jennie said in awe as Jeongguk got shy at the compliment.

"You think so? That Seokjin hyung would like me?" Jeongguk nervously asked.

"He would love you and I bet he already does. Okay so tell me that you and Jinnie are related like husbands do or just being two queens of the king. I mean is Namjoon centric  or its a proper polygamy ? " She asked without any shame which made Jeongguk blush but he also felt comfortable with her.

"Its j-just Namjoon Centric. I and Seokjin hyung have nothing going on between us, yet." He sadly said because he was tired of waiting for Seokjin but still he doesn't wanna give up .

"You love my son right?" She asked which made Jeongguk frozen on the spot but he decided to be honest and nodded in a 'yes'.

"So seokjin isn't noticing your love?" She again questioned and Jeongguk nodded again.

"Don't worry. I'll talk to him. I won't take your name and indirectly ask him to give you a chance too because you really are a good one. And dear I have one request for you." Jennie pleaded at the end with her hands joint in front of Jeongguk.

"W-what are you doing ? Please don't make me ashamed and  don't plead to me . Just tell me." Jeongguk said as he held her hands.

"Jimin isn't happy of this marriage I know this and I even know this he would never be happy with any another man which isn't my son- Taehyung. So please stay by his side and don't let him be sad & in pain. Jimin is a pure soul and has done nothing but loved my son for his whole life and seeked for other's priorities before his, so please take care of him. He might seem tough on out but inside he is still a baby, our Taehyungie's baby. I have still not forgotten the pain of my son's death but for Jimin I'm keeping this happy facade because he'll break down once  he sees us crying. Please take care of him." Jennied sobbed .

Jeongguk also got emotional and hugged her and let her cry out her pain. She was like a mother fairy who can make you feel as if you're her own child. You can feel her pain as if its your own. That's how Jeongguk felt right now.

Soon they heard some footsteps coming towards them so they quickly wiped off their tears and replaced a smile on their faces.

".....hahaha really? Don't worry dear. I'll ask the guards to take you there too." Jennie laughed.

"Am I interrupting something?" Jimin asked as he just came after getting ready from another make up room.

"No. Wow you look so good. Lets go we are already late. Shall we?" Jeongguk said as he and Jennie started to walk in front and Jimin followed behind them.

Jennie and Jeongguk shared a look of relief that Jimin didn't see them in that broken condition.

But the expressions of Jimin- the clutching of fist, biting of lips and looking down told another story. Jimin's lashes were trying to blink away the forming tears which screamed that the harm has already being done and there is nothing which needs to be hidden.

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• So basically Jennie is the best mother in-law , one could ever wish for.
    • But will she be able to protect Jimin from the storm named Society??!!

Date - 24'th Jan 2023
Words counting- 2392