|M a s q u e r a d e |

Jungkook stood outside of his father's study. He took in a deep breathe and was polite enough to knock before entering.

"Come in."

The brunette enters and takes a seat without his father asking. "I wonder why you turned so...rebellious," his father tsked.

"You used to stay inside the library and study not party until three in the morning every friday. You always said that you'll only have one woman in your heart and not bring home various girls like what you do now."

"What happened to you Jungkook?" He continues. The King eyed him, eyes scanning him from top to bottom.

"If you're suggesting that I am going through a phase, then I'm not dad," he explains, exasperated.

"Listen son, I knew things changed when your brother gave up on being the heir. But this is your duty as the Heir of the Caeruleus kingdom," Joohyun enunciates.

Jungkook grits his teeth. "Don't bring up that son of a bitch," he snaps. His father shoots him a glare meaning for him to shut his mouth.

"How can you call your brother that?"

"How can my brother abandon me and pass of this shitty job of being the next king?!" Jungkook exclaims.

It was silent for a moment. The awkward and frustrated tension lingering in the air. The Prince's blood was boiling, his ears turning into a light shade of red. "Dad, how can you forgive someone who acts like a great guy and runs of the day before his coronation while finding out he married someone in the other Kingdom?!"

Shitty brother. Stupid, selfish bastard!

Joohyun takes in a deep breath and steps closer to his son. "Your brother...chose his own path. There was nothing we could do to stop it."

Jungkook couldn't believe what he was hearing. Is this how cruel his family is? How can his only brother betray him? 

Own path? Is this some 'first born' privilege to be able to chose their path while mine was set from stone?

The king notices his son's reaction. "That is why I called for you. We have something to discuss," he says.

Confusions floods Jungkook. "Fine. But make it quick, I have somewhere to go."

"Let's make a deal," his father says, knowing that it'd pique up Jungkook's interest. Suddenly, his father gave off a dark aura. Eyes cold, lips etched into a sly smirk. This wasn't the father he knew. In the end, did he even know his dad at all?

Jungkook issued a small 'Go on'. "If you obey me and complete this task I'm going to give you, you may chose someone else to inherit the throne and be free from this royal life."

What?

"Are you toying with me dad?" He says cautiously. The King shakes his head and Jungkook could feel the excitement rushing through his whole being.

"I'm really going to be free?" Jungkook couldn't help but let a small smile escape his lips.

"Under the condition that you will complete the mission I will give you."

"What should I do?"

"Turn Prince Taehyung into a rebel."

----

Taehyung fixes his tie, enthusiasm filled the air. There was no doubt that he was excited for the masquerade ball. This boy wouldn't miss a chance to interact and enjoy other people's company.

Taehyung was really like that. Charming, bubbly and fun.

Then he starts to fix his honey blonde hair, smiling when finished.

"All done!"

Wait...I feel like something is missing

"Oppa, you forgot your mask!" Taehee suddenly shows up behind him and hands him his mask.

"Thank you Taehee," he says and pinches her cheek. "Are you sure that's yours? It looks to girly for you," She comments.

"It looks like Jin hyung influenced Eomma in buying this," Taehyung chuckles. "Is Jin oppa coming as well?" The little princess wonders, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"He is. Now behave if you want your crush to like you," the older teases. Yes, Taehee likes Jin. A lot.

"I hate you sometimes," she says and storms off to her room where the maids help fix her dress. Taehyung sighs and looks over the mask that was left in the table.

He picks it up and wears it.
"Hmm...not bad," he winks and steps away from the mirror.

Soon, he was now going down the stairs. The louder the place turned as more people piled up the place.

Dances and chatter filled the air. It seems that his parents were talking to the King and Queen of the other kingdom.

"I thought they had a son?" The prince mutters as he noticed no sign of the boy he heard of. His vision started to blur and he began to feel tipsy. Looks like he had too many drinks.

The honey blonde boy started to go to the garden due to that reason.

As he reached the garden, he felt the heavy weight lift off his shoulders. "Waaah! It's so nice out here," he comments, a bright smile plastered on his features.

"Indeed it is."

The Prince turns around a sees a figure, assuming he is a guy, near the doorway leading to the garden.

He was wearing a mask that looked as girly as his.

"And who might you be?"

The guy laughs. "This is a masquerade ball. I ain't telling you who I am, my prince."

Prince?

"But it seems that you know who I am," Taehyung states and took a step towards him.
He started to see the guy's features better once he was a few feet away from him.

"Well then, looks like I have to call you Mr. Seagull for the night!" He exclaims.

Jungkook scoffs. "Why call me that?"

"Because you look like the type to be reborn as a seagull." He laughs again.

Sweet music suddenly graced their area. The orchestra doing a marvelous job at entertaining them. Taehyung made a mental note to commend them later.

"Care for a dance my prince?" The other ask while reaching out his hand to Taehyung. The male reluctantly accepts the offer and they began to dance.

Jungkook guides Taehyung's other hand to his shoulder as his own hand to Taehyung's waist.

"I'm a prince. I know the concepts of dancing Mr. Seagull," Taehyung snickers. "Don't ruin the mood," Jungkook scolds.

They danced to the waltz. Their feet feeling lighter than usual. Eye contact never breaking apart.

Taehyung began to feel giddy. Here he is dancing with some random and undeniably hot dude that he just met.

Damn...the muscles under this suit

He felt embarrassed about what he just thought causing his face to cascade with red.
Thank god he was wearing a mask.

It hid his very very red face.
Or so he thought.

"You're blushing," The other issued something more like a statement than a question.

"N-no! I was just...ugh...it's just hot in here," Taehyung stammers. The brunette laughs and brought his face closer to the crook of Taehyung's neck, his hot breath fanning that certain area that made Taehyung weak.

"W-what are you doing?!" He managed to stutter out. The music was near an end and he still kept a good grip on Jungkook's shoulder and hand.

I am not gay. I am not gay. I am a perfectly straight prince dancing with a hot dude.

Right?

When Jungkook decided to dip Taehyung at the end of the dance, he wasn't so sure anymore.

"Hey, what's your name?" The honey blonde prince asked once again, voice barely above a whisper.

Before Jungkook could answer, the cunning boy he had below him swiftly moved his free hand to his head and removed the mask.

"Prince Jungkook of the Caeruleus Kingdom. It's nice to be acquainted with you Prince Taehyung."

Gotcha

-🍓-

If you haven't figured it out then the words like this are Taehyung's thoughts while words like this are Jungkook's.