•Chapter twenty nine•

Getting used to it.

Taehyung was busy most of the time of the day, right after waking up right in the morning.

He lost track of the number of days that passed. The time he spent wasn't the best of all because he got exhausted after working for a while and would have a hard time falling asleep without his mate beside him, but he managed to go on.

He couldn't stop now.

Things were going pretty well. He's being fed every day and night, and he's enjoying the privilege of having people like him too. He is kept busy, thought how to work in farms and do all the things he usually wouldn't do. 

They thought of him as their own child and showed him the same harshness they would to their own to raise them well. 

He was thankful of it. 

He was also thankful to the goddess who let him have a baby grow in him. 

Whatever the reason may be, whatever thing may be troubling him, it was this innocent soul that was helping him through all of the things. Taehyung wondered how pure his baby was for helping him so much before even it is born. 

Taehyung thought a lot about how things in the palace was. He thought about Mira and Youngmi. 

He wondered if Mira and her child were okay. He didn't quite care, but whenever he saw his tiny bump and placed his hand on his stomach, it came to his mind that Mira's child had the same father as his child. 

It hurt to think like that, but that was the truth. 

He felt sad that the poor baby wouldn't survive because of Mira's incapability to give birth, but it would be more of a problem if it were to be born. He was selfish and thought of only himself and his child. 

If, just in case, the baby is born and is healthy, Mira wouldn't need his child. It was good as it would save his child from her and bad because it would lessen the chances of him returning to the palace as a queen. 

There must be a way... 

Just something that he could use against her and just some way he could become his mate's queen.

"Lost in thought about something?" Hyeon asked. Taehyung just glanced at him before looking away, getting back to making sure that the crops are being watered properly. "You don't need to do all this. I can do it all myself." 

"There isn't any need for that." Taehyung's answer was curt. 

He was dumb at many times, impulsive too, but he wasn't naive. He could understand when a person had a hidden reason behind talking to him or being close to him. 

He's grown up beside people who wished to have him closer so they could benefit from it financially. 

But Taehyung had learnt to spend all money on himself, not others. 

Though Hyeon didn't seem to need money or any wealth, he did need something. This something didn't seem related to him. 

"Thinking about the castle you grew up in?" 

This was what Taehyung was talking about when he said that Hyeon didn't want anything specific from him. Hyeon didn't seem to want anything more than being his friend, but he wouldn't stop talking about the castle. 

After returning the lamb the other day, he had been meeting this boy many times now. Hyeon was persistent on being his friend and helping him out every chance he had even when Taehyung refused to be near him. 

After a while, Taehyung understood that it wasn't dangerous to be around him and let him stay, liking his presence a bit because he didn't feel lonely. 

He was ready to make him a friend too. 

But these questions of the palace...

Why? Taehyung didn't quite know. He would keep asking about the king and queen or his family. 

Everything seemed normal and soft, Hyeon making sweet conversations which urged Taehyung to be his friends. 

But these occasional mentions of his past made Taehyung wonder why he was like this. Most of the villagers had given up on knowing everything about him by this time. 

But now, after this boy had come and joined him, the people around him seemed only more curious. He understood it all--the villagers wanted him to get along with Hyeon and fall in love with him or things like that--but he knew when to listen to people and when not to. 

He ignored them, seeing Hyeon as only a friend because no one could ever take Jungkook's place. 

That just wasn't possible. Hyeon didn't seem to posses romantic feelings too. 

"No," Taehyung answered, noticing Hyeon's awaiting eyes. Hyeon smiled, nodding. 

"Go eat something, yeah? Don't work for too long. You get too tired after a while if you don't keep taking breaks." 

Taehyung just had to smile at how genuine Hyeon looked with his tiny frown. It's been about a few weeks since they met, but this stranger was so caring and sweet to him now. 

"You should take one too," Taehyung mumbled, not fully comfortable with him yet. 

He slowly walked to the tiny cabin and sat down there, enjoying a few watermelons while looking at Hyeon and Chohee who were working all well. 

It was a pity that he couldn't for for too long, but what he was doing now was really great for his pregnant state. He shouldn't overdo things and spoil his health. 

He was envious of the other two who were capable of working for long and pretty energetically too. He wanted to be like that. 

Maybe... when things get alright and my puppy is born, me and Kookie could come here and live for a while? I would be able work in a much better way than now. The thought put a smile on his face and Taehyung kicked the air like a child. 

"You'd like that, right?" Taehyung looks down at his stomach, a dreamy expression on his face. "You, me and your dad enjoying here?" 

Taehyung made sure that no one was looking at him before he held his stomach and continued speaking to his baby. "Mommy is so bad for keeping you away from your dad, isn't he? When we're all together, all of us will be happy again. Jungkook just manages to make everyone his, so let mommy enjoy being your only one for a while, okay?" 

He took a big bite of his watermelon. "If I eat a lot, you will be full too. Enjoy your food, puppy," he cooed softly, getting back to eating in big bites with a big smile. 

He saw Hyeon and Chohee come his way, finally taking their break too. 

"I've never seen someone eat watermelons so happily," Hyeon exclaimed and laughed. "You should eat all of them if you like it so much." 

Taehyung rolled his eyes, wiping his lips. "Sorry, but I'm not a pig to finish all of this alone." 

"Well..." Hyeon shrugged like as if his statement could be wrong. When Taehyung glared at him, he laughed it off. "I'm kidding. Eat as much as you want. It's important for you to be healthy."

They ate watermelons together, and Chohee and Hyeon went back to work again. Taehyung didn't tag along because he was starting to have a huge back pain. 

He lay down on the cold floor, now all used to sleeping and sitting on floors, and closed his eyes. He decided to take a nap before getting back to watering the crops, but he was so exhausted that he couldn't wake up until sunset. 

In the end, Hyeon had to carry Taehyung on his back to the hut they lived in. 

"He's quite heavy," Hyeon commented, frowning as he could practically feel Taehyung's tummy on his back. It felt weird because Taehyung was very skinny everywhere else except this part. 

He scolded himself mentally when he realized he was thinking of how fat Taehyung was. 

"He is?" Chohee rolled her eyes. "You're just weak. He could be the lightest person in this village!" 

Hyeon pouted. He decided to not press any further on the matter. 

He had noticed Taehyung speaking to himself happily earlier and wondered if he did it because of loneliness. 

That just hurt. Did Taehyung trust no one to talk to them? 

He wanted to be there for Taehyung; it was too early to expect that Taehyung would trust him enough to talk to him about things so he didn't say anything about it. 

But loneliness may not be the matter too. 

Leaving that aside, Hyeon looked at her hesitantly and asked, "Does noona know anything about the king and queen?" 

"Servants don't know much about the royal family," Chohee stated without feeling any suspicion towards the question. "If you're wondering what happened to Taehyung for him to take the decision to leave, I don't know too. It's better to just give up on trying to find out." 

"Is it related to something of the queen?" Hyeon couldn't keep the question in. 

"I don't know," Chohee said, shrugging. Hyeon sighed, giving up on asking her anything. 

He adjusted Taehyung on his back and continued walking, finding it adorable that Taehyung could sleep so nicely even when being carried. 

Queen Mira... 

"Finally!" Hyeon was so happy when they reached their hut and softly placed Taehyung on the floor, quickly pulling Taehyung's shirt down when it rode up while be was being placed on the mat, avoiding looking at Taehyung, respecting his privacy. 

"I'll be leaving now, noona. Take care." 

Saying these words, he took his leave, thoughts about certain events in his mind. 

Could Miss Mira have... 

That doesn't matter now. I'm not with Taehyung to ask about that girl or find out about his past. I only wanted to be his friend, so I'll let it remain there. 

I just wish to be his friend and help him out with his problems because I know that Taehyung isn't here to just live in his hometown but because of reasons that he doesn't even want to discuss. 

*-*-*-*

Taehyung woke up right at the time when dinner was being served around the campfire. He was alone in the dark house, his stomach grumbling as he was hungry.

He could hear loud laughs and chattering from outside and quickly stood up. He couldn't miss a meal, not only because of the promise to his lover but because his baby will also be hungry because of him.

He made his way outside and through the lanes. When he had finally reached the place everyone else was, he had to smile at the way they all greeted him with loud voices. 

He would usually sit next to Chohee, but he sat next to Hyeon because there was no space next to the girl. 

Hyeon ruffled his hair, laughing because they were heavily messy. 

Taehyung glared at him, slapping his hand off. He didn't bother setting his hair even when Hyeon continued teasing him about it, both oblivious of the expectant shining eyes looking at them. 

Taehyung wanted to remain quiet like he always done when joining all of them for any event, zoning out as he wondered if Jungkook had eaten and was sleeping now. 

The food tasted too bland for his liking, and he had to admit that he missed the food that was prepared in the castle.

The food was least of his concerns though. He can never get independent if he complains about small things like this.  

"Is the food to your liking?" Haeun asked, putting more vegetables in his plate. Taehyung didn't stop her because the vegetables were the best tasting thing there, fresh from the farms they work in. 

"It is." They were all used to these curt answers by now. 

"How did food in palace taste?" Taehyung hesitated to say anything about all of this. When Chohee encouraged him from afar, he gulped and whispered, "It tasted really good. There used to be a variety of things served for every meal." 

"Is it so?" Haeun nodded, in deep thought. "You must be struggling with all this food then." 

"It doesn't matter," Taehyung mumbled, quite aware that he had a lot of attention on him now that he's talking about the palace. 

He could feel their curiousness. He didn't understand why they were so excited to know about royals. 

"Who did you like the most there? I mean... who stayed with you for a long time and gave you company?" Now they were getting a little ahead of themselves, but Taehyung knew how to handle it without them ending up hurt. 

"Yoongi hyung," Taehyung said. "He was the one I was with most of the time." 

Haeun looked slightly disappointed for not hearing the name of any royal, way too needy to know about what might have happened to Taehyung. 

He had to move on. It was better if he just forgot everything and accepted Hyeon who could be the best alpha for him. 

The villagers always shared all information with each other, no matter what, so it was a little saddening that Taehyung wasn't ready to share his stories with them. 

"Anyone else? Any friend?" Haeun asks. Taehyung shook his head. 

He felt guilty for being so closed off. They were being the best people to him, but he was treating them like nobodies. 

It should be okay to give them little information right? How bad could things get? He would have to tell them everything when they find out he's pregnant anyway. 

"Taehyung, you should eat a bit more," Hyeon spoke after understanding that he is awkward by all these questions. He wanted answers too, but not at the rate of Taehyung's peace. He could see the discomfort of the boy.

"No, I'm full," Taehyung mumbled, looking back at Haeun who was sulking slightly. 

He decided to tell them only things related to his childhood. 

"I don't remember many things from back then, but I used to love Namjoon hyung more than Yoongi hyung because he was too sweet and let me do whatever I wanted." 

Taehyung almost laughed at how people scooted closer and listened to him with complete attention on him. 

"He left very early though, saying that he wanted to find someone. We haven't seen him after that probably because the gates between the kingdoms closed, but we sent each other messages through pigeons which also stopped later on." 

"Gates closed? Are they open now? Can Namjoon not come back?" 

"They must be open now." Taehyung shrugged. "I heard hat hyung is got a permanent job as king Jin's high guard. He cannot come unless the king fires him from his job because it was a requirement for him to stay with the king always." 

"And Yoongi? Where is he?" 

"He is staying away from the palace with the people he married." 

"He married people?! First, when did that happen?! Why didn't he let us know? Second, what do you mean by people?!" 

Taehyung flinched at the outburst of the older uncle. Calming his raging heart, he answered,

"He married two people, and his marriage was too sudden for him to be able to come here to let you know." 

There was silence the next second. They were all taking in all the details he gave them. Not being to hold back, Haeun just blurted out the questions she was heavily curious about all this while. 

"Did you love anyone?" She held his hand, looking into his wide eyes. 

"Me?" Taehyung was too shocked at the sudden question. He didn't expect her to be so straightforward. It was confirmed now; they wanted him to love someone and wondered if he already had someone in his life

"Come on, Taehyung. It's been so long since you came here but haven't told us anything about why you left the castle." 

"I do not wish to--" 

"Why not? Why cannot you trust us enough? Look at Hyeon. He is such a good boy; you can--" 

Taehyung didn't want to be harsh, but he couldn't behave any well if they were like this to him. They needed to know their limits. 

"There are somethings that I do not wish to say yet. I didn't come here for being pressed to do things I don't want to," Taehyung said in a stern voice, not even looking at the blushing, embarrassed alpha beside him. 

 "I would expect you to respect my privacy and not ask me about such things." 

He showed clear signs of being raised by royals there, just by his dominating voice and sudden strong aura. 

Too shocked, scared, and awestruck to speak, they all just watched Taehyung get up and leave. 

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