•Chapter seven•

What now?

Taehyung held his breath in as he made him way to Yoongi's room. He was clad in a shiny suit which was given to him by the queen who has been running around and getting the whole palace decorated for her son's marriage.

He just couldn't convince himself that everything would turn out good.

He had gone to Jungkook's room too, and just this one action showed his desperateness because he wouldn't dare to try searching for the crown prince otherwise.

To his bad luck, Jungkook had been busy too so he left without letting the elder know of his appearance.

What was he supposed to do now? 

He felt guilty for not understanding his hyung after his talk with Jungkook. 

His heart still couldn't forget the pain Yoongi must've felt and he still wasn't ready to move on, but he wished to put a eased and happy smile on Yoongi's face. 

Taehyung recollected how Yoongi couldn't tell him anything about all this just because he was too immature to listen and understand. 

He felt slightly guilty. That's why he thought it was alright to go speak to him and give him the little consolation he could manage to give. 

He couldn't be ignorant towards the situation nor could take any action today.

He wanted to enjoy the day. As Jungkook said, Yoongi would be extremely happy today because he was getting married. He didn't want to take away Yoongi's happiness. 

If not doing anything else, Taehyung thought that it was better to help Yoongi get ready so he could show Yoongi the care that he might be needing.

His hands were shaking slightly as he was anxious of the events that were going to take place that day.

He reached Yoongi's room and opened the door without knocking because that's just how he enters his room.

He instantly regretted not knocking the door when he found Jimin on the dressing table, plump lower lip stuck between his pearl white teeth, having hickeys being sucked on his neck by Yoongi while Hoseok looked at them hazily while nuzzling his nose on Yoongi's jaw, chest rumbling.

"Shit!" Taehyung cursed, voice loud enough to reach the three of the people inside who flinched. "I did not need to see that!"

Taehyung turned around, placing his palms on his eyes, back facing the three panicking boys who got away from each other, fixing their messed up clothes, still not dressed properly for the wedding. 

Yoongi coughed awkwardly as he looked around, biting down on his swollen lips in embarrassment.

"T-Tae--"

Taehyung turned around and hesitantly opened his eyes, glad that Jimin wasn't on the dressing table anymore and there weren't cum stains anywhere. 

He could finally breathe properly. 

"Get out!" He yelled at the Hoseok and Jimin, frowning. "You aren't supposed to see the person you're going to marry on the day of your marriage!"

Their eyes brightened when they heard these words. Finally, they felt slightly more at ease because Taehyung had accepted that they were going to marry.

Hoseok walked closer to Taehyung, reminiscing the time when they had been good friends, before he marked Jimin.

He remembered how Taehyung respected him and saw him as a role model because he was a pure person who couldn't do anything to hurt someone else.

All those past times were so beautiful. Taehyung would always hug him and smile at him when he was around, but it all got replaced by glares and irritated growls.

He disliked the change.

He wished their relation went back to how it used to be.

He stood before Taehyung who was surprisingly not glaring at him now, looking at the side with lips. He took Taehyung's hand in his own softly while trying not to gasp because Taehyung didn't push him away.

"I'm sorry, Taehyung," Hoseok said in a genuinely apologetic tone. "I'm sorry I made you and Yoongi cry in the past."

Taehyung didn't have a wish to snap at Hoseok and tell him that nothing he does could make the past better.

He wanted to be more understanding after listening to Jungkook's words yesterday, hoping to be a slightly better person. 

the past wasn't good, but he shouldn't be a mere hindrance to his brother and their lover's happiness. He wanted to be a part of Yoongi's happiness. 

He wanted to make himself realize that Hoseok could've been a good boyfriend if he left Jimin and turned a blind eyes to an omega's suffering but would fail as a human if he did so.

And none from Atlas would ignore an omega's pain.

He felt disgusted of himself when he thinks that leaving an omega to get raped and killed was better than seeing his brother cry.

These tears he and his brother shed would be nothing more than the pain Jimin must've felt, and as wrong as it was to compare pain of people, it just wasn't right for Taehyung to think that Jimin was just selfish to separate Hoseok and Yoongi. 

Jimin only brought them closer and increased their glee. It didn't start out well, but that doesn't matter if it ends well. 

What happened was inevitable. Even though the thought his brother being shared by two people didn't sit right with him, he should be a supportive brother.

He nodded at Hoseok who gasped because he his apology had been accepted.

Hoseok threw his arms around him and caged him in a tight hug while squealing happily; Taehyung grumbled and groaned, feeling shy suddenly, noticing how the other omega slowly sneaked closer.

He pouted more when Jimin hugged him arm curtly before pushing himself away and placing his hands on his chest protectively to secure himself if Taehyung attempted to hit him.

Taehyung rolled his eyes and pushed Hoseok and Jimin out of the room, ready to forgive Hoseok completely. He still wished to stay salty towards Jimin though, without any reason at all.

He just wished to trouble Jimin. He liked it. 

Jimin was the only other omega in the palace who was a royal and around his age. Rather than being friends, he wanted to be playful and childishly rude to Jimin for a while longer, no spit towards him remaining. 

After they were thrown out of the room, he turned back to find his brother looking at him with eyes shining in adoration.

"Hyungie." Taehyung pouted, going to Yoongi and pushing him to sit down on the chair before he himself settled down on his lap.

"I missed you so much. I love you."

Yoongi laughed gleefully and cheerfully at this, cradling the omega to his chest. God, Yoongi felt so light because he knew his brother was with him now.

He had a small talk with Taehyung, telling him sorry for being harsh to him, scolding him and pushing him away or being ignorant. Taehyung only shook his head at his words and hugged him tighter.

"What now, hyung?" Taehyung asks. "I'm still not completely convinced that what you're doing is right. If... Just if anything goes wrong... I will lose all hope on love."

"Nothing like this will ever happen to you, petal," Yoongi said, pecking his forehead delicately. "If it does, your hyung is here to protect you. And just know that your elder brother is happy, baby. This is what my happiness lays in."

"What about respect, hyung? What about the hatred you'll earn from the queen?"

"That won't make my happiness less. Whatever happens, if I have them by my side, I will be happy."

Taehyung smiled painfully. He knows that nothing can stop what was happening.

Taehyung helped Yoongi get dressed properly by putting on the suit and shoes on Yoongi. 

The older mumbled about how happily he would dress Taehyung up when he was getting married even if he felt sour about letting someone have rights over him or call him his.  

Taehyung only smiled at all that, knowing that he will not marry anyone. He didn't want to because the thought of sharing himself was more annoying to him than to Yoongi.

"Will you dance, puppy?" Yoongi asks with an expecting look, sweet smile. 

Taehyung gulped softly as he recollected the fact that he hadn't attended dance practices since he got in fight with one of those girls. 

"I-I didn't practice anything--" 

"You don't need practice," Yoongi stated. "You just need music and audience; your body just moves on its own." 

Taehyung blushes and looked away. 

They made their way downstairs to the main hall where Hoseok was already present, surrounded by a huge crowd who congratulated him, seeming more excited than he himself was. 

Jimin was still getting ready, probably taking more time because he wanted to make sure he looked beautiful, wearing a white gown and getting his hair done by the servants. 

Jungkook... 

God, he looked so fucking handsome in the all black suit, hair parted from the center and coming up to his eyes. 

His shoes and clothes were shining but not more than his beautiful dark eyes which were crinkled as he smiled beautifully at his blushing brother. 

He bowed ever so often just to greet a few older people present there, bunny teeth not vanishing behind his lips for a second. 

Taehyung couldn't remove his eyes from the boy, and when he did look away, he tried his best to not look at him again. 

It was just the extreme beauty that drew a reaction from him. He wasn't used to seeing someone looking better than him. 

There were too many people in the ballroom. They all seemed extremely happy because prince Hoseok was getting married that night. If only they knew what was going to happen that night... 

"Tae, you need to dance!" 

Taehyung looked down with a shy smile when he heard an elderly woman request him to dance. 

His blushing just got more when more people joined in and asked him to dance; one look towards his jumpy and excited brother who encouraged him from afar proved him that there was so way out of this.

He danced without his group to keep the heart of his brother who looked at him throughout his performance with the biggest and proudest smile. 

He had all eyes on him which only made him do better. Yoongi was usually the one who stood out in the entire crowd for him, but this time, he noticed Jungkook's burning gaze too. 

He loved it. Reason? he didn't have any. 

By the time he was done dancing, the priest had arrived. A few minutes later, Jimin appeared too with the queen beside him, fixing the ends of his long white dress that flowed onto the red carpet. 

He looked breathtaking, and Taehyung could see Yoongi and Hoseok being stunned too. 

Yoongi glanced at Hoseok, promising himself to spend a lot of time admiring Jimin after the marriage is done because they had a bit more important things to do at that moment. 

Hoseok bit his lip and nodded at Yoongi, walking slowly to Jimin with his usual sweet smile. 

Jimin looked anxious. The omega had spent a while speaking to the queen who explained him how serene and beautiful this moment will be when Hoseok will claim him while the kingdom stood aloof, watching them. 

It made his stomach twist and turn as he wasn't going to just hold Hoseok's hand that day and wasn't going to be claimed by just one person. 

Youngmi seemed so happy that it hurt Jimin because they were going to wipe that smile off her face in a while. 

The crowd erupted in cheers when Hoseok took Jimin's hand in his own. The queen and the ministers took their seats as the prince held his bride and guided him to the raised platform where the priest waited. 

They stood there, facing each other, Hoseok having a smile while Jimin ducked his head shyly. They couldn't hear the words the priest was mumbling as they were distracted. 

God, the situation was so nerve-wrecking.  

Hoseok listened to the orders of the priest, lightly cutting his palm and placing it above Jimin's head, letting a few drops of his blood spill on the boy, claiming him as his. 

They could neither hears the loud cheers nor concentrated on the priest who congratulated them when he kissed Jimin, feeling butterflies erupt in him even though it was not his first time kissing the boy. 

Hoseok could feel Jimin's hands shaking as he held his hand. 

Their seriousness and the calm faces made people calm down, understanding that the prince wanted to say something. 

When there was complete silence in the room and he had gotten the permission to speak from the queen, Hoseok spoke, "I have been hiding something for a long time now." 

He set his eyes down, on the ground, before he started speaking again. 

"I wasn't from Atlas. I was from an alpha superior society, forced to act manly and strong, and maybe that was why I fell in love with this place after I was brought here." Hoseok smiled. 

"Atlas was known for love. Love for omegas, acceptance of omegas, love to every child and elderly... It was such a beautiful place." 

He knew there was no point in beating around the bush. 

He could see their soft and awaiting eyes which he was sure would turn into stern and hard ones once he tells them about his own love for a strong beta who was looking at him expectantly. 

Both his mates were warriors. While Yoongi fought actual wars, Jimin fought their sadness and pain for them. 

He wanted to be a warrior too, like them, to fight his own people for their love. 

"I want this beautiful place to be a better place by accepting my love too." 

The frowns on the face of his mother and the kingdom made him anxious. He extended his arm and held Jimin's trembling hand. 

"Jimin is a miracle in me life. I met him in the worst situation, but he made my everyday better after that. I surely do not regret marking him now. But... All I did feel when I first claimed him was regret and pain." 

"Why, prince Hoseok?" Youngmi asks. "I saw it back then too... you didn't seem happy to get such a pretty and well-mannered omega. Why?" 

Her voice was slightly demanding; she was a queen now, not his mother. She knew he didn't have interest in marrying, but as a mom, she knew there was more to it than the looks of it. 

Hoseok could sense her nervousness after hearing her voice. The pain of not being told something was present too. 

Hoseok lost all abilities to speak. Jimin urged him to speak by squeezing his hand, but his actions were to no avail. 

"Who did you love?" 

Hoseok's eyes widened, breath hitched when he heard the dark voice of Youngmi. 

He looked up with shaking pupils to find his mom looking at him darkly, demanding an answer which she didn't get immediately. Her frustrated voice broke out the silence again as she said with more annoyance, "Answer my question, prince!" 

Her scrutinizing eyes made his heart freeze. He hadn't expected her to know this..,

How could she know that he loved someone before? 

There was no reason for Youngmi to me mad at Hoseok for having a lover, but she was upset because he was talking about that person on their wedding night 

She didn't understand how fair it is to Jimin to listen to all this. 

"Who was it?!" 

"Y-Yoongi!" Hoseok said in a shaking voice, looking away because he knew that his words had startled everyone there, made them feel terror spark in them. "K-Kim Yoongi." 

Youngmi looked at him in exasperation, shoulders slumping down. She fisted her hands as she looked at him with rage and disgust, wondering how Yoongi will feel after listening to all this. 

Or... was Yoongi already aware? 

The disgusted, shocked reaction didn't take a minute to come. Being so accepting and loving just didn't help even slightly to get the people rid of these stupid rules which tied them down from more joy. 

However, the most affected from the annoyance of the people was the queen itself.

Disappointment took over the queen as she glanced around the crowd to find everyone shocked. 

How could a prince even dare to fall for a servant, a mere warrior? 

How dare he? 

how are he think that he could have a royal omega and then still confess his liking towards a commoner, a low life who was nothing before him. 

Moreover, how did Hoseok think he had the right to curt Yoongi's freedom? It was a given fact that a royal and commoner couldn't be together; who was Hoseok to try and go against it? 

"I-I have more to say," Hoseok said and gulped to moisten his suddenly dry throat. 

The people were ready to go against him and snatch the right of speech from him but kept quiet when the queen burnt, let out sparks and flames.

"What more do you have to say, Hoseok?!" Youngmi yelled, shooting to her feet as the glares of the ministers which were directed towards now turned to her, looking at her judgingly, harshly, almost like she was the one to blame for all this. 

She hadn't raised him properly and taught him the things he was supposed to know. She failed as a mother, and that's what everyone there thought. 

"Keep quiet," she growled at him. "Please, I've had enough of all this now." 

"This is why I didn't tell you, mom!" Hoseok whisper-yelled, clenching his jaw. "You want to know everything, but why would anyone tell you anything if all you do is react like this?!" 

"Stop thi--" 

"I still love him," Hoseok growled, feeling a burst of confidence in him. 

He didn't fucking care about what the kingdom or his mom thinks of him now; he will get what he wants. 

If this huge and reputed kingdom couldn't accept his love, he will leave. 

That's all he can do now. 

He will give up as a royal and live as a peasant with the ones he loves. He didn't care if anyone supported his decision or not. 

"I love him. He loves me too, and none of you can stop me from making him mine." 

Hoseok stomped his way down the platform and growled threateningly at anyone who came in his way. 

"You're already married, Hoseok!" Youngmi yelled, wanting to run to him. She gasped when Hoseok drew his sword out at a guard who tried to stop him. 

she instantly ordered the guards to stay away from him as she didn't want Hoseok to get more hatred for hurting someone from his own kingdom. 

She didn't know what to do. 

She just couldn't stop her son as he held Yoongi's hand and dragged the boy back to the platform, pushing away an alpha warrior harshly. 

The people were to scared to react because it was the first time they saw Hoseok lose his cool. The ever smiling and collected alpha was red in anger, growling at the priest to start the rituals again. 

Yoongi himself didn't know whether he had to be concerned or should be proud because Hoseok was taking a stand for himself. 

The commoners just watched after that, pin drop silence in the room with the only things heard being the priest's shaky words uttered in fear of their angry, growling prince. 

Hoseok cut his palm in a much stronger way this time in anger, drawing out more blood which he didn't care about. 

He made Yoongi his, pulling him to kiss him harshly on his lips, not caring about how no one cheered for them, leaving Yoongi completely breathless. 

"What have you done..." Youngmi asked, voice not more than a whisper as she sniffled while looking at Jimin with the most defeated, guilty eyes. 

Hoseok looked at her with challenging eyes, his eyes flickering red. "It's not over, mom." 

"W-what?" 

She gasped when Hoseok handed Jimin the dagger, signaling him to do what he has to do. She was left completely speechless when the pretty omega sweetly  bowed to the priest, requesting him to carry out all the rituals again because he was marrying Yoongi too.

 No one dared to speak, the glare of a certain fuming alpha shutting all their protests down before any word could come out of their mouths. 

They saw it happen again. They saw as Jimin and Yoongi got married. 

Their blood boiled. Not just one of the royals, but both of them...

How could they do this? 

The queen sat down on her throne with a thump, losing all her emotions and growing numb to them. She was too disappointed to acknowledge the anger of the people of her kingdom.

"This isn't acceptable!" the minister yelled, furious. "You are making a sin by making an omega share himself between two higher ranks; this cannot be accepted!" 

"A prince shouldn't have a relationship with a servant--" 

"I do, now," Hoseok growled. "What are you gonna do about it?" He threw his sword before the minister, startling the man. "You want to kill me? Take that sword and come attempt to cut my head off my neck. I'd tear off your hands before that sword touches me." 

His quiet but harsh words made the minister shiver and take a step back protectively.

"Queen, your son has crossed all limits today! He married two people, one of them being a servant and then even threatened a minister!" 

Youngmi kept completely quiet. She couldn't speak, didn't have words to. 

There could be nothing that could being her any more pain.

"Do you expect us to allow an omega to be disrespected like thi--" 

"No," Jimin denied, shaking his head. "I'm not against his love. I love Yoongi too, and I'll be more than happy to give myself to both of them. This is what my happiness lays in too." 

"This isn't allowed," The minister glared at the omega, almost demanding him in to speak as he wishes. Jimin shrunk softly, sticking to Yoongi in fear. 

"What isn't allowed?" Yoongi asks, frowning. "Forcing an omega to do something he doesn't wish? But we aren't doing that, you are. You are forcing him to leave me and say that he didn't want a relationship with me." 

That shut up the minister who just continued to glare at the servant, hating how a lowlife was shutting him up. 

They wanted to fight for the rights of a servant and not allow this so Yoongi doesn't have to face that phase where he would be suppressed due to the wealth of the people, but they still weren't giving him respect themselves.

They hated him since he came here and joined them, not liking a commoner among them.

The reason they're mad is just because they didn't want Yoongi to be treated as the husband of the prince, with respect.

"And what about the rule of a servant not having a relationship with a king? Kim Yoongi has to face the consequence of trapping a prince in his claws and blinding, manipulating a respected prince to do what he did."

The nerve...

Now these people are changing the statement and saying that he was at fault for caging the prince and luring him into all these things.

If they disliked Hoseok and didn't want him to remain high, they would put the blame on him and state that he was at fault to force a non royal blood to marry him.

They were just trying to search for a way to make their wishes come true. How pathetic.

"Ignoring the bullshit you said," Yoongi said, rolling his eyes, "we know about the rule. It's made so a prince or a king does not make the worth of a servant less, right? I assure you that I don't care if me being next to him as a mate makes my worth less. I know my mates will never do anything to hurt me." 

Hoseok smirked at the fuming minister who kept throwing accusations at them. 

"You don't care if your worth is less, isn't it?!" he yelled, snapping his head at the lifeless queen on her throne. "Is this all you brought to the kingdom by adopting Hoseok and bringing this worthless rat here, queen?!" 

"Don't dare speak of them like that," she growled but felt her chest tightening because she couldn't even keep her head up proudly by telling them how good they are to shut their mouths.

All they are now are sinners.

She couldn't do anything about what they're saying.

Yet, she would never let her sons go through pain nor keep quiet and listen to them throw insults at her children.

She will snap their neck if they--

No, she thinks. I... I have to remain calm.

"Jimin and Yoongi already said that the permit this! What's the problem now?" She asks, trying her best to side her children and save them.

"The problem?" The minister scoffs. "The problem is that the prince has marked an omega already, and marrying another person isn't allowed. We don't allow maid wives or husbands (the normal-blood spouce of a king who has married more than once) in Atlas!"

"He isn't a maid wife!" Hoseok growled. "There would be no difference between Yoongi and Jimin."

"Are you trying to say that royals and commoners have no different between each other?"

"They don't!" The prince was firm on his point, not wavering whatsoever. "The same blood flows through us! A commoner could also give birth to the strongest alphas who aren't born strong but are trained to be strong."

"Now he's also defying the class system we follow..."

"Hoseok must be punished for this! The prince must be punished for trying to lessen the dignity of royals. Throw him out of this kingdom or execute him for committing an offense against omegas--"

"No!" Yoongi yelled before Hoseok could agree to it. "You said that I was the one who trapped the prince and made him marry me, right? That's the truth. I forced him to make me his mate and asked him not to make me just a maid-husband!" 

Hoseok and Jimin frowned deeply, holding his hand.

No. Yoongi just couldn't let someone as respected as Hoseok to be thrown out of the kingdom. He couldn't see him being ill-treated to and being hated on by the normal people.

Execution would never be granted to Hoseok, that's for sure. Jimin himself admitted that he was fine with it. But he could easily get the punishment of being thrown out for making two mates.

This couldn't happen.

Yoongi's worth wasn't much anyway. It was much better to lie than to see his alpha in pain, and he knew Jimin would also do something if he could but had no way to say something and pull the attention towards himself.

It was up to him now.

It was better to take the blame for they wouldn't give him much of a punishment as he was a mere commoner.

"They are as worthy as they always were. I was the one that brought this shame to them. Why should they be punished?" Yoongi asked.

"Yoongi," Youngmi sobbed. "Please, son, don't do this."

"It's the truth, queen." Yoongi stood strong on his words. He held Hoseok's hand and shook his head at him when he tried to speak.

If Hoseok was to be punished, he would be thrown out of Atlas or be have his name shamed by the people, leaving him no respect at all.

And for Yoongi...

"If you claim to have made a sin," another minister spoke, "you will be given punishment."

"You'll not be seen as the actual husband of the prince. Jimin will be given all the rights, but even if you may have rights over Hoseok, none of us will see you as anything but a servant. We don't accept a prince having maid husbands and neither can a commoner be a actual mate of a royal, so you would be treated as no one related to the royals at all."

Yoongi smiled at that, shrugging casually. That was no punishment at all. He was ready to have a secret relationship with Hoseok; this was nothing for him.

Who even needed them accepting him too?

Hoseok and Jimin seemed to have a problem with it but Yoongi shushed them, telling them that it wasn't as bad as they think it is.

"Please leave everyone," Youngmi ordered. She heaved out a sigh and looked at every outsider present there, begging with her eyes for them to leave.

They looked unsure of everything, but she didn't have the energy to say anything. After all, she knew nothing about her family.

They left slowly, the ministers leaving too. The ballroom was left empty with only her two sons and two of her non-biological or unofficial sons. 

She saw all of them as her own, but none of them told her what was going on.

Jungkook and Taehyung knew about everything that was going on, but they chose to hide it from her. She could see it in their eyes, they seemed to have known everything.

She had been running around happily that morning to make preparations foe their marriage. She was so gleefull and proud.

And all this...

The mistakes her children made was something she couldn't even scold them about. All they did was love; how was she supposed to tell them that their love was wrong? How was she to tell them that loving another human was wrong?

She never expected all this.

"Mom," Jungkook said, slowly walking to her. Youngmi shook her head at him, making him halt in his steps.

"Why speak now when you never told me anything before, son? You wanted to keep your hyung's trust... What about me?"

She looked at a expressionless Taehyung who looked more than just upset because as he was saying, his hyung had to suffer.

"I won't even tell anything to you, Taehyung. When you were having problems, you never came to me. Even the fact that you take help from alphas during heat was told to me by some stranger alpha. I can't expect anything from you."

Taehyung doesn't react at all. He didn't care that he was being yelled at now.

All he cared was that Yoongi was being punished. He knew it... He knew something like this will happen to his brother. Where were his stupid mates when he was charged for something he hadn't done?

None said anything at all.

Hoseok ducked his head down, highly guilt for what happened to Yoongi and a tiny bit guilty because he went overboard today. He yelled at the ministers too.

"No one told anything till this date," she started in an upset tone. "Get it out now. Speak."

"I said, speak," Youngmi growled when they kept quiet.

She got up from the throne, walking down the stairs and standing near Jungkook.

"Hoseok, you were speaking at lot until now. Why don't you open your mouth when I'm asking you to? When? Why? How? Tell me the answers of all my questions."

"From long before, mother," Hoseok started, head still ducked down in shame.

"Since I was a teenager, I liked Yoongi. I always wished to be with him and even wished to get help from him rather than the other omegas during rut. It had been too strong to erase, and it wasn't like I never thought about you or this kingdom."

"Jungkook." She turned to the crown prince who looked at her with sad eyes, disregarding Hoseok's words of care towards the kingdom because it seems like nothing but false at this point. 

"I-I'm sorry," he immediately apologized, not liking her angered state. She resisted the urge to get him to a hug, feeling her heart clench because Jungkook was apologizing without having done anything that bad, and asks, "when did you get to know about this?"

"When I was younger, around ten years old."

"And you, Taehyung?"

"I don't remember," he said simply, not even looking at her. He was bland, that's how he's always been.

"He told me when he wanted to because he trusted me and didn't trust you enough, queen. Can you blame him for that? If my brother told you anything, would you accept him and not try to change it?"

His words made her heart ache. It was true. So damn true.

Of course, if she knew about this earlier, she would try to convince them into thinking that it was all wrong.

She would tell them to stop. She would tell them to follow the rules of the kingdom and not follow their heart.

"I-I failed as a mother, didn't I?"

Jungkook wanted to deny, feeling sad because his mom was in pain, but Taehyung spoke up before him.

"You didn't fail as a mother, queen. You failed in making your sons believe that you're trustworthy. Even though I don't know what a mother is, I know that every mom is like this. They'd only tell their children that it's wrong if they were you in fear of having them go through more problems and pain."

"Then what made him take such a big decision without even letting me know?! He married two people and never found it necessary to let me know anything!"

"I wanted to tell you, mom. But... You wouldn't let it happen if we did so." Hoseok mumbled.

"And what now, Hoseok?!" She cried, going to him and seizing him by the collar of his costly suit.

"You aren't going to suffer, are you?! Neither of you royal bloods have to suffer, and no one would dare to give you any pain because you are higher than all of them!"

She jerked his back with the collar, hitting his chest and shoulder.

"Why does my Yoongi have to suffer because of something all three of you did?! Why does he have to suffer alone?!"

She let Hoseok go and strode to Yoongi, holding his arms and pulling him closer.

"Why did you have to save Hoseok? You should've let him suffer! You should've let him be thrown out of the kingdom! What will you do now?!"

"I-it's not a big deal--"

She cut him off with an angry yell.

"It is!" Tears streamed down her cheeks which were red in frustration.

"Losing your worth in people's eyes isn't something small, baby! They won't treat you as just a servant; the treatment will be worse than that! During festivals, courtroom meetings and everything which a prince attends with his mate, Jimin will be called and you would get none of the rights you deserve. It's not a small thing!"

Yoongi whimpered, holding her hands tighter. "It would be fine until I have them with me, mommy."

Youngmi sobbed when he heard him call her "mom" because she hasn't heard him say that since he became an adult.

She hated what was happening.

"Will you be fine, son?" She asks, looking at him dead in the eyes with her own teary ones. "Would you be fine when you are never by your mates' side when you're supposed to be?"

Yoongi's heart sank slightly. He looked at her, awaiting her to say more.

"Will you be able to suppress the anger when they disrespect you like this? They'd only look at you with disgust when you're near Hoseok or Jimin and always push you aside like you're specs of dirt. Trust me, son, when someone's self-respect lessens, they forget all other principles and relations just to love themselves more. Within years, you'll find yourself regretting to marry these people."

"N-no," Yoongi shook his head. "I love them too much to let that happen."

"Are you sure?" She smiled painfully. "When you became an adult, you wanted to leave me and this palace to go live in a hut so you aren't seen as a mere sacrifice. You stayed back because of your brother, right? You were always a proud person... How will you handle this?"

Yoongi shook his head in denial again and looked away.

Hoseok felt his throat clog shut when he heard the words of his mother. He knew it was true; Yoongi would rather give everything else up than his respect.

"M-mom, I'll not attend the events too then. I don't need to stand by Hoseok's side during those events but I need to stand beside my other husband so I can support him," Jimin stated.

"Until when?" She asks calmly.

"Until the time the rules apply."

"The rules aren't ever going to change, Jimin. Yoongi will suffer. He may love both of you, but not being given the rights a person deserves makes a person forget everything else."

"What now?" Taehyung asks softly, desperately pained eyes looking into the soul of the hurt queen. "I don't want my hyung to suffer, queen--"

"I can't do anything about it!" She yells, anger flooding in her. "Now face the consequences! I can't so anything even if I want to because none of it was in my control!"

It couldn't happen that a mother would let her sons suffer.

She was just infuriated.

She stormed away from there, her heels making loud sounds until it all vanished, leaving complete silence.

"Just why did you have to save Hoseok, hyung?" Taehyung looked at Yoongi with a sharp gaze. "I supported you through it, but I don't understand why the fuck you'd do such a thing."

"I didn't want them to suffer."

"So?! You'd let yourself suffer and tear apart?! Aren't you supposed to share pain and not take it all upon yourself!"

Yoongi didn't reply and just watched him with dejected eyes.

Taehyung stomped out of the room too, leaving behind a distressed Jungkook and the newly married.

"Mom was so disappointed," Jungkook muttered after going close to Hoseok, trying not to let the others hear him. "I... I feel so bad for all of you."

Hoseok patted his back, hugging him.

"Tell it to her if you wish to, kookie. Tell her about your love for Taehyung because I don't think it's right to hide it for any longer after what happened today. I don't even know what to say now."

Jimin sniffled, throwing his arms around Yoongi and crying. Yoongi held him tightly, lovingly.

"Enjoy your night, hyungie," Jungkook said, smiling brightly. "It's still your first night after marriage. Make sure to forget everything else and concentrate on making it good."

Hoseok smiled at him, looking away shyly. It was true. Keeping everything aside, he wanted to show both his mates that he loved them wholeheartedly and that his love would never reduce.

He held the hands of both his sad mates and pecked their cheeks, feeling proud because his blood still stained their hair, showing who they belong to.

He tugged them along to his bedroom, wanting to enjoy a few moments away from all pain and insecurity, wanting them to know that nothing matters when they have each other.

Jungkook bit his lower lip, deciding to go to his mom right away.

*-*-*-*

Youngmi sat still on her bed, lost in thoughts. She wanted to just do something, anything, to reduce the pain in her heart.

Yoongi would have to suffer now, and she couldn't do anything to take it away. She had promised to not show any difference between any of her kids and now this...

It just proves that she loved her royal children more than the ones she took to her care.

She didn't know why this happened.

If she knew before, she would've said something that they wouldn't like. It was true; how could she scold them for not telling her anything?

It was wrong to say that their love was worthless. Love doesn't see anything but the personality, and Hoseok was not wrong for falling for Yoongi.

She had thought of all of them as her kids, but they didn't see each other as brothers. She should've at least kept in mind that this may happen as none of them are related by blood to each other.

She had taught them to make themselves happy and not depend on others for happiness. That was what they were doing now. They were making themselves happy.

And now what? Until when will her beta son be happy?

She's known him for years. She wouldn't have given birth to him or layed him in his lap and fed him when he was an infant because she met him only when he was older, but she knew exactly what he was like.

Yoongi was soft spoken only to his brother. She's seen him break noses of people when they looked down on him or questioned wrong things to him.

She's seen him growl in anger, lose his mind and wish to leave every luxury when people saw his as a person who had his meaning rested in his caretaker.

He hated it all.

He had immediately told the entire kingdom when he turned an adult that the queen was not his caretaker anymore and he was staying here only because his brother was in the palace.

He cleared it to them to make sure they don't think he's a gold digger and didn't want to leave because he will have to earn for himself if he does so.

He cared a lot about what people think of him.

Taehyung was different; he openly said it. The omega didn't care of what people said; he would tell them that he's living there because he could do so and that they had all rights to be jealous. They didn't get an easy life like him.

But Yoongi...

She ignored the small knock on the door. She wished that the person outside would just leave because she was in no state to tell them anything or do anything for them.

If it was either of the newly married men, she didn't wish to speak to them because she had already erupted in flames before them and yelled at them for things which weren't their fault. If they were here to apologise, she didn't need it as it would make her more anxious and guilty. 

She was devastated as she had to see them destroy their life before her.

She wasn't mad at them. She loved them too much to remain upset, but her suporting them as a mother will not help because at the end of the day, she would be a queen who would go against it all.

Her ears perked up when he heard a tiny familiar voice which she couldn't instantly understand due to it being muffled by the wooden door.

"Who is it?" She asks, knowing that it wasn't one of those people she wanted to avoid.

"Mom, it's Jungkook."

She heaved out a sigh and rushed to the door to unlock it, glad that she would have someone to share her worries with.

She could do that with no one else. Jungkook was just so mature that she would herself be stunned because of his smartness and wiseness.

Jungkook was always calm and collected too. Even if she says something undesirable, her son would still hold her hand and tell her softly his thoughts which may be different from hers.

Unlike what Hoseok did that day, Jungkook could never lose cool. He's just like that.

He was the best person to go to when she was sad. Oh, she loved her son and felt glad that he is the way he is.

"Jungkook, son," she said gently as she brought him to her embrace, pecking his cheek and neck.

She let out a deep breath as his scent of gardenia with a slight smell of river water relaxed her nerves. She closed her eyes, feeling like she was in a place much more serene than where she was at the moment. 

Jungkook patted her head with his hand, letting her feel the comfort she deserved. 

Once she was satisfied, she pulled him inside the room and closed the door. 

"I'm so scared, Jungkook-ah," she stated, voice wavering. "What's going to happen to Yoongi? M-My child... my baby..." 

Jungkook sat down on the bed and patted the space beside him, signaling her to come sit beside him. He didn't know what to say this time. 

He was so used to explaining things to person calmly or taking their pain away by talking to them that not knowing what to do to make his mom's pain less was suffocating him. 

He kept quiet. He hoped that he could help her just with his presence and listen to all she had to say patiently. 

He was extremely nervous too and didn't know what her reaction would be when he confessed his feelings too. 

He wasn't going to hide it anymore. He couldn't because it was just too suffocating. 

"Your father always told me what to do and when to do things when I was stuck in a big problem, kookie. He had promised to return, but when he didn't, I knew that he wanted me to take his place and rule the kingdom. Until now, I had no problems when raising my five angels angels. I j-just don't know what to do and who to seek help from." 

"Don't do anything for now, mom." Jungkook looks at her in the eye, not smiling like he usually does. Her heart sinks on hearing that. 

"What are you saying?" she asks, keeping her voice low though she was annoyed. "Their lives are going to turn horrible and you--" 

"You doing anything now, in this troubled state, won't make it better. Calm down first and then do whatever." 

Youngmi ran her hands down her face, lips pressed together. 

"How is it fair?" she sniffles. "Why should I let the kingdom decide things that they shouldn't have a right on? My sons can love whoever they want; who are these people to tell them that it's wrong? I only took their pain away and they..."  

"It's our fate, mom. We can't change how we're born. Not even when we want to." 

His voice wavered towards the end. He instantly looked away when Youngmi lifted her head to look at him, shocked at his broken voice. 

"Son?" she called, cupping his cheeks and making him look at him. "What do you mean by this? Do you not like living like a prince? Do you not want to be a king?" 

Jungkook held her hand and slowly pulled it off before sighing and shaking his head. 

"Again, mom, it was my fate. I don't hate the life I'm living and neither do I hate that I'm going to be a king soon, but just like any other person who complains of not having the best life--not having the right to chose but only grumble about it--I think that if I was not a royal, my life would be better..." 

What was she hearing now? What is making her son think like this?

She had always known that Jungkook wasn't in love with fame and money that he was born with as a royal. 

Rather, her child had wished to live in a hut as a child because he couldn't get the satisfaction of running around in farms and making friends who didn't see him as just someone with power. 

He strived for something real, something genuine. 

Her boy may seem shy and introverted, but the main reason he was like this was because he wanted to avoid people who were freckle. 

Who were they at the end of the day? They were individuals who would leave as soon as his fame left. 

They were people who would stand by your side until you had power and then go against you, defame you when you lose the power. 

Even so, she didn't know that Jungkook thought it was nothing but a problem or a responsibility to be a king. 

"The reason?" Youngmi asks, eyes softening. "I know making friends or having a true friend wasn't ever your concern. What makes you think that your life isn't the best?" 

The eyes of her son were burning in an unknown intensity, something so powerful that she couldn't even decipher what it was. 

"Love," he stated simply, looking away when her face dropped. "I can accept everything but the rule regarding servants and royals." 

"Y-you too?" she asks, throat squeezing shut. Her mind flooded with a million hurt thoughts. Why was she only getting to know this now? 

'Yes, mom, me too. I-I'm so sorry that you're getting to know this only now, but I couldn't tell you just like Hoseok hyung couldn't." 

Ignoring what he was saying, she grabbed his palms and forced him to look at her pained eyes as she asks, "who? Who is it?" 

The hesitation in Jungkook's eyes, the way he bit down on his lower lip and the ever-staying twinkle in his eyes that vanished made Youngmi feel her guts twist to the point she wished to throw up. 

"Who?" she asks again, more sternly. Jungkook let out a breath, reminiscing every emotion he felt because of that one boy. 

He loved it all. The blush the shyness the urge to be the best around him: he loved it all. 

But what were all of this when most of the time there remained a fear in him? He had to put on a facade and act like all of it didn't affect him, but it did so much. 

The lie, this fake self, everything was eating him up now. Every little progress with he made with the one he loves there came a huge sum of insecurities and doubts which increased his fear. 

He couldn't put in words what his state was. He was a little less than ecstatic and a little less than devastated at the same time because of the pure feelings of love he held. 

The love broke him and also made him who he is now. 

Was he supposed to hate it and try to change it or live with it because this was the thing giving him meaning? 

He didn't fucking know. 

"Taehyung," he loved the feeling just taking his name left in his mouth. He was going insane, yet, he opened his mouth to take the name again and feel his wrecking love for the omega. "Taehyung."   

While Youngmi's expression changed, turned sour, hurt and something along the lines of confused, Jungkook continued to keep his usual calm expression.

He took deep breaths as his mother thought back to all the past events and the times they had interacted for she had never known what was in his heart when he did go to Taehyung.

She said nothing though.

She didn't oppose it, ask him to get out of her room and not show him his face again nor told him the million reasons he could be wrong.

All she asked him was, "does Taehyung also...?"

Jungkook shook his head in response, tearing up when she nodded sympathetically and patted his back. He felt his inners twist in pain which he forced himself to not feel for the many lonely moments he spent in past times.

It wasn't really easy when the person your world revolves around saw you as nobody, a stranger.

It hurt. It tore apart his ability to think and made his heart flood with sadness.

"Since when?"

Jungkook sniffled, parting his wobbling lips to stutter out an answer, close to crying.

"Since the day I know I existed. Si-since the day I understood m-my identity."

"Now? Does he love you back?" Carefully wording her thoughts, Youngmi just wanted to embrace her little puppy.

Her question made him break completely. He shook his head, sobbing, crestfallen. He didn't even try to stop his mother when her arms shot to his neck and wrapped around it, pulling him to her chest.

He desired to be told that it was okay.

He wanted someone to tell him that maybe in future, these feelings would fade and he wouldn't feel anything when his nightmares of seeing Taehyung become someone else's come true. He'd lose himself every time he saw these nightmares, but he knew it was just an illusion and a made up scenario.

He didn't want to think of the possibilities of it coming true.

Youngmi shushed him dearly and patted his head. She let him lay down on her bed and placed his head on her lap delicately.

She wasn't mad that he hid it because she knew now that it was diffucult to share something with a person who has two different identities.

She accepted it now.

None of them were at fault.

She had to support him. She had to show him what was right and what was wrong because it would be horrible if the inner beast in him would set free after having enough of staying away from the person they love.

Her son may not show it but he had a huge and dominant wolf in him which was another side of his, another face of his.

And it would be anything but good to challenge that side because if his wolf did set free, he wouldn't think what was wrong and what would be considered forced. All he will think about is his pleasure, his happiness.

And she was just so sure that Taehyung will never accept it.

God, that boy probably wasn't that proud and cared for his image, but he would never give up on himself and compromise his feelings.

That's just how he was.

He cared of only himself, what he thinks about himself, what he wants to do, what he thinks is right and just everything about him.

Others didn't quite matter to Taehyung.

Neither does Jungkook and his feelings matter to him.

"Tell me what is happening from now on, alright?" She asks her son who was in a calmer state, sniffling instead of crying. Her heart broke when he looked at her with his red eyes.

Jungkook hesitantly nodded. She grinned at him, kissing his cheek as she helped him to his feet and assisted him to the door, happy that her son cried to her and showed her his pain.

She was happy that she was at least enough trustworthy for Jungkook to show her that he wasn't at his best state and was hurting.

All she could do now was shut up about it and not spread the news to anyone from outside and help her son in some way.

But her priorities were her other kids now.

She wasn't with them when they married, but she would rather push her dagger into her chest than see them tear apart, drift apart and lose their will.

She had to do something.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x