With his head down, Jin walked next to Jungkook with a pout on his face. Even though he mentioned that it was his birthday to Jungkook, Jungkook had done or said nothing. He knew it wasn't his birthday, but at least he had hoped to receive a response, but nothing happened. The King only insisted he follow him to his suite, so it meant he would get punished regardless. There was only one thing he hoped for because if the King found out he had lied, he was certain he would be punished even more severely.

As he was focused on walking and his thoughts about the kind of punishment he would probably be receiving, he didn't pay attention to their path until the King grabbed hold of his hand and yanked him backward. Initially puzzled, Jin turned to look at the King, but his gaze soon shifted to Prince Taehyung, who stood before them.

"We need to talk." Jin hears Prince Taehyung say to the King, causing him to shift his eyes to Jungkook.

Jungkook released Jin's hand and made eye contact with him before saying, "go back to your room." Without another word, he walked towards Taehyung, and the two walked away together.

Jin stood confused, but then a smile broke out on his face. However, the smile rapidly disappeared after the King spoke aloud, "Seokjin, I am aware today isn't your birthday, but we can talk about you lying to me later."

*****

Jimin and Hoseok stared at Jin, a bit concerned as they worked on decorating and setting up Hoseok's baby room, "Jin, is everything okay?"

Jin stopped folding the clothes he had been focused on organizing and looked at them, shaking his head, "no."

"What's wrong?" Jimin immediately dropped the box in his hand, going over towards Jin, "did something happen?"

Jin sighed, "you remember how you told me to sometimes pretend with the King if I want him to be nice to me?"

Jimin nods, but Hoseok stands across the room confused, as he was not in the loop with their previous conversation. "Yes, did something happen?"

"My visit to Prince Namjoon's library yesterday was interrupted by the King, who came by and saw me. He asked me to follow him to his suite, but then I pretended my ankle hurt so he wouldn't make me go with him, but that didn't work either. In addition, I pretended it was my birthday, and he knew it was a lie. Then he said he'd talk to me about it yesterday, but thankfully he didn't come to my suite last night. However, I did not sleep well because I was worried about the entire day into the night and until now. I don't think you know the King very well, Jimin."

A small chuckle escapes Hoseok causing Jin and Jimin to look his way, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to laugh, but I don't think anyone knows the King well. He is unpredictable." Hoseok lets out a sigh, walking towards the rocking chair in the middle of the room; he takes a seat.

Jin walked toward Hoseok and sat on the carpet near him. Jimin followed behind and sat next to him. "I don't know a lot about the King; what I know of him comes from Jimin or what I've experienced with him. He is a scary person, and whenever I see him, I immediately wonder what will happen, yet I try not to be afraid of him since my parents taught me not to be afraid of people, but it is hard when dealing with someone like the King. As a witness to him killing two people, I will never be able to let those memories go. When I see him, I see those images. However, I am wondering how you managed to leave the King? I am not sure how your experience was with him, but how did you escape him?"

Getting up from his seat, Hoseok walked towards the door, closing it, "I'd like to ensure we have some privacy before speaking."

Jin nodded understanding, and Jimin gave Hoseok a smile, understanding, "I know Jungkook and Taehyung are away; therefore, no interruptions should be coming from them."

Hoseok sat back down and agreed, "Yes, I know, I found out this morning. Although Taehyung knows that I will give birth to our baby any moment now, he is away again. According to my understanding, it is important."

"Yoongi said it was really important but top-secret, so you know how that goes? I don't get anything."

Hoseok chuckles, "No worries, I'll learn about it once Taehyung returns and let you know. When he returns from his trip, he will tell me, but not while he is away. Jin, as for your question, I certainly am not reluctant to share it with you. I like you very much. For the King, you are much too young and innocent, but those are my thoughts, not ones I'd want you to contemplate.

To provide some context, I was raised here in the kingdom, where my grandparents worked for the previous King, to explain how I came to be associated with the royal family. That was my introduction to Jimin and the King.

The King and I used to play quite a bit together, but despite his ability to be fun, he was always different and unpredictable, even at a young age. At the same time, he is also extremely determined. If he says something or wants something, it means that. It is impossible ever to predict what he will do, how he will act. There is always some unknown about him; at least, that was my experience.

I had a very different relationship with the King than what I have seen you or others have with him. In all honesty, I thought we'd be married at one point, but it did not work that way. There is no way I would claim to have no expectation of being at his side because I had, I was ready to be, especially after Jihoon. Throughout my pregnancy, I was prepared, waiting for the marriage proposal, but none came.

I didn't understand it; I was giving him a son, we were okay together, although he was most times distant, I was next to him, I kept up with him. Even while not understanding a lot of what he had to do as a new King, I tried to understand it. Like I said, I was prepared for the role of being by his side. So I was doing all I could to show him I could be there next to him, being the person he needed. However, I should have recognized that I would not be that person, but I didn't.

After our son was born, he brought along something new; he was hands-on with Jihoon in the beginning but became more distant than he was with me, which was a lot worse than it had been. I, at times, wouldn't see him for days, and not seeing him wasn't the issue, but he wouldn't communicate with me at all. It b-became hard, I was struggling, I didn't know what was happening."

Hoseok paused talking as tears fell from his eyes; Jimin immediately sat up, going towards him, and rubbing his back, "it's okay, we all know he is an asshole, it was not cool for how he left you, but the bright side is Taehyung came to the rescue, right." Jimin said with a smile, trying to brighten the mood as he could see the look of concern in Jin's eyes.

"There is something I need to say, though, something that I have never said before."

Jimin nodded, understanding, "you can talk with us here; Jin nor I will never repeat anything. I know how hard this is for you, so if you don't want to, it's okay."

Jin, wanting Hoseok to know he could speak with confidence, replies, "I won't say anything." In hearing Hoseok's story, he became distraught because he could not understand why the King would not commit to someone so amazing, as it was beyond belief to him.

Hoseok took a deep breath, "I think it would be better for you to sit down now."

"Okay," Jimin replied, returning to his seat next to Jin.

"Jimin and I became very close within the last three years, particularly once things became as they are now with the King and me. Over the years, you have seen his behavior towards me and many other things that have happened between us. I failed to admit to you, however, that in a moment of weakness, I had turned to a friend for comfort, and the King discovered it." He paused after speaking and took a deep breath.

Jimin's eyes opened wide as he asked, "Like some advice or more? I don't understand." Jimin questioned, somewhat confused.

Jin was unsure what type of comfort Hoseok meant, so he kept silent because he was more concerned about how the King had treated Hoseok.

"I had been intimate with someone else who was not the King."

"This cannot be!" Standing up, Jimin says, "No way, you would have been killed by him. It was Taehyung, wasn't it? Is that what caused him not to bless your marriage?"

Hoseok shook his head, "no, it wasn't Taehyung, and the guy isn't here anymore. The first plan he had for me was to cast me out, but the Queen intervened, and from there, it slowly turned into a nightmare. I must admit that his hatred for me did not come immediately. I think it took time for it to grow. It's part of why I can't look him straight in the eye, I know I betrayed him, but he betrayed what we had before anything. We were young, I was vulnerable, alone with a child, and he was away from me without communication or direction. Then, after hearing horror stories, I did not know the truth, and having a moment of weakness, everything changed.

If I hadn't gotten close to Taehyung, I'm sure there wouldn't have been any change in my life. Although he did not want Taehyung to marry me, he fought against it. Taehyung held his ground, and our marriage was blessed by the Queen, not by him because he refused to give it to me. Although he refused to offer blessings, he never told Taehyung what I did, and I was the one who had to confess because Taehyung knew something was amiss. Jimin, I apologize for not sharing this with you earlier. You never asked, and it isn't something I am proud of. That said, Jin did ask me earlier, so I wanted to tell the truth to him.

In all honesty, I don't know whether my actions destroyed my relationship with the King or if it was destroyed by its absence because, as I said, he never proposed. He never said that I would marry him. I've never had a relationship with him that shared feelings; he is the complete opposite of my husband, who I am very grateful to have in my life today."

"So if I understand your escape was having, you know the sex, with someone else?" Jin questioned, looking at Hoseok to make sure he understood correctly.

Jimin, who had been in shock and in a daze, turned immediately to look at Jin, "you will not be doing that!"

Jin instantly shook his head, "I didn't say I was, and I don't think I want to do that with other people. It's already complicated with the King."

"Hoseok, why didn't you tell me this before?" Jimin looked at Hoseok as he was still trying to soak in the details.

"I didn't want you to look at me the way you are now."

Jimin stood up as he sighed, "I am sorry if I am looking at you a certain way; I just hurt that you held this from me, but either way, thank you for sharing this; I am sure it was not easy; for you."

"Thanks, Hoseok, for sharing that. I promise to never say anything to anyone about what you told us." Jin added, not wanting Hoseok to feel guilty for sharing, even if many things were going through his mind at the time.

Hoseok thanked Jin, "I know you won't, and that's why I felt comfortable being honest with you."

*******

Two Months Later

Jin stepped out of the shower humming to himself, eager to visit Hoseok and his newborn. Despite his lack of experience with babies, Jin had been learning from Hoseok's baby, who was only a month old, and he was grateful for everything he had learned from Hoseok.

His excitement about being able to have his daughter grew as the journey towards it continued. Although he didn't know what to expect, he was looking forward to meeting her and having someone share his suite with him. The last time he saw the King was over two months ago, and he didn't get much information regarding him, but he wasn't bothered by not knowing much. He had thought about the King occasionally, but it also felt good not seeing him. He had had many opportunities to learn about the kingdom and its history, and he had also visited many places within the kingdom.

He looked forward to seeing Jimin and Hoseok whenever possible after becoming closer to them. Jimin had an excellent record of getting him in touch with his parents, and he was grateful to him for that. To know that they were safe made his day brighter.

With a warm towel wrapped around him, he exited the bathroom, continuing to hum, only to come to an abrupt halt when he saw the King in his room. "How did you come here?" he asks, widening his eyes and taking a step back.

"Excuse me?"

"I am sorry, my King. I wasn't expecting you to be here." Jin quickly spoke up to avoid confusing the King with his words, as he always did.

Jungkook walked over to Jin and asked, "Were you expecting someone else?"

"It's not the case at all. No one comes into my bedroom, my King."

After looking Jin up and down and making eye contact with him, the King spoke, "Is that right?"

Jin nodded, "it's true. I don't allow anyone into my room."

"You don't let Jimin into your room?"

"When he visits, he stays outside the living room."

"Seokjin, are you lying to me?" Jungkook questions, his eyes still fixed on Jin.

"No, my King, I am not lying." Jin shakes his head.

Jungkook smiles as he pulls something from his pocket and shows it to Jin, "I guess this will tell me the truth when I watch it, right?"

Jin looked confused at him, "What's that?"

"It's a camera; I had it resting here. It will confirm everything you just told me."

Jin swallowed and stared at the King, "you had it in my room?"

"I did, especially since you lied to me the last time I saw you."

His eyes widen as he expected the King would have forgotten about the incident of him lying, "my King, I'm sorry about-"

"It's okay; I haven't forgotten your punishment for it. Nevertheless, before we get there, do you have anything you want to confess?"

"No."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, "nothing at all?"

"Nothing, no one was in here, and I did not-oh." Jin stopped himself as his cheeks turned red.

"What did you do, Seokjin?" In a firm tone, Jungkook said, "Be honest now."

Jin looked down at the floor and whispered, "I didn't do anything-"

"It looks like you did something, so I suggest you look at me and tell me the truth."

In a whisper, Jin said, "I only touched myself" to the King, yet his voice was loud enough for the King to hear.

"Oh." the King replied, a bit surprised, "did you think about me when you were doing that?"

As Jin swallowed, his eyes remained downward, and his ears became red.

With his hand, Jungkook lifted Jin's chin so he could look him directly in the eyes, "were you?"

Slowly Jin nodded, but he didn't speak.

Tracing his hand down to Jin's towel, Jungkook pulls it from his body and holds it into his hand as he steps back and stares at Jin, eyes landing on his stomach, "I was told it's a girl, is that true?"

"Yes, my King. I wanted to tell you when I found out since you said I should, but I didn't see you."

"That's fine; I was busy. Are you still eating weird things?"

Jin wrapped his arms around himself and shook his head, "I don't think so."

"You are not making weird requests to the kitchen late at night?" Jungkook questioned, eyes making it's way back up to Jin's as he threw the towel back to him.

Jin quickly caught the towel, wrapping it around his body, "I don't bother the kitchen staff. If I want something and I have the ingredients here, I make it myself."

"And if you don't?"

"I try to ignore the feeling of it."

"So you deny my daughter what she wants?"

Jin's eyes widen, "I don't-"

"If there is something you want, you are supposed to tell the kitchen, and they should prepare it for you, understood?"

"Yes, my King."

Jungkook kept staring at Jin for a while, then he took a deep breath and rubbed his hand across his face, "I am tired, Seokjin."

Jin stared at him, a bit confused, "do you want to sleep?"

Jungkook pulled Jin towards him while he spoke to him, "I don't know why you're in this towel in front of me."

"I am sorry, I will get dressed."

"I don't want you to do that. Put away the towel and come back here to me."

Jin pulled away from the King and contemplated his words before speaking, "umm, is it possible for me to let one of the guards tell Hoseok I won't be coming by him today?"

"You were going to Hoseok; why?"

"I have been learning a lot about babies from him, so I know what to expect in a few months."

"Hoseok is not required for that, and besides, I want you to raise our daughter in your way, not based on what you learned from someone else. Like making her aware of some of the values you mentioned I don't have."

Jin's eyes widen, "my King, I-"

"I haven't forgotten those words, Seokjin."

"I am sorry if those words caused a problem for you, my King, but I can also share some of the values I learned from my parents with you."

"I'm trying not to punish you today, Seokjin," Jungkook says while glaring at Jin.

"Sorry."

"I need you to take off the towel and come here to me."