"Care to explain what that shit was all about?" Taehyung asked in a controlled annoyance in his voice as he sat on top of his bed with his arms crossed over his chest.

He glanced at Yeonjun who was silently standing by the closed door before returning his gaze back to the ravenette who looked at him with blank expression as if he didn't understand a word he said.

Taehyung groaned, feeling too agitated and shitty for a while now. After Jimin revealed to him something he should have fucking knew in the first place, Taehyung's mood had become sour throughout his art class and even on his way home.

He couldn't believe such an important matter was kept secret to him. 

He had wanted to ask Yeonjun right there and then but had to held everything to himself when he saw how the servant looked like he would not say a word even if he threatened him.

Taehyung kept his eyes on those raven ones as he asked once more.

"I'm talking about what that Park Jimin had said." Taehyung uttered, wanting to find answers to the questions running in his head.

"It is what it is." Jungkook answered in a stern voice that made Taehyung groan.

"What the hell? Why didn't you tell me about this? Why did-"

His words were halted when a few knocks were heard by the door, followed by an announcement of the servant.

"Lord Baekhyun is here."

Taehyung's brow arched as he turned his attention to Yeonjun who immediately opened the door, revealing his father with few of his servants standing behind him.

"Lord Baekhyun." Yeonjun bowed as well as Jungkook who lowered his head a little.

"What do we have here?" Lord Baekhyun asked, roaming his eyes in the room, landing on each person who seemed to be in a middle of a conversation.

Taehyung could still feel a heavy boulder on his chest just from the mere presence of the man.

He's Vante's father, but he couldn't brush off the negative feelings he has for him.

"What brings you here, my Lord?" Taehyung asked as he stood from his bed, hands clasped behind his back.

"Should there be a reason for a father to visit his son?" Lord Baekhyun uttered as he came forward, stopping a few steps from Taehyung.

His hand reached out for Taehyung's face, caressing his skin softly that made the latter shiver.

"I've heard from Physician Seo that your health is doing good." Lord Baekhyun said, staring directly in his eyes as if he's reading his thoughts.

Taehyung couldn't stand the heavy feeling those eyes caused him as he looked away.

"I'm glad you're recovering fast, my lovely son." Lord Baekhyun uttered but every word sounded sa fake in Taehyung's ears.

"There will be a banquet tomorrow in the Palace, and I want you to look your best, do you understand?" Lord Baekhyun firmly stated afterwards which made Taehyung gulp.

"Yes, my Lord." He answered, finally releasing the breath he never knew he was holding as soon as Lord Baekhyun released him from his grasp.

"Good." Lord Baekhyun smiled before turning his back.

"About the King.." Taehyung called out, making his father stop.

"Hm?" Lord Baekhyun turned to look.

"Why did he choose me to be his concubine?" Taehyung asked, unaware of Yeonjun and Jungkook's reactions from his question.

Taehyung saw his father's face change before masking it with a smile.

"You already know?" Lord Baekhyun asked.

Taehyung suddenly couldn't answer, seeing how Yeonjun suddenly bowed his head.

From where he stood, he could see the servant cower in fear.

Taehyung's eyes turned wide, seeing how Lord Baekhyun gripped the vase on top of his cabinet and without another word threw it to Yeonjun.

He felt his feet turn cold as the vase landed on the servant's temple in a loud crash, followed by the shriek of the poor young man who could only drop to his knees as his blood ooze from his open wound, down to his eyes mirroring nothing but fear.

"M-my Lord!" Yeonjun was trembling, not minding the shards pressing on his skin as he knelt down and begged.

"P-please forgive me." the servant begged.

Taehyung couldn't feel his body in horror as he looked at Yeonjun and the blood painting the floor.

"W-why.." He wanted to shout but his words came out as a whisper as tears began streaming his eyes.

Taehyung saw Lord Baekhyun press his foot on Yeonjun's right hand on the floor, making the latter whimper in controlled voice.

"Didn't I make myself clear before?" Lord Baekhyun said, pressing his foot harder as the servant could only cry and beg.

Taehyung couldn't believe the cruelty he's seeing right in front of him.

"Stop.. please." He finally found his courage to step forward and rush to Yeonjun.

He knelt down to protect the younger as he looked at his father with his horrified and tear-stained face.

"Stop. Please!" Taehyung begged, covering Yeonjun's head, uncaring of the blood that stained his hanbok.

"It's not his fault, please!" Taehyung continued to beg as tears flowed down his eyes.

He could feel Yeonjun trembling as he held him close.

"Y-young master.." Yeonjun shakes his head, wanting to move away but Taehyung embraced him firmly.

"It was Park Jimin who told me! Please! Stop this.." Taehyung said, seeing blood coming out of Yeonjun's hand.

"Please.. F-father.." He uttered, looking at his father's cold eyes, begging for him to stop.

He saw him smile and slowly lifted his foot, revealing Yeonjun's hand now soaked in blood as the shards penetrated his palm.

"Clean that mess." Lord Baekhyun said, pertaining to Yeonjun who still managed to respond.

"Y-yes.. my Lord."

Taehyung felt his heart clench at the situation of the young man. He couldn't stand the sight of a friend being treated this way.

"Jeon, make sure my son didn't get any cut. Have him take a bath. He shouldn't be stained by that filthy blood." Lord Baekhyun ordered before walking for the door without even a hint of guilt nor remorse.

Jungkook didn't answer as he stared at Taehyung who's crying and continuously saying sorry.

"Yeonjun.. I-I'm sorry." He sobbed, holding the younger by the shoulder as he looked at his wounds.

He saw the young man smile as he shakes his head.

"This is.. n-nothing, young master." Yeonjun said, fighting the urge to cry.

"No.. I'm sorry. It's my fault.." Taehyung sobbed, almost choking from his tears as he felt so sorry for the young man who took all the blame.

"I should have known.. I'm sorry!" He cried, seeing how badly hurt Yeonjun was.

His heart aches for him, and yet he wasn't able to do anything than cry and beg.

He felt so pathetic.

"Jungkook.." Taehyung lifted his gaze and cried even more.

"Please.. Treat Yeonjun's wounds." He sobbed, slowly holding the younger's wounded hand.

"Please.." He begged, like a child who couldn't do anything but just cry.

Taehyung felt a hand on his arms, helping him to stand.

"I'll take care of him." Jungkook said, guiding Taehyung to a chair.

"Please.. he lost too much blood.. Please.." Taehyung begged, hand covered in blood as he trembled in fear.

He's still in a state of shock.

"Stay here. I'll take him to a physician." Jungkook said, feeling his heart clench seeing Taehyung crying like this.

"I'll call one of the servants to be with you and help you get changed." He added but Taehyung didn't respond.

Jungkook could only sigh as he turned his attention to Yeonjun who's still trying to pick the broken pieces of the vase with his injured hand.

"Stop that, Yeonjun. I'll clean that mess. For now, let's get your wounds treated."

The man didn't bulge which made Jungkook sigh once more as he lifted the younger male and carried him in his arms.

"S-sir.." Yeonjun wanted to protest but Jungkook just hushed him.

"I'm doing this for your young master. Don't make him feel guilty even more." Jungkook answered which made the servant nod.

As the two of them finally went out of the room, Taehyung was left to cry once more.

He couldn't take seeing someone get hurt because of him.

He felt so bad, the kind of feeling he never wished to experience anymore.

"What kind of life is this, Vante?" Taehyung whispered to himself, feeling so helpless.

---------

Jungkook knocked a couple of times but no one answered.

It was already dark when he had returned to the Kim's after making sure Yeonjun was okay and was being treated well.

He knocked once more but still no response. He sighed, carefully opening the door.

The room was filled with darkness with nothing but the mellow light coming from the candle illuminating it.

He carefully walked inside, near the bed where he saw the man who had been in his head the whole day after he had left him earlier.

Jungkook felt a tug in his heart, seeing his sleeping face and those heavy lids from too much crying.

"What happened to you, Kim?" was all Jungkook could say as he knelt beside the bed, still staring at the man's face.

He was never like this.

He wouldn't cry in front of anyone, wouldn't beg nor kneel.

Jungkook remembered how he had cried like a child earlier, something he had seen for the first time.

He had never been this compassionate towards anyone, like a vessel with only a soul and never with emotions.

"Why do you have to be like this?" Jungkook uttered, reaching his hand to touch his face but halted, remembering he couldn't.

"Don't be like this.." His voice was desperate, feeling something in him slowly being stirred.

He had promised to himself he won't be tricked anymore.

However, there are a lot of changes in this man that he couldn't comprehend.

It's as if he's not the same man he used to love before... used to hate.

The Vante now makes him weak.

The Vante now makes him lose all reasons.

The Vante now makes him want to believe in love again.

"This is torture, Kim."

--------

Love you 💜