Part 25
Part 25
𝓣𝓪𝓮𝓱𝔂𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓹𝓸𝓿:
Jungkook had returned this morning from the east cost. He had been ordered by his Father to give visit to some of there neighboring Kingdoms himself and invite them for the Royal Banquet himself.
I haven't seen him since yesterday and when this morning I did, I had felt at peace.
Jungkook had planned a lavish “family” banquet. This meant that all his relatives and close friends were expected to attend, accompanied by the women of their household.
All his mistress too.
I was at once excited and agitated by this news and spent much time trying to decide what to wear. Even my most exquisite hanbok seemed paltry, old-fashioned.
Finally I ordered the royal weavers back at Kingdom Psion to design a new outfit that would be unlike anything they'd made before, outstanding enough to make it unforgettable.
Outstanding enough to make me look the prettiest.
They were to rush it to me as soon as it was completed. They promised me they would work on it night and day. It had not yet arrived when a flustered and tearful Queen Yeri asked me to help her pick out appropriate clothing for the event.
"Tae, I can't really make out with what should I wear, my head is spinning. "
It took me the whole afternoon to convince her that she would be beautiful in almost any of the outfit she would choose.
Remember I said?
She looks like the exact but more prettier version of me.
"But I want Jungkook to be pleased with the choice I make. I want him to be in awe with me. "
There was a small wave of grief inside me.
Finally we decided on a deep red silk, so encrusted with gold and jewels that when she wore it I feared she would be unable to walk, and chose a set of rubies embedded in thick gold to go with it.
By the time I returned to my rooms, I had changed my own plans for the banquet.The visit to Yeri had opened my eyes, exposing the folly I'd been about to commit. And what was rightful in her would be shameful in me, a man old enough—if not wise enough—to know better.
I finally faced the truth: what I wanted—even if it was only an admiring glance from Jungkook—was sinful.
Was he not married??? Was I not just his Paramour????
She was getting ready for him and what was I even thinking about when I told the weavers to make something so beautiful that people would stare at me....
No
Jungkook would Just stare at me.
I put aside the beautiful hanbok that had just arrived from Psion colored like the rainbow and woven through with diamonds. I picked instead a plain white silk with a delicate border of diamond and gold.
I had let maids Inform this to Yeri, that I had changed my plans and was now wearing a basic white hanbok.
She clicked her tongue in disapproval, saying that I would be woefully underdressed for the occasion, that only old women wore white, but finally she complied.
I was already ready when Yeri barged inside my room.
"My god tae, is this your simple basic??? You looks so gorgeous!!!!!! You are going to attract so many suitors today. " She eyes me teasingly and a faint smile escapes my lips.
Who won't love such woman, who have no ill intentions and sinful mind?
She was perfect in every way you'd notice.
"Says the one who looks heavenly herself" I say to her, fixing the little daisies she had tucked.
I'd never wear daises myself again.
She smiles, flaunting her red hanbok.
"Me and Jungkook are going to twin the colours. His is red hanbok too" She say excitedly.
I nod.
And I check myself again in the huge mirror before we move towards the banquet.
Ironically, though, when I entered the banquet hall, all eyes turned to me. Among the women and men clustered like multicolored bouquets, I stood out in my pristine attire.Some of the mistress envied my creativity; others whispered resentfully, "always he wants to show that he's better, always he craves attention" One said. "God he is terrible, Yeri looks saddened" Said the other. "I want to bed him bad" One the king says.
I walk past them. Letting all the hateful words filter through the holes they have made with the bullet of taunts through me.
Yeri looks out for Jungkook but he was nowhere to be found and so as her and Jungkook only closet Companion she ordered me to give her my arm to lean on.
She leans on me her eyes searching the warrior.
And somewhere I knew I'm more desperate then what she is to look at the man who was now center of my world I was living in
We had barely taken a few steps when
I saw Jungkook, dressed simply as always. He noticed me at the same time and came to a sudden halt.
For a moment I thought he would take another path through the banquet hall—it would be easy enough, among all the milling guests, to avoid me.
But he did not. There was an expression in his eyes that I couldn't quite read as he took in my clothes. And that was when I realized that he and I—both in white, both almost unadorned—mirrored each other.
I gulped, such coincidences scared me always.
No one knew I had chosen to wear the simplest of all hanbok, how did he wore the other matching part of it then?
Yeri beside me smiled wide too once she noticed, Jungkook walking towards us.
She had perhaps forgotten that her husband was no more twinning with her, but was with me.
Which was truly unplanned .
Jungkook had reached us by now. He bowed in a gesture.
He greeted Yeri first, as was appropriate. He smiled saying.
"Oh My Queen, you look beautiful. " I feel stiffness around my muscles.
Was I looking good? Would he complement me? Would he look at me and smile?
Numerous questions rushes through me.
But without waiting for her response, he turned to me.
"Gorgeous"
He says, with his eyes not even once wavering from my face.
"Tae you look gorgeous, you ever have. But today. You define it"
I gasp, at how loud his voice is.
Yeri beside me squeals happily.
Did she not understand??? Her husband called his mistress Gorgeous with the softest voice he have ever used.
Is she not jealous??? Is she not bitter about it??? She makes me feel way more guilty then before.
I gulp, bowing respectfully.
"Thank you my honour" He continued staring at me for the rest of the evening.
Through the elaborate, unending dinner, as I ate without tasting the delicacies and smiled until my mouth ached and conversed with the women and men around me, not knowing what I said, I resolved it was time for the song I was told to play.
I was nervous, I was chocking inside me.
There were all Kings and queens and there Royal kids, I really didn't wanted to ruin this for Jungkook and his family.
I ran to the garden, for some fresh air, as the insides started to suffocate me.
I never realised I was breathing so fast until a hand gripped my stomach and I was pulled back on a hard muscled chest.
This adds up more of heartbeats to my already pumping heart.
Jungkook curls me in his arms.
He then had his chin on my shoulder as he softly rubbed my stomach making me a little calm.
"Calm down now would you? You don't need to fear anything tae"
He said his temple almost touching mine.
"You don't understand jungkook. There are all royals out there"
I breathe heavily.
" If I ruin this, they are going to make a good laugh out of me"
Jungkook nuzzles his nose on my bare skin of neck.
It feels ecstatic I won't lie.
"No one will return alive, if they dare to make nonsense comment about you. I'll kill them, you know that"
I click my tongue annoyingly.
"God, quit joking I'm serious"
He sighs.
" I'm serious as well, Pearl. I would kill them if they say nonsense about you"
And I feel his seriousness dripping through his heavy voice now.
I don't know why I choose these words to say further but I do.
"There were people calling me out names, when I entered. "
I wait for his response, he wait for no minute.
"Name them, every single one of them. I promise you to bring them on there knees, begging to you, to leave there lives. Do it pearl"
I know he will do it.
His grip on me now tightens.
"Hmm, no need, I can continue ignoring such people, Instead of killing them and getting sinned"
He laughs at that
"Are you calling me a sinner? "
"Are you not? " I taunt back
He mumbles something incoherent, I cannot make out what.
But then he smiles.
There's a moment of silence between us.
And the he says it.
"You look gorgeous, anyone can be beautiful, but my god never saw anyone so gorgeous "
I feel tingles in my body.
"Y-you cannot say something like this so openly" My voice is mumbled.
"It's true tho" He smiles
"Why did you not wear your red hanbok? Weren't you supposed to match it with yeri. You are her husband, you both had to match? "
And soon as I mention her, his body becomes stiff on mine.
I could feel his arms around my waist, a bit tightened more. It would make a bruise on my white honey skin.
"I have no idea, but I felt—"
" somehow, suffocated, I felt like it was never made for me" His voice is strained, almost like he would cry.
I just hmmm,
Understandable,
happens....
"It's not about the fabric, I'm taking about"
I gasp as I jerk my face towards his.
He stares at me with a sad smile.
His eyes crying out many strong emotions for me to even understand one of them.
His chin still rested on my shoulder, he kisses a spot on my neck.
"I have known you well now pearl, you won't ruin anything. Come on everyone is waiting for Kim Taehyung, The main event. "
He backs out a little, but I'm here still confused with what he said.
I have no idea, but I felt—
somehow, suffocated, I felt like it was never made for me
It's not about the fabric, I'm taking about
I stop him Instinctively by his wrist.
He looks back at me, the moon up the never ending sky, shines on his face, as his eyes glitters like stars.
"Why do you always speak like this? I'm not smart enough you know, to understand these puzzled words of yours Jungkook. Please break it upto me. Make me understand before you leave. "
He holds my cheeks in his palm next immediate moment, so warm.
His forehead connects mine.
"Tae, I-I'm,—"