CHAPTER 1

...JUNGKOOK'S POV...

I was sitting magnificently on my throne. I was done with the day's work and was bored. I was checking my fingernails when suddenly the enormous wooden metal doors of the castle throne room opened slowly. Which got me startled. The guards dragged in a scared and bloody boy, looking a bit younger than me. He looked tired wearing only a thin shirt and loose pants held by a small rope. His gentle black hair was messy and dirty, his eyes filled with tears.

The guard spoke up in a deep voice.

“This thief was found sneaking into the bakery of the castle. What shall I do with him, your majesty?”

The boy sobbed quietly.

“I'll deal with him. You may leave.”

They nodded their heads in unison and bowed their heads, walking out of the throne room and closing the door behind them. Now I was left alone with this boy who was desperately trying to stop his tears sitting on his knees on the cold stone floor and looking up at me. His eyes showed sadness, hopelessness, and a slight ounce of fear.

Today’s drama looks interesting.

I stood up from my throne.

“You may rise”.

He looked up at me, a bit surprised before slowly getting up to his feet, legs shaking lightly. As he stood up before me, he became aware of the height difference. He was particularly shorter than me and with him being malnourished. He seemed thin and fragile.

“What's your name, boy?”

“Taehyung, your majesty”.

His voice was soft and a bit raspy from all the crying. He still mumbled and shook a bit from fear, though he tried to force it down.

“You know, Taehyung. Stealing is a crime, and you can be greatly punished for it”

He glanced up at me for a moment and then back down to the floor, knowing exactly where this was going. He nodded quietly, his whole body trembling. He mumbled something, but it was so quiet that the words were incoherent and unintelligible.

“Speak up!”

He took a deep breath to calm his trembling voice, then spoke up so he could be heard. He spoke up so he could be heard. He spoke a bit too quickly, the words tumbling out one after another.

“I-I know it's a crime….but-but I was just so hungry…I’d die if I didn’t find food somewhere-”

I grabbed his elbow and made him stand. He winced in pain and his legs wobbled as he balanced himself. I squeezed his elbow. He was so thin that I could feel his bones.

"Ah! Your majesty. Please, you're...you're hurting me. "

He started crying. He looked very fragile. Taehyung looked like a broken piece of art. I found myself staring at him. I shook myself out of my trance and released my grip from his elbow.

“Follow me!”

“Where are we going?"

Where were we going? I'm also lost.

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