Taehyung.

— Bot from the channel @unknownaiiii

When Taehyung first heard from his father about the upcoming celebration, his heart sank, sank, and then soared so high it took his breath away. An ancient custom: the couple whose dance captivated the king's heart would receive his blessing to marry. This meant that "never" for him and Jungkook could finally turn into "maybe." A dream he'd been afraid to even think out loud suddenly took on tangible form. Finding the servant wasn't hard—Jungkook was working in the garden. Taehyung ran up to him so quickly he nearly knocked him over, and the words poured out in an endless stream.

But Jungkook wasn't pleased. Instead, his face turned gray, and panic flashed in his eyes. He grabbed Taehyung by the elbow and pulled him deeper into the alley, away from prying ears.

"Taehyung, it's dangerous!" his voice was choked. "And what if he doesn't choose us? Then you'll be disgraced in front of the entire palace. And me..." He didn't finish, only pressed his lips together so tightly that a white line appeared across them.

“The prince and the servant…” Jungkook paused, gathering his strength, “…is not allowed.”

Taehyung froze. The rapture inside him shattered, and the shards pierced his heart. He felt the air leave his lungs, and a treacherous haze began to cloud his vision. He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to maintain even a modicum of control.

“But this... is the only chance...” he wanted to scream, but Taehyung’s voice broke into a pitiful, lost whisper.