"Crimson Desires"

Day 1

Y/n slowly stirred from her sleep, she felt a gentle poking sensation on her right cheek. Blinking her eyes open, she was met with the sight of Jihoon standing before her, his playful smile causing her own lips to twitch in response. She couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise at finding him inside her chamber.

"Noona, wake up," Jihoon said with a mischievous grin, his fingers still gently poking her cheeks.
Y/n couldn't help but chuckle at his antics, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest at the familiar bond between them. "What are you doing here, Jihoon?" she asked, her voice still heavy with sleep as she rubbed her eyes to fully awaken.

Y/n's pov
My heart raced with anxiety as I remembered Jungkook and the potential consequences of Jihoon being found in our chamber. Hastily, I scrambled to my feet. "Quickly, Jihoon, you must leave," I urged in a hushed tone, gesturing for him to follow me outside.

Jihoon's playful expression shifted to one of concern as he sensed y/n's urgency. Without hesitation, he nodded and followed her, understanding the gravity of the situation. Together, they quietly slipped out of her chamber, careful not to attract any unwanted attention.

Jihoon's pov
Once outside, y/n noona let out a sigh of relief, grateful that we had managed to avoid any potential confrontation with Jungkook hyung. y/n noona turned to me and smile. "Thank you for understanding, Jihoon. It wouldn't be good for Jungkook to find you here," she said softly, her voice tinged with apprehension. "Of course, noona. I'll be more careful next time, but Jungkook hyung isn't here today and for the next 3days!." I beamed at her.

"I totally forgot that jungkook will be away for 4days!" She said in excitement. "Noona, let's hang out of the castle. Dont worry about hyung, i already convinced him to let you out as long as im with you."

Y/n's  eyes widened in excitement at Jihoon's suggestion, her earlier anxiety momentarily forgotten in the thrill of the moment. His playful bump to her shoulder only added to her anticipation, and she couldn't help but smile at his infectious enthusiasm. "Really?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief and joy. "You convinced him to let me out?" Her heart raced with the prospect of leaving the castle, if only for a short while, and she felt a surge of gratitude towards Jihoon for his supposed intervention.

Jihoon nodded, his expression earnest as he met her gaze. "Of course, Noona. I wouldn't lie to you," he said with a reassuring smile, though guilt tugged at his conscience for deceiving her. He hoped that this little excursion would bring her some much-needed happiness and freedom from the confines of the castle. With renewed excitement coursing through her veins, Y/n eagerly agreed to Jihoon's plan, her mind already racing with ideas for their day out. Little did she know the true extent of Jihoon's deception, but for now, she allowed herself to revel in the excitement of the moment, grateful for the opportunity to explore the world beyond the castle walls.

As they walked outside the castle grounds, y/n's mind wandered to memories of her past life, a stark contrast to the confinement she now experienced within the castle walls. She couldn't help but long for the simplicity and freedom she once enjoyed, a life unencumbered by the responsibilities and expectations that came with her current position.

Lost in her thoughts, y/n was brought back to the present when Jihoon spoke to her, his voice pulling her out of her reverie. She turned to him, her curiosity piqued by his question about meeting Jimin. Despite her initial hesitation of seeing another unfamiliar face but still it brought a glimmer of excitement to her eyes.

"Yes, I would love to meet Jimin," she replied with a smile, grateful for the opportunity to meet with someone outside the confines of the castle.

*Somewhere in Korea.——-

Jungkook's expression darkened as he listened to the report from his loyal knight, his grip tightening on the armrest of his chair. He felt a surge of anger and betrayal welling up inside him at the news of y/n and Jihoon's unauthorized excursion into town and their meeting with King Jimin.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention," Jungkook replied tersely, dismissing the knight with a wave of his hand. His mind raced with a flurry of thoughts as he contemplated their actions and the implications of their defiance. With a determined set to his jaw, Jungkook rose from his chair , his steps purposeful as he made his way towards the exit of the room. He knew he needed to confront y/n and Jihoon, to assert his authority and ensure that such disobedience would not go unpunished. "Just wait until I come back."

Park's palace.

Upon hearing the report from his servant, Jimin's brows furrowed in confusion. He couldn't fathom why Jihoon would be in his palace with an unfamiliar girl, especially without prior notice or permission. Concern flickered in his eyes as he considered the implications of the situation.

"Thank you for informing me," Jimin said to his servant, his tone tinged with a sense of urgency. "Please, show them to the guest chambers and ensure they are comfortable. I'll speak with them shortly."

As his servant hurried off to carry out his orders, Jimin couldn't shake the nagging feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. He knew he needed to confront Jihoon and get to the bottom of this mysterious visit, but for now, he focused on ensuring their comfort and safety within his palace walls.

Jimins pov.
My heart skipped a beat as I laid eyes on her, my long-lost friend standing before me after all this time. A rush of emotions flooded through me at the sight of her, memories of our shared past flooding back with startling clarity. She looked just as I remembered her, radiant and full of life, yet there was a sadness in her eyes that I couldn't ignore.

"Eunji," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper as he stepped forward to greet her. His heart ached at the sight of her, his concern growing with each passing moment. "It's been so long. What brings you here?" he asked, his tone gentle as he reached out to take her hand in his, a silent gesture of comfort and reassurance.

Jihoon's heart raced with panic as Jimin mistakenly called y/n by the wrong name, his mind racing to find a way to correct the misunderstanding without revealing too much. He quickly interjected, his voice slightly strained as he attempted to steer the conversation back on track.

"Hyung, this is y/n noona, not Eunji," Jihoon said hastily, his words tinged with urgency as he shot a subtle glance at jimin, silently urging him to play along. He let out a nervous laugh, hoping to diffuse the tension in the air and divert y/n's attention away from his slip-up.
Y/n nodded in agreement, offering Jimin a small smile to mask her own discomfort. "Yes, it's me, y/n," she confirmed, her voice steady despite the unease churning in her stomach.

"Oh y/n right, jungkook's new muse. Im sorry i mistaken you as my friend you really do look a like." Jimin said.

Y/n's heart sank at Jimin's words, a pang of sadness washing over her at the reminder of her complicated relationship with Jungkook. She forced a polite smile, masking the turmoil within her as she responded to Jimin's apology.
"It's quite alright, Jimin," she replied softly, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "And yes, I am associated with Jungkook, but..." she trailed off, uncertain of how much to reveal about her current situation. Instead, she changed the subject, hoping to steer the conversation away from her connection to Jungkook and onto lighter topics.

As the conversation continued, y/n couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within her. She couldn't help but wonder what Jihoon's true intentions were in bringing her here and what implications her presence in Jimin's palace might have for her future.